ABSTRACT
Physical activity in children has been associated with a number of health benefits. Unfortunately, physical inactivity continues to increase. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among self-efficacy levels, physical activity, aerobic fitness, and body composition (relative body mass index [RBMI]) and to determine whether a school-based pedometer intervention program would improve those variables. The sample consisted of 116 rural 11- to 13-year-old students. Weakly positive correlations between self-efficacy, physical activity, and aerobic fitness and weakly correlated inverse relationships between self-efficacy, physical activity, aerobic fitness and RBMI were found. There was no statistical significance between the intervention and control group when analyzing outcome variables. These findings suggest that those with optimal RBMI levels have higher self-efficacy, physical activity and aerobic fitness levels. Although not statistically significant, the intervention group had greater improvements in mean self-efficacy scores, aerobic fitness levels, and RBMI.
Subject(s)
Child Welfare , Health Promotion/organization & administration , Motor Activity/physiology , Physical Fitness/physiology , Self Efficacy , Adolescent , Age Factors , Anthropometry , Body Composition , Case-Control Studies , Child , Exercise/physiology , Female , Humans , Male , Overweight/prevention & control , Physical Education and Training/organization & administration , Program Evaluation , Reference Values , School Health Services , Sex FactorsABSTRACT
Obesity is a leading contributing factor resulting in a multitude of health problems for adults and children throughout the United States. Kentucky statistics reveal 37.1% of children aged 10-17 as being classified as overweight and obese. Obesity in children increases the risk for cardiovascular and other health conditions such as high blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes. In order to better understand obesity and cardiovascular risks of children in Western Kentucky, several community organizations formed a partnership to assess the risks of fourth grade children. This partnership consisted of collaboration between multiple health care organizations to assess body mass index, fitness scores, capillary glucose and cholesterol, and blood pressure. This article explains the findings from a retrospective data analysis related to this implementation program.
Subject(s)
Cardiovascular Diseases/epidemiology , Obesity/epidemiology , Cardiovascular Diseases/complications , Cardiovascular Diseases/prevention & control , Child , Humans , Kentucky/epidemiology , Obesity/complications , Obesity/prevention & control , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
Recruitment of African Americans to participate in research studies is challenging, however creativity in study design and attention to the community can overcome many barriers. Community based partnerships to assist African Americans in managing their disease and preventing complications.
