Physical Activity and Screen Time Recommendation Compliance in Preschoolers

Abstract

Low physical activity (PA) and increased screen time (ST) is problematic for preschool-age children (2.9-5 years), and is attributed to childhood overweight/obesity. Due to this, several organizations have provided recommendations surrounding these behaviors. However, few studies have examined the compliance rates of preschoolers based on the recently released PA and ST recommendations (≥15 minutes of PA/hour and ≤60 min/day). PURPOSE: To assess preschool-age children’s compliance with PA and screen time recommendations and identify variables contributing to compliance. METHODS: Baseline data from preschoolers (n=52, 50% male, age = 3.7±0.8 years, BMI % = 50.2±26.5) in two preschool centers participating in the Preschool Activity, Diet, and Sleep pilot study was utilized for this analysis. PA was measured with an Actigraph GT3X accelerometer worn on the lower back of children for seven consecutive days. PA data were reduced using Pate et al. cut points, and compliance was assessed for school-day (≥15 min/hour) and total day (≥180 min) recommendations. ST and parent variables were assessed with self-report validated questionnaires. Appropriate descriptive statistics were calculated for all variables. Logistic regression was used to determine differences in compliance based on gender, ST, school-day PA, parent PA, and parent PA knowledge. RESULTS: Children engaged in 11.3±3.6 min/hour of PA and 102.6±79.6 min/day of ST. The percentage of preschoolers meeting school-day recommendations and total day recommendations were 17.1% and 26.5%, respectively. Approximately 35.9% of preschoolers met ST recommendations. There were no gender differences in PA (p=0.052) or ST (p=0.91) compliance. Additionally, only school-day PA significantly contributed to the likelihood of meeting total day recommendations (OR=1.05, 95% CI=1.002, 1.104). CONCLUSION: Preschoolers’ compliance with PA and ST recommendations was low in this sample. Additionally, only school-day PA was a significant predictor of meeting daily PA recommendations. No significant predictors were identified for ST compliance. Practical intervention strategies are needed to increase PA and reduce ST in preschoolers, specifically in the preschool environment.