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JOURNAL
OF
SPORTS SCIENCE &
MEDICINE
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Research
article
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STEP COUNTS AND BODY MASS INDEX AMONG 9-14 YEARS OLD GREEK SCHOOLCHILDREN |
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Maria Michalopoulou  ,
Vassilios Gourgoulis, Thomas Kourtessis, Antonios Kambas, Martina Dimitrou
and Helen Gretziou |
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Deptartment of Physical Education and Sport Science, Democritus University of Thrace, University Campus, Greece |
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© Journal of Sports Science and Medicine (2011) 10, 215 - 221 |
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| ABSTRACT | |||
| The main purpose of this study was the identification of the current
pedometer determined physical activity levels of a large sample of 9 -14
years old Greek schoolchildren and the determination of the association
between daily step counts and body mass index through the comparison of
step counts among overweight, obese and normal-weight children. A total
of 532 children (263 boys and 269 girls) were measured for height and weight.
Their activity levels were analyzed using pedometers to measure mean steps
for 7 consecutive days. Overweight and obese status was determined using
the international reference standard (Cole et al., 2000).
According to data analysis mean step counts ranged from 15371 to10539 for
boys and from 11536 to 7893 for girls. Steps per day were significantly
more for boys compared to girls. Children with normal weight performed significantly
more steps per day compared to their overweight and obese classmates. Daily
step counts reported in this study for 9 -14 year old schoolchildren were
relatively low when compared to step counts from other European countries.
Only 33.9% of the participants satisfied the body mass index referenced
standards for recommended steps per day. Finally, the results of this study
provide baseline information on youth pedometer determined physical activity
and on youth body mass index levels. High prevalence of low daily step counts
and BMI determined obesity was revealed prompting for further exploration
of the relationship between objectively measured physical activity and adiposity
in particular for children and adolescents that experience both health risk
factors.
Key words: Childhood, obesity, pedometry. |
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