Is a Change to Active Travel to School an Important Source of Physical Activity for Chinese Children?

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 161-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy Y. Huang ◽  
Stephen H. Wong ◽  
Gang He
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Mixed Models ◽  
Linear Mixed Models ◽  
Active Travel ◽  
Chinese Children ◽  
Travel Mode ◽  
Age Related ◽  
One Year ◽  
Active Travel To School

This study investigated the association between a change in travel mode to school and one-year changes in physical activity (PA) among children in Hong Kong. Data from 677 children aged 7–10 years (56% boys) who participated in the Understanding Children’s Activity and Nutrition (UCAN) study were analyzed. During the 2010/11 and 2011/12 school years, the children wore an accelerometer for a week and their parents completed a questionnaire about the children’s modes of travel to school and nonschool destinations. Associations between a change in the mode of travel to school and changes in moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) were determined using linear mixed models, adjusting for covariates. Compared with children who consistently used passive travel modes, a change from passive to active travel to school was positively associated with changes in the percentage of time spent in MVPA (b = 1.32, 95% CI = 0.63, 2.02) and MVPA min/day (b = 10.97, 95% CI = 5.26, 16.68) on weekdays. Similar results were found for weekly MVPA. Promoting active travel to school may help to combat age-related decline in PA for some Chinese children. However, maintaining active travel to school may not be sufficient to halt the decreasing trend in MVPA with age.

Correlates of Physical Activity among Chinese Children in Hong Kong

2010 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
pp. 738
Author(s):  
Ya Jun Huang ◽  
Stephen H.S. Wong ◽  
Jo Salmon
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Chinese Children

scholarly journals Implementation contextual factors related to community-based active travel to school interventions: a mixed methods interview study

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
MacKenzie Koester ◽  
Carolina M. Bejarano ◽  
Ann M. Davis ◽  
Ross C. Brownson ◽  
Jon Kerner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Active Travel ◽  
Family Needs ◽  
School Bus ◽  
Community Based ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Walking School Bus ◽  
Active Travel To School

Abstract Background Active travel to school contributes to multiple physical and psychosocial benefits for youth, yet population rates of active travel to school are alarmingly low in the USA and many other countries. Though walking school bus interventions are effective for increasing rates of active travel to school and children’s overall physical activity, uptake of such interventions has been low. The objective of this study was to conduct a mixed methods implementation evaluation to identify contextual factors that serve as barriers and facilitators among existing walking school bus programs. Methods Semi-structured interviews guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) were conducted with leaders of low-sustainability (n = 9) and high-sustainability (n = 11) programs across the USA. A combination of quantitative (CFIR-based) coding and inductive thematic analysis was used. The CFIR-based ratings were compared between the low- and high-sustainability programs and themes, subthemes, and exemplary quotes were provided to summarize the thematic analysis. Results In both the low- and high-sustainability programs, three of the 15 constructs assessed were commonly rated as positive (i.e., favorable for supporting implementation): student/family needs and resources, implementation climate, and planning. Three constructs were more often rated as positive in the high-sustainability programs: organizational incentives and rewards, engaging students and parents, and reflecting and evaluating. Three constructs were more often rated as positive in the low-sustainability programs: student/family needs and resources - built environment, available resources, and access to knowledge and information. Four themes emerged from the thematic analysis: planning considerations, ongoing coordination considerations, resources and supports, and benefits. Conclusions Engagement of students, parents, and community members were among the factors that emerged across the quantitative and qualitative analyses as most critical for supporting walking school bus program implementation. The information provided by program leaders can help in the selection of implementation strategies that overcome known barriers for increasing the long-term success of community-based physical activity interventions such as the walking school bus.

scholarly journals Effects of exercise dose on endogenous estrogens in postmenopausal women: a randomized trial

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 863-876 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine M Friedenreich ◽  
Heather K Neilson ◽  
Qinggang Wang ◽  
Frank Z Stanczyk ◽  
Yutaka Yasui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Postmenopausal Women ◽  
Mixed Models ◽  
Geometric Mean ◽  
Linear Mixed Models ◽  
Dose Effect ◽  
Sex Hormone Binding Globulin ◽  
Dose Comparison ◽  
Exercise Dose

