Physical Inactivity In Children Research Articles

Excessive Screen Media Use in Preschoolers Is Associated with Poor Motor Skills

Excessive screen media use exposure is a robust childhood predictor of sedentary behavior. The association between excessive exposure to sedentary behaviors (e.g., screen media use) and motor skills and how this association differs across sociodemographic strata is an important knowledge gap that needs to be addressed. The study aims to investigate the association of motor skills and screen media use in preschool children, taking into account sociodemographic variables, physical activity, and sleep profile. A cross-sectional survey of 926 children from 27 preschools was performed. The main outcome was defined as motor skills assessed using the general motor quotient (GMQ). Independent variables included sociodemographic variables, screen media use, screen habits, physical activity, and sleep duration. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the associations between the children's motor skills and each exposure factor. More than 55 percent of the children ate while watching television and 28 percent spent a long time watching television, playing video games, or using a computer, tablet, or cell phone. Excessive screen media use increased the risk of a low GMQ by 72 percent and inactivity in children increased the odds by 90 percent; sleep duration at night decreased the odds of a low GMQ by 51 percent and daytime sleep decreased the odds by 33 percent. Excessive screen media use has been associated with poor motor skills and increased physical inactivity in children, especially among those with prolonged exposure. Our findings can alert parents to the consequences of excessive screen media use and can motivate policymakers to encourage sports and other health-promotion strategies.

Prevalência de sobrepeso, obesidade e alterações de pressão arterial em crianças do ensino fundamental de uma escola privada em Belém-PA

Objetivo: Verificar a prevalência do sobrepeso, obesidade, pressão arterial elevada e sedentarismo em crianças do 1° ao 5° ano do ensino fundamental de uma escola da rede privada. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo observacional transversal. Participaram do estudo 139 estudantes, com faixa etária entre 6 a 11 anos, de ambos os sexos, que estavam devidamente matriculados em uma escola da rede privada na cidade de Belém (PA) através de amostra de conveniência. Resultados: O excesso de peso foi identificado em 40 (28,8%) crianças, o sedentarismo foi identificado em 39 (28,1%) crianças, a pressão arterial elevada foi identificada em 10 (7,2%) alunos. Entre os 39 alunos sedentários encontramos 6 (60%) hipertensos, e dos 129 não hipertensos 33 (26%) são sedentários. Dos 39 alunos sedentários 12(46,2%) estão com sobrepeso e 9 (64,3%) são obesos. Conclusão: O sedentarismo pode estar correlacionado com o excesso de peso bem como a pressão arterial elevada, mostrando que crianças nestas faixas etárias, quando menos ativas fisicamente podem ter pressão arterial mais elevada e maior índice de massa corporal.

Lung function, obesity and physical fitness in young children: The EXAMIN YOUTH study.

The prevalence of obesity and physical inactivity in children are increasing globally. The study aimed to investigate the association of obesity and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) with patterns of lung function in young children. In this cross-sectional study, lung function, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP) and CRF (shuttle run stages) were measured in an unselected cohort of 1246 children aged 7.2 ± 0.4 years. All parameters and lung function, such as the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) to forced vital capacity (FVC), were assessed by standardized procedures for children. Statistical models were applied for systematic adjustment of potential confounders. Obese children had significantly higher FEV1 (Coef. (95% CI) (1.57 (1.50; 1.64) L) and FVC (1.75 (1.67; 1.83) L) compared to normal weight children (1.38 (1.37; 1.40) L; (1.53 (1.51; 1.54) L, respectively). However, with each unit increase of BMI, FEV1/FVC decreased (-0.003 (-0.005; -0.001)) due to a disproportional increase in FVC compared to FEV1. Per stage increase of CRF, FEV1 (0.017 (0.008; 0.025) L) and FVC increased (0.022 (0.012; 0.031) L)). In obese children, higher CRF was independently associated with higher FEV1/FVC (0.03 (0.5E-4; 0.06)) due to a higher increase of FEV1 over FVC with increasing fitness. The decrease of FEV1/FVC with increasing BMI suggests that childhood obesity is associated with an imbalance of ventilation and airway flow. In children with obesity, higher CRF is associated with an improved FEV1/FVC ratio. Physical exercise programs may have the potential to improve patterns of lung function in children with obesity.

