Digital Commons Network^™

The Process Of Commitment To Exercise Among Stroke Survivors In Canada, Nicole Evans, Denise M. Connelly, Melissa E. Hay

Physical Therapy Publications

The objective of this research was to understand the process of commitment to exercise participation for functional recovery among community-living survivors of stroke following discharge from formal rehabilitation. Participants were recruited from a mid-sized city in south-western Ontario, Canada. Between September 2017 and March 2018, 10 individuals living in the community with the effects of stroke, who continued to engage in regular exercise post-stroke, were recruited for participation. Constructivist grounded theory methodology was employed, utilising in-depth individual interviews and theoretical sampling, whereby data collection and analysis occurred simultaneously. Analysis involved constant comparison between data and codes to reduce knowledge gaps …

Training Pre-Service Early Childhood Educators In Physical Activity (Teach): Protocol For A Quasi-Experimental Study, Patricia Tucker, Brianne A. Bruijns, Kristi B. Adamo, Shauna M. Burke, Valerie Carson, Rachel Heydon, Jennifer D. Irwin, Andrew M. Johnson, Patti Jean Naylor, Brian W. Timmons, Leigh M. Vanderloo

Paediatrics Publications

Background: Early childhood educators (ECEs) influence young children’s early uptake of positive health behaviours in childcare settings and serve as important daytime role models. As such, it is imperative that post-secondary early childhood education programs provide students with the foundational knowledge and professional training required to confidently facilitate quality active play opportunities for young children. The primary objective of the Training pre-service EArly CHildhood educators in physical activity (TEACH) study is to develop and implement an e-Learning course in physical activity and sedentary behaviour to facilitate improvements in: pre-service ECEs’ self-efficacy and knowledge to lead physical activity and outdoor play …

Implementation Adherence And Perspectives Of The Childcare Physical Activity (Play) Policy: A Process Evaluation, Monika Szpunar, Andrew M. Johnson, Molly Driediger, Shauna M. Burke, Jennifer D. Irwin, Jacob Shelley, Brian W. Timmons, Leigh M. Vanderloo, Patricia Tucker

Paediatrics Publications

The Childcare PhysicaL ActivitY (PLAY) policy was an evidence-informed, eight-item institutional-level policy document targeting children’s physical activity, outdoor play, and sedentary time. Nine childcare centers in London, Ontario, participated in this cluster, randomized controlled trial. Early Childhood Educators allocated to the experimental group, from five childcare centers in London, Ontario, implemented the policy for young children (18 months to 4 years) for 8 weeks and documented adherence to each policy item (i.e., dose) in daily logs. Program evaluation surveys (n = 21) and interviews (n = 10) were completed postintervention to assess Early Childhood Educators’ perspectives of feasibility, context, enjoyment, …

Parents’ Attitudes Regarding Their Children’S Play And Sport During Covid-19, Monika B. Szpunar, Leigh M. Vanderloo, Brianne A. Bruijns, Stephanie Truelove, Shauna M. Burke, Jason Gilliland, Jennifer D. Irwin, Patricia Tucker

Geography & Environment Publications

The COVID-19 pandemic and associated public health measures have interrupted the daily routines of parents and children. The purpose of this study was to explore parents’ attitudes regarding their children’s play/sport during COVID-19. A secondary objective was to explore the influence of parent demographics and parent-reported physical activity levels and risk tolerance on these attitudes. Ontario parents of children aged 12 and younger completed an online survey (August—December 2020) that assessed their attitudes (grouped by support, safety and socialization-related attitudes; n = 14 items) regarding their child(ren)’s play/sport, their physical activity levels (n = 2 items), and demographic details …

Physical Activity In High School Classrooms: A Promising Avenue For Future Research, Barbara Fenesi, Jeffrey D. Graham, Madeline Crichton, Michelle Ogrodnik, Jasmyn Skinner

Neuroscience Institute Publications

Adolescence represents a sensitive period whereby lifestyle factors such as physical activity can have profound, long-lasting effects on development and later life habits. However, adolescence constitutes a period of frequent sedentary behaviour. Among children, integrating physical activity into elementary school classrooms has been shown to reduce sedentary behaviour and improve academic achievement and overall physical and mental health. However, this promising area of research has not extended to adolescents and high school classrooms. In this paper, we describe the benefits of conducting research on the impact of physically active high school classrooms, and highlight the challenges and potential misconceptions associated …

Parents’ Report Of Canadian Elementary School Children’S Physical Activity And Screen Time During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study, Emma Ostermeier, Patricia Tucker, Andrew Clark, Jamie A. Seabrook, Jason Gilliland

