Pedometer-Determined Physical Activity of Western Kenyan Children

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 824-828 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Croteau ◽  
Grant Schofield ◽  
George Towle ◽  
Vijiayarani Suresh
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Total Sample ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Gender Interaction ◽  
Cdc Guidelines ◽  
Period Data ◽  
Measurement Period

Background:It is speculated that rural Kenyan children are more physically active than those in developed countries. The purpose of this study was to examine pedometer-measured physical activity levels of western Kenyan youth.Methods:Participants in this study were children in Levels 3 and 5 who attended a private primary school. The sample (n = 72) consisted of 43 girls and 29 boys (average age = 9.8 ± 1.1, range = 8−12 years). Age, gender, tribe, and height and weight measures were collected. Weight status category was determined according to CDC guidelines. Participants wore a sealed Yamax pedometer for 4 weekdays during the measurement period. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and 2-way ANOVA (age × gender).Results:The total sample averaged 14558 ± 3993 daily steps. There was no significant effect for age [F(4,68) = 1.682, P = .102] nor significant age × gender interaction [F(4,68)=1.956, P = .117]. There was a significant effect for gender [F(1,68) = 4.791, P = .033], with boys (16262 ± 4698) significantly more active than girls (13463 ± 3051).Conclusions:The observed daily steps are higher than those observed in the U.S., similar to samples in other developed countries, but lower than Amish youth.

scholarly journals ‘Is It Worth It?’ A Qualitative Study of the Beliefs of Overweight and Obese Physically Active Children

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1219-1224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kiara Lewis ◽  
Claire Fraser ◽  
Martin Manby
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Young People ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Children And Young People ◽  
Activity Settings ◽  
Template Analysis ◽  
Semistructured Interviews

Background:The specific circumstances and contexts that may affect overweight and obese children’s participation in physical activity have thus far been given little attention. The qualitative study discussed in this paper explores the experiences of overweight and obese children and young people who have successfully increased their activity levels.Methods:The study sample was recruited from a community health and fitness scheme for children aged 5 to 16, with a Body Mass Index (BMI) at or above the 91st centile. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 58 children and young people. Data were analyzed using template analysis.Results:The children increased their feelings of capability to undertake physical activity, both while on the scheme and in other physical activity settings. They valued the range of ‘noncompetitive’ activities available and the nonthreatening atmosphere created. The ‘emotional’ support offered by the instructors was perceived as being integral to their enjoyment and continued participation.Conclusions:Physical activity providers need to be able to generate opportunities which allow children of any weight status to participate without fear of stigmatization or bullying. The findings of the current study suggest that to be effective what we should be focusing on is improving the physical activity experience from the child’s perspective.

scholarly journals Association between the school physical activity environment, measured and self-reported student physical activity and active transport behaviours in Victoria, Australia

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Crooks ◽  
Laura Alston ◽  
Melanie Nichols ◽  
Kristy A. Bolton ◽  
Steven Allender ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Active Transport ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
School Principal ◽  
Primary School Children ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Physical Activity Environment ◽  
Policy Practice ◽  
Socioeconomic Composition

Abstract Background Environments within schools including the physical, social-cultural and policy/practice environments have the potential to influence children’s physical activity (PA) behaviours and weight status. This Australian first study comprehensively examined the association(s) of physical, social-cultural and policy/practice environments with PA, active transport (AT) and weight status among regional primary school children. Methods Data were from two childhood obesity monitoring systems in regional Victoria, Australia. Measured height and weight were collected from students in Year 2 (aged approx. 7–8 years), Year 4 (9–10 years), and Year 6 (11–12 years). Self–reported PA behaviour, including AT were collected from students in Year 4 and 6 and a sub-sample wore an ActiGraph (wGT3X-BT) accelerometer for 7-days. A school physical activity environment audit was completed by the school principal and responses were used to calculate school physical activity environment scores (PAES) and active transport environment scores (ATES). Mixed effects logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between the proportion of students meeting the PA guidelines (≥60mins/day of moderate-to-vigorous PA) and PAES tertiles (low, medium, high) and those using AT and school ATES tertiles, controlling for gender, school size/type and socioeconomic composition. Results The analysed sample included 54/146 (37%) schools and 3360/5376 (64%) students. In stratified analysis, girls in schools with a medium PAES score were more likely to meet the objectively measured PA guideline compared to low PAES score (OR 2.3, 95%CI 1.27, 4.16). Similarly, students in schools with a medium or high ATES score had higher odds of self-reported AT (medium OR 3.15, 95%CI 1.67, 5.94; high OR 3.71, 95%CI: 1.80, 7.64). No association between PAES or ATES and weight status were observed. Self-reported AT among boys (OR 1.59, 95%CI 1.19, 2.13) and girls (OR 1.56, 95%CI 1.08, 2.27) was associated with higher odds of meeting self-reported PA guidelines on all 7-days than those who did not report using AT. Conclusions In this study of regional Victorian primary schools, PA environments were only associated with girls’ adherence to PA guidelines. School AT environments were strongly associated with students’ AT behaviours and with increased likelihood of students being physically active.

