School-Based Sedentary Behavior, Physical Activity, and Health-Related Outcomes among Hispanic Children in the United States: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Xiangli Gu,Tao Zhang,Senlin Chen,M Jean Keller,Xiaoxia Zhang

doi:10.3390/ijerph17041197

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between school-based sedentary behavior, physical activity, and health-related outcomes, including cardiorespiratory fitness, weight status, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among Hispanic children. The participants were 374 children (192 boys, 182 girls; Mage = 9.64) recruited from four elementary schools from 3rd grade through to 5th grade. Sedentary behavior and physical activity behaviors (light physical activity [LPA] and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA)) during school were measured by accelerometers. Cardiorespiratory fitness and weight status were measured using the FITNESSGRAM®, while HRQOL was measured using the PedsQL 4.0TM Spanish version, a validated questionnaire. Sedentary behavior was negatively correlated with cardiorespiratory fitness and HRQOL but positively associated with weight status. MVPA was positively correlated with cardiorespiratory fitness and HRQOL, but negatively associated with weight status and sedentary behavior. Multiple regressions demonstrated that sedentary behavior significantly predicted cardiorespiratory fitness and weight status, whereas MVPA significantly predicted HRQOL. With the current public health priority aiming to reduce health disparities in minority populations, the findings of this study provide important insights. Educators, health care providers, or other professionals working with Hispanic children are encouraged to focus on reducing sedentary behavior and promoting physical activity to improve their health-related outcomes.

Highlights

Hispanic children are one of the fastest-growing ethnic pediatric populations in the United States (US), representing 24.4% of the population under 18 years of age, and this statistic is projected to increase to 33.5% by 2060 [1]
body mass index (BMI) than the 3rd and 4th grade children (F2, 374 = 5.19; p < 0.01, η2p = 0.03), but no significant grade difference was observed for cardiorespiratory fitness
Our findings demonstrate that sedentary behavior was a negative correlator, but moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was a positive correlator of the three health-related outcomes among Hispanic children

Summary

Introduction

Hispanic children are one of the fastest-growing ethnic pediatric populations in the United States (US), representing 24.4% of the population under 18 years of age, and this statistic is projected to increase to 33.5% by 2060 [1]. Hispanic children in the US have a higher obesity prevalence rate and exhibit a greater risk to other health issues, such as diabetes and mental disorders, than Caucasian children [2,3]. Regular participation in physical activity with low sedentary behavior are beneficial to long-term physical and mental health [4]. The substantial differences in body mass index (BMI) and the growing disparities across ethnic and racial groups are public health concerns [2]. To address physical activity and health promotion in Hispanic children [5].

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Discussion

Conclusion