State laws for time spent in Physical education, neighborhood amenities for physical activity and relationship with adolescent weight status

This study examines relationships between state laws for physical education (PE) time requirements, neighborhood amenities for physical activity, and adolescent weight status. The National Cancer Institute's 2005 Classification of Laws Associated with School Students (C.L.A.S.S.S) and 2007 National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) provided data for this time-lagged analysis. A total of 16,271 adolescents from all 50 states and the District of Columbia were included. States were assigned a 0 for no PE time requirements and 1 if state law required PE time. Neighborhood amenities was comprised of the availability of sidewalks, parks/playgrounds, recreation centers and libraries as places to be active and destinations to walk. Weight status was determined by BMI overweight/obese criteria. Results found state PE laws time requirements were associated with weight status among adolescents of low SES. Analyses explored whether states with PE time laws also had adolescents reporting greater neighborhood amenities to be active , and a significant though weak relationship was observed (r=0.10, p<001). Regression models did not find this interaction to be significantly associated with weight. Multinomial logistic regression models regressing neighborhood amenities and PE law, controlling for demographic characteristics, found a significant relationship for amenities (Odds of being normal weight vs obese were 1.10 (1.0,1.13) and weight but not for PE laws. Limitations of analysis include parent-reported BMI, cross-sectional nature of this study and potential variability in implementation of laws. This analysis suggests policy and neighborhood environment factors have a role in adolescent weight with future analyses focusing on low SES populations.