Objective measurement of levels and patterns of physical activity

Abstract

Objective: To measure the levels and patterns of physical activity, using accelerometers, of 11-year-old children participating in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Design: Cross-sectional analysis. Setting: ALSPAC is a birth cohort study located in the former county of Avon, in the southwest of England. This study used data collected when the children were 11 years old. Participants: 5595 children (2662 boys, 2933 girls). The children are the offspring of women recruited to a birth cohort study during 1991-2. The median age (95% CI) of the children is now 11.8 (11.6 to 11.9) years. Methods: Physical activity was measured over a maximum of 7 consecutive days using the MTI Actigraph accelerometer. Main outcome measures: Level and pattern of physical activity. Results: The median physical activity level was 580 counts/min. Boys were more active than girls (median (IQR) 644 (528-772) counts/min vs 529 (444-638) counts/min, respectively). Only 2.5% (95% CI 2.1% to 2.9%) of children (boys 5.1% (95% CI 4.3% to 6.0%), girls 0.4% (95% CI 0.2% to 0.7%) met current internationally recognised recommendations for physical activity. Children were most active in summer and least active in winter (difference = 108 counts/min). Both the mother and partner's education level were inversely associated with activity level (p for trend ,0.001 (both mother and partner)). The association was lost for mother's education (p for trend = 0.07) and attenuated for partner's education (p for trend = 0.02), after adjustment for age, sex, season, maternal age and social class. Conclusions: A large majority of children are insufficiently active, according to current recommended levels for health.

Physical activity patterns of ethnic children from low socio-economic environments within the UK

“…Other research suggests that greater physical activity engagement occurs school time (Fairclough et al, 2012;Ridgers, Timperio et al, 2011) because school provides specific physical activity opportunities within the school day (physical education, recess), contributing to overall physical activity (Stratton & Mullen, 2005). However, other research suggests that children are most active after school and that it is the differences in after school activity accounts for differences in overweight/obese vs. normal children and inactive vs. active children (Deforche et al, 2009;Riddoch, Mattocks et al, 2007;Olds, Maher & Ridley, 2011). Eyre et al (2013a) is the only study to consider within day patterns of PA in SA children.…”

“…Previous studies have found that children are more active on weekdays (Duncan, Schofield & Duncan, 2006;Duncan, Al-Nakeeb, Woodfield & Lyons 2007;McGall, McGuigan & Nottle, 2011;Oliver, Schofield & Kilt, 2007;Owens et al, 2009;Riddoch, Mattocks et al, 2007). Research suggests that highly active children spend more time in physical activity before school, during class, lunch and after school (Rowlands, Pilgrim & Eston, 2008).…”

The effect of differing intensities of acute cycling on preadolescent academic achievement

“…This topic is pertinent for a number of reasons. First, there are concerns in respect to childhood inactivity (Riddoch, et al, 2007; see also Hillman, 2008 for contextual issues); if inactivity impairs cognition, this trend may lead to general declines in academic attainment. Second, with increased pressures on schools to achieve academic targets, the number of hours allocated to physical education have been reduced (Hardman, 2008); such reductions provide less opportunity for (acute) post-exercise enhancements of cognition.…”

Assessment of physical activity by pedometer in Polish preschool children

“…More reliable and accurate measurements can be gained through the use of various monitoring devices. These include pedometers (step counters) and accelerometers, the latter of which can provide additional data on daily activity [6,7]. A result of improved accessibility and cost, the use of pedometers and accelerometers in clinical research has significantly increased over the past decade [8][9][10][11][12][13].…”