The impact of parenthood on Canadians' objectively measured physical activity: an examination of cross-sectional population-based data

The association between the child's age and mothers' physical activity: results from the population-based German National Cohort study

BACKGROUND

Since physical activity is an important determinant of physical and mental health, lower levels of physical activity among mothers reported in previous research are concerning. The aim of this study was to examine whether physical activity levels differ among mothers depending on the age of the youngest child.

METHODS

Cross-sectional data from the German National Cohort study, comprising 3959 mothers aged 22-72 years with offspring aged 0-54 years (grouped into 0-5, 6-11, 12-17, 18-29 and > 30 years) was used. The Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) was used to assess physical activity among mothers in leisure time, transport and (occupational and non-occupational) work settings, quantified as MET-minutes per week. Means (with 95% confidence interval) of mothers' weekly MET-minutes were visualized in graphs, stratified by mothers' and the youngest child's age. Linear regression analyses assessed the association between the child's age and self-reported time and intensity of mothers' physical activity within each activity domain and for the total physical activity.

RESULTS

Adjusted results suggested that the MET-minutes in work settings were lower among mothers with younger children. This association was clearest in mothers whose youngest child was under 12 years old, among whom lower self-reported physical activity at work compared to mothers with children at age 30 and older was found. No association was observed between the age of the youngest child and mothers' MET-minutes in leisure nor in transport settings. The self-reported physical activity of mothers whose youngest child was in the same child age group was found to be lower with increased maternal age. As expected, the work related activity dominated the self-reported physical activity.

CONCLUSIONS

The results show differences in mothers' self-reported physical activity by the age of the youngest child. The strongest difference was related to physical activity in work settings, indicating the need for supportive actions.

Parous women perform less moderate to vigorous physical activity than their nulliparous peers: a population-based study in Denmark

OBJECTIVES

The World Health Organization (WHO) highlights parous women as a key population for monitoring trends of physical activity (PA). We aimed to estimate the proportion of Danish women non-adhering to WHO PA guidelines in parous women compared with nulliparous women and to describe leisure-time PA intensity in each of these groups.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

METHODS

This population-based study builds on a sample of 27,668 women aged 16-40 years from the Danish National Health Survey 2021. These data were linked with childbirth data from the Danish National Birth Registry. The primary outcome was self-reported weekly hours of moderate to vigorous leisure-time PA (MVPA) dichotomized into: (i) adhering to WHO guidelines for MVPA or (ii) not adhering to WHO guidelines for MVPA. Binomial regression analysis was used to calculate prevalence proportions (PP) and prevalence proportion ratios (PPR).

RESULTS

Of the 27,668 women, a total of 20,022 were included; 9338 (46.6%) parous women and 10,684 (53.4%) nulliparous women. The PP of women non-adhering to WHO PA guidelines was 63.8% (95% CI 62.9-64.8) for parous and 51.3% (95% CI 50.4-52.3) for nulliparous women, corresponding to a PPR of 1.24 (95% CI 1.21; 1.27).

CONCLUSIONS

The proportion of parous women who did not adhere to WHO PA guidelines for MVPA was 24% higher than that of nulliparous women. This highlights parous women as a subgroup of the adult population at increased risk of non-adherence to WHO PA guidelines. These findings call for future research to inform new strategies aiming to promote PA in parous women.

Weekday and weekend physical activity patterns and their correlates among young adults

BACKGROUND

Accelerometers enable assessment of within and between day variation in physical activity. The main aim was to examine weekday and weekend physical activity patterns among young adults. Additionally, correlates of the physical activity patterns were examined.

METHODS

Overall 325 adults (mean age 26.0 years, standard deviation 0.03) from the Special Turku Coronary Risk Factor Intervention Project used a wrist-worn ActiGraph accelerometer continuously for 1 week. Physical activity patterns over weekdays and weekends were identified by using the group-based trajectory modeling. Adolescent leisure time physical activity (LTPA) and sociodemographic characteristics (sex, marital and family status, education, work status, occupation, and health consciousness) were examined as possible correlates of physical activity patterns using multinomial regression analysis.

RESULTS

Five patterns were identified: consistently low activity (45%), active on weekday evenings and weekends (32%), consistently moderate activity (11%), active on weekdays (7%), and consistently high activity (5%). Low adolescent LTPA was associated with consistently low activity pattern in young adulthood. Women were more likely than men to belong in the more physically active groups (all other groups except active on weekdays, odds ratios between 2.26 and 6.17). Those in the active on weekdays group had lower education, were more often in the working life and in manual occupations than those in the consistently low activity group.

