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African Health Sciences
Makerere University Medical School
ISSN: 1680-6905 EISSN: 1680-6905
Vol. 16, No. 4, 2016, pp. 947-953
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Bioline Code: hs16124
Full paper language: English
Document type: Research Article
Document available free of charge
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African Health Sciences, Vol. 16, No. 4, 2016, pp. 947-953
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Physical activity, body mass index and blood pressure in primary school pupils attending private schools.
Sadoh, Wilson E.; Sadoh, Ayebo E. & Onyiriuka, Alphonsus N.
Abstract
Background: Lack of physical activity contributes to overweight and obesity. It is recommended that children accumulate at
least one hour of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity daily.
Objective: The level of physical activity, body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure (BP) were evaluated in pupils attending
private primary schools.
Method: The intensity and duration of physical activity of the pupils selected by multiple stage sampling method were obtained
with the aid of a questionnaire. The BMI and BP were measured. Analysis was by SPSS.
Results: Of the 353 pupils, 132(37.4%) pupils were adequately physically active while overweight and obesity prevalences were
54(15.3%) and 65(18.4%) respectively. Hypertension prevalence in overweight/ obese children (6.5%) was significantly higher
than in children with healthy weight 1.5%, P = 0.04.
Conclusion: Only a third of pupils met the recommended level of physical activity. The prevalence of overweight and obesity
was high while the overweight and obese pupils were more likely to have hypertension compared to those with healthy weight.
Physical activity programmes for primary school pupils in school and at home are therefore recommended.
Keywords
Physical activity; body mass index; school children; hypertension
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