Heart rate-determined physical activity in New Zealand school children: a cross-sectional study
Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine current levels of
physical activity determined via heart rate monitoring. A total of 176
children (85 boys, 91 girls) aged 5-13 years wore sealed Polar heart
rate monitors for at least 10 hours per day on at least 3 days. Mean
daily minutes of moderate to vigorous-intensity physical activity was
65 ± 43 (mean ± SD) for boys and 54 ± 37 for girls. Daily minutes of
vigorous-intensity activity was 31 ± 24 and 24 ± 21 for boys and girls
respectively. Significant differences in physical activity levels were
observed between school day and weekends, boys and girls, and
among age and geographical groups. Only 36% of boys and 22% of
girls met the New Zealand physical activity guideline. This research
indicates that a large proportion of New Zealand children are not
meeting physical activity recommendations.
