| As children are not acquiring adequate amounts of physical activity (PA), it is important to identify opportunities in which PA can be increased. The purpose of this thesis is to characterize PA during recess periods within the elementary school day, as well as to determine the effectiveness of a short term recess PA intervention. Children from two schools (N=75, ages 7--10, BMI =17.96+/-43.16, BF = 21.67%+/-9.12) wore pedometers for five consecutive days. A subset of subjects (N=17) also wore accelerometers. Step counts were recorded 9--10 times per day to obtain PA information for five daytime periods; morning (AM) recess, lunch recess, afternoon (PM) recess, physical education (PE), and out of school. Males were more active than females (P<0.001, 12.331 and 9439 steps per day respectively). Recess contributed to 30.6% of daily step counts, with PE contributing another 17.2%. The highest step rates occurred during PM recess (71 steps/minute (s/m), versus 57 s/m AM recess, 48 situ lunch recess, and 52 s/m PE). A subject's sex, the period duration, weather and location of PA period all had an effect on PA levels. There was no relationship of steps or step rate to body composition. The intervention was effective in increasing PA by a mean 985 (+/-1808) steps per day (P<0.05). Those subjects who were least active at baseline were most likely to have a positive reaction to intervention. Recess is an area which can significantly contribute to overall PA. Children are receptive to intervention in this area and pedometers can be used to increase PA. |
