Overview of Correlates
The preceding data are largely derived from studies of children and adolescents in
economically better-off, developed countries. Information on correlates of activity
among youth from low- and middle-income countries is lacking (Bauman et al. 2012 ).
It would seemingly make sense to evaluate more detailed, though limited,field
studies in developing areas. For example, children and adolescents are essential to
household maintenance and subsistence strategies in Mesoamerican peasant commu-
nities. Moreover, when youth attend school, they are generally expected to contribute
to household maintenance and subsistence (Post 2001 ; Malina and Little 2008 ).
Specific household activities or chores of children and adolescents associated
with household subsistence have not received detailed consideration. Field obser-
vations in a rural indigenous subsistence agricultural community in southern
Mexico in 2000 provide some insights (Malina et al. 2008 ). Daily activities were
estimated among school children from a combination of questionnaires and inter-
views of school children. Although all children walked to and from school and the
majority participated in unorganized sport during free time, a significant portion of
daily physical activity occurred in the context of required household chores before
and after school and also on weekends. Household activities of girls tended to
cluster in light and moderate intensities, while those of boys tended to cluster in
moderate-to-vigorousand vigorous intensities. The distribution of activities and
activity intensities between boys and girls reflected the sex difference in division
labor in the rural community. Making tortillas, for example, is a constant in the life
of women, and girls learn the production skills early in life, while agricultural
chores are a constant in the life of men and boys. The household- and
agriculture-related activities of youth are essential components of the family routine
and labor supply. The daily activities for each youngster were converted to an
estimate of TEE using MET values for specific activities among children; resting
energy expenditure was predicted from height and weight. Estimated PAL was
1.89±0.13 in boys (n= 118, 12.2±2.2 years) and 1.79±0.16 in girls (n= 150,
12.1±2.1 years) (Malina, unpublished). The estimates were similar to those for
youth in rural areas of developing countries (Table5.2) and suggested, on average,
a moderately active lifestyle.
Similar observations were noted among rural Kenyan adolescents. In addition to
active transport to school, a good deal of their time was devoted to physically active
household chores, e.g., fetching and carrying water andfirewood, caring for and
herding cattle, and gardening, among others (Ojiambo et al. 2012 ). Estimated daily
MVPA (accelerometry) among rural Kenyan youth 10–17 years of age (14±1 years)
was quite high, 173±34 min/day in boys and 140±25 min/day in girls. In contrast,
estimated PALs based on DLW did not differ by sex, 2.2±0.5 in boys and 2.4±0.6 in
girls (Ojiambo et al. 2013 ), and indicated a very active lifestyle. The PALs exceed
those for youth in rural areas of developing countries (Table5.2).
88 R.M. Malina et al.