Exercise dose comparison trials with biomarker outcomes can identify the amount of exercise required to reduce breast cancer risk and also strengthen the causal inference between physical activity and breast cancer. The Breast Cancer and Exercise Trial in Alberta (BETA) tested whether or not greater changes in estradiol (E2), estrone, and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) concentrations can be achieved in postmenopausal women randomized to 12 months of HIGH (300 min/week) vs MODERATE (150 min/week) volumes of aerobic exercise. BETA included 400 inactive postmenopausal women aged 50–74 years with BMI of 22–40 kg/m2. Blood was drawn at baseline and 6 and 12 months. Adiposity, physical fitness, diet, and total physical activity were assessed at baseline and 12 months. Intention-to-treat analyses were performed using linear mixed models. At full prescription, women exercised more in the HIGH vs MODERATE group (median min/week (quartiles 1,3): 253 (157 289) vs 137 (111 150); P<0.0001). Twelve-month changes in estrogens and SHBG were <10% on average for both groups. No group differences were found for E2, estrone, SHBG or free E2 changes (treatment effect ratios (95% CI) from linear mixed models: 1.00 (0.96–1.06), 1.02 (0.98–1.05), 0.99 (0.96–1.02), 1.01 (0.95, 1.06), respectively, representing the HIGH:MODERATE ratio of geometric mean biomarker levels over 12 months; n=382). In per-protocol analyses, borderline significantly greater decreases in total and free E2 occurred in the HIGH group. Overall, no dose effect was observed for women randomized to 300 vs 150 min/week of moderate to vigorous intensity exercise who actually performed a median of 253 vs 137 min/week. For total and free E2, the lack of differential effect may be due to modest adherence in the higher dose group.

scholarly journals The Associations of Active Travel to School with Physical Activity and Screen Time Among Adolescents: Do Individual and Parental Characteristics Matter?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caihong Huang ◽  
Aamir Raoof Memon ◽  
Chaomei Liang ◽  
Jin-Tao Hong ◽  
Youliang Lin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Screen Time ◽  
Parental Education ◽  
Geographical Location ◽  
Active Travel ◽  
Education Level ◽  
Parental Characteristics ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Active Travel To School

Abstract Background: Little is known about the relationship of active travel to school (ATS) with physical activity (PA) and screen time (ST) by individual and parental characteristics among adolescents, especially in China. To address the research gap, this study aimed to explore the difference of sex, age, geographical location, parental occupation and education level in the relationship of ATS with PA and ST among students of grades 7-12 using cross-sectional data.Methods: In 13 cities of Hubei province, China, students from 39 public schools were recruited to engage in the survey. In total, 5898 students (response rate = 89.6%) were invited into this study. Participants were required to report their ATS (including its types), PA and ST as well as sociodemographic information using validated questionnaire. Descriptive analyses were used to report the information of all variables. Regression models were used to analyze the relationships of ATS and its types with PA and ST.Results: In a total of 4128 participants (boy: 50.9%; younger adolescents: 61.9%) included in the final analysis, the proportion of those with ATS was 47.3%. Regarding the types of ATS, walking accounted for over 30%, while cycling was 13.2%. Participants with ATS were more likely to have sufficient PA (OR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.14-1.39), especially among boys, younger adolescents and those with lower parental education level. However, ATS was not associated with ST (OR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.86-1.01). Participants with cycling had higher odds ratio of being physically active (OR for cycling = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.27-1.70; OR for walking = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.06-1.32). The association of ATS types with PA and ST differed by gender, age, geographical location and parental educational level as well as occupations.Conclusions: ATS may be a useful approach to increase PA among adolescents, but this should be explained by individual and parental characteristics.

Compliance With 24-Hour Movement Guidelines in Hong Kong Adolescents: Associations With Weight Status

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 287-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Shi ◽  
Wendy Yajun Huang ◽  
Cindy Hui-Ping Sit ◽  
Stephen Heung-Sang Wong
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Mixed Models ◽  
Screen Time ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Leisure Activities ◽  
Hong Kong Adolescents

Background: This study examined the compliance with the 24-Hour Movement Guidelines among Hong Kong adolescents and its associations with body mass index (BMI). Methods: A total of 1039 adolescents (11–18 y) wore the activPAL™ for 24 hours for 7 consecutive days to assess physical activity (PA) and sleep duration. Screen time was measured using the Children’s Leisure Activities Study Survey (Chinese version). Linear mixed models were performed for analysis. Results: The analytic sample consisted of 692 adolescents (53% girls). Only 1.0% of the adolescents met all of the recommendations. The proportions of adolescents who met the recommendation for PA, screen time, and sleep were 9.1%, 31.2%, and 38.6%, respectively. Adolescent boys who did not meet the PA recommendation (β = 3.36; 95% CI, 1.04 to 5.68; P = .001) and those who did not meet the combination of PA and sleep recommendations (β = 2.10, 95% CI, 0.64 to 3.56; P = .01) had a higher body mass index than those who met the respective recommendations. Conclusions: Compliance with the 24-Hour Movement Guidelines was alarmingly low among Hong Kong adolescents. Meeting the PA recommendation or the combination of PA and sleep recommendations was associated with a healthier body weight in boys.

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