Moderate-to-vigorous Physical Activity For Boys Research Articles

Schooltime's contribution to pupils' physical activity levels: A longitudinal study.

Pupils spend a significant portion of their time at school. As a result, the school serves as an important setting for both learning and the formation of healthy behaviors. Many children, and even fewer young people, do not fulfill the (inter)national health recommendations of 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per day. The aim of this study was to examine pupils' MVPA during schooltime in a longitudinal perspective, including the transition from primary to secondary school. The MVPA of 234 pupils' was measured objectively using accelerometer monitors for seven consecutive days, in the spring of 2017, 2018, and 2019. Statistical analyses by Friedman, Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney U-test were used to answer the research questions. The results showed a significant decrease in the pupils' MVPA and fulfilment of health recommendations during schooltime, from 7th to 8th grade. The analyses also showed that MVPA during schooltime was higher among boys than girls, and also contributed more to boys' fulfilment of the health recommendations at all three time periods. The results indicate that the transition between primary and secondary school is vulnerable concerning pupils' MVPA during schooltime. As schooltime accounted for significantly more MVPA for boys than for girls at all three time periods, we question whether physical activity is sufficiently facilitated for girls in school.

Individual- and Environmental- Level Predictors of Recess Activity and Sedentary Behavior: Findings from the I-CAN! study.

Recess represents a prime opportunity for physical activity during the school day. However, evidence is mixed with regard to factors associated with activity during recess. Data were collected as a part of the Texas Initiative for Children's Activity and Nutrition (I-CAN!) program from 14 elementary schools and 1,049 4th-grade students. Percent of time in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary behavior during recess was measured using GT3X+ accelerometers. Students' demographics, aerobic fitness, and body mass index (BMI) were collected from school records and FITNESSGRAM® data. Aspects of the playground environment supporting activity (e.g. soccer goals) or sedentary behavior (e.g. benches) were calculated following the procedures of the System for Observing Play and Leisure Activity in Youth (SOPLAY), with recess spatial area calculated via the polygon measurement tool in Google™ Earth Pro software. Recess time was collected from school data. Weather during recess was determined using time-stamped archived weather data from Weather Underground. Two-level, linear mixed model regression examined associations between individual- and school-level characteristics and percent time in MVPA. At the student-level, boys were more active than girls (effect size (ES)=0.50) and percent time in MVPA was directly associated with aerobic fitness (ES=0.35). At the school-level, recess infrastructure was associated with percent time in MVPA (ES=1.45), except for factors related to sedentary behavior, which were indirectly associated with percent time in MVPA (ES=-1.98). Patterns for sedentary behavior mirrored these effects. This is one of the few studies to test the associations of fitness and sedentary upgrades to play areas with MVPA and sedentary behavior. The results suggest that recess is most likely to support MVPA in boys and those who are already most fit (i.e., those who would not be the target of intervention). This is not surprising because the focus of recess is on free choice of play, and thus recess might be supported more for social and emotional benefits than the impact on physical activity.

Association between physical activity and leisure-time sedentary behavior among 140,808 adolescents aged 12 to 15 from 47 low- and middle-income countries

ObjectivesData from high-income countries (HICs) indicate that sedentary behavior is negatively associated with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in young people. We examined associations between leisure-time sedentary behavior (LTSB) and MVPA in adolescents from 47 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Study designCross-sectional study. MethodsData from the Global school-based Student Health Survey were analyzed in 140,808 adolescents (13.8 ± 1.0 years; 49% girls). Time spent in LTSB was a composite variable assessing time spent sitting and playing computer games, watching TV, talking with friends during a typical day. The PACE + Adolescent Physical Activity Measure assessed MVPA levels. The association between ≥3 h/day of LTSB and adequate physical activity levels (every day last week 60 min MVPA) was explored with multivariable logistic regression analyses. ResultsThe prevalence of ≥3 h/day of LTSB and 60 min of MVPA/day last week were 26.3% (girls 26.2%; boys 26.5%) and 15.3% (girls 12.1%; boys 18.4%), respectively. LTSB of ≥3 h/day versus <3 h/day was associated with a 35% increased odds for adequate levels of MVPA in boys [OR = 1.35 (95%CI = 1.23–1.48)] and 22% in girls [1.22 (95%CI = 1.10–1.36)]. ConclusionsOur data indicate that being physically active 60 min per day every day and at moderate-to-vigorous intensity and being sedentary ≥3 h/day during leisure-time might co-exist in adolescents in some LMICs.

