Relationship between After-School Physical Activity and Dietary Habits with Cardio-metabolic Risk in Low-income Children

Abstract This study investigated the role of objectively measured moderate–vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary behavior on cardiometabolic risk factors of young Latino children. We hypothesized that MVPA would be associated with lower cardiometabolic risk when sedentary behavior is low. We studied 86 primarily low-income, Latino children using a cross-sectional study design. The study sample consisted of 51 girls and 35 boys, with mean age 5.6 (SD = .53) years. Physical activity was measured by accelerometry, anthropometric measures obtained, and fasting blood samples were used to measure cardiometabolic risk factors. Greater levels of sedentary behavior were associated with increased waist circumference (rs = .24, p < .05) and metabolic risks. MVPA, however, had significant beneficial associations with all cardiometabolic risk factors (rs-range = −.20 to −.45, p < .05) with the exception of plasma insulin. MVPA predicted latent variables representing anthropometric risk (β = −.57, p < .01), cardiac risk (β = −.74, p < .01), and metabolic risk (β = −.88, p < .01). Sedentary behavior significantly moderated the effect of MVPA on anthropometric (β-interaction = .49, p < .01), cardiac (β-interaction = .45, p < .01), and metabolic risk (β-interaction = .77, p < .01), such that more MVPA was associated with better health outcomes under conditions of lower sedentary behavior. The model explained 13%, 22%, and 45% variance in anthropometric, cardiac, and metabolic risk factors, respectively. Increased MVPA is associated with decreased cardiometabolic risk in young Latino children, particularly when sedentary behavior is low.

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Associations Between Parent-Perceived Neighborhood Safety and Encouragement and Child Outdoor Physical Activity Among Low-Income Children

Journal of Physical Activity and Health ◽

10.1123/jpah.2017-0224 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 15 (5) ◽

pp. 317-324 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Nicole E. Nicksic ◽

Meliha Salahuddin ◽

Nancy F. Butte ◽

Deanna M. Hoelscher

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Low Income ◽

Fifth Grade ◽

Neighborhood Safety ◽

Parental Encouragement ◽

Low Income Children ◽

Fifth Grade Students ◽

Logistic Regressions ◽

The Relationship ◽

Perceived Neighborhood Safety

Background: A growing body of research has examined the relationship between perceived neighborhood safety and parental encouragement for child physical activity (PA), yet these potential predictors have not been studied together to predict child outdoor PA. The purpose of this study is to examine these predictors and parent- and child-reported child outdoor PA. Methods: The Texas Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration study collected data from fifth-grade students attending 31 elementary schools across Austin and Houston and their parents (N = 748 parent–child dyads). Mixed-effects linear and logistic regressions stratified by gender and adjusted for sociodemographic covariates assessed associations among parental-perceived neighborhood safety, parental encouragement for child’s outdoor PA, and parent- and child-reported child’s outdoor PA. Results: Parental-perceived neighborhood safety was significantly associated with encouraging outdoor PA (P = .01) and child-reported child’s outdoor PA in boys, but not in girls. Significant associations were found between parental encouragement and child-reported outdoor PA for girls (P < .05) and parent-reported outdoor PA (P < .01) for boys and girls. Conclusions: Parent encouragement of PA and neighborhood safety are potential predictors of child outdoor PA and could be targeted in youth PA interventions.

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Latina Elementary School Girls’ Experiences in an Urban After-School Physical Education and Literacy Program

Journal of Teaching in Physical Education ◽

10.1123/jtpe.2019-0211 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Risto Marttinen ◽

Mara Simon ◽

Sharon Phillips ◽

Ray N. Fredrick

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Low Income ◽

Role Models ◽

Critical Role ◽

Literacy Program ◽

After School ◽

Educational Approach ◽

Community Spaces ◽

The Impact ◽

Latina Girls

Purpose: To understand where and how Latina girls are physically active outside of the Reflective Educational Approach to Character and Health program and the impact of female role models on participation in the program. Methods: The authors implemented a yearlong after-school physical activity and literacy program for fifth and sixth grade girls (N = 22 girls) in a low-income, urban community. Four university students/coaches delivered all sessions. Data were triangulated through 10 Latina girls’ interviews, student journals, coaches’ journals, researcher journals, and field notes, and analyzed using constant comparison. Results: Girls participated in leisure-time physical activities with family in community spaces, in spite of social and cultural barriers. Female coaches facilitated girls’ increased engagement by acting as strong role models and fostering caring relationships. Conclusion: After-school programs, community spaces, and strong connections with coaches play a critical role in students’ engagement in physical activity.

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Does the CATCH Early Childhood Program Increase Physical Activity Among Low-Income Preschoolers?—Results From a Pilot Study

American Journal of Health Promotion ◽

10.1177/0890117117700952 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 32 (2) ◽

pp. 344-348 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Ru-Jye Chuang ◽

Shreela V. Sharma ◽

Cheryl Perry ◽

Pamela Diamond

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Early Childhood ◽

Head Start ◽

Low Income ◽

Demographic Data ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Post Intervention ◽

