Korean J Obes.  2016 Dec;25(4):240-246. 10.7570/kjo.2016.25.4.240.

Physical Activity Measurements with a Pedometer in the Fun and Run Health Camp for Children

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Konkuk University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. scchung@kuh.ac.kr
  • 2Department of Pediatrics, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Ansan, Korea.
  • 3Department of Pediatrics, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, Goyang, Korea.
  • 4Department of Pediatrics, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Obesity in children emerged as a serious problem, and an increase in exercise and a decrease in sedentary activity are important to preventing obesity in children. This study aimed to evaluate the difference in physical activity between the overweight and control groups and whether the activity difference is related to the program provided.
METHODS
This study included one-hundred fifty five children who participated in the Fun and Run Health Champ from June 2013 to October 2015. The Health Camp program consisted of lectures in the morning and exercise in the afternoon in 2013 and 2014 (program 1). The morning program in 2015 was changed to Exercise (program 2). The participants were categorized according to their BMI z-score into either the overweight (BMI z-score ≥1) group or the control group (BMI z-score <1). Physical activity was measured with a pedometer.
RESULTS
The overweight group had 83 children (53.6%) and the control group had 72 (46.4%). The mean height z-score, weight z-score, and BMI z-score were higher in the overweight group than in the control group. The number of steps per hour in the exercise program (1,561) was greater than for the lecture program (456) (P<0.0001). After the change from lecture to exercise, the number of steps per hour increased significantly (P<0.0001). A greater change in physical activity according to the provided program was observed in the overweight group (overweight-1,033, control-686, P<0.007).
CONCLUSION
This study suggests that a designed program considering physical activity could lead to a greater change in physical activity in overweight children. It is necessary to develop the program so that it is fun for children.

Keyword

Physical activity; Obesity; Children; Program

MeSH Terms

Child*
Humans
Lectures
Motor Activity*
Obesity
Overweight
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