Children’s time use and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in early childhood education and care in Finland

Background: The role of early childhood education and care (ECEC) is crucial in the implementation of the physical activity recommendations during long ECEC days. Young children should engage in 180 minutes of physical activity spread throughout the day, including 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). To attain the goal more information is needed on children’s time use and physical activity (PA) in children’s activities. Aim: The purposes of this quantitative observational study were twofold: (1) to examine children’s time use and (2) to describe which children’s activities best generate physical activity, specifically MVPA, in ECEC. Setting: Altogether, 2879 Finnish children, aged from 1- to 6-years, participated in this study. Methods: The data of 57 881 observations were analysed using cross-tabulation and a z -test. Results: Daily routines (e.g. eating, dressing, napping and transition), task or seatwork and material play accounted for almost 70% of children’s sedentary behaviour and less than 10% of MVPA. The best MVPA generators were physical activities (that generated 57.4% of all MVPA in boys vs. 62.8% in girls, respectively), rule play (11% in boys vs. 6.7% in girls) and role play (10.1% in boys vs. 9.9% in girls) as well as action not allowed (3.3% in boys vs. 1.2% in girls). Conclusions: Educators should integrate physical activities, rule play and role play more in ECEC day to support the realisation of the recommendations.

Relationship Between Different Bouts Of Physical Activity And Physical Fitness In Preschool Children

PURPOSE: To examine the relationship between bouts of physical activity and physical fitness in preschool children. METHOD: Sporadic sessions (2-4 seconds) of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), short bouts (5-9 seconds) of MVPA; and medium-to-long bouts (≥10 seconds) of MVPA were measured over 7 days using ActiGraph GT3X accelerometers. Physical fitness was assessed by a 20-meter multistage shuttle run test (cardiorespiratory fitness), handgrip and standing long jump tests (musculoskeletal fitness), and the 2×10-meter shuttle run test (speed/agility). A composite score of physical fitness was created from the mean of the standardized values of all physical fitness tests. The bouts of physical activity and composite scores were categorized into quartiles (Q1-Q4 group) by sex; the highest quartile (Q4) of composite scores were assigned as high healthy fitness (HPF). Logistic and linear regression were used to investigate the relationship between bouts of MVPA and HPF. RESULTS: A total of 265 participants were included in the final statistical analysis (boys, 149; girls, 116; 57.19 ± 5.33 months). After adjusting for confounding factors, relative to Q1, the odds ratios (OR) for a HPF in Q4 were 11.72 (95% CI=2.27- 60.53), 7.53 (95% CI=1.83-30.90) and 8.98 (95% CI=1.78-45.39) for sporadic MVPA, short bouts and medium-to-long bouts of MVPA in boys, respectively. Similar results were allow observed in girls, 11.85 (95% CI=2.33-60.19), 12.34 (95% CI=2.47-61.57) and 8.58 (95% CI=1.70-43.41), respectively. There was a non-linear relationship between overall MVPA and HPF in boys. When the total MVPA ≤ 65 min/day, the OR of achieving HPF increased by 17% (OR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.02-1.35) for every 1 minute/day increment in total MVPA; no increases in HPF with increased MVPA were observed for >65 min/day. This non-linear relationship was not found in girls. CONCLUSION: There is a significantly positive relationship between bouts of MVPA and HPF in preschool children. To achieve HPF in preschool children, it is recommended that boys accumulate total MVPA 65 minutes or longer every day. Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (81703252)

A longitudinal study of urban moveability and physical activity in the transition phase from childhood to adolescence