A Review of Acute Physical Activity Effects on Brain and Cognition in Children

ABSTRACT The prevalence of physical inactivity in children has become a global pandemic and has consequences for physical, as well as cognitive and brain, health. Single bouts of physical activity (PA), however, have shown a transient, positive effect on cognitive performance in preadolescent children. Acute bouts of moderate to vigorous PA have demonstrated benefits for cognition, including attention and executive function. These acute effects of PA on cognitive performance can be seen both immediately after and following a delay from the cessation of PA. Further, event-related potentials have been used to delineate real-time neural responses to behavioral tasks after PA interventions. A short bout of moderate-intensity aerobic PA serves to increase the allocation of attentional resources and improved cognitive processing and stimulus classification speed. As such, there are implications for evaluating the effect of PA within schools. Several neural mechanisms are suggested to explain the observed improvements in executive function after PA, such as the importance of brain-derived neurotrophic factor on synaptogenesis, the expression of human growth factors, the activated release of catecholamines, and increased blood lactate levels. The ensuing descriptive review demonstrates the current understanding of the effects of acute PA on childhood brain and cognition and may serve as a basis for understanding PA-induced improvements in academic achievement.

Results from the Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) 2018 Report Card on physical activity for children and youth

Background/ObjectiveTaiwan is facing a high prevalence of physical inactivity in children and adolescents, which has led to rising obesity and morbidity levels in young people. Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) joined the Global Matrix 3.0 to share the local information on childhood physical activity and related factors with the international community. This study reports the grades for 10 indicators endorsed by the Global Matrix 3.0. MethodsThe local data for school-aged children and youth (∼5–17 year-olds) from 2010 to 2018 were used to determine the grades. The highest priority was given to the national survey data released by the government or academic institutions, followed by academic publications using nationally representative samples. Government or academic publications relying on only regional samples were excluded. ResultsThe data showed very poor Overall Physical Activity and Organized Sport Participation (F and D−, respectively). The grades for Active Transportation and Sedentary Behavior were C−. Low physical activity levels and high screen time may have led to sub-optimal Physical Fitness levels (B−). The central and local governments have recognized the importance of physical activity by creating related policy and improving facilities. Therefore, School, Community and the Built Environment, and Government Strategies and Investments all received the grade of B+. Active Play and Family and Peers received INC for a lack of sufficient data. ConclusionsDespite great effort by the governments and schools, physical activity and fitness levels are low while sedentary behavior is prevalent in Taiwanese children and youth.

Virtual Reality As a Training Tool to Treat Physical Inactivity in Children.

Lack of adequate physical activity in children is an epidemic that can result in obesity and other poor health outcomes across the lifespan. Physical activity interventions focused on motor skill competence continue to be developed, but some interventions, such as neuromuscular training (NMT), may be limited in how early they can be implemented due to dependence on the child’s level of cognitive and perceptual-motor development. Early implementation of motor-rich activities that support motor skill development in children is critical for the development of healthy levels of physical activity that carry through into adulthood. Virtual reality (VR) training may be beneficial in this regard. VR training, when grounded in an information-based theory of perceptual-motor behavior that modifies the visual information in the virtual world, can promote early development of motor skills in youth akin to more natural, real-world development as opposed to strictly formalized training. This approach can be tailored to the individual child and training scenarios can increase in complexity as the child develops. Ultimately, training in VR may help serve as a precursor to “real-world” NMT, and once the child reaches the appropriate training age can also augment more complex NMT regimens performed outside of the virtual environment.

Physical activity and family-based obesity treatment: a review of expert recommendations on physical activity in youth.

