Socioeconomic disparities in physical activity, sedentary behavior and sleep patterns among 6- to 9-year-old children from 24 countries in the WHO European region

Bored, afraid, alone: What can we learn from children with paediatric obesity about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic for future pandemics, care practices and policies?

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to gain insight into the perspectives of children with paediatric obesity themselves, during the pandemic and afterwards, regarding their wellbeing and health, and to solicit their advice on tailoring obesity care to match their daily realities.

DESIGN AND METHODS

We used a 'draw, write and tell' interview technique, conducted walk-alongs, participant observations and a group session with children with paediatric obesity from seldom-heard communities in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Data was analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Children reported that during lockdowns they were confined to the house, causing them to feel bored and alone. This triggered them to fall into previous unhealthy patterns, such as an increase in sitting on the couch or lying in bed, gaming or watching TV, feeling hungry a lot and eating more. Some children experienced major events, such as mourning the death of a loved one or taking care of other family members, and thus felt they had to grow up fast.

CONCLUSION

Our study adds to our understanding of the mechanisms of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic from the perspectives of children with paediatric obesity from seldom-heard communities and emphasizes the importance of considering how the pandemic (and related measures) affected the daily - as well as future - lives of children in vulnerable circumstances.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

The recommendations children gave could be explored as pathways for more child-centred, successful and tailored obesity care practices and policies in order to support their (mental) wellbeing and health.

Patterns and trajectories of inequality in physical activity from childhood to adolescence in Kazakhstan

Objective

Sociodemographic differences in physical activity (PA) levels during the transition from childhood to adolescence, particularly in Central Asian countries, is lacking. In this study, we examine individual, family and environmental sociodemographic variables associated with PA among children and young adolescents in Kazakhstan.

Study design

Secondary data analyses of two nationally representative cross-sectional studies administered by parents of children (aged 7-9 y) and by self-report surveys (adolescents aged, 11-15 y) .

Methods

The 2020 Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI) and 2018 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HSBC) studies were used. Predictors of daily PA by individual (gender, grade, weight status), family (family composition, family employment, family wealth), and environment (school location) factors were analysed through binary logistic regressions after adjusting for screen time.

Results

Among both children and adolescents, males were more physically active than females. Daily PA among children was positively associated with high family employment (OR = 1.23, CI = 1.03-1.48) or living in an urban location (OR = 0.58, CI = 0.49-0.70). Daily PA was associated with low family wealth, two-parent families (OR = 1.25 CI = 1.08-1.44) or living in a rural location (OR = 1.18 CI = 1.04-1.34) among adolescents.

Conclusion

In Kazakhstan, the trajectory of children's and adolescent's PA levels, differed according to individual, family and environmental characteristics , suggesting a need for age-specific, targeted interventions to promote PA, appropriate policies that promote programs in schools, communities, and development of infrastructure for physically active lifestyles.

Socioeconomic disparities in diet and physical activity in children: evidence from well-child visit electronic health records in the Canary Islands, Spain

BACKGROUND

Diet and physical activity (PA) in childhood are heavily influenced by the living environment. While diet quality follows a socioeconomic pattern, limited evidence is available in relation to PA in children. We assessed the effect of socioeconomic status at the individual (SES) and neighbourhood (NSES) levels on diet and PA among children from the general population of the Canary Islands, Spain.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, patients aged 6-14 years from the Canary Health Service in 2018 were included (n=89 953). Diet and PA surveys from the electronic health records of the well-child visit programme were used. A healthy habits (HH) score was defined to assess the level of adherence to the dietary and leisure time PA guidelines. We modelled the association between the HH score, SES and NSES using a stepwise multilevel linear regression analysis, differentiating between specific and general contextual observational effects.

RESULTS

A strong positive association between SES and the HH score was found, as children living in more affluent families were more likely to follow a healthy diet and being physically active. Differences in the HH score between geographical areas were of minor relevance (variance partition coefficient=1.8%) and the general contextual effects were not substantially mediated by NSES (proportional change in variance=3.5%). However, the HH score was significantly lower in children from areas with a higher percentage of annual incomes below the €18 000 threshold.

CONCLUSION

HH followed a socioeconomic gradient at the individual and the neighbourhood level. In the study population, the geographical component of the inequalities found were low.

