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. 2024 May 18;24(1):1343.
doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-18854-7.

Physical activity has decreased in Finnish children and adolescents from 2016 to 2022

Pauliina Husu  1 , Kari Tokola  2 , Henri Vähä-Ypyä  2 , Harri Sievänen  2 , Sami Kokko  3 , Jari Villberg  3 , Tommi Vasankari  2   4
Affiliations

Physical activity has decreased in Finnish children and adolescents from 2016 to 2022

Pauliina Husu et al. BMC Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: Varying trends in children's and adolescents' physical activity (PA) have been reported during the last 10-20 years. Trends in sedentary behavior (SB) have been studied only rarely. The purpose of the present study was to describe population-based trends in accelerometer-measured PA, standing and SB, among Finnish 7-15-year-old children and adolescents, and to evaluate the potential influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on these behaviors.

Method: A cross-sectional population-based Finnish school-aged physical activity Study (FSPA) measured daily steps, vigorous (VPA), moderate (MPA), moderate-to-vigorous (MVPA), light physical activity (LPA), standing, and SB by an accelerometer for seven consecutive days in 2016, 2018, and 2022 (n = 7.080, 57% girls). The data was analyzed by multivariate regression analysis.

Results: In 2016, participants took on average 10.305 steps per day, and spent 0:15 (h: min) in VPA, 1:37 in MPA, 1:52 in MVPA, 3:48 in LPA, 0:55 in standing and 7:52 in SB. From 2016 to 2018, daily steps, MPA, LPA, and standing increased [229 steps (95% Confidence Interval, CI 70-387), 0:03 (CI 0:01 - 0:04), 0:11 (CI 0:09 - 0:14), and 0:07 (CI 0:05 - 0:08), respectively], while VPA and SB decreased [0:01 (CI 0:00-0:02) and 0:20 (CI 0:16 - 0:24), respectively]. From 2018 to 2022, daily PA and standing declined [751 steps (CI 562-939), VPA 0:02 (CI 0:01 - 0:03), MPA 0:09 (CI 0:07 - 0:11), MVPA 0:11 (CI 0:09 - 0:14), LPA 0:08 (CI 0:05 - 0:11), and standing 0:01 (CI 0:01 - 0:03)] while SB increased 0:21 (CI 0:16 - 0:25) indicating potential influence of the pandemic.

Conclusions: Children and adolescents became physically less active from 2016 to 2022. The potential effects of the COVID-19 were seen as declined PA and increased sedentariness from 2018 to 2022.

Keywords: Accelerometry; Physical activity; Sedentary behavior.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Locations of the regional organizations in 2016, 2018 and 2022. Small dots represent the participating schools and bigger circles the area of each regional organization executing the measurements
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Differences in PA, standing and SB in 2016, 2018, and 2022
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
The school-grade-specific analysis of the differences in PA, standing and SB in 2016, 2018, and 2022
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
The sex-specific analysis of the differences in PA, standing and SB in 2016, 2018, and 2022
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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