African American Girls' Fitness Levels Lower Than Whites

Contact: James Pivarnik
Phone: (517) 353-3520

Contact: Tom Oswald
Phone: (517) 355-2281

MSU STUDY: AFRICAN AMERICAN GIRLS' FITNESS LEVELS LOWER THAN WHITES'

EAST LANSING, Mich. - A study by a Michigan State University exercise physiologist has found that the aerobic fitness levels of young African American girls tend to be lower than those of white girls.

The study, marking the first time aerobic fitness levels of black adolescent girls have been directly measured over a period of time, also found that the values declined as the girls progressed from sixth through eighth grade.

The research was conducted by James Pivarnik, a professor of kinesiology and osteopathic surgical specialties, and is published in the February issue of Pediatric Exercise Science.

"In many ways, the decline in the girls' fitness mirrors what we've seen in white subjects," Pivarnik said. "Only in this case, they start from a lower baseline and go even lower."

In adults, lack of aerobic fitness is significantly linked with the risk of chronic disease, he said. The findings of this study could be bad news for these girls, as nearly half of all black women suffer from obesity, diabetes and/or hypertension.

"African American women are at a high risk for these health problems. Black girls also tend to have the lowest levels of physical activity compared to their peers," Pivarnik said. "Is there a link there? Probably."

In his study, Pivarnik and his colleagues followed 19 girls from a Houston middle school for three years, periodically testing their endurance on a treadmill. The girls performed the test to exhaustion, while Pivarnik and colleagues measured the oxygen used by the subjects - a good indication of how many calories they were using during the exercise.

In nearly every case, fitness levels declined over time.

"What's key here is the fact that the fitness levels were so low and didn't seem to be going anywhere but down," Pivarnik said.

Pivarnik also pointed out that the study subjects probably provided a "best case scenario," since many other girls were also studied, but did not finish all the testing. Those individuals were typically more overweight and less fit than the 19 girls who were tested all six times.

Why these aerobic fitness levels decline is a matter of speculation at this time. Pivarnik feels that socio-economic levels may play a role - that girls growing up in an urban setting often don't have as many opportunities for physical activities. He also said that the girls' age level could be a consideration, regardless of race or ethnicity.

"Unless you play sports, many girls that age don't think physical activities are cool," he said. "They start looking at boys and don't want to sweat. That happens with many average girls."

Pivarnik is currently conducting a study of sixth grade girls in Lansing, Mich., to try to determine which factors - such as physical activity levels and/or attitudes toward physical activity - may effect a girl's aerobic fitness.