Family structure and the association with physical activity-Findings from 40 countries participating in the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study

BACKGROUND

The family has been acknowledged as central to developing physical activity (PA) beliefs and behaviours. However, increased diversity in family structures has developed over the last decades. This study examines the association between family structure and PA among adolescents and cross-national variations in the associations.

METHODS

The data are from the 2013/14 Health Behaviours in School-Aged Children study, involving nationally representative samples of 11-, 13- and 15-year-olds (n = 211,798) from 40 countries. Multilevel Poisson regression analysis was used to examine the associations between family structure and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and vigorous physical activity (VPA) by age, gender, socioeconomic status (SES), and geographic region.

RESULTS

Living with one versus two parents was associated with a reduced likelihood of daily 60 min MVPA for boys (IRR = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.92, 0.99) and ≥ 4 times/week VPA (IRR 0.93, 95% CI: 0.91, 0.95). This impact on MVPA differed across individual-level SES (high SES; IRR = 0.92, (p <0.05), low SES; IRR = 1.04, (ns)), and was for VPA only significant for those with siblings (IRR = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.91, 0.96). Cross-country variations in the association between living with one versus two parents were observed, most pronounced for VPA. These differences varied by region, primarily explained by country-level SES differences between regions. The likelihood of daily 60 min MVPA also increased with siblings in the main house (IRR 1.11, 95% CI: 1.07, 1.14), and ≥ 4 times/week VPA decreased with grandparents in the main house (IRR 0.91, 95% CI: 0.89,0.94).

CONCLUSIONS

Family structure correlated with PA, but cross-country differences exist. The findings are relevant for the development of policies and programs to facilitate PA, especially in countries where living with one versus two parents was unfavourable. Additional country-specific research is needed to identify challenges for engaging in PA related to family structure.

Secular trends in the prevalence of meeting 24-hour movement guidelines among U.S. adolescents: evidence from NHANES 2007-2016

Background

The 24-Hour Movement Guidelines (24-HMG) recommend a balanced combination of physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior (SB) and sleep (SLP) for optimal health. However, there is limited understanding of how well U.S. adolescents adhere to these guidelines. This study aims to analyze the prevalence trends of meeting the 24-HMG among a nationally representative sample of U.S. general adolescents.

Methods

The study included 2,273 adolescents (55.3% boys) aged 16-19 who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) from 2007 to 2016. The researchers categorized the adolescents based on whether they met various PA, SB, and SLP recommendations, as well as different combinations of these recommendations, separately for boys and girls. The prevalence rate, weighted by survey data, was calculated along with a 95% confidence interval (CI) to assess the changes in meeting the 24-HMG among U.S. adolescents across different survey years and sociodemographic subgroups.

Results

In the 2015-2016 cycle, approximately 6.3% of adolescents did not meet any of the three recommendations, while only 19.2% of adolescents achieved all three guidelines. Compliance with PA and SB recommendations among adolescents has decreased over time, from 72.5% (65.9% to 79.2%) to 64.2% (57.4% to 70.9%) for PA, and from 59.0% (49.6% to 68.4%) to 46.6% (37.8% to 55.5%) for SB, respectively, from 2007-2008 cycle to 2015-2016 cycle. Boys exhibited more favorable patterns in meeting different sets of recommendations compared to girls (p-value <0.001). This includes meeting both PA and SB guidelines (15.5% for boys and 11.1% for girls) and meeting both PA and SLP guidelines (19.5% for boys and 15.7% for girls). The level of parental education was found to have effect on meeting all three guidelines (Ptrend < 0.05).

Conclusion

We analyzed ten consecutive years of representative NHANES data to evaluate the prevalence meeting 24-HMG and found that the proportion of adolescents aged 16-19 in the U.S. who adhered to all three movement guidelines simultaneously has consistently remained low throughout each survey cycle. Notably, there has been a significant decline in the proportion of adolescents meeting the SB guideline.

Sitting Less for Success: Reducing Sedentary Behaviors to Increase Kindergarten Achievement

BACKGROUND

Physical activity (PA) improves outcomes, but disadvantaged children typically experience more sedentary behavior (SB). This study explored movement, executive function (EF) health, and academic achievement (AA) for economically disadvantaged kindergarteners.

METHODS

Children in 2 classrooms (n = 16; n = 7) wore wrist-based accelerometers to assess PA/SB during the school day. Independent t-tests and analysis of variance analyzed mean group differences in PA/SB and EF/AA, and correlations explored AA and EF associations.

