scholarly journals Children’s physical activity level and sedentary behavior in Norwegian early childhood education and care: effects of a staff-led cluster-randomized controlled trial

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eivind Andersen ◽  
Steinar Øvreås ◽  
Kari Anne Jørgensen ◽  
Janne Borch-Jenssen ◽  
Thomas Moser

Abstract A growing body of evidence suggest that the children’s physical activity (PA) level in early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings are insufficient. Since most children attend ECEC settings for many hours on most days of the week, and these institutions reach children across the socioeconomic spectrum, the ECEC settings may serve as an ideal avenue for increasing physical activity (PA) level, reduce sedentary time and enhance the overall health of young children. This paper investigates the effectiveness of the “Active Kindergarten – Active Children” study to increase children’s PA level and reduce sedentary time within the ECEC setting. Accelerometers were used to asses PA and sedentary time. A total of 116 three to four-year olds took part in a randomized controlled trial in 11 ECEC settings. Participants were cluster-randomized, by ECEC setting, to either a 12 week staff-led and expert-supported intervention or a waiting list control group. The intervention group increased time spent in moderate- and vigorous intensity PA by 10 min/day (95% CI = 3, 18; P=0.01), took 1909 more steps per day (95% CI = 1130, 2688; P˂0.01) and reduced sedentary time with 14min/day (95% CI = -27, -1; P=0.04) compared to the control group. The intervention group had a 2.4 higher odds (95% CI = 1.05, 5.7; P = 0.04) of meeting the PA recommendations compared to the control group at follow-up. Our results show that a flexible staff-led and expert-supported multicomponent PA intervention can increase total PA level, moderate- and vigorous intensity PA and reduce time spent sedentary in four-year-old children during their stay in ECEC settings. Key words: ECEC; RCT; children; physical activity; sedentary time

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eivind Andersen ◽  
Steinar Øvreås ◽  
Kari Anne Jørgensen ◽  
Janne Borch-Jenssen ◽  
Thomas Moser

Abstract A growing body of evidence suggest that the children’s physical activity (PA) level in early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings are insufficient. Since most children attend ECEC settings for many hours on most days of the week, and these institutions reach children across the socioeconomic spectrum, the ECEC settings may serve as an ideal avenue for increasing physical activity (PA) level, reduce sedentary time and enhance the overall health of young children. This paper investigates the effectiveness of the “Active Kindergarten – Active Children” study to increase children’s PA level and reduce sedentary time within the ECEC setting.Accelerometers were used to asses PA and sedentary time. A total of 116 four-year olds took part in a randomized controlled trial in 11 ECEC settings. Participants were cluster-randomized, by ECEC setting, to either a 12 week staff-led and expert-supported intervention or a waiting list control group. The intervention group increased time spent in moderate- and vigorous intensity PA by 10 min/day (95% CI = 3, 18; P=0.01), took 1909 more steps per day (95% CI = 1130, 2688; P˂0.01) and reduced sedentary time with 14min/day (95% CI = -27, -1; P=0.04) compared to the control group. The intervention group had a 2.4 higher odds (95% CI = 1.05, 5.7; P = 0.04) of meeting the PA recommendations compared to the control group at follow-up.Our results show that a flexible staff-led and expert-supported multicomponent PA intervention can increase total PA level, moderate- and vigorous intensity PA and reduce time spent sedentary in four-year-old children during their stay in ECEC settings.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eivind Andersen ◽  
Steinar Øvreås ◽  
Kari Anne Jørgensen ◽  
Janne Borch-Jenssen ◽  
Thomas Moser

Abstract Background: A growing body of evidence suggests that children’s physical activity (PA) level in early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings is insufficient. Since most children attend ECEC settings for many hours on most days of the week and these institutions reach children across the socioeconomic spectrum, ECEC settings may serve as an ideal avenue for increasing PA level, reducing sedentary time and enhancing the overall health of young children. This paper investigates the effectiveness of the “Active Kindergarten – Active Children” study in increasing children’s PA level and reducing sedentary time within the ECEC setting. Methods: Accelerometers were used to assess PA and sedentary time. A total of 116 three- to four-year-olds took part in a randomized controlled trial in 11 ECEC settings. The participants were cluster-randomized, by ECEC setting, to either a 12-week staff-led and expert-supported intervention or a waiting-list control group. Results: The intervention group increased time spent in moderate- and vigorous-intensity PA by 10 min/day (95% CI = 3, 18; P=0.01), took 1909 more steps per day (95% CI = 1130, 2688; P˂0.01) and reduced sedentary time by 14 min/day (95% CI = -27, -1; P=0.04) compared to the control group. The intervention group was 2.4 times more likely (95% CI = 1.05, 5.7; P = 0.04) to meet the PA recommendations than the control group at follow-up. Conclusions: Our results show that a flexible staff-led and expert-supported multi-component PA intervention can increase the total PA level and moderate- and vigorous-intensity PA and reduce sedentary time in three- to four-year-old children during their stay in ECEC settings.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eivind Andersen ◽  
Steinar Øvreås ◽  
Kari Anne Jørgensen ◽  
Janne Borch-Jenssen ◽  
Thomas Moser

