Physical Education Classes, Physical Activity, and Sedentary Behavior in Children

Area of Science:

• Global Public Health
• Pediatric Health
• Exercise Science

Background:

• Physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) are critical determinants of child health.
• Understanding the role of physical education (PE) in promoting PA and reducing SB is essential across diverse global contexts.
• Variations in PE participation and its impact on health behaviors across different socioeconomic settings require investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between the frequency of participation in physical education (PE) classes and objective measures of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB).
• To examine these associations in children aged 9-11 years across 12 countries with varying levels of economic development.
• To explore potential differences in these associations based on sex and country income level.

Main Methods:

• A multinational, cross-sectional study involving 5874 children aged 9-11 years from 12 countries.
• Objective measurement of PA and SB using accelerometers worn for seven consecutive days, differentiating between weekdays (in/out of school) and weekend days.
• Assessment of PE participation frequency via questionnaire, with data analyzed using multilevel modeling stratified by sex.

Main Results:

• Overall, 24.8% of children reported attending PE classes three or more times per week.
• In low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), children attending PE 1-2 times/week showed better PA indicators and less SB.
• In high-income countries (HIC), PE participation was linked to meeting moderate-to-vigorous PA recommendations and reduced SB, with greater benefits for boys and girls attending more frequently.

Conclusions:

• Participation in physical education (PE) classes is positively associated with higher levels of physical activity (PA) and lower levels of sedentary behavior (SB) in children.
• These associations are observed during weekdays, both in and out of school, across countries at various developmental stages.
• The findings underscore the importance of PE in promoting healthy behaviors in children globally, with nuanced effects depending on frequency and country income level.