Levels, factors and interventions of preschool children physical activity: a systematic review

Coelho, Vitor Antonio Cerignoni; Tolocka, Rute Estanislava

doi:10.1590/1413-812320202512.14332018

Acessibilidade / Reportar erro

Brasil

Español English

sumário « anterior atual seguinte »

Sumário

FREE THEMES • Ciênc. Saúde Colet. 25 (12) • Dec 2020 • https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-812320202512.14332018 copy

Levels, factors and interventions of preschool children physical activity: a systematic review

Níveis, fatores e intervenções da atividade física em idade pré-escolar: uma revisão sistemática

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Abstract

The goal of this study was to complete a systematic review of research on the occurrence the levels of physical activity (PA), forms of intervention and factors associated with this practice among preschool children. Studies published in the period between 2006 and 2016 were investigated, using the PubMed and SPORTDiscus databases. The search terms identified 177 articles, of which 41 met the inclusion criteria. Goals, methodologies and results were analysed. The studies used various cut-off points to establish the desired level of PA, along with different types of interventions. Overall, the problem of low level of PA among preschool children appears to be increasing. Involvement and participation of parents and teachers, guidance from booklets and other information sources, parent instruction and availability of extracurricular activities were considered positive factors that tended to increase children’s PA levels, whereas parental obesity was a negative factor. New studies to define sedentary behaviour in preschool children are required to clarify the nature of this problem, along with the establishment of prevention programmes with ecological design aimed at schools, families and other sectors of society.

Key words:
Review; Child Preschool; Physical Activity; Sedentary lifestyle

Authors	Method	Results
Vale et al. 2010¹⁰10 Vale S, Silva P, Santos R, Soares-Miranda L, Mota J. Compliance with physical activity guidelines in preschool children. J Sports Sci 2010; 28(6):603-608.	Sample Cross-sectional: 245 Portuguese Age group: 3-6 years American Recommendation Instrument: Accelerometer Actigraph GTM1 Frequency: 120 min TPA and 60 min MVPA/day	Weekdays 25% and 6.5%, weekends 40% and 22.4% with low levels of TPA and MVPA. Sedentary behavior: 83%.
Barros et al. 2012¹³13 Barros SSH, Lopes AS, Barros MVG. Prevalence of low physical activity level among preschool children. Rev Bras Cineantropom Desempenho Hum 2012; 14(4):390-400.	Cross-sectional: 65 Brazilian Age group: 3-6 years American recommendation Instrument: Questionnaire to parents Frequency: at least 60 min MVPA	65% of children with low levels of MVPA.
Olesen et al. 2013¹¹11 Olesen LG, Kristensen PL, Korsholm L, Froberg K. Physical Activity in Children Attending Preschools. Pediatrics 2013; 132(5):1310-1318.	Sample Cross-sectional: 426 Danish Age group: 5-6 years Canadian Recommendation Instrument: Accelerometer Actigraph GT3X and GTM1, observation of the school environment	15% of boys and 12% girls realized MVPA.
Henderson et al. 2015¹⁵15 Henderson KE, Grode GM, O'Connell ML, Schwartz MB. Environmental factors associated with physical activity in child care centers. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2015; 12(43):1-9.	Sample Cross-sectional: 395 American Age group: 3-5 years American recommendation Instrument: Accelerometer Actigraph GTM1, observation and recording of routine/environment Frequency: 60 min MVPA/day	14% (average of 9 minutes) of children meet the recommendations. Sedentary behavior: 50%.
Tandon et al. 2015¹⁶16 Tandon PS, Saelens BE, Christakis DA. Active Play Opportunities at Child Care. Pediatrics 2015; 135(6):1425-1431.	Cross-sectional: 98 American Age group: 4-5 years American recommendation Instrument: Accelerometer Actigraph GT3X Frequency: at least 60 min MVPA	73% of sedentary activities. 13% of light PA and 14% of MVPA.
Botey et al. 2015¹²12 Botey AP, Bayrampour H, Carson V, Vinturache A, Tough S. Adherence to Canadian physical activity and sedentary behaviour guidelines among children 2 to 13 years of age. Prev Med Rep 2015; 3(3):14-20.	Cross-sectional: 631 Canadian Age group: 2-4 years Canadian recommendation Instrument: Questionnaire to parents Frequency: 180 min TPA/day	62% did not meet the recommendations. 64% exceeded the time devoted to TV.
Barbosa et al. 2016¹⁴14 Barbosa SC, Coledam DHC, Stabelini AN, Elias RGM, Oliveira AR. School environment, sedentary behavior and physical activity in preschool children. Rev Paul Pediatr 2016; 34(3):301-308.	Cross-sectional: 370 Brazilian Age group: 4-6 years Canadian recommendation Instrument: Accelerometer Actigraph GT3X and questionnaire the school environment Frequency: 180 min TPA/day	10% achieved the recommendations. Sedentary behavior: 90%.

