Activity Behavior In Children Research Articles

Infrequent attention to dietary and physical activity behaviours in conversations in Swedish child health services

To investigate conversations between nurses and parents in Swedish child health services and to assess to what extent attention is directed towards dietary and physical activity behaviours in children. Twenty-three nurses audio-recorded one session each. Recordings were assessed and topics were classified according to predetermined categories. The three most frequent topics of conversation concerned physical examinations of the child (30% of session time), talking to the child to establish or maintain contact and interest (15%), and development of language skills (12%). Dietary habits came on fourth place (10%), and physical activity ranked 14 (4%). Attention to dietary and physical activity behaviours in children is infrequent in Swedish child health services. Concern is raised about the efficacy of prevention efforts against childhood obesity.

Stages of change in physical activity behavior in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy

Purpose: To identify facilitators and barriers frequently experienced by families of children with cerebral palsy (CP) and associated with being at the pre-intention, intention and action stages for physical activity. Method: Qualitative study involving in-depth focus group interviews with 33 ambulatory children and adolescents with CP and their parents (n = 33). These interviews were followed by questionnaires to determine stage of behavior change (i.e. pre-intention, intention and action) related to the child’s participation in physical activity. Results: Families who were classified in the intention stage of behavioral change were more likely to identify environmental barriers related to the social environment and the facility or program than parents at the pre-intention stage. Families who were classified into intention and action stages were more likely to identify facilitators related to parental factors than families at the pre-intention stage. Moreover, at the action stage facilitators were related to the facility/program. Conclusions: The identified facilitators and barriers, organized according to three stages of change (pre-intention, intention and action), provide important theoretical insights into how and why children and adolescents with CP and their parents might change their physical activity behavior.Implications for rehabilitationUnderstanding the barriers and facilitators of physical activity for children and adolescents with CP is essential for designing effective interventions to promote participation in this group.Using the three stages of change and the identified barriers and facilitators for participation can result in tailored advice to increase physical activity behavior.

Psychometric Properties of a New Measure of Parental Self-Efficacy for Promoting Healthy Physical Activity and Dietary Behaviors in Children

There is a lack of validated measures of parental self-efficacy (PSE) covering both physical activity and dietary behaviors in children which can be used to prevent childhood obesity. This study developed a new measure of PSE for promoting healthy physical activity and dietary behaviors in children and assessed its psychometric properties. Participants were mothers (n = 2,232) with 3-year-old first-born children living in Stockholm, Sweden. The mothers responded to questionnaires measuring PSE, locus of control, and self-esteem. Exploratory factor analysis yielded a three-factor structure, interpreted as PSE for promoting healthy dietary behaviors in children (Factor 1), PSE for limit-setting of unhealthy dietary or physical activity behaviors in children (Factor 2), and PSE for promoting healthy physical activity behaviors in children (Factor 3). The factor model was supported by confirmatory factor analysis. The internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the new PSE measure were high; discriminant validity was adequate. The Parental Self-Efficacy for Promoting Healthy Physical Activity and Dietary Behaviors in Children Scale (PSEPAD) shows promise as a valuable instrument in childhood obesity prevention.

Association Between Hypothesized Parental Influences and Preschool Children's Physical Activity Behavior

Background: To date, most research investigating the influence of parents on children's physical activity behavior has been conducted among school-aged children. As a result, we have a limited understanding of the mechanisms through which parents can influence their young children's physical activity behavior. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of various hypothesized parental influence variables on children's physical activity behaviors. Methods: An on-line survey assessing various hypothesized parental influences and an estimate of the amount of time their child engaged in physical activity behavior was completed by 176 parents. Results: Parents who perceived physical activity to be important for their child, had confidence in providing support for their child's physical activity, had good physical activity experiences as a child, and had high perceptions of their child's physical ability were more likely to employ activity-facilitating parenting practices and behaviors that were associated with their preschool children's physical activity behaviors. Discussion and Translation to Health Education Practice: Parenting practices and behaviors (e.g., parental support for children's activity behaviors) may play an important role in preschool children's physical activity behaviors. Future prospective studies are needed to confirm the findings of the present study.

