Associations between physical activity, screen time, and fitness among 6- to 10-year-old children living in Edmonton, Canada.
The objectives of this study were to describe fitness levels; examine associations between physical activity (PA), screen time (ST), and fitness; and examine sex-moderating effects in a sample of children. Participants were 649 children (age, 7.8 ± 0.6 years; 52.4% female) from Edmonton, Canada. Hours/week of PA and ST were parent-reported. PA was also objectively measured with pedometers and expressed in increments of 1000 steps/day. Fitness components (i.e., vertical jump, sit-and-reach, waist circumference, grip strength, predicted maximal oxygen consumption, push-ups, partial curl-ups, overall fitness) were measured according to the Canadian Physical Activity, Fitness, and Lifestyle Approach protocols and expressed as z scores or low/high fitness. Positive associations were observed between PA and overall fitness for both the complete (subjective: β = 0.009, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.001-0.017) and partial (≥3 available fitness measures; subjective: β = 0.006, 95% CI: 0.000-0.011; objective: β = 0.025, 95% CI: 0.007-0.042) fitness scores. Subjective (β = 0.011, 95% CI: 0.000-0.022) and objective (β = 0.043, 95% CI: 0.008-0.078) PAs were positively associated with vertical jump. Children with higher objective PA were more likely to be in the high push-ups group (odds ratio = 1.156, 95% CI: 1.054-1.267). PA was positively associated with predicted maximal oxygen uptake (subjective: β = 0.040, 95% CI: 0.018-0.063; objective: β = 0.084, 95% CI: 0.012-0.157) and grip strength (subjective: β = 0.025, 95% CI: 0.011-0.040) in boys only. ST was negatively associated with grip strength (β = -0.016, 95% CI: -0.028 to -0.004) in boys. PA was associated with several components of fitness, especially in boys. However, few associations were observed between ST and fitness. Promoting regular PA in young children may address declining fitness levels.
Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H9, Canada.|Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H9, Canada.
Morgan
M
Potter
Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H9, Canada.|Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H9, Canada.
John C
JC
Spence
Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H9, Canada.|Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H9, Canada.
Normand G
NG
Boulé
Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H9, Canada.|Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H9, Canada.
Jodie A
JA
Stearns
Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H9, Canada.|Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H9, Canada.
Valerie
V
Carson
D002170:Canada; D002648:Child; D015444:Exercise; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010809:Physical Fitness; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D012737:Sex Factors
Canada; activité physique; children; condition physique; cross-sectional; enfants; fitness; physical activity; screen time; temps d’écran; transversale