Physical Activity Levels In Youth Research Articles

Association of Ideal Cardiovascular Health in Youth with Cancer Risk in Adulthood: Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study.

Lifestyle factors may affect cancer risk. This study aimed to identify whether American Heart Association (AHA) Ideal Cardiovascular Health (ICH) score and its individual variables in youth associate with subsequent cancer incidence. Study comprised of participants of the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study free of cancer at analysis baseline in 1986 (n=1873). Baseline age was 12-24 years and the follow-up occurred between 1986-2018. Among 1873 participants (mean age 17.3±4.1 years; 53.4% females at baseline), 72 incident cancer cases occurred during the follow-up (mean follow-up time 31.4±3.4 years). Baseline ICH score was not associated with future cancer risk (HR 0.96, 95% CI 0.78-1.12 per 1-point increment). Of individual ICH score variables, ideal physical activity (PA) was inversely associated with cancer incidence (age- and sex-adjusted HR 0.45 (0.23-0.88) per 1-category change [nonideal/ideal]), and remained significant in multivariable-adjusted model including also BMI, smoking, diet and socioeconomic status. A continuous physical activity index at ages 9-24 years and moderate to vigorous physical activity in youth were also related to decreased cancer incidence (p<0.05). BMI, smoking, diet, total cholesterol, glucose and blood pressure were not related to cancer risk. Of the dietary components, meat consumption was associated with cancer incidence (p=0.023). These findings indicate that higher PA levels in youth associate with a reduced subsequent cancer incidence whereas AHA´s ICH score in youth does not. This finding supports the efforts in promoting healthy lifestyle and encourages in physical activity during childhood yielding in subsequent healthier life.

Health and Economic Value of Eliminating Socioeconomic Disparities in US Youth Physical Activity

There are considerable socioeconomic status (SES) disparities in youth physical activity (PA) levels. For example, studies show that lower-SES youth are less active, have lower participation in organized sports and physical education classes, and have more limited access to PA equipment. To determine the potential public health and economic effects of eliminating disparities in PA levels among US youth SES groups. An agent-based model representing all 6- to 17-year-old children in the US was used to simulate the epidemiological, clinical, and economic effects of disparities in PA levels among different SES groups and the effect of reducing these disparities. Anthropometric measures (eg, body mass index) and the presence and severity of risk factors associated with weight (stroke, coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, or cancer), as well as direct and indirect cost savings. This model, representing all 50 million US children and adolescents 6 to 17 years old, found that if the US eliminates the disparity in youth PA levels across SES groups, absolute overweight and obesity prevalence would decrease by 0.826% (95% CI, 0.821%-0.832%), resulting in approximately 383 000 (95% CI, 368 000-399 000) fewer cases of overweight and obesity and 101 000 (95% CI, 98 000-105 000) fewer cases of weight-related diseases (stroke and coronary heart disease events, type 2 diabetes, or cancer). This would result in more than $15.60 (95% CI, $15.01-$16.10) billion in cost savings over the youth cohort's lifetime. There are meaningful benefits even when reducing the disparity by just 25%, which would result in $1.85 (95% CI, $1.70-$2.00) billion in direct medical costs averted and $2.48 (95% CI, $2.04-$2.92) billion in productivity losses averted. For every 1% in disparity reduction, total productivity losses would decrease by about $83.8 million, and total direct medical costs would decrease by about $68.7 million. This study quantified the potential savings from eliminating or reducing PA disparities, which can help policymakers, health care systems, schools, funders, sports organizations, and other businesses better prioritize investments toward addressing these disparities.

