Top

International Journal of Public Health

Published in:

Open Access 01-08-2012 | Original Article

The contribution of school breaks to the all-day physical activity of 9- and 10-year-old overweight and non-overweight children

Authors: Dorota Groffik, Erik Sigmund, Karel Frömel, František Chmelík, Petra Nováková Lokvencová

Published in: International Journal of Public Health | Issue 4/2012

Abstract

Objectives

This study examines whether moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), in at least 30-min school breaks (SB), helps to achieve the health-related amount of daily physical activity (PA) and whether these exercises influence after-school PA.

Methods

The ActiTrainer-based PA was monitored over two school days in 239 children aged from 9 to 10 (57.3% female; 20.1% overweight, and 19.2% obese), in Katowice, in February 2010. PA was assessed based on steps, heart rate, and duration of PA.

Results

MVPA, for 30 min during SB, represented an average of 1,258 steps for overweight girls and 1,620 steps for boys, and 1,336 steps for non-overweight girls and 1,758 steps for boys. Children with 30 min of MVPA during SB attained a higher daily amount of steps (p < 0.001) and duration of overall PA (p < 0.01), in comparison with less physically active children.

Conclusion

The daily 30 min of MVPA during SB amounts to 12.5% of the overall number of steps for girls and 16.3% for boys, thus contributing to higher school PA and overall PA and leading to the achievement of the health-related minimum of PA.

Apfelbacher CJ, Cairns J, Bruckner T, Möhrenschlager M, Behrendt H, Ring J, Krämer U (2008) Prevalence of overweight and obesity in East and West German children in the decade after reunification: population-based series of cross-sectional studies. J Epidemiol Community Health 62:125–130. doi:10.1136/jech.2007.062117 PubMedCrossRef

Cale L, Harris J (2006) School-based physical activity interventions: effectiveness, trends, issues, implications and recommendations for practice. Sport Educ Soc 11:401–420. doi:10.1080/13573320600924890 CrossRef

Cohen J (1988) Statistical power analysis for the behavioural sciences, 2nd edn. Hillsdale, New Jersey

Cortina JM, Nouri H (2000) Effect size for ANOVA design, 1st edn. Sage publications, Thousand Oaks

Edwards S (2010) The heart rate monitor guidebook to heart zone training, 5th edn. Velopress, Sacramento

Edwards KL, Clarke GP, Ransley JK, Cade J (2010) The neighbourhood matters: studying exposures relevant to childhood obesity and the policy implications in Leeds, UK. J Epidemiol Community Health 64:194–201. doi:10.1136/jech.2009.088906 PubMedCrossRef

Evans CEL, Greenwood DC, Thomas JD, Cleghorn CL, Kitchen MS, Cade JE (2010) SMART lunch box intervention to improve the food and nutrient content of children’s packed lunches: UK wide cluster randomized controlled trial. J Epidemiol Community Health 64:970–976. doi:10.1136/jech.2008.085837 PubMedCrossRef

Faulkner GEJ, Buliung RN, Flora PK, Fusco C (2009) Active school transport, physical activity levels and body weight of children and youth: a systematic review. Prev Med 48:3–8. doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2008.10.017 PubMedCrossRef

Foster KE, Behrens TK, Jager AL, Dzewaltowski DA (2010) Effect of elimination games on physical activity and psychosocial responses in children. J Phys Act Health 7:475–483PubMed

Fox KR (2004) Tackling obesity in children through physical activity: a perspective from the United Kingdom. Quest 56:28–40CrossRef

Guinhouya BC, Lemdani M, Apété GK, Durocher A, Vilhelm C, Hubert H (2009) How school time physical activity is the “big one” for daily activity among schoolchildren: a semi-experimental approach. J Phys Act Health 6:510–519PubMed

Janssen I, LeBlanc AG (2010) Systematic review of the health benefits of physical activity and fitness in school-aged children and youth. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 7:1–16. doi:10.1186/1479-5868-7-40 CrossRef

Janssen I, Katzmarzyk PT, Boyce WF, Vereecken C, Mulvihill C, Roberts C, Currie C, Pickett W et al (2005) Comparison of overweight and obesity prevalence in school-aged youth from 34 countries and their relationships with physical activity and dietary patterns. Obes Rev 6:123–132PubMedCrossRef

Kirkpatrick B, Birnbaum BH (1997) Lessons from the heart: individualizing physical education with heart rate monitors, 1st edn. Human Kinetics, Champaign

Li J, Hooker NH (2010) Childhood obesity and schools: evidence from the national survey of children’s health. J Sch Health 80:96–103. doi:10.1111/j.1746-1561.2009.00471.x

Loucaides CA, Jago R (2008) Differences in physical activity by gender, weight status and travel mode to school in Cypriot children. Prev Med 47:107–111. doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2008.01.025 PubMedCrossRef

McKee R, Mutrie N, Crawford F, Green B (2007) Promoting walking to school: results of a quasi-experimental trial. J Epidemiol Community Health 61:818–823. doi:10.1136/jech.2006.048181 PubMedCrossRef

Mota J, Silva P, Santos MP, Ribeiro JC, Oliveira J, Duarte JA (2005) Physical activity and school recess time: differences between the sexes and the relationship between children’s playground physical activity and habitual physical activity. J Sports Sci 23:269–275. doi:10.1080/02640410410001730124 PubMedCrossRef

Neuls F (2008) Validity and reliability of “step count” function of the ActiTrainer activity monitor under controlled conditions. Acta Univ Palacki Olomuc Gymn 38:55–64

