Tracking Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in Childhood

Jones, Rachel A.; Hinkley, Trina; Okely, Anthony D.; Salmon, Jo

doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2013.03.001

Cited by 549Physical Activity and HealthObesity, Physical Activity, DietChildren's Physical and Motor Development

Tracking Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in Childhood

Jones, Rachel A., Hinkley, Trina, Okely, Anthony D., Salmon, Jo·2013·American Journal of Preventive Medicine

DOI 10.1016/j.amepre.2013.03.001

Open this paper in CoChat — free account

Abstract

Context To date, no reviews have investigated the evidence of tracking of physical activity and sedentary behavior specifically during early childhood (aged 0-5.9 years) or from early childhood to middle childhood (aged 6-12 years). It is important to review the evidence of tracking of these behaviors to determine their stability during the foundational early years of life.Evidence acquisition A literature search of studies was conducted in seven electronic databases (January 1980 to April 2012). Studies were compared on methodologic quality and evidence of tracking of physical activity or sedentary behavior. Tracking was defined as the stability (or relative ranking within a cohort) of behaviors, such as physical activity and sedentary behavior, over time.Evidence synthesis Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria. All studies reporting physical activity outcomes had high methodologic quality; 71% of studies reporting sedentary behavior outcomes had high methodologic quality. Of the tracking coefficients for physical activity, 4% were large, 60% were moderate, and 36% were small. Of the tracking coefficients for sedentary behavior, 33% were large, 50% were moderate, and 17% were small. Overall, there was evidence of moderate tracking of physical activity during early childhood, and from early childhood to middle childhood, and of moderate-to-large tracking of sedentary behavior during early childhood and from early childhood to middle childhood.Conclusions This review highlights the importance of establishing recommended levels of physical activity and sedentary behavior during the early years of life. Based on this review, the following recommendations are made: (1) early childhood should be targeted as a critical time to promote healthy lifestyle behaviors through methodologically sound prevention studies; and (2) future tracking studies should assess a broad range of sedentary behaviors using objective measures.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1016/j.amepre.2013.03.001

Cites

25 of 25 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Recomputing p-values needs the paper’s full text.

Claims the paper makes

This paper’s full text isn’t openly available, so its claims and self-check weren’t run. The registry and citation checks still apply.

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

Childhood obesity is a significant precursor of adult obesity.
“Childhood obesity is a significant precursor of adult obesity [3–7].”
From Barriers, facilitators and capacities for childhood obesity prevention in 12 European nations: results of a policy-maker survey (2018) · cites this paper as [6]

