Comparison of Physical activity and TV viewing between Children with and without Disability

Objectives: To examine whether physical activity and TV viewing behaviors are different between children with and withoutdisability. Method: A secondary data analysis using the National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH), a nationally representative telephone survey (children aged 6 to 17 years, n=69,031). The definition of disability is used from the questions of “Has a doctor, health professional, teacher, or school ever told you [study child] has a [type of disability]?” The types of disability includes learning disability (LD), vision/hearing problems, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Depression/Anxiety problems, behavioral problems, born/joint/muscle problems, autism, and developmental delay/physical impairment. The odds of NOT meeting the HP2010 goals for vigorous activity (3+ days a week) and TV viewing (<2 hrs a day) were estimated among children with disability compared with their counterparts. Covariates were age, sex, race, weight status, education, poverty, family structure, number of family meals. Further, we adjusted weights and multistage sampling design effects in multivariate logistic regression models. Results: Overall 12% of U.S. children had LD and 9% had ADD in 2003. About 53% of children with LD watched TV more than 2 hrs a day, while 44% of children without LD did. (OR =1.20, 95% CI 1.08-1.32). Children with developmental delays/physical impairment were more likely to fail to meet the vigorous activity recommendation than their counterparts (37% vs. 26%, OR=1.86 95% CI 1.59-2.18). Conclusions: Children with disability engaged in less healthy behaviors. Public health efforts to promote healthy lifestyle among children with disability are in great need.