Pedometer Determined Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior of Greek High School Students

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to detect age and gender effects on step counts and screen related sedentary behavior during schooldays and weekend of Greek high school students and determine possible relations between the above variables. Participants in this study were 472 high school students, 219 boys and 253 girls, aged 13.09±0.87 years. Daily steps were assessed with the use of the pedometer Omron HJ-720IT for 7 consecutive days and screen related sedentary behavior (SRSB) was assessed with the Adolescent Sedentary Behavior Questionnaire (ASBQ). According to statistical analysis of data, higher values were recorded
during schooldays for boys (11.686±3.855 steps/day) and girls (9.012±2.613 steps/day) in comparison to weekend step counts (boys 6.803±3.883 and girls 6.149±3.101 steps/day). Boys when compared to girls performed more steps during all days of the week and in all age groups used in this study. During schooldays, SRSB was lower for boys (252±148 min/day) and girls (208±128 min/day) when compared to weekend values (boys 338±170 and girls 261±137 min/day), while SRSB values reported by boys aged 12 years were the
lowest when compared to the remaining groups used in this study. Additionally, daily steps counts during schooldays were positively correlated with SRSB during schooldays and weekend. Finally, positive correlations were reported for all variables (daily step counts and SRSB) during schooldays with the respective variable concerning weekends.