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OBJECTIVES: To examine school- and student-level correlates of physical activity. METHODS: Cross-sectional Year 2 data collected from 45 298 grade 9-12 students attending 89 secondary schools in the COMPASS study were examined using multi-level modelling to predict the likelihood of students a) achieving 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) daily; and b) achieving the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) activity guideline for youth (60 minutes/MVPA daily, vigorous physical activity at least three days in a week, and resistance training at least three days in a week). RESULTS: The prevalence of students achieving 60 minutes of MVPA daily and meeting the CSEP guideline was 49.3% and 31.0% respectively. Modest between-school variability was identified (1.1% for 60 minutes MVPA and 0.8% for CSEP guideline). School-level characteristics significantly associated with the outcome measures included location, school size, quality of facilities, and accessibility of facilities. Significant student-level correlates included sex, grade, weekly income, binge drinking, fruit and vegetable consumption, and body mass index. CONCLUSIONS: Most youth in this large study reported inadequate physical activity levels. Students were more likely to achieve 60 minutes of MVPA if they attended a larger school or a school in an urban location, whereas students were less likely to meet the CSEP guideline if they attended a school in a small urban location. However, student-level factors, such as binge drinking and inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption, were more strongly associated with the outcomes examined. KEY WORDS: Physical activity; adolescent; schools; environment design OBJECTIFS : Examiner les correlats de l'activite physique au niveau des etablissements scolaires et des eleves. METHODE : Les donnees transversales de l'An 2 recueillies aupres de 45 298 eleves de la 9e a la 12e annee frequentant 89 ecoles secondaires dans le cadre de l'etude COMPASS ont ete examinees par modelisation a niveaux multiples pour predire la vraisemblance que les eleves : a) accomplissent 60 minutes d'activite physique d'intensite moderee a elevee (APIME) par jour; et b) respectent les lignes directrices de la Societe canadienne de physiologie de l'exercice (SCPE) pour l'activite des jeunes (60 minutes d'APIME par jour, activite physique vigoureuse au moins trois jours par semaine et entrainement contre resistance au moins trois jours par semaine). RESULTATS : La prevalence de l'accomplissement de 60 minutes d'APIME par jour et du respect des lignes directrices de la SCPE chez les etudiants etait de 49,3 % et de 31 %, respectivement. Des ecarts mineurs d'une ecole a l'autre ont ete observes (1,1 % pour les 60 minutes d'APIME et 0,8 % pour les lignes directrices de la SCPE). Les caracteristiques des ecoles presentant une correlation significative avec les indicateurs de resultat etaient l'emplacement, la taille de l'ecole, la qualite des installations et l'accessibilite des installations. Les correlations significatives pour les eleves etaient le sexe, la classe, le revenu hebdomadaire, les exces occasionnels d'alcool, la consommation de fruits et legumes et l'indice de masse corporelle. CONCLUSIONS : La plupart des jeunes de cette vaste etude ont fait etat de niveaux d'activite physique insuffisants. Les eleves etaient plus susceptibles d'accomplir 60 minutes d'APIME s'ils frequentaient une grosse ecole ou une ecole en milieu urbain, mais les eleves etaient moins susceptibles de respecter les lignes directrices de la SCPE s'ils frequentaient une petite ecole en milieu urbain. Toutefois, les facteurs propres aux eleves, comme les exces occasionnels d'alcool et la consommation insuffisante de fruits et legumes, etaient plus fortement associes aux resultats examines. MOTS CLES : Activite physique; adolescent; etablissements scolaires; conception de l'environnement, Physical activity has been shown to have many health benefits for youth, including improved cardiovascular health, blood pressure, body composition, strength and endurance, aspects of mental health, and academic performance. [...]

