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No “Failures of Kindness”

David K. Wiggins

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Results From the First Para Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Adolescents With Disabilities in Chile

Nicolas Aguilar-Farias, Sebastian Miranda-Marquez, Marcelo Toledo-Vargas, Kabir P. Sadarangani, Jessica Ibarra-Mora, Pia Martino-Fuentealba, Fernando Rodriguez-Rodriguez, Carlos Cristi-Montero, Matías Henríquez, and Andrea Cortinez-O’Ryan

Background: Global initiatives have been put in place to attain a thorough understanding of worldwide variations in physical activity (PA) among children and adolescents. Yet, there is limited knowledge about PA-related indicators, specifically for children and adolescents with disabilities (CAWD). To bridge this data gap, the Global Matrix of Para Report Cards (PRCs) of CAWD initiative was established to address the scarcity of information on PA for this population globally. The purpose of this manuscript is to summarize the results of Chile’s First PRC on PA for CAWD. Methods: Chile’s PRC included 10 core PA indicators common to the Global Matrix of PRCs. Evidence from scientific articles, reports, and databases available or released from 2018 to January 2022 was included for each indicator. A scientific committee collected and analyzed the data, assigning letter grades (A–F) based on benchmarks. Results: The grades assigned were as follows: Overall PA, D−; Organized Sports and Physical Activity Participation, C−; Active Play, INCOMPLETE; Active Transportation, D−; Sedentary Behavior, F; Physical Fitness, INCOMPLETE; Family and Peers, D+; School, C+; Community and Environment, D+; Government, B−. Conclusions: Chile scored low in most indicators. Although some efforts have been made in the last decade in terms of policies, these have not been reflected in PA and related behaviors in CAWD. The results underscore that maintaining the current situation is inadequate for addressing the widespread problem of physical inactivity among CAWD in Chile, emphasizing the urgency for substantial changes and a comprehensive approach to effectively combat this crisis.

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A Scoping Review of Physical Activity Interventions Among Sexual Minority Adults: A Call to Action for Future Research

Keegan T. Peterson, Oliver W.A. Wilson, Shannon S.C. Herrick, Ginny M. Frederick, Michael V. Fedewa, Katherine Sullivan, and Melissa Bopp

Physical activity (PA) has a variety of well-established benefits for physical and mental health. However, there are PA disparities based on numerous sociodemographic characteristics, including sexual orientation. Mapping of PA interventions tailored to sexual minorities (ie, nonheterosexual) is currently absent from the literature. Purpose: The purpose of this scoping review was to summarize the existing interventions focused on promoting PA among sexual minority (SM) adults. Methods: A search strategy was developed in consultation with a research librarian for PubMed, Web of Science, SportDiscus, and CINAHL. The scoping review was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. Randomized and nonrandomized interventions that focused on increasing PA among SM adults were included. Data on study design, sample demographics, purpose of research, methodology, intervention components, theory-based constructs used, PA measures, and outcomes of the intervention were extracted. Results: Our search yielded 7289 articles, with 26 articles requiring full-text review. Four interventions were identified that focused on increasing PA among SM adults, with 2 focusing on lesbian/bisexual women, 1 focusing on lesbian/gay cancer survivors, and 1 focusing on men who have sex with men. Two of the 4 studies were successful at increasing PA, with varying psychosocial theories (ie, social cognitive theory and theory of reasoned action) and intervention strategies (ie, PA counseling, group meetings, and pedometers). Conclusion: Findings of this review demonstrate a clear lack of PA interventions targeting SM adults, limiting the available knowledge required for preventionists, practitioners, and health care professionals to effectively promote PA through behavioral modification among this group.

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Understanding the Increases in Physical Activity Publications From 1985 to 2022: A Global Perspective

Adrian Bauman, Karen C. Lee, and Michael Pratt

Background: A marked increase in physical activity (PA) publications has occurred since 1985. Increased publications reflect a globalization of publications and increase the difficulty of reviewing evidence and identifying effective PA strategies. Methods: Review of Scopus database publications with the title or keyword “physical activity” between 1985 and 2022, examining 193,335 PA publications. The choice of search strategy was standardized across the period and maximized relevant PA papers (high sensitivity). Results: The results showed 3 clear periods for increases in PA publications; an initial increase in period 1 between 1985 and 2000, a 9-fold increase in period 2 between 2001 and 2016 (from 645/y to 5876/y), and a further increase to 15,812 publications per year in period 3 between 2017 and 2022. The primary driver of this increase was the transition from publications in traditional subscription-model journals to open-access business model journals, which comprised 80% of PA publications by period 3. Although this trend was global, some countries showed greater increases through open-access publication. Discussion: These data identify a relatively unrecognized and urgent threat to the field: An exponential increase in PA publications may influence the quality of published work and increases the difficulty of finding and applying important research findings. The shift in publication patterns is contributed to by higher acceptance rates and rapid time to publication offered in open-access journals. This represents a “commercial determinant” of publications in the PA field, influencing the type and volume of publications without consideration of their contribution to evidence or impact.

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(Two) Wheels on the Bus: Road User Perceptions of a Bike Bus and How This Links to Addressing Global Health Challenges

Deirdre M. Harrington, Farid Bardid, Katherine Cory, James Dixon, Sarah Dodd, Neil Ferguson, Jennifer J. Roberts, and James Bonner

Background: Excessive car use hampers progress toward tackling global health challenges, including climate and sustainability issues, and is linked to lower physical activity. Local communities have been developing solutions through bike buses. This paper, one of the first on bike buses, explores how a bike bus is perceived by other road and place users. Methods: An interdisciplinary survey instrument with dialogic-style questions was distributed on flyers to road and place users on 1 bike bus route including when the bike bus was passing. Responses were thematically analyzed using analytic framing to identify themes and subthemes. This paper focuses on 2 domains related to physical activity’s link to the global health challenges of climate change and sustainability issues of excess car traffic: climate actions and community-level activism. Results: Overall, 172 responses were received from 542 distributed flyers (31.8%). The climate actions domain identified a bike bus as a solution that creates a transport mode shift, reduces emissions, and improves air quality. Themes associated with community-level activism domain include perception that a bike bus is a form of activism or a protest and that it is a disruption to the status quo on the roads. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that this active mobility practice goes beyond the utility of getting children to school and being a way to promote physical activity. A bike bus is seen as local community action that could create a transport mode shift, draw attention to road space allocation, and help tackle global health challenges.

Open access

Family Car Ownership: Driving Inactivity in Young People? Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Analyses in the International Children’s Accelerometry Database

Esther M.F. Van Sluijs, Ulf Ekelund, Pedro C. Hallal, Bjorge H. Hansen, Jenna Panter, Jo Salmon, Stephen J. Sharp, Lauren B. Sherar, Andrew J. Atkin, and on behalf of the International Children’s Accelerometry Database (ICAD) Collaborators

Background: Ubiquitous car ownership may affect children’s activity and health. We assessed the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between household car ownership and children’s daily time spent sedentary (SED) and in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Methods: Pooled cohort data were from the International Children’s Accelerometry Database. Outcome measures were average daily accelerometer-measured SED and MVPA (in minutes per day). Exposures were household car ownership (none, 1, and ≥2) and change in car ownership. Associations were examined using multivariable mixed-effects linear regression. Results: Mean age of participants (N = 4193) was 10.4 years (SD = 2.0), 53.4% were girls, and mean follow-up duration (N = 1333) was 3.3 years (SD = 1.1). Cross-sectionally, household car ownership was associated with higher SED (vs none: 1 car: β = 14.1 min/d, 95% CI, 6.7–21.5; ≥2 cars: 12.8, 95% CI, 5.3–20.4) and lower MVPA (vs none: 1 car: β = –8.8, 95% CI, −11.9 to −5.7; ≥2 cars: β = –8.8, 95% CI, −12.0 to −5.7). Associations were stronger in boys than girls and in children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds (SED only). Prospectively, there were no associations with increased car ownership. Reductions in household car ownership (of which 93.1% had ≥ 2 cars at baseline) were associated with a greater reduction in MVPA (vs no change: β = −8.4, 95% CI, −13.9 to −3.0) but not SED. Conclusions: Children in households with car access were more SED and less active than those without. Losing access to a second car was associated with greater decreases in MVPA, potentially related to losing access to activity-enabling environments. Reducing car access and use are important public health targets (eg, reducing air pollution), but their potential impact on children’s activity opportunities should be mitigated.

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Gender, Ethnicity, and Socioeconomic Inequalities in Physical Activity Throughout the Life Course: A Systematic Review of Cohort Studies

Giulia Salaberry Leite, Charles Philipe de Lucena Alves, Otavio Amaral de Andrade Leão, and Inácio Crochemore-Silva

Background: This study aimed to assess longitudinal changes in physical activity inequalities according to gender, socioeconomic status, and ethnicity throughout the life course. Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus databases for cohort studies addressing trajectories or monitoring physical activity at a minimum of 2 time points, presenting stratified estimates for at least 1 dimension of inequality (gender, socioeconomic status, or ethnicity). Main methodological characteristics and physical activity point estimates were extracted, enabling interpretation of the stability or increasing/decreasing inequalities over time. Results: Out of the 22 included studies in the review, none were designed or presented with specific aims addressing changes in physical activity according to the dimension of inequalities throughout the life course. Therefore, the main results and interpretation were performed according to available information. Males consistently showed a higher prevalence of physical activity than females. We observed both an increase and stability in gender inequality during childhood, followed by an increase in the transition from childhood to adolescence. During adolescence, both increase and stability in gender inequality were identified, with mixed results observed during adulthood, and in later life stages, in a limited number of studies. There is no or very limited evidence regarding ethnicity and socioeconomic status inequalities throughout the life course. Conclusion: Although none of the studies directly measured inequalities, an early emergence of gender inequalities was observed. Future research should include these dimensions as well as other social identities to enhance the understanding of inequalities throughout the life course.