Paediatrics Publications

COVID-19 public health protocols have altered children’s daily routines, limiting their physical activity opportunities. The purpose of this study was to examine how the COVID-19 pandemic affected children’s (ages 10–12 years) physical activity and screen time, and to explore the impact of gender, socioeconomic status (SES), and public health constraints (i.e., facility use and social interaction) on the changes in children’s health behaviors. Online surveys were disseminated to parents at two time points: before COVID-19 (May 2019 to February 2020) and during COVID-19 (November to December 2020). Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to assess changes in physical activity and screen …

Ontario Adults’ Health Behaviors, Mental Health, And Overall Well-Being During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Katie J. Shillington, Leigh M. Vanderloo, Shauna M. Burke, Victor Ng, Patricia Tucker, Jennifer D. Irwin

Paediatrics Publications

Background: Public health measures such as physical distancing and work-from-home initiatives have been implemented to slow the spread of COVID-19. These measures may also be associated with unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, which could be particularly problematic for those already at highest risk for losing years of healthy life due to chronic disease (i.e., 30–59-year-olds). The purpose of this paper is two-fold: (1) to provide an overview of Ontario adults’ health behaviors (i.e., physical activity, sedentary behaviors, and dietary intake), mental health, and well-being during the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic (April–July 2020); and (2) to explore the difference between …

Measuring Early Childhood Educators’ Physical Activity And Sedentary Behavior–Related Self-Efficacy: A Systematic Review Of Tools, Monika Szpunar, Brianne Bruijns, Patricia Tucker

Paediatrics Publications

Early childhood educators’ (ECEs) self-efficacy is often predictive of their ability and likelihood of promoting healthy activity behaviors in childcare settings. To date, ECEs’ physical activity and sedentary behavior–related self-efficacy has been measured in a variety of ways in childcare-based research, creating difficulty when comparing across studies. To identify the different approaches ECEs’ self-efficacy is assessed, the current study aimed to compare all existing tools that quantitatively measure physical activity and sedentary behavior–related self-efficacy of pre- and in-service ECEs. Seven online databases were searched for original, peer-reviewed, English-written journal articles. Articles were deemed eligible if they employed a tool which …

Impact Of The Childcare Physical Activity (Play) Policy On Young Children’S Physical Activity And Sedentary Time: A Pilot Clustered Randomized Controlled Trial, Monika Szpunar, Molly Driediger, Andrew M. Johnson, Leigh M. Vanderloo, Shauna M. Burke, Jennifer D. Irwin, Jacob Shelley, Brian W. Timmons, Patricia Tucker

Paediatrics Publications

Background: The importance of daily physical activity is crucial for healthy development during the early years. Currently, a formal written physical activity policy is lacking in Canadian childcare centers, but holds promise for offering consistent physical activity opportunities. With eight recom-mendations, the Childcare PLAY policy is an evidence-informed, institutional-level document, target-ing children’s physical activity, outdoor play, and sedentary time. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of the Childcare Physical Activity (PLAY) policy on the physical activity and sedentary time of young children (18 months–4 years) in childcare. Methods: Nine childcare centers in London, Ontario participated in …

Examining Weather-Related Factors On Physical Activity Levels Of Children From Rural Communities, Brenton L.G. Button, Tayyab I. Shah, Andrew F. Clark, Piotr Wilk, Jason A. Gilliland

Paediatrics Publications

Objective: The objective was to examine the influence of weather on moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and light physical activity (LPA) levels of children aged 8–14 years from rural communities, an understudied Canadian population. Methods: Children (n = 90) from four communities in rural Northwestern Ontario participated in this study between September and December 2016. Children’s MVPA and LPA were measured using an Actical accelerometer and demographic data were gathered from surveys of children and their parents. Weather data were collected from the closest weather station. Cross-classified regression models were used to assess the relationship between weather and children’s MVPA and …

Examining Weather-Related Factors On Physical Activity Levels Of Children From Rural Communities, Brenton L.G. Button, Tayyab I. Shah, Andrew F. Clark, Piotr Wilk, Jason A. Gilliland

Paediatrics Publications

Objective: The objective was to examine the influence of weather on moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and light physical activity (LPA) levels of children aged 8–14 years from rural communities, an understudied Canadian population. Methods: Children (n = 90) from four communities in rural Northwestern Ontario participated in this study between September and December 2016. Children’s MVPA and LPA were measured using an Actical accelerometer and demographic data were gathered from surveys of children and their parents. Weather data were collected from the closest weather station. Cross-classified regression models were used to assess the relationship between weather and children’s MVPA and …

