Background/Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine how much time elementary students spent engaged in physical activity (PA) at school and home during a weekday, a weekend day, and activity choices children make during their non-school time.
Method Subjects were 127 elementary age students. Parents completed a survey indicating the number of minutes children participated in daily PA at home and school and the types of activity interests students choose away from school. Parents selected children's favorite interest from two activity categories, organized sports or playing outside, or from a list of sedentary activities such as watching television or playing video games
Analysis/Results Responses indicated all students spent <30 minutes/day at school in PA. Of the favorite interest choices, 49 selected sedentary activities, 40 selected playing outside, and 38 selected organized sports outside of the school day. A one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was utilized to determine differences that exist between these three groups and the amount of time spent engaged in PA away from school. Findings indicated a significant difference in weekday PA, F(2, 122) = 49.4, p<.001; and weekend day PA, F(2, 124) = 188.7, p<.001. Results revealed the weekday PA means were respectively 39.5, 94.5, and 108.8, and weekend day PA means were respectively 43.1, 90, and 90.
Conclusions The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports approximately 23% participate in no “free-time" PA. An increase in school physical activity is strongly recommended in the fight against childhood obesity and prevention of lifelong health conditions.