Browsing by Author "Pereira, Beatriz"
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- Associações entre actividade física, habilidades e coordenação motora em crianças portuguesasPublication . Lopes, Luís; Lopes, Vitor P.; Santos, Rute; Pereira, BeatrizNowadays, there is growing evidence in literature that Health benefits from regular physical activity (PA). The variance in PA among children is caused by a number of factors including their motor abilities and coordination. The aim of the study was to analyse the relation between usual PA and gross motor abilities and motor coordination in children aged 6 to 7 years. The sample comprised 21 children, aged in average 6,38±0,50 years. Physical activity was accessed by accelerometry, gross motor abilities by using the Test of Gross Motor Development (TGMD-2) and motor coordination by using the Körperkoordination Test für Kinder (KTK). Subjects met the international recommendations for daily PA; in motor coordination 47,6% of children met normal coordination, nobody reach good or very good coordination, the majority (52,4%) revelled disturbances or insufficiencies of coordination; in locomotion TGMD-2 76,2% of the children met percentile 50 or superior (P50), in object control TGMD-2 28,6% of the children reach P50 or superior, in total TGMD-2 38,1% of the children met P50 or superior. PA was positively correlated with TGMD-2 object control. Low performance attributed to the children in TGMD-2 and KTK tests could be an indicative of insufficient in the development of coordination and gross motor abilities; therefore we believe that this kind of intervention should be targeted at school children mainly in Physical Education classes.
- Associations between gross Motor Coordination and Academic Achievement in elementary school childrenPublication . Lopes, Luís; Santos, Rute; Pereira, Beatriz; Lopes, Vitor P.We aimed to evaluate the relationship between gross motor coordination (MC) and academic achievement (AA) in a sample of Portuguese children aged 9–12 years. The study took place during the 2009/2010 school year and involved 596 urban children (281 girls) from the north of Portugal. AA was assessed using the Portuguese Language and Mathematics National Exams. Gross MC was evaluated with the Körperkoordination Test für Kinder. Cardiorespiratory fitness was predicted by a maximal multistage 20-m shuttle-run test of the Fitnessgram Test Battery. Body weight and height were measured following standard procedures. Socio-economic status was based on annual family income. Logistic Regression was used to analyze the association of gross MC with AA. 51.6% of the sample exhibited MC disorders or MC insufficiency and none of the participants showed very good MC. In both genders, children with insufficient MC or MC disorders exhibited a higher probability of having low AA, compared with those with normal or good MC (p < .05 for trend for both) after adjusting for cardiorespiratory fitness, body mass index and socio-economic status.
- Associations between sedentary behavior and motor coordination in childrenPublication . Lopes, Luís; Santos, Rute; Pereira, Beatriz; Lopes, Vitor P.Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between objectively measured sedentary behavior (SB) and motor coordination (MC) in Portuguese children, accounting for physical activity (PA), accelerometer wear time, waist-to-height ratio, and mother’s education level. Methods: A cross-sectional school-based study was conducted on 213 children (110 girls and 103 boys) aged 9–10 in the north of Portugal during the spring of 2010. Accelerometers were used to obtain detailed objective information about daily PA and SB over five consecutive days. MC was measured with a body coordination test (Korperkoordination Test für Kinder). Waist and height were measured by standardized protocols and the waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) was calculated. A questionnaire was used to assess mothers’ educational levels. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) and logistic regressions were used. Results: ROC analysis showed that sedentary time significantly discriminated between children with low MC and high MC, with a best trade off between sensitivity and specificity being achieved at 77.29% and 76.48% for girls and boys, respectively (P < 0.05 for both). In both genders, the low sedentary group had significantly higher odds of having good MC than the higher sedentary group, independent of PA, accelerometer wear time, WHtR, and mother’s education level (P < 0.05 for both). Conclusions: Our findings suggested that PA levels per se may not overcome the deleterious influence of high levels of SB on MC. Our data stress the importance of discouraging
- Atividade física no recreio escolar : estudo de intervenção em crianças do seis aos 12 anosPublication . Lopes, Luís; Lopes, Vitor P.; Pereira, BeatrizO objetivo do presente trabalho foi analisar os efeitos de uma intervenção no recreio escolar nos níveis de atividade física em crianças de ambos os sexos, com idades entre os seis e os 12 anos, verificando diferenças entre gêneros e idades. A amostra foi constituída por 158 crianças com uma idade média de 7,8 ± 1,2 anos. A atividade física foi avaliada por acelerometria e o peso medido de forma objetiva. Os alunos foram avaliados em dois recreios distintos: 1) sem intervenção; 2) com intervenção. Em ambos os momentos, cada aluno foi avaliado durante os 30 minutos do recreio. Os resultados indicam que a intervenção resultou num aumento significativo de todos os valores percentuais médios da atividade física total (> 3 MET´s) em ambos os sexos e grupos etários. Este estudo permite-nos concluir que se estas crianças se beneficiaram com a intervenção no recreio escolar, poderá ser benéfica a sua implementação noutras escolas. O recreio escolar afigura-se como um espaço privilegiado de promoção de hábitos de atividade física nas crianças, não devendo por isso ser negligenciado.
