Background/Purpose To examine children's attitude toward physical activity (CATPA), eating habits (EH), and physical activity (PA) in 3rd, 4th, & 5th graders (N = 96) in an urban school.
Method During physical education class, students were administered the CATPA (Schutz et al., 1985), & EH Quiz (US Public Health Service) & given Omoron HJ7201TC pedometers. Students were instructed to wear the pedometers on the right side of their body for 7 d.
Analysis/Results Step counts per weekday (SWKD) & step counts per weekend (SWKEND) were averaged. SWKD for girls & boys were 7120 ± 2697 & 6692 ± 1476, respectively. SWKEND for girls & boys were 4084 ± 3125 & 4066 ± 3171, respectively. Correlation Coefficients among PA, CATPA, & EH indicated no significant (p > .05) relationships. Factorial ANOVAs for EH and PA among grade & gender showed significant grade differences for EH & SWKEND. Fourth and fifth graders had significantly higher EH (5.29 ± 0.42 & 5.92 ± 0.44) than third graders (3.78 ± 0. 40). Fifth graders took significantly more SWKEND (6665.64 ± 2645.73) than 3rd and 4th graders (2299.95 ± 2645.74; 3259.10 ± 2267.66).
Conclusions No relationships among EH, CATPA, & PA existed, however differences in PA and EH existed among grade level. Fourth & fifth graders reported better EH and 5th graders had higher SWKEND than 3rd & 4th graders. SWKD & SWKEND were less than reported by previous researchers (Tudor-Locke, et al., 2009). An urban setting may influence EH & PA a child can receive.