Comparison of Impairments, Activity Limitations, Physical Activity, and Self-Efficacy among Healthy Weight, Overweight and Obese Minority Middle School Children

• Main Author: Nunez-Gaunaurd, Annabel
• Format: Others
• Published: Scholarly Repository 2011
• Subjects: childhood obesity; BMI; physical activity; motor proficiency; Hispanic; impairments
• Online Access: http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_dissertations/699

The feasibility and outcomes of a 12-week extracurricular family-based intervention led by physical therapists that was designed to increase physical activity (PA) in three Hispanic male middle-school children was examined. This intervention has limited feasibility and may increase physical activity levels for overweight Hispanic middle school children. In a second study, differences in motor proficiency, strength, endurance, and PA among healthy weight, overweight and obese children were examined, and correlations between BMI and physical impairments were explored. Obese children demonstrated impairments in motor proficiency, strength, and endurance when compared to healthy weight children. Among overweight children, higher BMI was associated with more physical impairments. Overweight children were less physically active than healthy weight children. A high proportion of children were not meeting daily step recommendations to maintain a healthy weight. Girls were less active than boys at this crucial stage of development. The findings of this study have important clinical relevance for physical therapists, who are uniquely qualified to assess these identified impairments and activity limitations that may limit a child’s ability to engage in greater levels of physical activity. This information lends support to the role of the physical therapist in addressing current public health recommendations related to the childhood obesity.