Abstract Background: A growing body of evidence suggest that the children’s physical activity (PA) level in early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings are insufficient. Since most children attend ECEC settings for many hours on most days of the week, and these institutions reach children across the socioeconomic spectrum, the ECEC settings may serve as an ideal avenue for increasing physical activity level, reduce sedentary time and enhance the overall health of young children. This paper investigates the effectiveness of the “Active Kindergarten – Active Children” study to increase children’s PA level and reduce sedentary time within the ECEC setting. Methods: Accelerometers were used to asses PA and sedentary time. A total of 116 three to four-year olds took part in a randomised controlled trial in 11 ECEC settings. Participants were cluster-randomised, by ECEC setting, to either a 12 week staff-led and expert-supported intervention or a waiting list control group. Results: The intervention group increased time spent in moderate- and vigorous intensity PA by 10 min/day (95% CI = 3, 18; P=0.01), took 1909 more steps per day (95% CI = 1130, 2688; P˂0.01) and reduced sedentary time with 14min/day (95% CI = -27, -1; P=0.04) compared to the control group. The intervention group had a 2.4 higher odds (95% CI = 1.05, 5.7; P = 0.04) of meeting the PA recommendations compared to the control group at follow-up. Conclusions: Our results show that a flexible staff-led and expert-supported multicomponent PA intervention can increase total PA level, moderate- and vigorous intensity PA and reduce time spent sedentary in three to four-year old children during their stay in ECEC settings.Trial registration: The trial was retrospectively registered on September 19, 2020 and available online at ClinicalTrials.gov: No. NCT04555746


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eivind Andersen ◽  
Steinar Øvreås ◽  
Kari Anne Jørgensen ◽  
Janne Borch-Jenssen ◽  
Thomas Moser

Abstract Background A growing body of evidence suggest that the children’s physical activity (PA) level in early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings are insufficient. Since most children attend ECEC settings for many hours on most days of the week, and these institutions reach children across the socioeconomic spectrum, the ECEC settings may serve as an ideal avenue for increasing physical activity level, reduce sedentary time and enhance the overall health of young children. This paper investigates the effectiveness of the “Active Kindergarten – Active Children” study to increase children’s PA level and reduce sedentary time within the ECEC setting. Methods Accelerometers were used to asses PA and sedentary time. A total of 116 three to four-year olds took part in a randomised controlled trial in 11 ECEC settings. Participants were cluster-randomised, by ECEC setting, to either a 12 week staff-led and expert-supported intervention or a waiting list control group. Results The intervention group increased time spent in moderate- and vigorous intensity PA by 10 min/day (95% CI = 3, 18; P = 0.01), took 1909 more steps per day (95% CI = 1130, 2688; P < 0.01) and reduced sedentary time with 14 min/day (95% CI = − 27, − 1; P = 0.04) compared to the control group. The intervention group had a 2.4 higher odds (95% CI = 1.05, 5.7; P = 0.04) of meeting the PA recommendations compared to the control group at follow-up. Conclusions Our results show that a flexible staff-led and expert-supported multicomponent PA intervention can increase total PA level, moderate- and vigorous intensity PA and reduce time spent sedentary in three to four-year old children during their stay in ECEC settings. Trial registration The trial was retrospectively registered on September 19, 2020 and available online at ClinicalTrials.gov: No. NCT04555746.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 343-348
Author(s):  
Sheri J. Hartman ◽  
Dori Pekmezi ◽  
Shira I. Dunsiger ◽  
Bess H. Marcus

Background: Latinas have high rates of sedentary behavior and related health disparities, but it is unknown if interventions to increase physical activity will also reduce sedentary time. The current study examined changes in objectively measured sedentary time among Latinas in a randomized controlled trial of a physical activity intervention. Methods: Spanish-speaking Latinas (N = 202) were randomized to an exercise or wellness group and wore an accelerometer at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. Results: Participants were sedentary on an average of 8.86 hours per day (SD = 2.60) at baseline. The intervention group had significantly greater increases in sedentary time compared with the control group, with the intervention group engaging in 146 more minutes per week of sedentary time at 6 months and 254 minutes per week of sedentary time at 12 months than the control group (P = .02). The intervention effect on sedentary behavior remained after controlling for moderate to vigorous physical activity. Additionally, time spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity was positively associated with more sedentary time (P = .04). Conclusion: An intervention to increase moderate to vigorous physical activity resulted in greater sedentary time, raising concerns regarding compensation and highlighting the need for interventions to address both physical activity and sedentary behavior to improve public health.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 423-428
Author(s):  
Karen Tonge ◽  
Rachel A. Jones ◽  
Anthony D. Okely

