Physical Activity Levels by Activity Type During Secondary Physical Education

Background/Purpose: Regularly-scheduled physical education (PE) provides students with opportunities to learn motor and lifetime physical activity skills (IOM, 2013; NASPE, 2004; USDHHS, 2008). No previous studies have examined the relationship among physical activity levels, activity type, and overweight status in southeast Appalachian adolescents. Therefore, the purposes of this study were to objectively assess whether pedometer-based moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) engagement differed by activity type and body mass index (BMI) category during secondary PE classes.

Method: Participants were 236 youth recruited from four schools (110 boys and 126 girls), who were 13.6 ± 1.8 years old. MVPA was assessed using a NL-1000 pedometer for three consecutive PE classes, and the average pedometer-assessed MVPA was reported as steps/class, MVPA time/class, and step-counts/min per class. Activities assessed included mat ball, volleyball, dodgeball, kickball, softball, indoor soccer, floor hockey, walking, flag football, and basketball.

Analysis/Results: Three 2 x 10 ANOVAs were performed to examine pedometer steps, MVPA time, and steps/min between activity type and BMI category. Average minutes for PE were 33.6 for middle and high school. Pedometer steps had a main effect for activity type (F = 17.175, p < 0.001) and BMI category (F = 5.131, p = 0.006), with post hoc tests showing volleyball as producing the least and walking producing the most total steps. MVPA time had a main effect for activity type (F = 16.306, p < 0.001) and BMI category (F = 3.508, p = 0.031), with post hoc tests showing volleyball as producing the least and walking producing the most MVPA time. Steps/min had a main effect for activity type (F = 20.245, p < 0.001) and BMI category (F = 4.399, p = 0.013), with post hoc tests showing volleyball (35.2 steps/min) as producing the least, floor hockey (51.2 steps/min) an intermediate value, and walking (79.5 steps/min) producing the most steps/min. The overweight category produced significantly less steps/class (1569.3 vs. 1922.6 steps/class), MVPA time (5.8 vs. 7.6 min), and steps/min (46.0 vs. 55.9 steps/min) (p< 0.05) than the normal weight category.

Conclusions: The participants’ MVPA level was highly associated with the activity type and BMI category. Although previous researchers have suggested an average of 2000 steps for 30 minutes of class and/or 67 steps/min is acceptable (Pangrazi et al., 2003), the participants of the current study accumulated fewer steps (35.2-66.1 steps/min except for walking). Physical educators should carefully select curriculum when developing and/or modifying daily physical education activity.