Proposal of physical activity recommendations to support of active life style of Czech children

• Main Authors: Dagmar Sigmundová, Sigmund Erik, Romana Šnoblová
• Format: Article
• Language: ces
• Published: Palacký University Olomouc 2012-01-01
• Series: Tělesná Kultura
• Subjects: physical activity; health; obesity; active commuting; steps; school
• Online Access: http://telesnakultura.upol.cz/artkey/tek-201201-0001_NAVRH_DOPORUCENI_K_PROVADENI_POHYBOVE_AKTIVITY_PRO_PODPORU_POHYBOVE_AKTIVNIHO_A_ZDRAVEHO_ZIVOTNIHO_STYLU_CESKYC.php

BACKGROUND: An optimal level of physical activity (PA), in addition to a well balanced diet and medical care, is a fundamental determinant of obesity and overweight prevention. Despite worldwide efforts being brought, we hardly get on well with an effective reduction of the obese population nationwide, as well as with their increase of PA on the health recommended level. OBJECTIVE: The main aim of this study was to propose school related PA recommendations to support an active life style of Czech children using review of foreign studies compared to the results of our own monitoring of field PA. METHODS: The base for a formulation of the school related PA recommendations consists of the results of the 81 foreign and Czech studies and the data of long-term and short-term monitorings of field PA of the Czech pre-school and young school aged children (n = 805) and adolescents (n = 4519) from 2000 to 2010. Examples of concrete types of PA are numerically expressed by the number of steps. RESULTS: The physical activity recommendations to support an active life style are formulated separately for kindergarten children, and young school aged children. Apart from daily number of steps and time of duration of PA, the suggested recommendations emphasize versatile motor development and further involvement in organized and structured forms of PA. CONCLUSIONS: Combination of FITT (Frequency, Intensity, Time and Type) characteristics of physical activity, daily number of steps and additional recommendations contributes to common comprehensibility and practical feasibility of the suggested school related PA recommendations.