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Setting the Context for Obesity Prevention in Rural Schools: GROW Healthy Kids & Communities
Approach: We measured height, weight, and PA on 453 boys and 415 girls (grades 1-6), enrolled in four rural elementary schools. Height, weight and PA accrued during the school day was measured during the same week over four days using Walk4Life pedometers. Four-day averages were calculated for daily wear time, steps, total activity time, and moderate to vigorous activity (MVPA; step count > 120/min). BMI percentiles and z-scores were calculated and regression models were run to examine the relationships between PA variables and BMI z-scores, adjusting for wear time, gender, and grade.
Results: More MVPA was associated with lower BMI (p<0.001); this was consistent across grade and gender. Boys accrued more total PA and MVPA than girls (p<0.001). Children in grade 1 accrued more total PA (vs. grades 3-6; p<0.05) and MVPA (vs. grades 4-6; p<0.01) and had lower obesity rates (vs. grades 4,5,6; p<0.05).
Conclusion: Efforts to promote PA as a strategy for obesity prevention in rural elementary school settings should focus on increasing opportunities for MVPA.
Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and preventionPublic health or related research
Learning Objectives:
Describe the context for obesity prevention in rural elementary school settings.
Describe suggested strategies for physical activity promotion for obesity prevention in rural elementary school settings.
Keyword(s): Rural Health, School-Based Health
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I serve as Project Director of a 5-year, United States Department of Agriculture-funded study (with Dr. Deborah John) examining the role of rural home, school and community settings in promoting childhood obesity. I have a demonstrated record of productive research related to the promotion of physical activity for the prevention and management of chronic disease.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.