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Influence of body mass index and gender on physical activity in primary school children during PE and non-PE school days

Archer, David, Hogg, Robert, Coulson, Morcombe, Soos, Istvan, Anderson, Steven, Innerd, Paul and Leyland, Sandra (2017) Influence of body mass index and gender on physical activity in primary school children during PE and non-PE school days. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 76. E33-E33. ISSN 0029-6651

Item Type: Article

Abstract

The benefits of physical activity (PA) for children are well recognised. Children who display high levels of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) have a lower risk of becoming overweight/obese(1) or becoming inactive adults(2). Existing evidence suggests a potential interaction between gender and BMI in terms of PA, with low MVPA associated with those with greater BMI z-scores in 7–9 year old girls, but not boys(3). In 2014, the new National Curriculum for England was implemented across the UK for Physical Education (PE). The aim of this study was to compare objectively measured PA on PE and non-PE days and determine whether children’s BMI and gender influenced the differences found.

PA was measured using tri-axial accelerometers (Actigraph GT3X-BT) worn at the hip in male (n 47) and female (n 39) children aged 6·8 (SD 0·6) years, height 123·2 (SD 5·6) cm and body mass 24·45 (SD 3·95) kg over four days at school (360 min per day). The duration of sedentary and MVPA in regular class time and structured PE classes (46 (SD 12) min duration) was measured using the previously validated Pulsford cut off points(4). BMI z-scores were calculated using WHO guidelines. Data were analysed using Pearson correlations, paired samples and independent samples t-tests, Cohen’s d for effect sizes (ES) and are presented as mean (SD).

Children carried out more MVPA on PE days compared to non-PE days (ES = 0·78) and during PE lessons compared to corresponding non-PE time. Furthermore, children were significantly less sedentary in PE lessons compared to corresponding non-PE time. Consequently, children spent less overall time in the sedentary activity category on PE days compared to non-PE days(ES = 0·68). Childrens’ BMI z-scores correlated significantly with their quantity of sedentary and light activity (P < 0·001), but not MVPA (P = 0·60) and were very similar on both PE and non-PE days. Males were more active than their female peers, performing 8 and 6 min more MVPA (ES 0·89, 0·72) and 12 and 8 min less sedentary time on PE and non-PE days (ES −0·62, −0·42), respectively.

In conclusion, PE lessons increased childrens’ daily MVPA and reduced their sedentary time. Although gender and BMI were associated with PA levels, the inclusion of PE lessons did not markedly increase their influence on overall energy expenditure. Overall, the study shows that PE lessons have a positive effect on childrens’ PA levels, likely resulting in positive effects on adiposity and overall health and wellbeing.

1. Bornstein D, Beets M, Byun W et al. (2011) J Sci Med Sport 14, 504–511.
2. Biddle SJH, Pearson N, Ross GM et al. (2010) Prev Med 51, 345–51.
3. Basterfield L, Adamson AJ, Pearce MS et al. (2011) J Phys Act Health 8, 543–547.
4. Pulsford RM, Cortina-Borja M, Rich C et al. (2011) PLoS One 6, 1–9.

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More Information

Depositing User: David Archer

Identifiers

Item ID: 7603
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0029665117000891
ISSN: 0029-6651
URI: http://sure.sunderland.ac.uk/id/eprint/7603
Official URL: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/proceeding...

Users with ORCIDS

ORCID for Steven Anderson: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-3762-2455
ORCID for Sandra Leyland: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-3998-0670

Catalogue record

Date Deposited: 26 Jul 2017 15:07
Last Modified: 16 May 2022 13:01

Contributors

Author: Steven Anderson ORCID iD
Author: Sandra Leyland ORCID iD
Author: David Archer
Author: Robert Hogg
Author: Morcombe Coulson
Author: Istvan Soos
Author: Paul Innerd

University Divisions

Faculty of Health Sciences and Wellbeing
Faculty of Health Sciences and Wellbeing > School of Nursing and Health Sciences

Subjects

Sciences > Sport Sciences

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