- A importância do recreio escolar na atividade física das criançasPublication . Lopes, Luís; Santos, Rute; Lopes, Vitor P.; Pereira, BeatrizOs benefícios da atividade física em crianças e adolescentes são bem conhecidos e estão bem fundamentados na literatura. Em idade escolar, a manutenção de níveis adequados de atividade física visa sobretudo o crescimento e desenvolvimento saudável e normal, para além da criação de hábitos de atividade física que se irão prolongar ao longo da vida. As escolas são locais com potencial para serem promovidos comportamentos saudáveis. No contexto escolar, o recreio é reconhecidamente um tempo e um espaço importante no âmbito da promoção da atividade física em crianças. Dadas as suas características o recreio apresenta-se como uma excelente oportunidade de acumular atividade física ao longo do dia, além de outros benefícios, nomeadamente de aspetos: sociais (partilha, cooperação, comunicação, resolução de conflitos, auto disciplina, etc.); emocionais (libertação do stress, auto estima, desenvolvimento do carácter, etc.); e cognitivos (criatividade, resolução de problemas e vocabulário, etc.). Resultados de diversos estudos permitem-nos concluir que as crianças beneficiam com intervenções no recreio escolar. Supervisão, encorajamento, pinturas multicolores do espaço de recreio com jogos infantis e imagens coloridas sugestivas, equipamentos móveis de jogo, e aumento do tempo passado no recreio são exemplos bem-sucedidos e com baixos custos de intervenções realizadas com o propósito de aumentar a atividade física diária das crianças. Redesenhar o espaço com pinturas multicolores e alterações estruturais do espaço físico do recreio, é outro tipo de intervenção realizada. O recreio escolar afigura-se como um espaço privilegiado de promoção de hábitos de atividade física nas crianças, não devendo por isso ser negligenciado.
- Maternal perceptions of children's weight statusPublication . Lopes, Luís; Santos, Rute; Pereira, Beatriz; Lopes, Vitor P.Several studies have addressed mothers’ perceptions of their children’s weight status; however, there is no investigation on Portuguese children (a country with one of the highest levels of children’s overweight and obesity in Europe). The aim of this study was to quantify maternal misclassification of child weight status in a sample of Portuguese children aged 9 to 12 years, according to gender, family income, and maternal weight status, education level and age. Methods Data were collected in a school-based study (school year 2009/2010) in northern Portugal with 499 urban children (236 girls; 47.3%). Body mass index was calculated from measurements of height and weight [body mass (kg)/height (m2)]. Mothers’ perceptions of child’s weight status, age, height and weight were accessed by a questionnaire. Children’s age, gender and socio-economic status were extracted from the schools’ administrative record systems. Cohen’s Kappa was used to analyse the misperceptions and the agreement between children’s objectively measured weight status and mothers’ perception of their child’s weight status. Results The prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity in children was 4.6%, 25.5% and 6.4%, respectively. A proportion of 65.2% of underweight and 61.6% of overweight/obese children were misclassified by their mothers. For the majority of variables presented, the values of agreement were fair (k ranged from 0.257 to 0.486), but were statistically significant. Significant differences in the percentages of mothers who correctly classified their children’s weight status were only found among the most educated in the overweight/obese group and among the normal-weight mothers in the underweight group. Conclusions Many mothers do not properly recognize their children’s weight status and frequently underestimate their children’s body size.