Targeting physical inactivity in children is pertinent to aiding in the decrease of childhood obesity rates. Only 33% of adolescents are obtaining the recommended goal of at least 60 min of physical activity per day. The objectives of this review are to summarize professional recommendations for physical activity and exercise in children and adolescents, and identify family-centred strategies that can be implemented by weight management clinicians. Clinically oriented recommendations and policy statements from professional organizations were identified through literature and internet searches, summarized using rubrics of aerobic, muscle strengthening and bone strengthening exercise, then examined for details on family-based focus, inclusion of child developmental stage and age, and application to the prevention and treatment of obesity. Current recommendations give guidelines for the amount of physical activity that children should acquire and how many days a week activities should occur. However, available guidelines need an improved approach to addressing the role of the parents and caregivers in targeting physical activity and weight management in youth. Efforts must be taken in order to make sure that the types of physical activity offered are both suitable and enjoyable. Sports, games, free play and other age appropriate activities are adequate ways to increase moderate to vigorous physical activity in children. Differentiating physical activities types in accordance with developmental stage, level of enjoyment, and family characteristics is needed to establish sustainable habits. One paediatric obesity program has developed approaches to teaching families fun and engaging ways to be active together.

Cognitive and social functioning are connected to physical activity behavior in children with autism spectrum disorder

BackgroundFor the first time this study aimed to examine the association of cognitive and social function with the physical activity behavior in a sample of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). MethodSixty eight children with ASD aged 6–16 years underwent an objective assessment of physical activity and cognitive flexibility. Parents were also asked to rate the social profile for their children. ResultsThe results showed that age, gender and cognitive flexibility are associated with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Analysis also showed that parent education and social function were associated with continuous minutes of physical activity. ConclusionsThese preliminary findings indicated that children with ASD who had poor cognitive or social skills would be less physically active and more sedentary. Moreover, the results highlighted the age and gender as possible risk factors of physical inactivity in children with ASD.

Results From India's 2016 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth.

Physical inactivity in children and youth in India is a major public health problem. The 2016 Indian Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth has been conceptualized to highlight this epidemic by appraising behaviors, contexts, strategies, and investments related to physical activity of Indian children and youth. An international research collaboration resulted in the formation of a Research Working Group (RWG). RWG determined key indicators; identified, synthesized, and analyzed existing evidence; developed criteria for assigning grades; and, finally, assigned grades to indicators based on consensus. Overall Physical Activity Levels were assigned a grade of C-. Active Transportation and Sedentary Behaviors were both assigned a grade of C. Government Strategies and Investments was assigned a grade of D. Six other indicators, including the country-specific indicator Physical Fitness, were graded as INC (incomplete) due to the lack of nationally representative evidence. Based on existing evidence, it appears that most Indian children do not achieve recommended levels of physical activity and spend most of their day in sedentary pursuits. The report card identifies gaps in both investments and research that need to be addressed before understanding the complete picture of active living in children and youth in India.

Prevention of Arterial Hypertension in Adolescents with Existing Risk Factors in Rural Clinics

The objective: to determine the frequency and impact of risk factors among adolescent children in the countryside on the possibility of arterial hypertension (AH) development and to devise the family doctor recommendations for its prevention. Patients and methods. The cohort study of 214 children at the age of 12–17 years who attend Khotiv educational complex «Secondary school of I–III levels – gymnasium» in Kiev region was implemented in order to identify the elevated numbers of blood pressure (BP) and the impact of risk factors on the development of hypertension in future. The sociological poll about the existing risk factors for cardio-vascular disease, the measurement of height and weight with the following bodymass index (BMI) calculation, the Rufe’s test for evaluating the physical efficiency, the BP measurement in the office, the electrocardiography (ECG), the blood pressure daily monitoring (BPDM) and the ophthalmoscopy were carried out. Results. Pre-hypertension was revealed among 29 children that made 13,6±2,3% of respondents, and arterial hypertension was diagnosed for 25 children that made 11,6±2,2%. Arterial hypertension was detected 2.5 times more often among boys in comparison with girls (8,3±1,9% and 3,3±1,5% accordingly). Most of respondents with arterial hypertension were 141year1old children. The most common complaints of the respondents were sleep disturbance (59,3±3,6%), exertional dyspnea (57,0±3,4%), headache (41,1±3,4%) and rapid fatigue (21,0±2,8%). The following risk factors as sex, hereditary factor for arterial hypertension especially combined with diabetes, myocardial infarction, stroke; smoking of respondents, smoking of parents, overuse of products containing the excess of table salt, insufficient use of vegetables and fruit (less than 200 g/day or no daily usage), the use of energy drinks, inactive way of life, low physical activity, the change of body weight (the overweight and the underweight) were significant. Conclusions. The frequency of arterial hypertension among the examined children who live in the countryside is 11.6%, including 8.3% among boys and 3.3% among girls. The main risk factors of arterial hypertension are the overweight, the underweight, the family history of arterial hypertension, the smoking of parents and physical inactivity of children. It has been found out that the absolute risk of arterial hypertension development in future is 40 per cent higher among the smokers, 10 per cent higher among the children whose parents smoke, 20 per cent higher among the dyspn(o)eic respondents, 20 per cent higher among the underweight children, 30 per cent higher among the overweight children, 30 per cent higher among the children with the changes of the fundus of eye, 20 per cent higher among the children with sinus tachycardia and 40 per cent higher among children with a single supraventricular extrasystole or sinus arrhythmia.

