Vorschläge zur Förderung der körperlichen Aktivität von Kindern und Jugendlichen in Deutschland

KidsTUMove-A Holistic Program for Children with Chronic Diseases, Increasing Physical Activity and Mental Health

The prevalence of chronic diseases in children and adolescents has risen alarmingly worldwide. Diseases such as asthma, diabetes, obesity, mental disorders, and congenital heart defects are increasingly affecting the lives of children and pose significant challenges for the healthcare system. Physical activity plays a crucial role in preventing and treating these diseases. Numerous studies have shown that regular exercise improves physical performance, increases well-being, and leads to better health in the long term. Specially tailored sports programs that meet the individual needs and abilities of the children and adolescents affected are particularly important. The KidsTUMove project addresses this by developing tailored exercise programs for children with chronic diseases' specific needs, medical conditions, and physical abilities. Therefore, it closes the gap in care provision and can thus sustainably improve the health prospects of these children and adolescents. KidsTUMove is positioned to make a significant impact on the lives of affected children across Europe. Promotion of such programs should therefore be an integral part of future health strategies.

Relationships between Math Skills, Motor Skills, Physical Activity, and Obesity in Typically Developing Preschool Children

There is evidence of a relationship between motor and cognitive development. The literature has shown that of all the motor skills, fine motor skills are those that contribute most to mathematical performance in preschool children. As this is a sensitive period in the development of motor skills, low levels of physical activity in this period can compromise their development and contribute to weight gain and obesity. The aim of this study was therefore to analyze the relationship between mathematical and motor skills, physical activity levels, and obesity. The sample consisted of 62 preschool children (32 males) with an average age of 4.63 ± 0.81. The Weschler preschool and primary scale of intelligence-revised arithmetic test was used to assess mathematical skills. The tests to assess fine motor skills were the "Adapted Threading Beads Test" and the "Adapted Visuomotor Integration Test". The movement assessment battery for children-2, band 1, "Aiming & Catching", and "Balance" tests were used to assess gross motor skills. Levels of physical activity were assessed using the "Preschool-age physical activity questionnaire" and obesity using the body mass index. The results indicated that only the fine motor skills of visuomotor integration were included in the multiple linear regression model (F < 0.001; r = 0.464; R2 = 0.215; p < 0.001), with the exclusion of gross motor skills, physical activity levels, and obesity levels. Thus, it was concluded that mathematical skills were only directly and significantly influenced by visuomotor integration. However, visuomotor integration was positively and significantly associated with gross motor skills (r = 0.269; p < 0.05) and not with levels of physical activity and obesity. Thus, gross motor skills could contribute to improving visuomotor integration directly and consequently mathematical skills indirectly. The results of this study suggest that the implementation of structured physical activity programs can contribute to mathematical performance.

Effects of Different Types of High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) on Endurance and Strength Parameters in Children and Adolescents

High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) promises high training effects on aerobic fitness in children, adolescents and adults in a relatively short time. It is therefore well-established in professional training settings. HIIT methods could also be suited to Physical Education (P.E.) lessons and contribute to students’ health and fitness. Since HIIT sessions need little time and equipment, they can be efficiently implemented in P.E. However, there are few studies which have examined non-running-based HIIT programs in the school sport setting. We therefore conducted an intervention study including 121 students aged 11−15 attending a secondary school in Baden Württemberg, Germany. The effects of three different forms of HIIT training varying in duration and content (4 × 4 HIIT, 12 × 1 HIIT, CIRCUIT) were analyzed. The training was conducted twice a week over 6 weeks (10−12 sessions). Strength and endurance performances were determined in pre- and posttests prior to and after the intervention. Results verified that all three HIIT programs led to significant improvements in aerobic fitness (p < 0.001; part ŋ2 = 0.549) with no significant interaction between time x group. In contrast to the running-based HIIT sessions, CIRCUIT training also led to significant improvements in all of the measured strength parameters. Retrospectively, students were asked to assess their perception of the training intervention. The HIIT sessions were well-suited to students who considered themselves as “athletic”. Less athletic students found it difficult to reach the necessary intensity levels. The evaluation showed that endurance training conducted in P.E. lessons needs a variety of different contents in order to sufficiently motivate students. Students perceiving themselves as “unathletic” may need additional support to reach the required intensities of HIIT. Circuit training sessions using whole-body drills can be efficiently implemented in the P.E. setting and contribute to students’ health and fitness.

Comparison of self-reported & device-based, measured physical activity among children in Germany

BACKGROUND

As children show a more complex but less structured movement behavior than adults, assessment of their many spontaneous and impulsive movements is a challenge for physical activity (PA) assessment. Since neither questionnaires nor accelerometers enable optimal detection of all facets of PA, a multimodal, combined approach of self-reported and device-based methods is recommended. Based on the number of days on which the participants reached the physical activity (PA) values given in the WHO guideline, this study examines 1) the difference between self-reported and device-based, measured PA and 2) whether PA differences between age and gender groups obtained by two methods are comparable.

METHODS

Participants aged 6-17 years were randomly chosen and data were collected representatively at 167 sample points throughout Germany within the Motorik-Modul Study. PA of n = 2694 participants (52.3% female) was measured using the ActiGraph accelerometer (ACC) and a physical activity questionnaire (PAQ). The sample was divided into three age groups (6-10 yrs. n = 788, 11-13 yrs. n = 823, 14-17 yrs. n = 1083). Numbers of days per week with at least 60 min moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) were analyzed for both methods.