A246 EXAMINING BARRIERS TO PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN PEDIATRIC INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE PATIENTS

Abstract Background Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) poses significant challenges to pediatric patients, affecting their physical and psychological well-being. Physical activity can be an essential component of managing IBD, yet its adoption among this population remains suboptimal. Understanding the factors that influence physical activity levels in youth with IBD, particularly barriers to engagement, is crucial. Aims (1) Describe physical activity levels in pediatric IBD, and (2) assess the relationship between physical activity and barriers to physical activity in youth with IBD. Methods We recruited patients between the ages of 7-17 years with a single confirmed diagnosis of IBD. Participants completed a barriers to physical activity questionnaire adapted from Zabinski et al. (2003). Each item was scored on a scale from 1 to 5, to yield a total barriers score and subdomain scores for body-related, convenience, resource, social, fitness, and disease-related barriers; each score presented as an average out of 5. Lower scores indicated lower barrier burden. Participants also wore accelerometers during waking hours for 7 consecutive days to quantify daily average total physical activity (TPA), light physical activity (LPA), and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analyses were used to determine the relationship between physical activity and barriers to physical activity. Results Forty-nine youth completed the study (31% females; age: 14.77±1.98 years). Physical activity levels were low (TPA: 146.6±49.5 min/day; LPA: 104.2±33.4 min/day; MVPA: 42.4±21.2 min/day), with only 21% of participants meeting the 24-hour movement guidelines of 60 min/day of MVPA. Total and resource barriers both significantly predicted TPA (total: β=-47.76, p=0.004; resource: β=-48.30, pampersand:003C0.001), LPA (total: β=-29.01, p=0.01; resource: β=-29.68, pampersand:003C0.001), and MVPA (total: β=-18.75, p=0.01; resource: β=-18.62, pampersand:003C0.001). Fitness barriers significantly predicted TPA (β=-41.48, p=0.016) and MVPA (β=-22.01, p=0.008). Body-related, convenience, social, and disease-related barriers did not significantly predict TPA, LPA, or MVPA. Conclusions Our findings confirmed that youth with IBD are not engaging in enough physical activity. Importantly, we found those with higher total barrier, resource- and fitness-related barriers presented with 18-48 fewer minutes of daily physical activity. These findings highlight the need for tailored interventions aimed at reducing specific barriers to support physical activity participation in youth with IBD. Funding Agencies None

338-OR: Increased Glucose Time in Range following Active vs. Sedentary Days in Newly Diagnosed Youth with T1D—4T Exercise Results

The 4T Exercise Study started newly diagnosed youth with T1D on CGM and physical activity (PA) trackers ~1-month post diagnosis. We examined real-world PA patterns and glycemia in youth with T1D during the first year post diagnosis. A physically active day was identified as ≥10 mins of continuous moderate-to-vigorous intensity PA, with moderate-intensity (MOD) defined as 3-6 metabolic equivalents (METS) and high-intensity (HIE) as &amp;gt;6 METS. All other days were deemed as sedentary (SED) days. CGM data 24h after exercise were used to compute percent time below range (TBR; &amp;lt;70 and TBR2; &amp;lt;54 mg/dL), time in range (TIR; 70-180 mg/dL), and time above range (TAR; &amp;gt;180 and TAR2; &amp;gt;250 mg/dL). A total of 45 youth (age: 13 [IQR 12, 15] years, 38% female, 40% non-Hispanic White, 76% private insurance) wore activity trackers 13 [IQR: 8, 16] hours daily. Compared to SED days, higher intensity PA levels were associated with higher TIR (70% SED vs 72% with MOD, P=0.2; 76% with HIE, P=0.001) and lower TAR (28% SED vs 24% with MOD, P=0.08; 21% with HIE, P&amp;lt;0.001), but no difference in TBR (2.8% SED vs 3.6% following MOD, P=0.2; 3.7% following HIE, P=0.14). Overall, higher levels of PA in youth with new onset T1D was associated with over an hour of increased TIR per day, without significant increases in TBR. Exercise education soon after diagnosis is an opportunity to improve care and establish safe and healthy PA habits. Disclosure D.P.Zaharieva: Advisory Panel; Dexcom, Inc., Research Support; Hemsley Charitable Trust, International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes, Insulet Corporation, Speaker's Bureau; American Diabetes Association, Ascensia Diabetes Care, Medtronic. D.M.Maahs: Advisory Panel; Medtronic, LifeScan Diabetes Institute, MannKind Corporation, Consultant; Abbott, Research Support; Dexcom, Inc. V.Ritter: None. M.Riddell: Advisory Panel; Zealand Pharma A/S, Zucara Therapeutics, Indigo Diabetes, Consultant; Lilly Diabetes, Eli Lilly and Company, Jaeb Center for Health Research, Speaker's Bureau; Dexcom, Inc., Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, Stock/Shareholder; Supersapiens, Zucara Therapeutics. A.Addala: None. F.K.Bishop: None. P.Prahalad: None. M.Desai: None. K.K.Hood: Consultant; Cecelia Health. D.Scheinker: None. Funding National Institutes of Health (P30DK116074); Stanford Diabetes Research Center (R18DK122422 to D.M.M.); Dexcom, Inc.; Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Auxiliaries Endowment; The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust (G-2002-0425); Internationa

