Bi-directional associations between physical activity and growth indicators of pre-school aged children.

Physical activity for young children provides a wealth of benefits for health and development. However, little is known about the inter-relationship of physical activity and growth indicators. The aim of this study was to test the bi-directional associations of physical activity and growth indicators in children under five years of age. This prospective study included 1,575 children with data on physical activity and growth indicators at ages 12, 24 and 48 months. Accelerometers were used to measure physical activity. Z-scores for length/height-for-age, weight-for-length/height, weight-for-age and body mass index (BMI)-for-age were calculated. Bi-directional associations between physical activity and growth indicators were evaluated using cross-lagged panels based on Generalized Estimating Equations and cross-lagged structural equation models. Physical activity was consistently associated with lower weight-related growth indicators: BMI-for-age: ß=-0.12; Weight-for-age: ß=-0.11; Weight-for-length/height: ß=-0.12. Higher BMI-for-age indicated lower physical activity (ß=-0.06). When the exposure was lagged, the association of physical activity on weight-related growth indicators remained, but weight-related growth indicators showed a negative association on physical activity. A bi-directional association between physical activity and weight-related growth indicators was observed. The magnitude of associations were stronger when physical activity was modelled as exposure. These results reinforce the importance of physical activity since early years.

Development, explanation, and presentation of the Physical Literacy Interventions Reporting Template (PLIRT).

BACKGROUND: The physical literacy (PL) concept integrates different personal (e.g., physical, cognitive, psychological/affective, social) determinants of physical activity and has received growing attention recently. Although practical efforts increasingly adopt PL as a guiding concept, latest evidence has shown that PL interventions often lack specification of important theoretical foundations and basic delivery information. Therefore, the goal of the present study was to develop an expert-based template that supports researchers and practitioners in planning and reporting PL interventions. METHODS: The development process was informed by Moher et al.'s guidance for the development of research reporting guidelines. We composed a group of ten distinguished experts on PL. In two face-to-face meetings, the group first discussed a literature-driven draft of reporting items. In the second stage, the experts anonymously voted and commented on the items in two rounds (each leading to revisions) until consensus was reached. RESULTS: The panel recommended that stakeholders of PL initiatives should tightly interlock interventional aspects with PL theory while ensuring consistency throughout all stages of intervention development. The Physical Literacy Interventions Reporting Template (PLIRT) encompasses a total of 14 items (two additional items for mixed-methods studies) in six different sections: title (one item), background and definition (three items), assessment (one item each for quantitative and qualitative studies), design and content (five items), evaluation (one item plus one item each for quantitative and qualitative studies), discussion and conclusion (two items). CONCLUSION: The PLIRT was designed to facilitate improved transparency and interpretability in reports on PL interventions. The template has the potential to close gaps between theory and practice, thereby contributing to more holistic interventions for the fields of physical education, sport, and health.

Stability of M-ABC-2-measured motor functioning in early childhood: Evidence from a large prospective cohort.

AIM: Some studies have reported that children with poor motor functioning tend to improve over time. However, much existing research does not account for regression towards the mean (RTM). Here, we examine measurement stability among 589 children aged 4-5 years. METHOD: We administered the Movement Assessment Battery for Children 2nd Edition annually to 269 children initially scoring above and 252 at or below the 16th percentile. We measured agreement between year 1 and year 2 standard scores using Pearson correlation and derived expected regression towards the mean (RTM). We then regressed follow-up on baseline scores, controlling for relative age, sex, and exact interval between assessments. Finally, we performed a small illustrative simulation. OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: The mean score in the poor-coordination group rose from 5.6 (SD = 1.5) to 7.2 (SD = 2.8). Year 1 and year 2 scores were correlated at r = 0.66, corresponding to predicted RTM in the MI group of 1.56, close to the observed change of 1.57. Degree of change was not associated with time between assessments. INTERPRETATION: Observed improvements in motor functioning were consistent with measurement error. The stability of motor functioning may be greater than it appears from past research, and reported functional improvements in some studies may be illusory. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS?

