Physical Activity of Children With and Without Long-Term Illness or Disability

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 1066-1073 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pauli Rintala ◽  
Raili Välimaa ◽  
Jorma Tynjälä ◽  
Will Boyce ◽  
Matt King ◽  
...  

Background:We know very little about physical activity in children with long-term illness or disability compared with those children without disabilities. Previous studies indicate low physical activity levels among all adolescents.Methods:The sample consisted of Canadian (n = 2720) and Finnish pupils (n = 3459) approximately 13.5 and 15.5 years of age in general (mainstreamed) education. The study is a part of the Health Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSC) study. Nationally representative data were collected in 2002 using a standardized questionnaire. The moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity screening measure was used.Results:Approximately one-fifth of the pupils in both countries had a long-term disability, illness or medical condition. In both countries boys and girls with a long-term illness or disability were equally physically inactive, and adolescents with a long-term illness or disability were as physically active as those without disabilities.Conclusions:There is no difference between young people with and without long-term illness/disability, and between boys and girls, in relation to their physical activity. However, all of them fall short of recommended guidelines. This indicates that promoting a physically active lifestyle should be of high priority in the lives of young people.

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1219-1224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kiara Lewis ◽  
Claire Fraser ◽  
Martin Manby

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.


2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 816-821 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kwok Ng ◽  
Pauli Rintala ◽  
Jorma Tynjälä ◽  
Raili Välimaa ◽  
Jari Villberg ◽  
...  

Background:Adolescents’ physical activity level is a major source of concern. For adolescents with long-term illnesses or disabilities (LTID), being physically active can prevent secondary conditions. This is one of the first studies reporting trends in physical activity of adolescents with LTID in relation to gender, age, and sports club membership.Methods:Data were collected from the Health Behavior in School-aged Children study in Finland during 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014. In 13- and 15-year-olds (N = 2206), 17.1% reported having LTID. Daily physical activity recall was the dependent variable. Binary logistic regression analysis was conducted eparately for sports club members (n = 936) and nonmembers (n = 1270).Results:The proportion of physically active adolescents with LTID in 2014 was higher than in 2002 for girls (15.6% vs 8.7%) and boys (26.6% vs 13.0%). Girl sports club members were 2 times more likely to be physically active in 2014 than in 2002. The largest trend between 2014 and 2002 was among boy nonmembers (odds ratio: 4.62, 95% confidence interval, 2.02–10.58).Conclusions:More adolescents with LTID took part in daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in 2014 than in 2002; however, physical activity levels still remain low. Sports club membership was similar to that of the general population.


2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (12) ◽  
pp. 1387-1395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jarrett A. Johns ◽  
Myles W. O’Brien ◽  
Amanda Bungay ◽  
Derek S. Kimmerly

When controlling for baseline diameter, males have greater brachial flow-mediated dilation (BA-FMD) responses than females. It is unclear whether sex differences in baseline diameter also influences popliteal FMD (POP-FMD), which may be impacted by cardiorespiratory fitness and physical activity levels. We hypothesized that males would exhibit greater BA-FMD and POP-FMD when allometrically scaled to baseline diameter. FMD (ultrasonography), cardiorespiratory fitness (indirect calorimetry), and objectively measured physical activity were assessed in males (n = 13; age, 23 ± 3 years; peak oxygen consumption, 48.0 ± 7.1 mL·kg−1·min−1) and females (n = 13; age, 24 ± 2 years; peak oxygen consumption, 36.8 ± 6.0 mL·kg−1·min−1). Both groups had similarly high levels of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (503 ± 174 vs. 430 ± 142 min·week−1, p = 0.25). However, males were more aerobically fit (p < 0.001) and females accumulated more light-intensity physical activity (182 ± 67 vs. 127 ± 53 min·week−1, p = 0.03). Relative and allometrically scaled BA-FMD were similar (both, p ≥ 0.09) between sexes. In contrast, relative (6.2% ± 1.0% vs. 4.6% ± 1.4%, p = 0.001) and scaled (6.8% ± 1.7% vs. 4.7% ± 1.7%, p = 0.03) POP-FMD were greater in females. Relative POP-FMD was related to light-intensity physical activity in the pooled sample (r = 0.43; p = 0.04). However, the enhanced relative POP-FMD in females remained after adjusting for higher light-intensity physical activity levels (p = 0.01). Young females have enhanced popliteal, but not brachial, endothelial health than males with similar moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity levels and higher cardiorespiratory fitness. Novelty In physically active adults, females had greater POP-FMD but not BA-FMD than males. The enhanced POP-FMD in females was not related to greater vascular smooth muscle sensitivity to nitric oxide or their smaller baseline diameters. POP-FMD was associated with light physical activity levels in the pooled sample.


2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 220-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dana M. Litt ◽  
Ronald J. Iannotti ◽  
Jing Wang

Background:Motivating adolescents to maintain levels of physical activity (PA) is important because regular PA in adolescence contributes to physical, psychological, and social well-being and PA during adolescence has been associated with activity levels in adulthood.Purpose:The overall aim of this study is to validate a measure of external reward, health values, and personal interest motivations for adolescent PA developed by Wold and Kannas and to examine the relationship between these motivations and level of PA.Methods:A nationally representative sample of 9011 adolescents completed the Health Behavior in School-aged Children survey instrument. Ten items were used to measure PA motivations. Multiple group confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were applied to test the 3-factor structure of the motivation scale and to examine the relationship between the 3 motivations and PA.Results:The Wold and Kannas’s motivation measure assessed external, social, and health motivations which predicted PA in adolescents.Conclusions:The Wold and Kannas’s motivation measure is suitable for assessing motivations for PA in US adolescents and may contribute to both theoretical and intervention studies that address this public health need.


