Children’s physical activity level and sedentary behaviour in Norwegian early childhood education and care: effects of a staff-led cluster-randomised controlled trial
Abstract Background A growing body of evidence suggest that the children’s physical activity (PA) level in early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings are insufficient. Since most children attend ECEC settings for many hours on most days of the week, and these institutions reach children acro...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2020-11-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-020-09725-y |
| _version_ | 1818339847151026176 |
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| author | Eivind Andersen Steinar Øvreås Kari Anne Jørgensen Janne Borch-Jenssen Thomas Moser |
| author_facet | Eivind Andersen Steinar Øvreås Kari Anne Jørgensen Janne Borch-Jenssen Thomas Moser |
| author_sort | Eivind Andersen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background A growing body of evidence suggest that the children’s physical activity (PA) level in early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings are insufficient. Since most children attend ECEC settings for many hours on most days of the week, and these institutions reach children across the socioeconomic spectrum, the ECEC settings may serve as an ideal avenue for increasing physical activity level, reduce sedentary time and enhance the overall health of young children. This paper investigates the effectiveness of the “Active Kindergarten – Active Children” study to increase children’s PA level and reduce sedentary time within the ECEC setting. Methods Accelerometers were used to asses PA and sedentary time. A total of 116 three to four-year olds took part in a randomised controlled trial in 11 ECEC settings. Participants were cluster-randomised, by ECEC setting, to either a 12 week staff-led and expert-supported intervention or a waiting list control group. Results The intervention group increased time spent in moderate- and vigorous intensity PA by 10 min/day (95% CI = 3, 18; P = 0.01), took 1909 more steps per day (95% CI = 1130, 2688; P < 0.01) and reduced sedentary time with 14 min/day (95% CI = − 27, − 1; P = 0.04) compared to the control group. The intervention group had a 2.4 higher odds (95% CI = 1.05, 5.7; P = 0.04) of meeting the PA recommendations compared to the control group at follow-up. Conclusions Our results show that a flexible staff-led and expert-supported multicomponent PA intervention can increase total PA level, moderate- and vigorous intensity PA and reduce time spent sedentary in three to four-year old children during their stay in ECEC settings. Trial registration The trial was retrospectively registered on September 19, 2020 and available online at ClinicalTrials.gov: No. NCT04555746 . |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T15:33:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2e49ff88bb4e4141aabc2e4eea8af801 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T15:33:30Z |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-2e49ff88bb4e4141aabc2e4eea8af8012022-12-21T23:40:06ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582020-11-0120111010.1186/s12889-020-09725-yChildren’s physical activity level and sedentary behaviour in Norwegian early childhood education and care: effects of a staff-led cluster-randomised controlled trialEivind Andersen0Steinar Øvreås1Kari Anne Jørgensen2Janne Borch-Jenssen3Thomas Moser4Faculty of Humanities, Sports and Educational Science, University of South-Eastern NorwayFaculty of Humanities, Sports and Educational Science, University of South-Eastern NorwayFaculty of Humanities, Sports and Educational Science, University of South-Eastern NorwaySandefjord MunicipalityFaculty of Humanities, Sports and Educational Science, University of South-Eastern NorwayAbstract Background A growing body of evidence suggest that the children’s physical activity (PA) level in early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings are insufficient. Since most children attend ECEC settings for many hours on most days of the week, and these institutions reach children across the socioeconomic spectrum, the ECEC settings may serve as an ideal avenue for increasing physical activity level, reduce sedentary time and enhance the overall health of young children. This paper investigates the effectiveness of the “Active Kindergarten – Active Children” study to increase children’s PA level and reduce sedentary time within the ECEC setting. Methods Accelerometers were used to asses PA and sedentary time. A total of 116 three to four-year olds took part in a randomised controlled trial in 11 ECEC settings. Participants were cluster-randomised, by ECEC setting, to either a 12 week staff-led and expert-supported intervention or a waiting list control group. Results The intervention group increased time spent in moderate- and vigorous intensity PA by 10 min/day (95% CI = 3, 18; P = 0.01), took 1909 more steps per day (95% CI = 1130, 2688; P < 0.01) and reduced sedentary time with 14 min/day (95% CI = − 27, − 1; P = 0.04) compared to the control group. The intervention group had a 2.4 higher odds (95% CI = 1.05, 5.7; P = 0.04) of meeting the PA recommendations compared to the control group at follow-up. Conclusions Our results show that a flexible staff-led and expert-supported multicomponent PA intervention can increase total PA level, moderate- and vigorous intensity PA and reduce time spent sedentary in three to four-year old children during their stay in ECEC settings. Trial registration The trial was retrospectively registered on September 19, 2020 and available online at ClinicalTrials.gov: No. NCT04555746 .http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-020-09725-yECECRCTChildrenPhysical activitySedentary time |
| spellingShingle | Eivind Andersen Steinar Øvreås Kari Anne Jørgensen Janne Borch-Jenssen Thomas Moser Children’s physical activity level and sedentary behaviour in Norwegian early childhood education and care: effects of a staff-led cluster-randomised controlled trial BMC Public Health ECEC RCT Children Physical activity Sedentary time |
| title | Children’s physical activity level and sedentary behaviour in Norwegian early childhood education and care: effects of a staff-led cluster-randomised controlled trial |
| title_full | Children’s physical activity level and sedentary behaviour in Norwegian early childhood education and care: effects of a staff-led cluster-randomised controlled trial |
| title_fullStr | Children’s physical activity level and sedentary behaviour in Norwegian early childhood education and care: effects of a staff-led cluster-randomised controlled trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | Children’s physical activity level and sedentary behaviour in Norwegian early childhood education and care: effects of a staff-led cluster-randomised controlled trial |
| title_short | Children’s physical activity level and sedentary behaviour in Norwegian early childhood education and care: effects of a staff-led cluster-randomised controlled trial |
| title_sort | children s physical activity level and sedentary behaviour in norwegian early childhood education and care effects of a staff led cluster randomised controlled trial |
| topic | ECEC RCT Children Physical activity Sedentary time |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-020-09725-y |
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