More Moderate-to-vigorous Physical Activity Research Articles

Children's physical activity levels and psychological correlates in interactive dance versus aerobic dance

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to compare children's physical activity (PA) levels, self-efficacy, and enjoyment when experiencing dance-exergaming (Dance Dance Revolution, DDR) and aerobic dance in physical education. MethodsA total of 53 urban fourth grade children were divided into two groups, with one group playing DDR and the other group engaged in aerobic dance. After 15 min, the groups switched activities and continued their respective activities for another 15 min. Participants wore NL-1000 pedometers in four consecutive sessions, and responded to a questionnaire measuring their self-efficacy and enjoyment toward two dance activities at the end of the first session. ResultsChildren spent more moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) time (p < 0.01, η2 = 0.49) in aerobic dance than DDR. Additionally, children reported significantly higher self-efficacy (p < 0.001, η2 = 0.28) and enjoyment (p < 0.01, η2 = 0.18) in DDR than in aerobic dance. ConclusionHealth care professionals and educators may not replace the traditional PAs and sports with interactive video games, but may use exergaming as an excellent addition to promote PA.

Impact of a school-based intervention program on obesity risk factors in Mexican children

To evaluate the impact of an 18-month school obesity prevention intervention on the health behaviors of 4th and 5th grade students based on ecological principles and formative research conducted in Mexico. A Randomized Control Trial (RCT), design was used to assign 27 schools to one of three conditions: basic or plus interventions and control. School environment measures, children's eating and physical activity behaviors, and body mass index were assessed four times over a 2-year period in a sample of 830 students. In the intervention schools, the availability of healthy foods increased with a concomitant decrease in unhealthy food availability. Food intake showed the same trend. In the intervention schools, children did not engage in more moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in physical education (PE) class or recess but increased steps taken. Obesity prevalence did not change. The intervention improved the school food environment and child healthy behaviors.

Effects of Installing Fitness Zone Equipment on Park Use and Physical Activity Levels

While community parks are important settings for the accrual of physical activity (PA), they are often underused. Commercial outdoor Fitness Zones (FZ) are available for installation, but there is little objective data on population use of the equipment and whether it has an impact on general park use and participant activity levels. PURPOSE: To objectively assess installation of FZ on both equipment and general park use in 12 settings. METHODS: We evaluated FZ installation in 6 City and 6 County parks. Prior to installation we measured use of all activity areas in each park using SOPARC 3 times per day (morning, noon, evening) on 2 weekdays and 2 weekend days. SOPARC uses direct observation to assess both park and user characteristics, including gender, age, race/ethnicity, and activity levels. After FZ installation we did the same measures twice (winter and spring, 2010), while also observing FZ areas hourly for 10 hours per day for each of the 4 days. We also interviewed FZ and other park area users. RESULTS: Over the 3 time periods we observed 23,557 people in the 12 parks (including 2,545 in FZ) and interviewed 2,637 (including 722 in FZ). FZ were used throughout the day. Compared to baseline, overall park use increased 16% during the first follow-up and 3% during the second, with increases concentrated in 4 city and 2 county parks-primarily those with a larger population density. FZ attracted more new users to parks than other park areas. FZ users reported coming to the park more frequently and engaging in more exercise sessions than other park users: while there they engaged in more moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) (65.7% vs. 33.1% at first follow-up; 71.8% vs. 36.7% at second follow-up). Compared to baseline, MVPA increased in non FZ areas by 12% at the first follow up and 10% at the second. CONCLUSIONS: Adding FZ may attract new park users and increase MVPA in parks, even in areas beyond FZ. FZ may have their greatest impact in parks in densely populated communities and in smaller parks that have few facilities and amenities. Supported by Active Living Research/RWJ Foundation, NHLBI, TPL, and the Kaiser Foundation.