Long term impact of one daily unit of physical exercise at school on cardiovascular risk factors in school children.

Obesity and physical inactivity in children correlate with the presence of cardiovascular risk factors. The aim of this prospective, randomised, interventional study was to examine the long term impact of additional physical exercise lessons at school on fitness and cardiovascular risk factors. We randomly assigned 366 5th and 6th grade students class-wise into an intervention group that participated in one-daily physical exercise unit at school and a control group, participating in conventional school sports twice a week. The intervention duration was 4 years. At baseline and yearly follow-up, anthropometric measurements, body coordination tests, spiroergometry, questionnaires and blood samples were performed. A total of 236 children qualified for analysis of the intervention effect after 4 years. At the beginning students of the intervention and control groups had similar values for fitness assessed by peak oxygen uptake. Peak oxygen uptake was significantly better in the intervention group at first and second follow-up. After 4 years we found no difference in fitness any longer. Students in the intervention group were more likely to have healthy body mass index percentiles in comparison to the control group (within 10th to 90th percentile: intervention 86.4%, control 78.2%, P = 0.13). Over a period of 1-2 years, additional physical exercise lessons at school resulted in an improvement of fitness. However, long-term follow-up failed to demonstrate ongoing improvement of performance in the intervention compared with the control group. Nevertheless, the intervention group had lower rates of body mass index above the 90th percentile throughout the entire follow-up. Therefore more physical exercise units at school seem justified.

Physical Literacy Assessment and Its Potential for Identification and Treatment of Children with Neuro-Developmental Behavioral Intellectual Disorders

The following commentary proposes that the current identification protocols for identifying children with neuro-developmental behavioral intellectual disorders (NDBIDs) are limited. Increasing prevalence of physical inactivity in children and those diagnosed with NDBIDs creating public health concerns, new methods of identification, and treatment may be warranted. We suggest the diagnostic and treatment protocols for all children (not just those with NDBIDs) may be enhanced by using the concept of physical literacy as a philosophical premise for assessment instrument design and strength-based treatment.

Walking, cycling and the urban form: A Heckman selection model of active travel mode and distance by young adolescents

Physical inactivity of children and adolescents is a major public health challenge of the modern era but, when adequately promoted and nurtured, active travel offers immediate health benefits and forms future sustainable and healthy travel habits. This study explores jointly the choice and the extent of active travel of young adolescents while considering walking and cycling as distinct travel forms, controlling for objective urban form measures, and taking both a “street-buffer” looking at the immediate home surroundings and a “transport-zone” looking at wider neighborhoods. A Heckman selection model represents the distance covered while cycling (walking) given the mode choice being bicycle (walk) for a representative sample of 10–15year-olds from the Capital Region of Denmark extracted from the Danish national travel survey. Results illustrate the necessity of different urban environments for walking and cycling, as the former relates to “street-buffer” urban form measures and the latter also to “transport-zone ” ones. Results also show that lessening the amount and the density of car traffic, diminishing the movement of heavy vehicles in local streets, reducing the conflict points with the density of intersections, and intervening on crash frequency and severity, would increase the probability and the amount of active travel by young adolescents. Last, results indicate that zones in rural areas and at a higher percentage of immigrants are likely to have lower probability and amount of active travel by young adolescents.