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Influence of the Sociomotor Component of Sports Practice on Adolescent Sustainability Awareness

Salvador Boned-Gómez, Alberto Ferriz-Valero, José María Giménez Egido, and Salvador Baena-Morales

Background: In the context of increasing global focus on sustainability, it is critical to explore how various activities, such as sports, affect young people’s understanding of sustainability. Despite the recognized importance, there is a significant research gap regarding the impact of different sports practices especially their sociomotor components on adolescents’ sustainability awareness (SA) across environmental, social, and economic dimensions. Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed the relationship between the sociomotor component of sports practices and SA in 1157 adolescents, representing diverse genders, socioeconomic backgrounds, and educational levels. The Sustainability Consciousness Questionnaire was employed to measure aspects of sustainability, and sports practices were categorized by their sociomotor components to evaluate their influence on SA. Results: Analysis revealed a significant association between cooperative sports without opposition and SA, particularly within the social dimension. These sports practices, which emphasize team collaboration over competition, were linked to increased social SA among adolescents, suggesting the educational potential of incorporating such sports into academic and extracurricular programs. Conclusions: The findings underscore the potential role of cooperative sports in fostering a deeper understanding of sustainability among youth. By reducing ego-centric behavior and encouraging teamwork, these sports practices may contribute to developing a more socially conscious and sustainable mindset. This study points to the importance of including cooperative sports in educational curricula and suggests the need for further research to explore the long-term effects of sports on sustainability education, with the goal of leveraging sports as a tool for promoting a sustainable future.

Open access

The British Preschool Children’s Play Survey: When, Where, and How Adventurously Do British Preschool-Aged Children Play?

Helen F. Dodd and Kathryn Hesketh

Background: Outdoor, adventurous play supports physical activity and might help to prevent mental health problems, yet data on preschool-aged children’s outdoor play are scarce. Method: Data were collected from a nationally representative sample of 1166 parents/caregivers of children aged 2–4 years (52% male; 88% white) living in Britain. Caregivers reported time children spent playing in 7 locations and corresponding adventure level. Responses were used to derive: total play time, outdoor play time, and adventurous play time (in hours per year). Associations between sociodemographic characteristics and play outcomes were examined, controlling for relevant confounding variables. Results: Outside of childcare, preschool-aged children spent approximately 4 hours per day playing, with 1 hour 45 minutes spent playing outdoors. Most outdoor play happened in gardens at home. Away from home, children most often played in playgrounds and green spaces. Levels of adventurous play were reported to be highest at indoor play centers, followed by playgrounds and green spaces. Total play differed significantly by location, with children in rural areas spending more time playing (vs urban areas). Child ethnicity was associated with play and outdoor play, with children belonging to minority ethnic groups (vs white) playing less. Child sex was also a significant predictor of outdoor play time: boys (vs girls) spent more time playing outdoors, driven primarily by time spent in green spaces. No associations were found for adventurous play. Conclusions: These results highlight how inequalities in access to outdoor space at home and good quality local play spaces may impact young children’s play opportunities and, in turn, exacerbate health inequalities.

Open access

Gender Gap for Accelerometry-Based Physical Activity Across Different Age Groups in 5 Brazilian Cohort Studies

Luiza I.C. Ricardo, Andrea Wendt, Debora Tornquist, Helen Gonçalves, Fernando Wehrmeister, Bruna Gonçalves C. da Silva, Luciana Tovo-Rodrigues, Iná Santos, Aluisio Barros, Alicia Matijasevich, Pedro C. Hallal, Marlos Domingues, Ulf Ekelund, Renata M. Bielemann, and Inácio Crochemore-Silva

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the gender inequalities in accelerometer-based physical activity (PA) across different age groups using data from 5 Pelotas (Brazil) cohorts. Methods: The data come from 4 birth cohort studies, covering all live births in the urban area of Pelotas for each respective year (1982, 1993, 2004, and 2015), and the Como vai? cohort study focusing on 60 years and above. Raw accelerometry data were collected on the nondominant wrist using GENEActive/ActiGraph devices and processed with the GGIR package. Overall PA was calculated at ages 1, 2, 4, 6, 11, 15, 18, 23, 30, and 60+ years, while moderate to vigorous PA was calculated from 6 years onward. Absolute (difference) and relative (ratio) gender inequalities were calculated and intersectionality between gender and wealth was also evaluated. Results: The sample sizes per cohort ranged from 965 to 3462 participants. The mean absolute gender gap was 19.3 minutes (95% confidence interval, 12.7–25.9), with the widest gap at 18 years (32.9 min; 95% confidence interval, 30.1–35.7) for moderate to vigorous PA. The highest relative inequality was found in older adults (ratio 2.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.92–2.08). Our intersectionality results showed that the poorest men being the most active group, accumulating around 60 minutes more moderate to vigorous PA per day compared with the wealthiest women at age 18. Conclusions: Men were more physically active than women in all ages evaluated. PA gender inequalities start at an early age and intensify in transition periods of life. Relative inequalities were marked among older adults.