Biomaterial Database

Associations between physical activity and physical fitness in American children. 1990

R R Pate, and M Dowda, and J G Ross

School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia 29208.

Associations between two measures of physical fitness, 1.6-km run/walk performance and sum of three skinfold thicknesses, and selected physical activity factors were studied in a nationally representative sample of third- and fourth-grade students (1150 boys, 1202 girls). Twenty physical activity variables measured via parent and teacher questionnaires were factor analyzed, and for each of the resultant eight factors, individual factor scores were generated. These were used in two multiple regression analyses in which 1.6-km run/walk time and sum of skinfold measurements were the dependent variables. Multiple R2 for these two analyses were .21 and .18. Significant factors in both analyses were global ratings of the child's activity level, age, vigorous community activities, and gender. The results indicate that physical activity and physical fitness are significantly, although moderately, associated in young children and suggest that interventions directed toward enhancement of physical activity in children are worthy of investigation.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D010809	Physical Fitness	The ability to carry out daily tasks and perform physical activities in a highly functional state, often as a result of physical conditioning.	Fitness, Physical
D012044	Regression Analysis	Procedures for finding the mathematical function which best describes the relationship between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables. In linear regression (see LINEAR MODELS) the relationship is constrained to be a straight line and LEAST-SQUARES ANALYSIS is used to determine the best fit. In logistic regression (see LOGISTIC MODELS) the dependent variable is qualitative rather than continuously variable and LIKELIHOOD FUNCTIONS are used to find the best relationship. In multiple regression, the dependent variable is considered to depend on more than a single independent variable.	Regression Diagnostics,Statistical Regression,Analysis, Regression,Analyses, Regression,Diagnostics, Regression,Regression Analyses,Regression, Statistical,Regressions, Statistical,Statistical Regressions
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D005163	Factor Analysis, Statistical	A set of statistical methods for analyzing the correlations among several variables in order to estimate the number of fundamental dimensions that underlie the observed data and to describe and measure those dimensions. It is used frequently in the development of scoring systems for rating scales and questionnaires.	Analysis, Factor,Analysis, Statistical Factor,Factor Analysis,Statistical Factor Analysis,Analyses, Factor,Analyses, Statistical Factor,Factor Analyses,Factor Analyses, Statistical,Statistical Factor Analyses
D005260	Female		Females
D006184	Habits	Acquired or learned responses which are regularly manifested.	Habit Disturbances,Habit,Habit Disturbance
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012420	Running	An activity in which the body is propelled by moving the legs rapidly. Running is performed at a moderate to rapid pace and should be differentiated from JOGGING, which is performed at a much slower pace.	Runnings
D012885	Skinfold Thickness	The measurement of subcutaneous fat located directly beneath the skin by grasping a fold of skin and subcutaneous fat between the thumb and forefinger and pulling it away from the underlying muscle tissue. The thickness of the double layer of skin and subcutaneous tissue is then read with a caliper. The five most frequently measured sites are the upper arm, below the scapula, above the hip bone, the abdomen, and the thigh. Its application is the determination of relative fatness, of changes in physical conditioning programs, and of the percentage of body fat in desirable body weight. (From McArdle, et al., Exercise Physiology, 2d ed, p496-8)	Skinfold Thicknesses,Thickness, Skinfold,Thicknesses, Skinfold