1. Promoting Lifestyle Activity for Youth
Robert P. Pangrazi
Department of Kinesiology
Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ

2. Greetings from Arizona!

3. Fitness, Exercise, or Activity?
Fitness: A set of attributes that people have or achieve relating to their ability to perform physical activity (USDHHS, 1996)
Exercise: Leisure time physical activity conducted with the intention of developing physical fitness.
Physical Activity: Bodily movement that is produced by the contraction of skeletal muscle and that substantially increases energy expenditure (USDHHS, 1996)

4. Are Today’s Youth Physically Fit?
No, if you listen to many teachers
No, if you listen to many parents who remember how fit they were as youth
No, if you listen to the least active group (adults) label the most active group (youth)
Yes, if you look at research data

5. U.S. Fitness Testing Data
Administered in 1958, 1965, 1975, 1985
Sampled entire U.S.
Up to 20,000 youngsters tested
Conducted by the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports
Evaluated youngsters using the PCPFS physical fitness test

6. Results of U.S. Fitness Testing
Since 1958, no decreases in fitness scores have been identified (Corbin & Pangrazi, 1992)
Test items in each of the four national tests were the pull-up and flexed arm hang.
Boys and girls pass rates improved
Girls: 50% in 1958 and 53% in 1985
Boys: 55% in 1958 and 73% in 1985

7. Presidential Award Fitness Test Results
To earn the Presidential Award, youngsters must pass test items at the 85%ile
If youngsters didn’t meet 85th percentile on all tests, youngsters were labeled unfit
Less than one tenth of one percent of students were able to pass all the tests (Corbin & Pangrazi, 1992)
Shows that a battery of tests will always fail the majority of people

8. Why Little Change in Fitness levels?
Elementary school youth show little physiological response to training (Payne & Morrow, 1993)
Fitness is strongly influenced by genetics (Bouchard, 1993)
Youngsters may be at a satisfactory fitness level because they are more active than any other age group

9. Fitness is Controlled by Many External Factors
Physical performance is controlled by many factors:
Maturation - age differences of 3 months impact performance scores
Nutrition
Genetic Predisposition
Trainability

10. Limiting Factors on Performance

11. Mass Prescription Assumes all people need the same workload
Assumes one fitness battery measures many different sizes and shapes of people
Assumes we know the correct workload for all of our students
Takes away exercise independence – the motivation to keep active

12. Is Fitness the Right Goal for Inactive Youth?
Fitness is a product that many can’t reach, no matter how hard they try – so they quit trying
Some people are non-responders to fitness activities
Many of the tests are not appropriate for obese youngsters

13. Obese Youth & Fitness – U.S.
Obesity is rapidly increasing among youth in the U.S.
Failure on a fitness test discourages obese youth – goals are unrealistic for them
Heavy emphasis on fitness has not reduced obesity among youth – It has tripled nationally in the last 20+ years

14. Why Lifestyle Activity?
Inactive people have twice the risk of developing heart disease
Inactivity is a primary risk factor for heart disease (so are smoking, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol
Reduces risk of cancer and diabetes
Improves posture and reduces lower back pain
Is as effective as psychotherapy for treating depression

15. Physical Activity: Youth & Adults Differ
Adults participate in low volume - high intensity activity (fitness-based activities)
Youth participate in high volume - low intensity activity (movement-based activities)
Youth don’t like extended bouts of high intensity activity (particularly inactive youth)
Youth naturally move in high-low intensity activity patterns (may stimulate growth, Bailey, et.al., 1995)

16. Activity Is for All Students
Regular activity for youth increases the probability of an active adult lifestyle (Raitakari, et al., 1994; Telama, et al., 1997)
Youth who are active at 3 or 4 years of age, are more active as adults (Pate, et al., 1996)
Moderate activity offers lifetime benefits
Activity helps those who need it most - unskilled and obese youth

17. Our Focus: Fitness or Activity?
When youth fail fitness tests, they are labeled as unfit; being identified as inactive is less derogatory
Fitness is controlled genetically; activity is for all students regardless of ability
Fitness is comparative; activity is individual and personal
Fitness is short term; activity is long term

18. Our Focus: Fitness or Activity?
Activity can be monitored; fitness testing is difficult and inaccurate
Activity can be done outside of physical education classes
Activity needs to be valued as much as intense exercise or sport related activities
Activity is a lifetime activity

19. What is Lifestyle Activity?
Moderate, intermittent, and success oriented
All activity is valued
Balance of strength, flexibility, and aerobic activities
Assures expenditure of 6 to 8 kcal/kg/day
Incorporates everyday activities, i.e., walking, riding bike, etc.