Be Healthy In Pregnancy: Exploring Factors That Impact Pregnant Women's Nutrition And Exercise Behaviours, Lindsay N. Grenier, Stephanie A. Atkinson, Michelle F. Mottola, Olive Wahoush, Lehana Thabane, Feng Xie, Jennifer Vickers-Manzin, Caroline Moore

Paediatrics Publications

Excess gestational weight gain is associated with short- and long-term pregnancy complications. Although a healthy diet and physical activity during pregnancy are recommended and shown to reduce the risk of complications and improve outcomes, adherence to these recommendations is low. The aims of this study were to explore women's view of nutrition and physical activity during pregnancy and to describe barriers and facilitators experienced in implementing physical activity and nutrition recommendations. In a substudy of the Be Healthy in Pregnancy randomized trial, 20 semistructured focus groups were conducted with 66 women randomized to the control group when they were between …

Adding Team-Based Financial Incentives To The Carrot Rewards Physical Activity App Increases Daily Step Count On A Population Scale: A 24-Week Matched Case Control Study, Emma Pearson, Harry Prapavessis, Christopher Higgins, Robert Petrella, Lauren White, Marc Mitchell

Paediatrics Publications

Background: Mobile health applications (mHealth apps) targeting physical inactivity have increased in popularity yet are usually limited by low engagement. This study examined the impact of adding team-based incentives (Step Together Challenges, STCs) to an existing mHealth app (Carrot Rewards) that rewarded individual physical activity achievements. Methods: A 24-week quasi-experimental study (retrospective matched pairs design) was conducted in three Canadian provinces (pre-intervention: weeks 1–12; intervention: weeks 13–24). Participants who used Carrot Rewards and STCs (experimental group) were matched with those who used Carrot Rewards only (controls) on age, gender, province and baseline mean daily step count (±500 steps/d). Carrot Rewards …

Measuring Temporal Differences In Rural Canadian Children’S Moderate-To-Vigorous Physical Activity, Brenton L.G. Button, Andrew F. Clark, Gina Martin, Megan Graat, Jason A. Gilliland

Paediatrics Publications

The purpose of this study was to measure the factors that influence children’s moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) during school curriculum time, recess time, and outside school time in a rural area. During the Fall and Winter of 2016, 34 boys and 55 girls aged 8–14 years from rural communities in rural Northwestern Ontario participated in the Spatial Temporal Environment and Activity Monitoring project. The children’s MVPA was measured using an accelerometer, and child-level demographic, behavioral, and environmental data were gathered from surveys, passively logging global positioning units, and municipal datasets. Data on daily temperature and precipitation were gathered from the …

Perspectives And Impact Of A Parent-Child Intervention On Dietary Intake And Physical Activity Behaviours, Parental Motivation, And Parental Body Composition: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Shazya Karmali, Danielle S. Battram, Shauna M. Burke, Anita Cramp, Andrew M. Johnson, Tara Mantler, Don Morrow, Victor Ng, Erin S. Pearson, Robert J. Petrella, Patricia Tucker, Jennifer D. Irwin

Paediatrics Publications

Adults and children in Canada are not meeting physical activity guidelines nor consuming sufficient nutrient-rich foods. High engagement in these unhealthy behaviours can lead to obesity and its associated diseases. Parent-child interventions aimed at obesity prevention/treatment have assisted families with making positive changes to their nutrition and physical activity behaviours. Given that the home environment shapes early health behaviours, it is important to target both parents and children when addressing diet and physical activity. One method that has been shown to improve health outcomes is co-active coaching. The current study explored the impact of a threemonth co-active coaching and/or health …

Infants’ And Toddlers’ Physical Activity And Sedentary Time As Measured By Accelerometry: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis,, Brianne Bruijns, Stephanie Truelove, Andrew M. Johnson, Jason A. Gilliland, Patricia Tucker

Human Environments Analysis Lab (HEAL)

Background: Early experiences in physical activity (PA) are important to shape healthy movement behaviours long-term; as such, it is critical that PA is promoted from infancy, and that detrimental behaviours (e.g., prolonged sedentary time [ST]) are minimized. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine infants’ and toddlers’ movement behaviours across daytime hours.

