116 boys and 112 girls (aged 5-10 years) from 23 schools had their physical activity during recess quantified using a uniaxial accelerometer during three recess breaks on one school day in this UK study published in 2005. On average, children in this study did not achieve 50% of recess time in physical activity. Interventions for increasing the physical activity of children in the playground are warranted.
634 children aged 7-Â11 years participated in this 2001 study from Leeds. The intervention included teacher training, modification of school meals, and the development of school action plans targeting the curriculum, physical education, tuck shops, and playground activities. Main outcome include BMI, diet and physical activity. Vegetable consumption by 24 hour recall was higher in children in the intervention group than the control group. There was no difference in body mass index, other psychological measures, or dieting behaviour between the groups.
In a 2000 study the physical activity levels of 47, 5- to 7-year-old children were assessed before and after a school playground was painted with fluorescent markings. Results suggest that while playground markings had a significant and positive influence on children’s physical activity, factors other than playground markings may also influence children’s physically active play.
23 9-year-old children were observed for 14 weeks in a 1993 study. Classroom behaviour (i.e., task relevant behaviour on standardised seat work immediately before and after playtime) and playground behaviour (i.e., social and non-social exercise and sedentary behaviour) were observed. Time in classroom before playtime was manipulated so that there was a shorter and a longer confinement period. Results indicated that children were less attentive to seat work as a function of time and that longer confinement resulted in more exercise for boys and more social sedentary behaviour for girls. Social behaviour at playtime and post-playtime attention to seat work were significantly related.
133 boys and girls were studied for one year in sixth and seventh grade. Measures of children’s preference for the playground, the duration of their stay outdoors, and behaviors while outdoors were obtained through direct observational methods. Additionally, teachers’ rated children’s level of achievement, physical attractiveness, and facility in games. Results indicated that boys’, compared to girls’, preference to play outdoors existed only in sixth grade.
346 same-sex twin children (mean age 11.2 years) were weighed, measured and reported their liking for milk, water, fruit juice, squash and sugar-sweetened soft drinks. Mothers reported on their child’s drink consumption. Children scoring higher on ‘Desire to Drink’ had higher preferences for sweetened soft drinks, fruit squash and milk than children scoring lower on that scale. ‘Desire to Drink’ was also positively related to more frequent consumption of sugar-sweetened soft drinks and low calorie soft drinks. Find the original manuscript here: http://www.ijbnpa.org/content/5/1/60
Enjoy this BMJ piece on menu calorie labeling in restaurants.
1747 adults answered 2 open-ended questions about cancer and heart disease risk factors. Awareness of lifestyle risk factors was low for both diseases, although higher for heart disease than cancer. Public awareness of the links might help people understand the potential health consequences of their actions and encourage them to make much-needed lifestyle changes.
This study prospectively investigated the association between physical activity and esophageal and gastric carcinoma in a cohort of 487,732 U.S. men and women, followed from 1995/96 to December 31, 2003. Physical activity was associated with reduced risk of esophageal and gastric adenocarcinomas but was unrelated to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Physical activity may play a role in the prevention of upper gastrointestinal tract adenocarcinomas. No association was seen between physical activity and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
Yale researchers discusses the ACS nutrition and physical activity recommendations for cancer survivors. Observational data strongly indicate that obesity, weight gain, and physical inactivity are adverse prognostic factors. Randomized trials of lifestyle interventions in survivors are also very limited at present. The limited available evidence to date suggests that physicians should be familiar with current guidelines and discuss them with their patients as an important strategy to improve long-term survival.