Development of core recommendations on physical activity for Chinese students aged 7-18 years based on Delphi method and analytic hierarchy process

Abstract

Objective To construct core information about physical activities of Chinese students aged 7-18 years, so as to provide a reference for impoving the level of adolescents’ physical activities.

Methods Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for Children and Youth was used as a framework, the preliminary core recommendations on physical activity for Chinese students aged 7-18 years were developed based on qualitative research. Recommendations covered three scales, including physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep. Physical activity included four subscales of frequency, intensity, duration and type, while sedentary behaviour and sleep only included one subscale. Three rounds of consultation were conducted using Delphi method. In the second round of consultation, the results of 2014 Chinese National Surveys on Students Constitution and Health were presented to experts for reference. In the third round of consultation, experts need to rank the importance of seven items of physical fitness under the physical activity type subscale by age group through analytic hierarchy process.

Results Totally 25, 25, and 18 experts were consulted in three rounds respectively. The questionnaire response rates in 3 rounds were 100.0%, 100.0%, and 94.4%, respectively. The authority coefficients were 0.92, 0.93, and 0.91. The harmony coefficients were 0.63 (χ ² = 237.10, P<0.01), 0.63 (χ ² = 242.60, P<0.01), and 0.76 (χ ² = 97.05, P<0.01). It was recommended that students aged 7 to 18 years in China should do moderate to vigorous physical activity for a cumulative total of at least 60 minutes per day, and most of the 60 minutes or more per day should be either moderate-or vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity. Of the daily physical activity, students should conduct vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity, muscle-strengthening and bone - strengthening physical activity on at least 3 days a week. At least 2 hours of daytime outdoor activity was recommended for primary school students and 1 hour for secondary school students. 7-12-year-old students should do more physical activities that enhance flexibility, coordination and agility, while 13-18-year-old students should do more physical activities that enhance strength, endurance and speed. Sedentary behaviour included one subscale, where students should reduce sedentary behaviour, break up long periods of sitting as often as possible, and limit recreational screen time and online study time. Sleep included one subscale of duration.Students should get sufficient and uninterrupted sleep per night

Conclusion The development of core recommendations on physical activity for Chinese students aged 7 to 18 might help improve physical activity levels and promote health of children and adolescents.

Abstract

【摘要】 目的 构建中国7~18岁学生身体活动核心信息, 为提高儿童青少年身体活动水平提供依据。 方法 以《加拿大 儿童青少年24小时活动指南》为基础框架, 在定性研究的基础上, 初步形成中国7~18岁学生身体活动核心信息, 涵盖身 体活动、久坐行为和睡眠3个维度。身体活动包括频度、强度、时间和类型4个主题内容, 久坐行为和睡眠包括时间1个主 题内容。采用德尔菲法进行3轮咨询。第2轮咨询中, 将2014年全国学生体质与健康调研数据分析结果呈现给专家参 考。第3轮咨询中, 专家通过层次分析法分年龄段对身体活动类型主题下的7项身体素质重要性进行排序。 结果 3轮 德尔菲法分别咨询专家25,25和18名；专家问卷回收率分别为100.0%, 100.0%, 94.4%;专家权威系数分别为0.92,0.93, 0.91；Kendall 协调系数 W值分别为 0.63(χ ² = 237.10, P<0.01)、0.63(χ ² = 242.60, P<0.01)和 0.76(χ=97.05, P<0.01)。推荐 中国7~18岁学生每天进行中、高强度身体活动累计至少达到60 min, 以有氧运动为主。其中, 每周至少3 d进行高强度身 体活动、增强肌肉力量和骨骼健康的身体活动。小学生每天日间户外活动至少2h, 中学生每天日间户外活动至少1 h, 推 荐2h。7~12岁学生应多进行增强柔韧素质、协调素质和灵敏素质的身体活动, 13~18岁学生应多进行增强力量素质、耐 力素质和速度素质的身体活动。久坐行为包括时间1个主题内容, 学生应减少久坐行为, 尽可能打断长时间久坐行为, 控 制娱乐性视屏时间和线上学习时间。睡眠包括时间1个主题内容, 学生每晚应保证时间适量、不间断的睡眠。 结论 建立 中国7~18岁学生身体活动核心信息可以为提高儿童青少年身体活动水平, 促进儿童青少年身体健康提供参。