Barriers to Physical Activity and Healthy Diet Among Children Ages 6 Through 13 in a Mississippi Elementary School 1

The purpose of this study was to identify barriers to adequate physical activity and a healthy diet, investigate differences in the perceived barriers among subgroups, and determine predictors of high versus low total barrier scores in one inner-city elementary school. A mixed method design was used and included students ages 6 through 13 (n = 110) and parents, teachers, and community leaders (n = 20). Data were collected using questionnaires and focus groups. Quantitative findings revealed no differences in total barriers based on age, gender, number of parents, or household income; however, subscale differences among groups were noted. Qualitative findings indicated that perceived barriers to physical activity were knowledge-related, and barriers to healthy diet concerned access to healthy foods.