title: What are the contributory and compensatory relationships between physical education and physical activity in children?
abstract: Limited data are available on the contributory and compensatory relationships between physical education and physical activity in children. Four hundred eighty-five (280 girls) children in first through sixth grades wore sealed pedometers during waking hours, including normally scheduled physical education lessons. The least, moderately, and most active children accumulated approximately 1700, 1100, and 2500 more steps/day, respectively, on school days with physical education. No compensatory increases in physical activity were found on school days that did not offer physical education. The implications of the contributory relationship are highlighted by the evidence that 50% of the least active children were at risk for overweight or overweight and that no compensatory increases in physical activity were found on school days when physical education classes were not scheduled.
authors.affiliation: School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, San Diego State University, CA 92182-7251, USA. cmorgan@mail.sdsu.edu
authors.forename: Charles F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beighle
authors.forename: Robert P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Pangrazi
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000295:instrumentation; D009042:Motivation; D050177:Overweight / Q000517:prevention & control; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D014481:United States