Apples for Health- Preschoolers not as active as thought

Preschoolers not as active as thought

COLUMBIA, S.C., Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Contrary to conventional wisdom, preschoolers don't move around a lot, even when they're playing outside, U.S. researchers said.

An interdisciplinary team of researchers at the University of South Carolina, Michigan State University and East Carolina University used data from the Children's Activity and Movement in Preschools Study. The researchers looked at 3-, 4-, and 5-year olds enrolled in 24 community-based preschool programs.

The study, published in the journal Child Development, found that the preschoolers were inactive for much of their preschool day, with 89 percent of physical activity characterized as sedentary. Even when they played outside, a time when children are expected to move around, 56 percent of their activities were sedentary.

"Because children's health and physical well-being are an important part of development, their physical activity needs to be increased in order to promote healthy lifestyles, particularly for preschoolers who are growing up in low-income families and who are at greater risk for poor health outcomes," lead author William H. Brown of the University of South Carolina said in a statement.