Methods: Seven online databases were searched for terms related to infants (< 12 months), toddlers (12–35.9 months), PA, ST, and accelerometry. Two independent reviewers examined 4873 articles for peer-reviewed original research, published in English, that assessed infants’ (counts/min) and/or toddlers’ PA or ST (min/day) using accelerometry across daytime hours. Infants’ mean PA level (counts/min) was averaged across studies, and ranges were produced. Estimates of toddlers’ movement behaviours were aggregated meta-analytically to produce average daily rates, and accelerometer placement, cut-point validity, device type, and epoch length were tested as a moderating variables.

Results: Twenty-four studies from 16 countries (published 2011–2019), representing 3699 participants, were included in the systematic review. Five studies reported on infants’ PA, which ranged from 78.2 to 2580.5 cpm. Across 20 …

Exploring Children's Perceptions Of Barriers And Facilitators To Physical Activity In Rural Northwestern Ontario, Canada, Brenton L.G. Button, Suzanne Tillmann, Jason Gilliland

Paediatrics Publications

Introduction: Low levels of physical activity among children are a significant public health concern in several industrialized nations. The current research body has failed to gather adequate information on various geographic regions. Understanding barriers and facilitators in different rural regions is imperative for creating successful physical activity interventions for children in rural areas. The purpose of this study is to explore rural children's perspectives on physical activity and to discuss barriers or facilitators to physical activity participation in rural Northwestern Ontario, Canada. Methods: Children (n=84) in Grades 4-8 (ages 8-14 years) in rural Northwestern Ontario participated in focus groups to …

Exploring The Feasibility And Effectiveness Of A Childcare Physical Activity (Play) Policy: Rationale And Protocol For A Pilot, Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial, Patricia Tucker, Molly Driediger, Leigh M. Vanderloo, Shauna M. Burke, Jennifer D. Irwin, Andrew M. Johnson, Jacob Shelley, Brian W. Timmons

Paediatrics Publications

Background: Young children are prone to low levels of physical activity in childcare. This environment, inclusive of equipment, policies, and staff, has been identified as influencing young children’s activity behaviours. To date, no study has examined the feasibility and effectiveness of such policies in Canadian childcare centres, while the provision of physical activity policies in other countries has shown some promise for improving the activity levels of young children. As such, the primary objective of the Childcare PhysicaL ActivitY (PLAY) Policy study is to examine the feasibility of an evidence-based, stakeholder-informed, written physical activity and sedentary time policy for centre-based …

The Impact Of Shorter, More Frequent Outdoor Play Periods On Preschoolers’ Physical Activity During Childcare: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial, Molly Driediger, Stephanie Truelove, Andrew M. Johnson, Leigh M. Vanderloo, Brian W. Timmons, Shauna M. Burke, Jennifer D. Irwin, Patricia Tucker

Paediatrics Publications

Children’s physical activity levels are higher at the start of outdoor playtime, which suggests that shorter, more frequent play periods might result in greater amounts of daily physical activity. In this extension of the Supporting Physical Activity in the Childcare Environment (SPACE) cluster randomized controlled trial, we explored the impact of four 30-min daily outdoor unstructured play periods on preschoolers’ moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA). Experimental childcare centres (n = 6) implemented four 30-min daily outdoor playtimes for 8 weeks, while control centres (n = 6) maintained their two 60-min outdoor sessions. Actical™ accelerometers were used to measure preschoolers’ physical activity …

Children’S Perspectives On Neighbourhood Barriers And Enablers To Active School Travel: A Participatory Mapping Study, Katherine Wilson, Stephannie Coen, Angela Piaskoski, Jason A. Gilliland

Human Environments Analysis Lab (HEAL)

Children today are spending more sedentary time indoors than time playing and being active outdoors. The daily journey to and from school represents a valuable opportunity for children to be physically active through active school travel. The majority of research on children's active school travel omits children from the research process even though children interpret their environments in fundamentally different ways than adults. Our research uses innovative participatory mapping and qualitative GIS methods to examine how children's perceptions of their environments influence their school journey experiences. Through our thematic analysis of 25 map‐based focus groups, we identified three main themes …

The Implementation And Feasibility Of The Supporting Physical Activity In The Childcare Environment (Space) Intervention: A Process Evaluation, Molly Driediger, Leigh M. Vanderloo, Shauna M. Burke, Jennifer D. Irwin, Anca Gaston, Brian W. Timmons, Andrew M. Johnson, Patricia Tucker

