Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity and Step Count Compilation for Elementary-Aged Youth Participating in Summer Camp Activities

Author(s):  
Zachary Wahl-Alexander

The summer months have recently been identified as a time of the year when children gain excess weight. Despite contrary beliefs, youth are more susceptible to weight gain and fitness losses during this time. Summer camps have been identified as a possible solution to reduce declines in overall health during these months. The purpose of this study was to establish expected step counts and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) values for a variety of activities in one residential camp. Participants included 188 campers (M age = 8.7). Sessions included a variety of invasion, target, net/wall and fitness activities. Step counts and MVPA were tracked across 51 days, incorporating 839 activity sessions using a NL–1000 (New Lifestyle Inc., Lee Summit, MO, USA) accelerometer to track campers’ activity. Means and steps/minute were calculated for each activity. Invasion games represented the greatest opportunity for campers to engage in physical activity. Findings are useful for researchers and practitioners to evaluate physical activity and MVPA at camp settings.

2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 92-99
Author(s):  
Fabio Eduardo Fontana ◽  
Michael Pereira da Silva ◽  
Ripley Marston ◽  
Kevin Finn ◽  
Jere Gallagher

The purpose of this study was to establish step-count guidelines for sixth-grade students and assess the ability of step-counts to discriminate between students achieving and not achieving 60-minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily. 201 sixth-grade students completed the study. They wore a pedometer and an accelerometer at the waist level for one full day. ROC curves were used to establish step-count guidelines and determine the diagnostic accuracy of step-counts. Sixth grade students need 12,118 steps/day to reach adequate daily levels of physical activity. The AUC indicated good diagnostic accuracy of step-counts. Suggested step-count guidelines can be a useful tool for identifying children who need to increase their daily levels of physical activity. The step-count cutoff proposed in this study is adequate for discriminating between sixth grade students reaching and not reaching recommended levels of physical activity.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan D. Burns ◽  
Timothy A. Brusseau ◽  
You Fu ◽  
Peng Zhang

Background. No study has established step-count cut points for varying amounts of accelerometer-assessed vigorous physical activity (VPA) accrued during the school day in children. The purpose of this study was to establish step-count cut points for discriminating children meeting VPA in 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, and 20 minutes per 7-hour school day. Methods. Participants were a convenience sample of 1,053 children (mean age = 8.4 (1.8) years) recruited from 5 schools from the Mountain West region of the USA. Data within students were observed across multiple semesters totaling 2,119 separate observations. Step counts and time in VPA were assessed using ActiGraph wGT3X-BT triaxial accelerometers that were worn during the entirety of a 7-hour school day for one school week. Average censored step counts and minutes in VPA were calculated across 3 to 5 days. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were employed to derive step counts via calculation of the maximum Youden J statistic. Results. Area-under-the-curve (AUC) scores ranged from AUC = 0.81 (95% CI: 0.78–0.83; p<0.001) for meeting at least 5 minutes of VPA to AUC = 0.94 (95% CI: 0.88–1.00, p<0.001) for meeting at least 20 minutes of VPA. Approximately 3,460 steps best discriminated children meeting at least 5 minutes of VPA (sensitivity = 74.0%, specificity = 74.0%, and accuracy = 74.1%) and approximately 5,628 steps best discriminated children meeting at least 20 minutes per day of VPA (sensitivity = 85.7%, specificity = 95.1%, and accuracy = 95.1%). Conclusion. Step counts can discriminate with reasonable accuracy children that meet at least 5 minutes of school-day VPA and with strong accuracy children that meet 20 minutes of school-day VPA.


2004 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 355-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Greet Cardon ◽  
Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij

In this study pedometer counts were recorded for 6 consecutive days for 92 children (mean age = 9.6 years; range 6.5–12.7) and were compared with the number of minutes per day in which the participants engaged in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Diaries filled out with the assistance of one of the children’s parents were used to determine minutes of MVPA. The average daily step count was significantly higher in boys than in girls, although the average daily MVPA engagement in minutes did not vary significantly between genders. Based on the regression equations, 60 min of MVPA was equivalent to 15,340 step counts in boys, 11,317 step counts in girls, and 13,130 step counts when results for both genders were combined. A moderate correlation (r = .39, p < .001) was found between pedometer step counts and reported minutes of MVPA. According to the present study findings, however, predictions and promotion of daily MVPA engagement in children based on pedometer counts per day should be made with caution.


2007 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 205-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Greet Cardon ◽  
Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij

In this study, daily step counts were recorded for 4 consecutive days in 129 four- and five-year-old children. To compare daily Yamax Digiwalker step counts with minutes of engagement in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), concurrent accelerometer data were collected in a random subsample (n = 76). The average daily step count was 9,980 (± 2,605). Step counts and MVPA minutes were strongly correlated (r = .73, p < .001). The daily step count of 13,874, equating to 1-hr MVPA engagement, was reached by 8% of the children. Daily step counts in preschool children give valid information on physical activity levels—daily step counts in preschoolers are low.


