Michelle R Stone1, Guy E J Faulkner2. 1. School of Health and Human Performance, Faculty of Health Professions, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Electronic address: michelle.stone@dal.ca. 2. Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: guy.faulkner@utoronto.ca.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To determine the amount of time children play outdoors and examine associations with weekday, weekend and after-school physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior (SB), and weight-status (normal-weight, overweight/obese). METHODS: Data were extracted from Project BEAT (Toronto, 2010-2011; www.beat.utoronto.ca). Children's (n=856; mean age=11±0.6years) PA and SB were measured using accelerometry. Outdoor play (OP) was assessed via parental report and collapsed into three categories (<1h/day, 1-2h/day, >2h/day) and differences in anthropometric and PA characteristics were assessed. RESULTS: 55.1%, 37.2%, and 7.7% of children played outdoors for <1h/day, 1-2h/day and >2h/day, respectively, on weekdays. OP was higher on weekends and in boys. OP was associated with SB, light PA and MVPA at all time-points, whereby children attaining <1h/day had lower activity profiles. Boys playing outdoors for <1h/day were more likely to be overweight/obese and had lower PA levels than normal weight boys. However, overweight/obese boys who spent >2h/day playing outdoors had PA profiles similar to normal weight counterparts. CONCLUSION: Encouraging children to spend more time outdoors may be an effective strategy for increasing PA, reducing SB, and preventing excess weight gain (particularly boys' play).
OBJECTIVES: To determine the amount of time children play outdoors and examine associations with weekday, weekend and after-school physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior (SB), and weight-status (normal-weight, overweight/obese). METHODS: Data were extracted from Project BEAT (Toronto, 2010-2011; www.beat.utoronto.ca). Children's (n=856; mean age=11±0.6years) PA and SB were measured using accelerometry. Outdoor play (OP) was assessed via parental report and collapsed into three categories (<1h/day, 1-2h/day, >2h/day) and differences in anthropometric and PA characteristics were assessed. RESULTS: 55.1%, 37.2%, and 7.7% of children played outdoors for <1h/day, 1-2h/day and >2h/day, respectively, on weekdays. OP was higher on weekends and in boys. OP was associated with SB, light PA and MVPA at all time-points, whereby children attaining <1h/day had lower activity profiles. Boys playing outdoors for <1h/day were more likely to be overweight/obese and had lower PA levels than normal weight boys. However, overweight/obeseboys who spent >2h/day playing outdoors had PA profiles similar to normal weight counterparts. CONCLUSION: Encouraging children to spend more time outdoors may be an effective strategy for increasing PA, reducing SB, and preventing excess weight gain (particularly boys' play).
Authors: Jessica Oakley; Rachel L Peters; Melissa Wake; Anneke C Grobler; Jessica A Kerr; Kate Lycett; Raisa Cassim; Melissa Russell; Cong Sun; Mimi L K Tang; Jennifer J Koplin; Suzanne Mavoa Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2021-07-15 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Jean-Philippe Chaput; Valerie Carson; Casey E Gray; Mark S Tremblay Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2014-12-04 Impact factor: 3.390