Introduction Physical activity (PA) is one of the most important lifestyle behaviors to reduce the risk for non-communicable diseases. Positive effects of the urban environment on PA in terms of walkability measures such as street connectivity, land use mix, and availability of public open spaces in the urban neighborhood are well investigated. However, evidence of this association is mostly based on cross-sectional studies. Usually, discrete measures of urban point characteristics such as the simple intensity are calculated based on arbitrary municipal districts inducing scaling bias. The present study aims to longitudinally investigate the effect of built environment characteristics on PA of children in their transition phase to adolescence. We considered a kernel intensity approach to assess built environment characteristics and linked urban measures with objectively measured PA data that were collected in the IDEFICS/I.Family cohort. Methods Spatial data were collected in six study regions of three countries, Germany, Italy, and Sweden, participating in the IDEFICS/I.Family cohort. We considered walkability measures such as population density, land use mix (LUM), street connectivity, and availability of public transit. We additionally assessed the availability of public open spaces (POS). Point characteristics, e.g. intersections or POS, were assessed via adaptive anisotropic kernel functions. Urban measures were calculated in network-dependent home neighborhoods using a network distance of 1 km. We used standardized z-scores of urban measures to construct a moveability index that quantifies urban opportunities for PA of children and adolescents. Based on the place of residence, we linked urban measures with individual-level data of 699 children aged 2 to 14, who provided at least two (n = 610) or three (n = 89) accelerometer measurements, from either baseline, first follow-up (IDEFICS study), or second follow-up (I.Family study) with in total 1487 observations. Trajectories of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) as well as light physical activity (LPA) were modelled using linear mixed models accounting for repeated measurements nested within individuals by means of a random intercept and random linear slope for age (centred at 8 years). Environmental variables (z-scores) were included as fixed effects and as interaction effect with age. All models were stratified by sex and adjusted for age, BMI z-score, parental education, valid wear time, season, and region. Results Mean age was 6.6 in boys and 6.8 in girls. Compared to boys, girls spent on average less minutes in MVPA (boys: 58.8, girls: 51.6) and LPA (boys: 305, girls: 294) per day. Linear trajectories showed a significant decline of MVPA over age (boys: = −2.9, 95%CI: [−3.5; − 2.3], girls: = −3.6, [4.1; − 3.0]) and LPA (boys: = −7.6, [−9.1; − 6.1], girls: = −7.6, [−9.1; − 6.1]). The moveability index interacting with age showed only small effects on PA trajectories that were more pronounced for MVPA in boys (= 0.08, [−0.08;0.24]) and for LPA in girls (= 0.15, [−0.23;0.50]). Considering POS a stronger interaction with age was found for MVPA in boys (= 0.24, [−0.30; 0.78]) than in girls (= −0.08, [−0.58; 0.42]). The interaction of population density with age showed a positive effect on MVPA in boys, but not in girls, while the effect on LPA was stronger in girls compared to boys. Only in Girls, negative effects were found for LUM on MVPA (= −0.22, [−0.76; 0.33]) and LPA (= −1.14, [−2.52; 0.23]). Conclusion The kernel approach allowed for a flexible modelling of urban measures and improved the assessment compared to simple density methods. Although PA strongly declined with age, urban measures showed a supportive effect that attenuated this decline in the transition phase from childhood to adolescence. However, urban measures differently affected PA in boys and girls.

Physical activity and sedentary behavior in preschoolers: a longitudinal assessment of trajectories and determinants.

BackgroundDespite physical activity (PA) being recognized as a critically important factor for good physical and mental health already early in life and throughout the life course, prospective data on activity behavior during the preschool years remains scarce. This study examined trajectories and determinants of levels and change in total PA (TPA), moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and sedentary behavior (SB) in a representative sample of Swiss preschoolers.MethodsData were drawn from the Swiss Preschoolers’ Health Study (SPLASHY), a multi-site prospective cohort study including 555 children (53% boys) aged 2-to-6 years at baseline. A follow-up was conducted after 12 months. Activity behavior was measured using accelerometers. Information on 35 potential determinants from different socio-ecological domains was either directly measured or parent-reported. Trajectories of TPA, MVPA and SB over time were described for boys and girls. Linear mixed models were used to investigate factors that predicted levels and change in TPA, MVPA and SB.ResultsAll children were sufficiently physically active according to published recommendations for preschoolers. Trajectory profiles revealed a marked increase in TPA and MVPA in boys and girls whereas SB remained fairly stable over time. Mixed modeling demonstrated that variables most relevant to determining PA levels were sex, age and activity temperament (all positively associated). Together with gross motor skills, birth weight, family structure (only for TPA) and season (only for MVPA), these factors accounted for 26 and 32% of total variance explained in TPA and MVPA, respectively. Activity temperament emerged as the strongest determinant of SB (negative association) and explained with sex, season and family structure 20% of total variance in SB. The presence of older siblings was the only factor that predicted change in PA over time.ConclusionsIn this healthy physically active cohort of preschoolers, non-modifiable individual-level factors had the greatest influence on PA. The limited success of this and previous studies to identify modifiable determinants and the finding that most preschoolers were sufficiently active suggest that future attempts should provide insights into how preschoolers’ activity levels can be maintained and fostered to prevent subsequent harmful declines attributable, amongst others, to educational transitions. Thus, good-quality longitudinal studies are needed.Trial registrationCurrent Controlled Trials ISRCTN41045021 (date of registration: 21.03.14).

