Physical activity, sedentary time, sleep duration and health outcomes in preschoolers:
exploring the relationships with compositional analyses
The objective of the proposed project is to establish the relationships between
movement behaviours (physical activity, sedentary time and sleep duration) and health
outcomes in preschoolers (i.e., less than 5 years old) using compositional analysis.
Compositional analysis uses data that are proportional of a finite whole (e.g., 24 hours) and
can be used when all parts or just some parts of the whole have been measured (1,2). This
method considers the effects of a behaviour as a proportion relative to the other behaviours
instead of an independent behaviour. This is a novel approach to analyzing movement
behaviour data and it aligns with Canada’s newest Physical Activity Guidelines for Children
and Youth (i.e., 5 years and older). In 2016, the Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for
Children and Youth were published and this new version focuses on the interplay between
sleep, physical activity and sedentary time, rather than focusing on these movement
behaviours independently.