Background: To examine the relationship between attributes of early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings and children’s physical activity and sedentary behavior. Methods: Cross-sectional study involving 490 children aged 2–5 years from 11 ECECs. The ECEC routine, size of the outdoor environment, and time spent in the outdoor environment were calculated for each center. Children’s physical activity and sedentary time were measured using accelerometers. Multivariate linear regressions were used to examine associations of the attributes of ECEC centers with the outcome variables, adjusting for the effects of center clustering and gender. Results: Children in ECECs that offered free routines (where children can move freely between indoor and outdoor environments) had lower levels of sedentary time (28.27 min/h vs 33.15 min/h; P = .001) and spent more time in total physical activity (7.99 min/h vs 6.57 min/h; P = .008) and moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (9.49 min/h vs 7.31 min/h; P = .008). Children in ECECs with an outdoor environment >400 m2 had less sedentary time (28.94 min/h vs 32.42 min/h; P = .012) than those with areas <400 m2. Conclusion: Modifiable practices such as offering a free routine and increasing time spent in outdoor environments could potentially offer an easy and sustainable way for ECEC centers to promote physical activity and reduce sedentary time among children.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Musheer Abdulwahid Al-Jaberi ◽  
Muhamad Hanafiah Juni ◽  
Hayati Kadir Shahar ◽  
Siti Irma Fadhilah Ismail ◽  
Murad Abdu Saeed ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Universities around the world, including Malaysia, have attracted many international students from different countries. Research has reported that acculturative stress resulting from international students’ attempts to adjust to the cultures of host countries is one of the most challenging issues that affects their lives in general and academic lives in particular. OBJECTIVE This study aims to examine the effectiveness of an educational intervention on acculturative stress among new postgraduate international students joining Malaysian public universities. METHODS A cluster randomized controlled trial design with Malaysian public universities as the unit of randomization will be used in this study. Public universities will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to be either in the intervention (educational program) or control group (waiting list). Participants in the intervention group will receive 7 sessions in 9 hours delivered by an expert in psychology and the researcher. The control group will receive the intervention once the 3-month follow-up evaluation is completed. RESULTS The data will be analyzed using the generalized estimation equation with a confidence interval value of 95%; significant differences between and within groups are determined as <i>P</i>&lt;.05. The results of the study underlie the effectiveness of educational program in decreasing acculturative stress of new international students and enabling them to cope with a new environment. The results of this study will contribute to previous knowledge of acculturative stress, acculturation, and adjustment of international students. Furthermore, such results are expected to play a role in raising university policy makers’ awareness of their postgraduate international students’ acculturative stress issues and how they can help them avoid such stress and perform well in their academic life. CONCLUSIONS We expect that the intervention group will score significantly lower than the wait-list group on the immediate and 3-month postintervention evaluation of acculturative stress and achieve a higher level of adjustment. Results will have implications for international students, policy makers at universities, the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education, and future research. CLINICALTRIAL Clinical Trials Registry India CTRI/2018/01/011223; http://ctri.nic.in/Clinicaltrials/showallp.php?mid1= 21978&amp;amp;EncHid=&amp;amp;userName=Muhamad%20Hanafiah%20Juni INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT PRR1-10.2196/12950


2021 ◽  
pp. 019394592110207
Author(s):  
Min Wen ◽  
Yaqin Liang ◽  
Qianqian Shen ◽  
Juping Yu ◽  
Pingping He ◽  
...  

This cluster randomized controlled trial aimed to investigate the effects of an intervention to teach resourcefulness on depression and coping style of patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). A convenience sample of 72 patients in community settings took part. Participants in the intervention group (n = 36) received an 8-week intervention based on the concept of resourcefulness, plus routine health education. Participants in the control group (n = 36) received routine health education only. After the intervention, participants in the intervention group had significantly higher scores on resourcefulness and coping styles, and lower scores on depression than those in the control group (both ps < .001). The findings suggest that a well-developed intervention to teach resourcefulness could help patients with CHD to be more resourceful, improve their level of depression, and choose more effective strategies to cope with stress.


Author(s):  
K. Wernicke ◽  
J. Grischke ◽  
M. Stiesch ◽  
S. Zeissler ◽  
K. Krüger ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives The aim was to investigate the effect of physical activity on periodontal health and HbA1c levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) over a period of 6 months. Materials and methods Thirty-seven patients with non-insulin-dependent T2DM were included in the study. The intervention group (n=20) performed physical activity over a period of 6 months. The control group (n=17) did not receive any intervention. Baseline and final examinations included dental parameters and concentrations of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). Results Physical activity showed a positive effect on periodontal health. Both the BOP (p= 0.005) and the severity of periodontitis (p= 0.001) were significantly reduced in the intervention group compared to the control group. Furthermore, HbA1c levels were reduced (p= 0.010) significantly in the intervention group while hsCRP levels significantly increased in the control group (p= 0.04). Conclusions Within the limitations of this randomized, controlled trial, physical activity over a period of 6 months is a health-promoting measure for patients with T2DM and improves both periodontal health and HbA1c concentrations.


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