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Study Finds That Physical Activity Declines Across Preschool Years
A study in the January issue of Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise finds that children’s activity levels begin to dip between ages 3 and 5, suggesting that early interventions are needed to effectively address the childhood obesity epidemic, Reuters reports. To determine patterns of physical activity during early childhood, a team of New Zealand researchers measured physical activity and inactivity among 244 children using monitors that recorded body movements. Participants wore the monitors for five consecutive days each year at ages 3, 4 and 5. The movement data were paired with parental reports and results of an annual physical exam. According to the data, children engaged in physical activity significantly less often at ages 4 and 5 than at age 3. The children consistently logged an average of 90 minutes of daily screen time and 90 minutes participating in other sedentary activities, such as reading, music and art, with no noticeable changes as the children aged. The researchers recommend that physical activity be encouraged at a young age, both to establish healthy behaviors and to harness a child’s natural desire to be active. In addition, they recommend that parents engage in physical activity with their children and impose limits on television and screen time (Norton, Reuters, 1/12/09; Taylor et. al, Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, January 2009 [registration required]).