Residential summer camp: a new venue for nutrition education and physical activity promotion

BackgroundMillions of children attend residential summer camps each year. However, few studies have examined the potential of camps for obesity prevention efforts. Research in the domain of positive youth development has shown that camp programs as short as one week have both short- and long-term positive effects on self-esteem, self-efficacy and other youth outcomes. The objective of the present study was to highlight the potential of resident camps as promising venues for the promotion of healthy eating and physical activity behaviors in the children who attend.MethodsData for this study came from the American Camp Association 2007 Emerging Issues Survey. This survey assessed camp professionals’ perspectives on a diverse array of issues, including the healthy eating and physical activity of children. Data analysis focused on responses from 247 camp professionals whose camps offered resident camp programs.ResultsDescriptive and Chi-square statistics were calculated. Ninety-two percent of camp professionals reported that the healthy eating and physical activity of campers was an “important” or “very important” issue for camps. The majority of camps reported offering vegetarian options, healthy snacks and salad bars, and allergen-free options. Additionally, 86% of camp professionals indicated that they had implemented one or more strategies to address concerns related to the unhealthy eating behaviors of children, with top strategies including increasing the availability of fruits and vegetables, increasing the availability of healthy drink options, and improving the nutritional quality of menus. Fewer camp professionals (50%) indicated they had implemented strategies to increase children’s physical activity levels, but many professionals indicated that their camp programs were inherently active and additional strategies to promote physical activity were not necessary. Associations were found between camp affiliation and food options available to campers.ConclusionsThe majority of camp professionals believe the healthy eating and physical activity of children are important issues for camps and have implemented strategies to address these issues. An important question for future research is to examine whether these strategies are effective in promoting healthy eating and physical activity behaviors in children, as well as ways that camp programs could be improved.

Approaches to the Prevention and Management of Childhood Obesity: The Role of Social Networks and the Use of Social Media and Related Electronic Technologies

Despite the significant attention and resources committed to the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity, the epidemic shows no sign of abating.1 Although all children are at risk for obesity, there are marked disparities by race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, neighborhood, and access to health care.2 Any successful approach to addressing the overall burden of obesity must not rely solely on the healthcare system,3 but must include the implementation of policies that take into account the physical and social environment to change the eating and activity behaviors of children and their families. Examples of such policy efforts include the attempts to ban food marketing to children and to increase access to safe and appealing venues for exercise.4,5 Despite these important policy directions, efforts to sustain changes in behavior remain challenging, and the evidence about which interventions are most effective is still incomplete.6 Social networks are groupings of interconnected 2-way relationships. Modern-day social networks typically rely on social media for communication. More specifically, the term social media refers to the use of Web-based and mobile technologies that are commonly used for interaction and communication within networks. Research underscores strong associations between participation in social networks and preventive health behavior.7–11 Recently, it was observed that obesity may spread across social networks, suggesting that these networks could be leveraged for prevention or treatment.12,13 The main purpose of this statement is to evaluate the role of social networks and social media in relation to childhood obesity. We build on a recent statement by the American Heart Association directed at the management of adult weight management strategies in the ambulatory setting that focused on the use of Internet-based and other related technologies.14 In this statement, we provide an overview of social networks and …

Practical Physical Policy

This study investigates teacher perceptions in the differences of physical activity behaviours of children attending childcare facilities, with ideas on how to turn findings into practical strategies for the setting.

Parental support exceeds parenting style for promoting active play in preschool children

Emerging evidence suggests that parenting style may directly or indirectly influence school-aged children's activity behaviour. Given that relatively fewer studies have been conducted among preschool-aged children, this study's primary purpose was to examine the direct relationships between parental support and parenting style on preschool children's active play behaviour, and determine whether parenting style acts as an effect modifier. One hundred and ninety-five parents completed a questionnaire assessing their parental support, parenting style, and their child's active play behaviour. While controlling for parenting style, parental support was positively associated with active play behaviour (β = 0.30, p < 0.001). However, parenting style was not directly associated with active play nor did it moderate the relationship between parental support and child active play (β = 0.04, p = 0.90). Thus, to establish healthy active play behaviours in early child development, parents are encouraged to provide sufficient levels of active play-related support.

