Daily Patterns of Preschoolers’ Objectively Measured Step Counts in Six European Countries: Cross-Sectional Results from the ToyBox-Study

Vicky Van Stappen, Delfien Van Dyck, Julie Latomme, Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij, Luis Moreno, Piotr Socha, Violeta Iotova, Berthold Koletzko, Yannis Manios, Odysseas Androutsos, Greet Cardon and Marieke De Craemer
Additional contact information
Vicky Van Stappen: Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Ghent University, Watersportlaan 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Delfien Van Dyck: Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Ghent University, Watersportlaan 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Julie Latomme: Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Ghent University, Watersportlaan 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij: Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Ghent University, Watersportlaan 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Luis Moreno: GENUD (Growth, Exercise, Drinking Behaviour and Development) Research Group, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Piotr Socha: Children’s Memorial Health Institute, 04730 Warsaw, Poland
Violeta Iotova: Clinic of Paediatric Endocrinology, Medical University Varna, 9000 Varna, Bulgaria
Berthold Koletzko: University of Munich Medical Centre, Dr. von Hauner Children’s Hospital, 80337 Munich, Germany
Yannis Manios: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, 80337 Athens, Greece
Odysseas Androutsos: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, 80337 Athens, Greece
Greet Cardon: Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Ghent University, Watersportlaan 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Marieke De Craemer: Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Ghent University, Watersportlaan 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 2, 1-14

Abstract: This study is part of the ToyBox-study, which is conducted in six European countries (Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Poland and Spain), aiming to develop a cost-effective kindergarten-based, family-involved intervention to prevent overweight and obesity in four- to six-year-old preschool children. In the current study, we aimed to examine and compare preschoolers’ step count patterns, across the six European countries. A sample of 3578 preschoolers (mean age: 4.8 ± 0.4) was included. Multilevel analyses were performed to take clustering of measurements into account. Based on the average hourly steps, step count patterns for the six European countries were created for weekdays and weekend days. The step count patterns during weekdays were related to the daily kindergarten schedules. Step count patterns during weekdays showed several significant peaks and troughs ( p < 0.01) and clearly reflected the kindergartens’ daily schedules, except for Germany. For example, low numbers of steps were observed during afternoon naptimes and high numbers of steps during recess. In Germany, step count patterns did not show clear peaks and troughs, which can be explained by a less structured kindergarten schedule. On weekend days, differences in step count patterns were observed in the absolute number of steps in the afternoon trough and the period in which the evening peak occurred. Differences in step count patterns across the countries can be explained by differences in (school) policy, lifestyle habits, and culture. Therefore, it might be important to respond to these step count patterns and more specifically to tackle the inactive periods during interventions to promote physical activity in preschoolers.

Keywords: preschool; children; physical activity; patterns; hour-by-hour (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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