Physical Activity Opportunities in Canadian Childcare Facilities: A Provincial/Territorial Review of Legislation

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 461-472 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leigh M. Vanderloo ◽  
Patricia Tucker ◽  
Ali Ismail ◽  
Melissa M. van Zandvoort
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Childhood Obesity ◽  
Outdoor Play ◽  
Substantial Portion ◽  
Specific Time ◽  
Obesity Epidemic ◽  
Time Requirements ◽  
Type Frequency ◽  
Canadian Provinces ◽  
Play Space

Background:Preschoolers spend a substantial portion of their day in childcare; therefore, these centers are an ideal venue to encourage healthy active behaviors. It is important that provinces’/territories’ childcare legislation encourage physical activity (PA) opportunities. The purpose of this study was to review Canadian provincial/territorial childcare legislation regarding PA participation. Specifically, this review sought to 1) appraise each provincial/territorial childcare regulation for PA requirements, 2) compare such regulations with the NASPE PA guidelines, and 3) appraise these regulations regarding PA infrastructure.Methods:A review of all provincial/territorial childcare legislation was performed. Each document was reviewed separately by 2 researchers, and the PA regulations were coded and summarized. The specific provincial/territorial PA requirements (eg, type/frequency of activity) were compared with the NASPE guidelines.Results:PA legislation for Canadian childcare facilities varies greatly. Eight of the thirteen provinces/territories provide PA recommendations; however, none provided specific time requirements for daily PA. All provinces/territories did require access to an outdoor play space.Conclusion:All Canadian provinces/territories lack specific PA guidelines for childcare facilities. The development, implementation, and enforcement of national PA legislation for childcare facilities may aid in tackling the childhood obesity epidemic and assist childcare staff in supporting and encouraging PA participation.

scholarly journals Relationship between Peer and/or Friends’ Influence and Physical Activity among Elementary School Children

2009 ◽  
Vol 7 (SI) ◽  
pp. 48-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Merav Efrat
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Elementary School ◽  
Childhood Obesity ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Obesity Epidemic ◽  
School Aged Children ◽  
Physical Activity Levels ◽  
Modifiable Factor ◽  
Peer Models ◽  
The Relationship

One modifiable factor linked to the current childhood obesity epidemic is inactivity among children. In hopes of providing researchers and practitioners with insight for combating the childhood obesity epidemic, the objective of this review is to synthesize the research on the association between peer and/or friends‟ influence and elementary school-aged children‟s physical activity behaviors. Six databases were searched to identify studies published within the last 20 years that assess the relationship between peer and/or friends‟ influence and elementary school-aged children‟s physical activity behaviors. Analysis of the 13 studies meeting these criteria identified four processes through which peers and/or friends may be associated with elementary school-aged children‟s physical activity behaviors: modeling, social support, popularity and victimization. While more research is needed in this area, this review suggests that there is an association between peer and/or friends‟ influence and elementary school-aged children‟s physical activity levels. Peer victimization may be negatively associated with children‟s physical activity levels. Peer support is positively correlated with children‟s physical activity. Among boys, popularity may be associated with physical activity. Finally, evidence suggests that peer models may be effective at enhancing physical activity among girls and children with low physical activity self-efficacy.

The Influence of Physical Education Class Content and Teachers’ Behaviour on Physical Activity Levels of Mexican Children

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hoda Gharib
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Childhood Obesity ◽  
Physical Education ◽  
Children And Youth ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Teacher Behaviour ◽  
Obesity Epidemic ◽  
Mexican Children ◽  
Class Environment ◽  
And Gender

Gharib H, Galaviz K, Lévesque L. According to the Mexican Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth, Mexico is now a leader in childhood obesity with more than 4.5 million children aged 5 to 11 years being overweight or obese. Over 40% of Mexican children and youth are physically inactive, which is a major risk factor contributing to the childhood obesity epidemic in Mexico. Physical education (PE) class environment has been shown to influence physical activity (PA) levels in school-aged children; however, this relationship has not been documented in Mexican children. Thus, the purpose of this study is to assess the influence of PE class factors (class content and teacher behaviour) on children’s PA during class. PA was measured in a sample of 250 students in grades 3-5 in Mexico City during PE class. The SOFIT method was used to measure children’s PA (e.g. standing), class content (e.g. management), and teachers’ behaviour (e.g. instructing) during class. Multiple linear regressions will be conducted to assess the influence of class factors on children’s PA adjusting for age and gender. With the staggering rates of obesity and physical inactivity in Mexico, the identification of factors influencing PA is crucial. Results can be used to guide PE class interventions and to inform school policies.