- Objectively measured sedentary time and academic achievement in schoolchildrenPublication . Lopes, Luís; Santos, Rute; Mota, Jorge; Pereira, Beatriz; Lopes, Vitor P.This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between objectively measured total sedentary time and academic achievement (AA) in Portuguese children. The sample comprised of 213 children (51.6% girls) aged 9.46 ± 0.43 years, from the north of Portugal. Sedentary time was measured with accelerometry, and AA was assessed using the Portuguese Language and Mathematics National Exams results. Multilevel linear regression models were fitted to assess regression coefficients predicting AA. The results showed that objectively measured total sedentary time was not associated with AA, after adjusting for potential confounders
- Physical activity levels in normal weight and overweight portuguese children: an intervention study during an elementary school recessPublication . Lopes, Luís; Lopes, Vitor P.; Pereira, BeatrizThis study aimed to analyze the effects of an intervention strategy during the school recess on physical activity (PA) levels, by gender, age and body mass index (BMI). The sample comprises 158 Portuguese children aged 6 to 12 years. Weight and height were objectively measured. PA was assessed by accelerometry during the recess in preintervention and post-intervention periods. Introduction of extra outdoor play equipment was used as an intervention strategy. Significant interaction effects were found for the following areas: percentage of time spent in PA (F(1,150)=70.157;p<0.001), intervention X age group (F(1,150)= 24.416;p<0.001) and gender X age group (F(1,150)=6.919;p=0.009); the time spent in Moderate PA for ntervention X gender (F(1,150)=15.290;p<0.001) and BMI X gender (F(1,150)=6.411;p=0.012); the time spent in Vigorous and Very Vigorous PA (F(1,150)=54.790;p=0.001), intervention X age group (F(1,150)=9.490; p=0.002), intervention X gender (F(1,150)=14.161;p<0.001) and BMI X gender (F(1,150)=5.049;p=0.026). It appears that successful recess interventions to improve PA for children in elementary scholars are possible by providing relatively inexpensive play equipment.
- Physical Activity Patterns During School Recess: A Study in Children 6 to 10 Years OldPublication . Lopes, Vitor P.; Vasques, Catarina; Pereira, Beatriz; Maia, José A.R.; Malina, Robert M.The aims of this study were to characterize the spontaneous physical activity of children during school recess, and to estimate variation in physical activity associated with gender and age. A MTI actigraph (Model 7164) was used with a sample of 140 boys and 131 girls, 6 to 10 years of age. MTI counts were converted to METs using a regression equation developed for children. The number and average duration of periods of activity by intensity were calculated for each child during a 30 minute recess: rest or mild physical activity (≤ 2.9 METs), moderate physical activity (3.0-5.9 METs,), vigorous physical activity (6.0-8.9 METs) and very vigorous physical activity (≥ 9.0 METs). Boys and girls spent about 50% of the recess in physical activity. Physical activity was characteristically done in very short bursts with intervals of rest or mild physical activity. The number of episodes of physical activity of all intensity levels was lower in older children while the inverse occurred at rest or mild physical activity. Boys engaged in higher intensity activity than girls and in general spent more recess time in physical activity.
- Sensitivity and specificity of different measures of adiposity to distinguish between low/high motor coordinationPublication . Lopes, Luís; Santos, Rute; Moreira, C.; Pereira, Beatriz; Lopes, Vitor P.This study aimed to determine the ability of different measures of adiposity to discriminate between low/high motor coordination and to evaluate the relationship between different measures of adiposity and motor coordination. METHODS: This study included 596 elementary school children aged 9 to 12 years (218 females - 47.1%). Weight, height, and waist circumference were objectively measured by standardized protocols. Body fat percentage was estimated by bioelectric impedance. Body mass index and waist-to-height ratio were computed. Motor coordination was assessed by the Korperkoordination Test fur Kinder. Cardiorespiratory fitness was predicted by a maximal multistage 20 m shuttle-run test of the Fitnessgram Test Battery. A questionnaire was used to assess the maternal educational level. RESULTS: The receiver operating characteristic performance of body fat percentage in females and waist circumference in males presented a slightly better discriminatory accuracy than body mass index, waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio in predicting low motor coordination. After adjustments, logistic regression analyses showed that body mass index (beta=2.155; 95%CI: 1.164-3.992; p=0.015 for girls; beta=3.255; 95% CI: 1.740-6.088; p<0.001 for males), waist circumference (beta=2.489; 95%CI:1.242-4.988; p=0.010 for girls; beta=3.296; 95%CI:1.784-6.090; p<0.001 for males), body fat percentage (beta=2.395; 95%CI:1.234-4.646; p=0.010 for girls; beta=2.603; 95%CI:1.462-4.634; p<0.001 for males) and waist-to-height ratio (beta=3.840; 95%CI:2.025-7.283; p<0.001 for males) were positively and significantly associated with motor coordination in both sexes, with the exception of waist-to-height ratio in girls (beta=1.343; 95%CI:0.713-2.528; p=0.381)