CONCLUSIONS

Marked heterogeneity in physical activity patterns across the week was observed among young adults. Especially history of physical activity, sex, education, work status, and occupation were associated with different physical activity patterns.

Prevalence and correlates of meeting the Canadian 24-hour movement guidelines among a sample of Canadian parents during the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

Parents' own movement behaviours can influence those of their children, thus contributing to the health and well-being of the whole family. Parents experienced a shift in work and childcare responsibilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. This may have led to a reduction in their healthy movements. This study examined the prevalence and correlates of meeting vs. not meeting the individual and combined recommendations within the Canadian 24-hour movement guidelines for adults among a sample of Canadian parents during the second wave (October 2020) of the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

Parents of children aged 5-17 years (n = 1,477) responded to a cross-sectional survey conducted in October 2020. A total of 21 self-reported correlates, including parental and child demographics, and change in family movement behaviours/characteristics were assessed. Parental movement behaviours were reported and classified as meeting or not meeting each of the guidelines. Associations between correlates and meeting each of the guidelines were examined using multiple logistic regression.

RESULTS

The proportion of parents who met the moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), recreational screen time, sleep duration and combined guidelines were 21.2, 51.0, 66.1, and 9.1%, respectively. Being a parent ≥ 45 years old, having a university education, and higher levels of outdoor play were associated with meeting the combined guidelines. Age, dwelling type, family hobbies, and outdoor play were associated with meeting the MVPA recommendation. Employment status, education level, dog ownership, children's age, family physical activity, and levels of distress were associated with meeting the recreational screen time recommendation. Geographical region, dwelling type, and levels of distress were associated with meeting the sleep duration recommendation.

CONCLUSIONS

Few Canadian parents were meeting the combined 24-hour movement guidelines recommendations for MVPA, recreational screen time, and sleep six months into the COVID-19 pandemic. Several socio-demographic, behavioural, and COVID-19-related factors emerged as significant correlates of meeting vs. not meeting the individual and/or combined recommendations within the guidelines. The findings provide various avenues for which to target future movement behaviour interventions and guideline adoption for parents.

The Association between Adult Sport, Fitness, and Recreational Physical Activity and Number and Age of Children Present in the Household: A Secondary Analysis Using NHANES

Only one in three adults in the United States meets the weekly recommendation for physical activity (PA). The presence of children in the home may restrict adult PA. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between adult moderate and vigorous sport, fitness, and recreational physical activities and the number and age (0-5 and 6-17) of children in their household. Secondary data were drawn from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2007-2016. Adults with complete survey data for self-reported moderate (MPA) and vigorous physical activities (VPA), number of children in the home, and other sociodemographic variables were included. The final sample included 2034 adults from 22-65 years of age. Analyses included ANOVAs and separate multivariable regression analyses to determine if the number of children in the household aged 0-5 and 6-17 were significant predictors of weekly moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) after controlling for covariates. For MPA, no differences were found between adult PA regardless of the number and age of children in the home. For VPA, adults with two or more children aged 0-5 reported 80 fewer minutes of weekly VPA (p < 0.05) compared to those with no children or just one child in this age group after controlling for all covariates. Finally, adults with three or more children in the household aged 6-17 reported fifty fewer minutes of weekly VPA (p < 0.05) compared to those with no children, one, or just two in the household. These findings highlight a need to support the vigorous PA behaviors of this population, as the majority of the family-based PA intervention studies to date have primarily focused on family dyads.

The association between number and ages of children and the physical activity of mothers: Cross-sectional analyses from the Southampton Women's Survey

BACKGROUND

Physical activity (PA) has many health benefits, but motherhood is often associated with reduced PA. Considering that ages and number of children may be associated with maternal PA, and that PA patterns may change as children transition to formal schooling, we aimed to investigate the associations between ages and number of children and device-measured maternal PA.

METHODS

Cross-sectional analyses were conducted using data from 848 mothers from the Southampton Women's Survey at two different timepoints. Two-level random intercept linear models were used to investigate associations between ages (≤4y(ears) ("younger"), school-aged, both age groups) and number (1, 2, ≥3) of children, and their interaction, and accelerometer-assessed minutes of maternal moderate or vigorous PA (log-transformed MVPA) and light, moderate or vigorous PA (LMVPA).

