A recent research study (Oginni et al., 2025), fullpart of the International Sunrise Study has looked into how physical activity, sedentary time (like sitting and watching TV or operating a mobile phone for a long time), sleep, and movement skills differ between young children living in urban and rural parts of Lagos, Nigeria. The study focused on preschoolers aged around 3 to 4 years and compared those living in cities to those in more rural areas.
The researchers found that children in rural areas are generally more active, spend less time in sedentary activities (like sitting and watching TV or operating a mobile phone for a long time), and have better motor skills than children in urban areas. This means rural kids are moving more and developing stronger muscles (like strength) and balance, which are important for healthy growth. In total, 131 preschoolers took part in the study. They wore small devices called accelerometers on their waist to measure how much they moved each day. These devices recorded activities like walking, playing, running, sitting, and sleeping over several days. Parents also filled out surveys about their children’s sleep habits and background.
The results showed no major difference in sleep time between urban and rural children. But there were big differences in physical activity. Rural children spent more time doing both light and energetic activities compared to urban kids, who spent more time in sedentary activities (like sitting and watching TV or operating a mobile phone for a long time). This is concerning because sedentary activities at an early age can lead to health problems like obesity and heart disease later in life.
The study also tested how well children could perform basic movements, called gross motor skills. These include things like balancing on one foot, jumping forward, running quickly, and squeezing a grip to measure arm strength. Rural children did better in nearly all these areas, especially in balance, leg strength, and arm strength. However, city children performed slightly better in one area: getting up from the ground and running, known as functional mobility.
The researchers suggest that these differences may be because children in rural areas have more space to play outdoors and engage in physical activities, whereas urban children may spend more time indoors using screens (such as mobile phones and TVs) without play opportunities. Poor access to playgrounds and safe open spaces in cities may also be a factor.
Unfortunately, Nigeria does not yet have a national physical activity policy for children, even though the World Health Organisation recommends one. Without a clear policy and support, it becomes difficult to encourage regular exercise in schools and communities, especially in urban settings.
The study suggests that parents, teachers, and the government must do more to promote active lifestyles among young children. Schools can include more movement activities during breaks, and parents should be encouraged to reduce screen time and let their children play more, especially outdoors.
In summary, this study shows that rural Nigerian preschoolers are more physically active and better at physical tasks than their urban peers. If nothing is done, city children may face greater health risks. The researchers recommend further studies and national action to help all children in Nigeria grow up healthy and strong. For more details on the article, see doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1506705
Published in Frontiers in Public Health
Oginni J, Aoko O, Ajiborisade E, Osuji C, Okely AD, Chong KH, Cross PL and Gao Z (2025) Geographic disparities in physical activity, sedentary behaviour, sleep time, and gross motor skills in Nigerian preschoolers. Front. Public Health 13:1506705. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1506705
