Pedometer-assessed physical activity of Singaporean youths

The aim of the study was to investigate the pedometer-assessed physical activity of Singaporean youths using an objective measurement of physical activity.

Pedometer step count was monitored over the entire week in 877 participants aged 9-18 years in three schooling cohorts [primary (age, 9-12 years; n=150 males; 156 females), secondary (age, 13-16 years; n=137 males; 138 females) and junior college (age, 17-18 years; n=140 males; 156 females)] in Singapore during July to September 2009. Analyses identified significant main effects for step count taken outside of school compared to within school (mean (SD): 5568 (4796) vs. 3881 (3149), p<0.05). However, no significant difference was found for steps accumulated within or outside school in boys and girls across the schooling levels (steps x sex x level interaction, p>0.05). Step counts were not significantly different between weekdays or weekends (9719 (6063) vs. 9483 (8056), p>0.05), across schooling levels and between male and female participants (sex x level and steps x level x sex interactions, all p>0.05).

Step count decline is drastic for male adolescents after primary school but remains low across the schooling levels for female participants. Aggregated daily step count fell short by up to 35% of the 16,000 and 13,000 steps recommended respectively for male and female youths.