title: Predictors and grade level trends of school day physical activity achievement in low-income children from the U.S.
abstract: The achievement of recommended levels (≥ 30 min/day) of school moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is paramount to decrease risk of chronic disease in children from low-income families. The purpose of this study was to examine the predictors and grade-level trends of school day MVPA achievement in low-income children. Data were collected during the Fall of 2014 on 1232 children (Mean age = 8.8 ± 1.6 years; 625 girls, 607 boys) recruited from three low-income schools from the state of Utah in the U.S. Children wore pedometers for one school week and a stratified random subsample (n = 533) also wore accelerometers to record sedentary time and MVPA. Generalized linear mixed models were employed to calculate odds ratios for achieving school MVPA standards (≥ 30 min/day) from various predictors and to determine odds of achievement across grade levels, accounting for school and classroom clustering. Odds of meeting MVPA standards were 3 times greater if a student achieved at least 6000 steps during the school day (p < 0.01), and were 55% lower for every 1% increase in sedentary time (p < 0.001). Older children had 26% lower odds of meeting the recommended levels of MVPA compared to children in an immediately younger grade level (p < 0.05). A significant proportion of MVPA variance was explained by classroom and school affiliation (Rho = 0.09 to 0.54, p < 0.001). Daily steps, sedentary times, grade level, and classroom and school affiliation associate with school MVPA achievement in low-income children.
authors: University of Utah, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, 250 S. 1850 E., HPER North, RM 241, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
authors: Ryan D
authors: RD
authors: Burns
authors: University of Utah, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, 250 S. 1850 E., HPER North, RM 241, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
authors: Timothy A
authors: TA
authors: Brusseau
authors: University of Utah, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, 250 S. 1850 E., HPER North, RM 241, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
authors: Yi
authors: Y
authors: Fang
authors: Salt Lake City School District, 440 East 100 South Salt Lake City, UT 84111, USA.
authors: Rachel S
authors: RS
authors: Myrer
authors: University of Nebraska Kearney, Kinesiology and Sports Sciences Department, 905 West 25th Street, Kearney, NE 68849, USA.
authors: You
authors: Y
authors: Fu
authors: West Virginia University, College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, P.O. Box 6116, 375 Birch St., Morgantown, WV 26505-6116, USA.
authors: James C
authors: JC
authors: Hannon
keywords: Accelerometers; Health-related fitness; Pedometers; Sedentary times