RESULTS

The movement-based class spent significantly less time in SB compared to the contemporary class (t = 2.552, g = 1.115), made greater reading (t = -2.611) and math (t = .967) gains, and had better EF (t = .012). There were significant negative correlations between SB and math (r = -.534) and reading (r = -.592), but no significant relationships with EF.

IMPLICATIONS FOR SCHOOL HEALTH POLICY, PRACTICE, AND EQUITY

Schools should consider methods to decrease time spent in SB at lower-SES schools, which is financially feasible and less time-consuming than programs to increase PA.

CONCLUSION

Decreased SB time was associated with better AA. More research is needed to determine whether interventions to decrease time spent in SB at school improve academic outcomes in disadvantaged children.

A nation-wide analysis of socioeconomic and geographical disparities in the prevalence of obesity and excess weight in children and adolescents in Spain: Results from the ENE-COVID study

OBJECTIVE

To estimate national and provincial prevalence of obesity and excess weight in the child and adolescent population in Spain by sex and sociodemographic characteristics, and to explore sources of inequalities in their distribution, and their geographical patterns.

METHODS

ENE-COVID is a nationwide representative seroepidemiological survey (68 287 participants) stratified by province and municipality size (April-June 2020). Participants answered a questionnaire which collected self-reported weight and height, that allowed estimating crude and model-based standardized prevalences of obesity and excess weight in the 10 543 child and adolescent participants aged 2-17 years.

RESULTS

Crude prevalences (WHO growth reference) were higher in boys than in girls (obesity: 13.4% vs. 7.9%; excess weight: 33.7% vs. 26.0%; severe obesity: 2.9% vs. 1.2%). These prevalences varied with age, increased with the presence of any adult with excess weight in the household, while they decreased with higher adult educational and census tract average income levels. Obesity by province ranged 1.8%-30.5% in boys and 0%-17.6% in girls; excess weight ranged 15.2%-49.9% in boys and 10.8%-40.8% in girls. The lowest prevalences of obesity and excess weight were found in provinces in the northern half of Spain. Sociodemographic characteristics only partially explained the observed geographical variability (33.6% obesity; 44.2% excess weight).

CONCLUSIONS

Childhood and adolescent obesity and excess weight are highly prevalent in Spain, with relevant sex, sociodemographic and geographical differences. The geographic variability explained by sociodemographic variables indicates that there are other potentially modifiable factors on which to focus interventions at different geographic levels to fight this problem.

Neighborhood predictors of short sleep duration and bedtime irregularity among children in the United States: results from the 2019-2020 National Survey of Children's Health

BACKGROUND

Environmental factors may contribute to short sleep duration and irregular bedtime in children. Neighborhood factors and children's sleep duration and bedtime regularity remain a less investigated area. The aim of this study was to investigate the national and state-level proportions of children with short sleep duration and irregular bedtime and their neighborhood predictors.

METHODS

A total of 67,598 children whose parents completed the National Survey of Children's Health in 2019-2020 were included in the analysis. Survey-weighted Poisson regression was used to explore the neighborhood predictors of children's short sleep duration and irregular bedtime.

RESULTS

The prevalence of short sleep duration and irregular bedtime among children in the United States (US) was 34.6% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 33.8%-35.4%] and 16.4% (95% CI = 15.6%-17.2%) in 2019-2020, respectively. Safe neighborhoods, supportive neighborhoods, and neighborhoods with amenities were found to be protective factors against children's short sleep duration, with risk ratios ranging between 0.92 and 0.94, P < 0.05. Neighborhoods with detracting elements were associated with an increased risk of short sleep duration [risk ratio (RR) = 1.06, 95% CI = 1.00-1.12] and irregular bedtime (RR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.03-1.28). Child race/ethnicity moderated the relationship between neighborhood with amenities and short sleep duration.

CONCLUSIONS

Insufficient sleep duration and irregular bedtime were highly prevalent among US children. A favorable neighborhood environment can decrease children's risk of short sleep duration and irregular bedtime. Improving the neighborhood environment has implications for children's sleep health, especially for children from minority racial/ethnic groups.

The Association Between Socioeconomic Status and Use of Time in Australian Children and Adolescents

PURPOSE

There are well-known socioeconomic status (SES) gradients in children and adolescents' health which may be associated with time use. Our aim was to evaluate the association between Australian children's 24-hour time use and SES using four separate surveys from 2005 to 2021.

