%0 Journal Article
%T Obesity and Other Correlates of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors among US High School Students
%A Richard Lowry
%A Sarah M. Lee
%A Janet E. Fulton
%A Zewditu Demissie
%A Laura Kann
%J Journal of Obesity
%D 2013
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2013/276318
%X Understanding correlates of physical activity (PA) can help inform and improve programs that promote PA among youth. We analyzed data from the 2010 National Youth Physical Activity and Nutrition Study, a representative sample of US students in grades 9¨C12. Logistic regression was used to examine associations between PA correlates (obesity, physical education classes, sports team participation, attitude toward PA, adult support for PA, and environmental support for PA) and participation in daily PA (DPA), vigorous PA (VPA), muscle-strengthening activity (MSA), viewing television (TV), and using computers or video games (C/VG). A positive attitude toward PA and adult support for PA were both associated with increased PA and decreased sedentary behavior. However, among students who lived in neighborhoods that were not safe for PA, a positive attitude toward PA was not associated with increased DPA or decreased sedentary behavior and was less strongly associated with VPA and MSA. Efforts to increase PA among youth should promote a positive attitude toward PA among youth and encourage adult family members to support their efforts to be active. Policies that promote safe neighborhoods may work synergistically with a positive attitude toward PA to increase participation in PA and decrease sedentary behaviors. 1. Introduction In the United States, approximately one out of three adolescents and two out of three adults are either overweight or obese [1, 2]. Regular physical activity can improve the health and quality of life of all Americans, including those who are overweight or obese [3]. For people who are inactive, even small increases in physical activity are associated with health benefits [3, 4]. Among adults, physical activity can lower the risk of early death, depression, coronary heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and obesity [4]. Among children and adolescents, physical activity can reduce symptoms of depression and stress, improve cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness, improve bone health, and decrease levels of body fat [4]. Unfortunately, participation in physical activity declines dramatically during adolescence [5]. The physical activity objectives for Healthy People 2020 reflect the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans which recommend that children and adolescents get at least 60 minutes (1 hour) of daily physical activity that consists mostly of moderate- to vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity and that includes vigorous-intensity physical activities (at least 3 days per week), muscle-strengthening
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jobe/2013/276318/