Physical Education Increases Daily Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity and Reduces Sedentary Time

• Published in: The Journal of school health 2017-08, Vol.87 (8), p.602-607
• Main Authors: Mooses, Kerli, Pihu, Maret, Riso, Eva‐Maria, Hannus, Aave, Kaasik, Priit, Kull, Merike
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Child; Child Development; Child Health; Children; Data Analysis; Data processing; Elementary School Students; Exercise; Exercise - psychology; Female; Health aspects; Health Promotion - methods; Health status; Humans; Male; Measurement; Measurement methods; Mental health; Mixed Methods Research; moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA); Motor Activity - physiology; Nursing; Outcomes of Education; Physical Activities; Physical activity; Physical Education; Physical Education and Training - organization & administration; School Health Services - organization & administration; Schools - organization & administration; Sedentary; Sedentary behavior; Sedentary Lifestyle; sedentary time; Students - psychology; Time measurement; Time on Task; Time use
• ISSN: 0022-4391; 1746-1561
• DOI: 10.1111/josh.12530

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND Physical activity (PA) is important to mental and physical health. Physical education (PE) lessons have the potential to increase daily moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) and reduce sedentary time (SED). We measured MVPA and SED in primary school PE, determined the contribution of PE to daily MVPA and SED, and compared PA on days with and without PE. METHODS PA was measured in 504 first (ages 7‐9) and second (ages 10‐12) school level children for 1 school week, with inclusion criteria of at least 10 hours of valid data. Linear mixed methods were used for data analysis. RESULTS In PE, students spent 28.6 ± 16.5% in MVPA and 29.3 ± 19.8% in SED. Each additional MVPA minute in PE was associated with 1.4 more daily MVPA minutes. On days with PE, students had 12.8 (95% CI 10.5; 15.0) minutes more MVPA and 9.7 (95% CI 16.3; 3.1) minutes less SED compared with days without PE. CONCLUSIONS Although MVPA in PE was relatively low and SED high, PE significantly increased daily MVPA and reduced SED, confirming the important role of PE in supporting the healthy development of children.