Overall , total PA was favourably associated with physical , psychological/social , and cognitive health indicators .
Relationships were more consistent and robust for higher ( e.g. , MVPA ) versus lower ( e.g. , LPA ) intensity PA .
All patterns of activity ( sporadic , bouts , continuous ) provided benefit .
LPA was favourably associated with cardiometabolic biomarkers ; data were scarce for other outcomes .
These findings continue to support the importance of at least 60 min/day of MVPA for disease prevention and health promotion in children and youth , but also highlight the potential benefits of LPA and total PA .
Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity ( MVPA ) is essential for disease prevention and health promotion .
Emerging evidence suggests other intensities of physical activity ( PA ) , including light-intensity activity ( LPA ) , may also be important , but there has been no rigorous evaluation of the evidence .
The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the relationships between objective ly measured PA ( total and all intensities ) and health indicators in school-aged children and youth .
Online data bases were search ed for peer- review ed studies that met the a priori inclusion criteria : population ( apparently healthy , aged 5 - 17 years ) , intervention/exposure/comparator ( volumes , duration s , frequencies , intensities , and patterns of objective ly measured PA ) , and outcome ( body composition , cardiometabolic biomarkers , physical fitness , behavioural conduct/pro-social behaviour , cognition/academic achievement , quality of life/well-being , harms , bone health , motor skill development , psychological distress , self-esteem ) .
A cluster randomized controlled trial of an incentive-based outdoor physical activity program.
OBJECTIVE To evaluate an incentive-based physical activity intervention to increase physical activity and fitness among children in a 9-month cluster r and omized controlled trial . STUDY DESIGN Children aged 6 - 12 years were r and omized to control ( n = 138 from 106 families ) or intervention arm ( n = 147 from 106 families ) . The intervention included incentives for meeting step targets as measured by pedometers and structured weekend outdoor activities . Outcomes included trends in activity for the intervention group and between-group differences in pedometer steps , 6-minute walk test , body mass index , and parent-reported Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory . RESULTS At follow-up , children in the intervention group recorded significantly more pedometer steps than controls over the entire week ( 8660 vs 7767 ; P = .010 ) , on weekdays ( 8646 vs 7826 ; P = .041 ) , and on weekends ( 8779 vs 7684 ; P = .018 ) . Three different trajectory classes were identified . The first group increased activity but was not sustained , the second group met the target step levels , and the third group significantly surpassed the step goals . The intervention group showed trends toward longer 6-minute walk test times and higher Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory scores , but the differences were not statistically significant . CONCLUSION Incentives for increased step activity were effective in producing greater steps and showed a ( nonsignificant ) trend toward improvements in other health outcomes . Thus , future incentive trials should be incorporate greater step targets and longer follow-up periods to provide evidence of the long-term effect of these incentives on children 's health
Overall , total PA was favourably associated with physical , psychological/social , and cognitive health indicators .
Relationships were more consistent and robust for higher ( e.g. , MVPA ) versus lower ( e.g. , LPA ) intensity PA .
All patterns of activity ( sporadic , bouts , continuous ) provided benefit .
LPA was favourably associated with cardiometabolic biomarkers ; data were scarce for other outcomes .
These findings continue to support the importance of at least 60 min/day of MVPA for disease prevention and health promotion in children and youth , but also highlight the potential benefits of LPA and total PA .
Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity ( MVPA ) is essential for disease prevention and health promotion .
Emerging evidence suggests other intensities of physical activity ( PA ) , including light-intensity activity ( LPA ) , may also be important , but there has been no rigorous evaluation of the evidence .
The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the relationships between objective ly measured PA ( total and all intensities ) and health indicators in school-aged children and youth .
Online data bases were search ed for peer- review ed studies that met the a priori inclusion criteria : population ( apparently healthy , aged 5 - 17 years ) , intervention/exposure/comparator ( volumes , duration s , frequencies , intensities , and patterns of objective ly measured PA ) , and outcome ( body composition , cardiometabolic biomarkers , physical fitness , behavioural conduct/pro-social behaviour , cognition/academic achievement , quality of life/well-being , harms , bone health , motor skill development , psychological distress , self-esteem ) .