We have to live in the future

Governments and health authorities are expressing concern about increasing levels of obesity, diabetes and physical inactivity in children. In response to such concerns, it is common to adapt strategies for adults to children, and to conduct adult-focused research. This paper describes a research study commissioned by the South Australian government that sought to involve children aged younger than 12 years in defining their meanings and views about physical activity. The research is being used to plan strategies to increase children's participation in physical activity. The qualitative study combined focus groups, drawing and mapping techniques and photographic methods with 204 children aged 4-12 years in metropolitan and rural South Australia. This paper reports results from two of the research questions: What are children's theories of physical activity, play and sport? What do children want to tell adults? Results indicate that children were enthusiastic participants in the research and appreciated the opportunity to communicate their views. The terms 'physical activity' and 'exercise' had little meaning for children, who described them as terms adults use. 'Play' and 'sport' had powerful, contrasting meanings for children: with 'play' child-centred and 'sport' controlled by adults. Children had mixed views on the power of sporting heroes as role models, on computers and television as the enemy of physical activity and on links between physical activity and health status. The research demonstrates that children bring to the discourse about physical activity some ideas that challenge the views adults hold about children. It is recommended that strategies to increase children's participation in physical activity are designed using research with children.     

Playschool in pictures: children’s photographs as a research method

The paper focuses on children’s photographs as a method to use in research with children. Studies using photographs with children are reviewed and compared and a study conducted in one Icelandic playschool is described. The playschool was involved in a project where the purpose was to look at the ways children think about their early childhood educational setting and to develop methods for listening to children’s perspectives. The paper describes and compares two approaches where cameras were used. One group used digital cameras to take pictures in their playschool while they showed the researcher important places and things in the playschool. The other group was given disposable cameras that they could use unsupervised for a period of time. The results show that using cameras and children’s photos is a notable method to use when seeking children’s perspectives on their life in an early childhood setting.     

He said,she said,but what do they say?: young children’s perceptions of father involvement

One of the important implications of the rights given to children by Article 12 of UN Convention on the Rights of Children 1989 is the inclusion of children in research on issues related to their lives. However, studies on father involvement are still conducted for young children not with them and there are no data-gathering techniques available that can be used specifically with young children. Within this context the main aim of this study is to develop new techniques to gather qualitative data from children aged between 50 and 72 months to understand how they perceive their fathers’ involvement. Findings of the present study were consistent with the results of previous studies that depended on adult reports of father involvement. Both the findings and the techniques used with children in the present study have implications for future research into father involvement and its application.     

The moderating role of parent perceptions in relationships between objectively measured neighbourhood environment attributes and pre-schooler’s physical activity: Findings from the PLAYCE study

We examined the moderating effects of parent perceptions of the neighbourhood environment on associations between objectively measured neighbourhood environment attributes and physical activity among pre-schoolers. The number of neighbourhood parks was positively associated with pre-schooler energetic play when parents had above average perceptions of access to services. Objectively measured street connectivity was associated with fewer minutes of energetic play when pedestrian and traffic safety was perceived to be below average by parents. Greater understanding of the role played by parents in pre-schooler’s exposure to physically active supportive environments is needed to inform environmental interventions for specific age groups.     

Longitudinal and cross-sectional changes in active commuting to school among Brazilian schoolchildren

Objective

The objective of the study is to evaluate cross-sectional and longitudinal changes in children's commuting to school in a representative sample of a Brazilian city.

Methods

Two school-based studies were carried out in 2002 (n = 2936; 7-10 years old) and 2007 (n = 1232; 7-15 years old) in Florianopolis, Brazil. Cross-sectional data were collected from children aged 7 to 10 years in 2002 and 2007. Longitudinal analyses were performed with data from 733 children participating in both surveys. Children self-reported their mode of transportation to school using a validated illustrated questionnaire. Changes were tested with chi square statistics and McNemar's test.

Results

Cross-sectional data showed a 17% decline in active commuting; a decrease from 49% in 2002 to 41% in 2007. On the other hand, active commuting among the 733 children increased as they entered adolescence 5 years later, rising from 40% to 49%.

Conclusion

Active commuting to school decreased in Brazilian children aged 7-10 years over a five year period; whereas, it increased among children entering adolescence. Policies should focus on safety and environmental determinants to increase active commuting.     

