Habitual physical activity and health-related physical fitness in fourth-grade children
J. F. Sallis, T. L. McKenzie and J. E. Alcaraz
Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, CA 92120.
OBJECTIVE--To examine the relationship between habitual physical activity
and components of health-related physical fitness in children.
DESIGN--Cross-sectional survey with correlational analysis. SETTING--Seven
public elementary schools in a suburban southern California city.
PARTICIPANTS--Five hundred twenty-eight healthy fourth-grade children (274
boys and 254 girls), 85% of whom were non-Hispanic whites. Ninety-eight
percent of eligible students participated. INTERVENTIONS--None.
MEASUREMENTS/MAIN RESULTS--Results of six measures of physical activity in
children (monitoring by accelerometer, parent report, and child
self-reports of weekday activity, weekend activity, and summer involvement
in activity classes and youth sports) were combined in a physical activity
index. This index of habitual physical activity was examined in relation to
measures of five components of health-related fitness: the mile run,
skin-fold tests, pull-ups, sit-ups, and the sit-and-reach test. The
physical activity index was significantly associated with all five fitness
components. The canonical correlation was .29. CONCLUSION--Active children
appear to engage in a sufficient variety of activities to enhance multiple
components of health-related fitness.
