View article

To date, no reviews have investigated the evidence of tracking of physical activity and sedentary behavior specifically during early childhood (aged 0–5.9 years) or from early childhood to middle childhood (aged 6–12 years). It is important to review the evidence of tracking of these behaviors to determine their stability during the foundational early years of life.

A literature search of studies was conducted in seven electronic databases (January 1980 to April 2012). Studies were compared on methodologic quality and evidence of tracking of physical activity or sedentary behavior. Tracking was defined as the stability (or relative ranking within a cohort) of behaviors, such as physical activity and sedentary behavior, over time.

Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria. All studies reporting physical activity outcomes had high methodologic quality; 71% of …