Environments Change Child Behavior, But Who Changes Environments?

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-76
Author(s):  
John B. Bartholomew
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Eating Behaviors ◽  
School Administrators ◽  
Early Research ◽  
Ecological Approach ◽  
School Environments ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Support Activity ◽  
Children’S Physical Activity

Numerous interventions have been designed to modify children's physical activity and eating behaviors. While early research centered on the individual as the target of intervention, more recent work targets change in the environment. These studies have consistently supported the importance of environmental contributors to both physical activity and eating behavior, but little research has considered those who are responsible for implementing environmental change. For example, if we expect school environments to support activity and healthy eating, we must consider the motivation of school administrators to affect change. This review will present examples of an ecological approach to behavior change along with recent data to support this approach.

scholarly journals Promoting a Healthy Post-Collegiate Lifestyle: An Evaluation of the Moving On! Transition Program for Student-Athletes

2018 ◽  
pp. 54-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin J Reifsteck ◽  
DeAnne D Brooks ◽  
Jamian D Newton ◽  
Lenka H Shriver
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Program Implementation ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Student Athletes ◽  
Eating Behaviors ◽  
Autonomous Motivation ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Self Perceptions

Former student-athletes may face challenges in maintaining physical activity and engaging in healthy eating after transitioning out of collegiate athletics. Maladaptive adjustments following athletic transitions can result in detrimental outcomes for former student-athletes, ranging from physical health concerns to negative psychosocial consequences. In contrast, positive transitions can promote optimal health and wellbeing. The Moving On! program was developed in recognition of the unique challenges faced by student-athletes and the importance of making healthy transitions out of college sports. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Moving On! program’s influence on several relevant theoretical constructs that influence health behaviors, including student-athletes’ self-perceptions and self-determined motivation for maintaining physical activity and healthy eating, along with their self-efficacy and intentions for engaging in these health-related behaviors after college. NCAA student-athletes in their final year of competition were recruited from two institutions. Participants (N = 20) completed the Moving On! program along with pre- and post-test surveys and focus group interviews. Survey results revealed positive changes in nutrition-related self-perceptions (t(19) = 2.406; p = 0.026; g = 0.38) and self-efficacy for healthy eating behaviors (t(19) = 3.022; p = 0.007; g = 0.70). No significant changes were observed for exercise identity (p = 0.845), physical activity self-efficacy (p = 0.114), or autonomous motivation for exercise (p = 0.108) and health eating (p = 0.264). Focus group responses indicated that student-athletes’ experiences in the program fostered positive shifts in their self-perceptions, enhanced their self-determined motivation, and reinforced their intentions for engaging in physical activity and healthy eating in the future. Implications for future research and program implementation are discussed.

scholarly journals A Coordinated Comprehensive Professional Development Training’s Effect on Summer Day Camp Staff Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Promoting Behaviors

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1170-1178 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Glenn Weaver ◽  
Michael W. Beets ◽  
Ruth P. Saunders ◽  
Aaron Beighle
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Professional Development ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Systematic Observation ◽  
Type Method ◽  
Observation Instruments ◽  
Professional Development Training ◽  
Children’S Physical Activity

Background:The YMCA of USA recently adopted Healthy Eating and Physical Activity (HEPA) Standards for their summerday- camps (SDCs). Standards call for staff to exhibit HEPA promoting behaviors while eliminating HEPA discouraging behaviors. No studies have evaluated training programs to influence policy specified staff behaviors and related changes in child activity in SDCs.Method:Four YMCA SDCs serving approximately 800 children/week participated in this no control group pre/post pilot study. Professional development training founded in the 5 Ms (Mission, Model, Manage, Monitor, Maximize) and LET US Play principles (lines; elimination; team size; uninvolved staff/kids; and space, equipment, and rules) was delivered to staff. Outcomes were staff promotion behaviors and child activity assessed via systematic observation instruments.Results:Twelve of 17 HEPA staff behaviors changed in the appropriate direction from baseline to postassessment with 5 behaviors reaching statistically significant changes. The percentage of girls and boys observed in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity increased from 15.3% to 18.3% (P > .05) and 17.9% to 21.2%, whereas sedentary behavior decreased from 66.8% to 59.8% and 62.3% to 53.6%, respectively.Conclusion:Evidence suggests that the professional development training designed to assist SDCs to meet the HEPA Standards can lead to important changes in staff behaviors and children’s physical activity.

scholarly journals Improving Health Behaviors Through Community Engagement: Challenge for a Healthier Louisiana

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 106-113
Author(s):  
Stephanie T. Broyles ◽  
Elizabeth A. Gollub ◽  
Allison Tohme ◽  
Peter T. Katzmarzyk
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Health Behaviors ◽  
Obesity Prevention ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Eating Behaviors ◽  
Policy Changes ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Infrastructure Policy

