Associations Between Meeting the 24-Hour Movement Guidelines and Cardiometabolic Risk in Young Children

Abstract

Introduction: The authors aimed to examine the association between meeting the integrative movement behavior guidelines (physical activity, screen viewing, and sleep) and cardiometabolic risk (CMR) factors in young children.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, physical activity, screen viewing, and sleep were assessed using parent-reported data. The 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for the Early Years (0-4 y) were defined as 180 minutes of physical activity/day (of which ≥60 min should be moderate-to-vigorous intensity), ≤1 hour of screen viewing/day, and 10 to 13 hours of sleep/night. Waist circumference, glucose, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and systolic blood pressure were measured in a clinical setting by trained staff. A total CMR score and individual CMR factors served as primary and secondary outcomes, respectively.

Results: Of the 767 participants (3-4 y), 26.4% met none of the guideline's recommendations, whereas 41.3%, 33.1%, and 10.6% of the sample met 1, 2, or all 3 recommendations, respectively. The number of recommendations met was not associated with the total CMR score or individual CMR factors (P > .05), with the exceptions of high-density lipoprotein (odds ratio = 1.61; 95% confidence interval, 1.11 to 2.33; P = .01).

Conclusion: Meeting the 24-Hour Movement Guidelines in early childhood was not associated with overall CMR, but was associated with favorable cholesterol outcomes.

Keywords: cardiometabolic health; cholesterol; physical activity; screen viewing; sleep; systolic blood pressure; triglycerides; waist circumference.