Physical Activity Levels of Hungarian Boys and Girls During 3 Weekdays and the Weekend

Abstract

Antal et al. (2009) found that prevalence of overweight and obesity in Hungarian children was 18.1 and 7.4% for boys and 19.6 and 6.3% for girls. Little objective data has examined the physical activity (PA) levels of Hungarian children using accelerometry, and more data are needed concerning the habitual PA levels of school children. PURPOSE: To determinate the physical activity levels of children during 3 weekdays and weekend. METHODS: Sixty-three children (35 boys aged=11.5±1.1 yr and 28 girls aged=10.9±1.0 yr) from 2 schools returned signed informed parental consent and were invited to participate in the study. Physical activity was quantified using uni-axial accelerometry for 3 consecutive school days and 2 weekend days. The accelerometer was worn mounted on the right hip using a fitted elastic belt during all waking hours except for water-based activities. Epoch length was set at 5 seconds. Time spent in sedentary, light, moderate, and vigorous physical activity was determined using existing age- appropriate cut- points (Freedson at al. 1997). Children who did not achieve minimum 480 minute wear time/day were excluded from the statistical analysis. Differences in body dimensions between boys and girls were assessed using independent samples t-tests. Differences between means of daily activity were analysed by ANOVA. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. RESULTS: Boys were significantly older than girls but their body dimensions, relative body fat content and body mass index was not different. Altogether only 9.5% of the investigated children were assessed overweight. Boys were consistently more active than girls but the differences were not significant on weekdays and on weekends. Hungarian children's moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was double the international 60 min./day recommendation on weekdays (boys=129.4±44.5 min, girls=116.±27.3min) and significantly decreased by Sunday (boys=90.3±44.8, girls=80.9±37.5) CONCLUSION: The differences were not significant which means that in boys and girls physical activity in weekdays, potentially as the children took part in the same PE lessons and afternoon school clubs. The organized daily routine on weekdays produced daily physical activity opportunities compared to the weekend.