# Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior and Weight Status in Early Childhood

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AT COLUMBIA · 2022 · $337,118

## Abstract

The prevalence of childhood obesity in the U.S. has increased dramatically over the past three decades, and
the trend has become evident even in the youngest children. Approximately 8% of infants and toddlers have
high weight-for-length, which increases risk for developing obesity and other health problems in childhood and
beyond. Thus, leading health organizations have identified prevention of obesity in young children as a critical
public health challenge. Low levels of physical activity and high levels of sedentary behavior may contribute to
the development of excessive fatness in young children, but these relationships have not been fully explored.
In children ages 3 and above, accelerometry has been used widely to measure physical activity and sedentary
behavior. However, it rarely has been used to measure physical activity levels in infants and toddlers, and then
only in cross-sectional studies. No previous study has used accelerometry as an objective measure of physical
activity in young children as they develop from infancy to preschool age. Accordingly, little is known about the
factors associated with the development of physical activity behavior in very young children, and little is known
about the influence of physical activity and sedentary behavior, measured objectively, on development of
weight status during the transition from infancy to age 3. The first aim of this study is to describe physical
activity and sedentary behavior in young children as they develop from infancy to preschool age. The second
aim is to describe the longitudinal associations of weight status with physical activity and sedentary behavior
as young children develop from infancy to preschool age. The proposed investigation will employ a
longitudinal, observational study design. Participants will be 160 children and their biological mothers living in
Columbia, South Carolina. Participants will be recruited through childcare centers, pediatrics practices,
churches, and community organizations in Richland County. For each participating child, measurements will be
taken at 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36 months of age. At each time point, each child’s physical activity, sedentary
behavior, weight status and motor developmental status will be measured objectively, and each child’s mother
will complete a survey to assess demographic, social and physical environmental factors; gross motor
milestones; parenting practices related to physical activity and sedentary behavior; and dietary practices.
Childcare center directors will complete a survey annually to assess center characteristics, and the
Environment and Policy Assessment and Observation (EPAO) will be administered in the child’s classroom
annually. The proposed research will be significant because it will markedly expand our knowledge of the
relationships among physical activity, sedentary behavior and development of adiposity during the first three
years of life. The proposed investigation will be innovative because...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10308407
- **Project number:** 5R01HD091483-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AT COLUMBIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Russell R Pate
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $337,118
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-12-05 → 2023-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10308407

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10308407, Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior and Weight Status in Early Childhood (5R01HD091483-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10308407. Licensed CC0.

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