What Do We Know about Physical Activity in Alaska Children: Results from Wearable Technology: SQORD Boosters

Abstract

In this analysis, I use an accelerometer called SQORD to measure levels and patterns of physical activity in Alaska children. Specifically, I focus my attention on 23 elementary schools in the Anchorage School District where students between 3rd and 6th grade were provided the device. I find that activity levels are at their highest from 11am to 12pm. On average, students are not engaging in enough after school activities as the points are lower in the evenings. I also find differences between genders which seem to occur during the school day between 11am and 3 pm. Additionally, I find significant differences in activity levels between weekdays and weekends, with students earning around 10,000 points more during a weekday than a weekend. Finally, I estimate a panel regression model examining the determinants of average hourly and daily physical activity in which I control for individual characteristics, school demographics, percent of students eligible for free or reduced lunch, school size, and week fixed effects. After accounting for these characteristics, I find that an additional year of age is associated with 156 less points per hour. From the school characteristic standpoint, the size of the school and the percent of students on enrolled in the free or reduced lunch are both inversely associated with average points earned.

Keywords: Wearable Devices; Physical Activity

JEL Classification: I12; I18; I19