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Promotion of Healthy Active Habits in Children, Adolescents and University Students

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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2021) | Viewed by 34053

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Dr. Daniel Camiletti-Moirón

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Guest Editor

1. Department of Physical Education, School of Education Sciences, University of Cadiz, 11519 Cadiz, Spain
2. Biomedical Research and Innovation Institute of Cadiz (INiBICA) Research Unit, Puerta del Mar University Hospital University of Cadiz, 11009 Cadiz, Spain
Interests: physical activity; active transport; physical fitness; healthy patterns; obesity; childhood; adolescence; university students; cardiometabolic risk

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Physical inactivity is deliberated worldwide as the biggest public health problem of the 21st century. Physical activity (PA) is considered critical for the effective prevention of chronic diseases in children, adolescents and young adults. Evidence has associated PA with obesity, cardiorespiratory fitness, bone mass, cardiovascular risk factors, metabolic syndrome and psychological well-being in schoolchildren. Previous research has shown declines in PA levels from childhood to adulthood, which is particularly interesting given that this might imply an increased risk for the development of chronic diseases later in life. Additionally, recent studies have shown that health-related physical fitness is a crucial marker of health in children and adolescents and young adults. Furthermore, body composition at childhood and adolescence seems to be a predictor of health-related parameters later in life. On the other hand, relationships between PA, sedentary behavior, health-related physical fitness and psychological and educational outcomes are scarce in children, adolescents and young adults. In this context, there is a growing interest to demonstrate the relevance of PA and sedentary behavior for health and the necessity to create active societies, environments, strategies, people and educational systems to raise PA levels at different stages of the student age.

Papers on all methods and approaches involving the following topics are welcome for this Special Issue in IJERPH:

Development of active strategies in order to increase PA levels at different stages of the student age.
Identification of psycho-environmental determinants from PA, sedentary behaviors and health-related fitness in childhood, adolescence and University students.
Assessment of PA, sedentary behaviors and health-related fitness on physical, psychological and emotional health indicators at different stages of the student age.
Association between PA and sedentary behaviors with cardiovascular disease risk factors in children, adolescents and young adults.
The role of active strategies and its impact on health in the transition from childhood to adulthood.

Dr. Daniel Camiletti-Moirón
Guest Editor

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Keywords

Physical activity
Active transport
Physical Fitness
Obesity
Childhood
Adolescence
University Students
School environment
Cardiometabolic Risk
Psycho-environmental determinants

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 648 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Reasons for Sports-Based Physical Activity Dropouts in University Students

by Iker Sáez, Josu Solabarrieta and Isabel Rubio

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(11), 5721; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18115721 - 26 May 2021

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 5550

Abstract

Despite extensive evidence reporting the numerous health benefits of physical activity, recent studies show that many people (60%) do not follow the recommendations to meet the accepted minimums of physical activity. Some of the main problems in today’s society are the high dropout rates (35%) and low adherence to the conditions for achieving the physical activity recommendations. The aim of the study is to analyze the reasons for dropout from sports that the participants particularly liked, to design a new scale of reasons as to why they dropped out based on several previously existing scales, and to study the dropout differences based on different variables. The sample consisted of 813 Vizcaya university students (61.6% women and 38.4% men), aged between 18 and 29 (M = 20.5; SD = 1.8). Frequency distributions, univariate descriptive analyses, and bivariate statistical analyses, such as t-test, analysis of variance, and correlations, were analyzed. The construct validity of the dropout reasons questionnaire was analyzed by combining an Exploratory Factor Analysis (n = 406) and a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (n = 407). The five-factor measurement model was appropriate and allowed to identify the factor rankings and its relation to some key variables. Lack of time (or dedication to other activities unrelated to physical activity) and fatigue seem to be the main factors for dropping out. The life changes produced at the time of entry and during university life seem to guide students to value other activities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promotion of Healthy Active Habits in Children, Adolescents and University Students)

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11 pages, 336 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Prospective Associations of Physical Activity and Health-Related Physical Fitness in Adolescents with Down Syndrome: The UP&DOWN Longitudinal Study

by Borja Suarez-Villadat, Ariel Villagra, Oscar L. Veiga, Veronica Cabanas-Sanchez, Rocio Izquierdo-Gomez and on behalf of the UP&DOWN Study Group

