Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity During Physical Education, Recess, and Class Time Among Elementary School Children in Qatar

Abstract

Purpose: Schools provide opportunities for children to accumulate recommended daily moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). This study aimed to determine physical activity (PA) across the school day among elementary school children in Qatar. Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 181 Grade 1 (5.8 ± 0.4 years) and Grade 4 (9.0 ± 0.5 years) children. Participants wore wrist-based accelerometers for 5 days to assess school-based PA. MVPA during physical education, recess, and class time were compared across sex, grade, and body mass index using general linear models. Results: Only 39.0% of this cohort met the recommended 30 min of MVPA during school hours. Fewer girls (23.2%) than boys (58.1%) achieved the school-based PA guidelines (p < .001). The children engaged in 19.0 ± 12.3%, 19.3 ± 8.6%, and 6.2 ± 3.4% of the designated physical education, recess, and class time in MVPA, respectively. Conclusion: Elementary school children in Qatar engage in inadequate MVPA during the school day, especially girls. Enhancing PA opportunities during physical education and recess is crucial.

Physical Activity of Children with Visual Impairments during Different Segments of the School Day

“…Notably, PE classes did not demonstrate the highest percentage time in MVPA in the current study. This finding is inconsistent with the results of previous studies, which found that amongst children without disabilities [28,53,54] and children with disabilities [9,23,25], the average percentage of time spent in MVPA during PE was substantially higher than that during other school segments. Students with VI in the current study spent approximately 29.25% of PE class time engaging in MVPA and did not meet the 50% of PE time criterion [55,56].…”

Determinants of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in German Elementary School Physical Education Lessons

“…The detected gender differences stabilize in the relationship of weight status and mean PE time spent in PA and SB. In line with findings that did not determine a statistically relevant connection between BMI and PA for PE time (Meyer et al, 2013 ; Spessato et al, 2013 ; Kobel et al, 2017 ; Zimmo et al, 2020 ), our study shows a tendentially health-promoting difference for overweight and underweight girls. For both overweight and underweight girls, weight status similarly showed connections to less PE time spent in SB and more PE time spent in MVPA compared to girls with a normal weight status.…”

“…The results are in line with a previous study, which linked lower grades with significant more time in MVPA and significant less time in SB in comparison to older grades (Tanaka et al, 2018). At the same time, other studies report a significant rise of MVPA per elementary grade (Kirkham-King et al, 2017) or similar PA levels across grades (Meyer et al, 2013;Zimmo et al, 2020). The detected gender differences stabilize in the relationship of weight status and mean PE time spent in PA and SB.…”

“…Secondly, with increasing school age, the percentages in MVPA and SB levels both develop negatively from a health perspective—even greater in girls. Regarding gender, the results thus confirm a series of international findings where girls obtain lower levels of mean MVPA and higher levels of mean SB in elementary school PE (Meyer et al, 2013 ; Fröberg et al, 2017 ; Kirkham-King et al, 2017 ; Tanaka et al, 2018 ; Zimmo et al, 2020 ). However, there are also studies that do not report significant gender differences (Verstraete et al, 2007 ) or tendentially higher percentages of MVPA in elementary school PE for girls (Nettlefold et al, 2011 ).…”

“…Most studies focus on PE in the United States (e.g., Simons-Morton et al, 1994 ; McKenzie et al, 1995 , 2000 , 2004 ; Nader, 2003 ; Scruggs et al, 2003 ; Surapiboonchai et al, 2012 ; Robinson et al, 2014 ; Harvey et al, 2016 ). Besides, there are studies in some European (e.g., Verstraete et al, 2007 ; Waring et al, 2007 ; Carreiro da Costa et al, 2008 ; Meyer et al, 2013 ; Fröberg et al, 2017 ) and a few Asian countries (e.g., Chow et al, 2008 ; Tanaka et al, 2018 ; Zimmo et al, 2020 ). Compatible analyses of German PE, however, have nearly not been introduced to international research yet (see Kobel et al, 2015 for an exception).…”