Promoting Moderate-Vigorous Physical Activity in Overweight Minority Girls

Abstract

There is limited research on the types of activities that are most effective for promoting MVPA in children. Purpose . To assess which types of activities elicit MVPA in overweight minority girls. Methods . Sample consisted of 31 overweight ( BMI≥85 th percentile) Latina and African-American girls (mean age 10.3±1.2 years). Participants wore an Actical accelerometer each day for 8 hours for 15 days to assess engagement in MVPA during their participation in a three-week activity intervention that included traditional fitness, sport skills, games, dancing, and flexibility sessions. Results . On average 62% of participants met the MVPA recommended guidelines (60 min/5d/wk) with an average of 68.5±14 minutes of MVPA across the three weeks. Traditional fitness sessions elicited the highest percent of MVPA (mean time spent in MVPA=32 %), followed by dancing and games (mean time spent in MVPA=21 %), sports skills (mean time spent in MVPA=18 %), and flexibility (mean time spent in MVPA=7 %). Step aerobics and rumba fitness elicited the highest proportions of MVPA. Conclusion . Traditional fitness activities were identified as the most successful in eliciting MVPA in overweight Latina and African American girls.