Background Attendance in physical education classes (PE) helps young people to achieve the physical activity recommendations and to reduce their exposure to sedentary behavior. However, the association between PE attendance and the daily frequency of specific forms of physical activity is less known. The current study analyzed the association between weekly attendance in PE and daily frequencies of different forms of physical activity (active play, non-active play, structured physical activity), and overall daily frequencies of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviors (SB) among schoolchildren. Methods Cross-sectional study with schoolchildren from second to fifth grade of 11 public schools (n = 2,477; 9.1 ± 1.38-y-old; 53.2% girls; 17.5 ± 3.5 kg/m2) in Feira de Santana (Northeast Brazil). PA, SB, and attendance in PE were self-reported using a previously validated on-line questionnaire based on the previous day's recall (Web-CAAFE). Multiple Binomial Negative regression modeling was carried out to analyze the association (Prevalence Rate: PR) between weekly attendance in PE (0/week, 1/week, ≥ 2/week) and frequencies of active play, non-active play, and structured physical activity, with adjustments by age, school shift, and BMI z-scores. Regression models analyzing overall PA also included adjustments by household chores. Results Attendance in PE ≥ 2/week was associated with higher frequencies of active play (girls: PR = 1.40, 95%CI = 1.11–1.78; boys: PR = 1.49, 95%CI = 1.15–1.94) and structured physical activity (girls: PR = 2.11, 95%CI = 1.31–3.40; boys: PR = 4.33, 95%CI = 1.63–11.52). Higher attendance in PE (≥ 2/week) was associated with high overall PA (girls: PR = 1.31, 95%CI = 1.06–1.62; boys: PR = 1.42, 95%CI = 1.14–1.77) and low SB (girls: PR = 0.80, 95%CI = 0.71–0.90; boys: PR = 0.81, 95%CI = 0.68–0.97). Attendance in PE 1/week was also associated with a lower frequency of daily SB among girls (PR = 0.73, 95%IC = 0.64–0.84) Conclusion Higher weekly attendance in PE was associated with higher frequencies of active play, structured physical activity, higher overall PA, and lower SB among both girls and boys.

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We analyzed the effect of obesity on daily physical activity (DPA), light-intensity physical activity (LPA), moderate-intensity physical activity (MPA) and vigorous- intensity physical activity (VPA) in children and adolescents. Overall, 462 students from a public school (53.6% boys; aged 7-12 years) were involved in this one-year longitudinal study. Physical activities and sedentary behaviors (SB) were reported in the questionnaire Food Intake and Physical Activity of Students (Web-CAAFE). Obesity was evaluated through Body Mass Index (BMI z score ≥ 2). Obesity was observed in 16.5% of participants, but it did not influence LPA, MPA or DPA. However, VPA were 20% less frequent among obese students (β2=0.80; CI 95%: 0.66-0.98). Obese girls showed less frequency of VPA than non-obese boys (Mean Difference = -0.97; CI 95%: -1.36 to -0.57). Non-obese girls showed less VPA than non-obese boys (Mean Difference = -1.18; CI 95%: -1.40 to -0.95) and obese ones (Mean Difference = -0.57; CI 95%: -0.90 to -0.24). Obese boys showed fewer VPA, if compared to non-obese ones (Mean Difference = -0.61; CI 95%: -0.96 to -0.26). The analysis of the obesity-sex-age interaction showed a greater reduction in VPA among obese girls aged 10 years or more when compared to obese girls aged 7-9 years, and among boys obese and non-obese regardless of age. Amounts of VPA and SB increased simultaneously among non-obese boys and non-obese children aged 7-9 years. Obesity reduced VPA in the sample during the follow up of one year, independently of age and SB.

Este estudo analisou a variação sazonal das atividades físicas e dos comportamentos sedentários de uma amostra por conveniência de crianças e adolescentes, de uma escola pública no semiárido baiano (n = 462; 52,9% de meninos; 7-12 anos). Trata-se de um estudo longitudinal de um ano de seguimento. Atividades físicas e comportamentos sedentários foram relatados no questionário Consumo Alimentar e Atividade Física de Escolares (Web-CAAFE). As medidas repetidas foram realizadas no outono, inverno e primavera. Os desfechos avaliados foram: quantidade de atividades físicas diária (AFD) e de comportamentos sedentários (CS), frequências de atividades físicas leves (AFL), moderadas (AFM) e vigorosas (AFV). Análises foram conduzidas via modelagem de equações de estimativa generalizada (GEE) (distribuição Poisson), com ajuste por temperatura ambiente e precipitação pluviométrica. Não houve variação sazonal estatisticamente significativa na AFD. No inverno, houve mais relatos de AFL (Coef² = 1,37; IC95%: 1,14-1,66) e de CS (Coef² = 1,16; IC95%: 1,05-1,29), enquanto AFV foram menos frequentes (Coef² = 0,83; IC95%: 0,71-0,97). AFV foram menos relatadas no outono (Coef² = 0,82; IC95%: 0,69-0,98). Sexo modificou o efeito das estações nas AFV, que entre meninos, ocorreram mais no outono (Coef² = 1,72 IC95%=1,16-2,56) e no inverno (Coef² = 1,84; IC95%: 1,26-2,69). Idade modificou efeito das estações sobre os CS. Durante o seguimento, houve mais CS na faixa etária 10-12 anos, porém, com diferença estatística significativa no outono e no início da primavera. O inverno favoreceu as AFL e os CS, mas restringiu as AFV, sobretudo entre meninas. Estudantes de 10-12 anos apresentaram mais CS, especialmente no outono e início da primavera.

We analyzed the association between school attendance and the daily frequency of use of different forms of screens (TV, computer, cell phone and videogame) among children and adolescents. Longitudinal study with four repeated measures during the 2015 school year. Children and adolescents from a public school participated in the study (n = 463, 53.6% boys; 9.3 ± 1.3 years old). The daily frequency of screen use was the outcome analyzed, which was reported on an online questionnaire for the previous-day recall, illustrated with 32 icons of activities including 4 types of electronic devices. The participant answered “What did you do yesterday?” in the morning, afternoon, and night. School attendance was assessed by responding to the item “Did you go to school yesterday?”. The analysis was conducted using generalized estimation equations, with adjustment by sex, age, BMI z-scores, and season of the year. The average percentage of absences during the follow-up was 28.7%. The use of screens was 13% higher among students who missed class. Playing a video game was 37% higher among students who missed class. The daily frequency of screen use was 26% higher among adolescents (10-12 years) compared to children (7-9 years), especially in the analysis performed individually for TV and cell phone. The daily frequency of screen use and watching TV among students who missed classes during the winter was, respectively, 24% (IRR = 1.24; 95%CI = 1.11 - 1.39) and 35% (IRR = 1.35; 95%CI = 1.10 - 1.66) higher compared to those who missed classes during the fall. In conclusion, the use of screens predominated among students who missed class, mainly in winter.