@article{ref1,
title="School and neighborhood predictors of physical fitness in elementary school students",
journal="Journal of school health",
year="2017",
author="Kahan, David and McKenzie, Thomas L.",
volume="87",
number="6",
pages="448-456",
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. <br><br>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. <br><br>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. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Creating school and neighborhood environments conducive to promoting physical activity and improving fitness is warranted.<br><br>© 2017, American School Health Association.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0022-4391",
doi="10.1111/josh.12516",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/josh.12516"
}