Low Income Children ◽

School Year ◽

Observation Method

Purpose: To explore whether the physical activity (PA) component of the Coordinated Approach to Child Health Early Childhood (CATCH EC) program helps increasing preschoolers’ PA during active times at preschool. Design: Nonrandomized controlled experimental study. Setting: Head Start centers in Houston, Texas, 2009 to 2010 school year. Participants: A total of 439 preschoolers aged 3 to 5 years (3 intervention centers, n = 220; 3 comparison centers, n = 219). Intervention: The CATCH EC preschool-based teacher-led nutrition and PA program. Measures: Preschoolers’ PA was measured at baseline and postintervention using the System for Observing Fitness Instruction Time–Preschool version, a direct observation method measuring PA at the classroom level. Parent surveys provided demographic data. Analysis: Pre-to-post changes in preschoolers’ PA were examined using the Mann-Whitney U test. Results: Results show a significant decrease in the percentage time preschoolers spent in level 2 PA (low activity) at intervention ( P = .005) and comparison ( P = .041) centers. Indoor vigorous activity increased significantly on an average by +6.04% pre-to-post intervention among preschoolers in the intervention group ( P = .049); no significant change was found in the comparison group. Conclusion: The CATCH EC favorably increased indoor vigorous PA level among low-income children attending Head Start.

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The promise of after-school programs for low-income children

Early Childhood Research Quarterly ◽

10.1016/s0885-2006(00)00056-9 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 15 (2) ◽

pp. 185-214 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Robert Halpern

Keyword(s):

Low Income ◽

After School Programs ◽

After School ◽

Low Income Children ◽

School Programs

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Effect of a 12-Week Summer Break on School Day Physical Activity and Health-Related Fitness in Low-Income Children from CSPAP Schools

Journal of Environmental and Public Health ◽

10.1155/2017/9760817 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2017 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

You Fu ◽

Timothy A. Brusseau ◽

James C. Hannon ◽

Ryan D. Burns

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Low Income ◽

Mean Difference ◽

Spring Semester ◽

School Aged Children ◽

Low Income Children ◽

Cardiovascular Endurance ◽

School Day ◽

Health Related ◽

Health Related Fitness

Background. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a 12-week summer break on school day physical activity and health-related fitness (HRF) in children from schools receiving a Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program (CSPAP). Methods. Participants were school-aged children (N=1,232; 624 girls and 608 boys; mean age=9.5±1.8 years) recruited from three low-income schools receiving a CSPAP. Physical activity and HRF levels were collected during the end of spring semester 2015 and again during the beginning of fall semester 2015. Physical activity was assessed using the Yamax DigiWalker CW600 pedometer. HRF measures consisted of body mass index (BMI) and the Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run (PACER). Results. Results from a doubly MANCOVA analysis indicated that pedometer step counts decreased from 4,929 steps in the spring to 4,445 steps in the fall (mean difference = 484 steps; P<0.001; Cohen’s d = 0.30) and PACER laps decreased from 31.2 laps in the spring to 25.8 laps in the fall (mean difference = 5.4 laps; P<0.001; Cohen’s d = 0.33). Conclusions. Children from schools receiving a CSPAP intervention had lower levels of school day physical activity and cardiorespiratory endurance following a 12-week summer break.

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Weight-Loss Resilience Among Low-Income Postpartum Women: Association With Health Habits

Western Journal of Nursing Research ◽

10.1177/0193945918824598 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 41 (12) ◽

pp. 1709-1723 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lorraine O. Walker ◽

Sookja Kang ◽

Bobbie S. Sterling

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Social Support ◽

Weight Loss ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Low Income ◽

Group Intervention ◽

Dietary Habits ◽

Control Group ◽

Postpartum Women ◽

Health Habits

Using a weight resilience framework, health habits of diet and physical activity, social support, and perceived stress were compared in women who lost weight (resilient) and those who did not lose or gained weight (nonresilient) during a weight-loss intervention. Participants were low-income postpartum women participating in a 13-week randomized treatment-control group intervention, with 20 of 50 classified as resilient in losing weight. Measures included the Postpartum Support Scale, the Perceived Stress Scale, and health habit items from the Self Care Inventory. Weight-loss resilient women showed significantly more frequent healthful dietary habits, such as eating a nutritious breakfast, and less frequent unhealthy habits, such as substituting junk food for meals, and less perceived stress than their nonresilient counterparts at both the midpoint and end of the study. Weight-loss resilient women also showed significantly more frequent physical activity habits at the end of the study. No social support differences were found.

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Do You Hear What I Hear? Overweight Children’s Perceptions of Different Physical Activity Settings

Journal of Teaching in Physical Education ◽

10.1123/jtpe.30.4.393 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 30 (4) ◽

pp. 393-409 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Karen S. Meaney ◽

Melanie A. Hart ◽

L. Kent Griffin

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Physical Education ◽

Low Income ◽

Cognitive Theory ◽

After School ◽

Summer Program ◽

Activity Settings ◽

Children's Perceptions ◽

Children’S Perceptions ◽

American Children

Social-Cognitive Theory (Bandura, 1986, 1999) served as the framework to explore overweight children’s perceptions of different physical activity settings. Participants were children (n = 67) enrolled in an after-school and summer program for overweight African-American and Hispanic-American children from low-income families. To gain insight into the children’s thoughts encompassing their participation in both the after school/summer program and their physical education classes at their respective elementary schools, all of the children individually participated in semistructured interviews. Children enjoyed their involvement in the after-school/summer program and described social, physical, and cognitive benefits related to their participation. Interview data also revealed children’s ideas and suggestions for adapting physical education to enhance participation in physical activity. Based on these results, instructional and management strategies focusing on promoting a nurturing environment in physical activity settings for all children (overweight and nonoverweight) are presented and discussed.

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