Levels and Patterns of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour of Primary School Learners in Lagos State, Nigeria

Manuscript Section

Reviewer’s Comment

Authors’ Response

Abstract

No comments

Introduction

Please use abbreviations for physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour (SB) more consistently.
There is no quotation mark on line 31. Part of the introduction is in italics. 

This has been done as suggested by the Reviewer. Revision marked in red.

Methods

No comments

Results

Please correct the headings in Table 1 (formatting) and add units (if applicable) in Tables 1 and 2.
Reporting of statistically significant values should be more consistent (bold letters in one place, "*" in another).
Do not put a period in subsection headings.
In a few cases, the numbering of the headings is missing

This has been done as suggested in tables 1 and 2.

Conclusion

I am concerned that you do not use BMI percentiles to assess children. However, in the Conclusion section, you state that " obesity and living in poor socioeconomic environments are potential risk factors within this subpopulation".
Consider rewriting this statement. First, it is important to explain the risks involved.
Second, the incidence of obesity was not investigated in this study. I feel that this type of statement could mislead the readers.

This statement has been rewritten as suggested by the reviewer. The changes can be found btw line 591 and 600.

Manuscript Section

Reviewer’s Comment

Authors’ Response

Reviewer’s 2

Abstract

• Authors should consider adding more info. The Results section does not mention anything about the male/female composition of the group.

• The info should be better presented as to raise the interest of the readers.

• The keywords must be different from the title words.

All the comments have been accepted and done as suggested by the Reviewer. Revision shown in the abstract with marker red. More information on male/female has been added.

Introduction

Reviewer’s 2

• The information given by the authors is not sufficient to create the background for this important matter to health. Could the authors maybe provide some more background on the importance of informing people early in life about this serious problem they will confront later?

• The rationale for examining this problem should be mentioned more clearly in this section. Why did the authors choose to examine it? At least the reader should be given a background on how important this matter is and informed on the novelty of this study.

• The article innovation should be presented in the Introduction. Describe what the research gap of the paper is and what is new. Please describe the links between the research gap and the goal of the article.

• Lines 81-84 are not enough to make your study of sound scientifical importance. Please provide a subsection here with the title RESEARCH QUESTIONS/HYPOTHESES which would be more convincing about the importance of the study.

The comments of the reviewer are well noted. Additional background information has been included in this section. This can be found between line 65-69.

The comments of the reviewer are well noted. More information can be found between line 91-95, and line 110- 114.

A subsection has been created for research questions for this study. This can be found between line 119-125.

Reviewer’s 2

Methods

• The number of the questions used in the questionnaire or some examples of them are nowhere to be found.

It is also necessary to describe and incorporate empirical evidence of validity and reliability of the questionnaire which is applied in this research. This information is essential to assume the soundness of the obtained results.

• It is not clear how the authors applied the study design in terms of a minimum sample size of 384 participants for the study. The pedometers were used on 201 participants. Could this be clarified?

The number of items in each of the questionnaire used has been provided in the manuscript. Available information on the psychometric properties of the questionnaires used have also been provided in the manuscript under the questionnaires.

We thank the reviewer for this observation, and it is well noted.  We experienced a situation in which the participants misplaced many of the provided pedometers which almost brought this study to a halt. Only 201 participants wore the pedometer for the entire 7 consecutive days and their data were analyzed. However, we have now highlighted this as a limitation in the manuscript

Results

Reviewer’s 2

The Results section should be reorganized as to follow each hypothesis/research question or objective. Authors need to write key findings focusing on each one of these after being stated.

An illustration using different colours for items would be helpful in presenting the results as to raise the interest of the readers. The plain explanations preceding the tables are somehow boring and repeated.

In tables 1, 2 and 4 the items are puzzled, seem to be missing or difficult to follow as they are not aligned.

The title proposes patterns that are nowhere to be found in the manuscript.

This has been done as suggested by the reviewer.

The items are now well organized and written in different colours to catch the attention of the readers as suggested.

We have restricted our choice of language in this regard to levels of PA and SB to avoid any form of confusion

Reviewer’s 2

Conclusion

There should be a clear conclusion on why the research findings are significant for health subject and could be used for the help of those in this situation.

This has been done as suggested by the reviewer. This can be found between line 591-599.

The results and the conclusions are quite interesting and well-discussed.

All data are provided.