eng Science and Education Publishing Journal of Physical Activity Research 2574-4437 2021-04-20 6 1 17 20 10.12691/jpar-6-1-3 JPAR2021613 article Lei Guo lguo@nccu.edu 1 Ardashia K. Peay 1 Department of Kinesiology and Recreation Administration, North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC 27707 The purpose of this study was to examine whether or not there was a significant difference in body mass index (BMI) between Black American middle school students who participated in physical activities in the afterschool program and those who did not. A total of 49 sixth to eight grade middle school Black American students participated in this study, with 27 in the physical activity group. The body mass was calculated by using the Body Mass Index (BMI) Calculator for Child and Teens. No significant difference in BMI was found between the two groups. Since the average BMI score in the group with physical activities was in the healthy category and the group with no physical activities in the overweight category, it may still indicate that physical activity played a role in weight control. However, due to both of the two groups showed a relatively high BMI score, more effective treatments, such as a combination of healthy diet program and physical activity program, are recommended to fight this obesity pandemic in the minority youth groups. http://pubs.sciepub.com/jpar/6/1/3/jpar-6-1-3.pdf after school program physical activity obesity body mass