Declining Physical Activity and the Socio-Cultural Context of the Geography of Industrial Restructuring: A Novel Conceptual Framework

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 683-692 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esther Rind ◽  
Andy Jones
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Industrial Restructuring ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Industrial Change ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Sociocultural Processes ◽  
Employment Decline

Background:At the population level, the prevalence of physical activity has declined considerably in many developed countries in recent decades. There is some evidence that areas exhibiting the lowest activity levels are those which have undergone a particularly strong transition away from employment in physically demanding occupations. We propose that processes of deindustrialization may be causally linked to unexplained geographical disparities in levels of physical activity. While the sociocultural correlates of physical activity have been well studied, and prior conceptual frameworks have been developed to explain more general patterns of activity, none have explicitly attempted to identify the components of industrial change that may impact physical activity.Methods:In this work we review the current literature on sociocultural correlates of health behaviors before using a case study centered on the United Kingdom to present a novel framework that links industrial change to declining levels of physical activity.Results:We developed a comprehensive model linking sociocultural correlates of physical activity to processes associated with industrial restructuring and discuss implication for policy and practice.Conclusions:A better understanding of sociocultural processes may help to ameliorate adverse health consequences of employment decline in communities that have experienced substantial losses of manual employment.

Rural Neighborhood Walkability: Implications for Assessment

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (s1) ◽  
pp. S40-S45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle C. Kegler ◽  
Iris Alcantara ◽  
Regine Haardörfer ◽  
Alexandra Gemma ◽  
Denise Ballard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Walking Distance ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Neighborhood Walkability ◽  
Bodies Of Water ◽  
Active Adults

Background:Physical activity levels, including walking, are lower in the southern U.S., particularly in rural areas. This study investigated the concept of rural neighborhood walkability to aid in developing tools for assessing walkability and to identify intervention targets in rural communities.Methods:Semi-structured interviews were conducted with physically active adults (n = 29) in rural Georgia. Mean age of participants was 55.9 years; 66% were male, 76% were white, and 24% were African American. Participants drew maps of their neighborhoods and discussed the relevance of typical domains of walkability to their decisions to exercise. Comparative analyses were conducted to identify major themes.Results:The majority felt the concept of neighborhood was applicable and viewed their neighborhood as small geographically (less than 0.5 square miles). Sidewalks were not viewed as essential for neighborhood-based physical activity and typical destinations for walking were largely absent. Destinations within walking distance included neighbors’ homes and bodies of water. Views were mixed on whether shade, safety, dogs, and aesthetics affected decisions to exercise in their neighborhoods.Conclusions:Measures of neighborhood walkability in rural areas should acknowledge the small size of self-defined neighborhoods, that walking in rural areas is likely for leisure time exercise, and that some domains may not be relevant.

scholarly journals Population-Based Estimates of Physical Activity for Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: A Cautionary Tale of Potential Confounding by Weight Status

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald C. Plotnikoff ◽  
Steven T. Johnson ◽  
Constantinos A. Loucaides ◽  
Adrian E. Bauman ◽  
Nandini D. Karunamuni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Large Population ◽  
Population Sample ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Healthy Weight ◽  
Physical Activity Levels

