Seasonal variation of American Indian children’s school-day physical activity

Abstract

SummaryStudy aim: To examine the pedometer steps taken during the school-day by American Indian children during all four seasons. Material and methods: Participants included third-sixth grade children (n = 157) aged 9.6±1.07 (boys) and 9.7±1.2 (girls) attending school from one Southwestern US American Indian community. Children had a mean BMI of 23.9±7.7 with 70% being classified as overweight or obese. Children wore a pedometer (Yamax Digiwalker SW-200) for 20 days (5 days per season). Results: Children accumulated 4762±1544 (boys) and 4408±1194 (girls) steps/day across the four seasons with the highest totals occurring during the Fall (4899, males; 4796, females) and the lowest totals during the Winter (4463, males; 4043, females). Repeated measures ANOVA showed no significant differences in daily school-day steps across seasons. Children classified as normal weight averaged 5146±1688 steps/day, overweight children averaged 5020±1333 steps/day, and obese children accumulated 4275±1123 steps/day. Conclusions: PA stayed relatively consistent across seasons in this sample of children. However, children were the least active during Winter months. With 70% of the current sample being classified as overweight and with American Indian children at greater risk for numerous hypokinetic diseases there is a clear need for additional school-day PA opportunities.

The Intricacies of Children’s Physical Activity

“…When compared to other school studies ( Brusseau and Hannon, 2013 ) exploring in-school physical activity, it appears that children were in the typical US range during the Fall data collection and at the top or above the range (girls) during the Spring and both boys and girls were more in line with international school studies during the Spring. Seasonal findings ( Beighle et al, 2008 , 2012 ; Brusseau et al, 2012 ) are supported in this study illustrating that physical activity increases when the temperatures are more moderate (not too hot and not too cold). In school and out of school contributions in the Fall were consistent with previous research, yet in the Spring in school contributions were above the typical percentages ( Beighle et al, 2012 ; Brusseau et al, 2011 , 2013 ; Tudor-Locke et al, 2006 ).…”

“…Numerous researchers have suggested that it is important to understand the role that seasons play on youth PA as temperature and weather patterns can influence PA levels ( Beighle et al, 2008 ; Brusseau et al, 2012 ; Carson et al, 2010 ). Furthermore, it has been suggested that a better understanding of seasonal differences may help prioritize intervention programs or school resources to meet the needs of the low active students ( Beighle et al, 2012 ).…”

Chapter 7 Effects of a Classroom-Based Physical Activity Program on Children’s Physical Activity Levels

“…In particular, elementary school students have been found to spend more time sitting, and less time standing, walking and engaged in MVPA during indoor physical education (McKenzie et al, 1995). In general, students are more active during the fall season when the weather is suitable for outdoor PA and less active during the winter season when the temperatures are much lower (Beighle, Erwin, Morgan, & Alderman, 2012;Brusseau, Kulinna, Kloeppel, & Ferry, 2012). Besides providing classroom-based PA programs, such as TAKE 10!, other alternative sources of indoor PA should be provided in school to help students maintain or increase their PA levels during the winter season.…”

Predictors of Native American children's perceived status of health and physical shape

“…In the literature, there are only a limited number of studies that have explored the physical activity patterns of Native American elementary school‐aged children. These studies collectively show that during school hours, Native American children had similar physical activity patterns to students from other ethnic backgrounds (Brusseau, Kulinna, Kloeppel, & Ferry, ; Johnson, Kulinna, Darst, & Pangrazi, ) due mostly to high levels of physical activity in physical education classes (e.g., Brusseau, Kulinna, Tudor‐Locke, & Ferry, ). However, Native American children were seen to have less physical activity outside of school, as well as low levels of physical activity on weekends, when compared with children who did not identify themselves as Native American (Brusseau et al., ).…”