Children’s preferences for TV show hosts: an international perspective on learning from television

The human hosts of knowledge-focused TV programs for children play a significant role in young people’s discoveries about themselves and the world. The fact that the majority of these personalities are slim, young, and White men, and the unquestioned truism among TV producers that children prefer such hosts, led an international research team to ask 3399 youth ages 7–10 from 27 countries to describe their ideal host, as well as themselves, through linguistically sensitive and age-appropriate surveys. Key findings include that the same percentage of boys and girls (84%) prefer hosts of the same gender, and that children self-identifying as having non-“light” skin tones are far less likely than those with a “light” skin tone to prefer hosts of the same skin color. These results suggest that marginalized children worldwide struggle to see themselves represented through respected TV figures, which has broader implications for their identity development and socialization.     

Perceptions of environmental opportunities for physical activity in the European Union

Summary Objectives:This article is the last in a series of four that present data about physical activity in 15 members states of the European Union collected by the Eurobarometer 58.2. The focus of this article is on the perception of environmental opportunities for physical activity across the European Union. Methods:Data were collected in 2002 as part of the Eurobarometer by face-to-face interviews. A total of 16230 respondents age 15 years and older were interviewed. Sample sizes ranged about 1000 respondents in most nations. Physical activity was assessed with the last 7-days short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Results:Results indicate relationships between the perceptions of environmental opportunities; gross household income and physical activity level (in MET-hours/per week) of respondents. Respondents who reported lower income and less physical activity had also more negative perceptions of environmental opportunities. Across nations, respondents in Denmark, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Western Germany had the highest satisfaction with environmental opportunities for physical activity. In some nations, positive correlations between the perception of environmental opportunities and physical activity levels could be observed. Conclusions:Results show variations in the perception of environmental opportunities across the EU. Overall, the majority of respondents rated their environmental opportunities for physical activity favourable.     

Physical activity levels in children with sensory problems: Cross-sectional analyses from the Millennium Cohort Study

Background

Hearing and vision impairments/problems are associated with increased risk of premature mortality in adulthood. One potential pathway explaining this association is reduced levels of physical activity. Reductions in activity levels due to sensory impairments may commence earlier in life; however, associations between sensory impairments/problems and activity levels in childhood are not well understood.

Park-based afterschool program to improve cardiovascular health and physical fitness in children with disabilities

BackgroundChildren with disabilities are more likely to be overweight or obese and less likely to engage in physical activities versus their peers without disabilities.ObjectiveThe effect of a structured afterschool program housed in a large county parks system on several obesity-related health outcomes among children with disabilities was examined.MethodsChildren/adolescents with a developmental and/or intellectual disability ages 6–22 (N = 52, mean age 13.7 years) who participated in an afterschool (either 2010–2011 or 2011–2012 school year) health and wellness program called Fit-2-Play™ were assessed. Pre-post comparison of outcome variables (mean height, weight, waist/hip/midarm circumference, fitness tests, and a 9-item health and wellness knowledge assessment) via general linear mixed models analysis was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the program for normal and overweight/obese participants.ResultsNormal weight participants significantly improved pre-post mean number of push-ups (9.69–14.23, p = 0.01) and laps on the PACER test (8.54–11.38, p < 0.01) and the overweight/obese group significantly improved the number of sit ups (7.51–9.84, p < 0.01) and push ups (4.77–9.89, p < 0.001). Pre-post mean health and wellness knowledge composite scores significantly improved for all participants (p < 0.01).ConclusionsParks-based afterschool programs can be effective community resources for instilling physical health in both normal weight and overweight/obese children with disabilities. More studies are needed to ascertain whether community-based afterschool health and wellness programs can be implemented and sustained across this population.     

北京市小学生身体活动与家庭经济地位的关系

目的 分析在校小学生身体活动模式,以及社会经济地位(SES)与身体活动的关系.方法 选择北京市海淀区8所小学2～5年级学生共1502人,使用"7天回顾性身体活动问卷",了解儿童日常身体活动状况.结果 广播体操/伸展运动、跑步、游戏、走队列等活动是小学生常见的校内活动,比例分别为94.13%、85.55%、77.26%、71.32%;劳动、游戏、跑步、散步等活动是常见的校外活动,比例分别为72.14%、69.70%、65.05%、64.64%;而小学生中参加球类运动的较少.与SES低的学生相比,SES高的学生在校内参加舞蹈、上下楼梯的比例较高,踢毽子、跳绳的比例较低,而在校外参加滑雪/滑冰/轮滑、上下楼梯、游泳的比例较高,散步、跳绳、踢毽子、跳皮筋的比例较低(P＜0.05).结论 中国小学生身体活动既存在数量性不足,也存在结构性不足(即趣味性强的运动普及程度低).除年龄、性别外,家庭SES也是影响小学生参加身体活动的重要因素.     

