title: Objectively Measured Physical Activity and Health-Related Physical Fitness in Secondary School-Aged Male Students With Autism Spectrum Disorders.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent evidence suggests that childhood obesity is increasing in children with typical development (TD) and in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The associations between physical activity (PA) levels and physical fitness components have not yet been objectively examined in this population but may have clinical implications for the development of secondary health complications.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study were: (1) to compare PA and physical fitness between secondary school-aged male students with ASD and their peers with TD and (2) to assess possible interrelationships between PA and physical fitness levels in each group.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Physical activity was recorded every 10 seconds by using accelerometry in 70 male students with (n=35) and without (n=35) ASD for up to 5 weekdays and 2 weekend days. The Brockport Physical Fitness Test was used to assess physical fitness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The primary findings were: (1) participants with ASD were less physically active overall and engaged in moderate-to-vigorous PA for a lower percentage of time compared with participants with TD during weekdays; (2) participants with ASD had significantly lower scores on all physical fitness measures, except body composition; and (3) group-dependent relationships existed between physical fitness profiles and PA levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study design limits causal inference from the results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Specific interventions for maximizing PA and physical fitness levels in secondary school-aged male students with ASD are urgently needed.
authors.affiliation: C-Y. Pan, PhD, Department of Physical Education, National Kaohsiung Normal University, No. 116, He-Ping First Road, Kaohsiung 80201, Taiwan. chpan@nknucc.nknu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Chien-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: C-L. Tsai, PhD, Institute of Physical Education, Health and Leisure Studies, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chia-Liang
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.affiliation: C-H. Chu, PhD, Department of Physical Education, National Kaohsiung Normal University.
authors.forename: Chia-Hua
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.affiliation: M-C. Sung, Department of Physical Education, National Kaohsiung Normal University.
authors.forename: Ming-Chih
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.affiliation: W-Y. Ma, Department of Physical Education, National Kaohsiung Normal University.
authors.forename: Wei-Ya
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: C-Y. Huang, Department of Physical Education, National Kaohsiung Normal University.
authors.forename: Chu-Yang
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry; D000293:Adolescent; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005080:Exercise Test; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D010809:Physical Fitness; D013334:Students; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology