Between-school variation in physical activity,aerobic fitness,and organized sports participation: A multi-level analysis

Abstract

A large proportion of a child's day is spent at school interacting with certain physical surroundings, teachers, and school friends. Thus, schools could have a marked impact on establishing physical activity habits. The aim of the present study was to assess between-school variation in physical activity, aerobic fitness, and organized sports participation. Altogether, we tested 1766 nine- and fifteen-year-old children attending 242 school classes at 35 different schools in Denmark in 1997–2003. The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) for objectively assessed physical activity ranged between 0.06 and 0.18 depending on the dimension of physical activity and the time considered (i.e. school time vs. leisure time). For aerobic fitness, an ICC of 0.10 was observed, whereas that for organized sports participation ranged between 0.01 and 0.10 depending on the age group. Studying between-school variation in physical activity provides information about the extent to which children adjust their physical activity habits according to the social and environmental circumstances that they share, and helps to plan future school-based physical activity studies, especially in terms of sample size and power calculation.     

Differences in physical fitness and gross motor coordination in boys aged 6-12 years specializing in one versus sampling more than one sport

The Developmental Model of Sports Participation proposes two pathways towards expertise in sports between 6 and 12 years of age: early specialization and early diversification. This study investigated the effect of sampling various sports and of spending many or few hours in sports on fitness and gross motor coordination. Altogether, 735 boys in three age groups (6-8, 8-10, and 10-12 years) were profiled using a fitness test battery. A computerized physical activity questionnaire was used to obtain data on sports participation. In the eldest group, (M)ANCOVA showed a positive effect of sampling various sports on strength, speed, endurance, and gross motor coordination (P < 0.05). A positive effect of many hours per week spent in sports was apparent in every age group. These data suggest an acute positive effect of many hours in sports and a latent positive effect of early sampling on fitness and gross motor coordination. Multiple comparisons revealed that boys aged 10-12 years, who spent many hours in various sports, performed better on standing broad jump (P < 0.05) and gross motor coordination (P < 0.05) than boys specializing in a single sport. Therefore, our results highlight the importance of spending many hours in sports and sampling various sports in the development of fitness and gross motor coordination.     

Becoming Batman by E. Paul Zehr

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyse the associations between sports participation, levels of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). The study comprised 310 participants (183 girls and 127 boys) aged 11–18 years. Sports participation was assessed by questionnaire and habitual physical activity (PA) was measured objectively with accelerometers. The 20-m shuttle-run test was used to estimate CRF. Logistic regression analyses were carried out with CRF as the outcome. The odds ratio (OR) for being fit was greater for those who comply with 60 min · day^?1 in MVPA (OR = 2.612; 95%confidence interval [CI] = 1.614–4.225) in comparison with those who do not. Participation in competitive sports at club levels increased the chances of being fit (OR = 13.483; 95%CI = 4.560–39.864), independently of MVPA levels. There were positive and significant trends in CRF and objectively measured PA across the levels of engagement in competitive sports (P < 0.05). Concluding, participation in competitive sports at club level is more effective than other organised or non-organised sports to reach healthier levels of CRF and recommend levels of MVPA.     

体育参与对主观幸福感的影响--基于社会学实证研究

主观幸福感一直以来是学术界和社会所关注的热点话题,也是人们生活质量水平的重要体现。研究旨在探析体育参与对主观幸福感的影响关系,以及社会交往、身体健康状况、阶层认同和社会经济地位在其影响关系中的中介效果与调节效果。结果显示:参与体育锻炼的程度越高,获得的主观幸福感越强;社会交往和身体健康状况在参与体育锻炼对主观幸福感的影响关系中起部分中介作用,阶层认同和社会经济地位调节参与体育锻炼对主观幸福感的影响关系。同时,观看体育比赛的程度越高,获得的主观幸福感越强;社会交往和身体健康状况在观看体育比赛对主观幸福感的影响关系中起部分中介作用,阶层认同和社会经济地位调节观看体育比赛对主观幸福感的影响关系。研究揭示了体育参与、社会学因素对主观幸福感的影响,为促进全民健身和增强人们的主观幸福感提供理论支撑。     

浙江发达地区民营企业职工余暇体育活动调查与分析

调查了温州、杭州、宁波、台州4市民营企业部分职工参与余暇体育活动的情况，结果显示：职工余暇体育活动意识不强，条件不成熟，经费、场地、余暇时间都不充足、不配套，职工参加余暇体育活动的动机与一般群众有一定的差距，余暇时间多用在看书报、电视上；职工参加余暇体育活动存在区域特色，主要集中在有影响的竞技体育、民族传统体育、实用性体育及休闲娱乐体育上。     

Factors affecting sports involvement in a school-based youth cohort: Implications for long-term athletic development

ABSTRACT

The aim of the present study was to determine the factors affecting sports involvement in a school-based adolescent population. The cross-sectional cohort study assessed anthropometry, physical capacities and motor competence in 501 boys (aged 10–16 y), from junior (10–12 y) and senior (13–16 y) cohorts. Sports participation data was collected from junior participants. Multivariate analysis of covariance revealed moderate maturity, anthropometry, physical capacity and motor competence differences between sports in the senior cohort (F = 2.616, p < 0.001, η² = .08), but not in the junior cohort. Furthermore, differences in physical fitness were revealed between playing levels (F = 2.616, p < 0.001, η² = .08), with a discriminant analysis correctly classifying 73% of participants using aerobic fitness and vertical jump measures. Representative level participants engaged in more structured training and commenced organised competition at a later age (F = 4.332, p < 0.001, η² = .21). This study’s findings are twofold: 1) physical and motor competence profiles differ more between sports with increasing age, and 2) participants at a higher level of competition report delayed engagement in their main sport. As a result, schools may be the ideal environment in which to provide children and adolescents with the opportunity to sample different sports.     

Effects of Sports Fitness Camp Experience on Locus of Control Orientation in Children,Ages 6 to 14

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine if children, ages 6 to 14, would experience greater internal locus of control as a result of participation in an eight-week sports fitness summer camp program. Locus of control is the belief in one's own capacity to control reinforcements. An internally controlled person perceives himself as being in control of what happens, while an externally controlled individual feels that luck, fate, chance, or powerful forces too complex to understand determine what happens to him. Subjects were 74 boys and 35 girls enrolled in the Emory University Sports Fitness Camp in the summer of 1975. During the first week of the camp, the Children's Nowicki-Strickland Internal-External Control Scale (CNS-IE) and a battery of physical fitness tests were administered to the campers. The procedure was repeated at the conclusion of the eight-week program. Results indicated that there were significant changes from an external to an internal locus of control as well as significant improvement in the six measures of physical fitness. It was concluded that the camp experience was accompanied by a stronger belief, on the part of the children, in their own ability to control what happens     

Television viewing and physical fitness in adults

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which time spent watching television is associated with cardiovascular fitness among 8,885 adults. Potential confounding effects of age, gender, smoking, length of work week, time reported exercising each week, and obesity were also examined. Subjects who watched TV more than 4 hours per day (frequent viewers) were 0.37 times as likely to be physically fit as those who watched TV less than 1 hour per day (infrequent viewers) with age and gender controlled. Similarly, adults who watched TV 3-4 hours per day (moderately frequent viewers) were 0.45 times as likely to be fit as infrequent watchers. Adjustment for potential confounders, particularly measured body fat and reported exercise duration in combination, weakened the TV viewing/fitness relation moderately. Given the findings of this study and the results of previous research, caution should be exercised regarding excessive television viewing.     

武汉市城镇居民体育消费需求现状的调查研究

主要运用问卷调查法、文献资料调研等方法,对武汉市城镇居民的体育消费需求状况进行调查研究.结果显示:武汉多数城镇居民把"健康的身体"作为人生首要追求目标;对体育功能的认识全面而深刻;对体育消费总体上持肯定态度,体育健身消费的价值取向逐渐趋向理性;居民体育消费动机呈现多元化特征;居民体育消费结构以实物型消费为主,观赏型消费次之,参与型消费很少;居民因收入低、缺乏体育消费环境和没有空闲时间等而导致消费水平较低.据此,提出"认清形势、明确任务、宣传引导、优化环境、健全法制"的建议.     

Fitness,physical activity and academic achievement in overweight/obese children

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to examine the associations of fitness and physical activity with academic achievement in children with overweight/obesity. A total of 106 (10.0 ± 1.1y, 61 boys) children participated. The fitness components were assessed by field and laboratory-based tests. Physical activity was measured via accelerometry. The academic achievement was assessed by a standardised test and school-grades. Field-based cardiorespiratory fitness was associated with language skills (ß-standardised- ranging from 0.281 to 0.365, p < 0.01). The field-based muscular strength was associated with grade point average, natural and social sciences, and foreign language (ß = 0.280–0.326, all p ≤ 0.01). Speed-agility was associated with some language-related skills (ß = 0.325–0.393, all p ≤ 0.01). The laboratory-based muscular strength also showed an association with mathematics skills (ß = 0.251–0.306, all p ≤ 0.01). Physical activity did not show significant association with academic achievement (p > 0.01). Overall, the significant associations observed for muscular strength and speed/agility were attenuated and disappeared in many cases after additional adjustments for body mass index and cardiorespiratory fitness, indicating that these associations are inter-dependent. Our study contributes by indicating that other fitness components apart from cardiorespiratory fitness, such as muscular strength and speed-agility, are positively associated with academic achievement. However, these associations appear to be dependent on body mass index and cardiorespiratory fitness.     

Deleterious effects of obesity on physical fitness in pre-pubertal children

The prevalence of obesity in children has increased dramatically during the past decades in Europe and understanding physical fitness and its components in children is critical to design and implement effective interventions. The objective of the present study was to analyse the association between physical fitness (aerobic, speed, agility, power, flexibility and balance) and body mass index (BMI) in pre-pubertal children. A total of 2411 healthy schoolchildren (7–11 years) participated in this study. Anthropometric characteristics and body composition were assessed by skinfold thickness. Physical fitness was measured by nine physical fitness tests: endurance running, 20 m running speed, agility, handgrip strength, standing long jump and squat jump, sit and reach, medicine ball forward throw and static balance. No relevant differences were observed between boys and girls regarding anthropometric characteristics, body composition and physical fitness. However, overweight and obese children showed significantly lower physical fitness levels in endurance running, speed and agility (mean: +18.8, +5.5 and +14.5% of time to complete tasks, respectively), lower limb power normalised to body mass (?23.3%) and balance tests (number of falls: +165.5%) than their normal weight counterparts. On the other hand, obesity did not affect handgrip, throwing and flexibility. In conclusion, increased BMI was associated with lower performance capabilities limiting proper motor skill development, which directly affects the ability of children to take on sports skills. Actions undertaken to promote children's wellness and fitness should be prioritised and introduced early in life with the aim of enhancing physical fitness as well as preventing overweight and obesity.     

不同负荷对高原短跑运动员部分免疫细胞的影响研究

文章对云南省短跑男子运动员10人(国家一级2人,二级8人)进行不同的运动负荷实验后,研究高原短跑运动员在运动训练过程中部分免疫细胞的变化情况及生化机理。结论认为:血常规中的中性粒细胞和淋巴细胞的含量可以反映短跑运动训练负荷强度的大小和训练后的恢复状况,能起到重要的监控作用。     

大学体育武术教学改革的研究

武术是中华民族的瑰宝,在健身防身、修身养性、娱乐观赏等方面有着重要作用。文章运用文献资料法、比较法、逻辑分析法等方法,对目前大学体育武术教学问题进行了分析和研究,总结出大学体育武术教学中存在的问题,提出对大学体育武术教学改革的措施与建议。     

Relationship between weight status and cognition in children: A mediation analysis of physical fitness components