Recommendations for the promotion of physical activity in children

Background Despite some methodological difficulties, different studies support the assumption that the physical performance of children has decreased in the last two decades. On the other hand, physical activity should be a normal part of growing up. Furthermore, a physically active lifestyle has direct and indirect health benefits for young people, for instance, by preventing overweight and obesity and establishing healthy lifestyles that may be continued into adulthood.Aim This article presents the current state of existing recommendations for the promotion of physical activity in children.Results The presented recommendations are grouped around the hierarchy of influences on a young person’s life: from home and family; through school, community and the environment; to national and European Union (EU) policies.Conclusion Physical activity is clearly important to health, and national surveillance of physical activity is an important step to counteract the global inactivity. With the recommendations, we have given an overview about the necessary ways and measures to promote the physical activity for children and their close relatives.     

Preparing Child Care Health Consultants to Address Childhood Overweight: A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Web to In-Person Training

Objectives Child care centers have recently become targets for overweight prevention efforts directed at young children. Child Care Health Consultants (CCHCs), who provide consultation to these centers, receive little training on the basic nutrition and physical activity principles important for the promotion of child healthy weight. Traditional approaches, such as in-person training, are limited in their ability to disseminate health information to a geographically diverse population of health professionals. The purpose of this study was to determine if web-based training is as effective as in-person training. Methods A randomized controlled trial was conducted between August 2005 and June 2006 with 50 CCHCs. Web-based and in-person trained CCHCs were compared to each other and to controls. The main outcome of this study was performance on a test of nutrition knowledge related to childhood overweight measured by a 28-item multiple choice test administered pre- and post-training. Results Results from the ANCOVA model suggest that web trained CCHCs performed similarly to in-person trained CCHCs on the knowledge test (P < .0001). Additionally, both training groups improved significantly compared to controls (P < .0001 for each group). Conclusions This study found no significant differences in post-training knowledge between in-person and web trained Child Care Health Consultants. Scores on the post-training knowledge test were within 0.5 points for the in-person and web trained groups. These results demonstrate that web-based instruction is as effective as in-person training on improving basic nutrition and physical activity knowledge for promoting healthy weight in preschool children.     

Action Schools! BC: a school-based physical activity intervention designed to decrease cardiovascular disease risk factors in children

OBJECTIVE: Our primary objective was to determine whether a novel 'active school' model--Action Schools! BC--improved the cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk profile in elementary-school children. Our secondary objective was to determine the percentage of children with elevated CVD risk factors. METHODS: We undertook a cluster-randomized controlled school-based trial with 8 elementary schools across 1 school year, in British Columbia, Canada, beginning in 2003. Boys and girls (n=268, age 9-11 years) were randomly assigned (by school) to usual practice (UP, 2 schools) or intervention (INT, 6 schools) groups. We assessed change between groups in cardiovascular fitness (20-m Shuttle Run), blood pressure (BP), and body mass index (BMI, wt/ht(2)). We evaluated total cholesterol (TC), total:high-density cholesterol (TC:HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein, apolipoprotein B, C-reactive protein and fibrinogen on a subset of volunteers (n=77). RESULTS: INT children had a 20% greater increase in fitness and a 5.7% smaller increase in BP compared with children attending UP schools (P<0.05). Forty five percent of children had at least one elevated risk factor (fitness, BP or BMI) at baseline. There were no significant differences between groups for change in BMI or in any of the blood variables. CONCLUSION: Action Schools! BC was an effective school-based physical activity model for improving the CVD risk profile of elementary-school children. Our multi-component intervention exposed children to fitness enhancing physical activity. It may be important for education stakeholders to adequately resource the delivery of the active school models if cardiovascular health benefits are to be achieved on a population basis.     

江西省市售儿童餐具中24种元素迁移含量调查

目的 了解江西省市售儿童餐具中24种元素迁移含量,为江西省食品安全风险监测工作提供数据支持.方法 从江西省11个地市的各大超市、零售店采集5类共102份儿童餐具,采用电感耦合等离子体质谱法分析测定.结果 102份儿童餐具中100份检出有1种或多种元素迁移,总检出率为98.0％,迁移含量范围为ND～0.493 mg/kg...