Associations between weather conditions and physical activity and sedentary time in children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Health Place. 2021 May:69:102546. doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2021.102546. Epub 2021 Mar 10.

Abstract

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the associations between weather conditions and physical activity (PA) and sedentary time (ST) in children and adolescents. A systematic search of six databases identified 11,816 articles, of which 26 studies were included in the review. Several weather conditions were included, such as rainfall, temperature, wind speed, day length, sunlight, humidity, snowfall, and clouds. Meta-analyses showed that higher temperatures were associated with more moderate-to-vigorous PA, while lower temperature and heavily rainfall was associated with longer ST. Children and adolescents showed more PA and less ST during favorable weather conditions. Future longitudinal and intervention studies on PA and ST should focus on how weather conditions promote or hinder these behaviors.

Keywords: Physical activity; Rainfall; Sedentary time; Temperature; Weather conditions.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Review
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Exercise*
  • Humans
  • Humidity
  • Sedentary Behavior*
  • Sunlight
  • Weather