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- Reliability and feasibility of a voucher‐based strategy for physical activity assessment based on accelerometer in Portuguese children from a rural areaPublication . Vasques, Catarina; Sampaio, Tatiana; Teixeira, José Eduardo; Ginja, Samuel; Magalhães, PedroLast decades, children have left the streets, the pranks and the playgrounds for the physical inactive and sedentary times of watching TV, internet surfing and video gaming (Carbone et al., 2021; Kelly et al., 2005). It is therefore important to understand whether this trend covers Portuguese children from rural areas, previously characterized as presenting greater opportunities for physical activity (PA) practice (Machado-Rodrigues et al., 2012). However, the adherence to observational studies is often low and it is important to create strategies for increased participation (Shrank et al., 2011). Thus, this research aimed to assess the reliability and feasibility of voucher‐based strategy for physical activity assessment based on accelerometer in Portuguese children from a rural area. An observational cross-sectional research was conducted between September 2022 and January 2023. The ACTI-Study evaluated the moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) levels and sedentary behavior (SB) in students (age 10-16) from a high school in a Portuguese Northeast rural area. The PA assessment were conducted a hip-worn accelerometer (ActiGraph®, either GT3X or GT1M), on an elastic belt, for seven consecutive days (including weekend) (Vasques et al., 2023). Body mass index (BMI) was computed by dividing weight (kg) by height (m2). Normal (25.0 kg/m2), overweight (25.0 to 29.9 kg/m2), and obese (30.0 kg/m2) were defined using European BMI cut-offs (Magalhães et al., 2023; Vasques et al., 2014). Previous, a questionnaire for sample's sociodemographic and determinants of physical activity practice was applied. For applying the voucher-based strategy, children who returned the accelerometer were rewarded with a 5€ voucher, and a second one was given if they wore the accelerometer for a minimum of three days (at least 6h/day and at least one weekend) (Ginja et al., 2019). After, wore the accelerometer for a minimum of three days (two weekdays and one of the weekend) would mean receiving an extra 5€ voucher. Friedson's (2005) criteria was used to measure MVPA levels. Troiano (2007) algorithm was computed to assess compliance with the minimum of 360 minutes over three monitored days (Kakinami et al., 2018; Vanhelst et al., 2012). Only two children did not fulfill the criterion established for the use of the accelerometer, which means that the values found in the study correspond to the MVPA levels and SB time is representative in 97.8% of the selected sample. This means that applying voucher-based strategies for accelerometer-based physical activity assessment in Portuguese rural children is reliable and feasible, and all researchers should consider this strategy if they want to reduce research dropouts (Ginja et al., 2017, 2019). Finally, the next ACTI-Study milestones will be to assess the average daily number of MVPA minutes (accelerometer based and parent reported), percentage spent in MVPA (accelerometer based), number of steps (accelerometer based) and sedentary time bouts.
- PéAtivo program: Baseline results of physical activity, overweight, caloric intake of snacks and screen activitiesPublication . Magalhães, Pedro; Vasques, Catarina; Coelho, Eduarda; Carvalho, Ana Sofia CoelhoThe contemporary society is characterized by technological and scientific processes, among others, that have triggered the creation of new social, economic and cultural contexts with repercussions in the way of life. Among the major changes in current society's behavior patterns, there are an increase in the levels of sedentarism and hypercaloric diets, on detriment of physical activity (PA) practice and healthy eating habits. The aims of this study were to characterize, and to compare between sexes, the baseline values of overweight, PA levels, hours of sleep, time spent on screen activities and the nutritional value of the snacks in pre-school children. METHODS: The sample consisted of 241 pre-school children (121 boys and 120 girls), aged between 3 and 6 years old (4.49±0.69), from Bragança city. Several anthropometric variables were evaluated and the nutritional value of the snacks was calculated based on photographic record. The PA levels were monitored using the New-Lifestyles NL-2000 pedometer. A questionnaire was used to categorize the sedentary behaviors and the sleeping hours. To compare between sexes, it was used a chi-square test for the nominal variables and a t-test for continuous variables. The results showed that 6.7% of the children had lower weight, 79.1% normal weight and 14.2% overweight. Regarding the levels of PA, the results showed that: on weekdays, 8.1% had low levels of PA, 52.0% were physically active and 39.8% were very active; on weekends, 25.7% had low levels of PA, 52.9% were physically active and 21.4% were very active. On screen activities, it was found that 50.6% of the children spent more than 2 hours/day in weekdays and 88.3% at the weekend. Regarding the snacks that children took to kindergarten, 24.8% were considered healthy, 44.4% little healthy and 30.8% unhealthy. 74.5% of children slept less than 10 hours/day. None of these variables presented statistically significant differences between sexes. The Table 1 shows mean values comparisons of the different variables, by sex. Only significant differences were found in the percentage of fat (girls=24.38±2.53 and boys=22.07±3.83; p<0.05). The prevalence of overweight in pre-school children in Bragança is high. The PA levels are lower on weekend compared to weekdays, and only 1/4 of the children took healthy snacks to the kindergarten. These results highlight the importance of a structured intervention on pre-school level to increase children’s PA, through active transportation to school and promote healthy lifestyles through meetings and lectures with their parents.