Parental influence on the physical activity of Chinese children

This study aimed to examine the association among parental moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), parental support, and the MVPA of children by gender. Participants comprised of 172 boys and 151 girls aged seven to 11 years old from three primary schools in Shanghai. Their parents were also included as research respondents. Accelerometers were utilized to measure MVPA duration among the children. Questionnaires that focused on parental support and MVPA were completed by the parents. Results indicated that only 4% of the children met the recommended MVPA duration of 60 minutes per day based on objective data. Parental support consisted of two constructs: logistic support and explicit modelling. Boys engaged in more MVPA than girls although no gender differences were noted in terms of the logistic support and explicit modelling of parents and their MVPA. A regression analysis revealed that 23.3% of the variance in MVPA for boys was explained by explicit modelling and MVPA of fathers. Moreover, 10.5% of the variance for girls was explained by the explicit modelling of mothers. Thus, parents should be highly encouraged to support the MVPA of their children by acting as role models. They can also enhance the MVPA of their children using different methods based on gender.

Social capital and physical activity among Croatian high school students

ObjectiveTo examine factors associated with regular physical activity in Croatian adolescents. Study designA cross-sectional survey among high school students was carried out in the 2013/14 school year. MethodA survey was conducted among 33 high schools in Zagreb City, Croatia. Participants were students aged 17–18 years. The dependent variables were regular moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and overall physical activity measured by the short version of International Physical Activity Questionnaire and defined as 60 min or more of daily physical activity. The independent variables included family, neighborhood, and high school social capital. Other study covariates included: socio-economic status, self-rated health, psychological distress and nutritional status. The associations between physical activity and social capital variables were assessed separately for boys and girls through multiple logistic regression and inverse probability weighting in order to correct for missing data bias. ResultsA total of 1689 boys and 1739 girls responded to the survey. A higher percentage of boys reported performing regular vigorous and moderate physical activity (59.4%) and overall physical activity (83.4%), comparing with the girls (35.4% and 70%, respectively). For boys, high family social capital and high informal social control were associated with increased odds of regular MVPA (1.49, 95%CI: 1.18 – 1.90 and 1.26, 95%CI: 1.02 – 1.56, respectively), compared to those with low social capital. For girls, high informal social control was associated with regular overall physical activity (OR 1.38, 95% CI: 1.09 – 1.76). ConclusionHigh social capital is associated with regular MVPA in boys and regular overall activity in girls. Intervention and policies that leverage community social capital might serve as an avenue for promotion of physical activity in youth.

Body image, BMI, and physical activity in girls and boys aged 14–16 years

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between body image, body mass index (BMI), and physical activity in adolescents. The study included 1702 girls and 1547 boys aged 14–16 years. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was evaluated by the Physical Activity Screening Measure. Body image was assessed using the Feelings and Attitudes Towards the Body Scale, and participants’ BMI was determined based on measured height and weight. Compared to boys, girls reported more negative body image (p<.05). The results of the three-way hierarchical regression revealed that body image was a statistically significant positive predictor of MVPA for adolescents, regardless of BMI. Additionally, body image was a stronger predictor of MVPA in boys than in girls. These findings suggest that body image, rather than BMI, is important in undertaking physical activity in adolescents and should be considered when preparing programs aimed at improving physical activity.

Trends in television time, non-gaming PC use and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity among German adolescents 2002-2010.

