Associations of Early Childhood Correlates With Device-Measured Physical Activity in the First Years of Life: Findings From the 2015 Pelotas (Brazil) Birth Cohort Study.

Abstract

Background: The study aimed to examine the associations between breastfeeding, home environmental and childcare characteristics, and maternal and child behaviors and physical activity (PA) in the first years of life in the 2015 Pelotas (Brazil) Birth Cohort.

Methods: PA was measured with wrist accelerometers at 1 (n = 2974), 2 (n = 2645), and 4 years (n = 2955), and PA trajectories were estimated using group-based trajectory modeling (n = 1798).

Results: At the age of 1 year, partially breastfed children had higher levels of PA, whereas children with excessive screen time had lower PA. At 2 years, children whose mothers went for leisure walks had higher levels of PA, and children who attended childcare had lower levels of PA. At 4 years, higher PA was associated with breastfeeding for >6 months, maternal leisure-time PA, and having ≥2 siblings, whereas attendance at public childcare was associated with lower PA. Attendance at childcare in at least one follow-up and public childcare reduced the probability of the child presenting a trajectory of high PA in the early years. Children of mothers who performed some leisure-time PA and other leisure-time PA (except walking) in more than 1 follow-up were more likely to present a high PA trajectory.

Conclusions: Breastfeeding, childcare, number of siblings, maternal PA, and screen time were shown to be correlates of PA levels in early childhood.