scholarly journals The EnergyKids Pilot Study: Comparing Energy Balance of Primary School Children during School and Summer Camp

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 92
Author(s):  
Cinzia Franchini ◽  
Alice Rosi ◽  
Cristian Ricci ◽  
Francesca Scazzina
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Energy Balance ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Summer Camp ◽  
Negative Energy ◽  
Primary School Children ◽  
Food Diary ◽  
Activity Tracker ◽  
School Time ◽  
Study Participants

Children’s energy requirements may vary during school and summer camp days. To evaluate energy balance during these two periods, seventy-eight children (45% females, 8–10 years) living in Parma, Italy, were enrolled in this observational study. Participants completed a 3-day food diary and wore an activity tracker for three consecutive days during a school- and a summer camp-week to estimate energy intake (EI) and energy expenditure (TEE). Height and body weight were measured at the beginning of each period to define children’s weight status. BMI and EI (school: 1692 ± 265 kcal/day; summer camp: 1738 ± 262 kcal/day) were similar during both periods. Both physical activity and TEE (summer camp: 1948 ± 312; school: 1704 ± 263 kcal/day) were higher during summer camp compared to school time. Therefore, energy balance was more negative during summer camp (−209 ± 366 kcal/day) compared to school time (−12 ± 331 kcal/day). Similar results were observed when males and females were analyzed separately but, comparing the sexes, males had a higher TEE and a more negative energy balance than females, during both periods. The results strongly suggest that an accurate evaluation of children’s energy balance, that considers both diet and physical activity, is needed when planning adequate diets for different situations.

Energy expenditure and nutrition status of ballet, jazz and contemporary dance students

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Rossiou ◽  
S. Papadopoulou ◽  
I. Pagkalos ◽  
A. Kokkinopoulou ◽  
D. Petridis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Energy Balance ◽  
Energy Expenditure ◽  
Negative Energy ◽  
Nutrition Status ◽  
Contemporary Dance ◽  
Food Diary ◽  
Daily Diaries ◽  
Dance Class ◽  
Daily Energy

Purpose: To evaluate of the energy expenditure in 3 types of dance classes (ballet, Jazz, and contemporary), as well as of the daily energy balance depending on dance type. Materials and methods: 40 females attending dance classes with a median age of 21.0 (19.0-25.0) and 10 males with a median age of 27.0 (20.0-28.0) participated in this study. The energy cost of each dance class was measured using the BodyMedia SenseWear Sensor and total daily energy expenditure was evaluated using a 3-day recording of physical activity. The dietary intake was evaluated with a 3-day food diary recording. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS software. Results: Median energy expenditure varied from 306 (277-328) Kcals/class for contemporary dance to 327 (290-355) Kcals/class for ballet and 369 (333-394) Kcals/class for jazz for females with significant differences between contemporary and jazz classes. For males, energy expenditure was 508 (447-589) Kcals/class and 564 (538-593) Kcals/class for ballet and jazz classes, respectively. Females had lower values for all anthropometric measurements, energy intake, macronutrient intakes, and energy expenditure, compared with males. The anthropometric characteristics did not differ between dance types. Both female and male dance students were in a negative energy balance. Conclusions: The use of sensors such as BodyMedia SenseWear together with keeping daily diaries make measurement of physical activity in dancing reliable and accurate. Exercise expenditure differs across types of dance in females but not in males. Both sexes had inadequate energy and carbohydrate intakes.

scholarly journals The EnergyKids project: pilot study on the energy balance of primary school children during school days and summer camp days

2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (OCE2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alice Rosi ◽  
Cinzia Franchini ◽  
Francesca Scazzina
Keyword(s):  
Energy Balance ◽  
Energy Expenditure ◽  
Total Energy ◽  
Energy Intake ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Summer Camp ◽  
Total Energy Expenditure ◽  
Primary School Children ◽  
Daily Energy ◽  
The Mean

