Objectively Measured Physical Activity In Children Aged From 5 To 8 Years / Objektivno Izmerjena Gibalna Aktivnost Od Pet- Do Osemletnih Otrok

Abstract Objective: Today, a majority of the world population is dealing with physical inactivity and related health problems. Moreover, while various interventions are being adopted to increase children’s physical activity, these are mostly lessor even un-successful. One of the possible reasons for this could be the wrong timing for their instalment. Therefore, the purpose of our study is to analyse between-day and within-day physical activity in 5- to 8-year old children. Methods: Using accelerometers we monitored 97 Slovenian children (49 males) for five consecutive days. Results: We found that 5- to 8- year old Slovenian children are physically active on average between 689 and 795 counts per minute, with age and gender significant factors, however both with low effect size. The average data was in line with the trends of the world’s population. Time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was never measured in 5- to 8- year old children and we found it to be significantly longer than in slightly older children. Furthermore, we have defined the time periods with the lowest physical activity, which is in the morning, after the breakfast. Additionally, there are some age differences, with 5-year olds being most active before lunch but less physically active in the early afternoon. Conclusions: In conclusion we have to emphasize and implicate to next generation studies to indicate time periods with the lowest physical activity and to promote physical activity interventions in those periods to achieve the greatest impact. Izvleček Namen: Gibalna neaktivnost in z njo povezane zdravstvene težave so problem današnjega modernega sveta. Veliko je bilo poskusov, da bi z intervencijami dosegli povečanje gibalne aktivnosti otrok, vendar so bili ti večinoma manj uspešni ali celo neuspešni. Eden izmed glavnih razlogov za to je verjetno v neučinkovitem časovnem dizajnu intervencije. Zato smo si za cilj postavili analizo meddnevne in znotrajdnevne gibalne aktivnosti od pet do osem let starih otrok. Metode: Z merilnikom pospeška smo izmerili gibalno aktivnost 97 slovenskih otrok (49 dečkov) v petih zaporednih dneh med tednom in ob koncu tedna. Rezultati: Ugotovili smo, da je povprečna gibalna aktivnost od pet do osem let starih slovenskih otrok med 689 in 795 sunkov na minuto, pri čemer sta starost in spol značilna faktorja, vendar z nizko stopnjo učinka. Ta ugotovitev sovpada s trendom drugih držav. Vendar čas, ki ga otroci preživijo v srednji in visoki gibalni aktivnosti, do danes za to starost še ni bil izmerjen in smo ugotovili, da je bistveno daljši kot pri nekoliko starejših otrocih. Analiza variabilnosti gibalne aktivnosti je pokazala, da imajo otroci najnižjo gibalno aktivnost po obrokih (zajtrk in kosilo). Ugotovili smo tudi razlike glede na starost, pri čemer imajo petletni otroci najvišjo gibalno aktivnost pred kosilom, a najnižjo v zgodnjem popoldnevu. Zaključek: V zaključku lahko poudarimo in priporočamo pomen tovrstnih študij pri dimenzioniranju prihodnjih intervencij za dvig gibalne aktivnosti otrok za kar najboljši učinek.