Preliminary evidence for school-based physical activity policy needs in Washington, DC

Area of Science:

• Pedestrian safety
• Childhood physical activity
• Urban public health

Background:

• The school environment offers a structured setting to promote physical activity in urban children.
• This study investigated physical activity levels in inner-city children during structured school days (SSD) versus weekend days (WED).

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare daily step counts between structured school days and weekend days in a sample of Washington, DC public school children.
• To identify factors influencing physical activity levels in this demographic.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-nine third- to sixth-grade students from extended-day enrichment programs participated.
• Pedometer data were collected over two structured school days and two weekend days.
• Multivariable linear regression analyzed differences in mean step counts, adjusting for age, sex, and school-home distance.

Main Results:

• Overall step counts were low on both SSD and WED (7735 ± 3540 and 8339 ± 5314 steps/day, respectively).
• Boys accumulated more steps on SSD, while girls accumulated more on WED.
• Distance from school was the strongest predictor of daily step counts, irrespective of day type, sex, or age (P < .01).

Conclusions:

• A safe walking route to and from school presents a significant opportunity to enhance daily physical activity for inner-city children.
• Interventions promoting safe pedestrian routes may be crucial for increasing physical activity in urban youth.