A center-based program for exercise change among black-American families.

A center-based program was designed and implemented to promote aerobic physical activity among healthy Black-American families with children in the fifth through seventh grades. Ninety-four Black-American families were actively recruited and randomly assigned to an experimental or control group. Families in the experimental group were encouraged to participate in a program with the following features: one education and two fitness sessions per week for 14 weeks; educational sessions that included individual counseling, small group education, aerobic activity, and snack components; located in a convenient building cherished by the community; aerobic activity sessions in a fitness center outfitted and staffed according to modern characteristics; a variety of incentives including free transportation and babysitting and reminders to promote attendance.

Ethnic variation in blood pressure among preadolescent children.

As part of a study on methods for assessing diet and exercise among 163 3rd to 6th grade students, data were collected on blood pressure, diet, urinary electrolytes, aerobic activity, resting pulse, and body composition. Data were collected on a stratified sample, with almost equal numbers of children of both sexes from 3rd or 4th and 5th or 6th grades; from three ethnicities: Anglo-, Black- and Mexican-American. Three resting blood pressures were obtained using a Hawksley random zero sphygmomanometer.

Aerobic physical activity among third- to sixth-grade children.

We observed the level of activity, and determined which of 24 third- to sixth-grade children were present during that activity, for two weekdays per child. No events of aerobic activity, as defined by nationally accepted criteria, were detected in that 48 days of observation. By a less stringent criterion, only half the children engaged in aerobic activity on any one day.