It is unclear from these results whether sports programs , as currently offered , protect youth from becoming overweight or obese .
Sport is a promising setting for obesity prevention among youth , but little is known about whether it prevents obesity .
Physical activity correlates in adolescent girls who differ by weight status.
OBJECTIVE This study compared correlates of  physical activity ( PA )  among African-American and white girls of different weight groups to guide future interventions . RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES Participants were 1015 girls ( mean age , 14.6 years ; 45 % African-American ) from 12 high schools in South Carolina who served as control subjects for a school-based intervention .  Post-intervention measures obtained at the end of ninth grade were used . PA was measured using the Three-Day PA Recall , and a question naire measured social-cognitive and environmental variables thought to mediate PA . Height and weight were measured , and BMI was calculated . Girls were stratified by race and categorized into three groups , based on BMI percentiles for girls from CDC growth charts : normal ( BMI < 85th percentile ) , at risk ( BMI , 85th to 94th percentile ) , and overweight ( BMI > or = 95th percentile ) . Girls were further divided into active and low-active groups , based on a vigorous PA st and ard ( average of one or more 30-minute blocks per day per 3-day period ) . Mixed-model ANOVA was used to compare factors among groups , treating school as a r and om effect RESULTS None of the social-cognitive or environmental variables differed by weight status for African-American or white girls . Perceived behavioral control and sports team participation were significantly higher in girls who were more active , regardless of weight or race group . In general , social-cognitive variables seem to be more related to activity in white girls , whereas environmental factors seem more related to activity in African-American girls . DISCUSSION PA interventions should be tailored to the unique needs of girls based on PA levels and race , rather than on weight status alone
It is unclear from these results whether sports programs , as currently offered , protect youth from becoming overweight or obese .
Sport is a promising setting for obesity prevention among youth , but little is known about whether it prevents obesity .