Girl Scout Troop Meeting Time-segmented Patterns Of Physical Activity Driven By Task.

Abstract

Fewer than half of children are currently meeting recommended physical activity (PA) guidelines of at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per day, with fewer girls than boys meeting guidelines. Girl Scouts (GS) is a potential target setting for increasing PA in girls, though little is known about the time-segmented patterns of PA and the systemic drivers of these patterns during troop meetings. PURPOSE: To determine the microsystem influences on GS troop meeting time-segmented patterns of PA. METHODS: Girl Scout Troop leaders (troop n=7) were randomized to receive an intervention training on implementing policies to promote physical activity and healthy eating or a standard control. Meetings (7 meetings/troop) were observed and girls in attendance (n=76, 9-13 years old, mean ± SD = 10.51 ± 1.19 years) wore GT1M accelerometers. Two observers attended each meeting and recorded the start and stop point of time segments based on task (i.e., opening-closing, snack, active recreation [AR], Girl Scout curriculum [GSC]). The time-segmented episode accelerometer data were analyzed using Evenson cut-points. RESULTS: A total of 182 time segments were observed (mean/day±SD=3.77±1.24) with 24 AR (0.47±0.58), 63 GSC (1.31±0.80), 54 opening-closing (1.13±0.94), and 41 snack (0.85±0.58) segments. Mixed random effect models indicated treatment troops had significantly more AR segments per day (mean/day±SD= 0.89±0.12) than control troops (0.18±0.10). A significantly greater (p < 0.01) percentage of time was spent in MVPA during AR (mean±SE=17.19±1.11%) compared to GSC (0.39±0.81%), opening-closing (3.22±1.06%), and snack (0.61±0.87%). A significantly greater percentage of time (p <.01) was spent in MVPA during opening-closing segments compared to GSC and snack. A significantly greater (p <.01) percentage of time was spent sedentary/inactive in GSC (67.9±3.6%) compared to AR (32.26±4.1%) and open-closing (55.28±3.66%), and during snack (72.2±3.6%) compared to open-closing and AR. CONCLUSION: Troop meeting time-segmented patterns of physical activity were influenced by task. Intervention leaders devoted more time segments to AR than control leaders. Adding time segments conducive to PA to GS troop meeting could increase the percentage of time spent in MVPA.