Physical activity alone is not enough to overcome the negative effect of sedentary behavior of children on basic motor skills, researchers in Portugal say. Dr. Luis Lopes of the University of Minho in Braga, Portugal, said children who spend more than three-quarters of their time engaged in sedentary behavior, such as watching TV and sitting at computers, have up to nine times poorer motor coordination than their more active peers. "It is very clear from our study that a high level of sedentary behavior is an independent predictor of low motor coordination, regardless of physical activity levels and other key factors," Lopes said in a statement. "High sedentary behavior had a significant impact on the children's motor coordination, with boys being more adversely affected than girls." The study involved 110 girls and 103 boys ages 9-10. The children's sedentary behavior and physical activity were measured with accelerometers -- a device that quantifies movement counts and intensities -- over five consecutive days. Motor coordination was evaluated with the Korperkoordination Test fur Kinder, which includes balance, jumping laterally, hopping on one leg over an obstacle and shifting platforms, Lopes said. The study, published in the American Journal of Human Biology, found, on average, the children spent 75.6 percent of their time being sedentary -- girls who spent 77.3 percent or more of their time being sedentary were 4 to 5 times less likely to have normal motor coordination than more active girls. However, boys who were sedentary for more than 76 percent of their time were between 5 to 9 times less likely to have good or normal motor coordination than their active peers.
GMT 18:35 2018 Thursday ,11 January
Syrian refugee sets himself ablaze at UN office in LebanonGMT 18:48 2018 Tuesday ,09 January
Novo Nordisk woos Belgian nano-drug makerGMT 17:54 2017 Wednesday ,27 December
Medical evacuations begin from besieged Syria rebel bastionGMT 12:14 2017 Monday ,25 December
MoHAP successfully conducts cochlear implant operationGMT 18:24 2017 Sunday ,24 December
Palestinian conjoined twins arrive in RiyadhGMT 19:05 2017 Monday ,18 December
new! magazine names fitness & food editorGMT 17:03 2017 Wednesday ,29 November
Spain reports case of 'mad cow disease'GMT 14:05 2017 Saturday ,11 November
EU can't agree on new licence for controversial glyphosate weedkiller
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor