In-School Physical Activity in a Sample of Low Income Children

Background/Purpose: One of the primary purposes of Let’s Move Active Schools is to increase physical activity (PA) during school. Limited baseline data on in-school PA exist in low-income, multi-ethnic, and academically underperforming schools; limiting in-school PA comparisons to US expected values.

Method: The selected elementary school did not meet the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) academic yearly progress and 83% of the students were eligible for free or reduced lunch. The sample was comprised of 11 different ethnic groups and included a total of 110 (67 female) 1^st thru 6^thgrade children. Students wore Walk4Life pedometers over four consecutive days during school to determine in-school steps/day. Height and weight was measured to determine body mass index (BMI).  

Analysis/Results:   Boys (M 4,257; SD 1,626) accumulated approximately 1,000 more in-school steps/day than girls (M 3,383; SD 1,274). Over half (53%) the sample was considered obese (31.8%) or overweight (21.8%).  No significant differences were found among ethnic groups for both in-school steps/day and BMI. Students accumulated (M 6,139; SD 2,655) approximately 2,000 more steps on school days with PE compared to school days without PE (M 4,148; SD1,927). However, PE was only required once a week and few classroom teachers reported teaching the required class.

Conclusions: We found that the boys and girls in this sample averaged 19% and 15% less in-school steps/day compared to US expected step values.  Let’s Move Active Schools and other programs designed to increase in-school PA should consider prioritizing low-income, multi-ethnic, and underperforming elementary schools for intervention.