Relationship between school rhythm and physical activity in adolescents: the HELENA study.
The aim was to assess the relationship between school rhythm and physical activity (PA) in adolescents. The study included 2024 adolescents (12.5-17.4 years). Participants wore an accelerometer for 7 days. A short school rhythm was defined as a short time at school with short recesses and less time in teaching per day (Group 1). A long school rhythm was defined as a longer time at school with more time in teaching and recess (Group 2). Adolescents in Group 1 performed less moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) than those in Group 2 per week (P < .0001), especially during school days (recess: 3.9 ± 4.0 vs. 9.8 ± 7.9 min · day-1; P < .0001; teaching hours: 14.5 ± 9.8 vs. 19.1 ± 12.0 min · day-1; P < .0001). Adolescents in Group 1 were less likely to meet the PA recommendations than were adolescents in Group 2: 30.7% vs. 34.1% (P < .0001). During school days, the percentage of adolescents who spent more than 2 h · day-1in sedentary activities was greater in the Group 1 (P < .001). Our results suggest that leisure-time out-of-school hours is used mainly for sedentary activities, and that school time provides a good opportunity for promoting PA.
a Inserm, LIRIC, UMR 995 , Univ. Lille , CHU Lille , France.|b CIC-PT-1403-Inserm-CH&U , Lille , CHU Lille , France.
Jérémy
J
Vanhelst
a Inserm, LIRIC, UMR 995 , Univ. Lille , CHU Lille , France.|b CIC-PT-1403-Inserm-CH&U , Lille , CHU Lille , France.
Laurent
L
Béghin
c Univ. Lille, CHU Lille , EA 2694 - Santé publique: épidémiologie et qualité des soins , Lille , France.
Alain
A
Duhamel
d Department of Public Health , Ghent University , Ghent , Belgium.
Stefaan
S
De Henauw
e Department of Pediatrics , University of Pecs, Pécs , Hungary.
Denes
D
Molnar
f GENUD (Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development) Research Group , University of Zaragoza , Zaragoza , Spain.|g Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences , University of Zaragoza , Huesca , Spain.
Germán
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4303-4097
G
Vicente-Rodriguez
h Department of Nutrition and Dietetics , Harokopio University , Athens , Greece.
Yannis
Y
Manios
i Division of Nutrition and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics , Medical University of Vienna , Vienna , Austria.
Kurt
K
Widhalm
j Research Institute of Child Nutrition, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University Bonn , Dortmund , Germany.
Mathilde
M
Kersting
k Agricultural Research Council-Research Center on Food and Nutrition-(C.R.A. NUT formerly INRAN) , Rome , Italy.
Angela
A
Polito
l PROFITH "PROmoting FITness and Health through physical activity" research group, Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Sport Sciences , University of Granada , Granada , Spain.
Jonatan R
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7548-7138
JR
Ruiz
f GENUD (Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development) Research Group , University of Zaragoza , Zaragoza , Spain.|g Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences , University of Zaragoza , Huesca , Spain.
Luis A
LA
Moreno
a Inserm, LIRIC, UMR 995 , Univ. Lille , CHU Lille , France.
Frédéric
F
Gottrand
D056044:Actigraphy; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005060:Europe; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D012574:Schools; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D013997:Time Factors
Physical activity; adolescents; health; school rhythm