2009 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 774-782 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorit Nitzan Kaluski ◽  
Getachew Demem Mazengia ◽  
Tal Shimony ◽  
Rebecca Goldsmith ◽  
Elliot M Berry

AbstractObjectiveTo describe the relationships between physical activity, lifestyle determinants and obesity in adolescent Israeli schoolchildren.Design and settingCross-sectional survey.SubjectsThe MABAT Youth Survey was a nationally representative, school-based study of youth in grades 7 to 12 (ages 11–19 years).MethodsSelf-administered questionnaires assessed health behaviours and anthropometric indices were measured. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the associations between obesity, physical activity, socio-economic status and other lifestyle habits. One-way ANOVA was used to determine mean physical activity levels (MET values) by BMI categories.ResultsThe prevalence of overweight was 13–15 % and of obesity 4–9 % depending on gender and ethnicity, and was higher among the non-Jewish sectors. Thirty-six per cent and 57 % of Jewish girls and boys, and 40 % and 58 % of non-Jewish girls and boys, respectively, were optimally active. Boys from low socio-economic schools and those who slept for less than 6 h at night were less active. Girls from middle school were found to be 53 % more optimally physically active among Jews, and 89 % more among non-Jews, compared with girls from high school (P = 0·001); girls with less educated parents were also less physically active. No clear relationship was found between the level of obesity and physical activity.ConclusionsPhysical inactivity was strongly related to gender, age, social status, sleeping habits, hookah smoking, and parental educational status. Education and intervention programmes should focus on these risk factors.


2010 ◽  
Vol 30 (8) ◽  
pp. 1343-1355 ◽  
Author(s):  
MOUSHUMI CHAUDHURY ◽  
NICOLA SHELTON

ABSTRACTThis paper examines the risk factors that influence physical activity levels among a representative sample of older people in England and their awareness of the Chief Medical Officer's recommended level of physical activity. The paper analyses data from the cross-sectional, nationally-representative Health Surveys for England (HSfE) in 2006 and 2007. In HSfE2006, 1,550 adults aged 60–69 years responded to a physical activity participation questionnaire, and in HSfE2007, 561 adults aged 60–64 years were asked about their knowledge of the physical activity requirement and their attitudes to participation. Very few respondents knew the recommended physical activity target, but more than one-half thought they had enough physical activity in their daily life, and over three-quarters thought they were ‘very’ or ‘fairly’ physically active compared with age peers. The perceived barriers to physical activity included work commitments, lack of leisure time and poor health. It was found that obesity, not being in work and having a limiting long-term illness associated with a lower likelihood of physical activity. Participation in sports and exercise, walking, heavy housework and gardening were all lower in non-working than working adults. Older adults had unrealistic views of their activity levels, and of work and lack of time as barriers to physical activity. It is concluded that more attention needs to be paid to health promotion and education among the over-sixties, especially those not in paid work.


Author(s):  
András Költő ◽  
Aoife Gavin ◽  
Elena Vaughan ◽  
Colette Kelly ◽  
Michal Molcho ◽  
...  

Outcome 5 of the Irish Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures national youth policy framework (“Connected, respected, and contributing to their world”) offers a suitable way to study psychosocial determinants of adolescent health. The present study (1) provides nationally representative data on how 15- to 17-year-olds score on these indicators; (2) compares sexual minority (same- and both-gender attracted youth) with their non-minority peers. We analyzed data from 3354 young people (aged 15.78 ± 0.78 years) participating in the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study in Ireland. Age and social class were associated with the indicators only to a small extent, but girls were more likely than boys to report discrimination based on gender and age. Frequency of positive answers ranged from 67% (feeling comfortable with friends) to 12% (being involved in volunteer work). Sexual minority youth were more likely to feel discriminated based on sexual orientation, age, and gender. Both-gender attracted youth were less likely than the other groups to report positive outcomes. Same-gender attracted youth were twice as likely as non-minority youth to volunteer. The results indicate the importance of a comprehensive approach to psycho-social factors in youth health, and the need for inclusivity of sexual minority (especially bisexual) youth.


Author(s):  
Amy V. Creaser ◽  
Stacy A. Clemes ◽  
Silvia Costa ◽  
Jennifer Hall ◽  
Nicola D. Ridgers ◽  
...  

Wearable activity trackers (wearables) embed numerous behaviour change techniques (BCTs) that have previously been shown to increase adult physical activity (PA). With few children and adolescents achieving PA guidelines, it is crucial to explore ways to increase their PA. This systematic review examined the acceptability, feasibility, and effectiveness of wearables and their potential mechanisms of action for increasing PA in 5 to 19-year-olds. A systematic search of six databases was conducted, including data from the start date of each database to December 2019 (PROSPERO registration: CRD42020164506). Thirty-three studies were included. Most studies (70%) included only adolescents (10 to 19 years). There was some—but largely mixed—evidence that wearables increase steps and moderate-to-vigorous-intensity PA and reduce sedentary behaviour. There were no apparent differences in effectiveness based on the number of BCTs used and between studies using a wearable alone or as part of a multi-component intervention. Qualitative findings suggested wearables increased motivation to be physically active via self-monitoring, goal setting, feedback, and competition. However, children and adolescents reported technical difficulties and a novelty effect when using wearables, which may impact wearables’ long-term use. More rigorous and long-term studies investigating the acceptability, feasibility, and effectiveness of wearables in 5 to 19-year-olds are warranted.


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