Findings From A Scoping Review Examining Family Dog Ownership And Youth Physical Activity Levels

Higher youth physical activity (PA) is associated with favorable health outcomes. Only one in three children meet national PA guidelines, which recommend 60 minutes of daily PA. As an estimated 48% of US households own a dog, encouraging dog walking and active play with the family dog are potential high reach strategies to increase youth PA. PURPOSE: The purpose of this scoping review was to summarize the existing literature on family dog ownership and youth PA levels and identify gaps in the literature to inform future studies. METHODS: Database literature searches yielded 659, 230, and 104 results in PubMed, CINAHL, and SPORTDiscus, respectively, with the following search terms: (Kids OR children OR adolescents OR youth OR families) AND (Dog OR pet) AND (Physical activity OR walking OR steps OR exercise OR obesity). Following abstract and full-text screening, 18 articles were selected for inclusion. RESULTS: A majority of studies were cross-sectional (88.9%). Study populations were adolescents (38.9%), elementary-aged (27.8%), preschool-aged (5.5%), or combined ages (27.9%). Most studies consisted of majority White, higher socioeconomic status populations (88.9%). PA measurement tools consisted of questionnaire-only (n = 10; 55.6%), questionnaire with participant accelerometers (n = 7; 38.8%), and questionnaire with participant fitness-testing (n = 1; 5.5%). Only 1 study paired self-reported dog walking data with accelerometer data to determine whether children performed moderate-to-vigorous PA during family dog walks. Of 9 studies comparing PA levels among youth with and without dogs, 77.8% reported a positive association between dog ownership and PA. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of studies investigating dog ownership and youth PA levels are cross-sectional, and suggest dog ownership is associated with higher youth PA levels. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine whether the relationship is causal. If a causal relationship is demonstrated, initiatives that reduce family dog ownership barriers may help increase youth PA levels. Randomized trials testing interventions to increase dog-facilitated PA in youth are also needed. Finally, future studies should examine the dog ownership-PA relationship in low-income and ethnic minority youth.

Family Dog Ownership and Youth Physical Activity Levels: A Scoping Review.

Higher youth physical activity (PA) is associated with favorable health outcomes. The PA Guidelines for Americans recommend school-aged children complete at least 60 minutes of daily PA. Only one in three children meet these guidelines. Dog walking and play are potential strategies to increase youth PA. This scoping review summarizes the existing literature on familial dog ownership and youth PA levels and identifies gaps in the literature to inform future studies. Of nine studies that compared PA levels among youth with and without dogs, 77.8% reported a positive association between dog ownership and PA. The majority of studies investigating dog ownership and youth PA are cross-sectional and suggest dog ownership is associated with increased youth PA. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine whether the relationship is causal. Interventions to increase dog-facilitated PA in youth also are needed. Future studies should examine the dog ownership-PA relationship in low-income and minority youth.

Global impact of physical inactivity and implications for public health nursing.

Physicalinactivity has been a public health problem worldwide for more than a decade. Of those who are physically active, a substantial percentage engage solely in low or very low physical activity (PA) levels. In the last 3decades, the prevalence of PA in the United States has decreased with approximately 80% of adults not meeting the recommended guidelines for aerobic and muscle strengthening PA. The PA levels of youth have dramatically decreased with 85% of adolescents reporting no PA. Regular PA participation can aid in preventing chronic diseases. A strong inverse dose-response relationship exists between PA and the incidence of cardiovascular disease, all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Moreover, low cardiorespiratory fitness levels are a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases: the leading cause of death and disability globally. Conversely, high amounts of moderate-to-vigorous intensity PA at levels 3-5 times recommended in guidelines reduce risk for all cause mortality. Socio-ecological determinants of PA are essential considerations for promoting across the life course. In health care and community settings, public health nurses have opportunities to promote PA through a socio-ecological approach across the life course of individuals and diverse populations.

