title: Secular trends in fitness, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and TV-viewing among first grade school children of Crete, Greece between 1992/93 and 2006/07.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess secular changes in physical fitness (PF), moderate-to-vigorous-physical activity (MVPA) and TV-viewing in 1st-grade children from Crete, Greece.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional cohorts examined in academic years 1992/93 and 2006/07.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two representative samples of children, aged 5.9-7.8 years, were studied during 1992/93 (N=606) and 2006/07 (N=361). PF (sit-and-reach, standing-broad-jump, sit-ups and 20 m-shuttle-run-test) was assessed by the European-PF test battery and MVPA by a physical activity (PA) questionnaire. Data on the frequency of TV-viewing was also collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between 1992/93 and 2006/07, there was a significant increase in all fitness tests in both genders (P<0.001) and in MVPA in boys (76.5 min/week vs. 38.7 min/week, P<0.001). Time spent watching TV on weekdays was significantly more in both genders in 2006/07, compared to 1992/93 (P<0.001). In 2006/07, active boys and active girls spent more time in MVPA than active boys and girls in 1992/93 (P<0.001). Significantly higher proportions of boys and girls engaged in vigorous activities in 2006/07, than 1992/93 (P<0.001 and P=0.027, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A significant increase in physical and cardiorespiratory fitness in both genders and MVPA in boys was observed in children from Crete between 1992/93 and 2006/07. The increase in weekday TV-viewing, despite being parallel to an increase in leisure-time MVPA, could have an unfavorable effect on health and should be tackled in future interventions in this population. Dietary, anthropometric and biochemical indices should also be investigated to assess their impact on the secular changes in physical fitness and activity observed in this sample of children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Medicine, Preventive Medicine and Nutrition Clinic, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Greece. msbokos@edu.med.uoc.gr
authors.forename: Emmanouil A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Smpokos
authors.forename: Manolis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Linardakis
authors.forename: Angeliki
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Papadaki
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lionis
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kafatos
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013690:Television / Q000639:trends*