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Table 1 Descriptive statistics for youth in grades 1 to 4 by sex in PLAY-On (Ontario, Canada, 2007–2008)

From: A cross-sectional examination of school characteristics associated with overweight and obesity among grade 1 to 4 students

  

Male (n = 1,187)

Female (n = 1,139)

Chi-square

Student-level characteristics

 

% (n)a

% (n)a

 

Weight status1,b

Normal weight

75.0 (890)

74.5 (848)

χ2 = 0.09, df = 3 , p = 0.99

Overweight

13.7 (162)

14.0 (159)

 

Obese

6.1 (144)

6.2 (71)

 

Missing

5.2 (62)

5.4 (61)

 

Grade1

1

22.7 (270)

22.4 (256)

χ2 = 0.32, df = 3, p = 0.95

2

21.5 (255)

21.1 (241)

 

3

27.5 (326)

27.1 (309)

 

4

28.3 (336)

29.4 (335)

 

Physical activity level2

Low active

10.0 (115)

14.3 (158)

χ2 = 11.41, df = 2, p < 0.01

Moderately active

63.3 (726)

62.7 (695)

 

Very active

26.7 (306)

23.0 (255)

 

Sedentary behaviour2

≤2 hour per day

70.6 (810)

75.2 (834)

χ2 = 6.37, df = 2, p < 0.05

2 to 4 hours per day

21.8 (250)

18.9 (210)

 

>4 hours per day

7.6 (87)

5.9 (65)

 

Physical activity level compared to other kids3

More active

7.4 (86)

9.3 (105)

χ2 = 34.56, df = 2, p < 0.001

About the same

28.5 (333)

18.2 (206)

 

Less active

64.2 (750)

72.5 (822)

 

Prefers to play alone or with other children3

Alone

2.4 (28)

1.0 (11)

χ2 = 9.24, df = 2, p < 0.01

Both

57.1 (667)

54.8 (621)

 

Other children

40.5 (474)

44.2 (501)

 

Prefers to play active games or quiet games3

Active

4.5 (52)

7.6 (86)

χ2 = 16.40, df = 2, p < 0.001

Both

41.4 (484)

35.1 (398)

 

Quiet

54.1 (633)

57.3 (649)

 

Preference for playing sports3

Likes sports

96.5 (1,127)

92.7 (1,049)

χ2 = 16.46, df = 1, p < 0.001

Dislikes sports

3.5 (41)

7.3 (83)

 

Preference for reading3

Likes reading

79.6 (931)

89.5 (1,014)

χ2 = 42.66, df = 1, p < 0.001

Dislikes reading

20.4 (238)

10.5 (119)

 

Prefers to play outside or inside3

Outside

4.1 (48)

4.2 (48)

χ2 = 4.35, df = 2, p = 0.11

Both

20.6 (241)

17.2 (195)

 
 

Inside

75.3 (880)

78.6 (890)

 
  1. aNumbers may not add to total because of missing values.
  2. bBody mass index (BMI) values used to determine weight status have been adjusted for age and sex.
  3. 1Measured by PLAY-On nurse.
  4. 2Reported by parent or guardian.
  5. 3Reported by student and recorded by PLAY-On nurse.
  6. PLAY-On represents the name of the study where self-reported data were collected in 2007–2008 from a convenience sample of students in grades 1 to 4 attending 30 elementary schools in Ontario, Canada.
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BMC Public Health

ISSN: 1471-2458

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