Moderators of physical activity and obesity during adolescence.
The purpose of this study was to examine possible moderators of the relation between physical activity and obesity in adolescence. Adolescents (N=168; mean age=15.20 years; 52.4% girls; 76.8% African American) were recruited from low-income primary care medical facilities in a large southern city. Measures included Body Mass Index (BMI) percentile, physical activity, shared family physical activity, and self-efficacy for healthful eating. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to investigate a) independent contributions of physical activity, shared family activity, and self-efficacy for healthful eating to the prediction of adolescent BMI percentile; b) interactions between shared and individual physical activity in the prediction of BMI percentile; c) interactions between self-efficacy for healthful eating and physical activity in the prediction of BMI percentile; and d) interactions among all three variables. Findings revealed self-efficacy for healthful eating was a significant moderator of the adolescent physical activity and BMI percentile relation. Conclusions emphasize the interactive nature among obesity risk factors.
Gamble
Heather L
HL
Department of Psychology, The University of Memphis, TN 38152, United States. gamble.heather@gmail.com
Parra
Gilbert R
GR
Beech
Bettina M
BM
D000293:Adolescent; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005192:Family Health; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology*; D018579:Patient Selection; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012649:Self Concept; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires