Daily variations in weather and the relationship with physical activity and sedentary time in European 10- to 12-year-olds: The ENERGY-Project

Yildirim, Mine; Schoeni, Anna; Singh, Amika S.; Altenburg, Teatske M.; Brug, Johannes; Bourdeaudhuij, Ilse de; Kovacs, Eva; Bringolf-Isler, Bettina; Manios, Yannis and Chinapaw, Mai J. M. (2014): Daily variations in weather and the relationship with physical activity and sedentary time in European 10- to 12-year-olds: The ENERGY-Project. In: Journal of physical activity & health, Vol. 11, No. 2: pp. 419-425

Abstract

BACKGROUND The aim of the study was to examine the association of daily variations in rainfall and temperature with sedentary time (ST) and physical activity (PA) in European children. METHODS Children were included from 5 countries (Belgium, Greece, Hungary, the Netherlands, Switzerland) as part of the ENERGY-project. We used cross-sectional data from 722 children aged 10-12 years (47% boys). ST and PA were measured by accelerometers for 6 consecutive days, including weekend days. Weather data were collected from online national weather reports. Multilevel regression models were used for data analyses. RESULTS Maximum temperature was positively associated with light PA (β = 3.1 min/day; 95% CI = 2.4–3.8), moderate-to-vigorous PA (β = 0.6 min/day; 95% CI = 0.4–0.8), and average PA [β = 4.1 counts per minute (cpm); 95% CI = 1.6–6.5, quadratic relationship]. Rainfall was inversely and quadratically associated with light PA (β = –1.3 min/day; 95% CI = –1.9 to –0.6), moderate-to-vigorous PA (β = –0.6 min/day; 95% CI = –0.8 to –0.3), and average PA (β = –1.6 cpm; 95% CI = –2.2 to –0.9). Maximum temperature was not significantly associated with ST (β = –0.2 min/day; 95% CI = –1.0 to 0.6), while rainfall was positively associated with ST (β = 0.9 min/day; 95% CI = 0.6–1.3). CONCLUSION The current study shows that temperature and rainfall are significantly associated with PA and ST in 10- to 12-year-old European children.

• Item Type: Journal article
• Keywords: Child; Europe; Exercise; Female; Health Surveys; Humans; Male; Motor Activity; Rain; Regression Analysis; Sedentary Lifestyle; Self Report; Socioeconomic Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; Time Factors; Weather
• Faculties: Medicine > Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry and Epidemiology; Medicine > Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry and Epidemiology > Epidemiology of Vertigo and Dizziness
• Subjects: 600 Technology > 610 Medicine and health
• ISSN: 1543-3080
• Language: English