Understanding physical (in-) activity, overweight, and obesity in childhood: Effects of congruence between physical self-concept and motor competence

Both the physical self-concept and actual motor competence are important for healthy future physical activity levels and consequently decrease overweight and obesity in childhood. However, children scoring high on motor competence do not necessarily report high levels of physical self-concept and vice versa, resulting in respective (in-) accuracy also referred to as (non-) veridicality. This study examines whether children’s accuracy of physical self-concept is a meaningful predictive factor for their future physical activity. Motor competence, physical self-concept and physical activity were assessed in 3rd grade and one year later in 4th grade. Children’s weight status was categorized based on WHO recommendations. Polynomial regression with Response surface analyses were conducted with a quasi-DIF approach examining moderating weight status effects. Analyses revealed that children with higher motor competence levels and higher self-perceptions show greater physical activity. Importantly, children who perceive their motor competence more accurately (compared to less) show more future physical activity. This effect is strong for underweight and overweight/obese children, but weak for normal weight children. This study indicates that an accurate self-perception of motor competence fosters future physical activity beyond single main effects, respectively. Hence, the promotion of actual motor competence should be linked with the respective development of accurate self-knowledge

GKGK, een community based project ter bevordering van gezond gedrag

Type onderzoek: Aan dit pilot dwarsdoorsnede onderzoek deden 462 kinderen uit 5 scholen mee in de leeftijd van 4-7 jaar, waarvan 376 ouders een vragenlijst over leefstijl invulden (L’Hoir et al., 2013). Vier motorische gevalideerde testen zijn afgenomen: 20m sprint, achterwaarts balanceren, hazensprong en zijwaarts heen en weer springen (Bös et al., 2008). Samenvatting uitkomsten: In dit onderzoek heeft 14,0% van de jongens overgewicht (inclusief 2,2% met obesitas) en 20,9% van de meisjes (inclusief 2,6% met obesitas). Meisjes scoorden hoger op achterwaarts balanceren (t = 3.057, df = 448, two-tailed p = .002) en jongens op de hazensprong (t = 2.238, df = 449, twotailed p = .026). Dagelijks buiten spelen (duur en frequentie) en sportlidmaatschap hingen samen met positieve scores op de motorisch fitheidstesten. Er is een significante relatie gevonden tussen lid zijn van een sportvereniging en de samengenomen variabelen sprint en verspringen (t = -2,993, df = 365, two-tailed p = .003). Een relatie tussen lidmaatschap van een sportvereniging en BMI-waarde van het kind is niet gevonden (t = 1.330, df = 366, two-tailed p = .184). Kinderen die meer buitenspelen scoren significant beter op de samengenomen variabelen sprint en verspringen (r = .198, r2 = .039, two-tailed p = .0001) en een lagere BMI-waarde (r = -.135, r2 = .018, twotailed p = .010). Kinderen die veel tijd besteedden aan activiteiten als zwemmen, gym en bewegen op muziek hebben geen lagere BMI-waarde (r = .044, r2 = .0019, two-tailed p = .419) of een betere score op de samengenomen variablen sprint en verspringen (r = .051, r2 = .0026, two-tailed p = .354)

Physical activity, nutrition, screen time and sleep associated with body weight and physical condition in young children

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to explore the possible relationship between (un)healthy behaviour and (over)weight and physical condition in families with young children (4–7 years), in a village (30,000 inhabitants) in the eastern part of the Netherlands, close to Germany. It is one of two pilot studies as a precursor of a cross-border project including six Dutch and six German villages, to counteract physical inactivity and possible future metabolic problems. In total, 459 children of five elementary schools and their parents were included. Parents were requested to fill in a questionnaire on the nutritional, physical, sedentary, and sleeping behaviour of their child. Relevant background characteristics were obtained and lifestyle classifications were made. At school, the children's height and weight (body mass index (BMI)) were measured, as well as their physical condition (two tests) and basic motor abilities (four physical exercise tests). The relationship between the standardized BMI z-scores and physical condition test scores, and nutritional, physical, sedentary and sleeping habits was analysed using independent sample t-test, bivariate correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis. Latent class analysis was used to identify clusters of people based on their nutritional, physical and sleep habits. Of the parents, 376 (82 %) were willing to fill out the questionnaire. High birth weight and a high BMI of the mother and/or father correlated with a higher BMI of the child (ρ = 0.28, p < 0.001; ρ = 0.13, p = 0.016; and ρ = 0.23, p < 0.001, respectively). Daily playing outside, eating small cookies (compared with large cookies) and no sleeping problems (no waking up during the night) were related to low BMI levels (no overweight) [ρ = − 0.14, p = 0.005; ρ = − 0.12, p = .020; t(364) = 1.81, p = 0.072 (trend), respectively]. Daily playing outside (frequency and duration) and being a member of a sports club were related to positive scores on the physical condition tests [ρ = 0.20, p < 0.001; t(365) = − 2.99, p = 0.003, respectively]. High levels of television (TV) watching and general sleeping problems were related to a less optimal physical condition [ρ = − 0.09, p = 0.076 (trend); and ρ = − 0.10, p = 0.059 (trend), respectively]. A latent class analysis revealed three clusters: 46 % of the sample belonged to the ‘healthy group’ concerning nutrition, sedentary lifestyle and TV/personal computer (PC) use; 17 % to the ‘less healthy’ group and 37 % to a group with nutrition and physical activity habits close to the healthy group, but with low conditional probabilities for the sleeping items. Conducting a pilot study before the start of a binational intervention study gives a blueprint for the final questionnaire, and clues for tailored interventions in the schools, as proposed in the approach of ‘Gesunde Kinder in gesunden Kommunen’ (GKGK). The results of a latent class analysis underscore that interventions should exist of a multi-component strategy, focusing on promoting physical activity, healthy nutrition habits and appropriate slee

J. Fluid Mech. (2004)

this paper is to compare these results with experiments in which a dense current evolves on sloping bottom topography. In our experiments, dense fluid is injected for a finite time through a diaphanous membrane about a thin annulus on the surface of a cone. Thus we are able to observe the evolution of the dense fluid, which is dyed, and simultaneously observe the motion of the ambient inferred through the motion of surface tracer