Observational studyBMJ open2018
Comparison of two methods to assess physical activity prevalence in children: an observational study using a nationally representative sample of Scottish children aged 10-11 years.
Observational study in BMJ open, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 14 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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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.
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Who cites it
14 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Interventions that support women, girls, and people who menstruate to participate in physical activity: a rapid overview of reviews.BMC public health · 2026Pooled it
- Assessing the accuracy of routing engines in replicating children's walking routes to school: a comparative study of google, mapbox, and OSRM.International journal of health geographics · 2026Article
- Bikeability cycle training: a route to increasing young people's subjective wellbeing? A retrospective cohort study.BMC public health · 2025Article
- Inequalities in geographical distribution of heritage in Scotland, investigating spatial exposure to heritage sites through area-based and individual-based (GPS) measurement.Wellbeing, space and society · 2024Article
- Inequalities in neighbourhood features within children's 20-minute neighbourhoods and variation in time spent locally, measured using GPS.Wellbeing, space and society · 2023Article
- Associations between socioeconomic position and young people's physical activity and sedentary behaviour in the UK: a scoping review.BMJ open · 2022Article
- How can an agent-based model explore the impact of interventions on children's physical activity in an urban environment?Health & place · 2021Article
- Article
- Do neighbourhood characteristics matter in understanding school children's active lifestyles? A cross-region multi-city comparison of Glasgow, Edinburgh and Hong Kong.Children's geographies · 2021Article
- How are we measuring physical activity and sedentary behaviour in the four home nations of the UK? A narrative review of current surveillance measures and future directions.British journal of sports medicine · 2020Review
- The relationship between living in urban and rural areas of Scotland and children's physical activity and sedentary levels: a country-wide cross-sectional analysis.BMC public health · 2020Article
- Article
- Socioeconomic inequalities in children's exposure to tobacco retailing based on individual-level GPS data in Scotland.Tobacco control · 2019Article
- Different analysis methods of Scottish and English child physical activity data explain the majority of the difference between the national prevalence estimates.BMC public health · 2019Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectivesTo describe the objectively measured levels of physical activity (PA) and sedentary time in a nationally representative sample of 10-11-year-old children, and compare adherence estimates to the UK PA guidelines using two approaches to assessing prevalence.
designNationally representative longitudinal cohort study.
settingScotland wide in partnership with the Growing up in Scotland (GUS) study. Data collection took place between May 2015 and May 2016.
participantsThe parents of 2402 GUS children were approached and 2162 consented to contact. Consenting children (n=1096) wore accelerometers for 8 consecutive days and 774 participants (427 girls, 357 boys) met inclusion criteria. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Total PA (counts per minute, cpm); time spent sedentary and in moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA); proportion of children with ≥60 min MVPA on each day of wear (daily approach); proportion of children with ≥60 min of MVPA on average across days of wear (average approach)-presented across boys and girls, index of multiple deprivation and season.
resultsMean PA level was 648 cpm (95% CI, 627 to 670). Children spent 7.5 hours (7.4-7.6) sedentary/day and 72.6 min (70.0-75.3) in MVPA/day. 11% (daily) and 68% (average) of children achieved the recommended levels of PA (P<0.05 for difference); a greater proportion of boys met the guidelines (12.5% vs 9.8%, NS; 75.9% vs 59.5%, P<0.001); guideline prevalence exhibited seasonal variation. No significant socioeconomic patterning existed across any outcome measure.
conclusionsPA estimates are significantly influenced by the analytical method used to assess prevalence. This could have a substantial impact on the evaluation of interventions, policy objectives and public health investment. Existing guidelines, which focus on daily PA only may not further our understandings about the underlying construct itself. Gender differences exist within this age-group, suggesting greater investment, with particular consideration of seasonality, is needed for targeted intervention work in younger children.
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