At a population level, the method used to determine those meeting physical activity guidelines has important implications, as estimating “sufficient” physical activity might be confounded by weight status. The objective of this study was to test the difference between three methods in estimating the prevalence of “sufficient activity” among Canadian adults with type 2 diabetes in a large population sample (N=1614) while considering the role of weight status as a potential confounder. Our results revealed that estimates of physical activity levels vary by BMI categories, depending on the methods examined. Although physical activity levels were lower in the obese, their energy expenditure estimates were not different from those who were overweight or of a healthy weight. The implications of these findings are that biased estimates of physical activity at a population level may result in inappropriate classification of adults with type 2 diabetes as “sufficiently active” and that the inclusion of body weight in estimating physical activity prevalence should be approached with caution.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical activity practice of people with disabilities

2021 ◽  
pp. 240-251
Author(s):  
Márcia Greguol ◽  
Cristiana Conti ◽  
Bruno Marson Malagodi ◽  
Bruna Barboza Seron ◽  
Elaine Cappellazzo Souto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Eating Habits ◽  
People With Disabilities ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
World Population ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Healthy Habits ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
The Impact

The global pandemic caused by the COVID-19 has profoundly changed the daily life of most of the world population. People with disabilities have been particularly affected by these changes, which often have accentuated their isolation and marginalization also due to greater difficulties in accessing healthcare services. People with disabilities have also been impacted in relation to their ability to participate in physical activity with even more adverse consequences for their quality of life and health. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical activity practice of people with disabilities and to understand the changes that caregivers have perceived for the participation in physical activity of this specific population. It emerged that, regardless of the type of disability, people with this condition experienced drastic reductions in their physical activity levels during the pandemic and in most cases did not have access to any type of remote guidance. Furthermore, a higher prevalence of sedentary behavior and negative changes in eating habits have been reported by the caregivers, highlighting the need for specific strategies and initiatives for people with disabilities to maintain healthy habits and a physically active lifestyle.

Cultural connectedness as a determinant of physical activity among Indigenous adults in Saskatchewan

2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (9) ◽  
pp. 937-947 ◽  
Author(s):  
Avery Ironside ◽  
Leah J. Ferguson ◽  
Tarun R. Katapally ◽  
Heather J.A. Foulds
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
First Nations ◽  
Indigenous Peoples ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Indigenous Identity ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Cultural Connectedness ◽  
Activity Groups

Cultural connectedness has been associated with increased self-esteem and mental health among Indigenous Peoples. Physical activity is an important contributor to health, although the importance of culture as a determinant of physical activity for Indigenous Peoples in Canada is unclear. The purpose of this study is to evaluate differences in cultural connectedness between Indigenous adults in Canada achieving high and low physical activity levels. Questionnaires evaluated cultural connectedness and physical activity. Indigenous adults were classified into high and low physical activity groups at the specific group mean and as meeting or not meeting musculoskeletal activity guidelines of twice per week. First Nations and specifically Cree/Nehiyaw First Nations adults who were more physically active reported greater identity, spirituality, traditions, exploration, commitment, affirmation/belonging, and overall cultural connectedness. Cultural connectedness elements of commitment, exploration, identity, affirmation/belonging, traditions, spirituality, and overall cultural connectedness were not different between high and low physical activity Métis adults. Musculoskeletal activity was not associated with any elements of cultural connectedness among any Indigenous identity. Cultural connectedness is a protective factor for physical activity among First Nations and Cree/Nehiyaw First Nations adults, but not among Métis adults in Canada. Novelty Musculoskeletal activity was not associated with cultural connectedness. Cultural connectedness is a protective factor of physical activity for First Nations adults. Moving away from one’s home community was associated with lower cultural connectedness for Indigenous Peoples.

scholarly journals Embedding Active Pedagogies within Pre-Service Teacher Education: Implementation Considerations and Recommendations

Children ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. 207
Author(s):  
Natalie Lander ◽  
Emiliano Mazzoli ◽  
Samuel Cassar ◽  
Naomi Symington ◽  
Jo Salmon
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Teacher Education ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
School Students ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Five Dimensions ◽  
Pre Service Teacher Education ◽  
Pre Service Teacher

