Moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity during school hours in a representative sample of 10-11-year-olds in Scotland

Abstract

Objectives: Growing concern about children and adolescent physical inactivity has made the promotion of physical activity a public health priority. International recommendations suggest children should accumulate at least 30 min of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) during school hours. This study assessed levels of objectively-measured MVPA in a large nationally representative sample of Scottish children aged 10-11. Risk factors for not meeting the school-hours MVPA recommendation were examined.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Methods: Mean time spent in MVPA during school hours across five weekdays was measured using Actigraph accelerometry (May 2015-May 2016). Binary logistic regression, presented as odds ratio (O.R.) and confidence intervals (C.I.), explored associations between meeting/not meeting the recommendation by sex, socioeconomic status (SES), season, and urban/rural residence in 2022.

Results: Valid data were obtained from 773 children (53.9% girls, 46.1% boys) from 471 schools. Mean daily school-hours MVPA was 29 (SD 11) minutes; 42.7% of children reached the recommendation. The odds of girls (O.R. 0.43; C.I. 0.32, 0.57) meeting the recommendation was significantly lower (p < 0.001) compared to boys. Children living in rural areas had higher odds (O.R. 1.49; C.I. 1.04, 2.15) of meeting the recommendation compared with those in urban areas (p = 0.032). No significant differences in meeting the recommendation by SES (p = 0.700). The overall trend for season was significant (p < 0.001), with lower odds of meeting the recommendation in winter compared to summer.

Conclusions: Most Scottish children aged 10-11 did not meet the 30 minute MVPA recommendation. Interventions to increase MVPA during school hours are essential to promote public health.

Keywords: Accelerometer; Children; Health; Physical activity; Prevention; Primary school time.