scholarly journals Preschool Children Physical Activity Measurement: Importance of Epoch Length Choice

2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 413-420 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susana Vale ◽  
Rute Santos ◽  
Pedro Silva ◽  
Luísa Soares-Miranda ◽  
Jorge Mota
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Gender Differences ◽  
Preschool Children ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Activity Measurement ◽  
Epoch Length ◽  
Physical Activity Measurement

The purpose of this study was twofold: first to document the gender differences in Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA) according to two epoch systems (5 vs. 60 s) in preschoolers, and, second to document the differences in physical activity (PA) patterns according to two different epoch choices. The sample comprised 59 preschoolers (31 girls) aged 2–5 years old. PA was assessed by accelerometer during school hours. The time spent in MVPA was significantly higher (p < .001) when a 5-s epoch was considered compared to the 60-s epoch, regardless gender. Further, it was found a difference of ?17 min difference between the 2 epoch systems for MVPA. Different epoch times might affect the time spent in MVPA among preschool children.

Physical activity and inactivity profiling: the next generationThis article is part of a supplement entitled Advancing physical activity measurement and guidelines in Canada: a scientific review and evidence-based foundation for the future of Canadian physical activity guidelines co-published by Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism and the Canadian Journal of Public Health. It may be cited as Appl. Physiol. Nutr. Metab. 32(Suppl. 2E) or as Can. J. Public Health 98(Suppl. 2).

2007 ◽  
Vol 32 (S2E) ◽  
pp. S195-S207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dale W. Esliger ◽  
Mark S. Tremblay
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Measurement Techniques ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Activity Measurement ◽  
Physical Activity Guidelines ◽  
Physical Activity Measurement ◽  
Physical Activity Monitoring

The accurate measurement of habitual physical activity is fundamental to the study of the relationship between physical activity and health. However, many physical activity measurement techniques produce variables accurate to only the day level, such as total energy expenditure via self-report questionnaire, pedometer step counts, or accelerometer measurements of minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity. Monitoring technologies providing more detailed information on physical activity and inactivity behaviour can now be used to explore the relationships between health and movement frequency, intensity, and duration more comprehensively. This paper explores the activity–inactivity profile that can be acquired through objective monitoring, with a focus on accelerometry. Using previously collected objective data, a detailed physical activity profile is presented and case study examples of data utilization and interpretation are provided. The rich detail captured through comprehensive profiling creates new surveillance and study possibilities and could possibly inform new physical activity guidelines. Data are presented in various formats to demonstrate the dangers of misinterpretation when monitoring population adherence to Canada’s physical activity guidelines. Recommendations for physical activity–inactivity profiling are provided and future research needs identified.

scholarly journals Patterns of Objectively Measured Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity in Preschool Children

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1233-1238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mareesa O’Dwyer ◽  
Stuart J. Fairclough ◽  
Nicola Diane Ridgers ◽  
Zoe Rebecca Knowles ◽  
Lawrence Foweather ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Preschool Children ◽  
Young Children ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
After School ◽  
Home Environments ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Objectively Measured ◽  
Full Day

Background:Identifying periods of the day which are susceptible to varying levels of physical activity (PA) may help identify key times to intervene and potentially change preschool children’s PA behaviors. This study assessed variability of objectively measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) during weekdays and weekend days among preschool children.Methods:One hundred and eighty-eight children (aged 3 to 5 years; 53.2% boys) from a northwest English city wore uni-axial accelerometers for 7 consecutive days.Results:Higher levels of MVPA were recorded in boys, particularly those who attended preschool for a half day. Children who attended preschool for a full day engaged in 11.1 minutes less MVPA than children who attended for a half day. After-school hours were characterized by a decrease in activity for all groups. Patterns of activity during the weekend were smoother with less variability.Conclusion:This study identified discrete segments of the week, specifically afterschool and during the weekend, when preschoolers engage in low levels of PA. Higher levels of MVPA among children who attended preschool for less time each day suggests that the structured preschool environment is related to decreased activity. Consequently, there is a need for interventions in young children to focus on school and home environments.

scholarly journals Refining Low Physical Activity Measurement Improves Frailty Assessment in Advanced Lung Disease and Survivors of Critical Illness

