Cited by 258Physical Activity and HealthObesity, Physical Activity, DietRecreational Sport and Physical Activity

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 47 of the 48 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 24 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.

Levels of physical activity and sedentary time among 10- to 12-year-old boys and girls across 5 European countries using accelerometers: an observational study within the ENERGY-project

Open access
Verloigne, Maite, Van Lippevelde, Wendy, Maes, Lea, Yildirim, Mine, Chinapaw, Mai, Manios, Yannis, Androutsos, Odysseas, Kovacs, Eva, Bringolf-Isler, Bettina, Brug, Johannes, De Bourdeaudhuij, Ilse·2012·International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The study aim was to objectively assess levels of sedentary time, light, moderate and vigorous physical activity (PA) among 10-12 year olds across five European countries and to examine differences in sedentary time and PA according to gender and country. METHODS: 686 children (mean age = 11.6 ± 0.8 years, 53% girls, mean BMI = 19.0 ± 3.4 kg/m(2)) from Belgium, Greece, Hungary, the Netherlands and Switzerland wore Actigraph accelerometers and had at least 2 weekdays with minimum 10 h-wearing time and 1 weekend day with minimum 8 h-wearing time. Data were analyzed using multivariate analyses of covariance. RESULTS: Girls spent significantly more time sedentary (500 minutes/day) than boys (474 minutes/day) and significantly less time in light (267 minutes/day) and moderate-to-vigorous PA (32 minutes/day) than boys (284 minutes/day; 43 minutes/day respectively; p < 0.001). 4.6% of the girls and 16.8% of the boys met moderate-to-vigorous PA recommendations of at least 60 minutes/day. Greek boys were more sedentary (510 minutes/day; all at p < 0.05) than other boys. Dutch girls were less sedentary (457 minutes/day; all at p < 0.05) than other girls. Swiss girls displayed more moderate-to-vigorous PA (43 minutes/day; at p < 0.05) than other girls. CONCLUSIONS: Large proportions of children across different European countries did not meet PA recommendations and spent a lot of time sedentary. Mean time spent in moderate-to-vigorous PA was significantly lower than the recommended 60 minutes. Obesity prevention programmes focusing on both decreasing sedentary time and increasing light, moderate and vigorous PA are needed for European children, particularly girls.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This cross-European observational study objectively measured sedentary time and physical activity in 10- to 12-year-olds using accelerometers. It found that most children did not meet MVPA recommendations, with girls more sedentary and less active than boys.

Key findings

  • Girls spent significantly more time sedentary (500 min/day) than boys (474 min/day) and significantly less time in light PA (267 vs. 284 min/day) and MVPA (32 vs. 43 min/day; all p < 0.001).
  • Only 4.6% of girls and 16.8% of boys met the MVPA recommendation of at least 60 min/day.
  • Greek boys were more sedentary (510 min/day) than other boys, Dutch girls were less sedentary (457 min/day) than other girls, and Swiss girls had more MVPA (43 min/day) than other girls (all at p < 0.05).
  • No significant differences were found in LPA between the five countries.

Methods

  • Cross-sectional observational study within the ENERGY-project; 686 children (mean age 11.6 ± 0.8 years, 53% girls, mean BMI 19.0 ± 3.4 kg/m²) from Belgium, Greece, Hungary, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.
  • Children wore Actigraph accelerometers and were included with at least 2 weekdays of ≥10 h wearing time and 1 weekend day of ≥8 h wearing time; sedentary, LPA, MPA, and VPA were estimated using Treuth cut-points.
  • Multivariate analyses of covariance examined differences by gender and country, adjusted for age, month of wearing, accelerometer model, and language spoken at home.

Limitations

  • The paper states that accelerometers do not measure arm movement or swimming, do not distinguish lying, sitting, and standing still, and underestimate cycling and some other activities.
  • The paper reports a relatively large drop-out of accelerometer data due to insufficient valid days, and notes that dropouts may have been less active or, conversely, more active and inconvenienced by wearing the device.
  • The paper notes use of three Actigraph models (GT1M, GT3X, Actitrainer) and that reduced sensitivity in low-count ranges in the GT1M may make it somewhat less suited for monitoring sedentary time and LPA; the cross-sectional design also makes causal inference impossible (evident from the text).

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1186/1479-5868-9-34

Cites

47 of 47 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Figures

Figure 1 Mean levels of sedentary time, LPA and MVPA among girls.
Figure 1 Mean levels of sedentary time, LPA and MVPA among girls.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 2 Mean levels of sedentary time, LPA and MVPA among boys.
Figure 2 Mean levels of sedentary time, LPA and MVPA among boys.CC BY · PubMed Central

Verification

Claims the paper makes

16 Own result · 13 Not checked yet · 8 Own method · 6 Own interpretation · 3 No basis given

Verify all 24 references — free account

Show all 26 claims

  • The quote only partly states this claim. 1
  • It may state two separate claims as one. 11
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 10
20 of 20
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The sample of children from the selected cities and schools is representative of 10- to 12-year-old children in the five European countries.

    “representative samples of 10- to 12-year-old children across five countries in Europe”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Children who dropped out of the accelerometer data collection did not differ systematically in PA or sedentary time from those included.

    “It is possible that the children who dropped out were less physically active and not interested in wearing an accelerometer or conversely, were more active and experienced the accelerometer as an inconvenience during exercise.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    There are no policy measures in the European countries with regard to sedentary time.

    “To our knowledge, there are no policy measures in the European countries with regard to sedentary time.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Hungarian and Swiss schools provide three hours of physical education per week, whereas Belgian, Greek and Dutch schools provide two hours per week.

    “e.g. Hungarian and Swiss schools provide three hours of physical education per week, whereas Belgian, Greek and Dutch schools provide two hours per week.”
4 of 4

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Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

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Citations

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Metadata

Authors
Verloigne, M., Van Lippevelde, W., Maes, L., Yildirim, M., Chinapaw, M., Manios, Y., Androutsos, O., Kovacs, E., Bringolf-Isler, B., Brug, J., & De Bourdeaudhuij, I.
Affiliations
  • Ghent University (BE)
  • Amsterdam Public Health (NL)
  • Harokopio University of Athens (GR)
  • University of Pecs (HU)
Venue
International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity
Published
2012
Volume
9
Issue
1
Pages
34
ISSN
1479-5868 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2137633832
Cited by
258
References
48
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 27 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 26 · 2017: 28 · 2016: 27 · 2015: 24 · 2014: 27 · 2013: 22 · 2012: 2
FWCI
16.08
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Pure Amsterdam UMC (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • Amsterdam UMC (VU Amsterdam) - Institutional Repository (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • edoc (University of Basel) (acceptedVersion)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Ghent University Academic Bibliography (Ghent University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Digital Academic REpository of VU University Amsterdam (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Open access LMU (Ludwid Maxmilian's Universitat Munchen) (submittedVersion)
  • edoc (University of Basel)
Funders
  • European Commission (FP7-HEALTH-2007-B, 223254)
  • Bundesamt für Gesundheit
  • Bundesamt für Sport
  • World Cancer Research Fund
  • FP7 Health
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Physical Activity and Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
  • Social Sciences › Life-span and Life-course Studies › Recreational Sport and Physical Activity
Keywords
physical activity, sedentary time, children, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, light physical activity, sex differences, cross-national comparison, accelerometer-measured activity, physical activity guidelines, obesity prevention, energy projects
MeSH terms
Anthropometry, Belgium, Child, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Greece, Humans, Hungary, Male, Motor Activity, Netherlands, Obesity, Sex Factors, Switzerland, Multivariate Analysis, Sedentary Behavior

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