Paediatrics Publications

This study describes the process evaluation of the Supporting Physical Activity in the Childcare Environment (SPACE) intervention, consisting of educator physical activity training, provision of portable play equipment, and a modified outdoor schedule (i.e., 4 × 30-minute periods). Educators (N = 49) from 11 childcare centers in London, Ontario, Canada, delivered the 8-week intervention to 200 preschoolers (Mage = 3.38 years). Workshop attendance was documented while adherence to the outdoor schedule and number and timing of outdoor sessions offered (i.e., dose) were recorded in a daily log. Questionnaire-based program evaluation (n = 41) and in-person group interviews (n = 7) …

Physical Activity And Sedentary Time Among Preschoolers In Centre-Based Childcare: A Systematic Review 11 Medical And Health Sciences 1117 Public Health And Health Services, Kathleen T. O'Brien, Leigh M. Vanderloo, Brianne A. Bruijns, Stephanie Truelove, Patricia Tucker

Paediatrics Publications

Background: Many preschoolers spend a substantial portion of their day enrolled in centre-based childcare; the amounts of physical activity and sedentary time accumulated in this environment are critical to preschoolers' ability to meet movement guidelines. The purpose of this systematic review was to provide a comprehensive overview of the objectively assessed physical activity and sedentary time of preschoolers in centre-based childcare (registration no. CRD42016033502). Methods: Eight online databases were searched using terms related to physical activity, sedentary time, preschoolers and centre-based childcare. Published, peer-reviewed primary studies written in English that objectively assessed (via accelerometry) the physical activity and sedentary time …

Association Between Gestational Weight Gain, Gestational Diabetes Risk, And Obstetric Outcomes: A Randomized Controlled Trial Post Hoc Analysis, David Simmons, Roland Devlieger, Andre Van Assche, Sander Galjaard, Rosa Corcoy, Juan M. Adelantado, Fidelma Dunne, Gernot Desoye, Alexandra Abenhaim, Jehier Afifi, Ruben Alvaro, James Andrews, Anthony Armson, Francois Audibert, Khalid Aziz, Marilyn Ballantyne, Jon Barrett, Marc Beltempo, Anick Berard, Valerie Bertelle, Lucie Blais, Alan Bocking, Jaya Bodani, Jason Burrows, Kimberly Butt, Roderick Canning

Paediatrics Publications

Excess gestational weight gain (GWG) is associated with the development of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Lifestyle trials have not achieved much GWG limitation, and have largely failed to prevent GDM. We compared the effect of substantial GWG limitation on maternal GDM risk. Pregnant women with a body mass index (BMI) ≥29 kg/m2 <20 weeks gestation without GDM (n = 436) were randomized, in a multicenter trial, to usual care (UC), healthy eating (HE), physical activity (PA), or HE and PA lifestyle interventions. GWG over the median was associated with higher homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and insulin secretion (Stumvoll phases 1 and 2), a higher fasting plasma glucose (FPG) at 24–28 weeks (4.66 ± 0.43 vs. 4.61 ± 0.40 mmol/L, p < 0.01), and a higher rate of caesarean section (38% vs. 27% p < 0.05). The GWG over the median at 35–37 weeks was associated with a higher rate of macrosomia (25% vs. 16%, p < 0.05). A post hoc comparison among women from the five sites with a GWG difference >3 kg showed no significance difference in glycaemia or insulin resistance between HE and PA, and UC. We conclude that preventing even substantial increases in GWG after the first trimester has little effect on maternal glycaemia. We recommend randomized controlled trials of effective lifestyle interventions, starting in or …

Promotion Of Physical Activity In Rural, Remote And Northern Settings: A Canadian Call To Action, Candace I. J. Nykiforuk, Kayla Atkey, Sara Brown, Wayne Caldwell, Tracey Galloway, Jason Gilliland, Krystyna Kongats, Jonathan Mcgavock, Kim D. Raine

Human Environments Analysis Lab (HEAL)

Introduction: The lack of policy, practice and research action on physical activity and features of the physical (built and natural) environments in rural, remote and northern settings is a significant threat to population health equity in Canada. This paper presents a synthesis of current evidence on the promotion of physical activity in non-urban settings, outcomes from a national priority-setting meeting, and a preliminary call to action to support the implementation and success of population-level initiatives targeting physical activity in non-urban settings.