- Accelerometer-measured physical activity in Portuguese children from a rural area: a school-based cross-sectional studyPublication . Vasques, Catarina; Sampaio, Tatiana; Teixeira, José Eduardo; Ginja, Samuel; Magalhães, PedroYoung people are leading increasingly sedentary lives replacing physical activity with activities such as watching TV, internet surfing and video gaming. Of particular importance for physical activity promotion are schools where physical activity can be incorporated to improve student health outcomes and cognitive performance. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that children engage in at least 60 minutes per day of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) for children and adolescents (between 5-18 years of age). However, few children follow these recommendations. In Portugal, some data suggest that as few as 7% do so. Furthermore, most physical activity studies take place in urban areas, so little is known about how active children and adolescents are in more rural parts of the country. The Acti-Study is a collaboration between the Instituto Politécnico de Bragança (Portugal) and Ulster University (UK) with the primary aim of assessing MVPA levels in students (age 10-16) from a high school in a rural town, in the Northeast of Portugal. Data collection will take place between September 2022 and January 2023, using a cross-sectional design. Students will receive a study pack containing information materials, a sociodemographic questionnaire and consent form for parental completion, and an assent form for student completion. Optionally, the questionnaire may be completed online. Participants will be informed that participation is voluntary and that they can withdraw at any time. Once children have returned the relevant documents completed and signed, they will be instructed to wear a hip-worn accelerometer (ActiGraph®, either GT3X or GT1M), on an elastic belt, for seven consecutive days (including weekend). Children who return their accelerometer will be rewarded with a 5€ voucher, and with a second one if they wore the accelerometer for a minimum of three days (at least 6h/day and at least one weekend). Data will be analysed through descriptive statistics, mostly in tables, divided by gender. With participant consent, data on anthropometric measures (height and weight), available through the school, will also be used. Primary analysis will consist of percentage of students who meet MVPA guidelines; secondary analyses will include exploring the relationship between sociodemographic variables (e.g., parental education) and MVPA, between parent-reported MVPA and accelerometer MVPA, and between accelerometer MVPA and anthropometric data. The results are expected to provide an understanding of the levels and factors associated with MVPA in rural Portugal, to allow comparison with other samples (e.g., from urban areas), to raise awareness to the problem and stimulate more physical activity initiatives. Study with ethics approval by Ulster University (REC/22/0060).
- Habitual physical activity patterns of pre-school children from BragançaPublication . Magalhães, Pedro; Coelho, Eduarda; Forte, Pedro; Vasques, CatarinaThe increase in the prevalence of overweight in children is commonly associated with their low levels of physical activity (PA). In fact, young people who have higher levels of PA over several years tend to have lower rates of overweight than their less active peers. Thus, it becomes of the utmost importance to promote the practice of regular PA among children. In this context, the aims of this study were to compare the number of steps done by children during the weekdays with the weekend and to analyse the contribution of a schoolbase physical exercise (PE) session to the total number of daily steps performed by children. The sample comprised 105 pre-school children, from 3 to 6 years old (4.48±0.69) from 5 kindergartens from Bragança. The PA evaluation was done through daily number of steps from New-Lifestyles NL-2000 pedometer. The mean number of steps taken by the children remained relatively constant during the week, decreasing only slightly on Friday. However, on Saturday and Sunday the decline was more pronounced. Significant differences were found between the number of steps on weekdays and weekend days (p<0.001), with higher levels of PA on weekdays. PA was higher (p<0.001) on the days with PE session than without PE session in kindergarten. Children of preschool age are more active during the weekdays than at the weekend. The implementation at school-based of PE session at pre-school level had a significant impact on daily PA levels of the children.