France’s 2018 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth: Results and International Comparisons

in Journal of Physical Activity and Health

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Salomé Aubert
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Julien Aucouturier
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Jeremy Vanhelst
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Alicia Fillon
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Pauline Genin
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Caroline Ganière
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Corinne Praznoczy
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Benjamin Larras
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Julien Schipman
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Martine Duclos
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David Thivel
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Background: Insufficient levels of physical activity and increasing sedentary time among children and youth are being observed internationally. The purpose of this paper is to summarize findings from France’s 2018 Report Card on physical activity for children and youth, and to make comparisons with its 2016 predecessor and with the Report Cards of other countries engaged in the Global Matrix 3.0. Methods: The France’s 2018 Report Card was developed following the standardized methodology established for the Global Matrix 3.0 by grading 10 common physical activity indicators using best available data. Grades were informed by national surveys, peer-reviewed literature, government and nongovernment reports, and online information. Results: The expert panel awarded the following grades: overall physical activity, D; organized sport participation and physical activity, C−; active play, INC; active transportation, C−; sedentary behaviors, D−; physical fitness, B–; family and peers, INC; school, B; community and the built environment, INC; and government, C. Conclusions: Very concerning levels of physical activity and sedentary behaviors among French children and youth were observed, highlighting the urgent need for well-designed national actions addressing the presented physical inactivity crisis. The top 3 strategies that should be implemented in priority to improve the lifestyle of French children and youth are provided.

Aubert is with Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada. Aucouturier is with the University of Lille, Lille, France; University of Artois, Arras, France; Université du Littoral Côte d’Opale, Dunkerque, France; and EA 7369, Unité de Recherche Pluridisciplinaire Sport Santé Société (URePSSS), Lille, France. Vanhelst is with Inserm, CHU Lille, U995, Lille Inflammation Research International Center (LIRIC), Centre d’Investigation Clinique, Université Lille, Lille, France. Fillon is with Laboratoire AME2P (UE3533), SSR Tzanou-SSR Nutrition Obésité, UGECAM, Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France. Genin and Praznoczy are with the Laboratoire de physiologie et de biologie du sport, UFR de Médecine et des Professions Paramédicales, Observatoire National de l’Activité Physique et de la Sédentarité, Clermont-Ferrand, France. Ganière is with the Laboratoire CETAPS (Centre d’Etudes des Transformations des Activités Physiques et Sportives), EA 3832, Université de Rouen Normandie, France. Larras is with the Observatoire National de l’Activité Physique et de la Sédentarité (ONAPS), Clermont-Ferrand, France. Schipman is with the Institut de Recherche bio-Médicale et d’Épidémiologie du Sport (IRMES), EA7329, Institut National du Sport, de l’Expertise et de la Performance (INSEP), Paris Descartes, Université Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France. Duclos is with the Department of Sport Medicine and Functional Explorations, University-Hospital (CHU), G. Montpied Hospital, Clermont-Ferrand, France; INRA, UMR 1019, UNH, CRNH Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France; Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France; and Observatoire National de l’Activité Physique et de la Sédentarité (ONAPS), Clermont-Ferrand, France. Thivel is with Laboratoire AME2P (UE3533), Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France; CRNH Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France; and Observatoire National de l’Activité Physique et de la Sédentarité (ONAPS), Clermont-Ferrand, France.

Aubert (salome.aubert.sa@gmail.com) is corresponding author.

Supplementary Materials

    • Supplementary Material 1 (PDF 252 KB)