1. Correlates of Exercise November 26, 2002

2. What Can Influence Exercise? Age Gender Ethnicity Education/Occupational status Environment Culture

3. Gender No significant differences in infants After infancy, boys are more active than girls in all age groups

4. Ethnicity Research indicates that Caucasian- Americans have the lowest percentage of sedentary Asian or Pacific Islanders American Pacific Islanders African-Americans Hispanic-Americans What might be influencing these numbers?

5. Environment

6. Culture In American society, we don’t necessarily value physical activity Netherlands: of all urban trips made, 42% and 33% are made by bicycle and walking, respectively In North America, the numbers are very different

7. North American Trends In Canada, only 1% of trips are made by bicycle, 10% are walking, and 74% are by car In the US, 1% are bicycle, 9% are walking, and 84% are by car

8. Culture Study examining health behaviors Placed a sign (3’X3.5’) with two different hearts next to area where people had to choose between walking up stairs and going up an escalator

9. Occupation Blue collar workers are less likely to: Level of education is positively associated with leisure time PA 9th grade education = College education =

10. Education Level Parental education level related to child’s activity level Parent’s education At least 1 year of university = HS graduate = Left high school =

11. Age Elderly not encouraged to exercise as frequently Health problems may preclude from participating (rheumatoid arthritis, etc.) Socially isolated Loss of physical abilities This loss may be reduced with continued physical activity

12. Children and PA CDCP study (October, 2002)

13. Children and Obesity 5.3 million kids are overweight

14. Children and Obesity 30% of public high schools sell McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, Domino’s, etc. Schools get a percentage of the money Foods must adhere to federal regulations, however, food from vending machines does not have to conform (Twinkies, etc.)

15. Fast Food in Schools

16. Physical Activity in Schools Less than 1 in 10 schools offer daily PE schools Only Illinois makes daily PE mandatory

17. Changes Increased PE/physical activity among children Remove fast food from schools? Apply community- or family-based interventions to facilitate change at a systemic level