Abstract

Background: Device measured physical activity (PA) allow better understanding on how PA is accrued during days. The purpose of this study was to describe pedometer-derived PA levels and patterns by gender in a population of Chilean children. Methods: 100 children were randomly selected from two low-income neighborhoods in Santiago, Chile. PA was measured with a wrist-worn pedometer for 7 consecutive days. Steps were summarized as total steps per hour and steps per day. PA hourly-patterns were compared across subgroups by age, gender, residence type and nutritional status. Results: 85 participants provided valid data (40 boys, 7.9±2.64 years, 47.8% overweight/obese). On an average day, children accumulated 11692.8±6061.8 steps with no differences between sexes (p=0.14). However, boys accumulated more steps in the morning and lunchtime than girls. Only 35.3% of the sample met PA guidelines (active), with no differences by sex (p=0.39). Active children in weekdays were more likely to meet the guidelines in weekend days (adjusted OR: 4.70, CI 95% 1.67-13.20) than those inactive in weekdays. Conclusion: PA guidelines compliance was relatively low. Step accumulation patterns differed between and within days including differences by gender in the morning and lunch time. This information may be used for designing feasible and equitable strategies for increasing the chances for meeting PA recommendations in both girls and boys. Keywords: pedometer, physical activity assessment, community-based research, health behavior.