Grant: Operating Grant

The preschool years are a period of growth for which we know the least about the impact of physical activity. Since society has traditionally thought of little kids as 'active enough', important questions regarding physical activity and health in preschoolers have gone unanswered, especially how investment in physical activity during the early years translates into health later in life. If we do not fill this gap in our knowledge, it will be impossible to develop evidence-based policies to promote the long-term health benefits of physical activity for preschoolers. The goal of our study is to measure physical activity in children that we have followed since they were preschoolers and determine how activity levels relate to key health outcomes, including body composition (obesity), how well blood vessels work (heart health), fitness levels, and information related to quality of life. We have a group of 326 children who will be tested once per year for 3 years, during their school years. This will allow us to determine if physical activity during the early years is important for health during the school years, or if recent physical activity is more important. This information will be critical in future revisions of the Canadian physical activity guidelines, which we helped create.