Is School Type Associated with Objectively Measured Physical Activity in 15-Year-Olds?

Lovro Štefan, Maroje Sorić, Antonela Devrnja, Hrvoje Podnar and Marjeta Mišigoj-Duraković
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Lovro Štefan: Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
Maroje Sorić: Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
Antonela Devrnja: Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
Hrvoje Podnar: Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
Marjeta Mišigoj-Duraković: Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia

IJERPH, 2017, vol. 14, issue 11, 1-10

Abstract: The main aims of this study were: (1) to determine the objectively assessed physical activity (PA) patterns in urban 15-year-old male and female adolescents according to school type and (2) to assess the differences in PA between school days and weekend days. In this cross-sectional study, participants were 187 secondary-school male and female adolescents (61.4% females) attending grammar and vocational schools. Patterns of PA were objectively evaluated using a multi-sensor body monitor for 5 consecutive days. Confounders assessed included biological age, socio-economic status, sum of 4 skinfolds, maximal temperature and the amount of rainfall. Males and females from grammar schools achieved higher total daily energy expenditure (TEE) and active energy expenditure (AEE) compared to their peers from vocational schools (TEE: 50 ± 12 kcal/kg/day vs. 47 ± 12 kcal/kg/day, p = 0.02; AEE: 23 ± 5 kcal/kg/day vs. vocational = 21 ± 6 kcal/kg/day, p = 0.04). No differences in time spent in light (LPA), moderate (MPA) or vigorous (VPA) physical activity were noted between the two groups ( p = 0.16–0.43). Next, a significant decline in TEE and MPA between school days and weekends was observed ( p < 0.001 and p = 0.02, respectively), while VPA remained the same throughout the week ( p = 0.76). Weekly patterns of PA did not show differences by school type or gender ( p for interactions = 0.21–0.50). In addition, significantly lower amount of MPA was accumulated during weekends compared to school days, resulting in lower TEE, regardless of school type or gender. Policies and strategies on PA in adolescents should focus vocational schools and weekend days.

Keywords: children; adolescence; epidemiology; Sensewear Armband; high school type; energy expenditure (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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