ERIC Number: EJ909405
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2007-Oct
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1356-336X
EISSN: N/A
Accelerometer Cut-Points and Youth Physical Activity Prevalence
Mota, Jorge; Valente, Monica; Aires, Luisa; Silva, Pedro; Santos, Maria Paula; Ribeiro, Jose Carlos
European Physical Education Review, v13 n3 p287-299 Oct 2007
The purpose of this study was twofold: first, to examine the effects of specific cut-off scoring points (on the estimated prevalence of meeting health-related guidelines for physical activity in youth) and, second, to document the differences in gender physical activity patterns according to two different cut-off points. The sample comprised 62 children (boys n = 23; girls n = 39) aged 8-16 years old. Children wore accelerometers for three consecutive weekdays. The daily time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was calculated using an equation regression developed for youth according to different cut-points. The data analysis from Freedson's cut points showed that both sexes engaged in significantly (p [less than or equal to] 0.01) more MVPA when compared with Puyau's cut points. Boys engaged in significantly (p [less than or equal to] 0.01) more MVPA activities than girls regardless of the cut-off point used. Our data also showed that the percentage of students that reach the physical activity/health related guidelines was significantly higher in both boys (77.3 vs 6.9 percent; p less than 0.001) and girls (60 vs 2.3 percent; p less than 0.001) when Freedson's cut-off point was used. Our data showed that for preventive strategies youth specific cut-off points still need to be refined and, as a result, health-related criteria for young people need to be based on further research evidence. (Contains 4 tables and 1 figure.)
Descriptors: Physical Activities, Incidence, Physical Activity Level, Guidelines, Data Analysis, Physical Education, Measurement Equipment, Gender Differences, Early Adolescents, Preadolescents, Regression (Statistics), Health Promotion, Scoring, Foreign Countries, Measures (Individuals)
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Portugal
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A