Assessment of Physical Activity in Children of Low-Income Status in Western Massachusetts

Abstract

0778 People with sedentary lifestyles are prone to an increased risk of obesity, Type II diabetes, and other chronic diseases occurring in adulthood. Children in families of low socioeconomic status (SES) may not receive the same education regarding healthy lifestyle choices as those of higher SES, resulting in children who develop habits of poor lifestyle choices, including that of decreased physical activity. PURPOSE: The focus of this study was to assess gender differences in physical activity levels in fifth graders of low SES from elementary schools in Orange and Greenfield, Massachusetts, and determine if their physical activity met the levels recommended by the 2000 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (i.e., 60 minutes per day of vigorous physical activity for children). METHODS: For this investigation, the Previous Day Physical Activity Recall (PDPAR) was administered to measure students' after-school activities (from 3:00 pm to 11:30 pm), including specific physical activities and their relative intensities. The PDPAR provided a summary measure of activity and detected participation in specific activities that were moderate to vigorous in intensity. Each activity and intensity measurement was converted into a Metabolic Equivalent Task (1 MET = 1 kcal · kg−1 · h−1) value. RESULTS: Mean MET values for males and females ranged between 1.0 and 3.0, with each gender having a similar trend in the 3:00 pm to 11:30 pm time period. Mean MET values ± SEM at the 6:30 pm and 7:00 pm time points were 2.66 ± 0.22 and 2.61 ± 0.21 for males and 2.11 ± 0.14 and 1.85 ± 0.11 for females, respectively. The MET values at the 6:30 pm and 7:00 pm time points were significantly greater for males than females (p = 0.0481 and p = 0.0028, respectively). Although individual students performed vigorous physical activity, the overall physical activity of all of the students did not qualify as vigorous, and did not meet the 60-minute recommendation established by the by the 2000 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. CONCLUSIONS: By determining a baseline physical activity level in these students, a foundation to promote and design physical activity interventions for this population can be established. These interventions can be utilized among adolescents of low SES to promote increased physical activity.