Temporal relationships between screen-time and physical activity with cardiorespiratory fitness in English schoolchildren: a 2-year longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVE To determine the temporal relationships screen-time and physical activity have with cardiorespiratory fitness. METHOD Measures were made over two years (2008-2010) in 1500 participants aged 11.5 (SD 0.5) years at baseline. RESULTS Tracking coefficients were low-to-moderate for all measures. At follow-up, 25% of participants moved from having low (<2h) to high (≥ 2 h) daily screen-time and 6% became unfit according to FITNESSGRAM standards. Baseline screen-time was the strongest univariate predictor of becoming unfit. Multivariate analysis controlling for decimal age, BMI and deprivation confirmed baseline screen-time as the strongest independent predictor of becoming unfit over the 2-year study period (OR 2.4; 95%CI:1.4-4.0). Current (OR 2.3; 95%CI:1.3-4.0) and previous (OR 1.7; 95%CI:1.0-2.9) physical activity levels also independently predicted becoming unfit. CONCLUSION There is currently no guidance for limiting screen-time in UK children. These longitudinal data add to the cross-sectional evidence of lower physical activity and fitness in children reporting ≥ 2 h daily screen-time. More importantly, these data demonstrate that high screen-time during childhood is an independent predictor of lower cardiorespiratory fitness in adolescence.

[1]  R Smith,et al.  Joining together to combat poverty: everybody welcome and needed , 2000, Medicine, conflict, and survival.

[2]  G. Sandercock,et al.  Prevalence of high screen time in English youth: association with deprivation and physical activity. , 2012, Journal of public health.

[3]  S. Marshall,et al.  The prevalence of sedentary behavior and physical activity in leisure time: A study of Scottish adolescents using ecological momentary assessment. , 2009, Preventive medicine.

[4]  R. Dishman,et al.  Physical self-concept and self-esteem mediate cross-sectional relations of physical activity and sport participation with depression symptoms among adolescent girls. , 2006, Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association.

[5]  C. Voss,et al.  Screen time and physical activity in youth: thief of time or lifestyle choice? , 2012, Journal of physical activity & health.

[6]  Anthony D Okely,et al.  Sedentariness, small-screen recreation, and fitness in youth. , 2009, American journal of preventive medicine.

[7]  I. Janssen,et al.  Relationship between screen time and metabolic syndrome in adolescents. , 2008, Journal of public health.

[8]  Andersen Lb.  Changes in physical activity are reflected in changes in fitness during late adolescence. A 2-year follow-up study. , 1994 .

[9]  P. Crocker,et al.  Convergent Validity of the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents , 1997 .

[10]  G. Sandercock,et al.  Aerobic fitness and mode of travel to school in English schoolchildren. , 2010, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[11]  V. Strasburger,et al.  Children, adolescents, and television. , 1990, Pediatrics in review.

[12]  R G Eston,et al.  Special Communication , 2022 .

[13]  P. Robson,et al.  Tracking of physical activity, fitness, body composition and diet from adolescence to young adulthood: The Young Hearts Project, Northern Ireland , 2004, The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity.

[14]  T. Cole,et al.  Establishing a standard definition for child overweight and obesity worldwide: international survey , 2000, BMJ : British Medical Journal.

[15]  J D Dawson,et al.  Tracking physical fitness and physical activity from childhood to adolescence: the muscatine study. , 2000, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[16]  L. Andersen,et al.  A 3‐year longitudinal analysis of changes in fitness, physical activity, fatness and screen time , 2009, Acta paediatrica.

[17]  G. Sandercock,et al.  Ten year secular declines in the cardiorespiratory fitness of affluent English children are largely independent of changes in body mass index , 2009, Archives of Disease in Childhood.

[18]  Gareth Stratton,et al.  Changes in fitness, body mass index and obesity in 9-10 year olds. , 2010, Journal of human nutrition and dietetics : the official journal of the British Dietetic Association.

[19]  U. Ekelund,et al.  TV Viewing and Physical Activity Are Independently Associated with Metabolic Risk in Children: The European Youth Heart Study , 2006, PLoS medicine.