There is increasing recognition that community-based approaches may have merit in improving physical activity and healthy eating behaviors. The “Challenge for a Healthier Louisiana” program supported twelve projects that addressed the root causes of obesity through integrated community-level changes. Partnerships provided community-based obesity prevention by promoting healthier eating and/or physical activity through enhanced infrastructure, policy changes, and programming. To evaluate whether the program resulted in changes in healthy eating and/or physical activity among adults, surveys were conducted pre- and postintervention among participants. Participants who were exposed to physical activity programs were more likely to adopt the consumption of fruits (odds ratio = 2.0; 95% confidence interval [1.1, 3.6]), were more likely to eat vegetables once per day ( p = .028), and were more likely to participate in physical activity ( p = .053). Participants who were exposed to healthy eating programs were more likely to eat fruit once per day ( p = .035), were more likely to eat vegetables at least once per day ( p = .008), and were more likely to participate in physical activity ( p = .018). In conclusion, there is some indication that the Challenge for a Healthier Louisiana program produced changes in health behaviors among program participants; however, the sustainability of these changes will require further evaluation.

scholarly journals Emerging Adults and Social Distancing During COVID-19: Who Was More Likely to Follow Guidelines and What Were the Correlates With Well-Being and Weight-Related Behaviors?

2021 ◽  
pp. 216769682110514
Author(s):  
Jerica M. Berge ◽  
Nicole Larson ◽  
Dianne Neumark-Sztainer
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Social Distance ◽  
Eating Behaviors ◽  
Emerging Adult ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Social Distancing

The aim of this study is to identify the prevalence, predictors, and psychosocial well-being (depressive symptoms, stress) and weight-related behavior (eating behaviors, physical activity, and sedentary behavior) correlates of social distancing during COVID-19 among emerging adults. A rapid-response survey was sent to participants ( n=720; mean age=24.7 ± 2.0 years, 62% female) in a population-based cohort study in Minnesota during April–October 2020. Half of emerging adults reported fully social distancing. Emerging adults from White backgrounds were least likely to social distance while those from Asian backgrounds were most likely to social distance, in addition to those living with a parent. Females who partially/did not social distance reported less healthy eating behaviors, while males and “essential workers” reported higher levels of psychosocial distress. Public health messaging and practical supports for social distancing may need to be made more relevant to emerging adults during public health crises. Resources may need to differ depending on sex of emerging adult.

scholarly journals Contextually Appropriate Tools and Solutions to Facilitate Healthy Eating Identified by People with Type 2 Diabetes

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 2301
Author(s):  
M. Carolina Archundia Herrera ◽  
Denise L. Campbell-Scherer ◽  
Rhonda C. Bell ◽  
Catherine B. Chan
Keyword(s):  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Eating Behaviors ◽  
Diabetes Management ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Foot Care ◽  
The Individual

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a complex, multifaceted disease and its treatment involves lifestyle intervention (LI) programs that participants may find difficult to adopt and maintain. The objective of this study is to understand the lived experiences of participants with T2D regarding healthy eating behavior change, in order to identify and incorporate relevant information, skills, and educational approaches into LI programs. An explorative qualitative study was undertaken. Purposeful sampling was used to recruit 15 participants. One-on-one, semi-structured, open-ended, and in-depth interviews were conducted. An essentialist paradigm was adopted to accurately report the experiences, meaning, and reality of participants. An inductive approach was used to analyze the data. Participants reported that being diagnosed and living with T2D could be overwhelming, and their ability to manage was influenced by health care providers (HCP), family, and individual context. Many experienced a loop of “good–bad” eating behaviors. Participants expressed desires for future diabetes management that would include program content (nutrition, physical activity, mental health, foot care, and consequences of T2D), program features (understand context, explicit information, individualized, hands-on learning, applicable, realistic, incremental, and practical), program components (access to multidisciplinary team, set goals, track progress and be held accountable, one-on-one sessions, group support, maintenance/follow-up), and policy change. In conclusion, the results of this study indicate that T2D management requires more extensive, comprehensive, and ongoing support, guided by the individual participant.

Influence of the Rural Environment on Children's Physical Activity and Eating Behaviors

Rural Nursing ◽  
2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy E. Findholt ◽  
Linda J. Jerofke ◽  
Yvonne L. Michael ◽  
Victoria W. Brogoitti
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Eating Behaviors ◽  
Rural Environment ◽  
Children’S Physical Activity

Review of Ecological Approach Factors Affecting Physical Activity among Older People

2021 ◽  
pp. 019394592110175
Author(s):  
Wonjung Noh ◽  
Ka Young Kim
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Older People ◽  
Subjective Health ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Ecological Approach ◽  
Health Perceptions ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Policies And Programs ◽  
The Individual

This review aimed to investigate factors affecting physical activity among older people at the individual, social, and environmental levels based on an ecological approach. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Korean databases to identify all relevant studies that examined physical activity of older people using an ecological approach. Individual factors included socio-demographic characteristics, physical function components, and subjective health perceptions. Social factors included intimate relationships and social support. Environmental factors included physical living conditions, movement-related components, and policies and programs that affect the environment. This review analyzed the factors affecting physical activity of older people in three levels based on the ecological approach. This result provides a basis for managing, preventing, and promoting physical activity in older people based on an ecological approach and highlights the importance of environmental factors for improving physical activity among older people when applying foundational data for health prevention and management.

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