The Effects of Physical Activity on Body Mass Index among Middle and High School Children

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Hohensee, C. (2011). The Effects of Physical Activity on Body Mass Index among Middle and High School Children. Unc Charlotte Electronic Theses And Dissertations.
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Abstract

Aims: The purpose of this study was to determine the association between amount of physical activity and body mass index (BMI) percentile among middle and high school aged children. Background: The epidemic of physical inactivity among youth has substantially contributed to the obesity epidemic. Both in-school and out-of-school environments need be considered when evaluating physical activity among children. Data source: Data were drawn from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) Child Development Supplement, 2007. Methods: A cross-sectional design was employed to examine a sample of 1,306 children. The dependent variable was BMI percentile, while the independent variable was physical activity. Multinomial logistic regression model was used to assess the associations between physical activity and BMI percentile controlling for age, gender, race/ethnicity, parental income, participation in school lunch programs, and neighborhood safety. Results: After adjusting for covariates, children who engaged in low daily physical activity levels had 1.8 times the odds of being obese vs. normal weight than those who engaged in moderate levels (OR = 1.80, CI = 1.31, 2.48). Minority children and females exhibited higher odds of being obese in comparison to non-Hispanic white children. Conclusions: This study suggests that adherence to national physical activity guidelines in- and out-of-school may be effective in preventing obesity among children.

Details
Author

Hohensee, Caroline

Title

The Effects of Physical Activity on Body Mass Index among Middle and High School Children

Physical Description

1 online resource (59 pages) : PDF

Date

2011

Degree Granting Institution

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Abstract

Aims: The purpose of this study was to determine the association between amount of physical activity and body mass index (BMI) percentile among middle and high school aged children. Background: The epidemic of physical inactivity among youth has substantially contributed to the obesity epidemic. Both in-school and out-of-school environments need be considered when evaluating physical activity among children. Data source: Data were drawn from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) Child Development Supplement, 2007. Methods: A cross-sectional design was employed to examine a sample of 1,306 children. The dependent variable was BMI percentile, while the independent variable was physical activity. Multinomial logistic regression model was used to assess the associations between physical activity and BMI percentile controlling for age, gender, race/ethnicity, parental income, participation in school lunch programs, and neighborhood safety. Results: After adjusting for covariates, children who engaged in low daily physical activity levels had 1.8 times the odds of being obese vs. normal weight than those who engaged in moderate levels (OR = 1.80, CI = 1.31, 2.48). Minority children and females exhibited higher odds of being obese in comparison to non-Hispanic white children. Conclusions: This study suggests that adherence to national physical activity guidelines in- and out-of-school may be effective in preventing obesity among children.

Genre

doctoral dissertations

Subjects--Topics

Public health

Degree

Ph.D.

Keywords

Bmi
Children
Physical Activity
Secondary Data Analysis

Subject Area

Health Services Research

Advisor(s)

Nies, Mary

Committee Members

Laditka, James
Troutman, Meredith
Harris, Hank
Laditka, Sarah

Degree Note

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2011.

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Rights Holder Information

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Identifier

Hohensee_uncc_0694D_10233

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13093/etd:1238