METHODS

Time use was assessed in 4526 8-19-year-olds from the 2005 Health of Young Victorians, 2007 National Children's Nutrition and Physical Activity, 2015 Child Health CheckPoint, and 2019-21 Life on Holidays study. Each survey used the same reliable, valid, 24-hour recall instrument. SES was quantified using tertiles of household income, education, and postcode-level measures. Compositional data analysis was used to compare 24-hour time use between SES categories, adjusting for age, sex, and puberty.

RESULTS

Time-use compositions differed significantly by SES in each survey. Relative to the lowest SES, children from the highest SES accumulated on average 31 min/day more School-related time, 6 min/day more Passive Transport and 6 min/day more Self-care. Conversely, they accumulated 30 min/day less Screen Time (which included computer time), 11 min/day less sleep, and spent 7 min/day less in Domestic/Social activities. There were only small differences in Quiet Time and Physical Activity.

DISCUSSION

SES-related differences in time use were robust across ages 8-19, a 16-year timespan, diverse Australian geographical regions, and using different SES metrics. The exchange of about 30 min/day between School-related activities and Screen Time amounts to >180 hours extra exposure to School-related activities annually in the highest SES category relative to the lowest, equivalent to >6 weeks of school time per year.

Upstream Determinants of Overweight and Obesity in Europe

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To review the upstream determinants of overweight and obesity in Europe, including food and built environments, and political, commercial, and socioeconomic determinants.

RECENT FINDINGS

Overweight and obesity affect 60% of European adults, and one in three children, and are more common in individuals with low compared to high socioeconomic position (SEP). Individuals in low SEP groups are more exposed to unhealthy built and food environments, including higher exposure to unhealthy food marketing. Industries influencing the food system have much economic power, resulting in ignoring or silencing the role of ultra-processed foods and commercial practices in weight gain. Overall, effective policies to address overweight and obesity have been insufficiently implemented by governments. To accelerate implementation, strengthened political commitment is essential. Policies must also focus on the upstream, structural, and systemic drivers of overweight and obesity; be comprehensive; and target socioeconomic inequalities in diets and physical activity.

Socioeconomic status and health behavior in children and adolescents: a systematic literature review

Socioeconomic status affects individuals' health behaviors and contributes to a complex relationship between health and development. Due to this complexity, the relationship between SES and health behaviors is not yet fully understood. This literature review, therefore, aims to assess the association between socioeconomic status and health behaviors in childhood and adolescence. Preferred Reporting for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis protocol guidelines were used to conduct a systematic literature review. The electronic online databases EBSCO Host, PubMed, Web of Science, and Science Direct were utilized to systematically search published articles. The Joanna Briggs Institute's critical appeal tool was used to assess the quality of included studies. Eligibility criteria such as study context, study participants, study setting, outcome measures, and key findings were used to identify relevant literature that measured the association between socioeconomic status and health behaviors. Out of 2,391 studies, only 46 met the final eligibility criteria and were assessed in this study. Our review found that children and adolescents with low socioeconomic status face an elevated risk of unhealthy behaviors (e.g., early initiation of smoking, high-energy-dense food, low physical activity, and involvement in drug abuse), in contrast to their counterparts. Conversely, children and adolescents from higher socioeconomic backgrounds exhibit a higher prevalence of health-promoting behaviors, such as increased consumption of fruit and vegetables, dairy products, regular breakfast, adherence to a nutritious diet, and engagement in an active lifestyle. The findings of this study underscore the necessity of implementing specific intervention measures aimed at providing assistance to families from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds to mitigate the substantial disparities in health behavior outcomes in children and adolescents.

Inequalities in Childhood Nutrition, Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour and Obesity in Italy

Unhealthy diets, physical inactivity and high body mass index (BMI) are preventable risk factors for non-communicable diseases throughout a person's lifespan. The higher prevalence of these risk factors in children from lower socio-economic groups has been generally observed. The aim of this study is to explore the effect of parents' socio-economic conditions on children's consumption of fruit, vegetables and sugar-sweetened drinks, and inactivity, sedentary behaviour, overweight and obesity. This study used data from the sixth cross-sectional survey of the surveillance "OKkio alla Salute" (Italian COSI), involving 2467 schools and 53,275 children in 2019. All the information was collected through four questionnaires addressed to parents, children, teachers and head teachers. The weights and heights of the children were measured with standard techniques and equipment to classify overweight/obesity according to the WOF-IOTF cut-offs. The results showed a high percentage of children who do not adhere to health recommendations and a high prevalence of overweight and obesity. In particular, "less healthy" behaviours and higher BMI were more frequent in children from families with a lower socio-economic status and those residing in Southern Italy. These findings highlight the need for effective interventions that address the differences in these health-related behaviours.