BackgroundStudies in youth highlight that moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and screen-time behaviours such as television viewing and PC use are associated with a range of health outcomes. However, little is known about recent trends in these behaviours in adolescents. This paper presents time trends in German adolescents’ television time, non-gaming PC use as well as MVPA from 2002 to 2010.MethodsData were derived from the cross-sectional German Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study in 2002, 2006 and 2010. Analyses were based on 16,918 11-to 15-year olds boys (49.1%) and girls. Outcome variables were time spent in TV viewing and using a PC (weekday and weekend day) as well as the number of days achieving 60 minutes of MVPA. Changes in both screen-time behaviours and MVPA over time were analysed using sex-specific linear regression, controlling for age and family affluence.ResultsTV viewing on weekdays, but not at weekends, declined steadily over time with a difference between 2002 and 2010 of 12.4 min/day in girls and 18.3 min/day in boys (p for trend < .01). We found a strong increase in PC use for non-gaming purposes over time for girls only, with a difference between 2002 and 2010 of 54.1 min/weekday and 68.8 min/weekend day (p < .001). For MVPA we found a slight statistically significant increase in terms of meeting PA guidelines as well as days/week in MVPA for boys and girls (p < .001). In 2010 14.0% of girls and 19.9% of boys met PA guideline.ConclusionAlthough MVPA increased from 2002 to 2010 in German adolescents, the time spent in MVPA was still low. Despite the observed decrease in TV viewing, there was no overall decline in the observed screen-based behaviours, especially for girls. This is mainly due to a marked increase in use of a PC for chatting on-line, internet, emailing, homework etc. among girls during the last ten years which outweighs the corresponding decrease in TV viewing. The findings highlight a need for strategies and interventions aimed at reducing screen-time behaviours and promoting MVPA.

Does biological maturity actually confound gender‐related differences in physical activity in preadolescence?

To examine: (i) if maturity-related gender differences in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) depend on how maturity status is defined and measured; and (ii) the influence of maturity level on compliance with PA recommendations. The study involved 253 children (139 boys) aged 9.9 ± 0.9 years, with mean stature and weight of 1.39 ± 0.08 m and 35.8 ± 8.8 kg respectively. Their PA was evaluated using an Actigraph accelerometer (Model 7164). Maturity was assessed using the estimated age at peak height velocity (APHV) and a standardized APHV by gender (i.e. centred APHV). Boys engaged in significantly more MVPA than girls (P < 0.0001). There was a significant correlation between the centred APHV and MVPA in boys (r = 0.20; P = 0.016), but not in girls (r = 0.13; P = 0.155). An ancova controlling for the estimated APHV showed no significant interactions between gender and APHV, and the main effect of gender on MVPA was negated. Conversely, there was a significant main effect of APHV on MVPA (F 1,249 = 6.12; P = 0.014; η p (2) = 0.024). Only 9.1% of children met the PA recommendations, including 14.4% of boys and 2.6% of girls (P < 0.01). This observation also applies in both pre-APHV (12.7% of boys vs. 2.4% of girls, P < 0.001) and post-APHV children (23.8% of boys vs. 3.4% of girls, P < 0.0001). No differences in PA guidelines were observed between pre-APHV and post-APHV children. Among prepubescent children, the influence of biological maturity on gender differences in PA may be a function of how maturity status is determined. The most physically active prepubescent children were those who were on time according to APHV.

Patterns of physical activity and sedentary behaviour in preschool children.

BackgroundLittle is known about patterns of sedentary behavior (SB) and physical activity among preschoolers. Therefore, in this observational study patterns of SB and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) were examined in detail throughout the week in preschool-aged boys and girls.MethodsA sample of 703 Melbourne preschool children (387 boys; 4.6 ± 0.7 y) were included in data analysis. SB and MVPA data were collected using accelerometry over an eight-day period. Percentage of time per hour in SB and in MVPA between 08:00 h and 20:00 h was calculated. Multi-level logistic regression models were created to examine the hour-by-hour variability in SB and MVPA for boys and girls across weekdays and weekend days. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated to interpret differences in hour-by-hour SB and MVPA levels between boys and girls, and between weekdays and weekend days.ResultsThe highest SB levels co-occurred with the lowest MVPA levels from the morning till the early afternoon on weekdays, and during the morning and around midday on weekends. Besides, participation in SB was the lowest and participation in MVPA was the highest from the mid afternoon till the evening on weekdays and weekend days. The variability across the hours in SB and, especially, in MVPA was rather small throughout weekdays and weekends. These patterns were found in both boys and girls. During some hours, girls were found to be more likely than boys to demonstrate higher SB levels (OR from 1.08 to 1.16; all p < 0.05) and lower MVPA levels (OR from 0.75 to 0.88; all p < 0.05), but differences were small. During weekends, hour-by-hour SB levels were more likely to be lower (OR from 0.74 to 0.98; all p < 0.05) and hour-by-hour MVPA levels were more likely to be higher (OR from 1.15 to 1.50; all p < 0.05), than during weekdays, in boys and girls.ConclusionEntire weekdays, especially from the morning till the early afternoon, and entire weekend days are opportunities to reduce SB and to promote MVPA in preschool-aged boys and girls. Particularly weekdays hold the greatest promise for improving SB and MVPA. No particular time of the week was found where one sex should be targeted.