Tracking of childhood overweight into adulthood: a systematic review of the literature
Singh, A. S., Mulder, C., Twisk, J. W. R., van Mechelen, W., & Chinapaw, M. J. M. (2008) · Obesity Reviews · doi:10.1111/j.1467-789x.2008.00475.x · Cited by 2,495 · see citing works
Tracking of Physical Activity from Childhood to Adulthood: A Review
Telama, R. (2009) · Obesity Facts · doi:10.1159/000222244 · Cited by 993 · see citing works
Association between child and adolescent television viewing and adult health: a longitudinal birth cohort study
Hancox, R. J., Milne, B. J., & Poulton, R. (2004) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(04)16675-0 · Cited by 872 · see citing works
Systematic review of physical activity and health in the early years (aged 0-4 years)
Timmons, B. W., LeBlanc, A. G., Carson, V., Connor Gorber, S., Dillman, C., Janssen, I., Kho, M. E., Spence, J. C., Stearns, J. A., & Tremblay, M. S. (2012) · Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism · doi:10.1139/h2012-070 · Cited by 626 · see citing works
Start active, stay active: a report on physical activity from the four home countries' Chief Medical Officers
Officer, C. M. (2013) · Cited by 624 · see citing works
Tracking of sedentary behaviours of young people: A systematic review
Biddle, S. J. H., Pearson, N., Ross, G. M., & Braithwaite, R. (2010) · Preventive Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2010.07.018 · Cited by 616 · see citing works
Children’s Television Viewing and Cognitive Outcomes
Zimmerman, F. J., & Christakis, D. (2005) · Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine · doi:10.1001/archpedi.159.7.619 · Cited by 514 · see citing works
Television viewing and change in body fat from preschool to early adolescence: The Framingham Children's Study
Proctor, M. H., Moore, L. L., Gao, D., Cupples, L. A., Bradlee, M. L., Hood, M. Y., & Ellison, R. C. (2003) · International Journal of Obesity · doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0802294 · Cited by 420 · see citing works
Tracking of Activity and Sedentary Behaviors in Childhood
Janz, K. F., Burns, T. L., & Levy, S. M. (2005) · American Journal of Preventive Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2005.06.001 · Cited by 369 · see citing works
Quality of reporting of observational longitudinal research.
Tooth, L. (2005) · American Journal of Epidemiology · doi:10.1093/aje/kwi042 · Cited by 363 · see citing works
Systematic review of sedentary behaviour and health indicators in the early years (aged 0–4 years)
LeBlanc, A. G., Spence, J. C., Carson, V., Gorber, S. C., Dillman, C. J., Janssen, I., Kho, M. E., Stearns, J. A., Timmons, B. W., & Tremblay, M. S. (2012) · Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism · doi:10.1139/h2012-063 · Cited by 340 · see citing works
Preschoolers’ Physical Activity, Screen Time, and Compliance with Recommendations
Hinkley, T., Salmon, J., Okely, A. D., Crawford, D. A., & Hesketh, K. D. (2011) · Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise · doi:10.1249/mss.0b013e318233763b · Cited by 294 · see citing works
Self-citation
Tracking of physical activity in young children
Pate, R. R., Baranowski, T., Dowda, M. C., & Trost, S. G. (1996) · Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise · doi:10.1097/00005768-199601000-00019 · Cited by 293 · see citing works
BEACHES: AN OBSERVATIONAL SYSTEM FOR ASSESSING CHILDREN'S EATING AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY BEHAVIORS AND ASSOCIATED EVENTS
McKenzie, T. L., Sallis, J. F., Nader, P. R., Patterson, T. L., Elder, J. P., Berry, C. C., Rupp, J. W., Atkins, C. J., Buono, M. J., & Nelson, J. A. E. (1991) · Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis · doi:10.1901/jaba.1991.24-141 · Cited by 218 · see citing works
Objectively Measured Physical Activity in a Representative Sample of 3‐ to 4‐Year‐Old Children
Jackson, D. M., Reilly, J. J., Kelly, L. A., Montgomery, C., Grant, S., & Paton, J. Y. (2003) · Obesity Research · doi:10.1038/oby.2003.57 · Cited by 209 · see citing works
Compliance With National Guidelines for Physical Activity in U.S. Preschoolers: Measurement and Interpretation
Beets, M. W., Bornstein, D. B., Dowda, M. C., & Pate, R. R. (2011) · PEDIATRICS · doi:10.1542/peds.2010-2021 · Cited by 191 · see citing works
Longitudinal Study of Physical Activity and Inactivity in Preschoolers
Taylor, R. W., Murdoch, L., Carter, P., Gerrard, D. F., Williams, S., & Taylor, B. J. (2008) · Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise · doi:10.1249/mss.0b013e3181849d81 · Cited by 174 · see citing works
Maternal self-efficacy regarding children's eating and sedentary behaviours in the early years: Associations with children's food intake and sedentary behaviours
Campbell, K. J., Hesketh, K. D., Silverii, A., & Abbott, G. (2010) · International Journal of Pediatric Obesity · doi:10.3109/17477161003777425 · Cited by 169 · see citing works
Early Television Exposure and Children's Behavioral and Social Outcomes at Age 30 Months
Cheng, S., Maeda, T., Sakakihara, Y., Yamagata, Z., Tomiwa, K., & Japan Children's Study Group (2010) · Journal of Epidemiology · doi:10.2188/jea.je20090179 · Cited by 144 · see citing works
Physical activity at the government-recommended level and obesity-related health outcomes: a longitudinal study (Early Bird 37)
Metcalf, B. S., Voss, L. D., Hosking, J., Jeffery, A., & Wilkin, T. J. (2008) · Archives of Disease in Childhood · doi:10.1136/adc.2007.135012 · Cited by 143 · see citing works
Development of television viewing patterns in early childhood: A longitudinal investigation.
Huston, A. C., Wright, J. C., Rice, M. L., Kerkman, D. D., & Peters, M. S. (1990) · Developmental Psychology · doi:10.1037/0012-1649.26.3.409 · Cited by 132 · see citing works
Tracking Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in Young Children
Kelly, L. A., Reilly, J. J., Jackson, D. M., Montgomery, C., Grant, S., & Paton, J. Y. (2007) · Pediatric Exercise Science · doi:10.1123/pes.19.1.51 · Cited by 129 · see citing works
Variability and tracking of physical activity over 2 yr in young children
Sallis, J. F., Berry, C. C., Broyles, S. L., McKenzie, T. L., & Nader, P. R. (1995) · Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise · doi:10.1249/00005768-199507000-00013 · Cited by 65 · see citing works
The Rate of Increase in Blood Pressure in Children 5 Years of Age Is Related to Changes in Aerobic Fitness and Body Mass Index
Shea, S. A., Basch, C. E., Gutin, B., et al. (1994) · PEDIATRICS · doi:10.1542/peds.94.4.465 · Cited by 64 · see citing works
Tracking of TV and video gaming during childhood: Iowa Bone Development Study
Francis, S. L., Stancel, M. J., Sernulka-George, F. D., Broffitt, B. A., Levy, S. M., & Janz, K. F. (2011) · International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity · doi:10.1186/1479-5868-8-100 · Cited by 48 · see citing works

