It is time to get a move on and tackle worrying health behaviour patterns in children and adolescents
2021; Wiley; Volume: 110; Issue: 9 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1111/apa.15891
ISSN1651-2227
Autores Tópico(s)Mobile Health and mHealth Applications
ResumoActa PaediatricaVolume 110, Issue 9 p. 2499-2500 EDITORIALFree Access It is time to get a move on and tackle worrying health behaviour patterns in children and adolescents Gisela Nyberg, Corresponding Author Gisela Nyberg [email protected] orcid.org/0000-0003-0004-8533 The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences (GIH), Stockholm, Sweden Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden Correspondence Gisela Nyberg, The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden. Email: [email protected]Search for more papers by this author Gisela Nyberg, Corresponding Author Gisela Nyberg [email protected] orcid.org/0000-0003-0004-8533 The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences (GIH), Stockholm, Sweden Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden Correspondence Gisela Nyberg, The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden. Email: [email protected]Search for more papers by this author First published: 17 May 2021 https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.15891AboutSectionsPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Urgent action is needed to tackle the problems affecting the health and well-being of our children and adolescents, which have been growing over time and have been exacerbated by the pandemic. In this issue of Acta Paediatrica, Rosell et. al. describe data from the Generation Pep study, a large ongoing Swedish survey on dietary intake and physical activity in children and adolescents.1 A random sample of 29,000 children and adolescents aged 4–17 years was drawn from the Swedish population register in June 2018, and 12,441 (43%) took part in this study. Education levels were low for 4% of the children's parents, medium in 39% and high in 57%. The participants, and their parents, filled in a web-based questionnaire on dietary intake and physical activity in 2018. The authors concluded that the children and adolescents did not achieve the recommended intake of fruit and vegetables. The oldest age group, of adolescents aged 13–17 years, reported lower physical activity, higher screen time and a higher intake of unhealthy foods and drinks. They were also less likely to eat breakfast than the younger age groups. Girls had a somewhat healthier dietary intake than boys, with lower physical activity and lower screen time. There were important differences in socio-economic background. Children whose parents had higher parental education had healthier dietary habits and higher physical activity levels and participated more regularly in organised physical activities. Interestingly, the authors found no associations between screen time and parental education. Similar results to the Generation Pep study were found by a Swedish survey, Riksmaten Adolescents, which comprised 3302 children and adolescents aged 11–18 years.2 Physical activity and sedentary time were measured objectively with accelerometers for seven consecutive days, and 24-h dietary intake was self-reported for three days using a web-based method. The results showed that 23% of the girls and 43% of the boys reached the physical activity recommendation and their total sedentary time was an average of 10.3 h per day. Physical activity was lower and sedentary time was higher in older than younger age groups. In addition, most participants consumed a low level of fruit and vegetables, and, more importantly, less than 10% reached the dietary advice of 500 grams per day.3 Differences in physical activity between boys and girls were also reported by an international study that analysed accelerometer data from 27,637 children and adolescents aged 2.8 to 18.4 years. The International Children's Accelerometry Database showed that girls were more sedentary and less physically active than boys at all ages.4 It also reported that physical activity decreased with increased age. Being physically active during childhood and adolescence has been associated with multiple short-term and long-term health-related benefits for both physical and mental health.5 There have been studies that have showed the positive effects of physical activity on cognitive functions and academic performance. In contrast, increased sedentary behaviour, in particular recreational screen time, has been associated with lower fitness, poorer cardiometabolic health, shorter sleep duration and unfavourable measures of adiposity.5 Sedentary behaviours include the use of smartphones, tablets, games consoles, computers, televisions, passive modes of transport and reading and studying while sitting. However, the effect that screen time has on health seems to be differently influenced by the type of screen time. A large study of 4013 Australian children found that passive screen use, namely television was negatively associated with health outcomes.6 On the contrary, educational screen time such as homework and interactive screen use were positively associated with academic achievement. However, the latter was also negatively associated with health outcomes. In addition, a healthy diet that was rich in fruit and vegetables and low in unhealthy high energy density foods and beverages with added sugars was associated with several health benefits.7 In 2020, the World Health Organization launched global guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour for children and adolescents aged 5–17 years. This recommended an average of 60 min per day of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity. The recommendation incorporated vigorous intensity aerobic activities at least three days a week. Also, the amount of time spent being sedentary, particularly recreational screen time, should be limited. However, most children and adolescents do not meet the international guidelines and excessive screen time is also a global issue.8 Added to this, children and adolescents do not achieve the recommended intake of fruit and vegetables.3 Critically, health behaviours vary depending on socio-economic background, where children and adolescents from families with low education show the lowest levels of physical activity and unhealthy dietary habits.2, 3 Thus, a better understanding of the dietary and activity habits in young people is of great importance for policymakers and for guidelines that cover physical activity and nutrition. Also, it is important that we have more information so that we can identify risk groups who would benefit from appropriate intervention strategies. It is time to get a move on! Effective policies and programmes to promote health behaviours in children and adolescents urgently need to be scaled up. It must be a public health priority to start preventive strategies at an early age and in particular in groups with low socio-economic status. This will help to mitigate the worrisome health behaviour patterns that get worse with age and thereby counteract inequality in health. REFERENCES 1Rosell M, Carlander A, Cassel S, Henriksson P, J-son Höök M, Löf M. Generation Pep Study: a population-based survey on diet and physical activity in 12,000 Swedish children and adolescents. Acta Paediatr. 2021. 2Nyberg G, Kjellenberg K, Froberg A, Lindroos AK. A national survey showed low levels of physical activity in a representative sample of Swedish adolescents. Acta Paediatr. 2020; 109(11): 2342- 2353. 3Warensjö Lemming E, Moraeus L, Petrelius Sipinen J, Lindroos AK, Riksmaten ungdom 2016-17. Livsmedelskonsumtion Bland Ungdomar i Sverige. (In Swedish). The National Food Agency; 2018. 4Cooper AR, Goodman A, Page AS, et al. Objectively measured physical activity and sedentary time in youth: the International children's accelerometry database (ICAD). Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2015; 12: 113. 5Chaput JP, Willumsen J, Bull F, et al. 2020 WHO guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour for children and adolescents aged 5–17 years: summary of the evidence. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2020; 17(1): 141. 6Sanders T, Parker PD, Del Pozo-Cruz B, Noetel M, Lonsdale C. Type of screen time moderates effects on outcomes in 4013 children: evidence from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2019; 16(1): 117. 7 Nordic Council of Minsters. Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2012. Integrating nutrition and physical activity; 2014. 8Hallal PC, Andersen LB, Bull FC, et al. Global physical activity levels: surveillance progress, pitfalls, and prospects. Lancet. 2012; 380(9838): 247- 257. Volume110, Issue9September 2021Pages 2499-2500 ReferencesRelatedInformation
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