Disparities in Fitness and Physical Activity Among Children.

BACKGROUND

Adequate physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness aid in the prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity. Large sociodemographic/economic disparities exist for these conditions, which develop over time beginning in childhood. This paper examines disparities in both activity and fitness levels among children and adolescents in Wisconsin.

METHODS

The Wisconsin Partnership for Childhood Fitness collected cardiorespiratory fitness and physical activity data on 3,798 6th grade students in 37 schools in fall 2011. Fitness data were collected via testing in physical education classes. Activity data were collected via self-report, 1-day activity logs administered during school. Using hierarchical linear models, disparities in fitness and physical activity by race/ethnicity and school-level characteristics were investigated.

RESULTS

Widespread race and ethnic disparities exist in aerobic fitness, as well as more limited disparities in physical activity levels. In addition, students from schools with higher overall socioeconomic status (SES) were more active and had higher fitness levels than those from schools with overall lower SES levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Among Wisconsin adolescents, race/ethnicity and school-level SES contribute to significant differences in both fitness and physical activity levels. Modifiable elements of the school environment to increase physical activity, and potentially fitness, may provide opportunities to reduce health disparities among children, contributing to improved long-term health outcomes among Wisconsin adults.