title: Multimethod analyses of discretionary time use and health behaviors among urban low-income African-American adolescents: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this pilot study was to examine the relations between discretionary time (DT) social context, health behaviors (dietary intake and physical activity), and body mass index (BMI) in a sample of urban low-income African-American early adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multiple methods were used, including accelerometers, 24-hour dietary recalls, anthropometric measurements, and Experience Sampling Method (ESM). Participants included 9 boys (mean = 12.9 years) and 16 girls (mean = 12.9 years). Sixteen participants were at a healthy weight (10 girls and 6 boys), and 9 were overweight or obese (5 girls and 3 boys).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighth graders had higher BMI z scores, engaged in less healthful eating during DT, and spent less time in vigorous exercise in DT than sixth graders. Participants spent the majority of DT with siblings, which was associated with increased light physical activity as measured by accelerometers. The ESM data suggested that adolescents engaged in increased physical activity and decreased sedentary activity when with peers but increased sedentary activity when with parents. Increased percentage of DT spent with parents was associated with increased daily fat intake. Data also indicate high consumption of unhealthy foods across all DT social contexts and activities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Peers may provide a protective social context with regard to obesity-related health behaviors. Targeting changes in health behaviors during the middle school years may be an effective means of decreasing obesity risk among urban African-American adolescents. Interventions for urban African-American early adolescents may benefit from facilitating physical activity with peers and targeting change in family health behaviors.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Psychology, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL; and †Department of Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bohnert
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Burdette
authors.forename: Lara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dugas
authors.forename: Lea
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Travers
authors.forename: Edin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Randall
authors.forename: Maryse
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Luke
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D001741:Black or African American / Q000208:ethnology*; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000208:ethnology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011203:Poverty / Q000208:ethnology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States / Q000208:ethnology; D014505:Urban Population