Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviors, and Native Hawaiian Adolescents

Background: The goal of this cross-sectional study was to examine, in a sample of female adolescents of Hawaiian ancestry, the role physical activity and inactivity possess on weight status and to present the prevalence of overweight from this preliminary dataset.

Methods: Questionnaires were administered in a quiet classroom setting during school hours, taking approximately 20 minutes to complete. SAS v8.01 was used to conduct all statistical analyses. The outcome measure was a dichotomous overweight status variable. Independent samples t-tests were used to determine differences between normal weight and overweight students. Logistic regression models were used to model outcome adjusting for potential confounding variables. Parental consent and student assent were obtained for all study participants. Two institutional review boards approved all methods.

Results: (1) the prevalence of overweight for this sample was 21%, (2) leisure-time physical activity levels did not provide evidence of any association with weight status (p>0.05), (3) higher levels of leisure-time sedentary behavior appeared to have a direct influence on weight status (p<0.05).

Conclusions: Chief findings from these preliminary analyses were: (1) prevalence of overweight was 21%, a value almost 50% higher in comparison to non-Native Hawaiian female adolescents who participated in this study, (2) higher levels of leisure time sedentary behavior appeared to have a direct influence on weight status even after adjusting for physical activity. Although our preliminary analyses suggest that physical activity during leisure time is not related to being overweight, we still recommend adolescents to remain physically active.