Physical Activity and Fitness of First Nations Youth in a Remote and Isolated Northern Ontario Community: A Needs Assessment

Abstract

Among a group of First Nations youth, this research aimed to obtain objective measures of anthropometry, physical activity (PA) and fitness; to identify any group-level differences by sex, body mass index, waist circumference and body fat categories; to assess the barriers and supports to PA. Youth participated in anthropometric measures (BMI, waist circumference, body fat percentage), PA assessment (3 days of accelerometry) and fitness testing (guided by the Canadian Physical Activity, Fitness and Lifestyle Approach). Barriers and supports were assessed via environmental scan and focus groups. Descriptive statistics were compared to reference data. Group differences by sex, BMI status, waist circumference and body fat categories were tested using Mann-Whitney U and Chi square tests (p ≤ 0.05). Qualitative data were assembled into one file and coded manually for categories and themes. Seventy-two youth (12.1 ± 1.1 years, 61.1% male) participated in at least one measure; 36 completed the accelerometry. Sixty-three percent were overweight or obese, 51% were abdominally obese and 21% had excess body fat. Most (86.1%) met Canada's PA guidelines. Boys were more active than girls (p = 0.025) and had greater cardiorespiratory endurance (p = 0.003). Overweight, obese, or abdominally obese youth had lower cardiorespiratory endurance than normal weight youth (p < 0.001). Barriers and supports fell under the main themes: motivation, role models, personnel and facilities, environment and programs. Based on this assessment, youth in this community are active, but not sufficiently physically fit, especially among those affected by obesity and abdominal obesity. The findings, in addition to the numerous barriers to PA, support the community's desire for school-based PA programming.

Body weight perceptions and eating-related weight control behaviors of on-reserve First Nations youth from Ontario, Canada

“…Concomitantly, some of the findings suggest that Aboriginal youth may have ideals that are different from what is the typical urban Western ideal (eg normal weight boys wanting to be thinner, or normal weight youth wanting to gain weight). Current initiatives have focused on providing youth with opportunities to make healthy choices, including providing them with the chance to choose healthy foods at school and partake in structured physical activities 28,29,[32][33][34]36,60 . However, providing healthy choices may not be enough.…”

Evaluation of a longitudinal digital citizen science initiative to understand the impact of culture on Indigenous youth mental health: Findings from a quasi-experimental qualitative study

“…This complex phenomenon is in turn connected to “depression, self-destructive behaviour, suicidal ideation and attempts, anxiety, low self-esteem, and self-medicating to try and hide painful emotions” [ 5 ]. Other issues that disproportionately affect Indigenous youth include gang involvement, lack of educational attainment, and poor health, including teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections [ 6 ] and lower rates of quality physical health [ 7 ].…”

The Impact of Culture, Identity and Intergenerational Connections on Indigenous Youth Mental Health: Qualitative Findings from a Longitudinal Digital Health Community Trial

“…This complex phenomenon is in turn connected to "depression, self-destructive behaviour, suicidal ideation and attempts, anxiety, low self-esteem, and self-medicating to try and hide painful emotions" (Evans and Davis, 2018, p. 1). Other issues that disproportionately affect Indigenous youth include gang involvement, lack of educational attainment, and poor health, including teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections (Totten, 2009) and lower rates of quality physical health (Gates et al, 2016).…”