Physical activity and overweight by immigrant generation: Results from the 2007 National Survey of Children's Health

BACKGROUND: We investigated the prevalence and correlates of overweight and physical activity in a sample of immigrant and U.S.-born children. METHODS: Participants included 30,319 children aged 10–17 years from the cross-sectional 2007 National Survey of Children's Health. Children were grouped according to generational status (1st, 2nd or 3rd generation). Logistic regression was used to examine differences among generation groups in the extent to which physical activity (child and parental) and extracurricular activity variables predicted the odds of overweight, while controlling for child age, sex and household poverty status. RESULTS: In the sample, 33.6% of 1st generation children, 35.8% of 2nd generation and 29.1% of 3rd generation children were classified as overweight (BMI≥85TH percentile for age and sex). First generation children who participated in sports after school or on the weekends had 60% lower odds of overweight. For each additional day mothers participated in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), 2nd generation children had 11% lower odds of overweight. Participation in sports after school or on the weekends reduced the odds of overweight by 20% for 3rd generation children, and each additional day they engaged in MVPA reduced their odds of overweight by 9%. Contrastingly, for each additional day fathers participated in MVPA, 3rd generation children had a 1.0 times higher odds of overweight. Additional analyses revealed that physical activity and involvement in sports and clubs increased with subsequent generations. CONCLUSION: There are marked differences based on generational status of the protective influence of physical activity on children's risk of overweight.