PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVELS AND PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH SEDENTARY BEHAVIOR IN MOROCCAN SCHOOLCHILDREN

Background and objectives: The school is an important setting for physical activity. Identifying determinants of sedentary behaviour and in particular those that are modifiable is a necessary step to develop effective interventions targeted at reducing sedentary time. This study is the first one of its kind in Morocco using objective method to assess sedentary time among children. The aim of this study was to synthesize the current evidence base on the determinants of sedentary behaviour specifically in school children. Methods: 100 children aged between 8-14 years old (mean age =11.28±1.35years, 50% of boys) were recruited from different public schools. Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA) and sedentary time were measured by accelerometers GT3X+. Obesity was defined by the WHO reference body mass index (BMI)-forage. School environment was assessed by adapted questionnaire Results: 21% of children were overweight. Boys accumulated more minutes of MVPA compared with girls.56% of boys vs 16% of girls meet the recommendation of at least 60 minutes/day (p