Physical activity pattern of children assessed by triaxial accelerometry

• Published in: European journal of clinical nutrition Vol. 58; no. 10; pp. 1425 - 1428
• Main Authors: Hoos, M.B, Kuipers, H, Gerver, W.J.M, Westerterp, K.R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basingstoke Nature Publishing 01.10.2004; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Accelerometers; Activity patterns; Adults; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Children; Children & youth; Clinical nutrition; duration; Education; Energy Metabolism - physiology; Exercise; Exercise - physiology; Female; human behavior; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); lifestyles; Male; Mathematical analysis; measurement; measuring devices; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous. Technology; Monitoring, Ambulatory; Motor Activity - physiology; Obesity - etiology; Obesity - prevention & control; Older people; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; Physical activity; Physical fitness; Prevention; quantitative analysis; Regression Analysis; Time Factors; triaxial accelerometry; Young adults; Netherlands; Human; Physical exercise; triaxial accelerometery; physical activity intensity; Tracmor; physical activity frequency; Prevention; Education; physical activity level; Child; Public health; Accelerometry; Life style
• ISSN: 0954-3007; 1476-5640
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601991

Objectives: Accelerometry was used to assess the relationship between the physical activity level (PAL) and time spent on activities of various intensities in children. Design: A total of 20 children aged 8.6 +/- 3.3 y wore a triaxial accelerometer (Tracmor2) for 2 weeks. PAL was calculated with Tracmor2 output data. The fraction of time spent on activities with a given level of intensity (low, moderate, high) was calculated. The fractions of time spent on activities of different intensities were compared with previously obtained data for young adults and elderly persons. Results: PAL showed an inverse relation with the percentage of time spent on low-intensity activities (r = -0.76; P < 0.0001) and a positive relation with the percentage of time spent on high-intensity activities (r = 0.93; P < 0.0001). The fraction of time spent on low-intensity activities was smaller in children than in young adults (P < 0.05) and elderly persons (P < 0.0001), while the fraction spent on high-intensity activities (P < 0.0001) was larger. Conclusions: The present data are important for a better understanding of physical activity in children, which is necessary for education and prevention about physical (in)activity in childhood. Our observations suggest that to obtain a higher PAL in children, they should be given the opportunities to perform high-intensity activities.