Associations between Screen-Based Activities, Physical Activity, and Dietary Habits in Mexican Schoolchildren.

Screen-based activities are associated with increased risk of obesity and contribute to physical inactivity and poor dietary habits. The primary aim of this study was to examine the associations among screen-based activities, physical activity, and dietary habits in school-aged children in Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, and Mexico City, Mexico. The secondary aim was to examine these associations across sex. The School Physical Activity and Nutrition survey was used to assess screen-based activities (TV watching, video game use, computer use), physical activity, and dietary habits. Organized activity/sports participation, unhealthy dietary habits, and household income were correlated with screen-based activities. While TV watching was associated with decreased participation in organized activity/sports participation, computer and video game use was associated with increased organized activity/sports participation. Boys engaged in more TV watching and video game use compared to girls. All screen-based activities were associated with age among boys; whereas video game and computer use were associated with higher income among girls. These findings suggest a need for sex- and age-specific strategies that acknowledge the differential use of screen-based activities across sex and age. Future research should continue to identify underlying correlates linking screen-based activities with health behaviors to inform strategies to reduce screen-time in Mexican children.

Characterization of the School Neighborhood Food Environment in Three Mexican Cities.

Food resources in school neighborhoods can negatively influence diet; however, this environment is understudied. This study characterized the school neighborhood food environment in Guadalajara (n=11), Puerto Vallarta (n=7), and Mexico City (n=14). Convenience stores, table-service restaurants, and taco stands were highly available in all three cities. Grocery stores were highly available in Mexico City school neighborhoods, yet less frequently observed in Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta. Socioeconomic differences in food cart and grocery store availability were observed in Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta. Policy and intervention strategies are needed to address the saturation of food resources in Mexico school neighborhoods.

Applying the RE-AIM conceptual framework for the promotion of physical activity in low- and middle-income countries / Aplicando o modelo RE-AIM para a promoção da atividade física em países de baixa e média renda / Aplicando el marco conceptual RE-AIM para la promoción de la actividad física en países de ingreso bajo y médio

ABSTRACT Objective: the RE-AIM framework has been widely used to evaluate internal and external validity of interventions aimed to promote physical activity, helping to provide comprehensive evaluation of the reach, efficacy, adoption, implementation and maintenance of research and programming. Despite this progress, the RE-AIM framework has not been used widely in Latin America. The purpose of this manuscript is to describe the RE-AIM framework, the process and materials developed for a one-day workshop in Guadalajara, and the acceptability and satisfaction of participants that attended the workshop. Methods: lecture, interactive examples and an agenda were developed for a one-day RE-AIM workshop over a three month period. Results: thirty two health care practitioners (M age = 30.6, SD=9.9 years) attended the workshop. Most (100%) rated the workshop as credible, useful (100%) and intended to apply it in current or future research (95%). Conclusion: results suggest intuitive appeal of the RE-AIM framework, and provide a strategy for introducing the utility and practical application of the framework in practice settings in Mexico and Latin America.

RESUMO Objetivo: o modelo RE-AIM tem sido amplamente utilizado para avaliar a validade interna e externa de intervenções que objetivam promover atividade física, auxiliando a fornecer uma avaliação abrangente do alcance, eficácia, adoção, implementação e manutenção de pesquisas e programas. Apesar deste progresso, o modelo RE-AIM não tem sido amplamente utilizado na América Latina. O objetivo deste artigo é descrever o modelo RE-AIM, o processo e os materiais desenvolvidos para uma oficina de um dia de duração em Guadalajara e a aceitabilidade e satisfação dos participantes que compareceram na oficina. Métodos: durante o período de três meses, palestras e exercícios interativos foram desenvolvidos para uma oficina de um dia sobre o modelo RE-AIM. Resultados: trinta e dois profissionais de saúde (Média de idade=30,6±9,9 anos) participaram da oficina. A maioria dos participantes classificou a oficina como credível (100%), útil (100%) e pretende aplicar o que foi aprendido em investigações atuais ou futuras (95%). Conclusão: os resultados sugerem que o modelo RE-AIM é um recurso intuitivo e fornecem uma estratégia para a apresentação da utilidade e aplicação prática do modelo em cenários práticos no México e na América Latina.

