Citation

Kahan D, McKenzie TL. J. Sch. Health 2017; 87(6): 448-456.

Affiliation

San Diego State University, 5127 Walsh Way, San Diego, CA 92115.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, American School Health Association, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/josh.12516

PMID

28463449

Abstract

BACKGROUND: We assessed the associations of 5 school and 7 neighborhood variables with fifth-grade students achieving Healthy Fitness Zone (HFZ) or Needs Improvement-Health Risk (NI-HR) on aerobic capacity (AC) and body composition (BC) physical fitness components of the state-mandated FITNESSGRAM(®) physical fitness test.

METHODS: Data for outcome (physical fitness) and predictor (school and neighborhood) variables were extracted from various databases (eg, Data Quest, Walk Score(®) ) for 160 schools located in San Diego, California. Predictor variables that were at least moderately correlated (|r| ≥.30) with ≥1 outcome variables in univariate analyses were retained for ordinary least squares regression analyses.

RESULTS: The mean percentages of students achieving HFZ AC (65.7%) and BC (63.5%) were similar (t = 1.13, p =.26), while those for NI-HR zones were significantly different (AC = 6.0% vs BC = 18.6%; t = 12.60, p <.001). Correlations were greater in magnitude for school than neighborhood demographics and stronger for BC than AC. The school variables free/reduced-price lunch (negative) and math achievement (positive) predicted fitness scores. Among neighborhood variables, percent Hispanic predicted failure of meeting the HFZ BC criterion.

CONCLUSIONS: Creating school and neighborhood environments conducive to promoting physical activity and improving fitness is warranted.

© 2017, American School Health Association.

Language: en

Keywords

FITNESSGRAM®; correlates; elementary school; fitness