Better together? Comparing physical activity of parents walking outdoors with and without their child

This study compares the physical activity levels and enjoyment of parents (n = 50; age = 41.8 +/- 4.0 years) during outdoor, self-paced walking sessions while walking alone and when walking with their 6-to-12-year-old child. Step counts, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), vigorous physical activity, and enjoyment were compared using paired t-tests. Regression modeling was used to examine the impact of children's age and adults' and children's body mass index on the disparity in step counts experienced by adults. Adults attained high percentages of time spent in MVPA while walking alone (99.8%) and when walking with their child (96.6%). However, more of this time was categorized as vigorous physical activity when walking alone (13.6% vs. 3.0%, p = 0.006). Adults' step counts decreased by an average of 6.4% while walking with their child compared to walking alone (p < 0.001). This reduction was greater for parents of younger children (p = 0.004). In obese adults, the reduction in step counts experienced while walking with their child was not as great as the reduction experienced by normal-weight adults (p = 0.042). Although adults obtained higher step counts and vigorous physical activity while walking alone, they enjoyed walking more with their child (p < 0.001). Health practitioners should be aware of this tradeoff when making recommendations for parent-child co-participation in physical activity, and parents may wish to supplement their physical activity obtained while walking with their child(ren) with additional activities that result in vigorous physical activity.