Objectively Measured Physical Activity and Sedentary Time during Childhood, Adolescence and Young Adulthood: A Cohort Study

BackgroundTo know how moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary time change across lifespan periods is needed for designing successful lifestyle interventions. We aimed to study changes in objectively measured (accelerometry) MVPA and sedentary time from childhood to adolescence and from adolescence to young adulthood.MethodsEstonian and Swedish participants from the European Youth Heart Study aged 9 and 15 years at baseline (N = 2312) were asked to participate in a second examination 6 (Sweden) to 9/10 (Estonia) years later. 1800 participants with valid accelerometer data were analyzed.ResultsMVPA decreased from childhood to adolescence (−1 to −2.5 min/d per year of follow-up, P = 0.01 and ConclusionsThe decline in MVPA (overall change = 30 min/d) and increase sedentary time (overall change = 2∶45 h/d) observed from childhood to adolescence are of concern and might increase the risk of developing obesity and other chronic diseases later in life. These findings substantially contribute to understand how key health-related behaviors (physical activity and sedentary) change across important periods of life.背景：若要设计行之有效的生活方式干预方案，需明确中等至剧烈强度体力活动（moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, MVPA）与久坐时长随生命周期各阶段的变化规律。本研究旨在探究经客观检测（加速度测量法，accelerometry）得到的MVPA与久坐时长，分别在儿童期至青春期、以及青春期至青年期两个阶段的变化情况。 方法：本研究的受试者来自欧洲青年心脏研究（European Youth Heart Study），基线时年龄为9岁与15岁的爱沙尼亚及瑞典参与者共计2312名。研究邀请上述受试者于基线后6年（瑞典组）至9/10年（爱沙尼亚组）时接受第二次随访检查，最终对1800名具备有效加速度计检测数据的受试者进行数据分析。 结果：本研究显示，从儿童期至青春期，MVPA呈下降趋势（每年随访降幅为1~2.5 min/d，P=0.01）。 结论：从儿童期至青春期，受试者的MVPA整体下降30 min/d，久坐时长整体增加2小时45分/d，该变化值得关注，或会增加日后罹患肥胖及其他慢性疾病的风险。本研究结果有助于深入理解关键健康相关行为（体力活动与久坐行为）在人生重要阶段的变化规律。