Hip‐Hop to Health Jr. Obesity Prevention Effectiveness Trial: Postintervention Results

The preschool years offer an opportunity to interrupt the trajectory toward obesity in black children. The Hip-Hop to Health Jr. Obesity Prevention Effectiveness Trial was a group-randomized controlled trial assessing the feasibility and effectiveness of a teacher-delivered weight control intervention for black preschool children. The 618 participating children were enrolled in 18 schools administered by the Chicago Public Schools. Children enrolled in the nine schools randomized to the intervention group received a 14-week weight control intervention delivered by their classroom teachers. Children in the nine control schools received a general health intervention. Height and weight, physical activity, screen time, and diet data were collected at baseline and postintervention. At postintervention, children in the intervention schools engaged in more moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) than children in the control schools (difference between adjusted group means = 7.46 min/day, P = 0.02). Also, children in the intervention group had less total screen time (-27.8 min/day, P = 0.05). There were no significant differences in BMI, BMI Z score, or dietary intake. It is feasible to adapt an obesity prevention program to be taught by classroom teachers. The intervention showed positive influences on physical activity and screen time, but not on diet. Measuring diet and physical activity in preschool children remains a challenge, and interventions delivered by classroom teachers require both intensive initial training and ongoing individualized supervision.

Lifespan Snapshot of Physical Activity Assessed by Accelerometry in Porto

The purpose of the study is to evaluate age and gender differences in objectively measured levels of physical activity (PA) in a large and diverse sample of residents from an urban area in Porto, Portugal. Participants included 822 residents, 334 males (41%), and 488 females (59%), aged 6 to 90 years. GT1M accelerometer was used to assess daily PA over 7 consecutive days, and the measurement was from October (2007) to June (2008). Males were more active than females. This difference was attenuated in the 2 oldest age groups (40-59 and 60+ yrs). An accentuated declined in all PA variables occurred between the youngster group (6-11 yrs) and adolescents group (12-19 yrs). Surprisingly, young adults (20-39 yrs) engaged in more moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) than adolescents. Further, females also had higher MVPA in the fourth group (40-59 yrs) compared with the second group (12-19 yrs). Males had higher compliance rates of PA guidelines than females regardless the age group considered. Adolescents had very low compliance rates (females = 18.18%; males = 33.50%). Porto metropolitan area residents had low rates of compliance with current PA guidelines. A low level of PA in Porto adolescents is a matter of concern and suggests that interventions are needed.

Patterns of physical activity in Spanish children: a descriptive pilot study

The majority of Spanish adults and children do not engage in enough physical activity to be beneficial for health. There is a need for objective and accurate assessment of the proportion of children meeting the physical activity recommendation for health. Assessing patterns of physical activity both between days (during weekdays and weekend days) and within days is of interest to improve our understanding of the variation in Spanish children's physical activity and to provide efficient intervention programmes. A sample of 221 children: 136 9-year-old children (68 boys and 68 girls) and 85 15-year-old children (36 girls and 49 boys) from 12 urban public schools in Madrid, Spain entered the study. The variables measured were anthropometric characteristics (height, weight, body mass index) and physical activity measured during four consecutive days using the GT1M accelerometer. Younger children were more active and less sedentary than older ones during week and weekend days. Nine-year-old boys and girls achieved significantly (P < 0.05) more moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and significantly (P < 0.01) less sedentary time than older 15-year-old children. During weekdays more children achieved physical activity recommendations versus weekend days. Physical activity patterns analyses indicated that boys achieved relatively high values of MVPA from 1100 till 1300 h (school break) and from 1800 till 2000 h in comparison with the rest of the day. Girls were substantially different, with the 9-year-old girls having only two obvious peaks of weekday MVPA at lunch (1300) and after school (1900 h) while the adolescent girls had no clear peak of MVPA. Few children achieved the level of MVPA recommended for health; at particular risk were adolescent girls. More effort needs to be devoted to promoting appropriate opportunities for Spanish girls across the day and to promoting physical activity during weekends for all children.

Direct Observation of Children’s Preferences and Activity Levels During Interactive and Online Electronic Games

Interactive electronic games have recently been popularized and are believed to help promote children's physical activity (PA). The purpose of the study was to examine preferences and PA levels during interactive and online electronic games among overweight and nonoverweight boys and girls. Using a modification of the SOFIT, we systematically observed 70 Hong Kong Chinese children (35 boys, 35 girls; 50 nonoverweight, 20 overweight), age 9 to 12 years, during 2 60-minute recreation sessions and recorded their game mode choices and PA levels. During Session One children could play either an interactive or an online electronic bowling game and during Session Two they could play an interactive or an online electronic running game. Children chose to play the games during 94% of session time and split this time between interactive (52%) and online (48%) versions. They engaged in significantly more moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) during interactive games than their online electronic versions (70% vs. 2% of game time). Boys and nonoverweight children expended relatively more energy during the interactive games than girls and overweight children, respectively. New-generation interactive games can facilitate physical activity in children, and given the opportunity children may select them over sedentary versions.