RESULTS

Women with any school-aged children engaged in more MVPA than those with only ≤4y (e.g. % difference in minutes of MVPA [95% confidence interval]: 46.9% [22.0;77.0] for mothers with only school-aged vs only ≤4y). Mothers with multiple children did less MVPA than those with 1 child (e.g. 12.5% [-1.1;24.3] less MVPA for those with 2 children). For mothers with multiple children, those with any school-aged children did less LMVPA than those with only ≤4y (e.g. amongst mothers with 2 children, those with only school-aged children did 34.0 [3.9;64.1] mins/day less LMVPA). For mothers with any ≤4y, those with more children did more LMVPA (e.g. amongst mothers with only ≤4y, those with 2 children did 42.6 [16.4;68.8] mins/day more LMVPA than those with 1 child).

CONCLUSIONS

Mothers with multiple children and only children aged ≤4y did less MVPA. Considering that many of these women also did more LMVPA than mothers with fewer or older children, interventions and policies are needed to increase their opportunities for higher intensity PA to maximise health benefits.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04715945.

Impacts of life-events on sitting, TV viewing and computer use among women from disadvantaged neighbourhoods

BACKGROUND

Little is known about how life events such as changes in parental or employment status influence sedentary behaviour (SB). Women from disadvantaged neighbourhoods are at particular risk of poor health, therefore, in this population group this study aimed to determine between changes in parental and employment status with sitting, television viewing (TV), and computer time.

METHODS

Women (18-45 years) from socioeconomically disadvantaged neighbourhoods self-reported their employment status, number of children, sitting, TV, and computer time [(baseline (n = 4349), three (n = 1912) and 5 years (n = 1560)]. Linear (sitting) and negative binomial (TV and computer time) multilevel models adjusted for confounders were used to estimate the SB association with changes in life events.

RESULTS

Compared to women who never had children during the study period, less sitting and computer time was observed for women when number of children remained unchanged, had their first child or additional child, and fewer children (< 18 years). Less TV was observed for women when number of children remained unchanged. Compared to women who remained employed full-time during the study period, sitting and computer time decreased among women when they decreased or increased their working hours or when remained employed part-time/not working. TV time increased among women when they decreased their working hours.

CONCLUSION

Among women, declines in SB were observed amongst those experiencing life events. Interventions to decrease SB may consider targeting women with no children, and future research should further explore how changes in employment type (e.g., non-manual to manual jobs) impact SB.

Impact of having a child on physical activity in the UK: a scoping review protocol

INTRODUCTION

Throughout the life course, there are major life transitions that are associated with reduced physical activity, which may have further implications for health and well-being. Having a child is one such transition that has been identified as a critical transformative experience and window for intervention. We will conduct a scoping review of available evidence exploring the impact of having a child on physical activity in the UK.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

We will use best-practice methodological frameworks to map key concepts and available evidence, summarise and disseminate findings to stakeholders, and identify knowledge gaps. A three-step search strategy will identify primary research studies, including reviews, from published and grey literature, exploring the impact of having a child on physical activity in the UK, from the preconception period, throughout pregnancy, the postpartum period, and into parenthood. An initial limited search will identify relevant reviews, from which keywords and index terms will be extracted. We will conduct searches of CINAHL, Embase, Medline, PsycINFO and Web of Science to identify relevant articles written in English from inception to February 2022. Two reviewers will independently screen titles and abstracts of identified studies for inclusion and chart data, with a third reviewer resolving any conflicts. Backwards citation tracking will identify any additional studies. We will conduct numerical and thematic analysis to map data in tabular and diagrammatic format and provide a description of findings by theme.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethical approval is not required for this scoping review. We will disseminate findings to stakeholders through publications, conferences, social media platforms and in-person communications. Consultations with key stakeholders, with their unique expertise and perspectives, will provide greater insight. We will establish the main priorities for future research to inform the research questions of subsequent studies.

SCOPING REVIEW REGISTRATION

Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/gtqa4/) DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/GTQA4.

What research evidence exists about physical activity in parents? A systematic scoping review

OBJECTIVES

Despite the known benefits of physical activity (PA) to physical and mental health, many people fail to achieve recommended PA levels. Parents are less active than non-parent contemporaries and constitute a large potential intervention population. However, little is known about the breadth and scope of parental PA research. This scoping review therefore aimed to provide an overview of the current evidence base on parental PA.

