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Physical activity patterns of ethnic children from low socio-economic environments within the UK
Emma Lisa Jane Eyre1, Michael Joseph Duncan, Samantha Louise Birch
1a Biomolecular and Sport Science , Coventry University , Priory Street, Coventry , CV1 5B , UK.
Insights
Many children in low-income UK areas do not meet physical activity (PA) guidelines. Outdoor environments encourage more moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and are linked to lower body fat, highlighting their importance for child health.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric health
- Environmental science
- Public health
Background:
- Many children do not meet physical activity (PA) guidelines, impacting health.
- Child PA behaviors are influenced by complex environmental factors.
- Understanding PA in low socioeconomic settings requires advanced assessment methods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how children in low socioeconomic UK environments utilize built surroundings for PA.
- To assess the relationship between environmental settings and PA levels in children.
- To identify environmental factors associated with meeting PA guidelines.
Main Methods:
- Utilized global positioning system (GPS) monitoring in 96 children (7-9 years).
- Integrated GPS with heart rate monitoring in a subsample (n=46) for detailed PA and environmental assessment.
- Analyzed time spent indoors/outdoors, in green/non-green spaces, and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) levels.
Main Results:
- 42% of children from deprived areas failed to meet PA guidelines, with 43% of this activity occurring during school hours.
- Children accumulated significantly more moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) outdoors compared to indoors (P < 0.01).
- Greater time was spent in non-green environments (P < 0.01), and increased outdoor time correlated with lower body fat percentage (BF%).
Conclusions:
- Outdoor environments are crucial for promoting health-enhancing physical activity in children.
- Deprived and ethnic children benefit significantly from outdoor PA for reducing fatness.
- Environmental interventions should prioritize accessible and engaging outdoor spaces to improve child health outcomes.
Abstract:
Many children fail to meet physical activity (PA) guidelines for health benefits. PA behaviours are complex and depend on numerous interrelated factors. The study aims to develop current understanding of how children from low Socio-economic environments within the UK use their surrounding built environments for PA by using advanced technology. The environment was assessed in 96 school children (7-9 years) using global positioning system (GPS) monitoring (Garmin Forerunner, 305). In a subsample of 46 children, the environment and PA were assessed using an integrated GPS and heart rate monitor. The percentage of time spent indoor, outdoor, in green and non-green environments along with time spent in moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) in indoor and outdoor environments were assessed. A 2-by-2 repeated measures analysis of covariance, controlling for body mass index, BF%, assessed the environmental differences. The findings show that 42% of children from deprived wards of Coventry fail to meet PA guidelines, of which 43% was accumulated during school. Children engaged in more MVPA outdoor than indoor environments (P < 0.01) and a greater amount of time was spent in non-green environments (P < 0.01). Increased time outdoors was negatively associated with BF%. In conclusion, outdoor environments are important for health-enhancing PA and reducing fatness in deprived and ethnic children.
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