Direct observation of children’s preferences and activity levels during interactive and on-line electronic games

Background:Interactive electronic games have recently been popularized and are believed to help promote children’s physical activity (PA). The purpose of the study was to examine preferences and PA levels during interactive and online electronic games among overweight and nonoverweight boys and girls. Methods:Using a modification of the SOFIT, we systematically observed 70 Hong Kong Chinese children (35 boys, 35 girls; 50 nonoverweight, 20 overweight), age 9 to 12 years, during 2 60-minute recreation sessions and recorded their game mode choices and PA levels. During Session One children could play either an interactive or an online electronic bowling game and during Session Two they could play an interactive or an online electronic running game. Results:Children chose to play the games during 94% of session time and split this time between interactive (52%) and online (48%) versions. They engaged in significantly more moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) during interactive games than their onlin...

The relationship between unsupervised time after school and physical activity in adolescent girls

BackgroundRising obesity and declining physical activity levels are of great concern because of the associated health risks. Many children are left unsupervised after the school day ends, but little is known about the association between unsupervised time and physical activity levels. This paper seeks to determine whether adolescent girls who are without adult supervision after school are more or less active than their peers who have a caregiver at home.MethodsA random sample of girls from 36 middle schools at 6 field sites across the U.S. was selected during the fall of the 2002–2003 school year to participate in the baseline measurement activities of the Trial of Activity for Adolescent Girls (TAAG). Information was collected using six-day objectively measured physical activity, self-reported physical activity using a three-day recall, and socioeconomic and psychosocial measures. Complete information was available for 1422 out of a total of 1596 respondents.Categorical variables were analyzed using chi square and continuous variables were analyzed by t-tests. The four categories of time alone were compared using a mixed linear model controlling for clustering effects by study center.ResultsGirls who spent more time after school (≥2 hours per day, ≥2 days per week) without adult supervision were more active than those with adult supervision (p = 0.01). Girls alone for ≥2 hours after school, ≥2 days a week, on average accrue 7.55 minutes more moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per day than do girls who are supervised (95% confidence interval ([C.I]). These results adjusted for ethnicity, parent's education, participation in the free/reduced lunch program, neighborhood resources, or available transportation. Unsupervised girls (n = 279) did less homework (53.1% vs. 63.3%), spent less time riding in a car or bus (48.0% vs. 56.6%), talked on the phone more (35.5% vs. 21.1%), and watched more television (59.9% vs. 52.6%) than supervised girls (n = 569). However, unsupervised girls also were more likely to be dancing (14.0% vs. 9.3%) and listening to music (20.8% vs. 12.0%) (p < .05).ConclusionGirls in an unsupervised environment engaged in fewer structured activities and did not immediately do their homework, but they were more likely to be physically active than supervised girls. These results may have implications for parents, school, and community agencies as to how to structure activities in order to encourage teenage girls to be more physically active.

School Physical Education: Effect of the Child and Adolescent Trial for Cardiovascular Health

Background.Physical inactivity is a risk behavior for cardiovascular and other diseases. Schools can promote public health objectives by increasing physical activity among youth.Methods.The Child and Adolescent Trial for Cardiovascular Health (CATCH) was a multicenter, randomized trial to test the effectiveness of a cardiovascular health promotion program in 96 public schools in four states. A major component of CATCH was an innovative, health-related physical education (PE) program. For 2.5 years, randomly assigned schools received a standardized PE intervention, including curriculum, staff development, and follow-up.Results.Systematic analysis of 2,096 PE lessons indicated students engaged in more moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in intervention than in control schools (P= 0.002). MVPA during lessons in intervention schools increased from 37.4% at baseline to 51.9%, thereby meeting the established Year 2000 objective of 50%. Intervention children reported 12 more min of daily vigorous physical activity (P= 0.003) and ran 18.6 yards more than control children on a 9-min run test of fitness (P= 0.21).Conclusions:The implementation of a standardized curriculum and staff development program increased children's MVPA in existing school PE classes in four geographic and ethnically diverse communities. CATCH PE provides a tested model for improving physical education in American schools.