Are Physical Activity and Sedentary Screen Time Levels Associated With Food Consumption in European Adolescents? The HELENA Study

Objective: One of the current main public health problems is the prevalence of obesity in children. Unhealthy lifestyle behaviors such as poor dietary habits, high sedentary screen time (SST), and low levels of physical activity (PA) have a strong tendency to track from childhood into adulthood. The aim of this manuscript is to assess the association between meeting or not meeting the PA and SST recommendations and the consumption of different food groups. Method: Data were obtained from a sample of European adolescents from the multicenter cross-sectional HELENA study. In all, 1448 adolescents from 8 cities were included. PA was objectively measured by accelerometry and dietary intake by 24-hour dietary records. Adolescents were grouped according to PA and SST recommendations. Results: In both sexes, intake of savory snacks was higher in those groups who did not meet any of the recommendations (p < 0.05). For males, those who met both recommendations were more likely to drink/eat milk, yogurt, and water (p < 0.05). Those not meeting recommendations were more likely to drink sugar-sweetened beverages (p < 0.05). For females, those not meeting recommendations were less likely to eat fruits and vegetables and more likely to have a higher intake of fats and oils (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Those adolescents meeting PA and SST recommendations had a higher intake of healthy foods, like fruit and vegetables and dairy products. However, the negative relationship unhealthier food and SST is stronger in males independently of PA. More studies assessing the combined effect of both PA and SST regarding dietary habits in children and adolescents are needed

Variations in accelerometry measured physical activity and sedentary time across Europe – harmonized analyses of 47,497 children and adolescents

Funder: Ministero delle Politiche Agricole Alimentari e Forestali; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100005401Funder: ZonMw; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001826Funder: The Research Council of Norway, Division for Society and Health.Abstract: Background: Levels of physical activity and variation in physical activity and sedentary time by place and person in European children and adolescents are largely unknown. The objective of the study was to assess the variations in objectively measured physical activity and sedentary time in children and adolescents across Europe. Methods: Six databases were systematically searched to identify pan-European and national data sets on physical activity and sedentary time assessed by the same accelerometer in children (2 to 9.9 years) and adolescents (≥10 to 18 years). We harmonized individual-level data by reprocessing hip-worn raw accelerometer data files from 30 different studies conducted between 1997 and 2014, representing 47,497 individuals (2–18 years) from 18 different European countries. Results: Overall, a maximum of 29% (95% CI: 25, 33) of children and 29% (95% CI: 25, 32) of adolescents were categorized as sufficiently physically active. We observed substantial country- and region-specific differences in physical activity and sedentary time, with lower physical activity levels and prevalence estimates in Southern European countries. Boys were more active and less sedentary in all age-categories. The onset of age-related lowering or leveling-off of physical activity and increase in sedentary time seems to become apparent at around 6 to 7 years of age. Conclusions: Two third of European children and adolescents are not sufficiently active. Our findings suggest substantial gender-, country- and region-specific differences in physical activity. These results should encourage policymakers, governments, and local and national stakeholders to take action to facilitate an increase in the physical activity levels of young people across Europe

Physical activity assessment using accelerometry

International audiencePhysical activity is an important determinant of health in children and adults. Assessment of physical activity is therefore an important factor in the promotion of health and in several childhood and adulthood pathological situations. Physical activity can be estimated by various methods: pedometry, heart rate monitoring, questionnaires, the doubly labelled water method, and accelerometry. The choice of the type of device depends on the objectives of the clinician or researcher. Accelerometry currently represents the best objective method for measuring physical activity and is widely used in clinical or epidemiological studies. The purpose of this paper is to help practitioners and researchers to make better decisions when using accelerometry as a device for measuring physical activity measurement in order to obtain the most accurate and comparable information

Evaluation des paramètres nutritionnels en recherche clinique ambulatoire chez l’enfant.