METHODS

Four databases (MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO and Scopus) were systematically searched to identify peer-reviewed articles focusing on parental PA from 2005 onwards, including interventional, observational or qualitative study designs. Title and abstract screening was followed by duplicate full-text screening. Data extracted for all articles (100% checked by a second reviewer) included study design, proportion of fathers and ages of children. For interventional/observational studies, PA assessment method and factors examined or targeted based on the socio-ecological model were extracted, and questions addressed in qualitative studies.

RESULTS

Of 14 913 unique records retrieved, 213 articles were included; 27 articles reported on more than one study design; 173 articles reported on quantitative (81 cross-sectional, 26 longitudinal and 76 interventional) and 58 on qualitative data. Most articles originated from North America (62%), and 53% included only mothers, while 2% included only fathers. Articles most frequently represented parents of infants (56% of articles), toddlers (43%), preschoolers (50%) and primary-school aged children (49%). Most quantitative articles only reported self-reported PA (70%). Observational articles focused on individual correlates/determinants (88%). Likewise, most interventions (88% of articles) targeted individual factors. Most qualitative articles explored PA barriers and facilitators (57%).

CONCLUSIONS

A range of quantitative and qualitative research has been conducted on parental PA. This review highlights opportunities for evidence synthesis to inform intervention development (such as barriers and facilitators of parental PA) and identifies gaps in the literature, for example, around paternal PA.

REVIEW REGISTRATION

osf.io/qt9up.

Effect of housework on physical activity during transitions to parenthood

The transition to parenthood is associated with declines in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and increases in light PA (LPA). One potential mechanism for this change in PA that occur at the onset of parenthood is housework. We examined housework load and PA levels of three cohorts of couples across 12 months recruited from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada between January 2007 and December 2011. Participants (N = 314; 102 not expecting a child, 136 expecting first-child, 76 expecting second child) completed baseline demographics and 7-day accelerometry, followed by assessments at 6 and 12 months. Hierarchical linear regression assessed the association between PA, housework, and perceptions of partner's workload. New fathers' but not new mothers' housework was positively related to their LPA at 12 months. Perceptions of partners' workload were positively related to new mothers LPA, and negatively related to new fathers MVPA at 12 months. Mediation analysis determined if perceived behavioral control accounts for the relationship between the discrepancy in housework between partners' PA. Results suggest that if a woman perceives their partner to do more housework their own PA increases, whereas for men their PA decreases. These findings highlight the importance of the division of housework on PA for both mothers and fathers.

Examining barriers, physical activity, and weight change among parents and nonparents in a weight loss intervention

INTRODUCTION

Little is known about the influence of children in the home on physical activity and weight among adults in weight loss interventions. This study evaluated the association between number of children in the home, weight loss, and weight regain in a behavioural weight loss intervention, and whether those relationships were mediated in sequence by physical activity barriers and physical activity changes.

METHODS

The sample included 267 participants from a randomized trial who had complete data on study variables. Variables at baseline, 6, and 18 months included physical activity barriers, objectively measured minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and objectively measured weight used to calculate percent weight loss (PWL) from baseline to 6 months and percent weight regained (PWG) from 6 to 18 months.

RESULTS

A greater number of children in the home was associated with less PWL at 6 months. This relationship was mediated by greater baseline physical activity barriers and a smaller increase in MVPA at 6 months. The mediated effect was no longer significant when controlling for changes in dietary intake. There was no relationship between number of children and PWG from 6 to 18 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Parents may need unique intervention supports to overcome barriers to initiation of physical activity to help them reach optimal weight loss.

Physical Activity Coparticipation Among Parent-Young-Child Dyads

PURPOSE

This study examined patterns of physical activity coparticipation among parent-child (2-5 y) dyads.

METHOD

The dyads (N = 47; 51% mother-child) each wore a Bluetooth-enabled accelerometer for 8 days to measure physical activity and physical activity coparticipation. The parents completed demographic and self-reported family physical activity questionnaires.

RESULTS

The parent-child dyads spent 145 (79) minutes per day in-proximity according to the Bluetooth-enabled accelerometers. The majority (90%) of parent-child in-proximity time was spent with the parent and child engaged in some combination of sedentary or light activities. Child light, moderate, and vigorous physical activity was not associated with parent light (P = .12) or moderate to vigorous physical activity (P = .45), but was positively associated with parent-child in-proximity active minutes (light, moderate, and vigorous) (P < .01). Children in the highest tertile of parent-child physical activity coparticipation engaged in more daily moderate to vigorous physical activity compared with children in the lowest tertile (72.7 vs 50.3 min). There was a positive, statistically significant association between self-reported and objective measures of physical activity coparticipation (r = .47, P = .001).

