Background
There is little research on household and physical environment barriers to physical
activity, particularly in minority populations at high risk for obesity and inactivity.
Few studies include data on caregiver and daughter dyads. Formative data were used
to develop intervention strategies and pathways for the Girls Rule! obesity prevention intervention, in under-studied high-risk pre-adolescents.
Methods
Participants included 12 African-American girls (mean age 7.8 years) and their 11
primary female caregivers (mean age 41.8 years)—eight mother–daughter dyads and three
grandmother–granddaughter dyads—for a total of 51 interviews across 23 participants
interviewed from April to October 2000.A qualitative approach was used for 51 semistructured
in-depth interviews with 11 dyads (female caregiver and girl), consisting of up to
three interviews per respondent (mean=2.4 interviews per respondent). Interviews were
transcribed, coded, and systematically analyzed between January 2002 and January 2003
to identify recurrent patterns and themes related to physical activity.
Results
Findings indicate clear preference of the girls for sedentary, rather than active,
behaviors. Caregivers were unaware of the amount of TV viewed and found positive benefits
of TV viewing, including safe supervision of their daughters. Barriers to physical
activity include perceived lack of affordable and accessible recreation facilities
and low caregiver motivation. Potential intervention strategies identified by respondents
include walking for exercise and transportation and several low-cost, favored physical
activities, such as hopscotch, jumping rope, and dance.
Conclusions
These findings point toward several physical activity and obesity intervention strategies
that can guide obesity prevention efforts.
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© 2004 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