Socio-economic environment, area facilities and obesity and physical inactivity among children.

To evaluate whether the relationship between socio-economic environment and obesity and physical inactivity in children can be explained by household socio-economic position and area facilities. Two indicators of the socio-economic context of neighbourhood of residence based on wealth and deprivation were estimated in a sample of 727 children and adolescents residents in Madrid (Spain). Multilevel logit models were used to calculate the relationship between each indicator and obesity and physical inactivity. After adjusting for household socio-economic position, obesity prevalence was 3.79 times higher among subjects living in deprived areas than among those living in non-deprived areas (CI: 1.95-7.34), and 2.38 higher among subjects living in less wealthy areas than in those living in wealthier areas (CI: 0.85-6.65). Adjustment for the availability of retail shops in subjects' neighbourhood of residence failed to change the magnitude of the association. Neither neighbourhood socio-economic context nor availability of sports facilities was related to physical inactivity. In the city of Madrid, socio-economic context of neighbourhood of residence shows an inverse relationship with obesity but not with physical inactivity among children. The relationship observed with obesity is not explained by the availability of area facilities.

Objectively measured school-based physical activity interventions for 6–12-year-old children in 2009–2014: a systematic review

Physical inactivity of children and youth is a growing problem all over the world. Th e promotion of physical activity (PA) is an essential strategy to improve the physical and mental health of students. The school setting is a good environment for population-based PA interventions. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether school-based PA interventions have influence on the PA level of children aged 6- to 12 years and to describe the main components of PA interventions. A literature selection was carried out including original articles describing school-based PA interventions for 6- to 12 years old children, objectively measured by accelerometers or pedometers, published 2009–2014. Seventeen relevant trials of sufficient quality performed in 10 different countries were identified. The analyses of articles revealed that active recess was the most wide-spread component of PA interventions, followed by activity breaks in lessons and PE lessons. Increase of PA was achieved in 16 analyzed studies, but multicomponent interventions and interventions, containing mandatory elements, seemed to be most effective.

Active and safe transportation of elementary-school students: comparative analysis of the risks of injury associated with children travelling by car, walking and cycling between home and school

Elementary school active transportation programs aim to address physical inactivity in children by prompting a modal shift from travel by car to walking or cycling among children living a distance from school conducive to walking or cycling. The objectives of this study are to evaluate the risk of injury related to walking, cycling and travelling by car between home and school among elementary-school students in the Montréal area and to evaluate the impact on number of injuries of a modal shift from travel by car to walking or cycling. The risk of injury was estimated for the 2003-2007 period by calculating the average annual rate of injury in children aged 5 to 12 years walking, cycling or being driven in a car, per 100 million kms travelled during the normal hours of travel between home and school. The impact of a modal shift from travel by car was evaluated for children living a distance from school conducive to walking and cycling (under 1.6 km), that is, the targets of active transportation programs. This evaluation was done using the regional rate of injury calculated for each travel mode. Between 2003 and 2007, an average of 168 children aged 5 to 12 years were injured each year while walking (n = 64), cycling (n = 28) and being driven in a car (n = 76) during the normal hours of travel between home and school in the Montréal area. The rate of injury was 69 children injured per 100 million kms for travel by car (reference group), 314 pedestrians (relative risk [RR] = 4.6; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.3-5.1) and 1519 cyclists (RR = 22.2; 95% CI: 14.3-30.0). A shift of 20% in the distance travelled by car to walking by children living less than 1.6 km from their school is estimated to result in an increase of 2.2% (n = 3.7) in the number of children injured each year in the area. In the case of a shift to cycling, the number of resulting injuries is estimated to be 24.4, an increase of 14.5%. The risk of injury among elementary-school students during the normal hours of travel between home and school is higher for walking and cycling than for travel by car, and cyclists are at greater risk of injury than pedestrians. A modal shift from travel by car would increase the number of children injured in the area (minor injuries, for the most part) if no action were taken to reduce the risk of injury to pedestrians and cyclists.

