Niveles de actividad física en escolares de instituciones distritales de Bogotá, Colombia.

Abstract

Objective: To estimate the levels of physical activity (PA) of elementary school students during the break time, through the use of a System for observing play and leisure activity in children. Methodology: Cross-sectional, descriptive study over a representative sample of 2415 students (1093 girls and 1322 boys), they were elementary students, from second to fifth grade and studied in five schools of the localidad de Engativa respectively. 261 observations were made in 87 specific areas. The sample was 95% reliable. Results: the average time of the break was 30 minutes, and boys showed higher rates of PA than girls. However, no statistically significant associations were found (p=0,506). It was seen that, the school play areas were fully accessible and usable, but there were not organized activities. As a consequence, a low level of PA 9.5% was found in supervised areas. Students: data showed that 22.5% of girls and 20.6% of boys were sedentary during recess. Less than 15% of school children did vigorous PA and a higher percentage, 62.8% of girls and 64.6% of boys performed moderate PA during the break time. Conclusion: school children accumulated a valuable amount of moderate and vigorous PA during recess. If the school play area had organized activities, the level of PA would increase. It is important to evaluate and study the specific strategies used to increase the level of PA of students and look for different ways to encourage it at schools.