The quality of the outdoor environment influences childrens health -- a cross-sectional study of preschools

AIM

To test how the quality of the outdoor environment of child day care centres (DCCs) influences children's health.

METHODS

The environment was assessed using the Outdoor Play Environmental Categories (OPEC) tool, time spent outdoors and physical activity as measured by pedometer. 172/253 (68%) of children aged 3.0-5.9 from nine DCCs participated in Southern Sweden. Health data collected were body mass index, waist circumference, saliva cortisol, length of night sleep during study, and symptoms and well-being which were scored (1-week diary - 121 parent responders). Also, parent-rated well-being and health of their child were scored (questionnaire, 132 parent responders). MANOVA, ANOVA and principal component analyses were performed to identify impacts of the outdoor environment on health.

RESULTS

High-quality outdoor environment at DCCs is associated with several health aspects in children such as leaner body, longer night sleep, better well-being and higher mid-morning saliva cortisol levels.

CONCLUSION

The quality of the outdoor environment at DCCs influenced the health and well-being of preschool children and should be given more attention among health care professionals and community planners.

BMI-referenced cut points for pedometer-determined steps per day in adults

BACKGROUND

The goal of this study was to establish preliminary criterion-referenced cut points for adult pedometer-determined physical activity (PA) related to weight status defined by body mass index (BMI).

METHODS

Researchers contributed directly measured BMI and pedometer data that had been collected (1) using a Yamax-manufactured pedometer, (2) for a minimum of 3 days, (3) on ostensibly healthy adults. The contrasting groups method was used to identify age- and gender-specific cut points for steps/d related to BMI cut points for normal weight and overweight/obesity (defined as BMI <25 and >or=25 kg/m2, respectively).

RESULTS

Data included 3127 individuals age 18 to 94 years (976 men, age = 46.8 +/- 15.4 years, BMI = 27.3 +/- 4.9; 2151 women, age = 47.4 +/- 14.9 years, BMI = 27.6 +/- 6.4; all gender differences NS). Best estimated cut points for normal versus overweight/obesity ranged from 11,000 to 12,000 steps/d for men and 8000 to 12,000 steps/d for women (consistently higher for younger age groups).

CONCLUSIONS

These steps/d cut points can be used to identify individuals at risk, or the proportion of adults achieving or falling short of set cut points can be reported and compared between populations. Cut points can also be used to set intervention goals, and they can be referred to when evaluating program impact, as well as environmental and policy changes.

Physical activity, body composition and physical self-esteem: a 3-year follow-up study among adolescents in Sweden

AIMS

To measure physical activity by means of daily pedometer steps, body composition, expressed as body mass index (BMI) and bioelectrical impedance as percent body fat, and perceived physical self-esteem and additionally, to evaluate eventual predictors for a healthy lifestyle i.e., highly physically active, normal weighted and a high physical self-esteem in a follow-up group.

METHODS

During autumn 2000 physical activity level was assessed and BMI was calculated in 871 children aged 7-14 in south eastern Sweden and in 501 of these, physical self-esteem were also assessed. During autumn 2003 a total of 375 adolescents aged 15-18 were assessed using the same methodology and additionally percent body fat was measured. Ninety-three of these adolescents (46 girls), were also measured in 2000 and they formed the follow-up group.

RESULTS

In the follow-up group a significant increase in BMI and stability in physical self-esteem in boys and girls, and in boys a significant decrease in daily steps was found 3 years later. Strongest predictor to be highly physically active, maintain normal BMI and high self-esteem 3 years later, i.e., to have a healthy lifestyle, was for girls increased self-esteem and for boys a decreased BMI.

CONCLUSION

Consequently, for a healthy lifestyle, promoting physical self-esteem in girls and weight control in boys is of great importance in early adolescence.

Physical activity level and body mass index among schoolchildren in south-eastern Sweden

AIM

The aims of this study were to identify current levels of physical activity and to study the relationship between physical activity and body mass index (BMI) using international cut-off points.

METHODS

871 children, aged 7-14 y, were measured for height and weight and the activity levels were analysed using pedometers to measure mean step counts for 4 consecutive days.

RESULTS

Step counts were significantly higher in boys than in girls, and showed stability over age and large in-group differences. BMI showed that 13.2% of the boys and 14.5% of the girls were overweight and 4.5% of both boys and girls were obese. Analysis of step counts and BMIs for boys and girls revealed no significant correlations in any age group.

CONCLUSION

Pedometers differentiate among age groups and gender concerning physical activity and facilitate individual goal-setting. The result of this study provide baseline information, useful as reference data, on youth physical activity as daily step counts, as well as on youth BMI levels according to new international cut-off points.