Authors	Method	Results
Annesi et al. 2013²⁹29 Annesi JJ, Smith AE, Tennant GA. Effects of the Start for Life treatment on physical activity in primarily African American preschool children of ages 3-5 years. Psychol Health Med 2013; 18(3):300-309.	338 children Afro-American, 3-5 years, 2 months of intervention, 30 min/day of MVPA, accelerometer ActiGraph GT3X and control group.	Intervention group obtain an increase of 40 minutes per week of MVPA. Increased by the weekly program Star For life.
De Bock et al. 2013³¹31 De Bock F, Genser B, Raat H, Fischer JE, Renz-Polster H. A participatory physical activity intervention in preschools: a cluster randomized controlled trial. Am J Prev Med 2013; 45(1):64-74.	826 German parents and children 3-5 years, 1 year intervention control group, 2 times per week of PA, accelerometer (model not specified) and anthropometric measurements.	The program reduced sedentary behavior in 11 minutes/day. Involvement positive of parental in 15 projects to increase PA levels.
O’Dwyer et al. 2013³³33 O'Dwyer MV, Fairclough SJ, Ridgers ND, Knowles, ZR, Foweather L, Stratton G. Effect of a school-based active play intervention on sedentary time and physical activity in preschool children. Health Educ Res 2013; 28(6):931-942.	Intervention 60 min/day for 6 weeks: 240 English children between 3- 5 years. Accelerometer ActiGraph GT1M, questionnaire to parents control group. (British Recommendation).	The intervention doubled the MVPA levels compared to the control group from about 16% to 31%. The children who spend more time in schools showed lower levels of PA.
De Craemer et al. 2014³⁴34 De Craemer M, De Decker E, Verloigne M, De Bourdeaudhuij I, Manios Y, Cardon G. The effect of a kindergarten-based, family involved intervention on objectively measured physical activity in Belgian preschool boys and girls of high and low SES: the ToyBox-study. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2014; 11(1):38-51.	Toy-Box Intervention** of 2 months with 472 Belgian preschool children and 180min/day of PA. Control Group, accelerometer (model not specified).	There were not significant changes in the PA level of children. Only in upper-class boys there was a positive effect in MVPA.
Roth et al. 2015³²32 Roth K, Kriemler S, Lehmacher W, Ruf KC, Graf C, Hebestreit H. Effects of a Physical Activity Intervention in Preschool Children. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2015; 47(12):2542-2551.	Intervention of 6-month in 709 German children between 4-5 years. Control group, accelerometer (model not specified), motored test, and anthropometric questionnaire with parents. Instruction the PA offers to parents and teachers and 30 min/day of PA.	The intervention group was better the level of motor skills, increased about 1% in total time TPA.
Pate et al. 2016³⁰30 Pate RR, Brown WH, Pfeiffer KA, Howie EK, Saunders RP, Addy CL, Dowda M. An Intervention to Increase Physical Activity in Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial With 4-Year-Olds in Preschools. Am J Prev Med 2016; 51(1):12-22.	Intervention 2 years: 379 American children of 4 years, control group. 35 min/day PA. Instructions the PA offer to teachers and accelerometer (model not specified).	The intervention group compared to the control obtained an increase from about 6% to 7% min/hour in MVPA.
Goldfield et al. 2016³⁵35 Goldfield GS, Harvey AL, Grattan KP, Temple V, Naylor PJ, Alberga AS, Ferraro ZM, Wilson S, Cameron JD, Barrowman N, Adamo KB. Effects of Child Care Intervention on Physical Activity and Body Composition. Am J Prev Med 2016; 51(2):225-231.	Intervention of 6 months, 120 min/day of PA, (American Recommendation). 83 Canadian children between 3-5 years, the control group. Instructions the PA offer to teachers, accelerometer (model not specified) and body composition.	The intervention group showed an increase of about 22 minutes/day of PA, reducing the percentage of fat and fat mass.

