Habitual physical activity and health-related physical fitness in fourth-grade children.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relationship between habitual physical activity and components of health-related physical fitness in children.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey with correlational analysis.


METHODS
Seven public elementary schools in a suburban southern California city.


METHODS
Five hundred twenty-eight healthy fourth-grade children (274 boys and 254 girls), 85% of whom were non-Hispanic whites. Ninety-eight percent of eligible students participated.


METHODS
None.


RESULTS
Results of six measures of physical activity in children (monitoring by accelerometer, parent report, and child self-reports of weekday activity, weekend activity, and summer involvement in activity classes and youth sports) were combined in a physical activity index. This index of habitual physical activity was examined in relation to measures of five components of health-related fitness: the mile run, skin-fold tests, pull-ups, sit-ups, and the sit-and-reach test. The physical activity index was significantly associated with all five fitness components. The canonical correlation was .29.


CONCLUSIONS
Active children appear to engage in a sufficient variety of activities to enhance multiple components of health-related fitness.
Sallis
J F
JF
Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, CA 92120.
McKenzie
T L
TL
Alcaraz
J E
JE
D002140:California; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012420:Running; D012737:Sex Factors; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D013383:Suburban Population