Introduction
South Asian minority groups in the UK are at greater risk of heart disease and diabetes than the general White population. Physical activity and diet may play an important role in the onset of these diseases. Previous studies suggest levels of physical activity may be particularly low in British Pakistani girls. This mixed-method study aimed to test hypotheses that British Pakistani girls would be less active and more sedentary and would consume a greater proportion of energy from fat than White British girls. It also explored activity and dietary behaviours in the two groups.
Methods
Eighty-two British Pakistani and 82 White British girls, aged 9 to 11 years, were recruited from seven primary schools on Teesside, North-east England. Accelerometry was used to collect objective measurements of physical activity and sedentary time for four days. Three previous day physical activity recalls were used to determine participation in sport and exercise, outdoor play, screen-time and active modes of school transport. Food records and three previous day multiple-pass diet recalls were used to determine intake of energy and macro-nutrients and to characterise dietary habits. Parental interviews explored familial influences on children’s physical activity and dietary behaviour.
Results
British Pakistani girls accumulated: 148 (95% CI: 95, 201) fewer counts per minute per day; 19 (95% CI: 11, 26) fewer minutes in moderate-to vigorous physical activity and 5% (95% CI: 3, 7) more sedentary time, compared with White British girls. According to activity recalls British Pakistani girls accumulated: 14 (95% CI: 0.4, 28) fewer minutes per day in sport and exercise; 24 (95% CI: 13, 37) fewer minutes in outdoor play and 4 (95% CI: 0.1, 8.3) fewer minutes in active modes of school transport. There was no significant difference in screen time. British Pakistani girls gained an additional 1.7 (95% CI: 0.4, 3.3) per cent of their overall energy intake from fat, compared with White British girls. According to dietary recalls a greater proportion of British Pakistani girls consumed fast-food as an evening meal (p=0.034) and were more likely to consume food that had been deep fried (p=0.04) or shallow fried (p<0.001) during cooking.
Conclusion
The lower levels of physical activity and higher amounts of sedentary time, coupled with the higher intake of total fat found in British Pakistani compared with White British girls, may be associated with the increased cardiometabolic risk found in these populations, both in childhood and later in life