RESULTS

Only every 25th respondent (4%) reaches the WHO standard of 60 min MVPA every day if measured with ACC. Self-reported PA was slightly higher (9%) (meanPAQ = 3.82 days; meanACC = 2.34 days; Fmethod = 915.85; p = <.001; fCohen = .64). The differences between the methods are significantly smaller in younger children than in the older age groups (Fage = 264.2, p < .001; fCohen = .48). The older the subjects are, the lower is the proportion of those who meet the WHO guideline on each day, with girls meeting the guideline less frequently than boys in all age groups.

CONCLUSION

Children and adolescents living in Germany show a very low adherence to the WHO guideline on PA. While younger children are much more active with their free play, especially children over 10 years of age and especially girls should be the target of programs to increase PA.

Impact of self-determination theory in a physiotherapeutic training : A pilot-study on motivation for movement of obese adolescents

Background

This study determined to what extent the underpinning of physiotherapeutic interventions with the evidence-based motivational psychological concept of the self-determination theory (SDT) by Ryan and Deci can increase motivation and enjoyment of movement in obese adolescents.

Methods

In this study 12 obese adolescents aged 14–18 years were offered a targeted group-specific sports program including a home exercise program of 8 weeks. The group leaders were trained in the SDT and supported to integrate motivational aspects. A SDT-based questionnaire by Kohake and Lehnert was used to evaluate motivational interventions.

Results

In total, seven (58%) patients finished the study. In the before-after comparison there were little changes in motivation. Results showed that contrary to expectations the motivation of the obese adolescents to move and to participate in the study was generally high. In the study, more internalized forms of motivation dominated, the highest quality form of motivation.

Conclusion

Digital technologies could be a successful way to further increase motivation and compliance of our target group. This MotiMove study is a basis for future research programs and empower physiotherapists and movement experts to develop and implement training programs for obese adolescents and children.

Supplementary Information

The online version of this article (10.1007/s00508-021-01849-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Measurement of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior by Accelerometry Among a Nationwide Sample from the KiGGS and MoMo Study: Study Protocol

BACKGROUND

Currently, no nationwide objective physical activity data exists for children and adolescents living in Germany. The German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS) and the Motorik-Modul study (MoMo) is a national cohort study that has incorporated accelerometers in its most recent data collection wave (wave 2, since 2014). This wave 2 marks the first nationwide collection of objective data on the physical activity of children and adolescents living in Germany.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this protocol is to describe the methods used in the KiGGS and MoMo study to capture the intensity, frequency, and duration of physical activity with accelerometers.

METHODS

Participants (N=11,003, aged 6 to 31 years) were instructed to wear an ActiGraph GT3X+ or wGT3X-BT accelerometer laterally on the right hip. Accelerometers were worn on consecutive days during waking hours, including at least 4 valid weekdays and 1 weekend day (wear time >8 hours) in the evaluation. A nonwear time protocol was also implemented.

RESULTS

Data collection was completed by October 2017. Data harmonization took place in 2018. The first accelerometer results from this wave were published in 2019, and detailed analyses are ready to be submitted in 2020.

CONCLUSIONS

This study protocol provides an overview of technical details and basic choices when using accelerometers in large-scale epidemiological studies. At the same time, the restrictions imposed by the specified filters and the evaluation routines must be taken into account.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/14370.

Like father, like son. Physical Activity, Dietary Intake, and Media Consumption in Pre-School-Aged Children

An imbalance between energy input and energy needs contributes to the growing incidence of overweight children. Pre-schoolers normally like to move, but even at this young age, they are already affected by a lack of physical activity and a high amount of screen time. Media consumption contributes to unhealthy diets and extends the length of time spent sitting. Longer periods of sitting are, independent of the level of activity, seen as a risk factor for the development of obesity. In the present study, 160 pre-schoolers and their parents (128 mothers, 121 fathers) were examined. The results show deviations from actual recommendations regarding physical activity, time spent sitting, dietary intake, and media consumption. Increased screen time was associated with a higher weight status among pre-school-aged children. To provide a healthy upbringing, prevention and intervention measures should be implemented on a behavioral and relational level.

Freude am Sportunterricht − Welche Rolle spielen sportartspezifische Selbstkonzepte und die wahrgenommene Lehrerfürsorglichkeit von Schülerinnen und Schülern?

Zusammenfassung. Ziel der vorliegenden Studie war es, bei 239 Schülerinnen und Schülern (Mädchen: 45.2%) der 3.–5. Jahrgangsstufe fünf sportartspezifische Selbstkonzepte (Fußball, Basketball, Turnen, Leichtathletik, Schwimmen) faktorenanalytisch zu konzeptualisieren und die Zusammenhänge zwischen der Freude am Sportunterricht, diesen fünf sportartspezifischen Selbstkonzepten und der wahrgenommenen Lehrerfürsorglichkeit zu erfassen. Sowohl exploratorische als auch konfirmatorische Faktorenanalysen zeigten, dass die fünf sportartspezifischen Selbstkonzepte eindeutig voneinander trennbar sind. Die Freude am Sportunterricht korrelierte mit nahezu allen Selbstkonzeptfacetten und der wahrgenommenen Lehrerfürsorglichkeit positiv. Ein mehrebenenanalytisches Regressionsmodell legte nahe, dass sich bei Kontrolle des Geschlechts und Alters die Selbstkonzepte im Fußball und im Schwimmen sowie die wahrgenommene Lehrerfürsorglichkeit positiv auf die Freude am Sportunterricht auswirken. Grundschulkinder berichteten mehr Freude am Sportunterricht als Schülerinnen und Schüler in der Sekundarstufe, die dagegen eine höhere Lehrerfürsorglichkeit wahrnahmen als Grundschulkinder. Jungen berichteten höhere Selbstkonzepte im Fußball und im Basketball als Mädchen, während Mädchen höhere Selbstkonzepte im Turnen artikulierten als Jungen.