Sedentary time of children aged 3 to 9 years [1]
Why do we study sedentary time in children?
- Sedentary behaviours refer to any waking activities carried out while sitting or lying down, and characterised by low energy expenditure. It can occur in several contexts such as at school (e.g. sitting in class), at home (e.g. reading a book, watching television) or during transportation (e.g. sitting in a car).
- In children, higher sedentary time is associated with increased adiposity, poorer cardiometabolic health and fitness, reduced sleep duration, and lower health-related quality of life.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that children aged 3 and 4 years should not be restrained for more than 1 hour at a time or sit for extended periods of time. Children and adolescents aged 5 to 17 years should limit the time spent being sedentary, particularly screen time during leisure activities.
How do we do it?
- We used accelerometers to objectively measure the time spent by children in sedentary activities. Accelerometers provide an accurate, reliable, and practical objective measure of sedentary time. It measures accelerations caused by bodily movements and makes therefore the distinction between time spent in physical activities and time spent in sitting or lying activities. In children, data from accelerometers are more accurate than data obtained from questionnaires which are often subject to recall bias and social desirability.
- Children aged 3 to 9 years were asked to wear a triaxial accelerometer GT3X+ Actigraph® during seven consecutive days including two weekend days, during waking hours (except during water-based activities). The participants and their parents or guardians also registered in a diary all activities performed when the accelerometer was removed (except for sleeping during the night). This diary was used to complete the data provided by the accelerometers.
- The total sedentary time was calculated for each day during which the accelerometer was worn. The average daily sedentary time was then calculated for each individual, separately for week and weekend days.
Key results
On weekdays, children aged 3 to 9 years spend on average 5 hours 15 minutes/day in sedentary activities.
On weekend days, children aged 3 to 9 years spend on average 4 hours 56 minutes/day in sedentary activities.
During weekend days, girls spend more time than boys in sedentary activities (5 hours 7 minutes/day vs. 4 hours 46 minutes/day).
Daily sedentary time on week and weekend days has decreased in children aged 3 to 9 years by more than one hour between 2014-2015 and 2022-2023.
Sex
Average daily sedentary time among children aged 3 to 9 years on week and weekend days, by sex, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- In 2022-2023, children aged 3 to 9 years spent on average 315 minutes/day (i.e. 5 hours 15 minutes/day) in sedentary activities on weekdays, and 296 minutes/day (i.e. 4 hours 56 minutes/day) on weekend days.
- Girls spend more time than boys in sedentary activities during the weekend, while there is no substantial difference during the week.
Educational level
Average daily sedentary time among children aged 3 to 9 years on week and weekend days, by educational level, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- The educational level is calculated at the household level by considering the highest diploma obtained by: (i) the respondents or their partner for adults (aged 18 years and above), or (ii) the father and mother (or carer, if applicable) for children and adolescents (aged 3 to 17 years). However, for simplicity, we refer to the educational level of individuals rather than the educational level of their households.
- On week and weekend days, the average sedentary time in children aged 3 to 9 years is not associated with the educational level.
Region and year
Average daily sedentary time among children aged 3 to 9 years on (a) week and (b) weekend days, by region and year, Belgium: 2022-2023
A. On weekdays
B. On weekend days
- Adjusted = results weighted for season, age, sex and socioeconomic status, and adjusted according to age and sex based on linear regression model (using the Belgian population of 2022-2023 as reference).
- At the national level, children aged 3 to 9 years spent on average less time per day in sedentary activities in 2022-2023 compared to 2014-2015. This decrease is observed both during week and weekend days.
- These decreases are also observed in Flanders and in Wallonia.
- In 2014-2015, children living in Flanders spent less time in sedentary activities than those living in Wallonia both on week and weekend days. These regional differences are not observed anymore in 2022-2023.
Sex and year
Average daily sedentary time among children aged 3 to 9 years on (a) week and (b) weekend days, by sex and year, Belgium: 2022-2023
A. On weekdays
B. On weekend days
- Adjusted = results weighted for season, age, sex and socioeconomic status, and adjusted according to age and sex based on linear regression model (using the Belgian population of 2022-2023 as reference).
- The average daily sedentary time decreased both in girls and boys between 2014-2015 and 2022-2023.
- While the decrease observed for weekdays is similar for boys and girls, the decrease observed for weekend days is more important for boys than for girls.
Please cite this page as: Sciensano. Physical activity and sedentary behaviour in children: Sedentary time, Food Consumption Survey 2022-2023, December 2024, Brussels, Belgium, https://www.sciensano.be/en/results-national-food-consumption-survey-2022-2023/physical-activity-and-sedentary-behaviour-children-aged-3-9-years/sedentary-time-children-aged-3-9 [1]