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Excerpt
The present study aim was to investigate the physical activity patterns of children aged 10 to 15 years-old from low and high socioeconomic regions. Sample consisted of 47 children: 24 boys and 23 girls (age 11.4 ± 1.0 yr; body weight 34.9 ± 5.9 kg; body height: 145.2 ± 8.6cm), from Ilhabela, an island in a low socioeconomic region at São Paulo coast (LOW) and 18 children: 14 boys and 4 girls (age: 13.1 ± 0.81 yr. Body weight 54.2 ± 15.1 kg; Body height 166.5 ± 14.6 cm), from São Caetano do Sul, a city in a high socioeconomic region in São Paulo State (HIGH). Physical activity level was measured using continuos minute-by-minute heart rate (HR) monitoring (Sport Tester XL/Vantage NV). Each child was monitored from 9.3 to 10.3 hours per day for 3 consecutive days (2 weekdays and 1 weekenday). Only children with data for at least 450 minutes were included in the analyses. It was calculated the mean accumulated time (min) and mean % time at the HR thresholds of < 140 bpm, ≥ 140 and > 160 bpm. The children completed a 3-day record physical activity questionnaire (Bouchard's 1983) during 12-hr period. Descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and time at the threshold (% mean) values were as follows: (Table)
Data showed that 94.4% and 94.2% of the children from the low and high socioeconomic status spent the day at HR levels lower than 140 bpm. Although there were no significant differences between the two regions, it was clear that those students were not involved enough in moderate and vigorous physical activity. These results support the necessity of intervention programs to increase the PA level of children.
