Background
Sedentary lifestyle, decreased physical activity, and poor diet contribute to the increasing problem of childhood obesity and risk for Type 2 diabetes. Children living in urban areas often have limited access to physical activity.
Aims
The purpose of this study was compare the effect of dance, with unstructured playtime, on the physical activity level of an underserved, urban population of children. Activity, via pedometer readings (PR), effect on heart rate (HR), and body mass index (BMI), were assessed.
Methods
In this longitudinal study, height and weight were measured and BMI was calculated during the first week of the 4-week program. Every week, heart rates were measured, as well as the PR. Preactivity heart rates were obtained, and a hip-hop dance class was taught for 30 minutes, once a week, by a dance team. Resting HR and PR were measured after the dancing. During the nondancing days, PR were taken to gauge physical activity during usual activity.
Results
Thirty-eight children (16 were female, and 22 were male; 4.7–12.9 years) participated in the study. Average BMI was 18.3 (±5.5); 20% were above the 85th percentile for age and gender. Overall, the average PR measurement for dancing days was 1,760 (±945) versus 851 (±619) on nondancing days. The number of steps in dancing days was approximately double those in the nondancing weeks (p < .001). The number of steps significantly increased in the later weeks in comparison with the first week (p < .001). Children 8–10 years had more steps than younger and older age groups. Age had a quadratic association with PR (p < .001). Males had 37.2% more steps than females (p = .026), and BMI was found to not be associated. Resting HR was significantly higher than baseline (p < .001).
Conclusions/Clinical Implications
Children in this population were not physically fit as evidenced by their elevated resting heart rates after exercise. Implementing dancing increased steps and activity of the children. Dance is a culturally relevant, enjoyable, free, and easily accessible method of activity. It is crucial for nurses in pediatric endocrinology to address the obesity epidemic with culturally appropriate interventions and to partner with the community to tackle this public health crisis.
Article info
Identification
Copyright
© 2012 Published by Elsevier Inc.