Secular trends in fitness, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and TV-viewing among first grade school children of Crete, Greece between 1992/93 and 2006/07

ObjectivesTo assess secular changes in physical fitness (PF), moderate-to-vigorous-physical activity (MVPA) and TV-viewing in 1st-grade children from Crete, Greece. DesignCross-sectional cohorts examined in academic years 1992/93 and 2006/07. MethodsTwo representative samples of children, aged 5.9–7.8 years, were studied during 1992/93 (N=606) and 2006/07 (N=361). PF (sit-and-reach, standing-broad-jump, sit-ups and 20m-shuttle-run-test) was assessed by the European-PF test battery and MVPA by a physical activity (PA) questionnaire. Data on the frequency of TV-viewing was also collected. ResultsBetween 1992/93 and 2006/07, there was a significant increase in all fitness tests in both genders (P<0.001) and in MVPA in boys (76.5min/week vs. 38.7min/week, P<0.001). Time spent watching TV on weekdays was significantly more in both genders in 2006/07, compared to 1992/93 (P<0.001). In 2006/07, active boys and active girls spent more time in MVPA than active boys and girls in 1992/93 (P<0.001). Significantly higher proportions of boys and girls engaged in vigorous activities in 2006/07, than 1992/93 (P<0.001 and P=0.027, respectively). ConclusionsA significant increase in physical and cardiorespiratory fitness in both genders and MVPA in boys was observed in children from Crete between 1992/93 and 2006/07. The increase in weekday TV-viewing, despite being parallel to an increase in leisure-time MVPA, could have an unfavorable effect on health and should be tackled in future interventions in this population. Dietary, anthropometric and biochemical indices should also be investigated to assess their impact on the secular changes in physical fitness and activity observed in this sample of children.

The risk of reduced physical activity in children with probable Developmental Coordination Disorder: A prospective longitudinal study

The aim of the current study was to test the hypothesis that children with probable Developmental Coordination Disorder have an increased risk of reduced moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), using data from a large population based study. Prospectively collected data from 4331 children (boys = 2065, girls = 2266) who had completed motor coordination testing at 7 years and accelerometry at 12 years were analysed from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Probable DCD (p-DCD) was defined, using criteria based on the DSM IV classification, as those children below the 15th centile of the ALSPAC Coordination Test at seven years who had a functional impairment in activities of daily living or handwriting, excluding children with a known neurological diagnosis or IQ < 70. Secondary exposure variables consisted of subtests from the ALSPAC Coordination test (manual dexterity, ball skills and balance). Objective measurement of the average daily minutes of MVPA was recorded as ≥3600 counts per minute (cpm) using actigraph accelerometry. Boys with p-DCD were less physically active than boys without DCD (mean difference in MVPA 4.36 cpm, t = 2.69; p = 0.007). For boys, targeting skill (bean bag toss) was related to increased MVPA, after adjustment for confounding factors including neonatal, family and environmental factors as well as Body Mass Index at age seven and 12 years ( β = 0.76, t = 3.37, p < 0.001, CI 0.32–1.20). There was no difference in level of MVPA in girls with and without p-DCD (mean difference 1.35 min, t = 0.97, p = 0.31), which may reflect the low levels of MVPA of girls in this cohort. Our findings suggest that the presence of movement difficulties, particularly poor targeting (bean bag toss/ball skills), at a young age is a potential risk factor for reduced MVPA in boys.