Recent Advances in Treatment of Childhood Obesity

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (14) ◽  
pp. 1072-1078
Author(s):  
Walter Milano ◽  
Paola Ambrosio ◽  
Francesca Carizzone ◽  
Walter Di Munzio ◽  
Valeria De Biasio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Bariatric Surgery ◽  
Childhood Obesity ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Lifestyle Changes ◽  
Family Context ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Biological Factors ◽  
The Family

: Childhood obesity has assumed epidemic proportions and is currently one of the most widespread public health problems. Many are the factors involved in the pathogenesis of excess weight with interactions between genetic, environmental and biological factors and therefore, also the therapeutic approach must be multidisciplinary and multidimensional. In this review of the literature, we report the contiguity of childhood obesity with eating disorders and the importance of involving the family context in order to induce stable lifestyle changes, both in relation to dietary and nutritional habits, but also in increasing physical activity. Finally, among the therapeutic options, although for selected cases, pharmacotherapy and bariatric surgery can be used as treatment strategies.

scholarly journals Training may enhance early childhood educators’ self-efficacy to lead physical activity in childcare

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brianne A. Bruijns ◽  
Andrew M. Johnson ◽  
Jennifer D. Irwin ◽  
Shauna M. Burke ◽  
Molly Driediger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Early Childhood Educators ◽  
Outdoor Play ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Intervention Component ◽  
Space Extension ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Early childhood educators (ECEs) play a critical role in promoting physical activity (PA) among preschoolers in childcare; thus, PA-related training for ECEs is essential. The Supporting PA in the Childcare Environment (SPACE) intervention incorporated: 1. shorter, more frequent outdoor play sessions; 2. provision of portable play equipment; and, PA training for ECEs. An extension of the SPACE intervention (the SPACE-Extension) incorporated only the shorter, more frequent outdoor play periods component of the original SPACE intervention. The purpose of this study was to explore the individual impact of these interventions on ECEs’ PA-related self-efficacy and knowledge. Methods ECEs from the SPACE (n = 83) and SPACE-Extension (n = 31) were administered surveys at all intervention time-points to assess: self-efficacy to engage preschoolers in PA (n = 6 items; scale 0 to 100); self-efficacy to implement the intervention (n = 6 items); and, knowledge of preschooler-specific PA and screen-viewing guidelines (n = 2 items). A linear mixed effects model was used to analyze the impact of each intervention on ECEs’ self-efficacy and knowledge and controlled for multiple comparison bias. Results The SPACE intervention significantly impacted ECEs’ self-efficacy to engage preschoolers in PA for 180 min/day (main effect), and when outdoor playtime was not an option (interaction effect). Further, the interaction model for ECEs’ knowledge of the total PA guideline for preschoolers approached significance when compared to the main effects model. Participants within the SPACE-Extension did not demonstrate any significant changes in self-efficacy or knowledge variables. Conclusions Findings from this study highlight the benefit of ECE training in PA with regard to fostering their PA-related self-efficacy and knowledge. Future research should explore the impact of PA training for ECEs uniquely in order to determine if this intervention component, alone, can produce meaningful changes in children’s PA behaviours at childcare.

scholarly journals Caring for Overweight Children and Adolescents at a Reference Clinic in Nutrology: Habits and Attendance

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (01) ◽  
pp. 006-010
Author(s):  
Valeria Moro ◽  
Luiz Antonio Del Ciampo
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Soft Drinks ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Dropout Rates ◽  
Overweight Children ◽  
Obesity Epidemic ◽  
Study Population ◽  
Municipal Health

