Barriers to African-American Girls' Physical Activity

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Article Summary

Barriers to African-American Girls' Physical Activity

February 2013
Author:
Erin Hager, University of Maryland
Topic:
Transportation, Pedestrian Facilities, Traffic Safety, Parks & Recreation, Parks, Communities, Zoning and Mixed Land Use, Crime
Population Served:
African American, Lower-income Families, School-age Youth (K-12)
Location by State:
Maryland
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Summary:

The Challenge: African-American girls from lower-income families are especially at risk for obesity, and are more likely to be physically inactive compared with girls who are more affluent and White.

Make an impact: Where children live can either help or hinder their ability to be physically active.

What the findings are about: This study examined the relationship between perceptions of the environments surrounding schools and physical activity of African-American adolescent girls living in low-income, urban neighborhoods in Baltimore, MD.

Key Findings and Recommendations:
  • Built environments characterized by mixed-land use and a diverse number of destinations close enough to walk to are ones that encourage physical activity.
  • Girls who perceived environments surrounding schools negatively (i.e. not having many places to go within walking distance) were more physically active, suggesting that environments that deter other populations from being active may not necessarily deter children living in lower-income, urban areas from being active.

 

Read the full article: The Perceived and Built Environment Surrounding Urban Schools and Physical Activity Among Adolescent Girls

Suggested Citations:
Hager, E.R., et al. (2013). The Perceived and Built Environment Surrounding Urban Schools and Physical Activity Among Adolescent Girls. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 45(1Suppl): S68-S75.
 

Related Tools & Resources

All Tools & Resources

The Perceived and Built Environment Surrounding Urban Schools and Physical Activity Among Adolescent Girls
Document Type: Research Papers
Topics:
Transportation, Pedestrian Facilities, Bike Facilities, Traffic Safety, Parks & Recreation, Parks, Recreation Programs, Communities, Zoning and Mixed Land Use
Evaluating the Influence of the Internal and External School Environment on the Health of Low-Income, Urban, African-American Adolescent Girls
Document Type: Project Profile
Topics:
Parks & Recreation, Parks, Playgrounds, Recreation Programs, Schools, Before or After School, Physical Education, Recess, Activity Breaks, School Facilities

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