Differences in Physical Activity Levels in School-based Contexts – Influence of Gender, Age, and Body Weight Status

The purposes of this study were to compare the objectively measured physical activity levels across physical education, school playtime and extra-curricular sport in secondary school students, as well as to examine the influence of gender, age, and body weight status on adolescents’ objective physical activity levels in these contexts. A hundred and two secondary school students (age 12.53±1.56 years) participated in the present study. Students’ objective physical activity levels were estimated by the multi-sensor device SenseWear Pro2 Armband during a physical education, school playtime and extra-curricular sport session. The result of the one-way multivariate analysis of covariance indicated statistically significant higher values of steps/ min, average metabolic equivalent of task, and time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in extracurricular sport than in physical education and school playtime (p<.001). Additionally, metabolic equivalent of task values were statistically significantly greater in physical education than in school playtime (p<.001). On the other hand, the results of the two-way multivariate analyses of covariance showed an influence of gender and age on physical activity levels in these contexts (p<.001), whilst for body weight status no influence was found (p>.05). This preliminary evidence could inform and guide future policy regarding the promotion of physical activity among adolescents in these important school-based contexts. Since physical activity engagement in compulsory physical activity contexts, such as physical education lessons, is clearly insufficient, parents, teachers and institutions should encourage students to achieve health-related physical activity levels during their free time.