TY - JOUR
T1 - Prevalence and correlates of state and regional disparities in vigorous physical activity levels among US children and adolescents
AU - Singh, Gopal K.
AU - Kogan, Michael D.
AU - Siahpush, Mohammad
AU - Van Dyck, Peter C.
PY - 2009/1
Y1 - 2009/1
N2 - Background: This study examines state and regional disparities in vigorous physical activity levels among US children age 6 to 17 years. Methods: The 2003 National Survey of Children's Health was used to calculate vigorous physical activity (VPA) and no days of vigorous physical activity (NVPA) prevalence by state and geographic region. Logistic and least squares regression were used to analyze geographic disparities. Results: Vigorous physical activity levels varied substantially across geographic areas, with the East Southcentral region of the US having the highest NVPA prevalence (13.4%) and the Pacific region the lowest prevalence (9.1%). Children in Georgia and Tennessee had 2.2 to 2.3 times higher odds and children in DC, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Kansas, New Jersey, South Carolina, and Washington (adjusted prevalence >13.4%) had 1.8 to 2.0 times higher odds of NVPA than children in California (adjusted prevalence = 8.4%). Adjustment for race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, social capital, television viewing, sleep behavior, and parental physical activity doubled the magnitude of geographic disparities in vigorous physical activity levels. Area poverty, income inequality, and violent crime rates were independent predictors of VPA and NVPA. Conclusions: Although individual and area-level socioeconomic factors are important predictors, substantial geographic disparities remain, with children in several Southern states having particularly high risks of NVPA.
AB - Background: This study examines state and regional disparities in vigorous physical activity levels among US children age 6 to 17 years. Methods: The 2003 National Survey of Children's Health was used to calculate vigorous physical activity (VPA) and no days of vigorous physical activity (NVPA) prevalence by state and geographic region. Logistic and least squares regression were used to analyze geographic disparities. Results: Vigorous physical activity levels varied substantially across geographic areas, with the East Southcentral region of the US having the highest NVPA prevalence (13.4%) and the Pacific region the lowest prevalence (9.1%). Children in Georgia and Tennessee had 2.2 to 2.3 times higher odds and children in DC, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Kansas, New Jersey, South Carolina, and Washington (adjusted prevalence >13.4%) had 1.8 to 2.0 times higher odds of NVPA than children in California (adjusted prevalence = 8.4%). Adjustment for race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, social capital, television viewing, sleep behavior, and parental physical activity doubled the magnitude of geographic disparities in vigorous physical activity levels. Area poverty, income inequality, and violent crime rates were independent predictors of VPA and NVPA. Conclusions: Although individual and area-level socioeconomic factors are important predictors, substantial geographic disparities remain, with children in several Southern states having particularly high risks of NVPA.
KW - Childhood physical inactivity
KW - Deprivation
KW - Geographic disparity
KW - Parental behavior
KW - Socioeconomic status
KW - State
KW - Television viewing
KW - United States
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=58149387848&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.1123/jpah.6.1.73
DO - 10.1123/jpah.6.1.73
M3 - Article
C2 - 19211960
AN - SCOPUS:58149387848
SN - 1543-3080
VL - 6
SP - 73
EP - 87
JO - Journal of Physical Activity and Health
JF - Journal of Physical Activity and Health
IS - 1
ER -