Total energy expenditure and physical activity in young Scottish children: mixed longitudinal study
J J Reilly, D M Jackson, C Montgomery, L A Kelly, C Slater, S Grant, J Y Paton Childhood obesity has been attributed to a decline in total energy expenditure (TEE). We measured TEE, physical activity, and sedentary behaviour in a representative sample of young children from Glasgow, UK, at age 3 years (n=78), and we did a follow-up study at age 5 years (n=72). Mean physical activity level (TEE/resting energy expenditure) was 1·56 (SD 0·39) at age 3 years and 1·61 (0·22) at age 5 years. Median time in sedentary behaviour was 79% of monitored hours at age 3 years (IQR 74-84) and 76% (71-80) at age 5 years. Median time spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity represented only 2% of monitored hours at age 3 years (IQR 1-4) and 4% at age 5 years (2-6). Modern British children establish a sedentary lifestyle at an early age.
University of Glasgow Division of Developmental Medicine, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Glasgow G3 8SJ, UK (J J Reilly PhD, C Montgomery PhD, L A Kelly BSc, C Slater MPhil, J Y Paton FRCPCH); Division of Energy Balance and Obesity, Rowett Research Institute, Greenburn Road, Bucksburn, Aberdeen, UK (D M Jackson PhD); and University of Glasgow Faculty of Biological and Life Sciences, West Medical Building, Glasgow, UK (S Grant PhD)
http://www.thelancet.com/…/llan.363.9404.original_research.28395.1