Recreational patterns, body composition and socioeconomic status of Western Australian secondary school students.

A study of 4672 secondary school students was carried out in order to assess the relationship between body composition, recreational patterns, and socioeconomic status as indicated by parental occupation and the school attended. Results indicated that there were more girls than boys participating in organized sport, and health and fitness activities; and more boys than girls involved in informal recreational activities and home-based passive pursuits. A higher proportion of participants came from the higher socioeconomic status (SES) group. More high-SES students revealed weight appropriate to their height.