Using accelerometers and GPS units to identify the proportion of daily physical activity located in parks with playgrounds in New Zealand children

Abstract

Objective: To identify the proportion of children's physical activity occurring in public parks with playgrounds.

Methods: Children (n=184) aged 5 to 10 years were recruited from schools located in two low socio-economic status communities in Dunedin, New Zealand. Accelerometers (Actigraph GT1M) and global positioning system units (Globalsat DG-100) were used to quantify and identify where physical activity had occurred over a 7-day period. Cross-sectional data were collected October to December 2007 (southern hemisphere spring) and the child's height and weight were measured at school.

Results: At least 84% of participants had accelerometer and global positioning system data available for five or more hourly periods per day, for at least 4 days. Overall, 1.9% of recorded activity took place at city parks (95% confidence interval: 1.4, 2.4), although this was 2.7% (95% confidence intervals: 0.7, 4.6) among obese children.

Conclusions: Accelerometers and GPS data was able to be successfully recorded and matched among this age group. The proportion of children's activity taking place in parks with playgrounds was low, although this may still be important for some subgroups.