Policy, systems, and environmental interventions addressing physical activity in early childhood education settings: A systematic review

Policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) approaches can facilitate physical activity in priority populations (e.g., racial and ethnic minority, low wealth groups) within early childhood education (ECE) settings. The purpose of this review was to 1) characterize the inclusion of priority populations within ECE physical activity interventions containing PSE approaches and 2) identify and describe interventions within these populations. Seven databases were systematically searched (January 2000-Febrary 2022) for ECE-based interventions focusing on children (0-6 years) that utilized at least one PSE approach. Eligible studies included a child physical activity or physical activity environment outcome and child or center-level population characteristics. Forty-four studies, representing 42 interventions were identified. For Aim 1, half of interventions included one PSE approach (21/42), with only 11/42 including three or more approaches. Physical environment changes [e.g., adding play equipment, modifying space (25/42)] were the most used PSE approaches followed by system [e.g., integrating activity into routines, (21/42)] and policy [e.g., outdoor time (20/42)] approaches. Nearly half of interventions were conducted in predominantly priority populations (18/42). Studies were primarily rated as good (51%) or fair (38%) methodological quality using the Downs and Black checklist. In Aim 2, of the 12 interventions assessing child physical activity in priority populations, 9/12 reported at least one physical activity outcome in the expected direction. Of the 11 interventions assessing the physical activity environment, 9/11 reported an effect in the expected direction. Findings indicate clear opportunities exist to target priority populations by incorporating PSE approaches in ECE physical activity interventions.

Socioeconomic position as a predictor of youth's movement trajectory profiles between ages 10 and 14 years

BACKGROUND

Combinations of movement behaviors (i.e., physical activity, sedentary behavior, sleep) are associated with health and developmental outcomes in youth. Youth vary in how they accumulate these behaviors, both in volume and specific domains (e.g., sedentary time spent on recreational screen activities vs homework). The aim of this study was to examine how youth's combined general and domain-specific movement trajectories differ by socioeconomic position.

METHODS

We conducted a longitudinal, group-based multi-trajectory analysis to identify general and domain-specific movement trajectory profiles for 2457 youth from age 10 to 14 years from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children from 2014-2018. We used multinomial logistic regression to test if socioeconomic position predicted profile membership.

RESULTS

We identified three general movement trajectory profiles for both sexes, four domain-specific profiles for males, and five for females. For general movement trajectories, females from lower socioeconomic positions were more likely to be a combination of less active and more sedentary than females from higher socioeconomic positions. Males across socioeconomic positions spend similar amounts of time in physical activity, sedentary time, and sleep. For domain-specific movement trajectories, youth from lower socioeconomic positions were likely to spend a combination of less time in education-based sedentary behavior and more time in recreational screen activities than their higher socioeconomic position peers.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that socioeconomic position predicted in which domains youth accumulate their movements. Future observational research and interventions targeting different socioeconomic groups should therefore consider domain-specific movement trajectories.

Associations between socioeconomic status and screen time among children and adolescents in China: A cross-sectional study

Background

Socioeconomic status (SES) is an important determinant of screen time (ST) in children and adolescents, however, the association between SES and ST is not fully understood in China. This study aimed to investigate the association between SES and ST (operationalized as meeting the ST guidelines; no more than 2 hours per day) in Chinese children and adolescents.

Methods

Cross-sectional data of 2,955 Chinese children and adolescents aged 8 to 17(53.4% girls) were used. SES was measured using indicators of parental education and perceived family wealth. ST was assessed with detailed items from the Health Behaviour School-aged Children survey questionnaires. Descriptive statistics and a Chi-square test were used to report the sample characteristics and analyse ST differences across different sociodemographic groups. A binary logistic regression was then applied to analyse the association of SES indicators with ST in children and adolescents.

