Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Objectives: This longitudinal study seeks to establish: a) How changes in weather conditions affect total daily SED in children, and b) How SED effects are moderated by urban design. Methods: Families with children aged 9-14 years were recruited from the prairie city of Saskatoon, Canada (n=816). Location-specific SED was measured in children over three time frames (Sept-Dec 2014; Jan-April 2015; May-Sept 2015) using GPS equipped accelerometers. Neighbourhood level built environment (BE) features were assessed using multiple audit tools. A multilevel modeling approach was taken to understand the relationship between weather conditions, demographics, BE and total daily SED of children. Results: On average, children with valid accelerometry data accumulated 4.5 hours of sedentary time per day. In a multilevel model higher total daily precipitation was significantly associated with increased levels of SED, but differentially moderated by BE universal accessibility. Increased levels of both light and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (PA) were negatively associated with increased accumulation of SED. With increased age, the level of SED increased at a greater rate in females, in comparison to males. Pedestrian access was positively associated with reduced sedentariness in females, but increased sedentariness in males. Conclusions: Disruptive positive interventions to minimize SED in both boys and girls, especially as they age, may provide the greatest benefit when done so in our youngest populations.The simultaneous examination of both weather conditions and the built environment in a 1 year longitudinal setting is unique to our study. Focus on SED, and taking into account light and moderate-to-vigorous PA are also not commonly done in previous research. This project will shape infill and new urban development projects by providing necessary information to relevant public health policy architects.