Influence of daily and weekly activities in the physical activity levels of school children: a cross-sectional study

Introduction: the distinct activities related to an active lifestyle that schoolchildren perform during the day and week interact to influence the children's total level of physical activity. Objective: to identify the influence that the activities developed by school children during the different times of the day and the week have on the levels of physical activity. Method: a cross-sectional study conducted in 3,598 public school students aged between 10 and 14 years. The demographic characteristics were evaluated, as well as the levels of physical activity through the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Schoolchildren (PAQ-C). A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed as statistical analysis using the SPSS v.24 software program. The raw odds ratio (OR) was estimated. Results: in all, 64.3 % of the students failed to comply with physical activity recommendations. Students who are more inactive include those who do not perform enough physical activity during the weekend [OR: 3.7 (95 % CI: 2.9-4.5)], those who are not physically active after school [OR: 3.1 (95 % CI: 2.3-4.2)], those who do not practice activities such as jumping in their free time [OR: 3.2 (95 % CI: 1.9-5.2)], and those who do not ride a bicycle [OR: 3.7 (95 % CI: 2.7-5.1)]. Conclusions: the levels of physical activity in students depend on the integration of different contexts and periods during the day and the week. The influence of weekend activities and physical education shows the role that the family and school play in the acquisition and practice of an active lifestyle.