P.E. 1&2

• Why we measure PA


  • Determine the physical activity levels in a sample of the population
  • Identify high risk subgroups by demographic characteristics (e.g., age, sex, ethnicity) and geographic location
  • Prioritise these populations for targeted interventions
• Types of benefits from PA


  • Physical health
  • Mental health
  • Social health
  • Emotional health
• What can be measured


  • Frequency - how often you do it
  • Intensity - how hard you do it
  • Time - how long you do it for during each sessions
  • Type - what it is you are doing
• Limiting factors


  • Obstructive - device worn that interferes with movement
  • Labour intensive - it is difficult to do because of how hard it is to do it all
  • Time consuming - spending hors of time directly observing toddlers in a kindergarten playground
  • Social desirability bias - an individual reporting physical activity on a survey to provide answer that are more socially acceptable
  • Reactivity - being able to do PA repetitively
• Methods of measuring PA


  • Subjective: Self report, Logbook or diary, Proxy report
  • Objective: Pedometers, Accelerometers, Heart rate monitors, Inclinometers, Direct observation, Digital tools
• Subjective


  Opinionated and may not be 100% facts
• Objective


  Unbiased and is more factual
• Advantages of recall surveys


  • Suitable for large groups
  • Easy to complete
  • Cost effective
  • Can be assessed over multiple domains
• Disadvantages of recall surveys


  • Not suitable for assessing certain groups like children
  • Over reporting
  • Underestimate incidental PA
  • Misinterpretations
• Advantages of proxy report


  • No effect of reactivity
  • Cost-effective
  • Allows young people to be assessed
• Disadvantages of proxy report


  • Difficult to be constantly monitored
  • Over report to desirability bias
  • Misinterpretation of PA
• Risks of inactivity


  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Obesity
  • Hypertension/high blood pressure
  • Cancer
  • Osteoporosis
• SOPLAY (system of observing play and leisure activity in youth)
• SOFIT (system of observing fitness, intensity and time)
• Sedentary behaviour


  The time when you are not active but are doing low energy expenditure tasks. Watching movies is an example