Globally, most young kids aren't exercising and sleeping enough and spend too much time on screens

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2024-10-01 01:00

Australia; New Zealand; International; NSW; VIC; QLD; WA

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Australian-led research re-analysed the data from 14 previous studies from 33 countries to assess whether three- and four-year-old children around the world are meeting guidelines for sleep, exercise and screen use, and found only around one in seven kids does, on average. The 33 countries represent six different world regions, Africa, North and South America, Eastern Mediterranean, Europe, South-East Asia, and Western Pacific. The researchers found the proportion of kids meeting the guidelines is highest in the poorest countries they looked at, at around one in six kids. In middle-income countries, around one in eight kids is meeting the guidelines, and in the wealthiest nations, around one in seven kids is meeting the guidelines. The world region with the highest proportion of kids meeting the guidelines is Africa, they add, with nearly one in four kids meeting the guidelines, and the lowest proportion is in North and South America, where just one in 13 meet the guidelines. Compliance with the guidelines was universally low, the authors say, suggesting new programs and policies that have proven to be effective in promoting healthy behaviour should be introduced.

Media release

From: JAMA

Pooled Analysis of Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Sleep Among Children From 33 Countries

About The Study: Most 3- and 4-year-old children in this pooled analysis did not meet the current World Health Organization guidelines for physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep. Priority must be given to understanding factors that influence these behaviors in this age group and to implementing contextually appropriate programs and policies proven to be effective in promoting healthy levels of movement behaviors.

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Journal/
conference: JAMA Pediatrics

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: University of Wollongong, The Kids Research Institute Australia, Deakin University, The University of Queensland, University of Otago

Funder: Dr Christian reported grants from Telethon Kids Institute, University ofWestern AustraliaWestern Australian Health Promotion Foundation (Healthway), Telethon Kids Institute, University ofWestern Australia Australian National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC), and Telethon Kids Institute, University ofWestern Australia Australian Research Council (ARC) during the conduct of the study and a National Heart Foundation Future Leader Fellowship outside the submitted work. Dr Cliff reported grants from Australian Research Council during the conduct of the study. Dr De Craemer reported grants from Seventh Framework Programme during the conduct of the study. Dr El Hamdouchi reported grants from Physical Activity Pioneers to fund the SUNRISE pilot study during the conduct of the study. Dr Kontsevaya reported grants from theWorld Health Organization during the conduct of the study. Dr Meredith-Jones reported grants from Health Research Council New Zealand during the conduct of the study. Dr Tanaka reported grants from Sasakawa Sports Foundation during the conduct of the study. Dr Taylor reported grants from Health Research Council of New Zealand during the conduct of the study. Dr Tremblay reported grants from Canadian Institutes of Health Research during the conduct of the study.

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