Results

Overall, 25.3% of children and adolescents met the ST guidelines. Children and adolescents with higher parental education levels were 1.84 [95% CI 1.31–2.57; father] and 1.42 [95% CI 1.02–1.98; mother] times more likely to meet the ST guidelines than those with lower parental education levels. Associations between SES and ST varied across sex and grade groups. Moreover, the associations of SES with ST on weekdays and weekends were different.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated the association between SES and ST in children and adolescents, highlighting the importance of targeting children and adolescents with low SES levels as an intervention priority. Based on our findings, specific interventions can be tailored to effectively reduce ST. Future studies are encouraged to use longitudinal or interventional designs to further determine the association between SES and ST.

Sugar-sweetened beverages and childhood abnormal adiposity in the Czech Republic - narrative literature review

OBJECTIVES

In Czech children, the burden related to the high body-mass index is rising. In the last three decades, Western eating patterns have influenced Czech children's diet, including the high consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages. This narrative review aims to evaluate evidence of the trend of sugar-sweetened beverages consumption in Czech children and its impact on the prevalence of childhood abnormal adiposity.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature review in MEDLINE (PubMed) and a hand search using references in identified articles were performed. The inclusion criteria were population-based studies of randomly selected samples of children from 0 to 18 years old, data involving the Czech population, published from 1990 to 2021. The results were organized into three sections - childhood abnormal adiposity, SSBs consumption, and the association between SSBs consumption and abnormal adiposity.

RESULTS

The studies showed a significant increase in abnormal adiposity in both genders and all age categories. The highest prevalence of abnormal adiposity was observed in boys and younger children. On the contrary, sugar-sweetened beverages showed a significant decline in daily consumption among Czech children of both genders and all age categories. No results were found for consequences of abnormal adiposity concerning sugar-sweetened beverages consumption.

CONCLUSION

Findings from this review could serve public health experts to detect the areas of a gap in research and establish potential interventions in vulnerable groups. Observation of potential obesogenic contributors - including sugar-sweetened beverages - should be an integral part of effective action against the obesity pandemic.

The association among SES, screen time, and outdoor play in children at different ages: The GECKO Drenthe study

Introduction

This study examined the association among socioeconomic status (SES), screen time, and outdoor play in children at different ages in the GECKO Drenthe birth cohort study.

Methods

Valid data were obtained from two surveys at ages 3-4 years and 10-11 years. Screen time (TV watching and computer use) and outdoor play were reported by parents. Childhood SES was derived by a synthetic "Equivalized Household Income Indicator," an estimated disposable income. Quantile regression models (cross-sectional analysis) and linear regression models (change between 3-4 and 10-11 years) were used.

Results

In general, screen time increased strongly from a median of 51 min/day at 3-4 years (n = 888) to 122 min/day at 10-11 years (n = 1023), whereas time spent on outdoor play remained stable over age (77 min/day at 3-4 years and 81 min/day at 10-11 years). More time spent on outdoor play (50th quantile) was found in children with low SES families at 3-4 years, while at 10-11 years, more outdoor play was found in the high SES group. At 10-11 years, in the higher ranges of screen time, children from high SES had relatively lower screen time [50th quantile: -10.7 (-20.8; -0.6); 75th quantile: -13.6 (-24.4; -2.8)]. In the longitudinal analysis (n = 536), high SES was associated with an increasing time spent on outdoor play [11.7 (2.7; 20.8)].

Conclusion

Socioeconomic disparities in children's outdoor play and screen behavior may be more obvious with increasing age. Low SES may facilitate both outdoor play (at 3-4 years) and screen time (at 10-11 years); however, children from high SES families develop slightly more favorable behavior patterns with age.

Differential Associations Between Meeting 24-Hour Movement Guidelines With Mental Wellbeing and Mental Illness Among Chinese Adolescents

PURPOSE

Contemporary mental health models simultaneously consider psychological distress and wellness. Researchers have proposed that adhering to the 24-hour movement guidelines (24-HMG) contributes to mental health. 24-HMG integrates recommendations of time distribution among sleep, screen use, and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Yet, there are few studies on the relationship between meeting 24-HMG and mental health, especially mental wellbeing. This study aimed to examine the associations between adherence to 24-HMG with mental wellbeing and mental illness among Chinese adolescents.

METHODS

Cross-sectional data of 67,281 Chinese adolescents aged 10-17 years (mean age = 13.0 years, 51.9% males) were collected by sending online questionnaires to local primary and middle schools in Shenzhen in 2021. We used multilevel generalized linear models to analyze associations between meeting 24-HMG with mental wellbeing (subjective wellbeing, resilience, and positive youth development) and mental illness (depression and anxiety).