Circulation ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 127 (suppl_12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cemal Ozemek ◽  
Wonwoo Byun ◽  
Katrina Riggin ◽  
Scott Strath ◽  
Leonard Kaminsky

Introduction: Pedometer feedback with step goals has previously been demonstrated to be effective in increasing daily steps in cardiac rehabilitation patients. These monitors allow the individual to track steps taken during a day, which may influence the frequency or duration of structured physical activity that is intended to achieve a step goal. However, it is not known whether an increase in step counts by pedometer feedback with step goals also increases time spent in recommended intensity levels for improved health, specifically moderate-to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), in cardiac rehabilitation patients. Hypothesis: Pedometer feedback with weekly step goals will increase time spent in MVPA, mediated by an increase in step counts in cardiac rehabilitation patients. Methods: A total of 31 (22 men and 9 women, age 62 ± 9 years) patients participated in a 12-week maintenance cardiac rehabilitation, pedometer based step goal intervention. Prior to the intervention, each subject’s one week baseline average daily step count was measured and 10% of this value was used to increase step goals during the intervention. Each week the step goal was met, the following week’s goal was appropriately increased. However, if the step goal for the week was not achieved, the step goal would not increase until the goal was fulfilled. Additionally, daily step counts and time spent in MVPA and light physical activity were assessed at baseline (without pedometer feedback) and for each intervention week (with pedometer feedback) using a Kenz Lifecorder PLUS monitor (Nagoya, Japan). Average time spent in light physical activity (activity level of 1-2) and MVPA (activity levels ≥3), were determined according to activity intensity level defined by the manufacturer’s analyses program. Results: The average step count for the baseline week was 5546 ± 2679 steps/day which significantly increased to 8348± 3613 steps/day by week 12 (p<0.01). The average time spent in MVPA also significantly increased (p<0.01) from 19 ± 16 min/day at baseline to 38 ± 23 min/day at week 12. In addition, there was a significant increase (p<0.05) in time spent in light physical activity from baseline (42 ± 18 min/day) to week 12 (51 ± 24 min/day). Conclusion: Findings of this study demonstrate that a 12-week pedometer feedback-based intervention was effective in increasing time spent in MVPA in maintenance cardiac rehabilitation patients. Cardiac rehabilitation facilities can utilize pedometer feedback and goal setting to promote increases in time spent in recommended activity levels previously associated with improved health outcomes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel G. Curtis ◽  
Timothy Olds ◽  
François Fraysse ◽  
Dorothea Dumuid ◽  
Gilly A. Hendrie ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Almost one in three Australian adults are now obese, and the rate continues to rise. The causes of obesity are multifaceted and include environmental, cultural and lifestyle factors. Emerging evidence suggests there may be temporal patterns in weight gain related, for example, to season and major festivals such as Christmas, potentially due to changes in diet, daily activity patterns or both. The aim of this study is to track the annual rhythm in body weight, 24 h activity patterns, dietary patterns, and wellbeing in a cohort of Australian adults. In addition, through data linkage with a concurrent children’s cohort study, we aim to examine whether changes in children’s body mass index, activity and diet are related to those of their parents. Methods A community-based sample of 375 parents aged 18 to 65 years old, residing in or near Adelaide, Australia, and who have access to a Bluetooth-enabled mobile device or a computer and home internet, will be recruited. Across a full year, daily activities (minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity, light physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep) will be measured using wrist-worn accelerometry (Fitbit Charge 3). Body weight will be measured daily using Fitbit wifi scales. Self-reported dietary intake (Dietary Questionnaire for Epidemiological Studies V3.2), and psychological wellbeing (WHOQOL-BREF and DASS-21) will be assessed eight times throughout the 12-month period. Annual patterns in weight will be examined using Lowess curves. Associations between changes in weight and changes in activity and diet compositions will be examined using repeated measures multi-level models. The associations between parent’s and children’s weight, activity and diet will be investigated using multi-level models. Discussion Temporal factors, such as day type (weekday or weekend day), cultural celebrations and season, may play a key role in weight gain. The aim is to identify critical opportunities for intervention to assist the prevention of weight gain. Family-based interventions may be an important intervention strategy. Trial registration Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, identifier ACTRN12619001430123. Prospectively registered on 16 October 2019.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Whitney Evans ◽  
Rena R. Wing ◽  
Denise F. Pierre ◽  
Whitney C. Howie ◽  
Morgan Brinker ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Children from racial and ethnic minority groups, low-income households, and those with overweight or obesity gain more weight during the summer than the school year. Summer day camps, which offer routine opportunities for physical activity and regular meal and snack times, have potential to mitigate excess weight gain. This randomized controlled trial was done to determine the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of summer camp in preventing excess summer weight gain among youth from low-income households. Methods Children, ages 6 to 12 years, were randomized to attend 8-weeks of summer day camp (CAMP) or to experience an unstructured summer as usual (SAU) in 2017–2018. Primary feasibility outcomes included retention, engagement and completion of midsummer measures. Secondary outcomes included changes in BMIz, engagement in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary behavior, and diet quality and energy intake from the school year to summer. Multivariable linear mixed models were used to assess group differences. Results Ninety-four participants were randomized to CAMP (n = 46) or SAU (n = 48), of whom 93.0 and 91.6% completed end of school and end of summer assessments, respectively. While CAMP participants attended only 50% of camp days offered, on average, they lost − 0.03 BMIz units while those in SAU gained 0.07 BMIz units over the summer (b = 0.10; p = .02). Group differences in change in energy intake from the school year to summer were borderline significant, as energy intake remained relatively unchanged in CAMP participants but increased among participants in SAU (p = 0.07). Conclusions Randomizing children to attend summer day camp or experience an unstructured summer as usual was effective in this low-income sample. Our findings support the potential for summer camps in mitigating excess summer weight gain. A larger randomized trial is needed explore efficacy, cost-effectiveness and longer-term effects of attending summer camp on weight and weight-related behaviors. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Registration: NCT04085965 (09/2019, retrospective registration).


2007 ◽  
Vol 39 (Supplement) ◽  
pp. S183
Author(s):  
Farah A. Ramirez-Marrero ◽  
Anita M. Rivera-Brown ◽  
Jose F Rodriguez-Orengo ◽  
Cruz M. Nazario ◽  
Ellen Smit ◽  
...  

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