AbstractSpecific nutritional requirements should be cover during childhood to ensure proper growth. The daily energy need is defined as the number of calories necessary to satisfy the total energy expenditure in a healthy and active organism. Since children are more inclined to be physically active during summer, their energy expenditure may vary during school days respect to summer days and a proper energy intake should be planned during both periods.The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the energy balance during school days and summer camp days in primary school children living in the city of Parma (Italy), attending the Giocampus programme.Participants were asked to complete a 3-day weighed food diary and to wear an activity tracker for the same 3 consecutive days twice: within a school week and a summer camp week. Height and body weight were measured at the beginning of each assessment week and BMI was calculated to define the weight status through the IOTF gender- and age-related cut-offs for children BMI. The mean energy balance was estimated as the difference between the mean total energy expenditure (calculated multiplying the daily physical activity level by the basal metabolic rate from the Schofield's predictive equation) and the mean daily energy intakes (obtained through the Italian food database of the European Institute of Oncology).Fifty-five children (49% F, 51% M, 8–10 y) correctly completed the study. In both periods, the mean BMI corresponded to normal weight status, without significant differences between genders. Energy intake did not change significantly between the assessment periods or between sexes. As expected, the minutes of inactivity decreased during the summer camp period. Moreover, males were more active than females, but the increase in the total energy expenditure from school to summer camp, related to the increased physical activity, was significant in both sexes. Energy balance was negative in both assessment periods and it changed significantly from school to summer camp days, decreasing in both sexes but being more negative for boys than for girls.Our results underline the importance of providing children with meals nutritionally adequate and suggest that the energy content of children's meals should be increased during particular conditions, like a summer camp, and continuously monitored to assure an adequate energy intake to cover the energy requirements during both school and summer camp days.

scholarly journals Association between the school physical activity environment, measured and self-reported student physical activity and active transport behaviours in Victoria, Australia

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Crooks ◽  
Laura Alston ◽  
Melanie Nichols ◽  
Kristy A. Bolton ◽  
Steven Allender ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Active Transport ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
School Principal ◽  
Primary School Children ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Physical Activity Environment ◽  
Policy Practice ◽  
Socioeconomic Composition

Abstract Background Environments within schools including the physical, social-cultural and policy/practice environments have the potential to influence children’s physical activity (PA) behaviours and weight status. This Australian first study comprehensively examined the association(s) of physical, social-cultural and policy/practice environments with PA, active transport (AT) and weight status among regional primary school children. Methods Data were from two childhood obesity monitoring systems in regional Victoria, Australia. Measured height and weight were collected from students in Year 2 (aged approx. 7–8 years), Year 4 (9–10 years), and Year 6 (11–12 years). Self–reported PA behaviour, including AT were collected from students in Year 4 and 6 and a sub-sample wore an ActiGraph (wGT3X-BT) accelerometer for 7-days. A school physical activity environment audit was completed by the school principal and responses were used to calculate school physical activity environment scores (PAES) and active transport environment scores (ATES). Mixed effects logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between the proportion of students meeting the PA guidelines (≥60mins/day of moderate-to-vigorous PA) and PAES tertiles (low, medium, high) and those using AT and school ATES tertiles, controlling for gender, school size/type and socioeconomic composition. Results The analysed sample included 54/146 (37%) schools and 3360/5376 (64%) students. In stratified analysis, girls in schools with a medium PAES score were more likely to meet the objectively measured PA guideline compared to low PAES score (OR 2.3, 95%CI 1.27, 4.16). Similarly, students in schools with a medium or high ATES score had higher odds of self-reported AT (medium OR 3.15, 95%CI 1.67, 5.94; high OR 3.71, 95%CI: 1.80, 7.64). No association between PAES or ATES and weight status were observed. Self-reported AT among boys (OR 1.59, 95%CI 1.19, 2.13) and girls (OR 1.56, 95%CI 1.08, 2.27) was associated with higher odds of meeting self-reported PA guidelines on all 7-days than those who did not report using AT. Conclusions In this study of regional Victorian primary schools, PA environments were only associated with girls’ adherence to PA guidelines. School AT environments were strongly associated with students’ AT behaviours and with increased likelihood of students being physically active.

scholarly journals Systematic review of interventions in the childcare setting with direct parental involvement: effectiveness on child weight status and energy balance-related behaviours

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
I. van de Kolk ◽  
S. R. B. Verjans-Janssen ◽  
J. S. Gubbels ◽  
S. P. J. Kremers ◽  
S. M. P. L. Gerards
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Energy Balance ◽  
Parental Involvement ◽  
Sedentary Behaviour ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Effect Sizes ◽  
Intervention Effectiveness