RESULTS

Only 1.7% of participants met recommendations for all three behaviors (sleep, screen use, and MVPA). Compared with meeting none of the recommendations, participants who met one or more recommendations reported significantly better performance in mental wellbeing (all p < .001); on the contrary, meeting one or more recommendations (except for only meeting the MVPA recommendation) were significantly related to lower severity of mental illness (all p < .001). The relationship between the number of recommendations met with mental well-being and mental illness indicators presented a dose-response pattern (all p < .001).

DISCUSSION

Meeting 24-HMG was associated with superior mental health, including a higher propensity for mental wellbeing and a lower risk of mental illness. The importance of limiting screen time and getting enough sleep should be highlighted in promoting mental health in adolescents.

The role of energy balance related behaviors in socioeconomic inequalities in childhood body mass index: A comparative analysis of Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States

Socioeconomic inequalities in childhood Body Mass Index (BMI) are becoming increasingly more pronounced across the world. Although countries differ in the direction and strength of these inequalities, cross-national comparative research on this topic is rare. This paper draws on harmonized longitudinal cohort data from four wealthy countries-Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States (US)-to 1) map cross-country differences in the magnitude of socioeconomic inequalities in childhood BMI, and 2) to examine cross-country differences in the role of three energy-balance-related behaviors-physical activity, screen time, and breakfast consumption-in explaining these inequalities. Children were aged 5-7 at our first timepoint and were followed up at age 8-11. We used data from the German National Educational Panel Study, the Dutch Generation R study, the UK Millennium Cohort Study and the US Early Childhood Longitudinal-Kindergarten Study. All countries revealed significant inequalities in childhood BMI. The US stood out in having the largest inequalities. Overall, inequalities between children with low versus medium educated parents were smaller than those between children with high versus medium educated parents. The role of energy-balance-related behaviors in explaining inequalities in BMI was surprisingly consistent. Across countries, physical activity did not, while screen time and breakfast consumption did play a role. The only exception was that breakfast consumption did not play a role in the US. Cross-country differences emerged in the relative contribution of each behavior in explaining inequalities in BMI: Breakfast consumption was most important in the UK, screen time explained most in Germany and the US, and breakfast consumption and screen time were equally important in the Netherlands. Our findings suggest that what constitutes the most effective policy intervention differs across countries and that these should target both children from medium as well as low educated families.

Associations between socioeconomic status and physical activity: A cross-sectional analysis of Chinese children and adolescents

Objectives

Although socioeconomic status (SES) has been shown to be an important determinant of physical activity (PA) in adults, the association in children and adolescents remains less consistent based on evidence from western developed countries. The purpose of this study, therefore, is to investigate associations between SES and PA among Chinese children and adolescents.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted with a self-reported questionnaire in China. The multi-stage stratified cluster sampling method was used, and 2,955 children and adolescents (8–17 years old, 53.4% girls) were enrolled in this study. SES was assessed by measuring parental education levels, perceived family wealth, and Family Affluence Scale II (FAS II). PA was assessed by reliable and valid items from the Health Behavior School-aged Children Surveillance questionnaires. Descriptive statistics were used to report sample characteristics, including demographic characteristics, levels of PA, and SES. The Chi-square test was applied to analyze the differences of PA in gender and school period. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the association between SES and PA among children and adolescents.

Results

Overall, 10.4% of children and adolescents accumulated moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) at least 60 min per day. Boys were more physically active than girls (14.1% vs. 7.2%, p &lt; 0.001). Higher socioeconomic status was positively associated with higher physical activity levels among children and adolescents, especially using FAS and mother education level as SES measures. The association between SES and PA varied by gender and grade group, and the effects of SES are also different on weekdays and weekends.

Conclusion

This study found socioeconomic disparities in PA among Chinese children and adolescents, and showed the importance of targeting children and adolescents with low SES intervention priority. Based on these research findings, it is suggested that SES, especially for FAS and mother education level, should be considered when designing and implementing the promotion of regular PA in children and adolescents. Health policymakers may use this information to develop interventions to reduce health inequalities among children and adolescents in the future.