Authors	Method	Results
Bürgi et al. 2010³⁷37 Bürgi F, Meyer U, Niederer I, Ebenegger V, Marques-Vidal P, Granacher U, Kriemler S, Puder JJ. Socio-cultural determinants of adiposity and physical activity in preschool children: A crossectional study. BMC Public Health 2010, 10(733):1-8.	Cross-sectional: 542 Swiss preschoolers of two culturally different. Instrument: accelerometer Actigraph GT1M, anthropometric measurements, motor skill and parental characteristics questionnaire.	The regions, maternal workload and parental education resulted in differences in PA, sedentary activities and agility.
Faria et al. 2010²⁸28 Faria MCM, Brolo ALR, Horita KY, Tolocka RE, Santos DCC, Silva JVP. Daily living motor activities and their influences on the development of preschool. Movimento 2010; 16(1):113-130.	Cross-sectional: 38 Brazilian preschool children. Instrument: structured form of daily preschool analysis to parents and ecological analysis of environment.	The rigid routine and time spent in queues, waiting or sitting prejudiced the PA levels. The supply of PA generated the development of proximal processes.
Loprinzi and Trost 2010⁴¹41 Loprinzi PD, Trost SG. Parental influences on physical activity behavior in preschool children. Prev Med 2010; 50(3):129-133.	Cross-sectional: 156 Australian parents and preschoolers. Instrument: IPAQ to parents and accelerometer Actigraph 7164.	Support and participation of parents about PA showed a positive correlation with increase PA levels of children.
Barros et al. 2012¹³13 Barros SSH, Lopes AS, Barros MVG. Prevalence of low physical activity level among preschool children. Rev Bras Cineantropom Desempenho Hum 2012; 14(4):390-400.	Cross-sectional: 265 Brazilian preschoolers. Instrument: validated questionnaire and adapted to Brazil to parents.	Absence of space in home, go to school full or vespertine period and higher education of parental showed correlated low levels of PA.
O’Dwyer et al. 2012⁴²42 O'Dwyer MV, Fairclough SJ, Knowles Z, Stratton G. Effect of a family focused active play intervention on sedentary time and physical activity in Preschool children. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2012; 9(117):1-13.	Cross-sectional: 77 English families of preschool children. Intervention: 5 sessions for 10 weeks approximately 70 min. Instrument: Questionnaire Pre-PAQ to parents, accelerometer Actigraph GT1M, control group, guidance to family.	The intervention group reduced sedentary behaviors and higher PA levels. Guidance and information to parents collaborated with healthy habits of their children.
Androutsos et al. 2014⁴⁴44 Androutsos O, Katsarou C, Payr A, Birnbaum J, Geyer C, Wildgruber A, Kreichauf S, Lateva M, De Decker E, De Craemer M, Socha P, Moreno L, Iotova V, Koletzko BV, Manios Y. Designing and implementing teachers' training sessions in a kindergarten-based, family-involved intervention to prevent obesity in early childhood. The Toy Box-study. Obes Rev 2014; 15(3):48-52.	Analyze capacitation Program of the Toy Box-Study Training* with 3 teachers of Greeks preschool children.	Training guided the construction of the training material Toy-Box study and generated efficacy, motivation and loyalty to the intervention program.
Olesen et al. 2014³⁹39 Olesen LG, Kristensen PL, Ried-Larsen M, Grøntved A, Froberg K. Physical activity and motor skills in children attending 43 preschools: a cross-sectional study. BMC Pediatr 2014; 14(229):1-11.	Sample Cross-sectional: 627 Danish children of 5-6 years. Instrument: Anthropometric measures, Motor Scale, Accelerometer Actigraph GT1M and GT3X and semi qualitative questionnaire parents.	There was no difference of gender in relation to PA levels. The children were more active on weekdays in school.
