Accelerometer-Measured Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Patterns in Taiwanese Adolescents

Wen-Yi Wang, Yu-Ling Hsieh, Ming-Chun Hsueh, Yang Liu and Yung Liao
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Wen-Yi Wang: Graduate Institute of Sports Pedagogy, University of Taipei, Taipei 11153, Taiwan
Yu-Ling Hsieh: Graduate Institute of Sports Pedagogy, University of Taipei, Taipei 11153, Taiwan
Ming-Chun Hsueh: Graduate Institute of Sports Pedagogy, University of Taipei, Taipei 11153, Taiwan
Yang Liu: School of Physical Education and Sport Training, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, China
Yung Liao: Department of Health Promotion and Health Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei 106, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 22, 1-11

Abstract: Levels of physical activity and sedentary behavior among adolescents seem to vary within different settings, but few Asian studies have compared physical activity and sedentary activity patterns in adolescents across weekdays/weekends and during-school time/after-school time. This study aimed to provide objectively measured data describing intensity-specific physical activity and sedentary behavior patterns in Taiwanese adolescents. The results were sorted by gender and divided between weekdays/weekends and during-school time/after-school time. A total of 470 Taiwanese students (49.6% boys, ages 12–15 y) were recruited and fitted with GT3X+ accelerometers for seven days. Intensity-specific physical activity, total sedentary time, and sedentary bouts (number and duration ≥30 min) were measured. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to examine the significant differences in physical activity and sedentary behavior patterns between the genders on weekdays/weekends and during school/after-school time. The results show that the adolescents’ overall activity levels were below recommended thresholds, with girls engaging in significantly less moderate to vigorous physical activity, having longer sedentary time, longer time spent in sedentary bouts, and more frequent sedentary bouts than boys. Similar results were observed in physical activities of each intensity as well as sedentary behavior variables, both on weekdays/weekends and during-school/after-school periods. These findings emphasize the importance of developing and implementing approaches to increase moderate to vigorous physical activity, as well as decrease prolonged sedentary time and long sedentary bouts, especially for Taiwanese girls.

Keywords: accelerometer; physical activity; sitting time; youth; sedentary behavior; teen health issues; school-based intervention (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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