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The relationship between family income and physical fitness and obesity of children (806.11)
Author(s) -
Jin Yichen,
JonesSmith Jessica
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.28.1_supplement.806.11
Subject(s) - obesity , demography , medicine , ethnic group , confidence interval , physical fitness , family income , pacific islanders , body mass index , childhood obesity , household income , gerontology , overweight , population , physical therapy , environmental health , geography , archaeology , sociology , economic growth , anthropology , economics
Objective To assess the association between family income and children’s physical fitness and obesity with 8 race/ethnic groups. Methods 1,618,892 fifth, seventh, and ninth grade children who took the physical fitness test (PFT) between 2010 and 2012 in California were included in this cross‐sectional study. Multiple linear and log‐binomial regressions were used to test whether lower‐family income (as indicated by eligibility for National School Lunch Program) was associated with physical fitness or obesity. Differences were tested by race/ethnicity while adjusting for age and gender. Results Average fitness score was 4.45 (standard deviation=1.47); range 0 (least healthy) to 6 (most healthy). Prevalence of obesity was 19.3%. 56% of children were classified as lower income. Lower family income (vs. higher) was associated with lower fitness score (‐0.58, 95% confidence interval [CI]: ‐0.62 to ‐0.53). Lower income children had higher prevalence of obesity (relative risk=1.82, 95% CI: 1.74 to 1.91) compared to higher income children. These inverse associations were seen among American Indian, Asian, Pacific Islander, Filipino, Hispanic/Latino, African American, White and two or more races for which inverse associations were significant. Conclusion Within many race/ethnic groups, children with lower family incomes tend to have less healthy physical fitness status and have higher risk of obesity.