Prevalence and Correlates of Overweight, Obesity and Physical Activity in Italian Children and Adolescents from Lombardy, Italy

Investigating pediatric overweight and physical activity correlates is essential to design effective preventive programs. We used regional data (Lombardy, northern Italy) from the 2019 survey “OKKio alla Salute” (3093 children aged 8–9 years with measured anthropometric data), and from the 2018 wave of the “Health Behaviour in School-aged Children” survey (2916 adolescents aged 11–15 years with self-reported anthropometric data). In both the surveys, a cluster sampling methodology was used. Unconditional multiple logistic regression models were applied to estimate the odds ratios (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) of overweight, obesity and poor physical activity. The prevalence of overweight (including obesity) was 22.4% for children aged 8–9 years and 14.4% for adolescents aged 11–15 years. A higher prevalence of overweight was observed among males, children with greater birth weight and those with obese parents. Scant physical activity was higher among females and older adolescents. There was a direct relationship between obesity and increased psychological distress (OR = 2.44; 95% CI: 1.12–5.27) or being victims of bullying (OR = 2.25; 95% CI: 1.17–4.34). Increasing physical activity significantly decreased the frequency of mental health outcomes. Prevention campaigns should be promoted to safeguard childhood physical and psychological wellbeing.

Sustaining Equality and Equity. A Scoping Review of Interventions Directed towards Promoting Access to Leisure Time Physical Activity for Children and Youth

Promoting access to leisure time physical activity (LTPA) opportunities for children and youth is crucial to promote public health. Yet, ensuring sustainable interventions in this field requires theoretically informed approaches to guide the processes of developing, implementing and evaluating LTPA programs. The objective of this review was to examine how concepts of equality and equity have been operationalized in LTPA interventions for children and youth in order to identify facilitating factors and barriers to LTPA access connected to such concepts. Using a pre-piloted search strategy, three electronic databases were searched for studies of interventions aiming to promote access to LTPA in organized or community sport for children and youth. Following a screening process, 27 publications representing 25 unique interventions were included. Through careful examination of the aim and target group of each intervention, they emerged in three categories in accordance with their (implicit) understandings of equality and equity. Also, considering the processes through which the interventions within each category had been implemented leads to the conclusion that an explicit theoretical understanding of the aim of interventions will increase communal knowledge among intervention stakeholders about which facilitating factors to pursue and barriers to bypass to contribute to more socially sustainable LTPA programs.

Socioeconomic differences in food habits among 6- to 9-year-old children from 23 countries-WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI 2015/2017)

BACKGROUND

Socioeconomic differences in children's food habits are a key public health concern. In order to inform policy makers, cross-country surveillance studies of dietary patterns across socioeconomic groups are required. The purpose of this study was to examine associations between socioeconomic status (SES) and children's food habits.

METHODS

The study was based on nationally representative data from children aged 6-9 years (n = 129,164) in 23 countries in the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region. Multivariate multilevel analyses were used to explore associations between children's food habits (consumption of fruit, vegetables, and sugar-containing soft drinks) and parental education, perceived family wealth and parental employment status.

RESULTS

Overall, the present study suggests that unhealthy food habits are associated with lower SES, particularly as assessed by parental education and family perceived wealth, but not parental employment status. We found cross-national and regional variation in associations between SES and food habits and differences in the extent to which the respective indicators of SES were related to children's diet.

CONCLUSION

Socioeconomic differences in children's food habits exist in the majority of European and Asian countries examined in this study. The results are of relevance when addressing strategies, policy actions, and interventions targeting social inequalities in children's diets.

Prevalence and Trends of Physical Activity in Thai Children and Young People: Pooled Panel Data Analysis from Thailand's Surveillance on Physical Activity 2012-2020

This study aims to describe the level and trends of physical activity (PA) in Thai children and young people and examine PA changes during transitional periods. Employing nine rounds of Thailand's Surveillance on Physical Activity (SPA) 2012-2020, this study pooled three sets of data and included children and young people aged 6-17 years in the analysis: 1595 in SPA2012-2016, 1287 in SPA2017-2019, and 853 persons in SPA2020. Face-to-face interviews were conducted in five regions, 13 provinces, and 36 villages in SPA2012-2019, whereas an online survey was administered in all provinces in SPA2020. The prevalence of sufficient moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) among Thais aged 6-17 years ranged from 19.0 percent to 27.6 percent, with a significant drop during the period of COVID-19 spread in 2020. The average daily MVPA ranged from 46 to 57 min and dropped to 36 min during the pandemic. Boys were consistently more active than girls in all nine rounds of the SPA, and girls had more difficulty in maintaining or improving their PA level. A significant increase in the proportion of Thai children and young people with sufficient MVPA was observed during their transition from late primary to early secondary school grades.