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. 2021 Jan 26;8(2):83.
doi: 10.3390/children8020083.

Changes in Healthy Behaviors and Meeting 24-h Movement Guidelines in Spanish and Brazilian Preschoolers, Children and Adolescents during the COVID-19 Lockdown

José Francisco López-Gil  1 , Mark S Tremblay  2 , Javier Brazo-Sayavera  3   4
Affiliations

Changes in Healthy Behaviors and Meeting 24-h Movement Guidelines in Spanish and Brazilian Preschoolers, Children and Adolescents during the COVID-19 Lockdown

José Francisco López-Gil et al. Children (Basel). .

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to assess changes in physical activity, screen time and sleep duration of preschoolers, children and adolescents and the prevalence of meeting the 24-h movement guidelines during the lockdown caused by COVID-19 in a sample from Spain and Brazil.

Methods: A total of 1099 preschoolers, children and adolescents (aged 3-17 years) from Spain (12.1 ± 4.6 years) and Brazil (10.7 ± 4.3 years) were included. An online survey was created and distributed in each country using a snowball sampling strategy. This online survey was completed by parents (mother/father/responsible guardian).

Results: The proportion of the sample who met the PA and ST recommendations decreased during the COVID-19 lockdown in both Spanish and Brazilian samples (p < 0.001), while sleep duration increased (p < 0.001). The proportion of the sample meeting the overall 24-h movement guidelines was very low before the lockdown (Spain 3.0%; Brazil 11.7%) and even worse during the lockdown (Spain 0.3%; Brazil 7.5%).

Conclusions: The prevalence of preschoolers, children and adolescents in both the Spain and Brazil samples meeting the 24-h movement guidelines during COVID-19 restrictions was as low as previous studies in other countries. Efforts to protect and support healthy behaviors of young people during a period of pandemic restrictions need to be a priority.

Keywords: coronavirus; healthy lifestyle; physical activity; sedentary behavior; sleep.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Changes in parental-reported physical activity (PA), screen time (ST) and sleep duration during the COVID-19 lockdown according to the country. Data expressed as mean (SEM).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Venn diagram showing the proportion meeting the 24-h guidelines in both Spanish and Brazilian preschoolers, children and adolescents.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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