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. 2013 Oct 20;13:982. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-13-982

Table 1.

Descriptive statistics for youth in grades 1 to 4 by sex in PLAY-On (Ontario, Canada, 2007–2008)

 
 
Male (n = 1,187)
Female (n = 1,139)
Chi-square
Student-level characteristics   % (n) a % (n) a  
Weight status1,b
Normal weight
75.0 (890)
74.5 (848)
χ2 = 0.09, df = 3 , p = 0.99
Overweight
13.7 (162)
14.0 (159)
 
Obese
6.1 (144)
6.2 (71)
 
Missing
5.2 (62)
5.4 (61)
 
Grade1
1
22.7 (270)
22.4 (256)
χ2 = 0.32, df = 3, p = 0.95
2
21.5 (255)
21.1 (241)
 
3
27.5 (326)
27.1 (309)
 
4
28.3 (336)
29.4 (335)
 
Physical activity level2
Low active
10.0 (115)
14.3 (158)
χ2 = 11.41, df = 2, p < 0.01
Moderately active
63.3 (726)
62.7 (695)
 
Very active
26.7 (306)
23.0 (255)
 
Sedentary behaviour2
≤2 hour per day
70.6 (810)
75.2 (834)
χ2 = 6.37, df = 2, p < 0.05
2 to 4 hours per day
21.8 (250)
18.9 (210)
 
>4 hours per day
7.6 (87)
5.9 (65)
 
Physical activity level compared to other kids3
More active
7.4 (86)
9.3 (105)
χ2 = 34.56, df = 2, p < 0.001
About the same
28.5 (333)
18.2 (206)
 
Less active
64.2 (750)
72.5 (822)
 
Prefers to play alone or with other children3
Alone
2.4 (28)
1.0 (11)
χ2 = 9.24, df = 2, p < 0.01
Both
57.1 (667)
54.8 (621)
 
Other children
40.5 (474)
44.2 (501)
 
Prefers to play active games or quiet games3
Active
4.5 (52)
7.6 (86)
χ2 = 16.40, df = 2, p < 0.001
Both
41.4 (484)
35.1 (398)
 
Quiet
54.1 (633)
57.3 (649)
 
Preference for playing sports3
Likes sports
96.5 (1,127)
92.7 (1,049)
χ2 = 16.46, df = 1, p < 0.001
Dislikes sports
3.5 (41)
7.3 (83)
 
Preference for reading3
Likes reading
79.6 (931)
89.5 (1,014)
χ2 = 42.66, df = 1, p < 0.001
Dislikes reading
20.4 (238)
10.5 (119)
 
Prefers to play outside or inside3
Outside
4.1 (48)
4.2 (48)
χ2 = 4.35, df = 2, p = 0.11
Both
20.6 (241)
17.2 (195)
 
  Inside 75.3 (880) 78.6 (890)  

aNumbers may not add to total because of missing values.

bBody mass index (BMI) values used to determine weight status have been adjusted for age and sex.

1Measured by PLAY-On nurse.

2Reported by parent or guardian.

3Reported by student and recorded by PLAY-On nurse.

PLAY-On represents the name of the study where self-reported data were collected in 2007–2008 from a convenience sample of students in grades 1 to 4 attending 30 elementary schools in Ontario, Canada.