Obesity Causes and Consequences

to a lesser degree, obesity itself. Racial and ethnic differences exist in the prevalence of these conditions,1 and in general, minorities are more likely than white Americans to be obese and to suffer from conditions such as diabetes2,3—a difference that is particularly stark between black and white adults. A majority of studies on the racial and ethnic disparities in fitness and activity among adolescents indicate that minorities are less active and physically fit than their white/non-Hispanic peers.4-7 However, results are not entirely consistent8,9 due to factors that include methodological differences and illustrate the need for continued investigation. It would be beneficial to know if welldocumented racial and ethnic disparities in adults are predicted by cardiorespiratory fitness and/or physical activity disparities among children. A link of low fitness among 18 year olds extending to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes later in adulthood has been investigated and shown to have merit among men.10 Therefore, the relationship of fitness disparities in children contributing to disparities in adult health outcomes also is plausible. This study addresses this relationship, asking if—and to what degree—racial and ethnic disparities in physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness are present among a sample of 6th grade students from 37 Wisconsin middle schools. A complete understanding of disparities by race/ethnicity requires evaluation within the context of socioeconomic status (SES), as evaluation based on race/ethnicity alone would mask the influence of SES, which has been suggested previously.11 In the case of the school environment, SES influences include resources available within the school itself and the surrounding neighborhoods in which the students reside. Therefore, this evaluation takes into account both race/ethnicity and a broader community-level variable: school-level SES. ABSTRACT Background: Adequate physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness aid in the prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity. Large sociodemographic/economic disparities exist for these conditions, which develop over time beginning in childhood. This paper examines disparities in both activity and fitness levels among children and adolescents in Wisconsin.