RESUMEN Objetivo: el marco RE-AIM ha sido ampliamente utilizado para evaluar la validez interna y externa de intervenciones destinadas a promover la actividad física, ayudando a proporcionar una evaluación exhaustiva de la cobertura, eficacia/efectividad, adopción, implementación y mantenimiento de programas sobre actividad física. A pesar de este progreso, el marco RE-AIM no se ha utilizado ampliamente en América Latina. El objetivo de este artículo es presentar el marco conceptual RE-AIM, describir el proceso y los materiales desarrollados para un taller en Guadalajara; y reportar la aceptabilidad y satisfacción de los participantes que acudieron al taller. Métodos: durante un período de tres meses, se desarrolló un taller sobre el marco RE-AIM. El taller duró un día e incluyó una conferencia y ejercicios interactivos. Resultados: treinta y dos profesionales de la salud (edad media = 30.6 [±9.9 años]) participaron en el taller. La mayoría calificó el taller como creíble, útil (100%) y manifestó la intención de aplicar lo aprendido en investigaciones actuales o futuras (95%). Conclusión: los resultados sugieren que el marco RE-AIM es intuitivamente atractivo y que el curso es una estrategia adecuada para introducir la utilidad y aplicación práctica del marco en espacios de práctica en América Latina.

Influence of parental perception of school safety and gender on children's physical activity in Mexico: A cross sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: This cross sectional study aims to determine the effects of gender and parental perception of safety at school on children's physical activity (PA) levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Parents of school aged Mexican children residing in Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Puerto Vallarta, completed surveys about their children's PA measures. The physical activity indicators were evaluated using linear and logistical regression models. RESULTS: Analysis did not indicate that gender moderated the relationship between parental perception of safety and PA measures, but significant gender issues exist with girls participating less than boys in the three measures of PA in this study (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Results suggest the need for additional interventions promoting physical activity in girls in Mexico.

Influence of parental perception of school safety and gender on children's physical activity in Mexico: A cross sectional study / Influencia de la percepción de los padres sobre seguridad escolar y del género en la actividad física de niños en México: un estudio transversal

Objective. This cross sectional study aims to determine the effects of gender and parental perception of safety at school on children's physical activity (PA) levels. Materials and methods. Parents of school aged Mexican children residing in Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Puerto Vallarta, completed surveys about their children's PA measures. The physical activity indicators were evaluated using linear and logistical regression models. Results. Analysis did not indicate that gender moderated the relationship between parental perception of safety and PA measures, but significant gender issues exist with girls participating less than boys in the three measures of PA in this study (p<0.001). Conclusion. Results suggest the need for additional interventions promoting physical activity in girls in Mexico.

Objetivo. Determinar los efectos de género y percepción paternal de la seguridad en escuelas, en niveles de actividad física (AF) en los niños. Material y métodos. Padres con hijos escolares residentes en Guadalajara, Ciudad de México, y Puerto Vallarta, completaron encuestas sobre los niveles de AF de sus hijos. Se evaluaron los indicadores de AF usando modelos de regresión lineal y logística. Resultados. El análisis no indica que el género modere la relación entre percepción de seguridad y medidas de AF, pero hay indicadores significativos de que las niñas participan menos que los varones en las medidas de AF de este estudio (p<0.001). Conclusión. Los resultados sugieren la necesidad de intervenciones adicionales que promuevan la AF en niñas mexicanas.

Using the RE-AIM framework to evaluate physical activity public health programs in México.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity (PA) public health programming has been widely used in Mexico; however, few studies have documented individual and organizational factors that might be used to evaluate their public health impact. The RE-AIM framework is an evaluation tool that examines individual and organizational factors of public health programs. The purpose of this study was to use the RE-AIM framework to determine the degree to which PA programs in Mexico reported individual and organizational factors and to investigate whether reporting differed by the program's funding source. METHODS: Public health programs promoting PA were systematically identified during 2008-2013 and had to have an active program website. Initial searches produced 23 possible programs with 12 meeting inclusion criteria. A coding sheet was developed to capture behavioral, outcome and RE-AIM indicators from program websites. RESULTS: In addition to targeting PA, five (42%) programs also targeted dietary habits and the most commonly reported outcome was change in body composition (58%). Programs reported an average of 11.1 (±3.9) RE-AIM indicator items (out of 27 total). On average, 45% reported reach indicators, 34% reported efficacy/effectiveness indicators, 60% reported adoption indicators, 40% reported implementation indicators, and 35% reported maintenance indicators. The proportion of RE-AIM indicators reported did not differ significantly for programs that were government supported (M = 10, SD = 3.1) and programs that were partially or wholly privately or corporately supported (M = 12.0, SD = 4.4). CONCLUSION: While reach and adoption of these programs were most commonly reported, there is a need for stronger evaluation of behavioral and health outcomes before the public health impact of these programs can be established.