How Ecuadorian Kids Stay Active: A Look at Poverty and Ethnicity

Exercising every day is super important for kids. But do they do it enough? This study looked at how well kids in Ecuador follow the World Health Organization's (WHO) advice on physical activity. They checked two very different places: Cuenca, where lots live in cities and have basic needs met, and Quinindé, where most live in countryside and many don't have their needs met. Researchers used special devices to track daily activity. They also asked questions about age, sex, ethnicity, and money situation. They measured weight, height, and waist size too. Then, they checked if these things affected how much kids moved around. In Cuenca, 650 kids with an average age of 9 joined. In Quinindé, 985 kids and teens with an average age of 8 took part. Boys were more likely to meet WHO guidelines than girls in both places. Richer kids were less likely to meet these recommendations. In Cuenca, kids with bigger waists were less likely to meet the guidelines. In Quinindé, non-Mestizo kids (those not of mixed European and indigenous background) were more likely to meet the guidelines.