Effect of commercial wearables and digital behaviour change resources on the physical activity of adolescents attending schools in socio-economically disadvantaged areas: the RAW-PA cluster-randomised controlled trial

BackgroundThere has been increasing interest in using wearable activity trackers to promote physical activity in youth. This study examined the short- and longer-term effects of a wearable activity tracker combined with digital behaviour change resources on the physical activity of adolescents attending schools in socio-economically disadvantaged areas.MethodsThe Raising Awareness of Physical Activity (RAW-PA) Study was a 12-week, multicomponent intervention that combined a Fitbit Flex (and accompanying app), and online digital behaviour change resources and weekly challenges delivered via Facebook. RAW-PA was evaluated using a cluster-randomised controlled trial with 275 adolescents (50.2% female; 13.7 ± 0.4 years) from 18 Melbourne secondary schools (intervention n = 9; wait-list control group n = 9). The primary outcome was moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA), measured using hip-worn ActiGraph accelerometers. The secondary outcome was self-reported physical activity. Data were collected at baseline, 12-weeks (immediately post-intervention), and 6-months post-intervention (follow-up). Multilevel models were used to determine the effects of the intervention on daily MVPA over time, adjusting for covariates.ResultsNo significant differences were observed between intervention and wait-list control adolescents’ device-assessed MVPA immediately post-intervention. At 6-months post-intervention, adolescents in the intervention group engaged in 5 min (95% CI: − 9.1 to − 1.0) less MVPA per day than those in the wait-list control group. Males in the intervention group engaged in 11 min (95% CI: − 17.6 to − 4.5) less MVPA than males in the wait-list control group at 6-months post-intervention. No significant differences were observed for females at either time point. For self-reported physical activity, no significant effects were found at 12-weeks and 6-months post-intervention.ConclusionsCombining a wearable activity tracker with digital behaviour change resources and weekly challenges did not increase inactive adolescents’ accelerometer-derived and self-reported physical activity levels immediately post-intervention. This contrasts previous research that has suggested wearable activity tracker may increase youth physical activity levels in the short-term. Lower engagement in MVPA 6-months post-intervention was observed for males but not for females, though it is unclear why this finding was observed. The results suggest wearable activity trackers, in combination with supporting materials, may not be effective for increasing physical activity levels in adolescents.Trial registrationACTRN12616000899448. Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry. Registered 7 July 2016.

Dyadic Analysis of a Self-report Physical Activity Measure for Adult-Youth Dyads

Adult physical activity levels influence youth physical activity levels, but the nature of this relationship is still unknown. Most research focusing on this topic has been conducted with accelerometers, which are ideal since self-report physical activity measures can be biased. However, self-report measures for physical activity are useful to include in studies to gather information at low-cost. The purpose of this study was to further develop a self-report adult-youth dyad measure of physical activity. This study was conducted using secondary data analysis of the physical activity measures used in an intervention on behavioral nutrition (iCook 4-H). Participants were a sample of 214 adults (M = 39.0, SD = 8.0years) and youth (M = 9.4, SD = 0.7years) pairs. Accelerometer data was collected for a subset of youth (n = 122). There was dependency between the adult-youth physical activity data, and a dyadic confirmatory factor analysis model showed good fit to the data and achieved metric invariance, a measure to determine if the same construct was being measured in both youth and adults. Invariance was confirmed across matched versus unmatched sex pairs and some evidence of invariance with youth accelerometer data. Based on study findings, when using self-report measures of physical activity, researchers should measure both members of the adult-youth dyad to get more accurate measurements. Further validation of these findings is needed using an objective physical activity measure, like accelerometers, with all participants and more diverse samples.

