Overweight and non-overweight: adolescent attitudes toward physical activity

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the attitudes overweight and non-overweight adolescents have towards physical activity as measured by the Children's Attitudes toward Physical Activity (CATPA) Inventory (Schutz & Smoll, Carre, & Mosher, 1985). Participants' (N=133) height and weight were measured and used to calculate their Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI was used to place participants into two groups, at-risk of overweight/overweight and non-overweight. Findings resulted in significant gender differences in the vertigo (F (1, 130) = 4.897, P = 0.029) and aesthetic (F (I, 130) = 5.970, P = .000) dimensions. These results suggested that boys had more positive attitudes towards the thrill and risk involved in physical activity whereas girls possessed more positive attitudes toward the beauty of movement in physical activity. Significant differences were also found between the at-risk of overweight/overweight and non-overweight groups in the social continuation (P = 0.016) and health and fitness enjoyment dimensions (P = .008). These results suggested that at-risk of overweight/overweight adolescents did not have favorable attitudes toward activities for their social nature or for the health benefits.