Abstract
Optimizing physical activity in childhood is needed for prevention of disease and for healthy social and psychological development. There is limited research examining how segmented school physical activity patterns relate to a child achieving optimal physical activity levels. The purpose of this study was to examine the predictive relationship between step counts during specific school segments and achieving optimal school (6,000 steps/day) and daily (12,000 steps/day) step counts in children. Participants included 1,714 school-aged children (mean age =9.7±1.0years) recruited across six elementary schools. Physical activity was monitored for one week using pedometers. Generalized linear mixed effects models were used to determine the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of achieving both school and daily step count standards for every 1,000 steps taken during each school segment. The school segment that related in strongest way to a student achieving 6,000 steps during school hours was afternoon recess (OR = 40.03;P<0.001) and for achieving 12,000 steps for the entire day was lunch recess (OR = 5.03;P<0.001). School segments including lunch and afternoon recess play an important role for optimizing daily physical activity in children.
Highlights
Physical activity has numerous benefits in children including attenuation of chronic disease risk [1], improved motor development [2], improved classroom behavior [3], and improved cognitive functioning leading to better performance in the classroom [4]
The purpose of this study was to examine the predictive relationship between step counts taken during specific school segments and achievement of optimal school and daily physical activity levels
The results indicated that lunch and afternoon recess had the strongest predictive ability for determining the odds of achieving school and daily step count standards
Summary
Physical activity has numerous benefits in children including attenuation of chronic disease risk [1], improved motor development [2], improved classroom behavior [3], and improved cognitive functioning leading to better performance in the classroom [4]. Over the past few decades, numerous research studies have examined the correlates of physical activity in children [5]. The pedometer has been and continues to be a popular instrument for physical activity assessment. It has been suggested that 12,000 steps should be a daily step count cut-point used to assess optimal physical activity levels in children [6]. Given the relative novelty of the aforementioned recommendations, there has been a paucity of research studies examining how various segments of the school day relate to a child achieving these standards
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