A feasibility study of ‘The StepSmart Challenge’ to promote physical activity in adolescents

Funder: Research Trainees Coordinating Centre; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000659Abstract: Background: Inactive lifestyles are becoming the norm and creative approaches to encourage adolescents to be more physically active are needed. Little is known about how gamification techniques can be used in physical activity interventions for young people. Such approaches may stimulate interest and encourage physical activity behaviour. The study investigated the feasibility of implementing and evaluating a physical activity intervention for adolescents which included gamification techniques within schools. We tested recruitment and retention strategies for schools and participants, the use of proposed outcome measures, and explored intervention acceptability. Methods: This school-based feasibility study of a randomised cluster trial recruited adolescents aged 12–14 years (n = 224) from five schools (three intervention; two control) in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The 22-week intervention (The StepSmart Challenge) informed by self-determination theory and incorporating gamification strategies involved a school-based pedometer competition. Outcomes, measured at baseline, and post-intervention (at 22 weeks post-baseline and 52 weeks post-baseline) included daily minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) (measured using ActiGraph accelerometer), mental wellbeing (Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale), social support for physical activity, time preference (for delayed and larger rewards or immediate and smaller rewards), pro-social behaviour (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)) and the influence of social networks. The intervention’s acceptability was explored in focus groups. Results: We invited 14 schools to participate; eight showed interest in participating. We recruited the first five who responded; all five completed the trial. Of the 236 pupils invited, 224 participated (94.9%): 84.8% (190/224) provided valid MVPA (minutes/day) at baseline and 57.2% (123/215) at 52 weeks. All other outcomes were well completed apart from the SDQ (65% at baseline). Qualitative data highlighted that participants and teachers found The StepSmart Challenge to be an acceptable intervention. Conclusions: The level of interest and high recruitment and retention rates provide support for the feasibility of this trial. The intervention, incorporating gamification strategies and the recruitment methods, using parental opt-out procedures, were acceptable to participants and teachers. Teachers also suggested that the implementation of The StepSmart Challenge could be embedded in a lifelong learning approach to health within the school curriculum. As young people’s lives become more intertwined with technology, the use of innovative gamified interventions could be one approach to engage and motivate health behavioural change in this population. Trial registration: NCT02455986 (date of registration: 28 May 2015)

The time is now: Achieving FH paediatric screening across Europe - The Prague Declaration

Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is the most common inherited metabolic disorder characterized by high cholesterol and if left untreated leads to premature cardiovascular disease, such as heart attacks. Treatment that begins early in life, particularly in childhood, is highly efficacious in preventing cardiovascular disease and cost-effective, thus early detection of FH is crucial. However, in Europe, less than 10% of people living with FH are diagnosed and even less receive life-saving treatment. The Prague Declaration is a call to action for national and European Union policymakers and decision-makers and a result of the Czech EU Presidency meeting on FH Paediatric Screening (early detection of inherited high cholesterol) at the Czech Senate in Prague on 6th September 2022. It builds on a considerable body of evidence which was discussed at the Technical Meeting under the auspices of the Slovenian EU Presidency in October 2021. The Prague meeting addressed the outstanding barriers to the systematic implementation of FH paediatric screening across Europe. In this article, we present the key points from the Prague meeting and concrete actions needed to move forward

Probiotic from human breast milk, Lactobacillus fermentum, promotes growth in animal model of chronic malnutrition

International audienceBACKGROUND: Chronic undernutrition leads to growth hormone resistance and poor growth in children, which has been shown to be modulated by microbiota. We studied whether Lactobacillus fermentum CECT5716 (Lf (CECT5716)), isolated from mother's breast milk, could promote juvenile growth through the modulation of lipid absorption in a model of starvation. METHODS: Germ-free (GF) Drosophila melanogaster larvae were inoculated with Lf (CECT5716) in conditions of undernutrition with and without infant formula. The impact of Lf (CECT5716) on larval growth was assessed 7 days after egg laying (AED) by measuring the larval size and on maturation by measuring the emergence of pupae during 21 days AED. For lipid absorption test, Caco2/TC7 intestinal cells were incubated with Lf (CECT5716) and challenged with mixed lipid micelles. RESULTS: The mono-associated larvae with Lf (CECT5716) were significantly longer than GF larvae (3.7 vs 2.5 mm; p \textless 0.0001). The effect was maintained when Lf (CECT5716) was added to the infant formula. The maturation time of larvae was accelerated by Lf (CECT5716) (12 vs 13.2 days; p = 0.01). Lf (CECT5716) did not have significant impact on lipid absorption in Caco2/TC7 cells. CONCLUSIONS: Lf (CECT5716) is a growth-promoting strain upon undernutrition in Drosophila, with a maintained effect when added to an infant formula but without effect on lipid absorption in vitro