Heart Rate-Determined Physical Activity In New Zealand School Children: A Cross- Sectional Study

Authors: Michael J. Hamlin, Mick Grimley, Vicki Cowley, Chris D. Price, Jill M. Hargreaves, Jenny J. Ross

Abstract:

The aim of this study was to examine current levels of physical activity determined via heart rate monitoring. A total of 176 children (85 boys, 91 girls) aged 5-13 years wore sealed Polar heart rate monitors for at least 10 hours per day on at least 3 days. Mean daily minutes of moderate to vigorous-intensity physical activity was 65 ± 43 (mean ± SD) for boys and 54 ± 37 for girls. Daily minutes of vigorous-intensity activity was 31 ± 24 and 24 ± 21 for boys and girls respectively. Significant differences in physical activity levels were observed between school day and weekends, boys and girls, and among age and geographical groups. Only 36% of boys and 22% of girls met the New Zealand physical activity guideline. This research indicates that a large proportion of New Zealand children are not meeting physical activity recommendations.

Keywords: activity guidelines, moderate activity, sedentary, vigorous activity

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1077128

References:

[1] K. Janz, S. Kwon, E. Letuchy, G.J. Eichenberger, T. Burns, J. Torner, M. Willing, and S. Levy, "Sustained Effect of Early Physical Activity on Body Fat Mass in Older Children," Am J Prev Med, vol. 37, pp. 35-40, 2009.
[2] C.J. Casperson, P.A. Nixon and R.H. DuRant, "Physical activity epidemiology applied to children and adolescents," Exerc Sports Sci Rev, vol 26 pp. 341-403, 1998.
[3] D.A. Bailey and A.D. Martin, "Physical activity and skeletal health in adolescents," Pediatr Exerc Sci, vol. 6, pp. 330-347, 1994.
[4] R. Telama, X. Yang, J. Viikari, I. Valimaki, O. Wanne and O. Raitakari "Physical activity from childhood to adulthood. A 21-year tracking study," Am J Prev Med, vol. 28, pp. 267-273, 2005.
[5] X. Yang, R. Telama, J. Vikari and O.T. Raitakari, "Risk of obesity in relation to physical activity tracking from youth to adulthood," Med Sci Sports Exerc, vol. 38, pp. 919-925, 2006.
[6] Sport and Recreation New Zealand, "Activity Guidelines (5-18 year olds)" Wellington, SPARC Policy Research Team, 2007.
[7] S. Walker, J. Ross and A. Gray, "Participation in sport and active leisure by New Zealand children and adolescents," J Phys Ed NZ, vol. 21, pp. 4-8, 1999.
[8] Sport and Recreation New Zealand, "SPARC Facts: Results of the New Zealand sport and physical activity surveys (1997-2001)" Wellington, Sport and Recreation New Zealand, 2003.
[9] Ministry of Health, "NZ Food NZ Children: Key results of the 2002 National Children's Nutrition Survey" Wellington, New Zealand Ministry of Health, 2003.
[10] J.F. Sallis, M.J. Buono, J.J. Roby, F.G. Micale and J.A. Nelson JA, "Seven-day recall and other physical activity self-reports in children and adolescents," Med Sci Sports Exerc, vol. 25, pp. 99-108, 1993.
[11] D.R.J. Bassett, "Validity and reliability issues in objective monitoring of physical activity," Res Q Exerc Sport, vol.71, pp. 30-36, 2000.
[12] N. Armstrong, "Young peoples' physical activity patterns assessed by heart rate monitoring," J Sports Sci, vol. 16, pp. S9-S16, 1998.
[13] C.J. Riddoch, C. Mattocks, K. Deere, J. Saunders, J. Kirby, K. Tilling, S.D. Leary SD, Blair SN, Ness AR: "Objective measurement of levels and patterns of physical activity," Arch Dis Child 2007, 92:963-969.
