title: Physical activity and sedentary behavior during the early years in Canada: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Physical activity and sedentary behavior habits are established during early childhood, yet only recently has objectively measured data been available on children aged 5 years and younger. This study presents data on the physical activity and sedentary behaviors of Canadian children aged 3-5 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected as part of the Canadian Health Measures Survey between 2009 and 2011. A nationally-representative sample (n = 459) of children aged 3-5 years wore Actical accelerometers during their waking hours for 7 consecutive days. Data were collected in 60-sec epochs and respondents with ≥4 valid days were retained for analysis. Parents reported their child's physical activity and screen time habits in a questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-four percent of 3-4 year old children met the physical activity guideline of 180 minutes of total physical activity every day while 18% met the screen time target of <1 hour per day. Fourteen percent of 5 year old children met the physical activity guideline of 60 minutes of daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) while 81% met the screen time target of <2 hours per day. Children aged 3-4 years accumulated an average of 352 min/d of total physical activity and 66 minutes of MVPA while 5 year old children accumulated an average of 342 min/d of total physical activity and 68 minutes of MVPA. Children were sedentary for approximately half of their waking hours and spent an average of 2 hours per day in front of screens. Only 15% of 3-4 year olds and 5% of 5 year olds are meeting both the physical activity and sedentary behavior guidelines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Promoting physical activity while reducing sedentary behavior is important at all stages of life. The findings of the present study indicate that there remains significant room for improvement in these behaviors among young Canadian children.
authors: Health Analysis Division, Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Canada. rcolley@cheo.on.ca
authors: Rachel C
authors: RC
authors: Colley
authors: Didier
authors: D
authors: Garriguet
authors: Kristi B
authors: KB
authors: Adamo
authors: Valerie
authors: V
authors: Carson
authors: Ian
authors: I
authors: Janssen
authors: Brian W
authors: BW
authors: Timmons
authors: Mark S
authors: MS
authors: Tremblay
mesh_terms: D056044:Actigraphy / Q000379:methods; D000367:Age Factors; D002170:Canada; D002652:Child Behavior; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
references: Health Rep. 2012 Jun;23(2):45-52
references: 22866540
references: Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2008 Jan;40(1):181-8
references: 18091006
references: Pediatrics. 1998 Mar;101(3 Pt 2):505-18
references: 12224657
references: J Phys Act Health. 2012 Sep;9(7):944-53
references: 22207582
references: Sports Med. 2007;37(12):1045-70
references: 18027993
references: Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2011 Feb;36(1):59-64; 65-71
references: 21326378
references: Pediatr Exerc Sci. 2007 May;19(2):205-14
references: 17603143
references: Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2012 Mar;44(3):458-65
references: 21900847
references: Pediatr Exerc Sci. 2009 Nov;21(4):413-20
references: 20128361
references: Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2004 Sep;36(9):1625-31
references: 15354047
references: Pediatrics. 2001 Feb;107(2):423-6
references: 11158483
references: Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2011 Apr;36(2):291-7
references: 21609292
references: BMJ. 2000 May 6;320(7244):1240-3
references: 10797032
references: Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2013 Feb;45(2):314-8
references: 22968313
references: Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2012 Aug;37(4):773-92
references: 22765840
references: Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2012 Aug;37(4):753-72
references: 22765839
references: Health Rep. 2011 Mar;22(1):15-23
references: 21510586
references: Health Rep. 2010 Mar;21(1):63-9
references: 20426228
references: Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2012 Apr;37(2):345-69
references: 22448608
references: Health Rep. 2007;18 Suppl:37-51
references: 18210869
references: Stat Methods Med Res. 1996 Sep;5(3):283-310
references: 8931197
references: Res Q Exerc Sport. 2010 Dec;81(4):392-9
references: 21268462
references: Paediatr Child Health. 2013 Jan;18(1):25-8
references: 24381488
references: Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2012 Apr;37(2):370-91
references: 22448609
references: Int J Pediatr Obes. 2009;4(1):2-27
references: 18720173
references: Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2011 Feb;36(1):36-46; 47-58
references: 21326376
references: Pediatr Exerc Sci. 2009 May;21(2):196-208
references: 19556625
references: Am J Prev Med. 2008 May;34(5):435-441
references: 18407012
references: J Sports Sci. 2010 Apr;28(6):603-8
references: 20397094
references: J Phys Act Health. 2011 May;8(4):587-91
references: 21597132
references: Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2006 Jan;38(1):152-7
references: 16394968
references: Health Rep. 2007;18 Suppl:7-20
references: 18210866