Reproducibility and relative validity of a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire in European preschoolers: The ToyBox study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the reproducibility and relative validity of a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) in assessing food group estimates.

Methods: Food group estimates were assessed via a 37-item FFQ and a 3-d food record (FR). Pearson's correlation coefficients for log-transformed values were calculated to assess the reproducibility and Spearman's rank correlation coefficients for log-transformed values were calculated to assess the validity.

Maternal-child co-participation in physical activity-related behaviours: prevalence and cross-sectional associations with mothers and children's objectively assessed physical activity levels.

Background: Co-participation in physical activity may be a useful strategy for increasing physical activity in mothers and their young children, yet little empirical evidence exists on this topic for young families. This study aimed to identify the prevalence of mother-child co-participation in physical activity and examine the association between co-participatory behaviours and objectively-assessed physical activity in young children and their mothers.

Methods: One-hundred twenty-three 4-6 year-old children and their mothers were recruited from preschools in Belgium between November 2010 and January 2011.

The effect of a cluster randomised control trial on objectively measured sedentary time and parental reports of time spent in sedentary activities in Belgian preschoolers: the ToyBox-study.

Background: In preschoolers, high levels of sedentary behaviour are associated with several adverse health outcomes. The purpose of this study is to report the effects of the ToyBox-intervention (a European 24-week cluster randomised controlled trial) on sedentary behaviour in preschoolers.

Methods: In Belgium, 859 preschoolers from 27 kindergartens (15 intervention and 12 control) wore an accelerometer to objectively measure their sedentary time and 1715 parents/caregivers completed a questionnaire to assess sedentary activities in which preschoolers participate at home.

Differences in energy balance-related behaviours in European preschool children: the ToyBox-study.

Background: The aim of the current study was to compare levels of energy balance-related behaviours (physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and dietary behaviours (more specifically water consumption, sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and unhealthy snacking)) in four- to six-year-old preschoolers from six European countries (Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Poland, and Spain) within the ToyBox cross-sectional study.

Methods: A sample of 4,045 preschoolers (4.77 ± 0.

Parental Influences on Preschoolers' TV Viewing Time: Mediation Analyses on Australian and Belgian Data.

Background: Television viewing is highly prevalent in preschoolers (3-5 years). Because of the adverse health outcomes related to this behavior, it is important to investigate associations and mediators of young children's television viewing time. This study investigated whether parental rules regarding television viewing time and parental concerns about screen viewing activities mediated the association between parents' and preschoolers' television viewing time.

The translation of preschoolers' physical activity guidelines into a daily step count target.

This study aimed at translating the physical activity (PA) guideline (180 min of total PA per day) into a step count target in preschoolers. 535 Flemish preschoolers (mean age: 4.41 ± 0.

Validity of the Omron pedometer and the actigraph step count function in preschoolers.

Objectives: To validate the GT1M actigraph accelerometer step count function, and the Omron Walking Style Pro pedometer against accelerometer-based activity counts, and to compare pedometer-based and accelerometer-based steps in preschoolers.

Design: A sample of 41 preschoolers (21 boys, mean age 5.43±0.

The effect of a kindergarten-based, family-involved intervention on objectively measured physical activity in Belgian preschool boys and girls of high and low SES: the ToyBox-study.

Background: The ToyBox-study developed an evidence- and theory-based intervention to improve preschoolers' energy balance-related behaviours - including physical activity (PA) - by targeting the kindergarten environment and involving their parents/caregivers. The present study aimed to examine the effect of the ToyBox-intervention on increasing Belgian preschoolers' objectively measured PA levels.

Methods: A sample of 472 preschoolers (4.

Using the intervention mapping protocol to reduce European preschoolers' sedentary behavior, an application to the ToyBox-Study.

Background: High levels of sedentary behavior are often measured in preschoolers, but only a few interventions have been developed to counteract this. Furthermore, detailed descriptions of interventions in preschoolers targeting different forms of sedentary behavior could not be located in the literature. The aim of the present paper was to describe the different steps of the Intervention Mapping Protocol used towards the development of an intervention component of the ToyBox-study focusing on decreasing preschoolers' sedentary behavior.

Influencing factors of sedentary behavior in European preschool settings: an exploration through focus groups with teachers.

Background: Sedentary behavior refers to activities involving sitting down and reclining (eg, watching TV, using the computer) and has been associated with different health outcomes. In preschool, children are sedentary for 50% to 80% of the time, in the classroom as well as during recess. Because of the absence of qualitative studies examining influencing factors of preschoolers' sedentary behavior in preschool settings, this study explored teachers' opinions on potentially influencing factors of this behavior.

Physical activity and beverage consumption in preschoolers: focus groups with parents and teachers.

Background: Qualitative research is a method in which new ideas and strategies can be discovered. This qualitative study aimed to investigate parents' and teachers' opinions on physical activity and beverage consumption of preschool children. Through separate, independent focus groups, they expressed their perceptions on children's current physical activity and beverage consumption levels, factors that influence and enhance these behaviours, and anticipated barriers to making changes.

Validity of the ActivPAL™ and the ActiGraph monitors in preschoolers.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare three objective measures (GT1M ActiGraph, ActivPAL™, and direct observation) of sedentary behavior in preschoolers.

Methods: Fifty-two 4- to 6-yr-old preschoolers wore an ActivPAL™ and a GT1M ActiGraph for five consecutive days and were videotaped for 1 h during classroom activities at preschool. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was calculated to assess the criterion validity of the ActivPAL™ (sitting/lying, with and without standing still) and the GT1M ActiGraph (<100 counts per minute) to estimate sedentary behavior (directly observed sitting behaviors).

The impact of a teacher-led structured physical activity session on preschoolers' sedentary and physical activity levels.

Objectives: The purpose of this observational study was to examine differences in preschoolers' sedentary time and physical activity (PA) participation between preschool-attending weekdays with and without a teacher-led structured PA session.

Design: A sample of 200 preschoolers (5.3±0.