Flagged first, then by citations

Sorted by citations

Tracking of physical activity from early childhood through youth into adulthood
TELAMA, R., YANG, X., LESKINEN, E., KANKAANPÄÄ, A., HIRVENSALO, M., TAMMELIN, T., VIIKARI, J. S. A., & RAITAKARI, O. T. (2014) · Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise · doi:10.1249/mss.0000000000000181 · Cited by 926 · see citing works
Systematic review of physical activity and health in the early years (aged 0-4 years)
Timmons, B. W., LeBlanc, A. G., Carson, V., Connor Gorber, S., Dillman, C., Janssen, I., Kho, M. E., Spence, J. C., Stearns, J. A., & Tremblay, M. S. (2012) · Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism · doi:10.1139/h2012-070 · Cited by 626 · see citing works
Systematic review of physical activity and cognitive development in early childhood
Carson, V., Hunter, S., Kuzik, N., Wiebe, S. A., Spence, J. C., Friedman, A., Tremblay, M. S., Slater, L., & Hinkley, T. (2016) · Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport · doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2015.07.011 · Cited by 355 · see citing works
Self-citation
A socio-ecological approach to physical activity interventions in childcare: a systematic review
Mehtälä, M. A., Sääkslahti, A., Inkinen, M., & Poskiparta, M. E. (2014) · International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity · doi:10.1186/1479-5868-11-22 · Cited by 199 · see citing works
An evidence‐update on the prospective relationship between childhood sedentary behaviour and biomedical health indicators: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
van Ekris, E., Altenburg, T. M., Singh, A. S., Proper, K. I., Heymans, M. W., & Chinapaw, M. J. M. (2016) · Obesity Reviews · doi:10.1111/obr.12426 · Cited by 191 · see citing works
Factors of physical activity among Chinese children and adolescents: a systematic review
Lu, C., Stolk, R. P., Sauer, P. J. J., Sijtsma, A., Wiersma, R., Huang, G., & Corpeleijn, E. (2017) · International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity · doi:10.1186/s12966-017-0486-y · Cited by 155 · see citing works
Gender and grade differences in objectively measured physical activity and sedentary behavior patterns among Japanese children and adolescents: a cross-sectional study
Ishii, K., Shibata, A., Adachi, M., Nonoue, K., & Oka, K. (2015) · BMC Public Health · doi:10.1186/s12889-015-2607-3 · Cited by 125 · see citing works
Longitudinal changes in objectively measured sedentary behaviour and their relationship with adiposity in children and adolescents: systematic review and evidence appraisal
Tanaka, C., Reilly, J. J., & Huang, W. Y. (2014) · Obesity Reviews · doi:10.1111/obr.12195 · Cited by 118 · see citing works
Association of Trajectory and Covariates of Children’s Screen Media Time
Trinh, M.-H., Sundaram, R., Robinson, S. L., Lin, T.-C., Bell, E. M., Ghassabian, A., & Yeung, E. H. (2020) · JAMA Pediatrics · doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2019.4488 · Cited by 92 · see citing works
Untitled work
Abu-Omar (2018) · doi:10.1186/s12889-018-6368-7 · Cited by 67 · see citing works
Combining physical and cognitive training to improve kindergarten children’s executive functions: A cluster randomized controlled trial
Schmidt, M., Mavilidi, M. F., Singh, A., & Englert, C. (2020) · Contemporary Educational Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.cedpsych.2020.101908 · Cited by 70 · see citing works
Does Learning Through Movement Improve Academic Performance in Primary Schoolchildren? A Systematic Review
Petrigna, L., Thomas, E., Brusa, J., Rizzo, F., Scardina, A., Galassi, C., Lo Verde, D., Caramazza, G., & Bellafiore, M. (2022) · Frontiers in Pediatrics · doi:10.3389/fped.2022.841582 · Cited by 43 · see citing works
The Child-care Food and Activity Practices Questionnaire (CFAPQ): Development and first validation steps
Gubbels, J. S., Sleddens, E. F., Raaijmakers, L. C., Gies, J. M., & Kremers, S. P. (2016) · Public Health Nutrition · doi:10.1017/s1368980015003444 · Cited by 32 · see citing works
What behavior change techniques are associated with effective interventions to reduce screen time in 0–5 year olds? A narrative systematic review
Lewis, L., Povey, R., Rose, S., Cowap, L., Semper, H., Carey, A., Bishop, J., & Clark-Carter, D. (2021) · Preventive Medicine Reports · doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2021.101429 · Cited by 29 · see citing works

