Project Number: 6250-51000-053-60
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Feb 01, 2010
End Date: Mar 31, 2014

Objective:
Objective 1: No longer applies Objective 2: Develop and pilot test interventions to increase and sustain physical activity at a level consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DG) in urban African- and Mexican-American children. Sub-objective 2A: Determine if adherence to the physical activity component of the DG is associated with a lower incidence of overweight/obesity in urban African- and Mexican-American children. Sub-objective 2B: Develop and pilot test an intervention with urban African- and Mexican-American children to increase physical activity consistent with the DG recommendation. Specifically, physical activity will be operationally defined as moderate to vigorous physical activity. Sub-objective 2C: Develop and pilot test a maintenance program with urban African- and Mexican-American children to sustain physical activity consistent with the DG recommendation. Specifically, physical activity will be operationally defined as moderate to vigorous physical activity.

Approach:
A sample of 200 African- or Mexican-American middle school children (i.e., 6th – 8th grade; aged 10-15 years will be recruited from a Houston charter school to provide data on their participation in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Measured body composition (i.e., height, weight, BMI, percent body fat) will be collected. This study will examine children's free-living participation in physical activity (PA) to determine if these behaviors are consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DG) (i.e., 60 minutes of MVPA most days of the week). A questionnaire will be administered identifying PA barriers and facilitators to help determine activities most likely to encourage continued participation in PA. Subjects will be assessed to determine their level of adherence to PA that is consistent with the DG.