CONCLUSION

Children who engaged in the most physical activity with their parent had the highest moderate to vigorous physical activity. Future studies should continue to provide contextual information about how parents and children spend their time together to improve family-based physical activity interventions.

Diet and physical activity changes among low-income families: perspectives of mothers and their children

Purpose: The current study explored how mothers and their children influence each other's diet and physical activity. Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with women with diabetes and their children (N = 18) from eight low-income families. Results: Two approaches to changes emerged: collaborative and non-collaborative. Families using collaborative approaches believed they could sustain positive changes through accepting family changes, encouragement, abstaining from buying certain foods, modelling and compromise. Within families using non-collaborative approaches, some challenges included using more individualistic approaches and poor communication. Lack of information and resource constraints challenged all families. Conclusion: Interventions should reinforce family collaborative approaches and teach skills for families to work together towards a healthier lifestyle.

Delay in Seeking Care for Pelvic Floor Disorders Among Caregivers

OBJECTIVE

In 2015, 44 million adults were informal, unpaid caregivers to an adult or child. Caregiving (CG) is associated with poor self-care, higher depression rates, and decreased quality of life. Our primary objective was to determine if CG is associated with a delay in seeking care for pelvic floor disorders (PFDs).

METHODS

We performed a cross-sectional survey of new urogynecology patients from September 2015 to January 2016. Subjects completed the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory, Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire, Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-Depression surveys, and a survey of care-seeking practices. Caregiving was defined as considering one's self a primary caregiver and assisting with 2 or more activities and instrumental activities of daily living. Multiple logistic regression identified variables associated with delayed care-seeking for 1 or more year.

RESULTS

Two hundred fifty-six patients completed the survey, 82 caregivers (32%) and 174 noncaregivers (NCGs). Sixty-seven percent of caregivers cared for a child and 33% for an adult. There was no difference between caregivers and NCGs in PFD symptom duration, Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory, or Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System depression scores. Caregiving had higher mean Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire scores (69.6 vs 51.0, P = 0.02). There was no difference in proportion of patients who delayed care for 1 year or more (42% vs 54%, P = 0.08). A higher proportion of caregivers for an adult waited for 1 year or more (75% vs 42% NCG, P = 0.001). On multiple logistic regression, CG for adults only was associated with delaying care for 1 year or more (adjusted odds ratio, 3.73; confidence interval, 1.33-10.44; P = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

One third of patients presenting to a urogynecology practice are caregivers. Caregiving for an adult was associated with a delay in seeking care for PFDs.

Regular exercise improves the well-being of parents of children with cancer

AIM

Parents of children with cancer describe impaired physical and social functioning, sleep disturbance and poor mental health. Exercise-related interventions impact positively on these quality of life domains, but have not been examined in this population. The aim of this longitudinal pilot study was to explore the feasibility of a 12-week pedometer-monitored walking intervention among parents of children with cancer, assessing adherence to a set activity target of 70,000 steps per week, and to explore the benefits of physical activity on mental and physical health.

METHODS

Parents were provided with a pedometer and requested to achieve a daily step count of 10,000 steps per day for 12 weeks. Mood, well-being and psychological distress were examined using validated questionnaires (Profile of Mood States 2nd edition [POMS-2], Distress Thermometer for Parents [DT-P] and Depression Anxiety Stress Scales [DASS-42]) at baseline, midpoint (6 weeks) and endpoint (12 weeks) to identify changes in these domains with increased activity.

RESULTS

Fifteen parents were recruited. The majority increased their counts during the first 4 weeks of the study and maintained this to week 8 (n = 12). Time-dependent improvements were identified in the following psychometric test outcomes at week 12: DT-P score (likelihood ratio test [LRT] P = 0.02), POMS-2 total mood disturbance (LRT P = 0.03), fatigue inertia (LRT P = 0.009), tension anxiety (LRT P = 0.007) and vigour activity (LRT P = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Mental health benefits of a pedometer-based exercise intervention for parents of children with cancer were identified. Such programs should be included in a holistic approach to improve the psychological outcomes of parents whose children are receiving treatment for cancer.

