Zeitschrift für Adipositas- und Gewichtsverlusttherapie

Abstrakt

Physical Activity Patterns in Mexican School-Aged Children

Frania Pfeffer, Marcela Perez-Rodriguez, Elí Gámez, Alvar Loria, Claudia I Hernández, Norma A Vega, Gerardo García, Elizabeth Tejero M and Jeanette Pardío

Aims: To describe physical activity patterns, and explore the associations of physical activity with demographic and anthropometric characteristics in Mexican children. Relevance: Knowledge of physical activity patterns in school-age children may offer ways in ameliorating early childhood obesity in Mexico. Methods: Physical activity by accelerometry was measured in 358 children aged 7 to 11 years attending 24 Mexico City schools. Anthropometric measurements (height, weight, hip and waist circumferences, and triceps skinfold) were also done. Results: Only 31% of the girls and 51% of the boys achieved the minimum of one hour per day recommended by WHO of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). This deficit was less critical for Friday and Weekends, a finding that we believe obeyed to the lack of school homework that leaves them with more playtime. We also observed that activity decreased with age and school grade, starting in the third grade, and that physical activity was higher in girls with a high hip-waist ratio. Limitations: We were able to recruit a very low proportion of schools (24 of more than 400 invited). Conclusions: The deficit of MVPA in our children, especially girls, may be larger in the schools that refused to participate.