Physical literacy predicts the physical activity and sedentary behaviours of youth.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour (SB) along with the developmental progression of 2,087 Canadian students. It also examined whether their physical literacy (PL) predicts latent class affiliations and transition probabilities from grades 5 to 6 and whether this affiliation in grade 6 predicts body mass index (BMI) and self-concept by grade 7. DESIGN: Longitudinal observational study. METHODS: Data was collected from a longitudinal open cohort study using data from three waves of data. In grades 5 and 6 we examined patterns of PA and SB behaviour and their correlates. In grade 7 we examined outcomes associated with latent class affiliation. RESULTS: Our results found a validated measure of PL was a robust predictor of class affiliation and transitions between classes across grade and sex. Students with higher PL were two to four times more likely to be in the active screeners (AS) or low SB class compared to the sedentary/inactive (SI) class in both grades 5 and 6. For females, PL was also related to transitioning out of the SI class and into the AS. PL did not predict transitions out of the low SB class. Class affiliation in grade 6 also predicted BMI and self-concept in grade 7. Students in the SI class had higher BMI and lower self-concept compared to students in AS and low SB classes. CONCLUSIONS: Future research should assess additional domains of PL and utilize objective methods to measure PA.

The Effectiveness of Physical Literacy Interventions: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The holistic concept of physical literacy assumes that individuals require adequate cognitive (knowledge and understanding), affective (motivation and confidence), and physical (physical competence) qualities to engage in lifelong physical activity behavior. In recent years, the research field has undergone rapid development and has also yielded an increasing number of interventions that aim to translate the theoretical-philosophical ideas into practical endeavors. OBJECTIVE: The goal of the present pre-registered systematic review was to (a) provide a general overview of evaluation studies on physical literacy interventions and (b) to quantitatively examine the effectiveness of physical literacy interventions. METHODS: Drawing on the 2020 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we searched a total of 18 databases for physical literacy interventions. Inclusion criteria were English language, publication by November 2021, and interventions using physical literacy as a theoretical underpinning or evaluation outcome. Articles that met these criteria were analyzed with respect to their basic delivery characteristics, study quality, evaluation approach, and main findings. We additionally ran meta-analyses with all non-randomized and randomized controlled trials to examine and compare the effect of these interventions on five outcome categories: (i) physical competence, (ii) motivation and confidence, (iii) knowledge and understanding, (iv) physical activity behavior, and (v) total physical literacy. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to assess the effects on the different categories. RESULTS: The screening process with two independent raters yielded 48 eligible interventions reported in 51 eligible articles. Quantitative evaluations most frequently addressed physical competence (72.2%), followed by motivation and confidence (47.2%), physical activity behavior (41.7%), and knowledge and understanding (33.3%). The controlled intervention studies (n = 24) exerted significant effects on all five physical literacy categories. Despite meaningful heterogeneity across the subgroups, the strongest effects were found for physical competence (SMD 0.90; 95% CI 0.55-1.25), followed by physical literacy aggregate scores (SMD 0.61; 95% CI 0.20-1.01), knowledge and understanding (SMD 0.54; 95% CI 0.30-0.79), physical activity behavior (SMD 0.39; 95% CI 0.23-0.55), and motivation and confidence (SMD 0.30; 95% CI 0.17-0.44). CONCLUSIONS: The present study empirically demonstrated the effectiveness of physical literacy interventions on several outcomes relevant for promoting physical activity and health. To better inform current practices, future studies are advised to identify those program characteristics that significantly influence the effectiveness of physical literacy interventions. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42020188926.

The Impact of Changes in Physical Education Class Enrollment on Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity Among a Large Sample of Canadian Youth.

BACKGROUND: Few youth engage in sufficient daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and the likelihood of meeting guidelines declines through secondary school. Physical education (PE) can afford youth with opportunities for MVPA. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of changes in PE enrollment on MVPA and MVPA guideline adherence in Ontario and Alberta secondary students. METHODS: Linked survey data was used from 1514 students who participated in year 3 (2014/2015 baseline) and year 6 (2017/2018 follow-up) of the COMPASS Study. Regression models tested whether changes in PE enrollment predicted changes in self-reported MVPA (minutes) and MVPA guideline adherence from grade 9 (baseline) to grade 12 (follow-up), controlling for sports participation and sociodemographic variables. RESULTS: Students who remained enrolled in PE in grade 12 reported a daily average of 30 minutes more MVPA. Among students meeting MVPA guidelines and enrolled in PE in grade 9, students not taking PE in the current term in grade 12 were less likely to continue to meet guidelines than students currently enrolled in PE (adjusted odds ratio 0.53; 95% confidence interval: 0.36, 0.78; p < .0013). CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this study could inform the future implementation of a mandatory PE credit for upper year secondary students.