J Nutr Health.  2022 Oct;55(5):533-542. 10.4163/jnh.2022.55.5.533.

Physical activity classification table for Korean youth: using the Youth Compendium of Physical Activities in he United States

• Kim EK
• Gwak JY
• Jun HY

• KMID: 2534852
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4163/jnh.2022.55.5.533

Abstract

The total energy expenditure (TEE) consists of the basal energy expenditure (BEE), physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE) and the thermic effect of food. The PAEE accounts for a significant portion of the TEE and can be changed according to individual efforts, and the difference between individuals of PAEE is large. Even for the same physical activity, there is a difference in energy expenditure between adults and children. Therefore, a physical activity classification table for youth is needed to classify the physical activity recorded in the physical activity diary prepared to evaluate children's energy expenditure. It is also necessary to calculate the physical activity level required to set the estimated energy requirement in the Dietary Reference Intakes for children and adolescents in Korea. This paper reports a physical activity classification table for Korean youth using the 2017 Youth Compendium of Physical Activities in the United States. This physical activity classification table includes 110 specific activities classified into 14 major categories by four age groups (6–9, 10–12, 13–15, and 16–18 years old) and their metabolic equivalent values. Of these, 87 physical activities were selected from the 2017 Youth Compendium reported in the United States. Nine physical activities such as washing and going to the bathroom, which are daily activities of children and adolescents not included among them, were selected from the another list (2008) of physical activities in America. The remaining 15 physical activities were selected from the research results, which measured the energy expenditure of Korean children and adolescents. Activity categories were divided into 4 areas: daily activity (A), movement (B), school work (C), exercise and sports (D). This physical activity classification table will help standardize the interpretation and scoring process of physical activity of youth in related studies and community health surveys.

Keyword

physical activity; energy expenditure; youth