Article

Physical activity of young children: a two-year follow-up.

Division of Occupational Therapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia.
Physical & Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics (impact factor: 1.21). 02/2008; 28(1):25-39. pp.25-39
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT Inadequate physical activity in children is a major health concern. The purpose of this study was to examine changes in physical activity of boys and girls, between 6-8 and 8-10 years of age and how activity patterns correlated with selected family, child, and environment factors. The sample included 59 children without motor delays (26 boys and 23 girls) between 8 and 10 years of age. Twenty-two of the children participated in a previous study at 6-8 years of age. Parents completed a questionnaire on their children's non-physical and physical activities. Children wore a pedometer during two weekdays and two weekend days. The results indicate that girls spent more time on homework and reading and on crafts and indoor play than boys. Girls spent more time on musical and cultural activities and boys spent more time on screen-based activities at 8-10 years of age. Children spent significantly less time on physical activity at 8-10 years of age. Boys took more steps per day than girls on weekends. The average number of steps taken per weekday increased for boys, but not girls, at 8-10 years of age. There was an inverse relationship between body mass index and number of steps taken per day (weekdays r = -.28; weekend r = -.32). Socioeconomic status was associated with the number of steps taken by children on weekends (r = .34). The results have implications for physical activities for girls and school and community programs for children.

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    Article: Physical activity patterns and obesity status among 10- to 12-year-old adolescents living in Athens, Greece.
    George Antonogeorgos, Anastasios Papadimitriou, Demosthenes B Panagiotakos, Kostas N Priftis, Polyxeni Nikolaidou
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    ABSTRACT: Childhood obesity has become a modern epidemic with escalating rates. The aim of our study was to identify physical activity patterns among Greek schoolchildren and to examine their relationship with obesity. 700 adolescents age 10 to 12 years were evaluated through a standardized questionnaire. Several demographic, socioeconomic, and physical activity characteristics were recorded. Physical activity was assessed and adolescents were characterized as active and nonactive. Body height and weight were measured and body mass index was calculated in order to classify subjects as overweight or obese (IOTF classification). Multiple logistic regression and multivariate techniques (principal components analysis) were performed. Eight physical activity patterns were identified, including increased physical activity in weekdays and weekends, sports physical activity, vigorous, moderate, and low physical activity. Increased physical activity on weekends and vigorous physical activity in boys were negatively associated with being overweight or obese (OR: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.48-0.90 and OR: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.49-0.88, correspondingly) and moderate physical activity was marginally positively associated in girls (OR: 1.28; 95% CI: 0.97-1.69), after adjusting for several confounders. Our findings demonstrate the important role of vigorous physical activity in the maintenance of normal weight of adolescents.
    Journal of physical activity & health 09/2010; 7(5):633-40. · 1.95 Impact Factor
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Keywords

59 children
 
6-8 years
 
activity patterns correlated
 
average number
 
body mass index
 
Boys
 
children's non-physical
 
cultural activities
 
environment factors
 
Inadequate physical activity
 
indoor
 
inverse relationship
 
major health concern
 
motor delays
 
physical activities
 
physical activity
 
screen-based activities
 
weekdays
 
weekdays r
 
weekend days