title: Does a higher incidence of break times in primary schools result in children being more physically active?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Regular physical activity (PA) has multiple benefits to health; however, the majority of schoolchildren do not reach PA guidelines of 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) daily. During the school day, break times are often the only opportunity for children to be physically active. This study investigated PA levels during school breaks in German primary school children.
  
  
  METHODS
  PA of 294 children (7.1 ± 0.7 years; 48% boys) was assessed. On the basis of timetables, individual activity times and intensities for daily breaks were determined. Children's weight status was determined on site.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Breaks lasted 30.7 (± 13.8) minutes; length varied significantly between 1 and 2 breaks (21.7 ± 4.1 versus 36.2 ± 14.8 minutes; p ≤ .01). Children spent 25.3% of their breaks in MVPA, boys being significantly more active (30.8% versus 20.4%; p ≤ .01). Time spent in MVPA differed significantly between normal weight and overweight/obese children (26.1% versus 18.4%; p ≤ .05). Children having 2 breaks engaged in significantly more MVPA than those with only 1 (7.4 ± 6.1 versus 5.6 ± 4.7 minutes; p ≤ .02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children spent 25% of their break in MVPA; having 2 breaks increased time in MVPA significantly, although this is also influenced by weight status. Consequently, more activity breaks should be scheduled during school hours.
authors.affiliation: Ulm University, Division Sports and Rehabilitation Medicine, Frauensteige 6, Haus 58/33, D-89075 Ulm, Germany. susanne.kobel@uni-ulm.de.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kobel
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kettner
authors.forename: Nanette
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Erkelenz
authors.forename: Dorothea
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kesztyüs
authors.forename: Jürgen M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Steinacker
mesh_terms: D056044:Actigraphy; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000523:psychology*; D012146:Rest; D012574:Schools; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: MVPA; recess; school-aged children; weight status