Nielsen G, Taylor R, Williams S, Mann J (2010) Permanent play facilities in school playgrounds as a determinant of children’s activity. J Phys Act Health 7:490–496PubMed

Panter JR, Jones AP, Van Sluijs EMF, Griffin SJ (2010) Attitudes, social support and environmental perceptions as predictors of active commuting behaviour in school children. J Epidemiol Community Health 64:41–48. doi:10.1136/jech.2009.086918 PubMedCrossRef

Pate RR, Davis MG, Robinson TN, Stone EJ, McKenzie TL, Young JC (2006) Promoting physical activity in children and youth: a leadership role for schools: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism (Physical Activity Committee) in collaboration with the Councils on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young and Cardiovascular Nursing. Circulation 114:1214–1224. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.106.177052

President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (2001) The president’s challenge physical activity and fitness awards program. President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, US Department of Health and Human Services, Bloomington

Ransley JK, Greenwood DC, Cade JE, Blenkinsop S, Schagen I, Teeman D, Scott E, White G, Schagen S (2007) Does the school fruit and vegetable scheme improve children’s diet? A non-randomised controlled trial. J Epidemiol Community Health 61:699–703. doi:10.1136/jech.2006.052696 PubMedCrossRef

Ridgers ND, Stratton G, Fairclough SJ, Twisk JWR (2007) Long-term effects of a playground markings and physical structures on children’s recess physical activity levels. Prev Med 44:393–397. doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2007.01.009 PubMedCrossRef

Ridgers ND, Tóth M, Uvacsek M (2009) Physical activity levels of Hungarian children during school recess. Prev Med 49:410–412. doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2009.08.008 PubMedCrossRef

Ridgers ND, Fairclough SJ, Stratton G (2010) Twelve-month effects of a playground intervention on children’s morning and lunchtime recess physical activity levels. J Phys Act Health 7:167–175PubMed

Sallis JF, Conway TL, Prochaska JJ, McKenzie TL, Marshall SJ, Brown M (2001) The association of school environments with youth physical activity. Am J Public Health 91:618–620PubMedCrossRef

Salmon J (2010) Novel strategies to promote children’s physical activities and reduce sedentary behaviour. J Phys Act Health 7:S299–S306PubMed

Sharma M (2006) International school-based interventions for preventing obesity in children. Obes Rev 8:155–167. doi:10.1111/j.1467-789X.2006.00268.x CrossRef

Stamatakis E, Zaninotto P, Falaschetti E, Mindell J, Head J (2010) Time trends in childhood and adolescent obesity in England from 1995 to 2007 and projections of prevalence to 2015. J Epidemiol Community Health 64:167–174. doi:10.1136/jech.2009.098723 PubMedCrossRef

Stratton G, Mullan E (2005) The effect of multicolor playground markings on children’s physical activity level during recess. Prev Med 41(5–6):828–833. doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2005.07.009 PubMedCrossRef

Strong WB, Malina RM, Blimkie CJR, Daniels SR, Dishman RK, Gutin B, Hergenroeder AC, Must A, Nixon PA, Pivarnik JM, Rowland T, Trost S, Trudeau F (2005) Evidence based physical activity for school-age youth. J Pediatr 146:732–737. doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2005.01.055 PubMedCrossRef

Thomas JR, Nelson JK (2001) Research methods in physical activity, 4th edn. Human Kinetics, Champaign

Tudor-Locke C, McClain JJ, Hart TL, Sisson SB, Washington TL (2009a) Expected values for pedometer-determined physical activity in youth. Res Q Exerc Sport 80:164–174PubMed

Tudor-Locke C, McClain JJ, Hart TL, Sisson SB, Washington TL, Tracy L (2009b) Pedometry methods for assessing free-living youth. Res Q Exerc Sport 80:175–184PubMed

Verstraete SJM, Cardon GM, De Clercq DLR, De Bourdeaudhuij IMM (2006) Increasing children’s physical activity levels during recess periods in elementary schools: the effects of providing game equipment. Eur J Public Health 16:415–419. doi:10.1093/eurpub/ckl008 PubMedCrossRef

Vincent SD, Pangrazi RP (2002) An examination of the activity patterns of elementary school children. Pediatr Exerc Sci 14:432–441

World Health Organization (2007) Growth reference data for 5–19 years. WHO Reference 2007. http://www.who.int/growthref/en/. Accessed 1 Feb 2011

Title: The contribution of school breaks to the all-day physical activity of 9- and 10-year-old overweight and non-overweight children
Authors: Dorota Groffik
Erik Sigmund
Karel Frömel
František Chmelík
Petra Nováková Lokvencová
Publication date: 01-08-2012
Publisher: SP Birkhäuser Verlag Basel
Published in: International Journal of Public Health / Issue 4/2012
Print ISSN: 1661-8556
Electronic ISSN: 1661-8564
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-012-0355-z

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

The contribution of school breaks to the all-day physical activity of 9- and 10-year-old overweight and non-overweight children

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 4/2012

Social networks and public health: use of Twitter by ministries of health

The health of migrant children in Switzerland

Migration and depressive symptoms in migrant-sending areas: findings from the survey of internal migration and health in China

The single most important intervention to tackle obesity…

The Italian health surveillance (SiVeAS) prioritization approach to reduce chronic disease risk factors

End-stage renal disease among Roma and non-Roma: Roma are at risk