semmelweis university - Faculty of Physical Education and Sport ...

Adrienn Blocosz
Semmelweis University, Faculty of P. E. and Sport Sciences (TF), Budapest, Hungary
Supervisor: Dr. Martina Uvacsek, assistant professor
Objectively Measured Physical Activity of 9-12 Year-old Budapest Children
Introduction: Antal et al. (2009), in a representative study reported that the Hungarian
children‘s prevalence of overweight and obesity was 18.1% and 7.4% in boys and 19.6% and
6.3% in girls respectively. Little objective data exist which defines the physical activity level
of school-children or the whole day habitual activity (Ridgers 2009). The spontaneous
activity/habitual physical activity is the main determinant of energy consumption (Thurborn
& Proietto 2000). The purpose of the study was to measure the whole day physical activity of
children for 3 weekdays and on the weekend days. According to the international activity
reports we hypothesized that the boys are more active than girls, and the measured activity is
higher on weekdays compared to weekend days.
Methods: Sixty-three children from 2 schools, 35 boys (11.5±1.1 yr) and 28 girls (10.9±1.0
yr), with previous parental permission participated in the study. Physical activity was
quantified using uni-axial accelerometry for 3 consecutive school days and 2 weekend days.
The accelerometer was worn mounted on the right hip using a fitted elastic belt during all
waking hours except for water-based activities. Epoch length was set at 5 seconds. Time spent
in sedentary, light, moderate, vigorous and very vigorous physical activity was determined
using existing age- appropriate cut- points (Freedson at al. 1997). Children who did not
achieve minimum 480 minute wear time/day were excluded from the statistical analysis.
Differences in body dimensions between boys and girls were assessed using independent
samples t-tests. Differences between means of daily activity were analysed by ANOVA.
Statistical significance was set at p