1. This study was funded by HELP CETL
Participation in Land and Marine Based
Activities within South West England: results
from a pilot study
F.L.Burton1, M.Barlow1, H.Dismore1, D.Snelling2, M.Hardwick3, J.Cowen3 & N.Bridge3
1University of Plymouth, 2National Marine Aquarium, 3University of Plymouth Colleges
Introduction
Evidence suggests clear links between physical activity and more favourable risk profiles for a number of diseases, including cardiovascular disease, obesity and type II diabetes1. Despite this, however, nearly three-quarters of the UK population fail to meet recommended physical activity guidelines suggesting that there remains a need for more effective strategies to help overcome sedentary behaviour and promote activity. Potential barriers to participation in physical activity include the associated costs and limited accessibility of facilities2, although use of the natural environment for physical activity could effectively overcome these. Evidence already suggests a role for green spaces in promoting physical activity for health3 but the use of marine environments for the same purpose has received less attention, especially among younger populations. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate levels of participation in both land and marine based, coastal activities for children living in South West England and any association these may have with markers of physiological health.
Table 1. Body composition, aerobic performance and levels of physical activity for children within the five primary school cohorts recruited. Values are mean ± s. * indicates differences between locations (p < 0.05).
Number of shuttles run was inversely related to %BF (r = , p < 0.001) and waist circumference (r = , p < 0.001) (Figures 2A & 2B). Participation in marine (r = 0.194, p = 0.044) and land based activities (p = 0.226, p = 0.019) were both associated with shuttles completed. Participation in land and marine based activities were positively correlated (r = 0.466, p < 0.001) (Figure 2C). Provision of free school meals was inversely associated with shuttle number (r = , p < 0.001) and participation in marine activities (r = , p = 0.016) but not land activities (r = 0.370, p = 0.646).
Methods
A total of 152 children (79 females and 73 males) with a mean age of 10.4 ± 0.7 years, participated in this study. All children were recruited from one of five primary schools within Devon and Cornwall (Figure 1) and all data were collected on the same day for each school. Provision of free school meals was used as a marker of socio-economic status for each school. A
p < 0.001
r=-0.500
Figure 2. Scatterplots to indicate the relationship between shuttle number and percent body fat (A), shuttle number and waist circumference (B) and participation in land and marine based activities (C).
Bideford:
n = 34
FSM = 3%
Barnstaple:
n = 24
FSM = 36% B
p < 0.001
r=-0.367 C
p < 0.001
R=0.466
Newton Abbot:
n = 35
FSM = 10%
Newquay:
n = 34
FSM = 8%
Plymouth:
n = 25
FSM = 35%
Conclusions
Figure 1. Location, number of children recruited (n) and free school meal (FSM) provision for each of the participating primary schools.
1.Children in SW England participate in significantly fewer marine based activities than land based, despite their proximity to coastal environments.
2.Participation in marine based activities was associated with enhanced levels of aerobic fitness and more physically active profiles.
3.Lower socio economic status was associated with reduced aerobic fitness and lower participation in marine based activities.
4.There is scope to promote the use of marine and coastal environments as a strategy for enhancing the health and fitness of younger populations and for encouraging changes in behaviour that may persist into adulthood.
Height was measured using a free standing stadiometer and body mass and %BF using Tanita Scales. Waist circumference was measured at the narrowest part of the torso over no or very light clothing. Aerobic fitness was determined using the MSFT. Participation in marine and land based activities was assessed using questionnaires via which children indicated, from an extensive list, the frequency that they participated in land and marine based activities.
Results
Participation in marine activities (3.9 ± 3.6 times.week-1) was significantly lower than in land activities (18.0 ± 10.3 times.week-1, p < 0.001), an outcome observed for both boys and girls. Regional differences were observed in body composition, markers of aerobic fitness and participation in marine and land based activities (Table 1).
References
1. Pederson & Saltin (2006) Scand J Med Sci Sports, 16(1), 3-63
2. Chinn et al. (1999) J Epidemiol Community Health, 53,
3. Pretty et al. (2005) Int J Environ Health Res, 15(5),
This study was funded by HELP CETL
Francesca Burton at