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Physical activity and fitness, lifestyle and coronary risk factors among Singaporean secondary school children
Author
Sun, Xiaoqian
Supervisor
Schmidt, Gordon James
Abstract
Since the independence of Singapore in 1965, the health of the population has tremendously improved. With the development of technology and improvement of timesaving devices, people have continued to reduce daily energy expenditure of everyday tasks and tended to adopt more sedentary lifestyles. Accordingly, chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer gradually became more prevalent in the 1990's, replacing infections such as tuberculosis, pneumonia and gastro-enteritis that were the main causes of death in the 1940's (MOH, 1993). Lifestyle behaviours are formed in childhood and can track into adulthood. And yet, poor lifestyle habits can exert an impact on formation of chronic diseases throughout the lifespan. Therefore, the prevention of chronic diseases through positive lifestyles beginning in childhood should be encouraged.
The purpose of this study was to measure physiological variables including blood pressure, blood cholesterol, lipid and lipoprotein levels, body composition, and health and lifestyle behaviours in low and high active children. These measures were distinguished by physical activity patterns between boys and girls and their coronary risk factors. The study also sought to identify physical activity and fitness patterns and their respective benefits on a healthy lifestyle among the children and to examine the relationships between physical activity, physical fitness and health. The Youth Health Survey was administered to a total of 195 children between ages 12 and 15 years in three secondary schools. By following the Modifiable Active Questionnaire for Adolescents (Aaron, Kriska & Dearwater, 1993), low active and high active children were selected for further study. Self-perceived health, health attitudes and behaviours, prudent lifestyles, emotional stress, seat-belt usage, sleeping habits, history of family diseases, dietary behaviours were compared between two groups of children. After their current physical activity patterns were determined, 75 students were selected for the physical testing. Half of the subjects were chosen based on their self-disclosed high active levels and the other half were selected because they had disclosed that they had low activity levels. As many as 40 children (22 boys and 18 girls) voluntarily took part in further testing of body composition, coronary risk assessment and physical fitness.
From this study, it was found that boys were more active than girls in "vigorous activities" and girls took part in more "easy activities" than boys. Because risk factors in childhood predict risk factor levels in young adults, decreasing these risk factors in children is an important health consideration (Cresanta, Burke, Downey, Freedman & Berenson, 1986). This study further found that high active children showed a trend of decreased risk factors for cholesterol, lipoproteins, body fat and blood pressure. A larger proportion of high active children reported better health, lower stress levels, higher aerobic fitness and better sleeping habits. Significant differences between activity groups were found in the Aerobic Power Index of the boys' groups (p < 0.05) and blood pressure in girls' groups (p < 0.05). These findings shed light on physical activity as an appropriate instrument for the development of a healthier lifestyle.
The purpose of this study was to measure physiological variables including blood pressure, blood cholesterol, lipid and lipoprotein levels, body composition, and health and lifestyle behaviours in low and high active children. These measures were distinguished by physical activity patterns between boys and girls and their coronary risk factors. The study also sought to identify physical activity and fitness patterns and their respective benefits on a healthy lifestyle among the children and to examine the relationships between physical activity, physical fitness and health. The Youth Health Survey was administered to a total of 195 children between ages 12 and 15 years in three secondary schools. By following the Modifiable Active Questionnaire for Adolescents (Aaron, Kriska & Dearwater, 1993), low active and high active children were selected for further study. Self-perceived health, health attitudes and behaviours, prudent lifestyles, emotional stress, seat-belt usage, sleeping habits, history of family diseases, dietary behaviours were compared between two groups of children. After their current physical activity patterns were determined, 75 students were selected for the physical testing. Half of the subjects were chosen based on their self-disclosed high active levels and the other half were selected because they had disclosed that they had low activity levels. As many as 40 children (22 boys and 18 girls) voluntarily took part in further testing of body composition, coronary risk assessment and physical fitness.
From this study, it was found that boys were more active than girls in "vigorous activities" and girls took part in more "easy activities" than boys. Because risk factors in childhood predict risk factor levels in young adults, decreasing these risk factors in children is an important health consideration (Cresanta, Burke, Downey, Freedman & Berenson, 1986). This study further found that high active children showed a trend of decreased risk factors for cholesterol, lipoproteins, body fat and blood pressure. A larger proportion of high active children reported better health, lower stress levels, higher aerobic fitness and better sleeping habits. Significant differences between activity groups were found in the Aerobic Power Index of the boys' groups (p < 0.05) and blood pressure in girls' groups (p < 0.05). These findings shed light on physical activity as an appropriate instrument for the development of a healthier lifestyle.
Date Issued
1998
Call Number
GV443 Sun
Date Submitted
1998