Physical Activity Level and Sedentary Behaviors among Public School Children in Dakar (Senegal) Measured by PAQ-C and Accelerometer: Preliminary Results

Adama Diouf, Mbeugué Thiam, Nicole Idohou-Dossou, Ousmane Diongue, Ndé Mégné, Khady Diallo, Pape Malick Sembène and Salimata Wade
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Adama Diouf: Laboratoire de Nutrition, Département de Biologie Animale, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD) De Dakar, Dakar-Fann BP 5005, Senegal
Mbeugué Thiam: Laboratoire de Nutrition, Département de Biologie Animale, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD) De Dakar, Dakar-Fann BP 5005, Senegal
Nicole Idohou-Dossou: Laboratoire de Nutrition, Département de Biologie Animale, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD) De Dakar, Dakar-Fann BP 5005, Senegal
Ousmane Diongue: Laboratoire de Nutrition, Département de Biologie Animale, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD) De Dakar, Dakar-Fann BP 5005, Senegal
Ndé Mégné: Laboratoire de Nutrition, Département de Biologie Animale, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD) De Dakar, Dakar-Fann BP 5005, Senegal
Khady Diallo: Division du Contrôle Médical Scolaire, Ministère de l’Education Nationale, Camp Jeremy Avenue Cheikh Anta Diop De Dakar, Dakar BP 35453, Senegal
Pape Malick Sembène: Division du Contrôle Médical Scolaire, Ministère de l’Education Nationale, Camp Jeremy Avenue Cheikh Anta Diop De Dakar, Dakar BP 35453, Senegal
Salimata Wade: Laboratoire de Nutrition, Département de Biologie Animale, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD) De Dakar, Dakar-Fann BP 5005, Senegal

IJERPH, 2016, vol. 13, issue 10, 1-11

Abstract: Background : Physical inactivity and sedentary lifestyles are major risk factors of childhood obesity. This study aimed to measure physical activity (PA) levels by accelerometer and Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C) among Senegalese school children and the relation with Body Mass Index (BMI) and body composition. Methodology : 156 pupils 8–11 years old were randomly selected in four elementary public schools of Dakar. BMI z -score was used to categorize children according to their weight status. PA was measured by PAQ-C in the 156 pupils and by accelerometer (Actigraph GT3X+, Pensacola, FL, USA) in a subsample of 42 children. Body composition was determined by deuterium dilution method. Results : PAQ-C results were comparable in the 156 and 42 pupils. The 42 pupils presented a light activity measured by accelerometer, while PAQ-C classified the majority of them (57%; n = 24) in the moderate PA level. Children spent most of their time (min/day) in sedentary activities and light activities than in moderate and intense activity levels. Accumulation of 60 min/day Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA) was achieved by 54.8% ( n = 23) of the pupils. MVPA decreased in girls in relation to their body fatness. There was a significant difference in MVPA between boys and girls. Similarly, overweight/obese (45 ± 16 min/day) children had lower MVPA than their normal and underweight peers (88 ± 34 and 74 ± 36 min/day, respectively; p = 0.004). Conclusions : The two methods are inconsistent for measuring light and moderate PA levels. Although PAQ-C is an uncomplicated routine method, various activities were not adapted for genuine activities in Senegalese children and therefore needs to be validated in African children.

Keywords: physical activity; accelerometer; PAQ-C; school children; Senegal (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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