Influence of parental perception of school safety and gender on children's physical activity in Mexico: A cross sectional study

[Association between level and domains of physical activity in schoolchildren from 9 to 12 years]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the relationship between the level and domains of physical activity in school children from 9 to 12 years of public educational institutions of the Municipality of Los Patios, Cucuta, 2017, based on the information obtained through the questionnaire PAQ-C (Physical Activity Questionnaire for children).

METHODS

Descriptive, transversal and analytical study. With a sample of 777 schoolchildren, a proportional stratified sampling was carried out. Consent and informed consent were signed, then the PAQ-C questionnaire was applied.

RESULTS

50,3% of schoolchildren are girls; 44% present a moderately active level, the free time domain has a greater degree of association with a correlation coefficient of 0,65 and is significant at a level of 0,01, followed by the household domain with a correlation coefficient of 0,617 and the school role 0,502.

CONCLUSIONS

It was determined that the level of physical activity of school children is moderately active and that it decreases with age, we can say that boys are more active than girls, in addition, there is a direct correlation between the domains and the general level of activity physical.

The potential epidemiologic, clinical, and economic impact of requiring schools to offer Physical Education (PE) classes in Mexico City

Background

Many schools have been cutting physical education (PE) classes due to budget constraints, which raises the question of whether policymakers should require schools to offer PE classes. Evidence suggests that PE classes can help address rising physical inactivity and obesity prevalence. However, it would be helpful to determine if requiring PE is cost-effective.

Methods

We developed an agent-based model of youth in Mexico City and the impact of all schools offering PE classes on changes in weight, weight-associated health conditions and the corresponding direct and indirect costs over their lifetime.

Results

If schools offer PE without meeting guidelines and instead followed currently observed class length and time active during class, overweight and obesity prevalence decreased by 1.3% (95% CI: 1.0%-1.6%) and was cost-effective from the third-party payer and societal perspectives ($5,058 per disability-adjusted life year [DALY] averted and $5,786/DALY averted, respectively, assuming PE cost $50.3 million). When all schools offered PE classes meeting international guidelines for PE classes, overweight and obesity prevalence decreased by 3.9% (95% CI: 3.7%-4.3%) in the cohort at the end of five years compared to no PE. Long-term, this averted 3,183 and 1,081 obesity-related health conditions and deaths, respectively and averted ≥$31.5 million in direct medical costs and ≥$39.7 million in societal costs, assuming PE classes cost ≤$50.3 million over the five-year period. PE classes could cost up to $185.5 million and $89.9 million over the course of five years and still remain cost-effective and cost saving respectively, from the societal perspective.

Conclusion

Requiring PE in all schools could be cost-effective when PE class costs, on average, up to $10,340 per school annually. Further, the amount of time students are active during class is a driver of PE classes’ value (e.g., it is cost saving when PE classes meet international guidelines) suggesting the need for specific recommendations.

The neighbourhood social environment correlates with meeting 24-h movement behaviour recommendations in females: a cross-sectional study using the 2019 National Survey of Children's Health

The purpose of this study was to examine the association between the neighbourhood social environment and meeting recommendations for 24-h movement behaviours in youth. Participants were a sample of children and adolescents from the 2019 National Survey of Children's Health (N = 21 259; 48.2% female). Knowing where to go for help (odds ratio (OR) = 2.66, p = 0.006) and a safe school environment (OR = 1.99, p = 0.020) correlated with high probability of meeting 24-h movement behaviour recommendations in females. Novelty: The neighbourhood social environment associates with meeting 24-h movement recommendations in females.

Impact of the Physical Activity on Bullying

Relationship problems among school children can lead to bullying situations. In this regard, it should be noted that, among healthy lifestyle habits, sports practice (non-competitive) promotes responsibility and improves coexistence. The objective of the present study was to analyze the incidence of the frequency of practice of healthy physical activity on the risks of students directly involved in school bullying (harasser and victim) by gender. The participants of the study were 1,248 students of Compulsory Secondary Education with ages between 11 and 18 (M = 14.42, SD = 1.43), being 50.8% males. The results of the study indicated that students who practiced physical activity in the recommended frequency rated as healthy, at least four or more times per week, had higher values in the indicators of aggressiveness than students who practiced with a lower frequency, appreciating a greater relationship between both variables in male rather than in female students. The study will make progress in preventive and intervention programs whose central axis is the promotion of physical activity and healthy sport (non-competitive) among students involved in situations of bullying. Likewise, teacher training in the recognition of bullying is considered a priority, providing them with guidelines for action.

Perceptions of childcare staff for preventing overweight in Mexican preschool children: A SWOT analysis

OBJECTIVE

To identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) perceived by childcare staff for preventing childhood overweight.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Qualitative study using an interpretative phenomenological approach; 18 in-depth, semi-structured interviews and 12 focus groups with 89 key informants working in six Mexican public childcare centers (CCC) were conducted. Through content and SWOT analyses, experts further ranked fifty-nine recurrent perceptions regarding healthy feeding and physical activity (PA), using the Delphi method.

RESULTS

Strengths: Acknowledgement of the CCC's responsibility in fostering healthy feeding, availability of organizational regulations, and access to PA infrastructure/indoor activities. Weaknesses: Disregard of preschool overweight as a health problem, nu- tritional misperceptions, and perceived risk of child injuries while conducting PA. Opportunities: Willingness to reduce children's access to junk foods, and parental active play with children during weekends. Threats: Limited family nutritional education, and restricted parental time/economic constraints/access to safe public spaces for PA.

CONCLUSIONS

The identified SWOT must be considered when developing obesityprevention interventions targeted at CCC.

Physical Activity and Anthropometric Characteristics Among Urban Youth in Mexico: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Obesity is a critical problem among Mexican youth, but few studies have investigated associations among physical activity (PA) modes and anthropometrics in this population. This study examined associations among active commuting to school (ACS), sports or other organized PA, outdoor play, and body mass index (BMI) percentile and waist circumference (WC) among Mexican youth.

METHODS

Parents of school children (N = 1996, ages 6 to 14 years, 53.1% female) in 3 Mexican cities reported PA participation using the (modified) fourth grade School Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey. Trained assessors measured BMI percentile and WC in person.

RESULTS

Parents reported that 52.3% of children engaged in ACS, 57.3% participated in sports or organized PA, and a median of 2 days in the previous week with at least 30 minutes of outdoor play. In complete case analyses (n = 857), ACS was negatively associated with BMI percentile, and outdoor play was negatively associated with WC after adjusting for school, age, sex, and income. In analyses incorporating data from multiple imputation (N = 1996), outdoor play was negatively associated with WC (all Ps < . 05).

CONCLUSIONS

ACS and outdoor play are favorably associated with anthropometrics and may help prevent childhood obesity in Mexico. ACS and outdoor play should be priorities for increasing youth PA in Mexico.