MRC Epidemiology Unit
The Studying Physical Activity in Children and their Environment (SPACE) study was a cross-sectional observational study aiming to assess the impact of preschool attendance and the preschool environment on children’s activity levels, and elicit opinions about health behaviours from the preschool carers responsible for young children.
A total of 247 children (3-4 years) attending nursery schools or preschool centres in Cambridge and the surrounding area were recruited from 30 settings. Measures include physical activity for up to 7 days using (combined heart-rate monitor and movement sensing), anthropometric data (height, weight, skinfolds), direct observation of preschool environment (Environment and Policy Assessment and Observation; EPAO); questionnaires for parents, carers and setting managers.