Physical Activity in Youth with Multiple Sclerosis receiving the ATOMIC intervention: Social connectedness above all else

BackgroundWithin the pediatric MS population, physical activity (PA) has been associated with positive health outcomes such as lower lesion and relapse rates (Grover et. al., 2015). Recently, associations between variables from a social-cognitive theory (SCT) and levels of PA in youth with multiple sclerosis have been reported (Sikes & Motl, 2020), suggesting a SCT-based intervention may be efficacious in changing PA. We developed and delivered a 12-week SCT-based intervention and sought to gain an understanding of youth's perspectives on PA over time. MethodsWe performed a qualitative analysis on 34 coaching call transcripts from 13 participants as part of a theory-based intervention promoting PA in youth with MS (NCT03137602). Coaching calls were semi-structured and each participant was scheduled to have three coaching calls spaced monthly for three months. We used an inductive content analysis approach to analyze the data (Elo and Kyngas, 2008). ResultsGeneral themes from the calls aligned with the SCT constructs. Youth consistently discussed facilitators for changing PA over time, including a positive attitude, goal setting and social connectedness. There was increasing conversation around PA barriers over time including the environment and a lack of time. ConclusionYouth perceptions on PA can be either positive or negative and can change over time. There is an underlying emergence and importance of social connectedness within PA behaviours. Increases in coaching call content related to goal setting suggest a positive effect of coaching and SCT in these areas. Future studies will focus on interactions between SCT constructs, particularly social connectedness and increased physical activity.

Agreement Between Fitbit And Actigraph Estimates Of Physical Activity In Young Children

Commercial wearables are used to track physical activity (PA) levels in children and as tools for increasing PA participation in youth. However, few studies have examined the agreement between commercial and research grade devices in assessing PA in children. PURPOSE: To compare estimates from a wrist-worn Fitbit Flex 2 to a waist-worn Actigraph GT9X Link in elementary school children. METHODS: Forty children aged 6-10 years wore a Fitbit Flex 2 (on non-dominant wrist) and an Actigraph GT9X Link (on waist) for up to two weeks while school was in session. Children were instructed to wear the Fitbit continuously and to wear the Actigraph during all waking hours. Parents were given wear reminders via text each morning. For each device, an adapted Choi algorithm was used to flag non-wear periods (defined as ≥90 minutes of continuous 0 step values). Steps and intensity-specific estimates of daily PA from each device were averaged across time periods when both devices were worn simultaneously, and estimates were compared using days with 10+ h of concordant wear and using all available data. RESULTS: Across 91 days with concordant device wear of 10+ h, Fitbit estimates were 25% higher for steps (Mean±SD = 10318±3846 steps) and 44% higher for vigorous intensity PA (16.2±22.1 min) compared to the Actigraph GT9X Link (8260+3614 steps; 11.3±15.9 min). In contrast, Fitbit estimates of moderate intensity PA (26.8±21.1 min) were 20% lower than Actigraph estimates (33.3±24.3 min). Pearson correlations between device estimates were higher for steps (r=0.62) than for moderate (r=0.55) or vigorous (r=0.28) intensity PA. Similar patterns were observed when all available concordant data were analyzed (n=377 days), with the Fitbit recording 20% more steps, 28% less moderate PA, and 36% more vigorous PA than the Actigraph. CONCLUSIONS: Wrist-worn consumer wearables may produce higher estimates of steps and vigorous intensity PA, and lower estimates of moderate intensity PA, in elementary school children. Absent additional evidence, consumers and researchers should be cautious when using wrist-worn consumer devices to assess absolute levels of PA in youth. Supported by a grant from NHLBI (R01HL135359).