Comparison of physical activity between children with autism spectrum disorders and typically developing children

Regular physical activity is important for promoting health and well-being; however, physical activity behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have received little attention. We compared physical activity levels among 53 children with ASD and 58 typically developing children aged 3-11 years who participated in the Children's Activity and Meal Patterns Study (CHAMPS). After adjustment for age and sex the amount of time spent daily in moderate and vigorous activity was similar in children with ASD (50.0 minutes/day and typically developing children 57.1 minutes/day). However, parents reported that children with ASD participated in significantly fewer types of physical activities than did typically developing children (6.9 vs. 9.6, p <.0001) and spent less time annually participating in these activities than typically developing children (158 vs. 225 hours per year, p < 0.0001) after adjusting for age and sex. Although both groups of children engaged in similar levels of moderate and vigorous activity as measured by accelerometry, children with ASD engaged in fewer physical activities and for less time according to parental report, suggesting that some of the activity in children with ASD is not captured by standard questionnaire-based measures.

Designing a culturally sensitive intervention to promote healthy eating and physical activity behavior in children and their parents in rural Louisiana communities

Rural African American children are experiencing a high prevalence of overweight and obesity. Formative research guided the design of a culturally sensitive intervention that would assist families in the Lower Mississippi Delta in adopting eating and physical activity patterns consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2005 (DGA, 2005), and thereby reducing weight gain and associated risk factors for obesity‐related chronic diseases. A community advisory committee, focus groups, and data from previous research in this region contributed to information relative to ethnic/cultural characteristics, norms, values, beliefs, and behavioral patterns of the target population. Using the surface and deep‐structure framework, researchers identified content and a variety of strategies to form the culturally sensitive intervention. The main surface‐structure intervention component included modifying the family obesity prevention program, WE CAN! (Ways to Enhance Children's Activity and Nutrition) to reflect the ethnicity, reading level, food and physical activity lifestyles of the participants. Maintaining strong families was identified as a dominant deep‐surface component. Reflections on the historical African American family provide motivation for recommended behavioral changes. Classes included in the intervention are on healthy eating and physical activity, stages of change, goal setting, self‐efficacy, and positive parental feeding methods. Demonstrations for modifying traditional and Cajun‐influenced recipes to adhere to DGA, 2005 are important elements of the intervention. Further research will examine the efficacy of using a culturally sensitive intervention to assist families in promoting healthy eating and physical activity behavior.

The Effect of Simulated Ostracism on Physical Activity Behavior in Children

To assess the effects of simulated ostracism on children's physical activity behavior, time allocated to sedentary behavior, and liking of physical activity. Nineteen children (11 boys, 8 girls; age 11.7 ± 1.3 years) completed 2 experimental sessions. During each session, children played a virtual ball-toss computer game (Cyberball). In one session, children played Cyberball and experienced ostracism; in the other session, they were exposed to the inclusion/control condition. The order of conditions was randomized. After playing Cyberball, children were taken to a gymnasium where they had free-choice access to physical and sedentary activities for 30 minutes. Children could participate in the activities, in any pattern they chose, for the entire period. Physical activity during the free-choice period was assessed via accelerometery and sedentary time via observation. Finally, children reported their liking for the activity session via a visual analog scale. Children accumulated 22% fewer (P < .01) accelerometer counts and 41% more (P < .04) minutes of sedentary activity in the ostracized condition (8.9(e+4) ± 4.5(e+4) counts, 11.1 ± 9.3 minutes) relative to the included condition (10.8(e+4) ± 4.7(e+4) counts, 7.9 ± 7.9 minutes). Liking (8.8 ± 1.5 cm included, 8.1 ± 1.9 cm ostracized) of the activity sessions was not significantly different (P > .10) between conditions. Simulated ostracism elicits decreased subsequent physical activity participation in children. Ostracism may contribute to children's lack of physical activity.

