Relationship between physical activity and diet among African-American girls.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the cross-sectional relationships between physical activity and dietary behaviors among 8- to 10-year-old African-American girls.


METHODS
Two hundred ten 8- to 10-year-old African-American girls from four field centers participated. Computer Science and Applications (CSA) activity monitors were worn for 3 days. CSA data were expressed as mean CSA counts per minute, mean minutes of moderate to vigorous activity per day, and mean metabolic equivalents (METS) per minute. Two nonconsecutive 24-hour dietary recalls were analyzed for kilocalories; percent kilocalories from fat; daily servings of fruit, 100% fruit juice, and vegetables; sweetened beverages; and water consumption. Height and weight were measured, and information on household income, material possessions, and participant age were obtained.


RESULTS
All three expressions of physical activity were significantly negatively associated with percentage calories from fat (r = -0.147 to -0.177, p < 0.01), and mean METS per minute were significantly positively associated with percentage calories from carbohydrate (r = 0.149, p < 0.05) after controlling for household income, material possessions, field center, and total caloric intake. Income was inversely associated with percentage calories from fat.


CONCLUSIONS
Physical activity and dietary fat consumption were inversely related among African-American girls. Efforts to prevent obesity in preadolescent African-American girls should focus on increasing physical activity and lowering dietary fat consumption.
Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, 1100 Bates Street, Houston, TX 77030-2600, USA. rjago@bcm.tmc.edu.
Russell
R
Jago
Tom
T
Baranowski
Sunmi
S
Yoo
Karen W
KW
Cullen
Issa
I
Zakeri
Kathy
K
Watson
John H
JH
Himes
Charlotte
C
Pratt
Wanjie
W
Sun
Leslie A
LA
Pruitt
Donna M
DM
Matheson
D001741:Black or African American; D001628:Beverages; D002648:Child; D004032:Diet; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004326:Drinking; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D014675:Vegetables
D004041:Dietary Fats