ABSTRACT

Cross-sectional study aimed to analyse differences in cognitive performance across fitness components categories (cardiorespiratory fitness [CRF], speed-agility and muscular fitness [MF]) and weight status in children, and to determine whether physical fitness mediates the association between body mass index (BMI) and cognitive performance. Fitness components and BMI were measured using standard procedures in 630 children aged 5-to-7 years from the provinces of Cuenca and Ciudad Real, Spain. BADyG was used to assess cognitive performance. We used ANCOVA models to test mean differences in cognition scores by BMI and fitness categories. Hayes’s PROCESS macro was used for mediation analyses. Children with normal weight scored better in spatial factor and general intelligence than their overweight/obese peers (p < 0.05), but differences were attenuated when controlling for CRF (p > 0.05). Children with better results in CRF and speed-agility scored better in all cognitive dimensions even after controlling for BMI (p < 0.05). Similarly, children with high MF obtained better scores in verbal factor (p < 0.05). All fitness components acted as mediators of the relationship between BMI and general intelligence (p < 0.05). These findings highlight the crucial role of fitness in minimising the negative effect of excess weight on children’s cognition.

Abbreviations: BMI: Body mass index; CRF: Cardiorespiratory fitness; MF: Muscular fitness; BADyG E1: Battery of general and differential aptitudes; SES: Socioeconomic status; SD: Standard deviation; IE: Indirect effect     

Physical fitness of primary school children in relation to overweight prevalence and physical activity habits

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was carried out to analyse, through a limited number of fitness tests, the main conditioning and coordinative abilities in children aged 8–9 years, and their relationship with gender, anthropometric variables and physical activity habits. The height and weight of 256 boys and 241 girls were measured and information about physical activity habits was collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Physical performance was assessed by means of a few standardised tests: ‘sit & reach’, medicine-ball forward throw, standing long jump, 20 m running speed, and forward roll test. In both boys and girls, body weight and Body Mass Index (BMI) were positively correlated with the medicine-ball throw performances and negatively correlated for the standing long jump and speed tests, while no association was found with tests measuring back flexibility and total body coordination. Daily physical activity and participation in sport were not significantly correlated with body weight and BMI, but were positively associated with children's motor performance. The standardised fitness tests selected in the current study have been found to be suitable to identify fitness levels of primary school children. Thanks to their limited number and ease of measurement, they can be used in any school context to classify children and for monitoring the effects of targeted interventions promoting physical activity.     

Replacement of leisure-time sedentary behavior with various physical activities and the risk of dementia incidence and mortality: A prospective cohort study

BackgroundWhether or not there is targeted pharmacotherapy for dementia, an active and healthy lifestyle that includes physical activity (PA) may be a better option than medication for preventing dementia. We examined the association between leisure-time sedentary behavior (SB) and the risk of dementia incidence and mortality. We further quantified the effect on dementia risk of replacing sedentary time with an equal amount of time spent on different physical activities.MethodsIn the UK Biobank, 484,169 participants (mean age = 56.5 years; 45.2% men) free of dementia were followed from baseline (2006–2010) through July 30, 2021. A standard questionnaire measured individual leisure-time SB (watching TV, computer use, and driving) and PA (walking for pleasure, light and heavy do-it-yourself activity, strenuous sports, and other exercise) frequency and duration in the 4 weeks prior to evaluation. Apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype data were available for a subset of 397,519 (82.1%) individuals. A Cox proportional hazard model and an isotemporal substitution model were used in this study.ResultsDuring a median 12.4 years of follow-up, 6904 all-cause dementia cases and 2115 deaths from dementia were recorded. In comparison to participants with leisure-time SB <5 h/day, the hazard ratio ((HR), 95% confidence interval (95%CI)) of dementia incidence was 1.07 (1.02–1.13) for 5–8 h/day and 1.25 (1.13–1.38) for >8 h/day, and the HR of dementia mortality was 1.35 (1.12–1.61) for >8 h/day. A 1 standard deviation increment of sedentary time (2.33 h/day) was strongly associated with a higher incidence of dementia and mortality (HR = 1.06, 95%CI: 1.03–1.08 and HR = 1.07, 95%CI: 1.03–1.12, respectively). The association between sedentary time and the risk of developing dementia was more profound in subjects <60 years than in those ≥60 years (HR = 1.26, 95%CI: 1.00–1.58 vs. HR = 1.21, 95%CI: 1.08–1.35 in >8 h/day, p for interaction = 0.013). Replacing 30 min/day of leisure sedentary time with an equal time spent in total PA was associated with a 6% decreased risk and 9% decreased mortality from dementia, with exercise (e.g., swimming, cycling, aerobics, bowling) showing the strongest benefit (HR = 0.82, 95%CI: 0.78–0.86 and HR = 0.79, 95%CI: 0.72–0.86). Compared with APOE ε4 noncarriers, APOE ε4 carriers are more likely to see a decrease in Alzheimer's disease incidence and mortality when PA is substituted for SB.ConclusionLeisure-time SB was positively associated with the risk of dementia incidence and mortality. Replacing sedentary time with equal time spent doing PA may be associated with a significant reduction in dementia incidence and mortality risk.     