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 1270-1279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew R. Baldwin ◽  
Jonathan P. Singer ◽  
Debbie Huang ◽  
Jessica Sell ◽  
Wendy C. Gonzalez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Critical Illness ◽  
Lung Disease ◽  
Activity Measurement ◽  
Physical Activity Measurement ◽  
Frailty Assessment

scholarly journals Intervention Strategies to Elicit MVPA in Preschoolers during Outdoor Play

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 650 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle D. Wadsworth ◽  
Jerraco L. Johnson ◽  
Alexandra V. Carroll ◽  
Melissa M. Pangelinan ◽  
Mary E. Rudisill ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Preschool Children ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Motor Skill ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Outdoor Play ◽  
Play Intervention ◽  
Group Assignment ◽  
Head Start Center

Approximately 50% of preschoolers do not meet physical activity recommendations and children who reside in low-income rural communities may be further at risk for higher levels of sedentary behavior. Outdoor play is essential for preschool children; however, literature is unclear as to which types of interventions elicit moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) for all preschoolers. The aim of this study was to determine which type of intervention, physical activity or fundamental motor skill focus, elicits MVPA during outdoor play. Ninety-eight preschool children (M age = 4.48 years) from one Head Start center participated in an outdoor play intervention two days per week for 7 weeks. Classes were randomly assigned to one of four groups: fundamental motor skill focus (FMS), physical activity focus (PA), FMS and PA (FMS + PA), and control. An accelerometer worn on the hip measured MVPA. Results showed that age, sex and group assignment contributed to MVPA at the beginning of the intervention and age, sex, group assignment and MVPA during the beginning of the intervention contributed to MVPA at the end of the intervention. Overall, the FMS + PA group elicited MVPA from males and females of all ages. Interventions that combine both FMS and PA may reduce physical activity disparities in preschool children.

scholarly journals Accelerometry analysis options produce large differences in lifestyle physical activity measurement

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 065006
Author(s):  
Marissa Mueller ◽  
Ruth Chimenti ◽  
Shannon Merkle ◽  
Laura Frey–Law
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Activity Measurement ◽  
Physical Activity Measurement ◽  
Lifestyle Physical Activity

scholarly journals Between-Monitor Differences in Step Counts Are Related to Body Size: Implications for Objective Physical Activity Measurement

PLoS ONE ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. e18942 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy Pomeroy ◽  
Søren Brage ◽  
Jeffrey M. Curtis ◽  
Pamela D. Swan ◽  
William C. Knowler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Activity Measurement ◽  
Step Counts ◽  
Physical Activity Measurement

An Examination of Multilevel Factors That May Explain Gender Differences in Children’s Physical Activity

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 982-992 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noe C. Crespo ◽  
Kirsten Corder ◽  
Simon Marshall ◽  
Gregory J. Norman ◽  
Kevin Patrick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Gender Differences ◽  
Linear Regression ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Parent Support ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Several Variables ◽  
Sectional Analysis ◽  
Children’S Physical Activity

Background:Girls are less physically active than boys, yet no single study has examined the factors that may explain gender differences in children’s physical activity (PA).Methods:This study was a cross-sectional analysis of data from 116 caregivers and their children aged 5–8 years who participated in the MOVE study. Caregivers reported various factors that may relate to children’s PA (eg, encouragement for child PA and PA equipment at home). Child PA was measured by 7-day accelerometry. Linear regression tested for the variance in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) explained by gender and several variables. Gender and ethnicity interactions were examined.Results:Caregivers were mostly female (97%), mean age 38 ± 6 years, mean BMI 28 ± 6 (kg/m2). Child’s mean age was 8.1 ± 0.7, 54% were female and 40% were overweight/obese. Girls were less physically active than boys (54.1 ± 19.7 vs. 65.2 ± 28.0 daily minutes of MVPA, respectively). Among girls, more days of PE/week was associated with greater MVPA. Among boys, greater parent support for PA, greater parent modeling for PA, and greater number of PA equipment in the home were associated with greater MVPA.Conclusions:This study supports that boys and girls have different correlates for MVPA, which may partly explain gender differences in PA.

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