Reliability of Accelerometer Scores for Measuring Sedentary and Physical Activity Behaviors in Persons With Multiple Sclerosis
Klaren, R. E., Hubbard, E. A., Zhu, W., & Motl, R. W. (2016) · Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly · doi:10.1123/apaq.2015-0007 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
A Review of Different Behavior Modification Strategies Designed to Reduce Sedentary Screen Behaviors in Children
Steeves, J. A., Thompson, D. L., Bassett, D. R., Fitzhugh, E. C., & Raynor, H. A. (2011) · Journal of Obesity · doi:10.1155/2012/379215 · Cited by 38 · see citing works
Physical activity level and sedentary time determinants among Moroccan hypertensive patients
Kardoudi, A. E., Chetoui, A., Kamal, K., Lotfi, R., Boutahar, K., Moussaoui, S. E., Najimi, M., & Chigr, F. (2023) · Annales de Cardiologie et d Angéiologie · doi:10.1016/j.ancard.2023.101607 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Reducing Sedentary Behavior: Role in Modifying Physical Activity
Epstein, L. H., & Roemmich, J. N. (2001) · Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews · doi:10.1097/00003677-200107000-00003 · Cited by 224 · see citing works
Associations between physical activity and sedentary behaviour in children: A systematic review
Biddle, S., Pearson, N., & Atkin, A. J. (2012) · Journal of science and medicine in sport · doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2012.11.664

Authors: Jones, R. A., Hinkley, T., Okely, A. D., & Salmon, J.
Affiliations: University of Wollongong (AU)
Deakin University (AU)
Corresponding author: Jones, Rachel A.
ORCID: Jones, Rachel A.
Hinkley, Trina
Okely, Anthony D.
Salmon, Jo
Venue: American Journal of Preventive Medicine
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Published: 2013-06
Volume: 44
Issue: 6
Pages: 651-658
ISSN: 0749-3797 (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2013.03.001
OpenAlex: W2005814754
Cited by: 549
References: 25
Citations by year: 2026: 21 · 2025: 43 · 2024: 56 · 2023: 36 · 2022: 62 · 2021: 55 · 2020: 55 · 2019: 46 · 2018: 48 · 2017: 42 · 2016: 38 · 2015: 24 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 2
FWCI: 19.21
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations: American Journal of Preventive Medicine (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Children's Physical and Motor Development
Keywords: physical activity, sedentary behavior, behavioral tracking, early childhood, middle childhood
MeSH terms: Child, Child, Preschool, Female, Humans, Infant, Male, Population Surveillance, Health Behavior, Exercise, Databases, Factual, Sedentary Behavior

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review

Tracking Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in Childhood

Abstract

Integrity signals

Claims the paper makes

Claims other papers make about this one

Cites

Cited by

Related

Record

About these checks