Vale et al. 2014⁴⁰40 Vale S, Ricardo N, Soares-Miranda L, Santos R, Moreira C, Mota J. Parental education and physical activity in pre-school children. Child Care Health Dev 2014; 40(3):446-452.	Cross-sectional: 509 Portuguese children between 3-5 years. Instrument: parental education questionnaire and accelerometer Actigraph GT1M.	Negative correlation between parental education and PA level.
Remmers et al. 2014⁴³43 Remmers T, Broeren SM, Renders CM, Hirasing RA, van Grieken A, Raat H. A longitudinal study of children's outside play using family environment and perceived physical environment as predictors. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2014; 11(76):1-9.	Two-year follow-up: 2,007 parents of Dutch preschool children with 5 years. Instrument: structured form of daily preschool analysis to parents.	The habits and the presence of parents positively influenced the increase in the duration of external games by children.
Henderson et al. 2015¹⁵15 Henderson KE, Grode GM, O'Connell ML, Schwartz MB. Environmental factors associated with physical activity in child care centers. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2015; 12(43):1-9.	Sample Cross-sectional: 395 American children between 3-5 years. Accelerometer Actigraph GT1M, routine observation and environmental characteristics.	14% of the time dedicated to PA. 3 factors raised PA: outdoor games, games adapted the covered space and encouragement of teachers.
Tandon et al. 2015¹⁶16 Tandon PS, Saelens BE, Christakis DA. Active Play Opportunities at Child Care. Pediatrics 2015; 135(6):1425-1431.	Cross-sectional: 98 American children with a mean age of 4.5 years. Accelerometer Actigraph GT3X and observation.	<Sedentary time and> PA levels when in outdoor activities without teacher guidance.
Dawson-Hahn et al. 2015³⁸38 Dawson-Hahn EE, Fesinmeyer MD, Mendoza JA. Correlates of Physical Activity in Latino Preschool Children Attending Head Start. Pediatr Exerc Sci 2015; 27(3):372-379.	Cross-sectional: 96 Latino-American children between 3 and 5 years. Questionnaire and accelerometer.	Parental education had a positive correlation with PA. And TV viewing was inversely associated with PA.
Barbosa et al. 2016¹⁴14 Barbosa SC, Coledam DHC, Stabelini AN, Elias RGM, Oliveira AR. School environment, sedentary behavior and physical activity in preschool children. Rev Paul Pediatr 2016; 34(3):301-308.	Cross-sectional: 370 Brazilian preschool children 4-6 years. Instrument: structured form of daily preschool analysis to school director and accelerometer Actigraph GT3X	10% of the time dedicated to PA. The recreation room, the park and the recreational time had a positive correlation with PA.
Howie et al. 2016⁴⁵45 Howie EK, Brewer AE, Dowda M, Mclver KL, Saunders RP, Pate RR. A Tale of 2 Teachers: A Preschool Physical Activity Intervention Case Study. J Sch Health 2016; 86(1):23-30.	Case Study: 2 teachers offered a training program during 3 years to increase the PA level of 8 American preschools	Increase in the time in observation minutes of PA opportunities offered by teachers.

ABRASCO - Associação Brasileira de Saúde Coletiva Av. Brasil, 4036 - sala 700 Manguinhos, 21040-361 Rio de Janeiro RJ - Brazil, Tel.: +55 21 3882-9153 / 3882-9151 - Rio de Janeiro - RJ - Brazil
E-mail: cienciasaudecoletiva@fiocruz.br

Acompanhe os números deste periódico no seu leitor de RSS

[1] Collaborations

VAC Coelho was responsible for stratification, the reading of the articles and the assembling of the text. RE Tolocka was responsible for checking the stratification, methodology and final writing.