Is It Possible To Increase Physical Activity Levels In Youth? A Randomized Controlled Trial

Is It Possible To Increase Physical Activity Levels In Youth? A Randomized Controlled Trial

Physical Activity With Tailored mHealth Support for Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

BackgroundIndividuals with intellectual disabilities (IDs) have lower levels of physical activity (PA) and greater barriers for participation in fitness activities compared with members of the general population. As increased PA has positive effects on cardiovascular and psychosocial health, it is exceedingly important to identify effective interventions for use in everyday settings. Mobile health (mHealth) methods such as motion sensor games (exergames) and smartphone reminders for PA have been explored and found to be promising in individuals with IDs.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of an individually tailored PA program with motivational mHealth support on daily levels of PA in youth and adults with IDs.MethodsThe trial uses a randomized controlled design comprising 30 intervention participants and 30 control group participants, aged 16 to 60 years, with sedentary lifestyles or low PA levels. While the controls will receive standard care, the intervention aims to increase the level of PA, measured as steps per day, as the primary outcome. Secondary outcome variables are body mass index, blood pressure, physical performance, social support for PA, self-efficacy in a PA setting, behavior problems, and goal attainment. The intervention involves the delivery of tailored mHealth support, using smartphones or tablets to create structure with focus on the communicative abilities of individual participants. Rewards and feedback are provided in order to motivate individuals to increase participation in PA. Participants in the intervention group, their close relatives, and care staff will be invited to participate in a preintervention goal-setting meeting, where goal attainment scaling will be used to select the participants’ PA goals for the intervention period. All participants will be assessed at baseline, at 3 months, and at 6 months.ResultsEnrollment was planned to start in April 2020 but will be delayed due to the pandemic situation. The main contribution of this paper is a detailed plan to run our study, which will produce new knowledge about tailored mHealth to support PA in individuals with intellectual disabilities.ConclusionsWe expect the new intervention to perform better than standard care in terms of improved PA, improved self-efficacy, and social support for activities. Technology offers new opportunities to promote healthy behaviors. The results of the study will determine the effectiveness and sustainability of a tailored mHealth support intervention to increase PA in youth and adults with IDs.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT04079439; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04079439International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)PRR1-10.2196/19213

Can anthropometry and physical fitness testing explain physical activity levels in children and adolescents with obesity?

ObjectivesAs time with patients and resources are increasingly limited, it is important to determine if clinical tests can provide further insight into real-world behaviors linked to clinical outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine which aspects of anthropometry and physical fitness testing are associated with physical activity (PA) levels among youth with obesity. DesignCross-sectional study. MethodAnthropometry [height, waist circumference, bodyweight, fat percentage], physical fitness [muscular endurance (partial curl-ups), flexibility (sit-and-reach), lower-body power (long-jump), upper-body strength (grip), speed/agility (5×5-m shuttle), cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2-max)], and PA [light (LPA), moderate (MPA), vigorous (VPA), MVPA] was assessed in 203 youth with obesity. ResultsThe sample was stratified by age <12 yrs (children); 12 yrs (adolescents) and sex. Stepwise regression evaluated associations between PA with anthropometry and physical fitness. Children (57% male) and adolescents (45% male) had a BMI Z-score of 3.5(SD:0.94) and 3.1(SD:0.76) respectively. Long-jump explained 19.5% [(Standardized) Beta=0.44; p=0.001] of variance in VPA for childhood girls and 12.6% (Beta=0.35; p=0.025) of variance in MPA for adolescent boys. 5×5-m shuttle explained 8.4% (Beta=−0.29; p=0.042) of variance in MVPA for childhood girls. Body mass explained 6.3% (Beta=−0.25; p=0.007) of variance in LPA in childhood boys. Fat percentage explained 9.8% (Beta=0.31; p=0.03) of variance in MPA in adolescent girls. ConclusionsIn conclusion, tests of lower body power, body mass and fat percentage provide limited information concerning PA levels in youth with obesity. Activity monitoring should be considered in addition to clinical assessments to more fully understand youth health.

Associations Between Physical Activity and Chronic Pain Severity in Youth With Chronic Abdominal Pain.

The present study aimed to: (1) better understand physical activity levels in youth with chronic abdominal pain and (2) investigate the relationship between day-level physical activity related to next day pain intensity to identify any intraindividual heterogeneity. Seventy-one youth (M=13.34 y, SD=2.67 y) with chronic abdominal pain provided reports of pain severity and continuous objective reports of sedentary behavior, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and total sleep time using accelerometers over 14 days. Findings revealed that youth with chronic abdominal pain do not meet recommended levels of MVPA per day (M=34.64 min, SD=33.31 min). Further, results indicated a random effect of the previous day's MVPA predicting pain severity. There was a small significant negative effect of within-person total sleep time as a predictor of pain severity. The current study highlights the importance of separating between-person and within-person differences when examining the relationship between physical activity and pain severity. Future studies should explore moderating factors that may help to explain random effects to better understand the types of individuals with positive or negative relationships between physical activity and pain severity.

