부산대학교 도서관

Objectives: School Physical Education (SPE) is an excellent way to improve moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA). To improve health and fitness, the guidelines recommend that at least 50% of class time should be spent in MVPA, though few studies on this assumption have been conducted. The objective of this study was to quantify the amount of MVPA undertaken during a SPE class, according to age and gender. Methods: This study was conducted in three randomly selected Portuguese public schools. A random sample of 191 teenage volunteers aged between 12 and 17 years, composed of 98 males (14.51 ± 1.75 years) and 93 females (14.59 ± 1.83 years) was recruited. An accelerometer was used by each subject to assess MVPA. Results: The mean time spent in MVPA during SPE class (MVPA/SPE) was 25.36 ± 15.69 minutes, which corresponds to 28.18% of the total time spent in SPE class. Males spend significantly more time in MVPA/SPE than females (28.95 vs. 21.58 minutes; p <0.05). As age increased, time spent in MVPA/SPE tended to decrease; the 12-year-old adolescents tended to spend more time in MVPA/SPE compared with the 17-year-olds (30.40 vs. 20.80 minutes). Conclusion: The proportion of MVPA during SPE class time fell short of the 50% recommended by guidelines to improve health. Males spend significantly more time in MVPA/SPE than females and, in both genders, as age increases, time spent in MVPA/SPE tends to decrease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]