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Tracking of MVPA across childhood and adolescence

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Mark PearceORCiD, Professor Ashley AdamsonORCiD, Dr Laura BasterfieldORCiD

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).


Abstract

© 2024 The AuthorsObjectives: Tracking of physical activity from childhood onwards is an important public health issue, but evidence on tracking is limited. This study quantified the tracking of Moderate-Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA) across childhood and adolescence in a recent cohort from England. Design: Longitudinal, with a socio-economically representative sample from North-East England, over an 8-year period. Methods: Measures of time spent in MVPA, with an Actigraph GT1M accelerometer, were made at age 7–8y (n = 622, T1), age 9–10y (n = 585, T2), age 12–13y (n = 525, T3) and age 14–16y (n = 361, T4). Tracking of MVPA was assessed using rank order correlations between time spent in MVPA T1–T2, T1–T3, and T1–T4, and by using Cohen's kappa to examine tracking of meeting the MVPA guideline (mean of 60 min/d). We examined whether tracking varied by sex, socio-economic status (SES), initial MVPA, or initial body fatness. Results: Rank order correlations were all statistically significant at p < 0.01 and moderate: 0.58 between T1 and T2; 0.42 between T1 and T3; 0.41 between T1 and T4. Cohen's kappas for meeting the global MVPA guideline were all significant, weakening from moderate to low over the 8 years. Tracking was stronger in higher SES compared to lower SES groups, and there was some evidence that it was stronger in girls than boys, but the other explanatory variables had little influence on tracking. Conclusions: Tracking of MVPA from mid-childhood to mid-adolescence in this cohort was moderate. This study suggests there is a need to establish high MVPA by mid-childhood, and to mitigate the age-related reduction in MVPA which occurs from mid-childhood.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Ramos-Munell J, Pearce MS, Adamson A, Janssen X, Basterfield L, Reilly JJ

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport

Year: 2024

Volume: 27

Issue: 6

Pages: 396-401

Print publication date: 01/06/2024

Online publication date: 26/03/2024

Acceptance date: 21/03/2024

Date deposited: 18/04/2024

ISSN (print): 1440-2440

ISSN (electronic): 1878-1861

Publisher: Elsevier Ltd

URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2024.03.006

DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2024.03.006


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Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
CZH/4/484Scottish Executive
Gateshead PCT
the UK National Prevention Research Initiative (GO501306)
Scottish Government Chief Scientist Office (CZH/4/979)
the UKMedical Research Council

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