Formative research to develop a community-based intervention for chronic disease prevention in Guatemalan school-age children

BackgroundNoncommunicable diseases (NCD) are the most common causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, even in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Recent trends in health promotion emphasize community-based interventions as an important strategy for improving health outcomes. The aim of this study was to conduct formative research regarding the perceptions of NCD risk factors, their influencing factors, and community resources available to aid the development and implementation of a community-based intervention with school-age children.MethodsFocus group discussions (n = 18), home visits (n = 30), and individual semi-structured interviews (n = 26) were conducted in three urban communities in Guatemala with school-age children (10–12 years of age), teachers, parents, and local community members (i.e., school principals, school food kiosk vendors, religious leaders, authority representatives). All focus groups and interviews were transcribed verbatim for thematic analysis.ResultsChildren, parents, and teachers have general knowledge about modifiable risk factors. Adults worried more about tobacco use, as compared to unhealthy diet and physical inactivity in children. Participants identified features at the intrapersonal (e.g., negative emotional state), interpersonal (e.g., peers as role models), and organizational and community levels (e.g., high levels of crime) that influence these risk factors in children. School committees, religious leaders, and government programs and activities were among the positive community resources identified.ConclusionsThese findings should help researchers in Guatemala and similar LMIC to develop community-based interventions for NCD prevention in school-age children that are effective, feasible, and culturally acceptable.

Childhood Physical Activity, Sports and Exercise and Noncommunicable Disease: A Special Focus on India

Establishing the relationship between childhood physical inactivity and noncommunicable disease (NCD) is difficult, since chronic disease and mortality are not direct health outcomes of physical inactivity in children. Published literature explores the relationship of physical inactivity with appearance of early childhood disease risk markers, the adverse impact of which may take some time to appear. Promoting childhood physical activity has multiple benefits including delay in evolution of risk factors contributing to adult degenerative disease. It is clear from available literature that physical inactivity or its surrogates constitute an important independent risk factor for NCD. This is likely to be underestimated not only because of measurement issues, but also because physical inactivity may act through other risk factors for NCD. To recognize and intervene on the issue of physical inactivity in children is important not only for the benefit of the child but in the context of NCD in later life. Studies on physical inactivity and its functional correlates are limited in India and this would be an important area for future research.

Inequalities in diet, obesity, physical activity and physical inactivity in children in Scotland in 2010

Inequalities in diet, obesity, physical activity and physical inactivity in children in Scotland in 2010

HealthKick: a nutrition and physical activity intervention for primary schools in low-income settings.

BackgroundThe burden of non-communicable diseases, including type 2 diabetes, is growing in South Africa. This country has a complex mix of over- and under-nutrition, especially in low-income communities, and concerning levels of physical inactivity in children and youth. This paper describes HealthKick, a school-based nutrition and physical activity intervention in primary schools in these settings aimed at reducing diabetes risk factors.Methods/DesignThis study includes schools within historically disadvantaged, low-income communities from an urban area close to the city of Cape Town and from two rural areas outside of Cape Town, South Africa. The three Educational Districts involved are Metropole North, Cape Winelands and the Overberg. The study has three phases: intervention mapping and formative assessment, intervention development, and outcome and process evaluation. Sixteen schools were purposively selected to participate in the study and randomly allocated as intervention (eight schools) and control (eight schools).The primary aims of HealthKick are to promote healthful eating habits and increase regular participation in health-enhancing physical activity in children, parents and teachers, to prevent overweight, and reduce risk of chronic diseases (particularly type 2 diabetes); as well as to promote the development of an environment within the school and community that facilitates the adoption of healthy lifestyles.The components of HealthKick are: action planning, toolkit (resource guide, a resource box and physical activity resource bin), and an Educators' Manual, which includes a curriculum component.DiscussionThis study continues to highlight the key role that educators play in implementing a school-based intervention, but that developing capacity within school staff and stakeholders is not a simple or easy task. In spite of the challenges experienced thus far, valuable findings are being produced from this study, especially from Phase 1. Materials developed could be disseminated to other schools in low-income settings both within and outside of South Africa. Owing to the novelty of the HealthKick intervention in low-income South African primary schools, the findings of the evaluation phase have the potential to impact on policy and practice within these settings.