Introduction:

The after-school period is commonly used by schoolchildren to do physical activities; however, the level of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and caloric expenditure achieved during that period of time is unknown.

Objective:

To analyze the physical activity levels and the estimated caloric expenditure during the after-school period.

Materials and methods:

408 schoolchildren enrolled in the Spanish education system and aged between 11 and 12 years were included in the study, of whom 205 were females (11,21±0,41) and 203 males (11,20±0,40). This is a descriptive, relational and cross-sectional study. Schoolchildren reported their physical activity by means of the Previous Day Physical Activity Recall (PDPAR) instrument. Physical activity was analyzed through the average minutes involved in MVPA (>3METs) and the caloric expenditure taken from the MET levels.

Results:

The results showed a higher average of MVPA (p<0.05) and caloric expenditure (p<0.001) in males than in females.

Conclusions:

The average MVPA minutes estimated by schoolchildren meet the recommendations of daily physical activity established by the World Health Organization (WHO). Special attention is required for the female gender and the beginning of adolescence.

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