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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #171418
Title: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND DIET AMONG AFRICAN-AMERICAN GIRLS.

Author
item JAGO, RUSSELL - BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MED
item Baranowski, Thomas
item YOO, SUNMI - UNIV SANGGYE PAIK HOSPTL
item Cullen, Karen
item Zakeri, Issa
item WATSON, KATHY - BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MED
item HIMES, JOHN - UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
item PRATT, CHARLOTTE - NAT HEART,LUNG&BLOOD INST
item SUN, WANJIE - GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIV
item PRUITT, LESLIE - STANFORD UNIV SCHL OF MED
item MATHESON, DONNA - STANFORD UNIV SCHL OF MED

Submitted to: Obesity Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/1/2004
Publication Date: 9/1/2004
Citation: Jago, R., Baranowski, T., Yoo, S., Cullen, K., Zakeri, I., Watson, K., Himes, J.H., Pratt, C., Sun, W., Pruitt, L.A., Matheson, D.M. 2004. Relationship between physical activity and diet among African-American girls. Obesity Research. 12(suppl 1):55S-63S.

Interpretive Summary: In this paper we looked at whether the amount of physical activity in which African-American girls was associated with the type of foods that they consumed. We found that active girls obtained less of their calories from fat and more from carbohydrates. This suggests that the diet of active girls is different from that of less active girls. More research is needed to understand the causes of this relationship.

Technical Abstract: The objective of this study was to examine the cross-sectional relationships between physical activity and dietary behaviors among 8- to 10-year-old African-American girls. Two hundred ten 8- to 10-year-old African-American girls from four field centers participated. Computer Science and Applications (CSA) activity monitors were worn for 3 days. CSA data were expressed as mean CSA counts per minute, mean minutes of moderate to vigorous activity per day, and mean metabolic equivalents (METS) per minute. Two nonconsecutive 24-hour dietary recalls were analyzed for kilocalories; percent kilocalories from fat; daily servings of fruit, 100% fruit juice, and vegetables; sweetened beverages; and water consumption. Height and weight were measured, and information on household income, material possessions, and participant age were obtained. Results showed that all three expressions of physical activity were significantly negatively associated with percentage calories from fat (r = -0.147 to -0.177, p < 0.01), and mean METS per minute were significantly positively associated with percentage calories from carbohydrate (r = 0.149, p < 0.05) after controlling for household income, material possessions, field center, and total caloric intake. Income was inversely associated with percentage calories from fat. Physical activity and dietary fat consumption were inversely related among African-American girls. Efforts to prevent obesity in preadolescent African-American girls should focus on increasing physical activity and lowering dietary fat consumption.