A preliminary report on physical activity patterns among children aged 8–14 years to predict risk of cardiovascular diseases in Malwa region of Punjab

Abstract

ObjectiveTo determine the pattern of physical activity specific to age and gender among young Indian school going girls and boys aged 8-14 years.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingPrivate and government sponsored schools in Patiala and Mansa District of Punjab, India. Participants: Two hundred thirty four school going girls and boys aged 8–14 years.MethodologyA structured questionnaire recorded the various forms of daily physical activity, sedentary activity as well as physical activity level of all the participants. The energy expenditure was also calculated using the standard metabolic equivalent index.ResultsThere is a significant difference between mean weights of participants belonging to different physical activity levels (p < .04). In comparison to boys, the girl participants have significant lower values of physical activity duration as well as total metabolic equivalent expenditure (p < .05). The total duration of moderate/vigorous physical activity declined in both girls and boys as the age increased.ConclusionPhysical activity among children in Northern regions of India is on decline as their age increases especially among girls. It is important to determine physical activity duration in early age groups and motivate children for daily physical activity.

A Systematic Review of Children’s Physical Activity Patterns: Concept, Operational Definitions, Instruments, Statistical Analyses, and Health Implications

“…The use of questionnaires to study PA has a long history in epidemiological studies with large samples given that cost and administration burden are low. We identified 15 studies that used questionnaires to study children’s PAP [ 10 , 11 , 27 , 72 , 73 , 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 , 79 , 80 , 81 , 82 , 83 ], with information being reported by children or by their parents ( Table 5 ).…”

“…Often, participants were asked to report time spent in activities of different intensities (light/low, moderate, vigorous, and sedentary) in the previous month [ 77 ], or in a typical week [ 11 , 27 , 74 , 75 , 79 , 80 ], or in the last week [ 74 , 76 , 78 ], or in a typical day [ 10 , 72 , 73 , 81 ], or even in periods out of school (leisure time), as well as their current PA level [ 78 ]. Furthermore, in some studies children were also asked to report the estimated time spent in screen entertainment or other sedentary behaviours [ 10 , 11 , 72 , 73 , 74 , 75 , 76 , 78 , 81 ]. When parents were responsible for answering the questionnaire, their information was related to the time (minutes/hours), and/or frequency (days) with which their children were involved in PA of different intensities.…”

“…When parents were responsible for answering the questionnaire, their information was related to the time (minutes/hours), and/or frequency (days) with which their children were involved in PA of different intensities. In some reports, the information also allowed the estimation of MVPA, which was used as time (minutes/day [ 10 , 11 , 27 , 75 , 76 , 77 ], or minutes/week [ 80 ]) or to classify children as having complied, or not, with the MVPA guidelines [ 11 , 72 , 77 ], and also by an estimation of metabolic equivalent [ 81 ], or even the use of a score derived from the questionnaire [ 83 ].…”

Assessment of magnitude of physical activity among rural high school children of Nelamangala taluk, Bengaluru: a cross sectional study

“…These findings were in accordance with studies conducted by Kundapur et al in Mangaluru, Guthold et al, Divyasree et al in Puducherry and Esht et al in Punjab. [11][12][13][14] The gender difference may be because parents or family members of a female adolescent discourage them to play outside with fear of harm, bullying or teasing etc. Also, female adolescents may find it difficult to get involved in moderate to vigorous physical activity being in the first…”

Two Novel Models Evaluating the Determinants of Resting Metabolic Rate in Indian Children

“…Studies on metabolic rates in Indian children are scarce 19,20 . Predictive equations developed for Caucasian populations 10,21 have been reported to overpredict metabolic rates in Indian adults 22 , however, they continue to be used to predict RMR in Indian children [23][24][25] . Previous studies in Indian adults [26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33] have shown that the measured RMR per unit body surface area in Indian population is 5-18% lower than the Harris-Benedict 10 standards.…”