International Study of Movement Behaviours in the Early Years (SUNRISE): A Pilot Study From Ecuador

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the proportion of Ecuadorian preschool children meeting the World Health Organization (WHO) 24-hour movement behaviour guidelines for physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep, to examine differences by sex and geographic location and to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the International Study of Movement Behaviours in the Early Years (SUNRISE) protocol. METHODS: In this pilot study, a total of 108 children aged 3-4 years from kindergartens in Quito (Ecuador) participated in 2024. Physical activity, sleep and sedentary behaviour were evaluated using accelerometry (ActiGraph wGT3x-BT). Gross and fine motor skills were evaluated using validated tasks, and executive functions were assessed via the Early Years Toolbox. RESULTS: Only 11.8% of children met all three WHO recommendations of 24-hour movement behaviours, while 16.1% did not meet any. Boys showed higher compliance with the physical activity guidelines compared to girls, and urban children demonstrated slightly better adherence to the screen time guideline. A total of 100% of participants completed anthropometric, executive function and motor skill assessments, respectively. Additionally, 86.1% of children provided at least one valid day of accelerometer data, and 75.9% accumulated three or more valid days, supporting the feasibility and acceptability of the SUNRISE study protocol in this population. CONCLUSION: This pilot study demonstrated the feasibility and acceptability of the SUNRISE study methods among Ecuadorian children. Given the low proportion of children meeting the WHO movement guidelines, long-term strategies are needed to promote healthier lifestyles from early childhood in Ecuador.