What Is the Relationship between Outdoor Time and Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour, and Physical Fitness in Children? A Systematic Review
Casey Ellen Graya✉, Rebecca Gibbonsb, Richard Larouchea, Ellen Beate Hansen Sandseterc, Adam Bienenstockd, MARIANA J. BRUSSONIe f, Guylaine Chabotg, Susan Herringtonh, Ian Jansseni j, William Picketti, Marlene Powerk, Nick Stangerl, Margaret Sampsonm, Mark Stephen Tremblaya n
- aHealthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, 401 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L1, Canada
- bSchool of Population & Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6H 3V4, Canada
- cDepartment of Physical Education and Health, Queen Maud University College of Early Childhood Education, Thrond Nergaards Vei 7, NO-7044 Trondheim, Norway
- dBienenstock Natural Playgrounds, 64 Hatt Street, Dundas, ON L9H 7T6, Canada
- eBritish Columbia Injury Research & Prevention Unit, Child & Family Research Institute, British Columbia Children's Hospital, University of British Columbia, F511-4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3V4, Canada
- fDepartment of Pediatrics, School of Population & Public Health, British Columbia Children's Hospital, University of British Columbia, F511-4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3V4, Canada
- gEvaluation Platform on Obesity Prevention, Quebec Heart and Lung Research Institute, Laval University, 2725 Chemin Ste-Foy, Local Y4283, Quebec, QC G1V 4G5, Canada
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Abstract
The objective of this systematic review was to examine the relationship between outdoor time and: (1) physical activity, (2) cardiorespiratory fitness, (3) musculoskeletal fitness, (4) sedentary behaviour; or (5) motor skill development in children aged 3-12 years. We identified 28 relevant studies that were assessed for quality using the GRADE framework. The systematic review revealed overall positive effects of outdoor time on physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and cardiorespiratory fitness, although causality could not be assumed due to a lack of RCTs. Motor skill development was unrelated to outdoor time; however, this relationship was only examined in a single study of preschool children. No studies were found that examined associations between outdoor time and musculoskeletal fitness.
TL;DROverall positive effects of outdoor time on physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and cardiorespiratory fitness are revealed, although causality could not be assumed due to a lack of RCTs. (Semantic Scholar)

