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OBJECTIVE: To compare the physical activity (PA) patterns and the hypothesized psychosocial and environmental determinants of PA in an ethnically diverse sample of obese and non-obese middle school children.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.

SUBJECTS: One-hundred and thirty-three non-obese and 54 obese sixth grade children (mean age of 11.4±0.6). Obesity status determined using the age-, race-and gender-specific 95th percentile for BMI from NHANES-1.

MEASUREMENTS: Objective measurements were collected of PA over a 7-day period using the CSA 7164 accelerometer: total daily counts; daily moderate (3–5.9 METs) physical activity (MPA); daily vigorous physical activity (≥ 6 METs; VPA); and weekly number of 5, 10 and 20 min bouts of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (≥ 3 METs, MVPA). Self-report measures were collected of PA self-efficacy; social influences regarding PA, beliefs about …