Measurement by accelerometry of physical activity levels in a sample of Spanish adolescents

Ricardo Manuel Santos-Labrador

doi:10.15446/rsap.v21n5.76666

Abstract

To establish the relationship between the level of physical activity (PA) and maximum oxygen consumption (VO2 max.); and to analyze the level of PA and its relationship with sex, place of residence, influence of physical education (PE) classes in PA, and body mass index (BMI) in adolescents. 89 subjects from the province of Salamanca (Spain), aged 12 to 16 (14±1.18 years), participated in the study; 55.1% (n=49) of the sample were men and 44.9% (n=40) women. The instruments used were: Actigraph GT3X accelerometer, Course Navette Test and Tanita Body Composition Analyzer MC780MA. Information on sex and place of residence was also collected. Only 18% of the individuals met the minimum PA recommendations set by the World Health Organization (WHO). Males and subjects from urban areas performed greater amounts of physical activity. Subjects with lower BMI and of the male sex had better levels of VO2max. PE classes did not contribute substantially to the total weekly amount of PA. These results can be considered relevant to develop specific programs that promote PA and prevent overweight and obesity in adolescents, making emphasis on the female population, people from rural areas and those with higher BMI.

Highlights

Los valores normales de VO2 máx. para sujetos adolescentes se sitúan entre 43,51 ml/kg/min (±6,92 SD) [7] y 45,3 ml/kg/min (±8,66 DT) [8]
Revista Internacional de Medicina y Ciencias de la Actividad Física y el Deporte. 2012; 12(45):122

Summary

Conclusions

These results can be considered relevant to develop specific programs that promote PA and prevent overweight and obesity in adolescents, making emphasis on the female population, people from rural areas and those with higher BMI. En adolescentes de la provincia de Salamanca (España); y analizar el nivel de práctica de AF y su relación con el género, la localidad, el porcentaje que suponen las clases de EF en dicha práctica y el IMC. Se proporcionó a todos los sujetos de la muestra una plantilla horaria en la que se comprometían a informar del tipo de actividad realizada durante el día. Se realizó un análisis de regresión lineal para observar la relación entre el total de AFMV realizada en una semana (variable dependiente) y el VO2 máx., el porcentaje que suponen las clases de EF sobre la AF semanal, el género (chico o chica), la localidad (rural o urbana) y el IMC (normopeso, sobrepeso u obesidad), como variables independientes. Los resultados indicaron que los chicos poseían un VO2 máx. superior al de las chicas (44,845±5,726 vs. 42,414±4,637; F(0,011)= 4,691; p=0,033)(Tabla 1)

Género MFMFMFMFMFMFMFMF

Findings

Análisis de regresión