Monitoring And Promoting Physical Activity And Physical Fitness In Children

As we know, a large amount of research confirms that physical activity (PA), physical fitness (PF), and motor competence (MC) are associated with health benefits in individuals of all ages. Achieving a sufficient level of PA and PF will consequently further contribute to better health-related biomarkers. Moreover, holding a good MC allows better participation in PA and exercise in life, promoting greater physical literacy.It is true that the measurement of PA in children and young people is subject to several conditioning factors which threaten validity and reliability. Additionally, it is good to remember that the World Health Organization guidelines on PA and sedentary behaviour for children recommend: (1) 180 min of PA (at any intensity) for two-year old children; (2) 180 min of PA, of which 60 min is moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), for 3- to 4-year-old children; and (3) at least 60 min of MVPA for children and adolescents from 5 to 17 years old.Therefore, understanding and developing strategies to promote PA behavior is now more important than in the past, because it is essential to improve fitness levels and MC in early ages. These strategies should cover all generations, children and youth, adults and the elderly, equally, because negative outcomes are visible in individuals of all ages.In this Special Issue, we show contributions that describe and list the link, monitoring and promotion between PA, PF, and MC.

Physical activity has far-reaching benefits for physical, mental, emotional, and social health and well-being for all segments of the population. Despite these documented health benefits and previous efforts to promote physical activity in the U.S. population, most Americans do not meet current public health guidelines for physical activity. Surveillance in public health is the ongoing systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of outcome-specific data, which can then be used for planning, implementation and evaluation of public health practice. Surveillance of physical activity is a core public health function that is necessary for monitoring population engagement in physical activity, including participation in physical activity initiatives. Surveillance activities are guided by standard protocols and are used to establish baseline data and to track implementation and evaluation of interventions, programs, and policies that aim to increase physical activity. However, physical activity is challenging to assess because it is a complex and multidimensional behavior that varies by type, intensity, setting, motives, and environmental and social influences. The lack of surveillance systems to assess both physical activity behaviors (including walking) and physical activity environments (such as the walkability of communities) is a critical gap. Implementing Strategies to Enhance Public Health Surveillance of Physical Activity in the United States develops strategies that support the implementation of recommended actions to improve national physical activity surveillance. This report also examines and builds upon existing recommended actions.

Physical inactivity is a key determinant of health across the lifespan. A lack of activity increases the risk of heart disease, colon and breast cancer, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, osteoporosis, anxiety and depression and others diseases. Emerging literature has suggested that in terms of mortality, the global population health burden of physical inactivity approaches that of cigarette smoking. The prevalence and substantial disease risk associated with physical inactivity has been described as a pandemic. The prevalence, health impact, and evidence of changeability all have resulted in calls for action to increase physical activity across the lifespan. In response to the need to find ways to make physical activity a health priority for youth, the Institute of Medicine's Committee on Physical Activity and Physical Education in the School Environment was formed. Its purpose was to review the current status of physical activity and physical education in the school environment, including before, during, and after school, and examine the influences of physical activity and physical education on the short and long term physical, cognitive and brain, and psychosocial health and development of children and adolescents. Educating the Student Body makes recommendations about approaches for strengthening and improving programs and policies for physical activity and physical education in the school environment. This report lays out a set of guiding principles to guide its work on these tasks. These included: recognizing the benefits of instilling life-long physical activity habits in children; the value of using systems thinking in improving physical activity and physical education in the school environment; the recognition of current disparities in opportunities and the need to achieve equity in physical activity and physical education; the importance of considering all types of school environments; the need to take into consideration the diversity of students as recommendations are developed. This report will be of interest to local and national policymakers, school officials, teachers, and the education community, researchers, professional organizations, and parents interested in physical activity, physical education, and health for school-aged children and adolescents.

With modern conveniences and technology always beckoning, today's children are less active and more obese than ever--which leads to an ever-increasing need for more effective interventions to help them become more active. Physical Activity Interventions in Children and Adolescents addresses this problem by helping professionals in schools, health departments, recreation centers, state agencies, and not-for-profit organizations design, implement, and evaluate interventions to promote and increase physical activity among children and adolescents. Part of the Physical Activity Intervention Series, Physical Activity Interventions in Children and Adolescents provides information on current levels of youth physical activity and presents a basic understanding of the issues associated with it. The book offers a clear and reader-friendly overview of theories of behavior change that have been used in developing physical activity interventions in a variety of settings and methods for program evaluation. Specific recommendations for physical activity from various professional and health organizations are included as well. The book also provides descriptive epidemiology of youth physical activity that helps identify the changes in activity as children age; insights into the potential role of the family and the community in providing physical activity opportunities for youth; guidance for the development of collaborative relationships among agencies and organizations to promote physical activity in the community; and a review of available instruments for measuring physical activity in youth populations, including self-report instruments and step counters. Practical application of the information covered in Physical Activity Interventions in Children and Adolescents is demonstrated through real-world interventions that have been implemented in various settings. The programs were selected based on their demonstrated effectiveness, potential for success, or unique features. Strengths and weaknesses of each intervention are highlighted. In addition to the presentation of existing programs, guidelines for the development of new programs are presented. Sample worksheets serve as valuable tools in evaluating and designing interventions in areas where proven programs are not yet available. The text follows a three-part progression. Part I provides an orientation to activity in young people, describing how to change behavior and introducing the settings in which such behavior change programs might be developed. In part II, documented interventions are examined for programs in schools, community organizations, and home and health care settings. Part III explores intervention design, assisting those who want to design their own interventions for specific populations. Descriptions of program evaluation, including useful measurement instruments, are detailed as well. The result is a book that professionals can use for learning about physical activity and the role it plays in the lives of youth. It will guide readers in designing successful interventions that can change physical activity behavior for the children and adolescents with whom they work.

I made the important decision to manage a Special Issue, because I believe it to be extremely important to focus on children’s and adolescents’ physiological and psychological development. I aimed to collect research that investigates the role of physical activity and sport on physical and mental well-being, with a particular focus on practical implications, innovation, tools, and technique. This Special Issue, “Health Promotion in Children and Adolescents through Sport and Physical Activities” addresses pediatric exercise science as a key scientific discipline able to help future generations live longer and better. It is already clear that sedentariness and a low level of muscular strength and power significantly affects cognitive functions and daily relations, but it is interesting to understand the key determinants and how we can help practitioners better manage these concerns in their patients. Authors were invited to submit letters, original research papers, case studies, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews.

Regular physical activity is proven to help prevent and treat noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease stroke diabetes and breast and colon cancer. It also helps to prevent hypertension overweight and obesity and can improve mental health quality of life and well-being. In addition to the multiple health benefits of physical activity societies that are more active can generate additional returns on investment including a reduced use of fossil fuels cleaner air and less congested safer roads. These outcomes are interconnected with achieving the shared goals political priorities and ambition of the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030. The new WHO global action plan to promote physical activity responds to the requests by countries for updated guidance and a framework of effective and feasible policy actions to increase physical activity at all levels. It also responds to requests for global leadership and stronger regional and national coordination and the need for a whole-of-society response to achieve a paradigm shift in both supporting and valuing all people being regularly active according to ability and across the life course. The action plan was developed through a worldwide consultation process involving governments and key stakeholders across multiple sectors including health sports transport urban design civil society academia and the private sector.

Promoting Active Lifestyles in Schools helps you promote healthy, active lifestyles in schools—in physical education classes and throughout the day. The text includes diverse activities that are developmentally appropriate, inclusive and progressive; monitoring tools; and a web resource to aid learning and implementation. The authors also suggest ways to work with parents and caregivers to promote active lifestyles.