Energy cost of children's structured and unstructured games

Abstract

Background: Limited data are available on energy cost of common children's games using measured oxygen consumption. Methods: Children (10.6 ± 2.9 years; N = 37; 26 male, 9 female) performed a selection of structured (bowling, juggling, obstacle course, relays, active kickball) and unstructured (basketball, catch, tennis, clothespin tag, soccer) activities for 5 to 30 minutes. Resting metabolic rate (RMR) was calculated using Schofield's age- and sex-specific equation. Children wore a portable metabolic unit, which measured expired gases to obtain oxygen consumption (VO2), youth METs (relative VO2/child's calculated RMR), and activity energy expenditure (kcal/kg/min). Descriptive statistics were used to summarize data. Results: Relative VO2 ranged from 16.8 ± 4.6 ml/kg/min (bowling) to 32.2 ± 6.8 ml/kg/min (obstacle course). Obstacle course, relays, active kickball, soccer, and clothespin tag elicited vigorous intensity (>6 METs), the remainder elicited moderate intensity (3-6 METs). Conclusions: This article contributes energy expenditure data for the update and expansion of the youth compendium.