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(11), 5521; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18115521 - 21 May 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3000

Abstract

(1) Background: Numerous studies have focused on examining the association between PA levels and health-related physical fitness components in children or adolescents without disabilities. However, research on the association between PA and health-related physical fitness in adolescents with DS (Down syndrome) is limited, and most of the previous studies have been developed with a cross-sectional perspective. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess the prospective association of accelerometer-based PA at baseline with health-related physical fitness at a 2-year follow-up in a relatively large sample of adolescents with DS from the UP&DOWN study. (2) Methods: A total of 92 adolescents with DS (58 males) between 11 and 20 years old with full data were eligible from an initial sample of 110 participants. Fitness was assessed by the ALPHA health-related fitness test battery for youth, and physical activity was assessed by Actigraph accelerometers. (3) Results: The high tertile of total PA was related to decreased motor (Beta [95% CI] = −1.46 [−2.88; −0.05]) and cardiorespiratory fitness (Beta [95% CI] = −2.22 [−4.42; 0.02]) in adolescents with DS. (4) Conclusions: In adolescents with DS, (i) PA level was not prospectively associated with muscular fitness and (ii) high levels of total PA at the baseline were inversely associated with motor and cardiorespiratory fitness at the 2-year follow-up. For comparative purposes, these relationships were also examined in a subsample of adolescents without DS. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promotion of Healthy Active Habits in Children, Adolescents and University Students)

13 pages, 1468 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of a Single Nutritional Intervention Previous to a Critical Period of Fat Gain in University Students with Overweight and Obesity: A Randomized Controlled Trial

by Sam Hernández-Jaña, Tamara Huber-Pérez, Ximena Palma-Leal, Paola Guerrero-Ibacache, Valentina Campos-Nuñez, Juan Pablo Zavala-Crichton, Carlos Jorquera-Aguilera, Kabir P. Sadarangani, Fernando Rodríguez-Rodríguez and Carlos Cristi-Montero

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(14), 5149; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17145149 - 16 Jul 2020

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3398

Abstract

Background: the present study aimed to investigate the effects of a single nutritional preventive session previous to a critical period linked to fat gain in university students with overweightness and obesity, emulating a nutritional session of a public health system. Methods: In this single-blind randomized controlled trial, 23 students met all the criteria to be included (20.91 ± 2.52-year-old; 52.2% women) who were divided into two groups: intervention group (IG) and control group (CG). Fat mass (FM) by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), physical activity by accelerometry, feeding evaluation through three questionnaires, and a set of healthy lifestyle recommendations were evaluated before and after the national holidays (NH). Results: Our findings showed that FM increased significantly in the CG, but not in the IG (CG = 428.1 g; IG = 321.9 g; Δ = 106.2 g; p = 0.654 [95% CI = −379.57, 591.92]). However, no differences were found during the NH between them (Hedges’ g effect size = 0.19; p = 0.654). In addition, no statistical differences were observed between groups in feeding evaluations, the set of recommendations performed, and physical activity. Conclusion: a single preventive session before a critical period, using a similar counselling approach as used in the public health system, might not be enough to promote changes in eating and physical activity patterns and preventing fat gain in overweight/obese university students. Long-term interventions are a must. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promotion of Healthy Active Habits in Children, Adolescents and University Students)

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13 pages, 389 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Communication as a Strategy to Promote Sports and Health Activities Designed for Adolescents

by Antonio Fernández-Martínez, Raquel Pérez-Ordás, Román Nuviala, Mónica Aznar, Ana María Porcel-Gálvez and Alberto Nuviala

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(13), 4861; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17134861 - 6 Jul 2020

