Physical activity in children: meaning and measurement

Abstract

Physical inactivity during childhood is believed to be a significant risk factor for various health disorders in later life. Because of this research has flourished in which children's activity habits have been scrutinized. The study of physical activity in children has been hampered by a lack of clarity with regards the meaning of physical activity. Available techniques for the measurement of childhood physical activity have focused on either behavioural accounts of physical activity or biological responses to such activity. The disparity between the values recorded from these differing methods has led to many inconsistencies in the data.

Two integral elements to enhancing our understanding of the determinants of physical activity and how physical activity may influence various health or developmental parameters during childhood exist. First, the recognition of different components of physical activity and how these impact upon data collection and second integration of further study of physical activity in childhood with other disciplines such as paediatric neurology, developmental psychology and molecular biology.