Physical activity interventions were consistently ( > 60 % of studies ) associated with improved motor and cognitive development , and psychosocial and cardiometabolic health .
Across observational studies , physical activity was consistently associated with favourable motor development , fitness , and bone and skeletal health .
For intensity , light- and moderate-intensity physical activity were not consistently associated with any health indicators , whereas moderate- to vigorous-intensity , vigorous-intensity , and total physical activity were consistently favourably associated with multiple health indicators .
Across study design s , consistent favourable associations with health indicators were observed for a variety of types of physical activity , including active play , aerobic , dance , prone position ( infants ; ≤1 year ) , and structured/organized .
Apart from ≥30 min/day of the prone position for infants , the most favourable frequency and duration of physical activity was unclear .
However , more physical activity appeared better for health .
Conclusions Specific types of physical activity , total physical activity , and physical activity of at least moderate- to vigorous-intensity were consistently favourably associated with multiple health indicators .
Background Given the rapid development during the early years ( 0 - 4 years ) , an underst and ing of the health implication s of physical activity is needed .
The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the relationships between objective ly and subjectively measured physical activity and health indicators in the early years .
Increased periosteal circumference remains present 12 months after an exercise intervention in preschool children.
We previously reported that calcium intake enhanced the leg bone response to physical activity of preschool children in a 12-month r and omized trial of calcium supplementation and physical activity . To determine whether the intervention-induced changes in leg bone mineral content and size were maintained through the subsequent 12-month follow-up period , total body bone measurements by DXA and 20 % distal tibia pQCT bone measurements were obtained at 24 months ( 12 months post-intervention ) . Children also were measured for height and weight , and accelerometer readings were obtained in a subset of children at 18 and 24 months ( 6 and 12 months post-intervention ) . Regression analyses were performed controlling for covariates and indicated that increases from 12 to 24 months were greater in the gross motor ( GM ) activity group ( bone loading , large muscle exercises ) vs. fine motor ( FM ) activity group ( arts and crafts program ) for arm bone area ( BA ) ( P < 0.01 ) , total body ( P=0.04 ) and arm ( P < 0.01 ) bone mineral content ( BMC ) . There were no differences in BA or BMC changes from 12 to 24 months by calcium supplementation . Differences in tibia periosteal circumference by pQCT persisted at 24 months ( GM 51.4 + /- 0.4 mm vs. FM 50.2 + /- 0.4 mm , P=0.03 ) with a trend for greater endosteal circumferences in the children in the GM vs. FM groups at both 12 and 24 months ( both , P=0.08 ) . There were no significant differences in cortical area or thickness by activity or supplement group at 24 months . Children in the GM group had greater accelerometer counts/day ( P=0.04 ) and more time in vigorous activity ( P=0.05 ) at 18 months compared to FM group . No differences in accelerometer readings were noted at 24 months . In conclusion , we found higher activity levels in children r and omized to gross motor vs. fine motor activities 6 months after the intervention program ceased . Whether the greater periosteal circumference that was observed 12 months post-intervention was a persistent biological bone effect or due to persistently higher activity levels is not known
Physical activity interventions were consistently ( > 60 % of studies ) associated with improved motor and cognitive development , and psychosocial and cardiometabolic health .
Across observational studies , physical activity was consistently associated with favourable motor development , fitness , and bone and skeletal health .
For intensity , light- and moderate-intensity physical activity were not consistently associated with any health indicators , whereas moderate- to vigorous-intensity , vigorous-intensity , and total physical activity were consistently favourably associated with multiple health indicators .
Across study design s , consistent favourable associations with health indicators were observed for a variety of types of physical activity , including active play , aerobic , dance , prone position ( infants ; ≤1 year ) , and structured/organized .
Apart from ≥30 min/day of the prone position for infants , the most favourable frequency and duration of physical activity was unclear .
However , more physical activity appeared better for health .
Conclusions Specific types of physical activity , total physical activity , and physical activity of at least moderate- to vigorous-intensity were consistently favourably associated with multiple health indicators .
Background Given the rapid development during the early years ( 0 - 4 years ) , an underst and ing of the health implication s of physical activity is needed .
The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the relationships between objective ly and subjectively measured physical activity and health indicators in the early years .