Weight-bearing physical activity among girls and mothers: relationships to girls' weight status

OBJECTIVE: To assess weight-bearing physical activity (WBPA) barriers, benefits, self-efficacy, social influence, and behaviors WBPA and physical activity (PA)] among girls and their mothers according to girls' weight status (nonoverweight vs. overweight). RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Participants were 9- to 11-year-old girls (n = 295) and their mothers who participated in the baseline assessment of a nutrition and PA intervention trial. Girls' and mothers' WBPA attitudes and mothers' WBPA behaviors were self-reported on questionnaires. Girls' WBPA and total PA behaviors were self-reported using a structured interview (Physical Activity Checklist Interview). Stature and weight were measured by standardized anthropometrics. Overweight status was based on BMI. RESULTS: Compared with nonoverweight girls, overweight girls were significantly more likely to report barriers to WBPA participation and perceive social influence from family and friends to do more WBPA. They were also significantly less likely to report self-efficacy regarding WBPA and to believe that they did enough WBPA. Compared with mothers of nonoverweight girls, mothers of overweight girls were significantly more likely to report that it is difficult to persuade their daughters to do more WBPA and significantly less likely to report that WBPA was fun for their daughters. Girls' overweight status was not associated with girls' reports of minutes spent per week in PA or WBPA. DISCUSSION: The present study's findings of lower WBPA self-efficacy, lack of enjoyment of WBPA, and higher perceived social influence to do WBPA among overweight girls suggest that efforts are needed to promote physical competencies and positive perceptions of PA among overweight girls.