title: Physical activity in different preschool settings: an exploratory study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Physical activity (PA) in preschoolers is vital to protect against obesity but is influenced by different early-life factors. The present study investigated the impact of different preschool programs and selected family factors on preschoolers' PA in different countries in an explorative way.
  
  
  METHODS
  The PA of 114 children (age = 5.3 ± 0.65 years) attending different preschool settings in four cities of the trinational Upper Rhine region (Freiburg, Landau/Germany, Basel/Switzerland, and Strasbourg/France) was measured by direct accelerometry. Anthropometrical and family-related data were obtained. Timetables of preschools were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Comparing the preschool settings, children from Strasbourg and Landau were significantly more passive than children from Basel and Freiburg (P < .01). With regard to the family context as an important early-life factor, a higher number of children in a family along with the mother's and child's anthropometrical status are predictors of engagement in PA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More open preschool systems such as those in Basel, Freiburg, and Landau do not lead to more PA "per se" compared to the highly regimented desk-based system in France. Preliminaries such as special training and the number of caregivers might be necessary elements to enhance PA. In family contexts, targeted PA interventions for special groups should be more focused in the future.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport and Sport Science, University of Freiburg, Schwarzwaldstraße 175, 79117 Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-7584-9602
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Röttger
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Psychology and Human Movement Science, Institute of Human Movement Science, University of Hamburg, Turmweg 2, 20148 Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Elke
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0932-3100
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grimminger
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport and Sport Science, University of Freiburg, Schwarzwaldstraße 175, 79117 Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Friederike
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4037-7796
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kreuser
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport and Sport Science, University of Freiburg, Schwarzwaldstraße 175, 79117 Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Lorenz
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1394-9883
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Assländer
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport and Sport Science, University of Freiburg, Schwarzwaldstraße 175, 79117 Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gollhofer
authors.affiliation: Exercise Medicine and Sport, University Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Hugstetter Straße 55, 79106 Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0223-9624
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Korsten-Reck
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012574:Schools
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