Comparative Study Of The Effect Of Recreational Physical Activities On Body Composition Among Pupils Of Public And Private Primary Schools

Abstract

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF RECREATIONAL PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES ON BODY COMPOSITION AMONG PUPILS OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PRIMARY SCHOOLS AKODU A K* ; IBEAUCHI N M**; AKINBO S R A* OGUNMUYIWA O D*; * Department of Physiotherapy and ** Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, University of Lagos Address correspondence to AKODU A K akoduashiyatkehinde@yahoo.co.uk , akoduashiyat@gmail.com ABSTRACT Background : Recreational Physical Activities (RPA) in primary schools enhances the cardiorespiratory, neuromuscular, skeletal and metabolic systems of children and it is however declining in this institutions, portending a threat to community and public health. Objective : This study was designed to compare the effect of RPA on body composition among pupils in public and private primary schools in Surulere Local Government area (LGA), Lagos, Nigeria . Methods : A total of 400 apparently healthy pupils (200 males and 200 females) aged 7-11 years and recruited from 12 randomly selected public and private schools participated in the study. Anthropometric variables including height, weight, waist and hip circumferences (WC and HC), triceps, subscapular, and calf skin fold thicknesses were measured. Results : There was significant difference in height, weight, WC, HC, BMI, SFT and %BF (p<0.05) between male and female pupils of both public and private schools and no significant difference in WHR (t=-0.15,p=0.88; t=-0.04,p=0.97) between male and female pupils of public and private primary schools respectively in Surulere, Lagos. Conclusion : The pupils in private schools had a greater proportion of overweight and obesity, even though they had better RPA facilities than those in the public schools. Keywords : Body Composition, Recreational Physical Activities, Primary School Pupils.