Barriers to Physical Activity in Spanish Children and Adolescents: Sex and Educational Stage Differences.

According to worrisome childhood obesity and inadequate physical activity (PA) levels worldwide, especially exacerbated in adolescents girls, this work aimed to identify sex and educational stage differences in barriers to meet PA requirements and international guidelines in Spanish children and adolescents considering the entire educational pathway (primary, secondary, and college). The Short Form of the International PA Questionnaire and the Scale of Perceived Barriers were administered to primary, secondary, and college education students (13,491 boys and 13,238 girls, 9-19 yrs). Two-way ANOVA was performed to analyze barriers to PA according to sex and educational stage with physical status as covariate. Higher disliking and time barriers were reported by females (1.5 ± 1.2 and 3.2 ± 1.5 points) in comparison to males (1.2 ± 1.0 and 2.8 ± 1.4), while primary students showed lower disliking and time (1.2 ± 1.0 and 2.8 ± 1.5) and higher safety (3.1 ± 1.8) constraints in comparison to secondary (1.4 ± 1.1, 3.1 ± 1.4, and 2.8 ± 1.7) and college (1.5 ± 1.2, 3.2 ± 1.5, and 2.8 ± 1.6; p < 0.05 for all comparisons). College females showed higher disliking (1.7 ± 1.2) and time (3.5 ± 1.4) barriers than secondary females (1.5 ± 1.2 and 3.3 ± 1.4; p < 0.05). Sex and educational stage were determinant for time and dislike of PA barriers, which were rated higher by female students in comparison to their male counterparts and from primary education onwards. Altogether this, suggests promotion strategies should carefully consider girls and the step into secondary school.

Relation of Physical Activity Level to Postural Balance in Obese and Overweight Spanish Adult Males: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of physical activity level on postural control in obese and overweight Spanish adult males. Forty-three males aged between 25 and 60 years old were included. Anthropometric, body composition, and physical activity variables were assessed, and postural control was evaluated using the Sensory Organization Test. No correlation was found between the level of physical activity and postural control, assessed by the Sensory Organization Test within the whole sample. However, within the group with a higher total fat mass percentage, non-sedentary individuals presented improved scores on the somatosensory organization test when compared to sedentary individuals (96.9 ± 1.8 vs. 95.4 ± 1.2; p < 0.05) and poorer scores on the composite equilibrium score (73.4 ± 7.2 vs. 79.2 ± 6.9; p < 0.05). The altered integration of somatosensory inputs most likely affects the tuning, sequencing, and execution of balance strategies in sedentary men with a high total fat mass percentage.

Recognition of Barriers to Physical Activity Promotion in Immigrant Children in Spain: A Qualitative Case Study.

Physical activity facilitates the acquisition of healthy habits from childhood to adulthood. Differences exist regarding the performance of physical activity among immigrant children compared to native Spanish children. The purpose of the study was to describe the barriers that exist for the promotion of physical activity. A qualitative case-study approach was implemented. Parents of immigrant children, teachers, a school principal, and priests were included, using purposeful sampling. Data were collected from 25 participants, via unstructured and semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and researchers' field notes. A thematic analysis was performed and ecological levels were identified. Our findings revealed the following barriers to performing physical activity: (a) the meaning of physical activity, (b) gender inequalities, (c) academic burden, (d) lack of social contact, (e) expenses and family economy, (f) lack of infrastructure and natural surroundings, (g) time constraints, (h) fear and insecurity, and (i) the reason for immigrating. These results may be used to revise the school curriculum, promoting equal opportunities for physical activity and encouraging family participation. Additionally, urban design policies should be encouraged to facilitate access to open spaces for recreation within cities.

[Relationship of physical activity level and body composition on postural control in male adults]. / Relación del nivel de actividad física y de la composición corporal en el control postural en adultos varones.

INTRODUCTION: balance is very important in order to perform daily physical activities as standing or walking. Both physical activity and body composition are some of the most important adjustable intrinsic factors influencing balance. OBJECTIVE: to analyze the influence of physical activity level and different body variables on the postural control of male adults. METHODS: observational, cross-sectional study with 63 men between 25 and 60 years of age, with body mass index (BMI) between 18 and 35 kg/ m2. Anthropometric variables (e.g., weight, BMI, waist circumference), body composition and its distribution (e.g., percentage of total fat mass: TFM%, of the legs: LFM%, and android: AFM%), physical activity (PAL) and postural control (e.g., SOM ratio) were measured. Multiple linear regression was used to evaluate the relationship of all variables with the SOM ratio. RESULTS: the results of this study show a correlation between TFM% (r = -0.384, p = 0.002), AFM% (r = -0.421, p = 0.001) and PAL (r = 0.291, p = 0.021) with the SOM ratio. In addition, individuals classified as obese (TFM% ≥ 28) scored worse on SOM ratio than non-obese individuals (97.33 ± 2.52 vs 96.37 ± 1.54, p = 0.013), and individuals classified as active (PAL ≥ 1.4) scored higher on SOM ratio than sedentary individuals (97.13 ± 2.33 vs 96.18 ± 1.38; p = 0.035). CONCLUSIONS: the fat mass and PAL seem to influence proprioceptively on postural control, being the waist circumference the variable that predicts SOM ratio the most.