The physical activity levels of children in Australia are critically low and correlate with reduced academic achievement and poor health outcomes. Schools provide an ideal setting for physical activity interventions to help children move more. Instead of targeting in-service teachers, this study embedded an evidence-based active pedagogy program called Transform-Ed! into pre-service teacher education. Pre/post surveys and post-program interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with key stakeholders (n = 5), lecturers (n = 6), and pre-service teachers (n = 274) involved with the 12-week program. The design, implementation, and evaluation of the study were systematically guided by all five dimensions of Glasgow and colleagues’ RE-AIM (reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance) framework. Linear mixed models, descriptive analysis and a framework approach were used to analyse the data. Significant improvements were observed in pre-service teachers’ willingness, confidence, and competence to implement physically active pedagogic strategies following the intervention. Pre-service teacher perceived effectiveness of such strategies on student outcomes also significantly increased and perceived barriers decreased. High adherence was consistently reported and the program was maintained after completion of the implementation trial by all lecturers. Four key themes spanning multiple dimensions and participant levels informed recommendations for program scalability: an “inter-systemic approach”, a “co-design” approach, “embedded in professional practice”, and “evidence of impact” on teacher practice. Anchored in real-world settings and tethered by implementation science, Transform-Ed! could have the potential to advance the teaching capability of teachers, and transform the learning experience and physical and academic outcomes of primary school students.

Social inequality in lifestyle, motivation to change lifestyle and received health advice in individuals with diabetes: A nationwide study

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (8) ◽  
pp. 847-854
Author(s):  
Marie B. Andersen ◽  
Anne-Sofie D. Bjørkman ◽  
Maria Pedersen ◽  
Ola Ekholm ◽  
Stig Molsted
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Socioeconomic Position ◽  
Smoking Status ◽  
National Health Survey ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Motivation To Change ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Health Advice ◽  
Physical Activity Levels

Aims: The aim was to investigate the association between socioeconomic position (SEP) and physical activity, alcohol consumption and smoking, motivation to change lifestyle and health advices from general practitioners (GPs) in individuals with diabetes. Methods: Data were provided by the Danish National Health Survey 2013 and 7504 adults (⩾ 40 years) with diabetes were included. Educational level was used as SEP indicator and categorized into low, middle and high SEP. Dependent variables included physical activity, alcohol consumption, smoking, motivation to change lifestyle and GP lifestyle advices. Multiple logistic regression analyses adjusted for age, body mass index and ethnic background were performed. Results: Higher SEP were associated with reduced odds of being physically inactive (middle SEP odds ratio (OR) men 0.58 (95% confidence intervals 0.47–0.72) and women 0.59 (0.47–0.75)) and non-smoking (middle SEP OR men 0.74 (0.59–0.93) and high SEP OR women 0.54 (0.38–0.77)) compared to participants with a low SEP. Alcohol consumption above the recommended maximum was associated with high SEP in men, OR 1.83 (1.30–2.61). Elevated SEP was associated with a motivation to increase physical activity levels (middle SEP OR men 1.45 (1.19–1.76) and women 1.35 (1.09–1.67)), high SEP was associated with none advice from GPs regarding smoking cessation among women, OR 0.47 (0.25–0.89). Conclusions: Socioeconomic position was strongly associated with lifestyle in individuals with diabetes. The most pronounced inequalities were found in physical activity levels, smoking status and the motivation to become more physically active. Municipalities and GPs may need a greater focus on SEP in interventions to change lifestyle in individuals with diabetes.

scholarly journals Physical Activity during the School Holidays: Parent Perceptions and Practical Considerations

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (10) ◽  
pp. 1697 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lydia Emm-Collison ◽  
Sarah Lewis ◽  
Thomas Reid ◽  
Joe Matthews ◽  
Simon Sebire ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Older Children ◽  
Viable Option ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Telephone Interviews ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Children’S Physical Activity

Children’s physical activity decreases during school holidays. Less structured days and reduced participation in organised activities may account for some of the decrease. Little is known about the factors that influence parents’ decision to enrol their child in organised activity such as holiday clubs. This paper sought to explore parents’ perceptions of their child’s physical activity during school holidays and the factors that influence holiday activity-based decision making. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 42 parents of children aged 10–11 years in July 2017 or March 2018. Data were analysed using a combination of inductive and deductive content analysis to explore parents’ perceptions of holiday-based physical activity and the factors associated with how they provide physical activity opportunities for their children. The data revealed that most parents consider their child’s physical activity levels when planning for the school holidays. However, work commitments in the holidays meant many parents had to rely on both informal and formal childcare. Grandparents were the primary source of informal childcare, despite a perception that children were not as physically active when with them. Holiday clubs were also a viable option, but the cost, location and age-appropriateness of provision inhibit parents signing older children up to these regularly.

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