RAMOS MUNELL, JAVIER, Alvarez-Barbosa, Francisco , Gallardo-Gomez, Daniel , del Pozo Cruz, Borja , Alfonso-Rosa, Rosa M. , Okely, Anthony , del Pozo-Cruz, Jesus
No
J. Public Health-Heidelberg
Article
Científica
01/07/2025
001520671600001
AimPreschool-aged children's daily activity patterns play a crucial role in their health and development, yet there is limited research on the optimal time-use composition of activities. Previous studies suggest that sleep, sedentary behavior (SB), light physical activity (LPA), and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) all contribute to various health outcomes in children. However, the ideal balance of these activities for optimal development is not well understood. This study aimed to determine the optimal composition of daily activities (sleep, SB, LPA, MVPA) for preschoolers, in relation to body composition, motor skills, and cognition, using compositional data analysis (CoDA).Subject and methodsThis study involved 391 preschoolers (mean age = 4.71 +/- 0.86 years). Objective measures of activity were collected, including time spent in sleep, SB, LPA, and MVPA. The optimal time-use compositions for each activity were derived using CoDA, identifying patterns that maximized health outcomes, including body mass index z-score (zBMI), motor skills, and cognitive performance.ResultsThe results suggest that preschoolers should allocate 55-59% of their day (13.2-14.15 h) to sleep, 17-30% (4.1-7.2 h) to SB, 13-16% (3.1-3.8 h) to LPA, and 2-14% (0.5-3.4 h) to MVPA. Adequate sleep was found to support cognitive and emotional development, while structured sedentary activities contributed positively to executive function and motor skills. MVPA was essential for physical fitness and memory enhancement.ConclusionThis study provides evidence for an optimal daily routine for preschoolers, with a balance of sleep, sedentary behavior, light physical activity, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. These findings can inform public health guidelines and recommendations for promoting balanced, health-enhancing routines in early childhood.
Preschoolers; Physical activity; Sedentary behavior; Sleep; Public Health; CODA