ERIC Number: EJ1004903
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 6
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-2080-2234
EISSN: N/A
Seasonal Variation of American Indian Children's School-Day Physical Activity
Brusseau, Timothy A.; Kulinna, Pamela H.; Kloeppel, Tiffany; Ferry, Matthew
Biomedical Human Kinetics, v4 p82-87 2012
Study aim: To examine the pedometer steps taken during the school-day by American Indian children during all four seasons. Material and methods: Participants included third-sixth grade children (n = 157) aged 9.6 plus or minus 1.07 (boys) and 9.7 plus or minus 1.2 (girls) attending school from one Southwestern US American Indian community. Children had a mean BMI of 23.9 plus or minus 7.7 with 70% being classified as overweight or obese. Children wore a pedometer (Yamax Digiwalker SW-200) for 20 days (5 days per season). Results: Children accumulated 4762 plus or minus 1544 (boys) and 4408 plus or minus 1194 (girls) steps/day across the four seasons with the highest totals occurring during the Fall (4899, males; 4796, females) and the lowest totals during the Winter (4463, males; 4043, females). Repeated measures ANOVA showed no significant differences in daily school-day steps across seasons. Children classified as normal weight averaged 5146 plus or minus 1688 steps/day, overweight children averaged 5020 plus or minus 1333 steps/day, and obese children accumulated 4275 plus or minus 1123 steps/day. Conclusions: PA stayed relatively consistent across seasons in this sample of children. However, children were the least active during Winter months. With 70% of the current sample being classified as overweight and with American Indian children at greater risk for numerous hypokinetic diseases there is a clear need for additional school-day PA opportunities. (Contains 2 tables and 2 figures.)
Descriptors: Females, Physical Activities, American Indians, American Indian Education, Males, Obesity, Measurement Equipment, Physical Activity Level, Body Composition, Body Weight, Elementary School Students
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education; Grade 3; Grade 4; Grade 5; Grade 6
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A