Appropriateness of the definition of 'sedentary' in young children: Whole-room calorimetry study
RIS ID
92401
Abstract
Objectives
The present study aimed to measure the energy cost of three common sedentary activities in young children to test whether energy expended was consistent with the recent consensus definition of ‘sedentary’ as ‘any behaviour conducted in a sitting or reclining posture and with an energy cost ≤1.5 metabolic equivalents (METs)’ (Sedentary Behaviour Research Network, 2012).
Design
Observational study.
Methods
Whole-room calorimetry measures of television viewing, sitting at a table drawing and reading, and sitting on the floor playing with toys were made in 40 young children (mean age 5.3 years, SD 1.0).
Results
The energy cost of each sedentary activity was consistent with the recent consensus definition of sedentary: 1.17 METs (95% CI 1.07–1.27) for TV viewing; 1.38 METs (95% CI 1.30–1.46) for sitting at a table; and 1.35 METs (95% CI 1.28–1.43) for floor-based play.
Conclusions
Common sedentary activities in young children have energy costs which are consistent with the recent consensus definition of ‘sedentary’, and the present study is supportive of this definition.
Publication Details
Reilly, J. J., Janssen, X., Cliff, D. P. & Okely, A. D. (2015). Appropriateness of the definition of 'sedentary' in young children: Whole-room calorimetry study. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 18 (5), 565-568.