Methods: We conducted a “synopses of syntheses” scoping review to explore current evidence on physical activity promotion in rural, …

Self-Reported Physical Activity Among Individuals With Parkinson’S Disease, A. M. Johnson, J. Jimenez-Pardo, M. E. Jenkins, J. D. Holmes, S. M. Burke

Paediatrics Publications

Although physical activity is generally thought to be beneficial for individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD), there is limited information regarding current rates of physical activity within this population. In this study, we measured self-reported physical activity levels of individuals with PD and explored factors that affected physical activity engagement. Sixty-one individuals living with PD completed a modified form of the Physical Activity Scale for Individuals With Physical Disabilities. Reported activity was high and exceeds published guidelines for individuals with limited mobility. Major facilitators of physical activity included (a) positive impact on PD-related symptoms, (b) social motivation, and (c) regularity or …

Impact Of The Supporting Physical Activity In The Childcare Environment (Space) Intervention On Preschoolers' Physical Activity Levels And Sedentary Time: A Single-Blind Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial, Patricia Tucker, Leigh M. Vanderloo, Andrew M. Johnson, Shauna M. Burke, Jennifer D. Irwin, Anca Gaston, Molly Driediger, Brian W. Timmons

Paediatrics Publications

Background: Physical activity levels among preschoolers in childcare are low and sedentary time high. The Supporting Physical Activity in the Childcare Environment (SPACE) intervention had three components: 1. portable play equipment; 2. staff training; and, 3. modified outdoor playtime (i.e., shorter, more frequent periods). This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of the SPACE intervention on preschoolers' physical activity levels and sedentary time during childcare hours (compared to standard care). Methods: Via a single-blind cluster randomized controlled trial, 338 preschoolers (39.86±7.33months; 52% boys) from 22 centre-based childcare facilities (11 experimental, 11 control) were enrolled. Preschoolers wore an Actical™ accelerometer for …

Shortening The Trip To School: Examining How Children’S Active School Travel Is Influenced By Shortcuts In London, Canada, Andrew F. Clark, Emily A. Bent, Jason A. Gilliland

Human Environments Analysis Lab (HEAL)

For children and youth, the journey to and from school represents a significant opportunity to increase daily levels of physical activity by using non-motorized modes of travel, such as walking and biking. Studies of active school travel have demonstrated that the likelihood a child will walk or bike is significantly influenced by the distance they must travel between home and school, which in turn, is influenced by built environment characteristics such as the configuration of the local road network. This study examines how shortcuts can facilitate active school travel by decreasing the distance children must travel to get to and …

The Physical Activity Levels And Sedentary Behaviors Of Latino Children In London (Ontario, Canada), Gillian E. Mandich, Shauna Burke, Anca Gaston, Patricia Tucker

Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Publications

OBJECTIVE: To assess the physical activity and sedentary behaviors of a sample of Latino children in London, Ontario, Canada.

METHODS: Seventy-four Latino children (54.1% male; mean age = 11.4) completed self-report questionnaires related to physical activity and sedentary behaviors. A subset of children (n = 64) wore Actical (Mini Mitter, Respironics) accelerometers for a maximum of four days.

RESULTS: Latino children self-reported moderate levels of physical activity (i.e., mean score of 2.8 on 5-point scale). Accelerometer data revealed that children spent an average of 50.0 min in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA; 59.2 min on weekdays and 50.6 min on weekend …

Weekly Trends In Preschoolers’ Physical Activity And Sedentary Time In Childcare, Leigh M. Vanderloo, Patricia Tucker

Paediatrics Publications

This study sought to examine how the physical activity levels and sedentary time of preschoolers attending center-based childcare varied across the week. Sex differences were also explored. Participants (n = 101) wore Actical™ accelerometers (15 s epoch) for five consecutive days during childcare hours only. A multivariate repeated measures analysis of variance was used to evaluate levels of sedentary, light, and moderate-to-vigorous (MVPA) physical activity across the five weekdays. Total physical activity (TPA) was analyzed separately in a univariate repeated measures ANOVA. Sex was entered as an additional between-subjects factor. Levels of sedentary time, LPA, and TPA across the week …

Active Video Games: The Mediating Effect Of Aerobic Fitness On Body Composition, Ralph Maddison, Cliona N. Mhurchu, Andrew Jull, Harry Prapavessis, Louise S. Foley, Yannan Jiang

Paediatrics Publications

Background: Increased understanding of why and how physical activity impacts on health outcomes is needed to increase the effectiveness of physical activity interventions. A recent randomized controlled trial of an active video game (PlayStation EyeToy™) intervention showed a statistically significant treatment effect on the primary outcome, change from baseline in body mass index (BMI), which favored the intervention group at 24 weeks. In this short paper we evaluate the mediating effects of the secondary outcomes.Objective: To identify mediators of the effect of an active video games intervention on body composition.Methods: Data from a two-arm parallel randomized controlled trial of an …