The Effect of Simulated Ostracism on Physical Activity Behavior in Children

The Effect of Simulated Ostracism on Physical Activity Behavior in Children

Accelerometer Use with Children, Older Adults, and Adults with Functional Limitations

Accurately assessing physical activity behavior in children, older adults, and adults with functional limitations is essential to further our understanding of determinants of physical activity behavior in these populations and to design, implement, and evaluate interventions designed to increase physical activity participation. Objective methods to assess physical activity behavior, owing to improvements in accuracy and precision over self-report measures, have become common in research and practice settings. This article reviews the current use of objective methods to assess physical activity in observational, determinant, and intervention studies for children, older adults, and adults with functional limitations. Important considerations are presented when adopting prediction algorithms developed on one population, and using in another population that is markedly different in age, health, and functional status. Best practices are presented, along with future recommendations for research to advance this area of scientific inquiry.

Constructs of physical activity behaviour in children: The usefulness of Social Cognitive Theory

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships among several Social Cognitive Theory (Bandura, 2004) constructs (e.g., self-efficacy) and children’s physical activity behaviours. DesignChildren from six elementary schools (N=479) in grades 4th to 6th from five different school districts in the Southwestern USA participated in this study by completing a sociocognitive instrument as well as wearing a pedometer for five school days. MethodsPreviously validated scales were combined and administered to all children in order to examine the relationships among five constructs (self-efficacy, outcome expectations, social support, barriers, and goals) and physical activity participation was measured via pedometer. Data analyses included a two-step approach with confirmatory factor analysis followed by structural equation modelling. ResultsThe confirmatory factor analyses indicated an adequate fit of the specified model. The structural model fit statistics also suggested that the data fit the specified model: χ2 (8, N=476)=24.44, p=0.00, χ2/df=3.06, GFI=0.98, AGFI=0.96, CFI=0.93, RMSEA=0.07. The model explained 15% of the variance in social support, 11% of the variance in goals, 11% of the variance in barriers, 9% of the variance in outcome expectations, and 2% of the variance in physical activity. Self-efficacy was a strong predictor of total social support, total number of barriers, and outcome expectations. ConclusionsThis study supports the use of Social Cognitive Theory in understanding the constructs of physical activity behaviour in children, however, very little variance in behaviours was explained. There is a need to also investigate environmental influences on children’s decisions to be physically active.

Combined Home and School Obesity Prevention Interventions for Children

This review identifies studies describing interventions delivered across both the home and school/community setting, which target obesity and weight-related nutrition and physical activity behaviors in children. Fifteen studies, published between 1998 and 2010, were included and evaluated for effectiveness, study quality, nutrition/activity content, behavior change techniques, and theoretical basis, using validated assessment tools/taxonomies. Seven studies were rated as effective. Behavior change techniques used to engage families, and techniques associated with intervention effectiveness were coded. Effective studies used about 10 behavior change techniques, compared with 6.5 in ineffective studies. Effective interventions used techniques including providing general information on behavior-health links, prompting practice of behavior, and planning for social support/social changes. Different behavior change techniques were applied in the home and school setting. The findings of this review provide novel insights into the techniques associated with intervention effectiveness that can inform the development of public health obesity prevention strategies.

Change in Child Physical Activity Following Two Parent-Centered Internet Interventions to Reduce Child Overweight

