Comparisons Of In-school And Out-of-school Physical Activity Among Chinese Elementary School Children

Abstract

PURPOSE: Relatively little is known regarding children’s physical activity (PA) during school and outside of school. Therefore, the objective of this study was to compare in-school and out-of-school PA among Chinese elementary school children. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 360 (4th grade) children recruited from 3 elementary schools in Shanghai, China. PA was measured in 5 consecutive school days by accelerometers. Minutes per hour (min/h) of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and total PA (TPA) were calculated using established cut points. Children’s in-school and out-of-school MVPA and TPA were compared using paired t test. Gender differences in MVPA and TPA across the two study settings were also examined using independent t test. RESULTS: 242 participants (boys: 45.5%, mean age: 9.6±0.3 years, weight:35.0±7.6 kg, height:139.8±6.1 cm, body mass index: 17.8±2.9 kg/m2) provided valid accelerometer data (defined as ≥ 2 days, ≥10 h/day) and were included in the study. Results showed a higher level of in-school MVPA compared to out-of-school MVPA (3.1 min/h vs 2.3 min/h, P<0.001) and of in-school TPA compared to out-of-school TPA (17.3 min/h vs 15.1 min/h, P<0.001). There were no difference in out-of-school MVPA and TPA across gender but boys showed a higher level of in-school MVPA (3.1 min/h vs 2.3 min/h, P<0.001) and TPA (18.3 min/h vs 16.6 min/h, P<0.001) compared to girls. CONLUSION: Chinese elementary school children spent more time engaging in in-school PA compared to out-of-school PA with boys showing a higher level of in-school PA compared to their counterpart girls. Findings suggest that PA promotion strategies should focus on developing out of school, community-based programs and that maximizing in-school PA among girls.