对广东省农民体育健身工程实施效果的研究——以粤西地区为例

采用问卷调查等方法对广东省粤西地区农民体育健身工程实施现状进行了调查。结果表明：农民对农民体育健身工程了解的比例不足1/4。少部分农民对体育健身工程持不满意态度。少数农民参与体育活动：项目主要有健身走、跑步,羽毛球,篮排足球等：次数主要是每周2次及以上;时间多数在30min以上。本村学校内、自家庭院和村内的公共体育活动场所是其主要的健身场所。农民的体育消费水平虽有提高,但体育消费意识还很低。     

珠江三角洲群众体育社会需求特点的研究

主要采用文献资料研究等方法。通过研究得出以下主要结果珠江三角洲体育的消费比重逐渐上升;人们在消费上主要选择了文化消费和体育消费,闲暇时间中主要强调它的娱乐、享受性;影响干部职工、居民、农民类群体时间分配的主要因子是看电视、文娱时间和工作时间、家务劳动时间。珠江三角洲人们在体育锻炼的项目选择上表现出多样性,体育锻炼地点的广泛性,以及体育锻炼形式的双轨方式;珠江三角洲人们参加体育锻炼的动因主要是爱好与习惯、同伴影响、身体疾病需要锻炼等。     

Movement behaviors and their association with depressive symptoms in Brazilian adolescents: A cross-sectional study

Background:Physical activity,sleep,and sedentary behaviors compose 24-h movement behaviors and have been independently associated with depressive symptoms.However,it is not clear whether it is the movement behavior itself or other contextual factors that are related to depressive symptoms.The objective of the present study was to examine the associations between self-reported and accelerometer-measured movement behaviors and depressive symptoms in adolescents.Methods:Cross-sectional data from 610 adolescents(14-18 years old)were used.Adolescents answered questions from the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale and reported time spent watching videos,playing videogames,using social media,time spent in various physical activities,and daytime sleepiness.Wrist-worn accelerometers were used to measure sleep duration,sleep efficiency,sedentary time,and physical activity.Mixed-effects logistic regressions were used.Results:Almost half of the adolescents(48%)were classified as being at high risk for depression(score≥20).No significant associations were found between depressive symptoms and accelerometer-measured movement behaviors,self-reported non-sport physical activity,watching videos,and playing videogames.However,higher levels of self-reported total physical activity(odd ratio(OR)=0.92,95%confidence interval(95%CI):0.86-0.98)and volume of sports(OR=0.88,95%CI:0.79-0.97),in minutes,were associated with a lower risk of depression,while using social media for either 2.0-3.9 h/day(OR=1.77,95%CI:1.58-2.70)or>3.9 h/day(OR=1.67,95%CI:1.10-2.54),as well as higher levels of daytime sleepiness(OR=1.17,95%CI:1.12-1.22),were associated with a higher risk of depression.Conclusion:What adolescents do when they are active or sedentary may be more important than the time spent in the movement behaviors because it relates to depressive symptoms.Targeting daytime sleepiness,promoting sports,and limiting social media use may benefit adolescents.     

青少年电视体育节目收视行为调查

对青少年电视体育节目收视行为进行调查分析,发现近三成青少年经常收看电视体育节目;青少年电视体育节目的收视行为受性别因素和城乡地域因素影响;青少年的年龄-教育程度因素和日常媒介接触率对其电视体育节目的收视行为无影响.