Physical activity and screen time in Swedish children and adolescents: The generation pep study 2018–2021

AIM: To analyse physical activity and screen time trends annually between 2018 and 2021 in large population‐based samples of Swedish children and adolescents. METHODS: This is a repeated cross‐sectional study using data collected over 4 years (2018–2021) using simple probability sampling of Swedish children and adolescents aged 4–17 years. The web‐based questionnaire, including questions on physical activity and screen time, was filled out by a parent if the child was <12 years of age and by the adolescents themselves if they were ≥ 12 years. Sociodemographic data was collected from the parents. RESULTS: No significant difference in physical activity was observed in 2020 and 2021 compared to 2019. However, older children/adolescents and girls have higher odds to be in a lower physical activity category (p‐values<0.001). With regards to screen time, there was a significant increase in reported screen time from 2018 to 2021 for children and adolescents, with screen time peaking in 2020 (p‐values<0.001). CONCLUSION: This is the first study in Sweden evaluating trends in physical activity and screen time in large population‐based samples spanning from pre‐school to adolescence. Interventions to promote physical activity, especially in the older age groups and to reduce screen time in a Swedish context are warranted.