Correlates of children's moderate and vigorous physical activity during weekdays and weekends.
BACKGROUND
Vigorous-intensity physical activity (VPA) may confer superior health benefits for children compared to moderate-intensity physical activity (MPA), but the correlates of MPA and VPA may differ. The study purpose was to investigate associations between selected enabling, predisposing, and demographic physical activity correlates, and MPA and VPA during weekdays and at weekends.


METHODS
Data were gathered from 175 children (aged 10 to 11 years). MPA and VPA were assessed using accelerometers. Correlates were measured at child and school levels. Multilevel analyses identified correlates that significantly predicted MPA and VPA.


RESULTS
Gender significantly predicted weekday MPA (P < .001), and weekend MPA (P = .022) and VPA (P = .035). Weekday VPA was predicted by gender (P < .001), indices of multiple deprivation score (P < .003), BMI (P = .018), and school playground area (P = .046).


CONCLUSIONS
Gender was the most significant correlate of MPA and VPA. Children most likely to engage in weekday VPA were boys with lower deprivation scores and BMI values, with access to larger playground areas.
REACH Group and Faculty of Education, Community, and Leisure, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK.
Stuart J
SJ
Fairclough
Nicola D
ND
Ridgers
Gregory
G
Welk
D000054:Acceleration; D056044:Actigraphy / Q000379:methods; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004739:England; D015981:Epidemiologic Factors; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011594:Psychometrics; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D012737:Sex Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors