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 .
Randomized trial of physical activity and calcium supplementation on bone mineral content in 3- to 5-year-old children.
A meta- analysis of adult exercise studies and an infant activity trial show a possible interaction between physical activity and calcium intake on bone . This r and omized trial of activity and calcium supplementation was conducted in 239 children aged 3 - 5 years ( 178 completed ) . Children were r and omized to participate in either gross motor or fine motor activities for 30 minutes/day , 5 days per week for 12 months . Within each group , children received either calcium ( 1000 mg/day ) or placebo .  Total body and regional bone mineral content by DXA and 20 % distal tibia measurements by peripheral quantitative computed tomography ( pQCT ) were obtained at 0 and 12 months . Three-day diet records and 48-h accelerometer readings were obtained at 0 , 6 , and 12 months . Higher activity levels were observed in gross motor versus fine motor activity groups , and calcium intake was greater in calcium versus placebo ( 1354 + /- 301 vs. 940 + /- 258 mg/day , p < 0.001 ) . Main effects of activity and calcium group were not significant for total body bone mineral content or leg bone mineral content by DXA . However , the difference in leg bone mineral content gain between gross motor and fine motor was more pronounced in children receiving calcium versus placebo ( interaction , p = 0.05 ) . Children in the gross motor group had greater tibia periosteal and endosteal circumferences by pQCT compared with children in the fine motor group at study completion ( p < 0.05 ) . There was a significant interaction ( both p < or = 0.02 ) between supplement and activity groups in both cortical thickness and cortical area : among children receiving placebo , thickness and area were smaller with gross motor activity compared with fine motor activity , but among children receiving calcium , thickness and area were larger with gross motor activity . These findings indicate that calcium intake modifies the bone response to activity in young children
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 .