Like Father, Like Son. Physical Activity, Dietary Intake, and Media Consumption in Pre-School-Aged Children

Nadja Frate, Brigitte Jenull and Robert Birnbacher
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Nadja Frate: Department of Psychology, Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt, 9020 Klagenfurt, Austria
Brigitte Jenull: Department of Psychology, Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt, 9020 Klagenfurt, Austria
Robert Birnbacher: Department of Children and Adolescent Medicine, Hospital Villach, 9500 Villach, Austria

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 3, 1-12

Abstract: An imbalance between energy input and energy needs contributes to the growing incidence of overweight children. Pre-schoolers normally like to move, but even at this young age, they are already affected by a lack of physical activity and a high amount of screen time. Media consumption contributes to unhealthy diets and extends the length of time spent sitting. Longer periods of sitting are, independent of the level of activity, seen as a risk factor for the development of obesity. In the present study, 160 pre-schoolers and their parents (128 mothers, 121 fathers) were examined. The results show deviations from actual recommendations regarding physical activity, time spent sitting, dietary intake, and media consumption. Increased screen time was associated with a higher weight status among pre-school-aged children. To provide a healthy upbringing, prevention and intervention measures should be implemented on a behavioral and relational level.

Keywords: preschool children; physical activity; dietary intake; recommendations by the WHO; media consumption (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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