Abstract Background The early years are a crucial period to promote healthy energy balance-related behaviours in children and prevent overweight and obesity. The childcare setting is important for health-promoting interventions. Increasingly, attention has been paid to parental involvement in childcare-based interventions. The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate the effectiveness of these interventions with direct parental involvement on the children’s weight status and behavioural outcomes. Methods A systematic search was conducted in four electronic databases to include studies up until January 2019. Studies written in English, describing results on relevant outcomes (weight status, physical activity, sedentary behaviour and/or nutrition-related behaviour) of childcare-based interventions with direct parental involvement were included. Studies not adopting a pre-post-test design or reporting on pilot studies were excluded. To improve comparability, effect sizes (Cohen’s d) were calculated. Information on different types of environment targeted (e.g., social, physical, political and economic) was extracted in order to narratively examine potential working principles of effective interventions. Results A total of 22 studies, describing 17 different interventions, were included. With regard to the intervention group, 61.1% found some favourable results on weight status, 73.3% on physical activity, 88.9% on sedentary behaviour, and all on nutrition-related behaviour. There were studies that also showed unfavourable results. Only a small number of studies was able to show significant differences between the intervention and control group (22.2% weight status, 60.0% physical activity, 66.6% sedentary behaviour, 76.9% nutrition behaviour). Effect sizes, if available, were predominantly small to moderate, with some exceptions with large effect sizes. The interventions predominantly targeted the socio-cultural and physical environments in both the childcare and home settings. Including changes in the political environment in the intervention and a higher level of intensity of parental involvement appeared to positively impact intervention effectiveness. Conclusion Childcare-based interventions with direct parental involvement show promising effects on the children’s energy balance-related behaviours. However, evidence on effectiveness is limited, particularly for weight-related outcomes. Better understanding of how to reach and involve parents may be essential for strengthening intervention effectiveness.

Energy Balance and Energy Availability During a Selection Course for Belgian Paratroopers

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Mullie ◽  
Pieter Maes ◽  
Laurens van Veelen ◽  
Damien Van Tiggelen ◽  
Peter Clarys
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Energy Balance ◽  
Energy Expenditure ◽  
Metabolic Rate ◽  
Energy Intake ◽  
Rest Metabolic Rate ◽  
Negative Energy ◽  
Fat Free Mass ◽  
Negative Energy Balance ◽  
Energy Availability

ABSTRACT Introduction Adequate energy supply is a prerequisite for optimal performances and recovery. The aims of the present study were to estimate energy balance and energy availability during a selection course for Belgian paratroopers. Methods Energy expenditure by physical activity was measured with accelerometer (ActiGraph GT3X+, ActiGraph LLC, Pensacola, FL, USA) and rest metabolic rate in Cal.d−1 with Tinsley et al.’s equation based on fat-free mass = 25.9 × fat-free mass in kg + 284. Participants had only access to the French individual combat rations of 3,600 Cal.d−1, and body fat mass was measured with quadripolar impedance (Omron BF508, Omron, Osaka, Japan). Energy availability was calculated by the formula: ([energy intake in foods and beverages] − [energy expenditure physical activity])/kg FFM−1.d−1, with FFM = fat-free mass. Results Mean (SD) age of the 35 participants was 25.1 (4.18) years, and mean (SD) percentage fat mass was 12.0% (3.82). Mean (SD) total energy expenditure, i.e., the sum of rest metabolic rate, dietary-induced thermogenesis, and physical activity, was 5,262 Cal.d−1 (621.2), with percentile 25 at 4,791 Cal.d−1 and percentile 75 at 5,647 Cal.d−1, a difference of 856 Cal.d−1. Mean daily energy intake was 3,600 Cal.d−1, giving a negative energy balance of 1,662 (621.2) Cal.d−1. Mean energy availability was 9.3 Cal.kg FFM−1.d−1. Eleven of the 35 participants performed with a negative energy balance of 2,000 Cal.d−1, and only five participants out of 35 participants performed at a less than 1,000 Cal.d−1 negative energy balance level. Conclusions Energy intake is not optimal as indicated by the negative energy balance and the low energy availability, which means that the participants to this selection course had to perform in suboptimal conditions.

scholarly journals Validation of self-reported physical activity by accelerometry among primary school children in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania: a pilot study

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 40
Author(s):  
Mary Vincent Mosha ◽  
Elizabeth Kasagama ◽  
Philip Ayieko ◽  
Jim Todd ◽  
Sia E. Msuya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Primary School ◽  
School Children ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Primary School Children ◽  
Positive Correlation ◽  
Self Reports ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
Moderate Positive Correlation