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3093

Abstract

Physical activity reduces the risk of developing noncommunicable diseases and improves quality of life, providing health benefits for present and future generations. This is especially relevant for adolescents. Educational institutions are promoters of healthy habits through the organisation of different activities such as extracurricular sports programmes. These activities increase the rates of sports practice among adolescents. The literature shows that the perceived quality of sports and health services is an antecedent of users’ behavioural intentions. The aim of this paper is to find out whether communication from educational/sports organisations influences adolescents’ intentions to continue engaging in physical activity. A total of 1080 students participated, with a mean age of 13.76 ± 1.39 years, 34.1% of whom were girls. Tests were conducted to verify the validity and reliability of the model that relates communication with value, satisfaction, and future intentions. Tests were conducted to verify the validity (average variance extracted was between 0.754 and 0.583) and reliability (composite reliability was between 0.925 and 0.813) of the model that relates communication with value, satisfaction, and future intentions. Confirmatory analyses and factor invariance tests were performed. The results revealed that communication is an antecedent of value, satisfaction, and future intentions. In conclusion, communication is a good strategy to consolidate sporting habits in both male and female adolescents. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promotion of Healthy Active Habits in Children, Adolescents and University Students)

15 pages, 960 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Physical Fitness and Self-Rated Health in Children and Adolescents: Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Study

by Carmen Padilla-Moledo, Jorge DR Fernández-Santos, Rocio Izquierdo-Gómez, Irene Esteban-Cornejo, Paula Rio-Cozar, Ana Carbonell-Baeza and Jose Castro-Piñero

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(7), 2413; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17072413 - 2 Apr 2020

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 3983

Abstract

Self-rated health (SRH) is an independent determinant for all-cause mortality. We aimed to examine the independent and combined associations of components of physical fitness with SRH at baseline (cross-sectional) and two years later (longitudinal) in children and adolescents. Spanish youth (N = 1378) aged 8 to 17.9 years participated at baseline. The dropout rate at 2-year follow-up was 19.5% (n = 270). Participants were categorized as either children (8 to 11.9 years age) or adolescents (12 to 17.9 years age). The ALPHA health- related fitness test battery for youth was used to assess physical fitness, and SRH was measured by a single-item question. Cumulative link, ANOVA and ANCOVA models were fitted to analyze the data. Cardiorespiratory fitness, relative upper body isometric muscular strength, muscular strength score, and global physical fitness were positively associated with SRH in children (OR, 1.048; 95% CI, 1.020–1.076; OR, 18.921; 95% CI, 3.47–104.355; OR, 1.213; 95% CI, 1.117–1.319, and OR, 1.170; 95% CI, 1.081–1.266, respectively; all p < 0.001) and adolescents (OR, 1.057; 95% CI, 1.037–1.076; OR, 5.707; 95% CI, 1.122–29.205; OR, 1.169; 95% CI, 1.070–1.278, and OR, 1.154 95% CI, 1.100–1.210, respectively; all p < 0.001); and motor fitness was positively associated with SRH only in adolescents at baseline (OR, 1.192; 95% CI, 1.066–1.309; p < 0.01). Cardiorespiratory fitness and global physical fitness were positively associated with SRH in children two years later (OR, 1.056; 95% CI, 1.023–1.091; p < 0.001; and OR, 1.082; 95% CI, 1.031–1.136; p < 0.01; respectively). Only cardiorespiratory fitness was independently associated with SRH in children and adolescents at baseline (OR, 1.059; 95% CI, 1.029–1.090; and OR, 1.073; 95% CI, 1.050–1.097, respectively; both p < 0.001) and two years later (OR, 1.075; 95% CI, 1.040–1.112; p < 0.001; and OR, 1.043; 95% CI, 1.014–1.074; p < 0.01, respectively). A high level of cardiorespiratory fitness at baseline or maintaining high levels of cardiorespiratory fitness from the baseline to 2-year follow-up were associated with a higher level of SRH at 2-year follow-up in children (p < 0.01) and adolescents (p < 0.05). These findings emphasize the importance of cardiorespiratory fitness as strong predictor of present and future SRH in youth. Intervention programs to enhance cardiorespiratory fitness level of the youth population are urgently needed for present and future youth’s health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promotion of Healthy Active Habits in Children, Adolescents and University Students)

