TY - JOUR
T1 - Pedometer-determined physical activity patterns in a segmented school day among Hong Kong primary school children
AU - Gao, Yang
AU - Wang, Jing jing
AU - Lau, Patrick W.C.
AU - Ransdell, Lynda
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 The Society of Chinese Scholars on Exercise Physiology and Fitness. Published by Elsevier (Singapore) Pte Ltd.
PY - 2015/6/1
Y1 - 2015/6/1
N2 - Background/Objective: This study aimed to characterize pedometer-determined physical activity (PA) patterns in segmented school days among Hong Kong primary school children. Methods: Participants were instructed to wear pedometers for 4 consecutive days. The overall step counts and counts at specific periods (e.g., after school, recess, and lunch) during the test days were recorded. Results: Of the 74 recruited participants, 68 (41.2% boys, aged 10 and 11 years old) provided valid data. The mean total daily steps over the 4 test days ranged from 9064 to 9714 (standard deviation=3140-3471 steps). The periods that contributed most toward total daily steps were after school (34.2%), recess (14.0%), and physical education (PE) classes (12.3%). Overall, Student t tests revealed that boys were more active than girls. More active children (daily step average above the sex-specific median value) accumulated significantly more steps during recess and after school than less active children (daily step average below the sex-specific median value) in both sexes (mean differences ranged from 507 steps to 1977 steps). A mixed model analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that students accumulated 914 steps more on days that included PE classes than on days without PE classes. A three-way ANOVA found no significant differences in body weight status (normal weight vs. overweight and obesity) and travel mode (active vs. passive modes). Conclusion: The findings provide a better understanding of PA patterns and the contribution of the distinct segments within a school day to children's PA. This information may assist in developing more effective, appropriate, and timely school-based PA interventions for children in Hong Kong.
AB - Background/Objective: This study aimed to characterize pedometer-determined physical activity (PA) patterns in segmented school days among Hong Kong primary school children. Methods: Participants were instructed to wear pedometers for 4 consecutive days. The overall step counts and counts at specific periods (e.g., after school, recess, and lunch) during the test days were recorded. Results: Of the 74 recruited participants, 68 (41.2% boys, aged 10 and 11 years old) provided valid data. The mean total daily steps over the 4 test days ranged from 9064 to 9714 (standard deviation=3140-3471 steps). The periods that contributed most toward total daily steps were after school (34.2%), recess (14.0%), and physical education (PE) classes (12.3%). Overall, Student t tests revealed that boys were more active than girls. More active children (daily step average above the sex-specific median value) accumulated significantly more steps during recess and after school than less active children (daily step average below the sex-specific median value) in both sexes (mean differences ranged from 507 steps to 1977 steps). A mixed model analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that students accumulated 914 steps more on days that included PE classes than on days without PE classes. A three-way ANOVA found no significant differences in body weight status (normal weight vs. overweight and obesity) and travel mode (active vs. passive modes). Conclusion: The findings provide a better understanding of PA patterns and the contribution of the distinct segments within a school day to children's PA. This information may assist in developing more effective, appropriate, and timely school-based PA interventions for children in Hong Kong.
KW - Child
KW - Pedometer
KW - Physical activity patterns
KW - Segmented school day
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84929288527&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jesf.2015.03.002
DO - 10.1016/j.jesf.2015.03.002
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84929288527
SN - 1728-869X
VL - 13
SP - 42
EP - 48
JO - Journal of Exercise Science and Fitness
JF - Journal of Exercise Science and Fitness
IS - 1
ER -