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Physical activity profile of old order Amish, Mennonite, and contemporary children

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posted on 2014-08-06, 10:47 authored by Dale EsligerDale Esliger, Mark S. Tremblay, Jennifer L. Copeland, Joel D. Barnes, Gertrude E. Huntington, David R. Bassett Jr
Purpose: This study explored the influence of modernity on the physical activity behaviors (e.g., intensity and timing) of children. Methods: Children aged 8-13 yr living a traditional lifestyle (Old Order Amish [OOA], n = 68; Old Order Mennonite [OOM], n = 120) were compared with children living a contemporary lifestyle (rural Saskatchewan [RSK], n = 132; urban Saskatchewan [USK], n = 93). Physical activity was objectively assessed for seven consecutive days using Actigraph 7164 accelerometers. Custom software was used to reduce the raw accelerometer data into standardized outcome variables. Results: On weekdays, there were group differences in moderate physical activity between all lifestyle groups (OOA > OOM > USK > RSK). On the weekend, the group differences in moderate physical activity persisted between, but not within, lifestyle groups (OOA = OOM > USK = RSK). During school hours, all groups had similar activity and inactivity periods; however, they differed in magnitude, with the OOA and OOM being both more sedentary and more active. In comparison with the children in school, the OOA and the OOM children had 44% lower sedentary time out of school compared with only 15% lower for RSK and USK children. Conclusions: Although cross sectional, these data suggest that contemporary/modern living is associated with lower levels of moderate-and vigorous-intensity physical activity compared with lifestyles representative of earlier generations. Analyzing the physical activity and inactivity patterns of traditional lifestyle groups such as the OOA and the OOM can provide valuable insight into the quantity and quality of physical activity necessary to promote health. Copyright © 2010 by the American College of Sports Medicine.

Funding

This research was supported by the Canadian Population Health Initiative of the Canadian Institute for Health Information and the Charlie and Mai Coffey endowment in Exercise Science at the University of Tennessee.

History

School

  • Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences

Published in

Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise

Volume

42

Issue

2

Pages

296 - 303

Citation

ESLIGER, D.W. ... et al., 2010. Physical activity profile of old order Amish, Mennonite, and contemporary children. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 42(2), pp.296-303.

Publisher

Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins (©The American College of Sports Medicine)

Version

  • AM (Accepted Manuscript)

Publication date

2010

Notes

This is a non-final version of an article published in final form in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 42(2), pp.296-303 at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0b013e3181b3afd2

ISSN

0195-9131

eISSN

1530-0315

Language

  • en

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