[14] S.A. Calvert, J.J.Ross, M.J. Hamlin, "Levels of physical activity of a sample of 10-13 year old New Zealand children," N Z Med J, vol. 114, pp. 496-498, 2001.
[15] D. Macfarlane and W.T. Kwong, "Children's heart rates and enjoyment levels during PE classes in Hong Kong primary schools," Pediatr Exerc Sci, vol. 15, pp. 179-190, 2003.
[16] S.G. Trost, R.R. Pate, P.S. Freedson, J.F. Sallis and W.C. Taylor, "Using objective physical activity measures with youth: How many days of monitoring are needed?," Med Sci Sports Exerc, vol. 32, pp. 426-431, 2000.
[17] M. Sleap and K. Tolfrey, "Do 9- to 12 yr-old children meet existing physical activity recommendations for health?," Med Sci Sports Exerc, vol. 33, pp. 591-596 2001.
[18] Ministry of Health, "Food and Nutrition Guidelines for Healthy Children aged 2-12 years. A Background Paper" Wellington, New Zealand Ministry of Health, 1997.
[19] Sport and Recreation New Zealand, "SPARC Trends: Trends in Participation in Sport and Active Leisure (1997-2001)" Wellington, SPARC Policy Research Team, 2003.
[20] R.H. Durant, T. Baranowski, H. Davis, W.O. Thompson, J. Puhl, K.A. Greaves and T. Rhodes, "Reliability and variability of heart rate monitoring in 3-, 4-, or 5-yr-old children," Med Sci Sports Exerc, vol. 24, pp. 265-271, 1992.
[21] T.B. Gilliam, P.S. Freedson, D.L. Geenen and B. Shahraray, "Physical activity patterns determined by heart rate monitoring in 6-7 year-old children," Med Sci Sports Exerc, vol. 13, pp. 65-67, 1981.
[22] O. Gavarry, T. Bernard, M. Giacomoni, M. Seymat, J.P. Euzet and G. Falgairette, "Continuous heart rate monitoring over 1 week in teenagers aged 11-16 years," Eur J Appl Physiol, vol. 77, pp. 125-132, 1998.
[23] E.M. Van Sluijs, P.M. Skidmore, K. Mwanza, A.P. Jones, A.M. Callaghan, U. Ekelund, F. Harrison, I. Harvey, J. Panter, N.J. Wareham, A. Cassidy and S.J. Griffin, "Physical activity and dietary behaviour in a population-based sample of British 10-year old children: the SPEEDY study (Sport, Physical activity, and Eating behaviour: Environmental Determinants in Young people)," BMC Public Health, vol. 14, pp.338, 2008.
[24] T. Olds, K. Ridley, M. Wake, K. Hesketh, E. Waters, G. Patton and J. Williams, "How should activity guidelines for young people be operationalised?," Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act, vol. 4, pp. 43, 2007.
[25] C.E. Matthews, B.E. Ainsworth, R.W. Thompson and D.R. Bassett, "Sources of variance in daily physical activity levels as measured by an accelerometer," Med Sci Sports Exerc, vol. 34, pp. 1376-1381, 2002.
[26] W.J. Van Mechelen, W.R. Twisk, G.B. Post, J. Snel and H.C.G. Kemper, " Habitual activity of young people: the Amsterdam Growth and Health Study," Med Sci Sports Exerc, vol. 32, pp. 1610-1616, 2000.
[27] D.K. Ingram, "Age-related decline in physical activity: generalization to nonhumans," Med Sci Sports Exerc, vol. 32, pp. 1623-1628, 2000.
[28] J. Liu, K.J. Bennett, N. Harun and J.C. Probst, "Urban-rural differences in overweight status and physical inactivity among US children aged 10- 17 years," J Rural Health, vol. 24, pp. 407-415, 2008.
[29] C.A. Loucaides, R.C. Plotnikoff and K. Bercovitz, "Differences in the correlates of physical activity between urban and rural Canadian youth," J Sch Health, vol. 77, pp. 164-170, 2007.
[30] E. Hodgkin, M.J. Hamlin, J.J. Ross and F. Peters, "Obesity, energy intake and physical activity in rural and urban New Zealand children," Rural Remote Health, vol. 10, pp. 1336, 2010.