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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Laura BasterfieldORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
BACKGROUND: Levels of physical activity and variation in physical activity and sedentary time by place and person in European children and adolescents are largely unknown. The objective of the study was to assess the variations in objectively measured physical activity and sedentary time in children and adolescents across Europe. METHODS: Six databases were systematically searched to identify pan-European and national data sets on physical activity and sedentary time assessed by the same accelerometer in children (2 to 9.9 years) and adolescents (≥10 to 18 years). We harmonized individual-level data by reprocessing hip-worn raw accelerometer data files from 30 different studies conducted between 1997 and 2014, representing 47,497 individuals (2-18 years) from 18 different European countries. RESULTS: Overall, a maximum of 29% (95% CI: 25, 33) of children and 29% (95% CI: 25, 32) of adolescents were categorized as sufficiently physically active. We observed substantial country- and region-specific differences in physical activity and sedentary time, with lower physical activity levels and prevalence estimates in Southern European countries. Boys were more active and less sedentary in all age-categories. The onset of age-related lowering or leveling-off of physical activity and increase in sedentary time seems to become apparent at around 6 to 7 years of age. CONCLUSIONS: Two third of European children and adolescents are not sufficiently active. Our findings suggest substantial gender-, country- and region-specific differences in physical activity. These results should encourage policymakers, governments, and local and national stakeholders to take action to facilitate an increase in the physical activity levels of young people across Europe.
Author(s): Steene-Johannessen J, Hansen BH, Dalene KE, Kolle E, Northstone K, Moller NC, Grontved A, Wedderkopp N, Kriemler S, Page AS, Puder JJ, Reilly JJ, Sardinha LB, van Sluijs EMF, Andersen LB, van der Ploeg H, Ahrens W, Flexeder C, Standl M, Shculz H, Moreno LA, De Henauw S, Michels N, Cardon G, Ortega FB, Ruiz J, Aznar S, Fogelholm M, Decelis A, Olesen LG, Hjorth MF, Santos R, Vale S, Christiansen LB, Jago R, Basterfield L, Owen CG, Nightingale CM, Eiben G, Polito A, Lauria F, Vanhelst J, Hadjigeorgiou C, Konstabel K, Molnar D, Sprengeler O, Manios Y, Harro J, Kafatos A, Anderssen SA, Ekelund U, on behalf of the Determinants of Diet and Physical Activity knowledge hub (DEDIPAC), International Children's Accelerometry Database (ICAD) Collaborators, IDEFICS Consortium, HELENA Consortium
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity
Year: 2020
Volume: 17
Issue: 1
Online publication date: 18/03/2020
Acceptance date: 12/02/2020
Date deposited: 02/04/2020
ISSN (electronic): 1479-5868
Publisher: BioMed Central Ltd
URL: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-020-00930-x
DOI: 10.1186/s12966-020-00930-x
PubMed id: 32183834
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