Attraction to Physical Activity and Perception of Physical Competence in Children

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As part of my elective internship hours, I am assisting with KIDS camp (Kids interested in Diet and Sports) at KSU. At KIDS camp, overweight or obese children or children at risk of becoming overweight or obese participate in 45 minutes of physical activity and 45 minutes of nutrition education every Thursday for an 8 week period. Interestingly, this article demonstrates the power of such programs! In Portugal, 683 children ages 8-10 were examined to determine attraction to physical activity, perceived physical competence, and socioeconomic status. Socioeconomic status was measured by participation in the school subsidized education and meal program. If students did not participate in the subsidized program they were considered high class, if students received a discounted school lunch they were deemed middle class, and students participating in the subsidized program were considered to be of lower socioeconomic status. Results showed boys reported greater enjoyment in sports and games than girls. Boys and normal weight children perceived themselves as more physically competent and successful than did girls and obese children. Normal weight girls enjoyed participation in vigorous physical activity more than overweight and obese girls. While these results, weren’t all that surprising I found the fact that children of high and medium socioeconomic status felt more strongly that regular physical activity participation was important than children of low socioeconomic status. Furthermore, children of high socioeconomic status were more likely to state their parents were positive role models and enjoyed physical activity than their counterparts. Dietitians working in community nutrition should therefore focus physical activity interventions and promotion on girls, obese children, and children of lower socioeconomic status.  Also programs like KIDS camp that involve families and guardians are more likely to be successful because the parent or guardian’s perception of physical activity can be positively influenced resulting in lifestyle change. It would be interesting to also expand this research and include diet quality of these same participants as another dependent variable.

 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1440244012001934#

EK

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