Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29219090›Full record

SynthesisBMC public health2017

Systematic review of the relationships between physical activity and health indicators in the early years (0-4 years).

Valerie Carson, Eun-Young Lee, Lyndel Hewitt, Cally Jennings, Stephen Hunter, Nicholas Kuzik, Jodie A Stearns, Stephanie Powley Unrau, Veronica J Poitras, Casey Gray and 7 more

Erratum issued 2 registry-linked trialsAbstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC public health, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 294 papers, 23 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
294citing papers in PubMed, 23 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT06616467 naactive not recruitingnot on this mapstarted 2024, after this paper: background citation

Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention Targeting Mothers to Increase Tummy Time Practice and Maintain Healthy Weight in Infants

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversidad Autonoma de Nuevo LeonRan2024 to 2025Enrolled144ConditionsObesity/therapy, Prevention and ControlArmsTummy Time for the prevention of childhood obesity
NCT07421830 narecruitingnot on this mapstarted 2026, after this paper: background citation

An Empowering Parent Training Intervention to Increase Physical Activity in Preschool Aged Children With Autism: A Randomized Control Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorNortheastern UniversityRan2026 to 2026Enrolled114ConditionsAutism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)ArmsWellness Enhancing Physical Activity for Young Children: Parent Version (WE PLAY for Parents)
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

294 citing papers in PubMed, 23 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  6. Interventions to prevent obesity in children aged 2 to 4 years old.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2025
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234 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

17 authors.

Valerie CarsonFaculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2H9, Canada. vlcarson@ualberta.ca.
Eun-Young LeeFaculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2H9, Canada.
Lyndel HewittEarly Start Research Institute, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia.
Cally JenningsFaculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2H9, Canada.
Stephen HunterFaculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2H9, Canada.
Nicholas KuzikFaculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2H9, Canada.
Jodie A StearnsFaculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2H9, Canada.
Stephanie Powley UnrauFaculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2H9, Canada.
Veronica J PoitrasHealthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L1, Canada.
Casey GrayHealthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L1, Canada.
Kristi B AdamoSchool of Human Kinetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1N 1A2, Canada.
Ian JanssenSchool of Kinesiology and Health Studies, and Department of Public Health Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada.
Anthony D OkelyEarly Start Research Institute, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia.
John C SpenceFaculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2H9, Canada.
Brian W TimmonsChild Health & Exercise Medicine Program, Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada.
Margaret SampsonHealthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L1, Canada.
Mark S TremblayHealthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L1, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundGiven the rapid development during the early years (0-4 years), an understanding of the health implications of physical activity is needed. The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the relationships between objectively and subjectively measured physical activity and health indicators in the early years.

methodsElectronic databases were originally searched in April, 2016. Included studies needed to be peer-reviewed, written in English or French, and meet a priori study criteria. The population was apparently healthy children aged 1 month to 59.99 months/4.99 years. The intervention/exposure was objectively and subjectively measured physical activity. The comparator was various volumes, durations, frequencies, patterns, types, and intensities of physical activity. The outcomes were health indicators ranked as critical (adiposity, motor development, psychosocial health, cognitive development, fitness) and important (bone and skeletal health, cardiometabolic health, and risks/harm). The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) framework was used to assess the quality of evidence for each health indicator by each study design.

resultsNinety-six studies representing 71,291 unique participants from 36 countries were included. 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 designs, 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. Evidence ranged from "very low" to "high" quality.

conclusionsSpecific 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. The majority of evidence was in preschool-aged children (3-4 years). Findings will inform evidence-based guidelines.

Indexed as

ExerciseHealth Status IndicatorsChild, PreschoolHumansInfantInfant, NewbornRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicAdiposityCardiometabolic healthCognitive developmentEarly yearsFitnessInfantsInjuryMotor developmentPhysical activityPreschoolersProne positionPsychosocial healthSkeletal healthToddlers

Identifiers

PMID29219090
PMCPMC5753397

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.