Mode of Commuting to School and Its Association with Physical Activity and Sedentary Habits in Young Ecuadorian Students.

Active commuting to and from school (ACS) could help to increase daily physical activity levels in youth; however, this association remains unknown in Ecuadorian youth. Thus, the aims of this study were (1) to determine the patterns of commuting to and from school and (2) to analyze the associations between ACS, physical activity (PA), and sedentary habits in Ecuadorian youth. A total of 732 students (65.3% males), aged 10–18 years (children = 246, young adolescents = 310, older adolescents = 162) from the central region of Ecuador participated in this study. A self-report questionnaire, including the usual mode and frequency of commuting, distance from home to school (PACO-Questionnaire), and PA and sedentary habits (YAP-Questionnaire), was used. Most of the sample lived ≤2 km from school; however, they were mainly passive commuters (96%). The most common mode of commuting was by car (to school = 43.4%, from school = 31.6%; p < 0.001). Children presented significantly higher scores (0–4) in PA outside school and total PA compared with older adolescents (2.20 ± 0.97 vs. 1.97 ± 0.96; p = 0.013 and 2.30 ± 0.76 vs. 2.09 ± 0.74, p = 0.019, respectively), as well as the lowest scores in sedentary habits (1.51 ± 0.65, p < 0.001). PA at school and total PA were positively associated with ACS (OR 3.137; 95% CI, 1.918 to 5.131; p < 0.001, and OR 2.543; 95% CI, 1.428 to 4.527; p = 0.002, respectively). In conclusion, passive modes of transportation were the most frequently used to commute to and from school in young Ecuadorians. PA at school and total PA were positively associated with ACS. Thus, interventions at school setting could be an opportunity to improve PA levels and additionally ACS in youth from the central region of Ecuador.

Meta-Analysis of Physical Activity Levels in Youth With and Without Disabilities.

The purpose of this study was to explore the current levels of physical activity among youth with disabilities using meta-analysis. The search identified 11 publications including 729 participants (age 4-20yr). The overall effect size for 11 studies was Hedges g = 0.60 (SE = 0.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.24, 0.96], p < .05, k = 11) using a random-effects model. The findings suggest that differences in physical activity levels between youth with and without disabilities are complex. Results indicated that youth without disabilities engaged in higher levels of physical activity of moderate to vigorous intensity (g = 0.66, SE = 0.18, p < .05). However, no differences were found in light-intensity physical activity (g = -0.03, SE = 0.16, p > .85). Results also suggested that the differences in physical activity between youth with and without disabilities were affected by age (<12yr, g = 0.83, SE = 0.24, 95% CI [0.37, 1.29], p < .05, and >13 yr, g = 0.37, SE = 0.10, 95% CI [0.18, 0.57], p < .05; Q value = 3.20, df = 1, p < .05), with children with disabilities engaging in less physical activity than children without disabilities in younger ages. Differences in physical activity level between youth with and without disabilities are functions of intensity of physical activity and age but may not be of type of disability (Q value = 0.22, df = 1, p > .6).

Mood Dimensions Show Distinct Within-Subject Associations With Non-exercise Activity in Adolescents: An Ambulatory Assessment Study.

