A systematic review and meta-analysis of the first decade of compositional data analyses of 24-hour movement behaviours, health, and well-being in school-aged children

Abstract Introduction Movement behaviours (e.g., sleep, sedentary behaviour, light physical activity [LPA], moderate to vigorous physical activity [MVPA]) are associated with numerous health and well-being outcomes. Compositional data analyses (CoDA) accounts for the interdependent nature of movement behaviours. This systematic review and meta-analysis provides a timely synthesis of the first decade of CoDA research examining the association between movement behaviours, health, and well-being in school-aged children. Methods Databases were systematically searched for peer-reviewed studies examining CoDA associations between movement behaviours and health or well-being in school-aged children (5.0-17.9 years). All health and well-being outcomes were eligible for inclusion, as were all methods of reporting CoDA results. Where possible meta-analyses were conducted. Results Twenty-six studies were included in the review. Sample sizes ranged from 88 − 5,828 (median = 387) participants and the mean ages ranged from 8 to 16 years. Regression parameters ( k studies =16) were the most common method of reporting results, followed by substitution effects ( k studies =12), optimal compositions ( k studies =3), and movement behaviour clusters ( k studies =1). Weighted compositional means of movement behaviours were calculated (e.g., 49.8 min/day of MVPA). For regression analyses, results were generally null, though some favourable trends were observed for MVPA and unfavourable trends for LPA and sedentary behaviour within individual health and well-being outcomes categories. Meta-analyses of substitutions supported the benefits of MVPA, with the risks of reducing MVPA for other movement behaviours being double the magnitude compared to the benefits of adding MVPA. Discussion The most consistent conclusions within this review align with previous reviews that support the benefits of MVPA. Further, some evidence supported 24-hour movement behaviour guideline recommendations of increasing sleep and decreasing sedentary behaviour. This review also quantified not only the need to promote MVPA, but perhaps more importantly the urgency needed to preserve the limited MVPA children currently accumulate. Findings reinforce the “more/less is better” messages for movement behaviours, but do not allow us to recommend more specific balances of movement behaviours. As CoDA of movement behaviours progresses and accumulates further research, the methods and discussion points within the current review can aide future meta-analyses aimed at advancing the precision health guidance needed for optimizing children’s health and well-being.