Background/Purpose Youth from lower income families are typically not as physically active as those with higher incomes (USDHHS, 2000). The Southeastern area of Appalachian Ohio is one of the poorest and most medically underserved regions in the U.S. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the physical activity (PA) patterns of secondary school youth living in rural Appalachian Ohio.
Method Participants were 152 youth (69 boys and 83 girls), who were 14.0 ± 1.7 years old. PA was assessed using a pedometer with a moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) timer. Participants wore the pedometers for 7 days and recorded daily time worn on a PA log.
Analysis/Results A 2x2 (grade x sex) ANOVA was used to determine whether the average number of steps taken per day (steps/d) and the average accumulation of MVPA time in minutes per day (min/d) differed by grade and sex. A significant interaction effect for average daily steps was found (p = 0.020). Accordingly, further analyses were conducted by splitting the sexes; however no statistical difference was found. Sex-related differences were prevalent, as boys had more MVPA time during weekdays (p = 0.037) and the whole week (p = 0.042), and more steps on the weekend (p = 0.042).
Conclusions The majority of the participants in this study did not meet the recommended PA guideline; however, boys are found to be more active than girls. Effective interventions to increase daily PA for underserved youth must become a higher public priority.