Abstract:

The aim of this study was to compare the frequency of physical activity levels between boys and girls, as well as compare the adiposity of these groups in a sample of students from Boa Vista -Roraima. To this end, 150 students, including 73 boys (14.4 ± 1.3 years) and 77 girls (13.9 ± 1.3 years) (Power= 95%), of elementary education at a public school west of Boa Vista -Roraima were underwent measurement of weight and height for subsequent calculation of body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage (BF%). The physical activity level was assessed through the IPAQ, short version, with reference to last week. There was no prevalence (p>0.05) of active students (boys= 64.4% and girls= 59.7%) on sedentary (35.6% and 40.3%, boys and girls, respectively). No significant differences (p>0.05) in BMI among boys (20.3 ± 3.3 kg.m-2) and girls (20.3 ± 3.3 kg.m-2). However, girls showed BF% (22.24 ± 5.0) higher (p=0.0001) than boys (18.35 ± 4.9). Similarly, active boys (17.7 ± 3.4) and sedentary (18.7 ± 5.5) had lower values (p<0.05) of BF% than active girls (21.9 ± 4.7) as well as sedentary (22.5 ± 5.2). It was concluded that students of both sexes of elementary school Boa Vista -Roraima present frequencyof active and sedentary students alike. Boys and girls have similar BMI, however, girls had higher BF% than boys, being they stratified as active or sedentary.

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