The Association of Physical Activity Knowledge, Nutrition Knowledge, and Physical Activity Enjoyment in Low Socioeconomic Elementary School Children

Abstract

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 17% of children and adolescents ages 2-19 are obese. The prevalence of childhood obesity is higher in minority and low sociodemographic (SES) populations. Comprehensive nutrition and physical activity interventions have resulted in reductions in childhood obesity. The purpose of this study was to explore the change in physical activity knowledge, nutrition knowledge, and physical activity enjoyment scores in low socioeconomic elementary schools during a Comprehensive Physical Activity Program (CSPAP). Secondly, associations between physical activity enjoyment scores and nutrition knowledge were analyzed. The study populations were 504 and 800 elementary school children, in grades 3-6, from five Title I schools in the Salt Lake City River District. Students completed three assessments: a physical activity knowledge assessment, a nutrition knowledge survey, and the physical activity enjoyment scale (PACES) test that were administered during the school hours. Using data from the 2015-2016 school year, the change in physical activity knowledge, nutrition knowledge, and PACES scores was assessed using three-factor 4 x 2 x 2 mixed-design ANOVA tests. The association between the nutrition knowledge and PACES scores was evaluated using Pearson's correlation coefficients. Physical activity knowledge scores increased from pretest (0.26 ± 0.11) to posttest (0.28± 0.12) significantly ( p=0.05) during the intervention. Additionally, PACES scores increased from pretest (36.84 ± 15. 14) to posttest (39.34 ± 14.79) significantly (p=0.02), during the intervention. Lastly, higher nutrition knowledge scores were significantly correlated with higher PACES scores (r=0.08; p= 0.02). These results emphasize the importance of providing physical activity and nutrition education for ethnic minority low SES elementary school children. Moreover, these findings demonstrate that improvements in physical activity enjoyment can occur during a school-based intervention. Increases in physical activity enjoyment and knowledge may translate to increases in chronic physical activity and improve children's health outcomes.