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Do 9- to 12 yr-old children meet existing physical activity recommendations for health?
1Research Unit for PE, Sport & Health, Institute for Learning, University of Hull, Hull HU6 7RX, United Kingdom. M.Sleap@educ.hull.ac.uk
Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a sample of 9- to 12-yr-old children fulfilled existing U.S. and UK physical activity recommendations for health.
Methods:
Habitual physical activity levels of 79 pre- and early pubertal children were assessed using continuous heart rate monitoring over a period of 4 d. Mean, daily, cumulative physical activity levels spent above heart rate thresholds were compared with U.S. and UK recommended values.
Results:
In this study, when cumulative amounts of physical activity were considered, at intensities greater than 120 beats x min(-1) and 75% above resting heart rate, pre- and early pubertal British children appear to engage in sufficient physical activity to meet U.S. and UK minimum daily recommendations.
Conclusions:
Interpretations of children's physical activity levels depend on thresholds set for intensity of physical activity and whether cumulative or continuous bouts of activity are included in the analysis.
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