Results From Colombia’s 2016 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth
in Journal of Physical Activity and HealthClick name to view affiliation
Background:
Physical activity (PA) is vital to the holistic development of young people. Regular participation in PA is associated with substantial benefits for health, cognitive function, and social inclusion. Recognizing the potential of PA in the context of the current peace process in Colombia, the purpose of this article is to present the methodology and results of Colombia’s second Report Card on PA for children and youth.
Methods:
A group of experts on PA graded 14 PA indicators based on data from national surveys and policy documents.
Results:
National and departmental policy indicators received a grade of B, while organized sport participation, overweight, obesity, community influence, and nongovernment initiatives indicators received a grade of C. Overall PA levels, active transportation, sedentary behaviors, and school influence received a grade of D. Active play, low physical fitness, and family influence received an Incomplete grade.
Conclusions:
PA levels are low and sedentary behaviors are high in Colombian children and youth, with notable geographic differences. A broad policy framework translated into specific actions could provide unique opportunities to bridge the gap between knowledge and practice, and contribute to social integration goals in a postconflict setting.
González, Castiblanco, Arias-Gómez, Holguin, Páez, and Sarmiento are with the Dept of Public Health, School of Medicine; García is with the Environmental & Public Health Law Clinic, School of Law; Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia. Martinez-Ospina is with the Dept of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA. Cohen is with the Faculty of Life Sciences, Universidad de Santander (UDES), Fundación Oftalmológica de Santander, Bucaramanga, Colombia. Almanza is with the Community Social Sport Group Division; Hurtado, Lozano, and Ruiz are with the Physical Activity Group Division; Departamento Administrativo del Deporte, la Recreación, la Actividad Física y el Aprovechamiento del Tiempo Libre, Coldeportes, Bogotá, Colombia. Camargo Lemos is with the School of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health, Universidad Industrial de Santander, Bucaramanga, Colombia. Correa-Bautista and Ramírez-Vélez are with the Center of Studies in Physical Activity Measurements (CEMA Group), School Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia. Escobar is Vice President of Fundación Colombiana de Obesidad, Colombia. Gámez and Garzon are with the Instituto Distrital de Recreación y Deporte, Alcaldía Mayor de Bogota, Colombia; Garzon is also with the Centre ÉPIC-ICM, Montréal, Canada. Herazo Beltrán is with the Physiotherapy Program, School of Health Sciences, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Barranquilla, Colombia. Tovar is with the School Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia. González (sa.gonzalez68@uniandes.edu.co) is corresponding author.
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