Changing parent behavior without involving the child directly may be an optimal strategy for modifying home environments and, ultimately, child behavior. In addition, Internet programming may be a convenient delivery modality for use with busy families. PURPOSE: to compare two parent-based pilot Internet-delivered weight management interventions on child physical activity. METHODS: Twenty overweight parents (BMI 25 - 50) with at least one child, 8 to 13y, with a BMI ≥ 85th percentile, were recruited and randomized to one of two interventions. Group 1 was general parenting skills applied to the encouragement of healthier nutrition and physical activity behaviors in children (Parenting Skills) and Group 2 was weight loss targeting the overweight parent by focusing on diet and physical activity behaviors (Parent Weight Loss). Each intervention group had a separate website which included 20 weekly lessons, behavioral check-in form, message board, and weekly synchronous chat group led by either a parenting expert (Parenting Skills) or a weight loss counselor (Parent Weight Loss). Physical activity (PA) was assessed in both children and parents by accelerometers worn for 7 days. RESULTS: Children (11 M, 9, F) averaged 10.8 ± 1.6 years and were at the 96th ± 4.4 BMI %ile for age and gender. Both interventions produced a small reduction in percent overweight for age and gender in children. Parents in the Parenting Skills intervention gained 1.2 ± 7.0 lbs, whereas those in the Parent Weight Loss group lost -11.7± 8.0 lbs (t(13)=3.3, p=.006, suggesting that the interventions operated as intended. Controlling for wear time and baseline PA, children in the Parenting group experienced an increase in moderate to vigorous PA (p=.05) compared to children in the Parent Weight Loss Group. Vigorous PA increased as well, but the difference was not significant. Sedentary behavior did not change. Vigorous PA increased for parents in the Weight Loss Group (p<.03), but moderate to vigorous PA did not change. CONCLUSIONS: Results from this pilot study are encouraging, as a first goal for overweight children is to stabilize weight and increase healthy behaviors. Both approaches appear worthy of continued investigation.

Parental Influences on Physical Activity Behavior in Children and Adolescents: A Brief Review

Understanding the social and environmental factors that influence physical activity is important in the development of effective interventions to increase physical activity behavior in children and adolescents. One factor that has received considerable research attention is the influence of parenting practices and behaviors on child physical activity. This review evaluated 103 studies that examined the influence of parental physical activity, parental support for child physical activity, parenting style, and family cohesion on child and adolescent activity behavior. Results showed that parental support was consistently positively and significantly associated with child activity. With respect to the association between parent and child physical activity, there was little evidence of association. Although the evidence linking parenting style and family cohesion with child physical activity was nonsupportive, too few studies have examined these relationships to draw firm conclusions. Priorities for future research and implications for health care professionals are discussed.

School Health and Nutrition Programs

Schools play an effective role for adopt and maintain healthy eating and physical activity behaviors in children and adolescents. Schools are an important part of national efforts to prevent chronic diseases such as childhood obesity, coronary heart diseases, diabetes and cancer. Nutrition programs in schools can help children and adolescents participate in full educational potential; improve academic performance and health quality. To ensure a healthy future for our children, school-based nutrition education programs must become a national priority. Governments, community leaders, doctors, dieteticians, nurses, teachers, and parents must commit to implementing and sustaining nutrition education programs within the schools. School health and nutrition programs which part of public health and education are summarized in this review.

Clustering of children's activity behaviour: the use of self-report versus direct measures

While we concur with the objectives of the recent International Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity paper published by Jago and colleagues titled "Physical activity and sedentary behaviour typologies of 10-11 year olds", we feel that the results as currently presented do not support their conclusions. Though the authors created groups of children with dramatically different patterns of self-reported physical activity and sedentary behaviour, an inspection of the objectively measured accelerometry data shows little difference between the groups. Further, in at least one instance the difference between groups was of the opposite direction when using objective measures, as opposed to the self-report measures used in the published analysis. Thus, we caution the authors from making conclusions based on their self-report data, and propose that they re-analyze their data using their objectively measured data instead.

Use of Active Video Games to Increase Physical Activity in Children: A (Virtual) Reality?

There has been increased research interest in the use of active video games (in which players physically interact with images onscreen) as a means to promote physical activity in children. The aim of this review was to assess active video games as a means of increasing energy expenditure and physical activity behavior in children. Studies were obtained from computerized searches of multiple electronic bibliographic databases. The last search was conducted in December 2008. Eleven studies focused on the quantification of the energy cost associated with playing active video games, and eight studies focused on the utility of active video games as an intervention to increase physical activity in children. Compared with traditional nonactive video games, active video games elicited greater energy expenditure, which was similar in intensity to mild to moderate intensity physical activity. The intervention studies indicate that active video games may have the potential to increase free-living physical activity and improve body composition in children; however, methodological limitations prevent definitive conclusions. Future research should focus on larger, methodologically sound intervention trials to provide definitive answers as to whether this technology is effective in promoting long-term physical activity in children.