International audienceNutritional status is represented by anthropometric characteristics, dietary intake and physical activity. Assessment of the nutritional status is therefore an important factor in the;health;promotion and in several childhood and adolescent pathological situations.The use of criteria validated and reliable is essential for collecting nutritional data.Several methods are available and the choice depends of the study design, the subjects number or visits and the costof the study.This paper aims to present the main field techniques used in pediatric ambulatory clinical research.These techniques do not interfere with free living conditions and represent a good alternative compared to reference assessment. The technique sare compatible with the quality assurance and ethics inclinical or épidemiological research requirements. All have been validated against their reference method. The choice of the type of technique depends on the objectives of the clinician or researcherLe statut nutritionnel est représenté par les caractéristiques anthropométriques, les apports alimentaires et l’activité physique.La mesure du statut nutritionne lest utile dans de nombreuses situations normales ou pathologiques chez l’enfant et l’adolescent.Quel que soit le type d’étude collectant des données nutritionnelles, l’utilisation de critère d’évaluation fiable et validé est indispensable. Pour chaque critère d’évaluation, plusieurs techniques sont possibles.Le choix de la technique utilisée dépend du schéma de l’étude, du nombre de sujets, du nombre de visites et du coût de l’étude. Notre article présente une synthèse des principales techniques de terrain et pratiques utilisables en recherche clinique ambulatoire chez l’enfant. Ces techniques n’interfèrent pas ou peu aux conditions habituelles de vie de l’enfant,et présentent une bonne alternative par rapport aux techniques de référence. Elles sont toutes compatibles avec les exigences d’assurance qualité et d’éthique en matière de recherche clinique ou épidémiologique,et ont été validées par rapport aux méthodes de références

Normative health-related fitness values for French children: The Diagnoform Programme

The primary objective of this study was to establish sex- and age-specific physical fitness percentiles for French children. The secondary aim was to assess sex, weight status, and age differences for physical fitness levels in French children. A sample of 31 484 children (16 023 boys, 15 461 girls) aged 6-11 years participated in the Diagnoform programme. Cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular endurance, speed, flexibility, and agility were assessed in this national programme. Percentile values were estimated as a function of age stratified by sex using a parametric method providing smooth centile curves and explicit formulae for the centile estimates. Values from the 10th to the 90th percentile are reported. The influence of body weight according to sex on the physical fitness level was also examined using an analysis of covariance adjusted for age. Physical fitness levels were slightly better in boys, except for agility and flexibility, in which girls performed better (Cohen's coefficient, 0.20-0.45; P < .001). All physical fitness tests were significantly associated with age (P < .0001). In general, overweight and obese children had a significantly poorer physical fitness level compared with their normal-weight counterparts (P < .05). No difference was found between thin and normal-weight boys and girls, except for agility (P < .05). Reference values provide normative data for French children, and these data should be useful for identifying special needs for appropriate intervention programmes

Diagnoform, un environnement d'évaluation de la condition physique

Diagnoform is a physical fitness assessment programme that was initiated in 2004 by the Hauts-de-France athletics league. It allows professionals in the field of physical activity, sport and health to measure the great physical qualities of their public, using the least amount of equipment possible, and facilitating the passage of a large number of participants.Diagnoform est un programme d’évaluation de la condition physique fruit d’un travail initié en 2004, via la ligue Hauts-de-France d’athlétisme. Il permet aux professionnels de l'activité physique, du sport et de la santé, de mesurer les grandes qualités physiques de leur public, en utilisant le moins de matériel possible, et en facilitant le passage d’un grand nombre de participants

A feasible and reliable self-administered parental assessment of children’s lifestyle (SAPLACL): an ancillary study based on the VIF program