Physical activity is known to preserve both physical and mental health. However, the physical activity levels of a large proportion of adolescents are insufficient. This is critical, since physical activity levels in youth have been shown to translate into adulthood. Whereas in adult populations, mood has been supposed to be one important psychological factor that drives physical activity in everyday life, this issue has been poorly studied in adolescent populations. Ambulatory Assessment is the state-of-the-art approach to investigate how mood and non-exercise activity fluctuate within persons in everyday life. Through assessments in real time and real life, this method provides ecological validity, bypassing several limitations of traditional assessment methods (e.g., recall biases). To investigate whether mood is associated with non-exercise activity in adolescents, we equipped a community-based sample comprising 113 participants, aged 12–17 years, with GPS-triggered e-diaries querying for valence, energetic arousal, and calmness, and with accelerometers continuously measuring physical activity in their everyday lives for 1 week. We excluded all acceleration data due to participants' exercise activities and thereafter we parameterized non-exercise activity as the mean value across 10-min intervals of movement acceleration intensity following each e-diary prompt. We used multilevel analyses to compute the effects of the mood dimensions on non-exercise activity within 10-min intervals directly following each e-diary prompt. Additionally, we conducted explorative analyses of the time course of the effects, i.e., on different timeframes of non-exercise activity up to 300 min following the mood assessment. The results showed that valence (p < 0.001) and energetic arousal (p < 0.001) were positively associated with non-exercise activity within the 10 min interval, whereas calmness (p < 0.001) was negatively associated with non-exercise activity. Specifically, adolescents who felt more content, full of energy, or less calm were more physically active in subsequent timeframes. Overall, our results demonstrate significant associations of mood with non-exercise activity in younger ages and converge with the previously observed association between mood and physical activity in adults. This knowledge on distinct associations of mood-dimensions with non-exercise activity may help to foster physical activity levels in adolescents.

Using outdoor adventure to enhance intrinsic motivation and engagement in science and physical activity: An exploratory study

Many nations are seeking novel approaches to increasing youth physical activity levels, as well as academic performance in science-related disciplines. This study investigated an integrated approach to addressing both issues by exploring student experiences in (a) a pilot outdoor adventure-based science course, and (b) their normal school settings before and after this course. Twenty-two high school students participated in a five-day snow science program that incorporated winter outdoor adventure activities within a science curriculum. Variables related to attitudes, identity, intrinsic motivation, basic psychological needs, and engagement in science education and outdoor physical activities were measured, along with actual physical activity levels. Participants’ reported engagement, intrinsic motivation, enjoyment, self-determination, and physical activity levels were significantly higher during the outdoor adventure-based science course compared to pre and post-school settings. Findings provide preliminary support for further developing and evaluating adventure education and recreation programs with the dual aims of improving student engagement in science education and physical activity. Management implicationThis study explored outdoor physical activity and science learning in a publicly operated residential science school program based in a ski area and State park. The results can assist managers of public and private agencies implement innovative experiences that meet growing demand for personal development, education, health, wellness and meaning, in addition to enjoyment. Recreation managers can apply findings to create novel programs during school breaks that appeal to youth, parents and school administrators alike.Findings suggested that integrated outdoor adventure-based programs may:•enhance participants’ intrinsic motivation to engage in both physical activity and science education;•provide a novel means of addressing two pressing social issues (sedentary lifestyles, underperformance in science).In terms of program structure and implementation, managers should focus on facilitating intrinsic motivation, autonomy, competence, and relatedness through techniques such as:•supporting positive group dynamics;•providing participants choices about how and where learning happens;•allowing time to develop recreation skills as well as science skills;•fostering flow opportunities through dynamically matching challenges with progressive skill instruction over the course of the program (or several programs).Finally, in terms of assessing programs and experiences, managers might consider measuring aspects such as flow, intrinsic motivation, or physical activity in addition to customary ‘satisfaction’ measures.

Accelerometer-Assessed Physical Activity and Sedentary Time in Youth With Disabilities.

This study compared accelerometer-assessed habitual physical activity (PA), sedentary time, and meeting PA recommendations among 102 youth with disabilities (7-20 years) in four subgroups-physical/visual impairments, intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorders, and hearing impairment-and 800 youth with typical development (8-16 years). Low proportions of youth with disabilities met PA recommendations, and they generally were less physically active and more sedentary than youth with typical development. The hearing impairment and autism spectrum disorder groups were the most and least physically active, respectively. Older age and to some extent female sex were related to less PA and more sedentary time. Considering the suboptimal levels of PA in youth with disabilities, effective interventions directed at factors associated with PA among them are needed.