Food & Health Alliance

Pate, R.R.; Stevens, J.; Webber, L.S.; Dowda, M.; Murray, D.M.; Young, D.R. & Going, S.  (2009).  Department of Exercise Science, University of South Carolina; Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Department of Biostatistics, Tulane University; Department of Exercise Science, University of South Carolina; Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Ohio State University; Department of Kinesiology, University of Maryland and Department of Physiology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Arizona.

Study to investigate the change in objectively and subjectively measured physical activity participation for adolescent females. 

Method:  Both cross-sectional and longitudinal data was used n this study. Participants were either in Grade 6 or 8.  A 2 year intervention was implemented, baseline and post-intervention measures recorded.  Cross-sectional analysis was completed for 786 6^th graders and 1545 8^th graders, with an adventitious sample of 501 girls.  Girls wore an accelerometer for 7 continuous days in order to measure physical activity levels objectively.  The participants also provided a subjective measure of physical activity by completing the 3-Day Physical Activity Recall (3DPAR) diary, which encouraged recording of activity type and intensity.  Some demographic data was also recorded, along with the girls’ weight and height in order to calculate BMI. 

Findings:  Using the accelerometer data it was noted that physical activity declined by 4% per year. 3DPAR data indicated much greater declines in physical activity then the accelerometer data, however 3DPAR metric system was considerably more accurate.  Rate of decline in physical activity was largest for African American girls, in comparison to Hispanic and white girls, however Hispanic girls in 6^th grade exercised less than both African America and white girls.  However at 8^th grade the African American and Hispanic girls exercised at a comparable level, which was less than white girls.

Implications:  Girls reported that they did not meet the daily guideline for physical activity (on average 40% of the target).  The decline in activity over the two years, suggests that girls are moving even farther from the target, this finding has clear implications for public health. 

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