International audienceObjectives: In children, achieving an acceptable degree of accuracy from dietary or physical activity (PA) assessments remains a challenge. Children tend to overestimate their time spent in daily PA and underestimate their dietary intake of fat and sugar. Because parents play a key role in family lifestyle decisions, including children’s food choices and PA levels, it is important to investigate the responses of parents regarding their children’s lifestyle habits. We aimed to develop a Self-Administered Parental Assessment of Children’s Lifestyle (SAPLACL) questionnaire and test its feasibility and reliability in 191 parents (29 fathers and 162 mothers).Results: For each part of the questionnaire, the rate of missing or improper responses ranged from 0 to 24%. The highest proportion of problems in understanding was reported for the dietary intake dimension, especially for snacking in front of the TV. Some difficulty was also found regarding the question on leisure PA. Test–retest agreement was observed in 54.7–100% of the respondents. Overall, the kappa coefficients were favorable. Thus, the parent self-report questionnaire is a valid and accurate tool for analyzing children’s lifestyle habits in France

Trends in the prevalence of overweight, obesity and underweight in French children, aged 4–12 years, from 2013 to 2017

To assess the prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity in French children from 2013 to 2017. Cross-sectional study performed in fourteen regions of France. Physical measures included weight, height and BMI. Underweight, overweight and obesity were defined according to age- and sex-specific BMI cut-off points from the International Obesity Task Force. France. Children (10 159 boys, 9757 girls) from the voluntary, non-representative Diagnoform programme between 2013 and 2017, at the age of 4-12 years. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was higher in girls compared with boys (P < 0·001). Underweight was also more prevalent in girls (P < 0·05). Although there were no significant changes in the prevalence of obesity in boys or girls from 2013 to 2017, a significant decrease in overweight among boys and girls was found (P < 0·001) during the same time period. In contrast, the prevalence of underweight increased in girls and boys (from 10·0 to 20·0 %, P < 0·0001) between 2013 and 2017. Results of the current study show that the prevalence of obesity was stable, while the prevalence of overweight decreased significantly, despite high in French children. Findings suggest also that thinness is becoming an important phenomenon in children. Developing preventive and nutritional programmes in order to modify the lifestyle might help control underweight and obesity in children

Reliability of health-related physical fitness tests in adolescents: the MOVE Program

International audienceThe aim was to examine the reliability of health‐related physical fitness tests that were used in a French health promotion program ‘Move…A priority for your health’. Participants were 174 French youth (88 children and 86 adolescents) aged 8·2–16·2 years. Aerobic fitness, muscular strength, speed and flexibility were tested using 20‐m shuttle run test, ½ mile run test, basketball throw, standing long jump, shoulder stretch and 20/30/50‐m sprint tests. Reliability was calculated for the basketball throw, standing long jump, shoulder stretch and sprint tests. The tests were performed two times, 1 week apart on the same day of the week. Reliability was examined with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and Bland–Altman analysis. With the exception of the ½ mile run test, which resulted in moderate agreement (0·66), all tests had high reliability. ICCs were 0·97, 0·93, 0·91 and 0·93 for the sprint test, basketball throw, shoulder stretch and the standing long jump, respectively. The differences obtained between the first and the second trial were non‐significant. Results from this study indicate that the BOUGE health‐related physical fitness battery, administrated by physical education teachers, was reliable for measuring health‐related components of fitness in children and adolescents in a school setting

French youth trends in prevalence of overweight, obesity and underweight from 2008 to 2018.

International audienceObjectiveBecause the prevalence overweight and obesity remains high during adolescence in Europe, tracking weight status in children and adolescents is needed. We aimed to estimate French trends in the prevalence of weight status in children and adolescent from 2008 to 2018.ResultsThe prevalence of overweight and obesity were higher in boys (P < 0.0001). Underweight was more prevalent in girls (P < 0.0001). In adolescents aged 16–17 years old, a stabilization was observed for overweight and obesity whereas the prevalence of underweight increased significantly in boys (P < 0.0001). For children and adolescents aged to 10–12 and 13–15 years old, the obesity and overweight decreased significantly while the underweight was increased for both sexes aged 10–12 years (P < 0.0001). Underweight increased in boys aged 13–15 years (P < 0.0001) while that a stagnation was observed in girls. These encouraging results show the permanent need to develop preventive strategies promoting an healthy active living in order to modify the lifestyle for adolescents with underweight, overweight or obesity