Author/Authors :
Hovsepian, Silva Department of Pediatrics - Child Growth and Development Research Center - Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non Communicable Disease - Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran , Kelishadi, Roya Department of Pediatrics - Child Growth and Development Research Center - Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-communicable Disease - Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran , Motlagh, Mohammad Esmaeil Department of Pediatrics - Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran , Kasaeian, Amir Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation Research Center - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Shafiee, Gita Chronic Diseases Research Center - Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Arefirad, Tahereh Department of Exercise Physiology - Science and Research Branch Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran , Najafi, Fereshteh Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Khoramdad, Maliheh Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Asayesh, Hamid Department of Medical Emergency - Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran , Heshmat, Ramin Chronic Diseases Research Center - Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Qorbani, Mostafa Department of Community Medicine - School of Medicine - Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
Abstract :
Background: There are few epidemiological reports on adherence to physical activity (PA) and screen-time
(ST) recommendations among Iranian children and adolescents at the provincial level. We used nationally representative
data to provide recent prevalence estimates of Iranian children who met the recommendations for PA
and ST.
Methods: This nationwide study was conducted among 14,880 students aged 6-18 years from 30 provinces of
Iran. The frequency of the recommended level for PA (>1 hours/week) and ST (<2 hours/day) and different
combinations of PA and ST was determined in the studied population.
Results: In this study, 13,486 students (response rate: 90.6%) were studied. Overall, 18.62%, 34.11%, 50.66%
and 9.63% of the students reported high ST, low level of PA, high TV watching and high computer working,
respectively. The frequency of the recommended level of PA and ST was 53.92%. Of the studied population,
6.63% had low PA and high ST. Paradox combinations of low PA and low ST and moderate/high PA and high
ST was prevalent among 27.47% and 6.26% of the children and adolescents. The lowest and highest frequency
of recommended level of PA and ST was 38.9% and 65%, respectively. The lowest and highest frequency of
low PA and high ST was 1.87% and 13.77%, respectively.
Conclusion: The results of this study revealed that the frequency of low PA was high and that approximately
46% of the students did not meet the recommended level of PA and ST. The findings indicated that preparing
facilities for improving PA level among children should be the main priority in our future interventions in this
field.