Abstract Introduction The global obesity epidemic has mobilized health services to offer care at all levels, with reference outpatient clinics playing a prominent role in cases of greater complexity. Objectives The present study aimed to identify soft drinks consumption and physical activity habits among children and adolescents diagnosed with overweight and obesity during the first visit at a secondary level nutrology outpatient clinic, and to verify attendance at follow-up visits in a 2-year period from the first visit. Materials and Methods This is a retrospective, descriptive study based on data collection from medical records of overweighted or obese patients receiving first care at the Nutrology Clinic of the Municipal Health Secretariat from Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. The study population included children and adolescents aged between 2 and 18 years old cared for from January 2, 2013 to December 30, 2017. Age, weight, height, soft drinks consumption, physical activity, and attendance in scheduled follow-up visits during a 2-year period were analyzed. Results During the study period, 316 patients were registered, including 302 (95.5%) diagnosed with obesity. Of these, 112 (35.4%) were children and 204 (64.6%) were adolescents. Only 2.0% of the children and adolescents did not consume soft drinks, while 23.5 and 26.2% of the children and adolescents, respectively, consumed them daily. Physical inactivity was reported by 31.8% of the children and by 35.8% of the adolescents. Among those who practiced some type of physical activity, 81.3% of the children and 78.2% of the adolescents did not meet the recommendation of moderate to vigorous activity for 60 minutes per day. Dropout rates within the 1st year were of 41.9% for children and of 34.3% for adolescents, increasing to 76.9% and 73.8%, respectively, within the 2nd year. Conclusion There was a high consumption of soft drinks and low adherence to physical activity among patients who started outpatient follow-up. A small adherence to the follow-up program was also identified, with high dropout rates within the 2-year period following the first visit.

scholarly journals Physical Activity, Screen Time, and Sleep Duration of Children Aged 6–9 Years in 25 Countries: An Analysis within the WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI) 2015–2017

Obesity Facts ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Stephen Whiting ◽  
Marta Buoncristiano ◽  
Peter Gelius ◽  
Karim Abu-Omar ◽  
Mary Pattison ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Childhood Obesity ◽  
Sleep Duration ◽  
Screen Time ◽  
School Administrators ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Pooled Analysis ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Short Sleep Duration ◽  
Nationally Representative

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Children are becoming less physically active as opportunities for safe active play, recreational activities, and active transport decrease. At the same time, sedentary screen-based activities both during school and leisure time are increasing. <b><i>Objectives:</i></b> This study aimed to evaluate physical activity (PA), screen time, and sleep duration of girls and boys aged 6–9 years in Europe using data from the WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI). <b><i>Method:</i></b> The fourth COSI data collection round was conducted in 2015–2017, using a standardized protocol that included a family form completed by parents with specific questions about their children’s PA, screen time, and sleep duration. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Nationally representative data from 25 countries was included and information on the PA behaviour, screen time, and sleep duration of 150,651 children was analysed. Pooled analysis showed that: 79.4% were actively playing for &#x3e;1 h each day, 53.9% were not members of a sport or dancing club, 50.0% walked or cycled to school each day, 60.2% engaged in screen time for &#x3c;2 h/day, and 84.9% slept for 9–11 h/night. Country-specific analyses of these behaviours showed pronounced differences, with national prevalences in the range of 61.7–98.3% actively playing for &#x3e;1 h/day, 8.2–85.6% were not members of a sport or dancing club, 17.7–94.0% walked or cycled to school each day, 32.3–80.0% engaged in screen time for &#x3c;2 h/day, and 50.0–95.8% slept for 9–11 h/night. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> The prevalence of engagement in PA and the achievement of healthy screen time and sleep duration are heterogenous across the region. Policymakers and other stakeholders, including school administrators and parents, should increase opportunities for young people to participate in daily PA as well as explore solutions to address excessive screen time and short sleep duration to improve the overall physical and mental health and well-being of children.

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