title: Demographic, Physiologic, and Psychosocial Correlates of Physical Activity in Structured Exercise and Sports Among Low-Income, Overweight Children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe correlates of physical activity (PA) in structured exercise and structured sports sessions among low-income, overweight children participating in a community-based PA program.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 93 children (55% male; 91% Hispanic) aged 8-14 years were included. Participants wore pedometers in a sample of 10 of 59 total sessions offered; mean steps per minute were calculated for structured exercise and sports sessions. Separate multivariable regression models tested associations between steps per minute in exercise and sports sessions and 5 potential correlates: baseline body mass index z-score, aerobic fitness (Progressive Aerobic Cardiorespiratory Endurance Run laps), perceived athletic competence (Harter self-perception profile), sex, and age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only age (ß = -2.9; P = .02) significantly predicted steps per minute in exercise sessions. Age (ß = -4.3; P = .007), fitness (ß = 0.45; P = .03), and male sex (ß = 8.7; P = .02) significantly predicted steps per minute in sports.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In structured exercise and sports, perceived competence may not influence overweight and obese children's PA. However, girls and older or less fit children may engage less actively, especially in sports.
authors.affiliation: Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA; ChildObesity180, Tufts University, Boston, MA. Electronic address: daniel.hatfield@tufts.edu.
authors.forename: Daniel P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Hatfield
authors.affiliation: Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA; Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Tufts University, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Virginia R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Chomitz
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Tufts University, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Kenneth K H
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Chui
authors.affiliation: Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Jennifer M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sacheck
authors.affiliation: Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA; ChildObesity180, Tufts University, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Christina D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Economos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013177:Sports / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: children; obesity; physical activity; physical fitness; psychosocial factors