Abstract
Background: Targeted interventions may be more effective at increasing children’s physical activity. The aim of
this study was to identify clusters of children based on physical activity and sedentary patterns across the week.
Methods: Participants were 761, 10-11 year old children. Participant’s self-reported time spent in eight physical
activity and sedentary contexts and wore an accelerometer. Cluster analysis was conducted on the time spent in
the self-reported physical activity and sedentary contexts. Mean minutes of accelerometer derived of moderate to
vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary time were derived for the entire week, weekdays only, weekend
days and four different time periods across each type (weekend or weekday) of days. Differences in the physical
activity patterns of the groups derived from the cluster analysis were assessed for overall physical activity as well as
for the four time periods on weekdays and weekend days.
Results: Three clusters emerged: 1) High active/Low sedentary; 2) Low active/Moderate sedentary; and 3) High
Active/High sedentary. Patterns of activity differed across the week for each group and the High Active/High
sedentary obtained the most minutes of MVPA.
Conclusions: Patterns of physical activity and sedentary time differed across the week for each cluster.
Interventions could be targeted to the key periods when each group is inactive.
Translated title of the contribution | Physical activity and sedentary behaviour typologies of 10-11 year olds |
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Original language | English |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity |
Volume | 7:59 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jul 2010 |