Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity during recess and physical education among mexican elementary school students

Abstract

Objective: To compare the moderate-to-vigorous physical activity of physical education classes taught by teachers and their students during recess. Method: In order to determine the physical activity intensity the system for observing fitness instruction time (SOFIT) was used, a descriptive cross-sectional comparative methodological design was used, 63 physical education classes were evaluated selecting randomly four students from each class (2 men and 2 women), the same procedure was followed to evaluate the same 4 students during the 30 minutes of recess. Results: The equality of variance was calculated using the Student t test for independent samples resulting a P-value=.001 ád» less than 0.05, with a percentage time of moderateto- vigorous physical activity in physical education classes taught by teachers of 41%±17.7 and performed by students during recess of 50%±10.3, the percentage of difference (A%) was of 18% between the variables. Conclusion: The intensity of physical activity during recess was higher without teacher instruction in relation to physical education classes evaluated, due is important a feedback for the teachers in strategies for involving the students in moderate to vigorous physical activity as established by the World Health Organization.