Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This research assessed the amount of daily physical activity in a multiethnic sample of US third-grade students. METHODS: Physical activity interviews were conducted with 2410 third graders from 96 schools in four states. Blood pressure, cholesterol, body mass index, timed run for distance, physical-activity self-efficacy, and perceived support for physical activity were also assessed. RESULTS: Students reported a daily average of 89.9 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity, 34.7 minutes of vigorous activity, and 120.4 minutes of sedentary behavior; however, 36.6% obtained less than 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily, and 12.8% reported less than 30 minutes. Boys reported more physical and sedentary activity than girls; White children reported more activity than Black or Hispanic children; California children reported the most activity and Louisiana children the least. Geographic location, male gender, lower cholesterol, higher perceived efficacy in physical activity, and higher social support were associated with more physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: Average reported activity met the Year 2000 objectives; however, many students reported less than recommended amounts of activity. These findings support the need for health promotion programs that increase the number of physically active children.
Full text
PDF





Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Baranowski T., Bouchard C., Bar-Or O., Bricker T., Heath G., Kimm S. Y., Malina R., Obarzanek E., Pate R., Strong W. B. Assessment, prevalence, and cardiovascular benefits of physical activity and fitness in youth. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1992 Jun;24(6 Suppl):S237–S247. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Baranowski T., Simons-Morton B. G. Dietary and physical activity assessment in school-aged children: measurement issues. J Sch Health. 1991 May;61(5):195–197. doi: 10.1111/j.1746-1561.1991.tb06009.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Dietz W. H., Jr, Gortmaker S. L. Do we fatten our children at the television set? Obesity and television viewing in children and adolescents. Pediatrics. 1985 May;75(5):807–812. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Ferguson K. J., Yesalis C. E., Pomrehn P. R., Kirkpatrick M. B. Attitudes, knowledge, and beliefs as predictors of exercise intent and behavior in schoolchildren. J Sch Health. 1989 Mar;59(3):112–115. doi: 10.1111/j.1746-1561.1989.tb04675.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Frank G. C. Taking a bite out of eating behavior: food records and food recalls of children. J Sch Health. 1991 May;61(5):198–200. doi: 10.1111/j.1746-1561.1991.tb06010.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Gilliam T. B., Freedson P. S., Geenen D. L., Shahraray B. Physical activity patterns determined by heart rate monitoring in 6-7 year-old children. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1981;13(1):65–67. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hofman A., Walter H. J., Connelly P. A., Vaughan R. D. Blood pressure and physical fitness in children. Hypertension. 1987 Feb;9(2):188–191. doi: 10.1161/01.hyp.9.2.188. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Klesges R. C., Eck L. H., Mellon M. W., Fulliton W., Somes G. W., Hanson C. L. The accuracy of self-reports of physical activity. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1990 Oct;22(5):690–697. doi: 10.1249/00005768-199010000-00022. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Krahenbuhl G. S., Skinner J. S., Kohrt W. M. Developmental aspects of maximal aerobic power in children. Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 1985;13:503–538. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- McKenzie T. L. Observational measures of children's physical activity. J Sch Health. 1991 May;61(5):224–227. doi: 10.1111/j.1746-1561.1991.tb06019.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Moore L. L., Lombardi D. A., White M. J., Campbell J. L., Oliveria S. A., Ellison R. C. Influence of parents' physical activity levels on activity levels of young children. J Pediatr. 1991 Feb;118(2):215–219. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(05)80485-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Pate R. R., Dowda M., Ross J. G. Associations between physical activity and physical fitness in American children. Am J Dis Child. 1990 Oct;144(10):1123–1129. doi: 10.1001/archpedi.1990.02150340069026. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Perry C. L., Stone E. J., Parcel G. S., Ellison R. C., Nader P. R., Webber L. S., Luepker R. V. School-based cardiovascular health promotion: the child and adolescent trial for cardiovascular health (CATCH). J Sch Health. 1990 Oct;60(8):406–413. doi: 10.1111/j.1746-1561.1990.tb05960.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Reynolds K. D., Killen J. D., Bryson S. W., Maron D. J., Taylor C. B., Maccoby N., Farquhar J. W. Psychosocial predictors of physical activity in adolescents. Prev Med. 1990 Sep;19(5):541–551. doi: 10.1016/0091-7435(90)90052-l. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Sallis J. F., Hovell M. F., Hofstetter C. R., Elder J. P., Hackley M., Caspersen C. J., Powell K. E. Distance between homes and exercise facilities related to frequency of exercise among San Diego residents. Public Health Rep. 1990 Mar-Apr;105(2):179–185. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Sallis J. F. Self-report measures of children's physical activity. J Sch Health. 1991 May;61(5):215–219. doi: 10.1111/j.1746-1561.1991.tb06017.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Sallis J. F., Simons-Morton B. G., Stone E. J., Corbin C. B., Epstein L. H., Faucette N., Iannotti R. J., Killen J. D., Klesges R. C., Petray C. K. Determinants of physical activity and interventions in youth. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1992 Jun;24(6 Suppl):S248–S257. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Simons-Morton B. G., O'Hara N. M., Parcel G. S., Huang I. W., Baranowski T., Wilson B. Children's frequency of participation in moderate to vigorous physical activities. Res Q Exerc Sport. 1990 Dec;61(4):307–314. doi: 10.1080/02701367.1990.10607492. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Simons-Morton B. G., Parcel G. S., O'Hara N. M., Blair S. N., Pate R. R. Health-related physical fitness in childhood: status and recommendations. Annu Rev Public Health. 1988;9:403–425. doi: 10.1146/annurev.pu.09.050188.002155. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Simons-Morton B. G., Taylor W. C., Huang I. W. Validity of the physical activity interview and Caltrac with preadolescent children. Res Q Exerc Sport. 1994 Mar;65(1):84–88. doi: 10.1080/02701367.1994.10762212. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Simons-Morton B. G., Taylor W. C., Snider S. A., Huang I. W., Fulton J. E. Observed levels of elementary and middle school children's physical activity during physical education classes. Prev Med. 1994 Jul;23(4):437–441. doi: 10.1006/pmed.1994.1059. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Thorland W. G., Gilliam T. B. Comparison of serum lipids between habitually high and low active pre-adolescent males. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1981;13(5):316–321. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Walter H. J., Hofman A., Vaughan R. D., Wynder E. L. Modification of risk factors for coronary heart disease. Five-year results of a school-based intervention trial. N Engl J Med. 1988 Apr 28;318(17):1093–1100. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198804283181704. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Webber L. S., Osganian V., Luepker R. V., Feldman H. A., Stone E. J., Elder J. P., Perry C. L., Nader P. R., Parcel G. S., Broyles S. L. Cardiovascular risk factors among third grade children in four regions of the United States. The CATCH Study. Child and Adolescent Trial for Cardiovascular Health. Am J Epidemiol. 1995 Mar 1;141(5):428–439. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a117445. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]