Patterning of physical activity and sedentary behavior at and away from school in preadolescent children

Abstract

Background: Understanding how and where children accumulate their physical activity (PA) and sedentary minutes throughout the day has important implications for behavioral interventions.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the duration and intensity of habitual PA and sedentary time (SED) at and away from school among preadolescent children.

Methods: Data from twenty-one children ages 7-11 (57% girls; 57% non-white; 24% overweight/obese) were included in this analysis. Proportion of time spent in PA, SED, and SED bouts were examined on school days (in-school and out-of-school) and non-school days via accelerometry.

Results: When comparing school time with non-school time on school days, children accumulated a higher proportion of light PA while in-school [49.3% (i.e. 5 minutes 18 seconds) vs. 39.6% (i.e. 3 hours 53 minutes), p=0.01]. While at school, the proportion of time spent in SED was less [46.3% (i.e. 3 hours 7 minutes) vs. 56.3% (i.e. 5 hours 32 minutes), p=0.01] and fewer children spent time engaged in prolonged sitting compared to out-of-school [uninterrupted SED for 30 minutes 52.4% (i.e. 11 children) vs. 85.7% (i.e. 18 children), p=0.02].

Discussion: These findings suggest children are proportionately most active and least sedentary when at school, yet children only accumulated approximately 18 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous PA in this environment.

Translation to health education practice: These preliminary findings can help to inform physical activity programming designed to promote life-long physical activity behaviors in children.

Keywords: Accelerometry; Child health and health behavior; Physical activity; fitness; health education.