Relationship between after-school physical activity and dietary habits with cardio-metabolic risk in low-income children

Childhood obesity is a major focus of public health. The high rates of childhood obesity can be partially attributed to the increased availability and consumption of energy-dense and nutrient-poor foods and excess time spent in sedentary behavior. The purpose of this study was to determine whether after-school physical activity and dietary habits predict cardio-metabolic risk in a sample of ethnic minority elementary-school-aged children from low-income schools. Participants were a convenience sample of 92 children (3rd-6th grades) recruited from four Title I schools located in a metropolitan area from the Mountain West region of the United States. Children completed portions of the After School Student Questionnaire (ASSQ) and Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children (PAQ-C) to measure after-school physical activity and nutrition. Blood pressure, waist circumference, and cardio-metabolic blood markers were collected in a fasted state before school hours to calculate a continuous metabolic syndrome (MetS) composite score. Predictive relationships were analyzed using a multiple linear regression model. Neither physical activity nor nutrition were predictive of a MetS score. However, there was a linear, positive, and moderate correlation between physical activity and nutrition scores (r = 0.29, p < 0.05). In a secondary analysis, a linear regression established the relationship between after-school physical activity and nutrition. The linear model indicated that a one-unit increase in PA score was associated with 1.28-unit increase in nutrition score. The findings indicate that cardio-metabolic health cannot be predicted based on self-reported after-school physical activity and nutrition habits; however, self-reported PA and nutrition habits are linearly related. Overall, the majority of children in this study exhibited favorable cardio-metabolic health. In fact, 84.8% of the subjects had two or fewer of the risk factors for metabolic syndrome and 40.2% of subjects displayed none of the risk factors. Further research is needed in determining whether after-school physical activity and nutrition habits influence cardio-metabolic health.