Abstract
PurposeThis study examined the associations of physical activity levels between parents and their pre-school children based on gender and weekday/weekend.MethodA total of 247 parent-preschool child triads from Shanghai, China were analyzed. The children had a mean age of 57.5 ± 5.2 months. Both sedentary behavior and physical activity were measured in all participants using an ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometer over seven consecutive days from Monday through the following Sunday. A multivariate regression model was derived to identify significant relationships between parental and child physical activity according to gender and weekday/weekend.ResultsThere was a significant correlation between mothers’ and girls’ moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and total physical activity (TPA) on weekdays. Fathers’ MPVA levels correlated significantly with those of boys and girls, with paternal influence appearing to be stronger than maternal influence. However, there was not a significant correlation between fathers’ and children’s TPA. TPA levels of both mothers and fathers correlated with those of girls, but not with those of boys. Parental sedentary levels on the weekend correlated significantly with girls’ levels, but not with boys’ levels. Children’s physical activity levels on weekends were influenced more by fathers’ activity levels than by mothers’, while the opposite was observed on weekdays.ConclusionSedentary behavior and physical activity levels of parents can strongly influence those of their preschool children, with maternal influence stronger during the weekdays and paternal influence stronger on the weekends. Parents’ activity levels influence girls’ levels more strongly than they influence boys’ levels.
Highlights
Prevalence of obesity and overweight continue to increase among preschool age children in China (Xiao et al, 2015; Zhou et al, 2014)
247 parent–child triads were included in the analysis, which comprised 86 fathers, 161 mothers, 140 boys and 107 girls (Table 1)
The present study showed a significant association between levels of sedentary behavior and physical activity of preschool children in Shanghai with the corresponding levels in their parents
Summary
Prevalence of obesity and overweight continue to increase among preschool age children in China (Xiao et al, 2015; Zhou et al, 2014). Data from the International Obesity Task Force, World Health Organization, and US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that among preschool children with a mean age of 5.02 years in northeast China, the prevalence of overweight is 11–12% and the prevalence of obesity is 6–14% (Ma et al, 2011). Data from these three organizations indicate that among preschool children. In this way, promoting physical activity may benefit preschool children and youth both physically and mentally
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