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13 pages, 515 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Adolescent Body Dissatisfaction in Contrasting Socioeconomic Milieus, Coming from a French and Luxembourgish Context

by Faustine Regnier, Etienne Le Bihan, Christine Tichit and Michèle Baumann

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(1), 61; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17010061 - 20 Dec 2019

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3588

Abstract

Purpose: To analyze the relationships between body mass index (BMI), ideal body, current declared body shape, and gap between ideal and declared body shape, and the associations that these have with social and cultural factors among 329 adolescents (11 to 15 years i.e., at two stages of adolescence, the early and late adolescence), attending an international school in Luxembourg, and 281 from Paris. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using an online questionnaire. Missing data were addressed using the data augmentation method in a Bayesian framework. Results: For both sets, higher the BMI and bigger their current body shape (CBS), the slimmer their ideal body shape, especially for those who perceive a link between body shape and beauty. For girls, slimness is a shared ideal; for boys, older they are, more they want a muscular body shape. Most students want slimmer bodies, but in affluent or intermediate social milieu students in relations to identification to personalities such as celebrities, while students from modest milieus, this is expressed in relation to success in love. In addition, they declared that their “talk diet with friends” were associated with large gap between ideal and declared body shape. Conclusions: A social control norm was revealed involving a displacement of values affecting body weight and health in the late stage of adolescence to early adolescence, especially for boys. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promotion of Healthy Active Habits in Children, Adolescents and University Students)

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Review

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23 pages, 710 KiB

Open AccessReview

Levels of Physical Activity during School Hours in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review

by Alberto Grao-Cruces, María J. Velázquez-Romero and Fernando Rodríguez-Rodríguez

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(13), 4773; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17134773 - 2 Jul 2020

Cited by 44 | Viewed by 5178

Abstract

Background: This systematic review determines the levels of physical activity (PA) during school hours in children and adolescents. Methods: Studies carried out from January 1987 to December 2019 were retrieved from four databases (Web of Science, Pubmed, Scopus and SportDiscus). Results: Twenty-nine studies were included in this systematic review. Most of them used accelerometers and showed that male and female children accumulated a mean of between 14 and 68 min of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) during school hours (3–22% of this daily segment), and male and female adolescents accumulated a mean of between 13 and 28 min of MVPA during this daily segment (3–8% of the school hours). Less than a quarter of children and adolescents reached the recommended 30 min of MVPA during school hours, with notable differences between sexes. Conclusions: These results suggest that the levels of PA during school hours are not enough, and consequently, schools should develop strategies for helping children and adolescents reach the school PA recommendation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promotion of Healthy Active Habits in Children, Adolescents and University Students)

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Other

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11 pages, 362 KiB

Open AccessProtocol

School-Based Interventions for Promoting Physical Activity Using Games and Gamification: A Systematic Review Protocol

by Romina Gisele Saucedo-Araujo, Palma Chillón, Isaac J. Pérez-López and Yaira Barranco-Ruiz

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(14), 5186; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17145186 - 17 Jul 2020

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 5095

Abstract

Games and/or gamification seem to be a promising area for educational and health research. These strategies are being increasingly used for improving health indicators, even in educational settings; however, there is little information about these terms within the school to promote physical activity (PA). Objective: the aim of this study is to describe a systematic review protocol of school-based interventions for promoting PA in pre-schoolers, children, and adolescent students using games and gamification. Methods: This review protocol is registered in International prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO) (CRD42019123521). Scientific databases include PubMed, Web of Science, SportDiscus, Cochrane Library, ERIC, and PsycINFO. A standardized procedure will be executed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses protocol (PRISMA-P) checklist for conducting systematic review protocols and the PICOS (Population, Interventions, Comparators, Outcomes, and Study design) tool to address an appropriate search strategy. Detailed information will be extracted, including a quantitative assessment using effect sizes to compare the interventions and a qualitative assessment using the Evaluation of Public Health Practice Projects (EPHPP) tool. Conclusion: This systematic review protocol contributes to establishing future systematic reviews using games and gamification strategies in school settings in order to examine their effect on PA outcomes among youth. Additionally, an update and clarification on the different terms in the school context have been included. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promotion of Healthy Active Habits in Children, Adolescents and University Students)

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