# Sex Differences in Physical Activity of US children at age 13 months: Child and Mother Physical Activity Study (CAMPAS)

## TL;DR

This study found that by 13 months old, US children show a sex difference in total physical activity, with boys being more active than girls.

## Contribution

The study identifies the emergence of a sex difference in physical activity as early as toddler age and finds no role of motor skills or parenting practices in explaining the gap.

## Key findings

- Total physical activity was 15 minutes/day lower in females than males after adjusting for motor skills and parenting practices.
- Gross motor competency and PA-encouraging parenting practices were positively associated with physical activity levels.
- The sex difference in physical activity was observed at 10–16 months of age, suggesting an early emergence of the gap.

## Abstract

Lower physical activity (PA) has been observed in females compared to males among preschool-aged and older children. However, the timing of when the sex gap emerges is unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether females have lower PA levels than males in the early toddler age and to explore whether gross motor competency and PA parenting practices might explain a sex difference in PA.

The study design was cross-sectional. Participants were a community-based sample of 137 children aged 10–16 months residing in US Midwest urban/suburban area. Participants’ mothers completed a survey that contained a demographic questionnaire, the Ages and Stages Questionnaire gross motor competency subscale, and a PA parenting practices questionnaire. Participating children wore an ActiGraph accelerometer on their hip for 7 days. Accelerometer-measured time spent in moderate- and vigorous intensity PA (MVPA; minutes/day) and in total PA (minutes/day) were calculated. Multivariable linear regression analysis was conducted to predict MVPA and total PA by sex, gross motor competency, PA parenting practices, and socioeconomic status.

Among 137 participants (54.0% female), average age was 13.6 months (SD = 1.7). MVPA was 72 ± 25 and 79 ± 26 minutes/day for females and males, respectively (p = 0.14). Total PA was 221 ± 48 and 238 ± 47 minutes/day for females and males, respectively (p = 0.04). Both gross motor competency and PA-encouraging parenting practices were positively associated MVPA (p = 0.01 and p = 0.02, respectively) and total PA (p = 0.02 and p = 0.01, respectively); however, these relationships did not differ by sex (p = 0.11 and p = 0.89, respectively). After accounting for gross motor competency and PA parenting practices, total PA was 15 minutes/day lower among females than males (p = 0.04).

This cross-sectional study of US children observed a sex gap in total PA at 10–16 months of age. Gross motor development and PA parenting practices did not differ by child sex nor explain the sex difference in PA. A longitudinal investigation should follow to further narrow down when sex differences in PA emerge and to determine the factors that lead to this difference.