20. U.S., Sweden, and Australia Youth Activity Study
Data on school age youth in each country
Pedometer (Yamax 2000) step counts and BMI
Data gathered using the same protocol
Data gathered during the fall season in each country

21. Number of Participants
Males
Females
Australia
281
285
U.S.
325
386
Sweden
461
440

22. Step Counts by Age & Country Females - Means

23. Step Counts by Age & Country Females – Means for Most Active (MA) and Least Active (LA) Tertiles

24. Step Counts by Age & Country Males - Means

25. Step Counts by Age & Country Males – Means for Most Active (MA) and Least Active (LA) Tertiles

26. BMI (kg/m2) by Age & Country Female Means for Most (MA) and Least Active (LA) Tertiles

27. BMI by Age & Country Male Means for Most (MA) and Least Active (LA) Tertiles

28. Stepping Out!
Pedometers are a reasonably priced way to evaluate physical activity objectively and be accountable.
They measure steps; something every student can accomplish.
With youth, they are more accurate than recall inventories of activity.

29. Summary Heaviest tertile of boys and girls get much heavier with age.
Lean youth show smaller increases in BMI with age.
Active boys stay active while inactive boys become less active
Active and inactive girls maintain their initial activity level

30. Thank you, My Australian colleagues…
For letting me share with you
For caring about youth
For your warm and caring spirit

31. Pedometers - Validity & Reliability
Eston, Rowlands, & Ingledew, 1998
Regression analysis
- Tritrac R2 = Heart Rate R2 = .638
- Pedometer R2 = WAM (CSA) R2 = .609
Had .921 correlation with VO2 during unregulated play activities
Kilanowski, Consalvi, & Epstein, 1999
Had high correlations with the Tritrac and direct observation measures during recreational activities (.98 & .97, respectively)

32. Advantages & Limitations
Unobtrusive & convenient.
Cost effective - $20 for one, $11 to $15 depending on quantity purchased.
Measures movement.
Limitations.
Unable to measure intensity, duration, or frequency.
Unable to store information other than total counts.

33. Ways to Use Pedometers in Schools
Teacher and class members wear pedometer during school day.
Accumulated steps are discussed each day for 5 days.
Goals are set for all students.
Goals are set in a healthy zone format (similar to Fitnessgram standards).

34. Ways to Use Pedometers in Schools
Youngsters are asked to monitor one of his parents or significant adult for one day.
Handout sent home discussing pedometers and the 10,000 step criteria for adults.
Results are discussed by students in class.
Creates parental interest in regular physical activity.

35. Ways to Use Pedometers in Schools
Students wear pedometers for a 24 hour period to check their free time activity.
Comparison of student data to parent’s data.
Goals set for students based on baseline data gathered by each student.

36. Ways to Use Pedometers in Schools
Students chart their activity as a class project.
Goals are set for the class-at-large, i.e., a walk across Arizona or the U.S.
Based on the assumption that 2500 steps equals a mile.

37. Ways to Use Pedometers in Schools
Students wear pedometers and time how long it takes them to walk a certain number of steps.
For example, for adults, a 30-minute walk is comparable to 4,000 steps.
Determine time for different activities.
Students then set their goals in terms of minutes (meet the P.L.A.Y. standards.

38. Ways to Use Pedometers in Schools
Students calculate caloric expenditure based on the number of steps taken during a 24 hour period.
Convert how many extra calories they would have to burn to lose one pound of weight in one month.
Compare how many calories are consumed when eating candy, pastries, and other high calorie foods.

39. Ways to Use Pedometers in Schools
Compare different types of physical activity.
Use a set amount of time (30 minutes) in different activities and see how many steps are accumulated.
For example, taking a walk, playing soccer, playing baseball, doing chores around the house.
Make a chart showing the activity levels of selected activities.

40. Ways to Use Pedometers in Schools
Chart and evaluate activity data using a spreadsheet.
Students can input their data in the computer lab and then compare different times and distances.
Complete a one-week log of steps accumulated each day. Compute the average daily count and see if they are adequate amounts of activity on a daily basis.

41. Understanding the Limitations of Pedometers
Rowlands, Eston & Ingledew, 1997.
When taking into consideration the intermittent activity patterns of youth and the recent emphasis on promoting total physical activity as opposed to focusing on intensity, duration and frequency these limitations seem to be acceptable.
Pedometers give a total count that can be evaluated for each child based on normal patterns of activity in the population.

42. Research Questions
10,000 steps per day is recommended dosage for adults, therefore…
What is recommended dosage for youth as they mature? Parents/teachers would have data for assuring adequate activity in youth
How does BMI impact activity level?
How does self-esteem impact activity level?