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Document Type

Abstract

Publication Date

1-14-2026

Abstract

Preschool children's physical fitness is critical for lifelong health, yet recent trends show declining fitness levels, rising obesity, and reduced physical competence. Physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior (SB), and sleep (SLP) are key lifestyle factors influencing health. Compositional data analysis (CDA) addresses multicollinearity among these behaviors, while the isotemporal substitution model evaluates the effects of reallocating time between them. This study investigates the associations between 24-hour movement behaviors and preschool children's physical fitness, offering evidence-based recommendations. Method: A total of 806 preschool children aged 3–6 years were recruited from three kindergartens in Shanghai using cluster random and convenience sampling. Demographic information (gender, age, parental education, parental attitudes toward physical activity, and BMI) was collected via questionnaires. Physical fitness was assessed using the 2023 National Physical Fitness Assessment Standards, including body morphology and physical abilities. The Actigraph wGT3X-BT accelerometer recorded 24-hour activity behaviors, including moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), light physical activity (LPA), SB, and SLP over seven days, with at least three valid days required. Data were processed using ActiLife 6.5 software. Compositional multivariate linear regression and isotemporal substitution models were applied, with isometric log-ratio (ilr) transformations used to address multicollinearity. Statistical analyses were conducted using R 4.3.2 and Stata 17.0. The study included 806 preschool children (432 boys, 374 girls). Boys outperformed girls in grip strength (P < 0.01), while girls excelled in sit-and-reach flexibility (P < 0.01). MVPA was positively associated with overall fitness, grip strength, standing long jump, and flexibility (P < 0.01), but negatively associated with BMI and coordination (P < 0.05). SB and SLP showed inverse associations. Reallocating 15 minutes from LPA, SB, or SLP to MVPA significantly improves fitness, with the greatest improvements observed when replacing LPA (P < 0.05). Specifically, substituting LPA with MVPA grip strength, standing long jump, and flexibility, while replacing SB or SLP with MVPA BMI and coordination. Conversely, reallocating time from MVPA to LPA, SB, or SLP fitness outcomes. This study highlights the link between 24-hour activity behaviors and physical fitness in preschool children, with boys excelling in strength and girls in flexibility. Reallocating time to MVPA, particularly by replacing LPA, SB, or SLP, fitness. Interventions should promote outdoor play, reduce screen time, and consider gender differences. Future research should employ longitudinal designs to establish causality, expand samples to diverse regions, refine activity measurement, and incorporate additional covariates like diet and family environment.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.18122/ijpah.5.1.58.boisestate

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