Social correlates of leisure-time sedentary behaviours in Canadian adults

Research on the correlates of sedentary behaviour among adults is needed to design health interventions to modify this behaviour. This study explored the associations of social correlates with leisure-time sedentary behaviour of Canadian adults, and whether these associations differ between different types of sedentary behaviour. A sample of 12,021 Canadian adults was drawn from the 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey, and analyzed using binary logistic regression to model the relationships that marital status, the presence of children in the household, and social support have with overall time spent sitting, using a computer, playing video games, watching television, and reading during leisure time. Covariates included gender, age, education, income, employment status, perceived health, physical activity level, body mass index (BMI), and province or territory of residence. Extensive computer time was primarily negatively related to being in a common law relationship, and primarily positively related to being single/never married. Being single/never married was positively associated with extensive sitting time in men only. Having children under 12 in the household was protective against extensive video game and reading times. Increasing social support was negatively associated with extensive computer time in men and women, while among men increasing social support was positively associated with extensive sitting time. Computer, video game, television, and reading time have unique correlates among Canadian adults. Marital status, the presence of children in the household, and social support should be considered in future analyses of sedentary activities in adults.

Physical activity and sport participation: A systematic review of the impact of fatherhood

Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA), including sport participation, is an important component of a healthy lifestyle. Scholars have devoted considerable attention to understanding the impact of parenthood on MVPA, albeit only for women. As the impact of fatherhood on men's lives is drawing more and more scholarly and societal attention, the aim of the current article is to provide an systematic overview of studies examining the impact of fatherhood on MVPA. A systematic review was conducted in Google Scholar, Web of Science and Web of Knowledge, using (combinations of) the search terms: father(hood), parent(hood), exercise, physical activity, sport and leisure time. This resulted in 54 papers reporting differences in MVPA and/or sport between fathers and childless men or within men that became father, of which 13 were included. Our overview of findings suggested that fathers spent less time on MVPA compared with childless men, but that fathers did not differ from their childless counterparts on the subarea of sport participation. Differences in time spent on MVPA were strongest between childless men and fathers with young children (< 6 yrs). Our systematic review revealed that fathers spent less time on MVPA compared to childless men, especially when they had young children. Interestingly, linkages between parental status and the subarea of sport participation were not found, which suggests that fathers cut back on other areas of MVPA. Given the impact of MVPA on a healthy lifestyle, future research in this field is warranted.

Overcoming barriers to exercise among parents: a social cognitive theory perspective

Parents face numerous barriers to exercise and exhibit high levels of inactivity. Examining theory-based determinants of exercise among parents may inform interventions for this population. The purpose of this study was to test a social-cognitive model of parental exercise participation over a 12-month period. Mothers (n = 226) and fathers (n = 70) of children <16 completed measures of exercise, barriers self-efficacy, perceived barriers, and exercise planning at baseline and 1 year later. Panel analyses were used to test the hypothesized relationships. Barriers self-efficacy was related to exercise directly and indirectly through perceived barriers and prioritization/planning. Prioritization and planning also mediated the relationship between perceived barriers and exercise. These paths remained significant at 12 months. These results suggest efforts to increase exercise in parents should focus on improving confidence to overcome exercise barriers, reducing perceptions of barriers, and helping parents make specific plans for prioritizing and engaging in exercise.

The impact of long-term school-based physical activity interventions on body mass index of primary school children - a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Background

Physical activity (PA) intervention is a commonly recommended strategy to combat childhood obesity. However, its effectiveness has long been controversial. This paper aims to examine the effectiveness of long-term (≥12 months) school-based PA interventions on body mass index (BMI) in primary school children, who are gaining BMI.

Methods

Original papers were retrieved from PubMed, Google Scholar, the Cochrane Library and Web of Science, published between 1990 and 2015. The inclusion criteria were those research studies that were: randomized controlled trials (RCTs), conducted in primary school settings, had valid data on BMI at baseline and at the final follow up (or on BMI changes), and involved PA intervention that lasted for at least 12 months.

Results

Out of 11,158 potentially eligible articles, 18 papers were included in the analysis, involving 22,381 primary school children with intervention durations ranging from 12 to 72 months. Compared to the control groups, the BMI increment was 2.23 kg/m² less in the intervention groups (p < 0.05). The heterogeneity was high across the studies (99.8 %), but declined after sub-group analyses. The intervention type, intervention duration, and weekly PA intervention time were among the factors leading to the heterogeneity.

Conclusion

Long-term school-based interventions containing PA as a core component appear to be effective in achieving healthier BMI. However, the results should be interpreted with caution due to the high heterogeneity among the studies. More high quality school-based RCTs among diverse populations are needed to improve the homogeneity and to yield a more robust conclusion.