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Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Obesity in U.S. Children Ages 6–12
Author(s) -
Haddadian Padideh,
Huwaikem Mashael,
Vaccaro Joan A.,
Zarini Gustavo G.,
Huffman Fatma G.
Publication year - 2017
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.31.1_supplement.642.5
Subject(s) - national health and nutrition examination survey , medicine , ethnic group , obesity , demography , physical activity , sedentary behavior , gerontology , physical therapy , environmental health , population , sociology , anthropology
Background Approximately 17% of children ages 6–11 years are classified as obese in the United States (U.S.). Obesity adversely affects physical functioning and leads to reduced quality of life. Objective The aim of the study was to characterize the prevalence of physical activity, sedentary behavior and obesity among U.S. children ages 6–12 years old. Methods Data for this study were from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) National Youth Fitness Survey (NNYFS) conducted in conjunction with the NHANES in 2012. The final sample size was N = 614 children who completed the cardiovascular endurance test and of the following self‐reported race/ethnicity categories: 103 Mexican Americans (MA), 103 Other Hispanics (OH), 156 non‐Hispanic Blacks (NHB), and 252 non‐Hispanic Whites (NHW). The NNYFS protocol was approved by the NCHS Research Ethics Review Board (ERB): parents signed informed consent and children signed assent. Statistics were reported as percentage and 95 th CI by cross‐tabulations of obesity, sedentary behavior and physical activity by race/ethnicity. All statistics were performed with SPSS version 23 with the complex sample analysis module. Results Approximately twice the percent of NHB as compared to NHW children had high sedentary behavior ≥ 3 hrs/day [33.1 (21.9, 46.7) vs. 16.3 (11.5, 22.4)]. The percent of sedentary behavior ≥ 3 hrs/day was 16.7 (13.8, 20.0) for MA and 28.1 (16.7, 43.4) for OH. Over 80% of all race/ethnicity children participated in physical activity (P=0.072). Body Mass Index/age and gender (zBMI) was not significantly different by race/ethnicity (P=0.430) and 35.5% were classified as overweight/obese. Conclusion Elementary‐age children appear to be at equal risk for obesity and lack of physical activity across ethnic/race groups. High sedentary behaviors were more prevalent in NHB. Interventions to prevent cardiovascular disease targeting children at younger age‐groups may be suitable for a school environment.