Physical Activity Intensity Distribution during Physical Education among Swedish Upper Secondary School Students

• Background: Physical education (PE) has been identified as a potentially powerful domain to promote physical activity (PA) among school-aged youth. In Sweden, there is a lack of studies investigating PA intensity distribution during PE among upper secondary school student. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate PA intensity distribution during PE among Swedish upper secondary school students. Methods: PA was measured during 41 PE lessons among 121 (n = 75 boys) Swedish upper secondary school students (ages 16-18 years) using hip-mounted objective activity monitors from ActiGraph™ (GT3X+ accelerometers). Results: The participants spent a median of 23% of the PE lessons time being sedentary, 17% in light PA (LPA), and 59% in moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA). There were no differences between boys and girls for neither sedentary (p = .185), LPA (p = .377), or MVPA (p = .839). Sedentary (p = .001) and LPA (p < .0001) were lower and MVPA (p < .0001) higher during fitness-related activities when compared to invasion games. Conclusion: A median of 59% of the PEL time was spent in MVPA which is relatively high in an international comparison. No differences were observed between boys and girls. Fitness-related activities contributed to higher MVPA when compared to invasion games.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Accelerometers; adolescents; fitness; moderate-to-vigorous physical activity; sedentary; youth

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)