ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To examine the individual, parental, and neighborhood environment correlates of children's physical activity and risk of obesity. METHODS: Secondary data of 1514 children drawn from the Delaware Survey of Children's Health were used for analysis. A conceptual framework was developed based on the Social Determinants of Health and Environmental Health Promotion model and tested using structural equation modeling. RESULTS: Findings confirmed that parental support on physical activity and a favorable neighborhood environment predicted children's physical activity. However, the risk of overweight and obesity was not associated with parental support of physical activity and children's physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: Future preventive practice requires a multifaceted approach incorporating both individual and environmental changes.
Subject(s)
Environment , Exercise/physiology , Motor Activity/physiology , Obesity/prevention & control , Residence Characteristics , Adolescent , Child , Female , Health Promotion , Health Surveys , Humans , Male , Social EnvironmentABSTRACT
The study examines the impact of parental perception of children's weight and parental support on children's physical activity (PA) by weight groups. Multivariate regressions of parental perception of children's weight, parental support, and children's PA were conducted using parent-reported survey data. Results show that parental support was positively associated with children's PA. The impact of parental perception on children's PA and parenting behaviors varied depending on children's actual weight status. Parents may need more education and help to increase their knowledge about children's healthy weight and the problems associated with being outside the healthy weight zone.