INTRODUCCIÓN: el equilibrio es crucial para el desempeño de actividades de la vida diaria como la bipedestación o la marcha. La actividad física y la composición corporal son algunos de los factores intrínsecos modificables más importantes que influyen en el equilibrio. OBJETIVO: analizar la influencia del nivel de actividad física (PAL) y de diferentes variables corporales sobre el control postural de adultos varones. MÉTODOS: estudio observacional, transversal, con 63 varones de entre 25 y 60 años, con índice de masa corporal (IMC) entre 18 y 35 kg/m2. Se midieron variables antropométricas (i.e., peso, IMC, perímetro de cintura), de composición corporal y de su distribución (i.e., porcentaje de masa grasa de piernas: %MGP, androide: %MGA y total: %MGT), de actividad física (PAL) y de control postural (i.e., ratio somatosensorial: SOT-SOM). Se utilizó una regresión lineal múltiple para evaluar la relación de todas las variables con la SOT-SOM. RESULTADOS: los resultados de este estudio muestran una correlación entre %MGT (r = -0,384, p = 0,002), %MGA (r = -0,421, p = 0,001) y PAL (r = 0,291, p = 0,021) con la SOT-SOM. Además, los individuos clasificados como obesos (%MGT ≥ 28) obtuvieron peores puntuaciones en la SOT-SOM que los individuos no obesos (97,33 ± 2,52 vs. 96,37 ± 1,54; p = 0,013) y los individuos clasificados como activos (PAL ≥ 1,4) obtuvieron mejores puntuaciones en la SOT-SOM que los individuos sedentarios (97,13 ± 2,33 vs. 96,18 ± 1,38; p = 0,035). CONCLUSIONES: la masa grasa y el PAL parecen influir a nivel propioceptivo en el control postural, siendo el perímetro de cintura la variable que más predice la SOT-SOM.

Relación del nivel de actividad física y de la composición corporal en el control postural en adultos varones / Relationship of physical activity level and body composition on postural control in male adults

Introducción: el equilibrio es crucial para el desempeño de actividades de la vida diaria como la bipedestación o la marcha. La actividad física y la composición corporal son algunos de los factores intrínsecos modificables más importantes que influyen en el equilibrio. Objetivo: analizar la influencia del nivel de actividad física (PAL) y de diferentes variables corporales sobre el control postural de adultos varones. Métodos: estudio observacional, transversal, con 63 varones de entre 25 y 60 años, con índice de masa corporal (IMC) entre 18 y 35 kg/m2. Se midieron variables antropométricas (i.e., peso, IMC, perímetro de cintura), de composición corporal y de su distribución (i.e., porcentaje de masa grasa de piernas: %MGP, androide: %MGA y total: %MGT), de actividad física (PAL) y de control postural (i.e., ratio somatosensorial: SOT-SOM). Se utilizó una regresión lineal múltiple para evaluar la relación de todas las variables con la SOT-SOM. Resultados: los resultados de este estudio muestran una correlación entre %MGT (r = -0,384, p = 0,002), %MGA (r = -0,421, p = 0,001) y PAL (r = 0,291, p = 0,021) con la SOT-SOM. Además, los individuos clasificados como obesos (%MGT = 28) obtuvieron peores puntuaciones en la SOT-SOM que los individuos no obesos (97,33 ± 2,52 vs. 96,37 ± 1,54; p = 0,013) y los individuos clasificados como activos (PAL = 1,4) obtuvieron mejores puntuaciones en la SOT-SOM que los individuos sedentarios (97,13 ± 2,33 vs. 96,18 ± 1,38; p = 0,035). Conclusiones: la masa grasa y el PAL parecen influir a nivel propioceptivo en el control postural, siendo el perímetro de cintura la variable que más predice la SOT-SOM

Introduction: balance is very important in order to perform daily physical activities as standing or walking. Both physical activity and body composition are some of the most important adjustable intrinsic factors influencing balance. Objective: to analyze the influence of physical activity level and different body variables on the postural control of male adults. Methods: observational, cross-sectional study with 63 men between 25 and 60 years of age, with body mass index (BMI) between 18 and 35 kg/m2. Anthropometric variables (e.g., weight, BMI, waist circumference), body composition and its distribution (e.g., percentage of total fat mass: TFM%, of the legs: LFM%, and android: AFM%), physical activity (PAL) and postural control (e.g., SOM ratio) were measured. Multiple linear regression was used to evaluate the relationship of all variables with the SOM ratio. Results: the results of this study show a correlation between TFM% (r = -0.384, p = 0.002), AFM% (r = -0.421, p = 0.001) and PAL (r = 0.291, p = 0.021) with the SOM ratio. In addition, individuals classified as obese (TFM% = 28) scored worse on SOM ratio than non-obese individuals (97.33 ± 2.52 vs 96.37 ± 1.54, p = 0.013), and individuals classified as active (PAL = 1.4) scored higher on SOM ratio than sedentary individuals (97.13 ± 2.33 vs 96.18 ± 1.38; p = 0.035). Conclusions: the fat mass and PAL seem to influence proprioceptively on postural control, being the waist circumference the variable that predicts SOM ratio the most