Background: Self-reports are commonly used to assess physical activity in children.  Existing self-reports for physical activity have not been validated for use among primary school children in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. In order to understand if primary school children can accurately report their physical activity, we examined the validity of self-reported physical activity against accelerometer measured physical activity. Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted from May to July, 2018 among four primary schools in Moshi municipal and Moshi rural districts, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.  A total of 51 primary school children aged 9–11 years were enrolled using a simple random sampling technique. A self-reported questionnaire was used to collect physical activity related variables. In addition, children wore accelerometers for seven consecutive days to capture physical activity movements. Spearman’s rank test and Bland Altman plots were used for assessing validity and agreement between self-reports and accelerometer moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Results: The mean age of the study participants was 10 (SD=0.8) years. Majority of the study participants were female 32 (63%). A moderate, positive correlation was found between self-reports and accelerometer MVPA (rho=0.36, p=0.009). Accelerometer had higher MVPA compared to self-reports. Children who reported walking to school had higher MVPA for both accelerometer and self- reports compared to children who use other means of transport to school, e.g. school buses (p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study found the moderate positive correlation between self-reports and accelerometers. Self-reports are prone to errors due to recall bias, and this interferes their validity.  More research is needed to develop better self-reported measures with specific activities which can easily be recalled by children. Also, researchers have to be aware of self-reports validity limitation.

scholarly journals School-Based Interventions Targeting Nutrition and Physical Activity, and Body Weight Status of African Children: A Systematic Review

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theodosia Adom ◽  
Anniza De Villiers ◽  
Thandi Puoane ◽  
André Pascal Kengne
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Primary School Children ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
African Children ◽  
School Based ◽  
School Based Interventions ◽  
Nutrition And Physical Activity

Background: Overweight/obesity is an emerging health concern among African children. The aim of this study was to summarise available evidence from school-based interventions that focused on improving nutrition and physical activity knowledge, attitude, and behaviours, and weight status of children aged 6–15 years in the African context. Methods: Multiple databases were searched for studies evaluating school-based interventions of African origin that involved diet alone, physical activity alone, or multicomponent interventions, for at least 12 weeks in duration, reporting changes in either diet, physical activity, or body composition, and published between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2018. No language restrictions were applied. Relevant data from eligible studies were extracted. Narrative synthesis was used to analyse and describe the data. Results: This systematic review included nine interventions comprising 10 studies. Studies were conducted among 9957 children and adolescents in two African countries, namely South Africa and Tunisia, and were generally of low methodological quality. The sample size at baseline ranged from 28 to 4003 participants. Two interventions reported enrolling children from both urban and rural areas. The majority of the study participants were elementary or primary school children and adolescents in grades 4 to 6. Participants were between the ages of 12.4 and 13.5 years. All but one intervention targeted children of both sexes. Four studies were described as randomised control trials, while five were pre- and post-test quasi-experiments. Except for one study that involved the community as a secondary setting, all were primarily school-based studies. The duration of the interventions ranged from four months to three years. The interventions focused largely on weight-related behaviours, while a few targeted weight status. The results of the effectiveness of these interventions were inconsistent: three of five studies that evaluated weight status (body mass index (BMI), BMI z-score, overweight/obesity prevalence), three of six studies that reported physical activity outcomes (number of sports activities, and physical activity duration ≥ 30 min for at least six days/week), and four of six reporting on nutrition-related outcomes (number meeting fruit and vegetable intake ≥ 5 times/day) found beneficial effects of the interventions. Conclusion: Given the dearth of studies and the inconsistent results, definite conclusions about the overall effectiveness and evidence could not be made. Nonetheless, this study has identified research gaps in the childhood obesity literature in Africa and strengthened the need for further studies, the findings of which would contribute valuable data and inform policy.

scholarly journals Classroom Standing Desks and Time-Series Variation in Sedentary Behavior and Physical Activity among Primary School Children

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. 1892 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tetsuhiro Kidokoro ◽  
Yasuo Shimizu ◽  
Kanako Edamoto ◽  
Michael Annear
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Time Series ◽  
Primary School ◽  
Sedentary Behavior ◽  
School Children ◽  
Primary School Children ◽  
Control Group ◽  
School Time ◽  
Intensity Physical Activity

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of height-adjustable standing desks on time-series variation in sedentary behavior (SB) among primary school children. Thirty-eight children aged 11–12 years (22 boys and 16 girls) from two classes at a primary school in Nagano, Japan, participated in this study. One class was allocated as the intervention group and provided with individual standing desks for 6 months, and the other was allocated as the control group. Time spent in SB, light-intensity physical activity (LPA), and moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) was measured using accelerometers (ActiGraph) at baseline and follow-up. Time spent in SB was significantly lower by 18.3 min/day on average in the intervention class at follow-up (interaction effects: F(1, 36) = 4.95, p = 0.035, η2 = 0.082). This was accompanied by a significant increase in time spent in MVPA (+19.9 min/day on average). Our time-series analysis showed significant decreases in SB during school time, while no change in SB was found during non-school time. This result indicates that the use of standing desks promotes an overall reduction in SB with no compensatory increase during non-school time.

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