OBJECTIVE: To examine the prevalence of students meeting physical activity, diet and smoking health recommendations and to examine the correlates of meeting these guidelines. METHODS: Randomly selected students at the University of Toronto (N = 2,812; female = 71.60%, mean age = 22.11 [+ or -] 5.24 years, mean body mass index = 22.80 kg/[m.sup.2]) completed the National College Health Assessment-II survey in spring of 2013. RESULTS: Only 0.1% of the sample reported meeting physical activity, diet and non-smoking guidelines. Males were more likely than females to meet physical activity and both physical activity and fruit and vegetable guidelines ([chi square] [1,2812] = 7.33, p < 0.05). Women were more likely than men to be nonsmokers ([X.sup.2] [1,2812] = 7.80, p < 0.05). Being overweight was associated with meeting physical activity guidelines. Being a healthy weight was associated with meeting both physical activity and fruit and vegetable guidelines ([X.sup.2] [1,2812] = 6.29, p < 0.05). Underweight participants were more likely to be nonsmokers ([X.sup.2] [2, 2812] = 6.36, p < 0.05). In the logistic regression, being Caucasian and male and trying to change weight were correlated with meeting moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and strength training guidelines. Being older, Caucasian and trying to change weight were correlates of consuming greater than five fruits and vegetables per day. Beings Caucasian, female, and trying to change weight were correlates of being a non-smoker. CONCLUSION: University health promotion programs should be targeted to specific age, ethnicity and weight status groups, as there are distinct differences among those not meeting physical activity, diet and non-smoking guidelines. KEY WORDS: Young adults; exercise; dietary guidelines; body mass index; sex OBJECTIF: Examiner la prevalence des etudiants qui respectent les recommandations sanitaires sur l'activite physique, le regime alimentaire et le non-tabagisme et examiner les correlats du respect de ces lignes directrices. METHODE: Des etudiants de l'Universite de Toronto selectionnes au hasard (N = 2 812; femmes = 71,60 %, age moyen = 22,11 [+ or -] 5,24 ans, indice de masse corporelle moyen = 22,80 kg/[m.sup.2]) ont rempli le questionnaire National College Health Assessment-II au printemps 2013. RESULTATS : A peine 0,1 % de l'echantillon ont donne des reponses conformes aux lignes directrices sur l'activite physique, le regime et le non-tabagisme. Les hommes etaient plus susceptibles que les femmes de respecter les lignes directrices sur l'activite physique, et a la fois celles sur l'activite physique et la consommation de fruits et legumes ([X.sup.2] [1, 2812] = 7,33, p < 0,05). Les femmes etaient plus susceptibles que les hommes de ne pas fumer ([X.sup.2] [1,2812] = 7,80, p < 0,05). Le surpoids etait associe au respect des lignes directrices sur l'activite physique. Le poids-sante etait associe au respect des lignes directrices sur l'activite physique et sur la consommation de fruits et legumes ([X.sup.2] [1,2812] = 6,29, p < 0,05). Les participants de poids insuffisant etaient plus susceptibles d'etre non-fumeurs ([X.sup.2] [2, 2812] = 6,36, p < 0,05). Selon l'analyse de regression logistique, les faits d'etre un homme, d'etre blanc et d'essayer de modifier son poids etaient correles avec le respect des consignes d'activite physique moderee a vigoureuse et d'entrainement musculaire. Les faits d'etre plus age, d'etre blanc et d'essayer de modifier son poids etaient correles avec la consommation de plus de cinq fruits et legumes par jour. Les faits d'etre blanc, d'etre une femme et d'essayer de modifier son poids etaient correles avec le statut de non-fumeur. CONCLUSION : Les programmes de promotion de la sante a l'universite devraient cibler des groupes d'age, d'ethnicite et de statut ponderal particuliers, car il y a de nettes differences entre les personnes qui ne respectent pas les lignes directrices sur l'activite physique, le regime et le non-tabagisme. MOTS CLES : jeune adulte; exercice physique; directives nutritionnelles; indice de masse corporelle; sexe La traduction du resume se trouve a la fin de l'article. Can J Public Health 2015;106(3):e109-e114 doi: 10.17269/CJPH.106.4784, The university student population is of particular public health interest given the physical, emotional and social developmental changes that are experienced at this time. (1) This is also a time [...]

Objective: Climatic conditions may enable or deter active school transportation in many North American cities, but the topic remains largely overlooked in the existing literature. This study explores the effect of seasonal climate (i.e., fall versus winter) and weekly weather conditions (i.e., temperature, precipitation) on active travelling to school across different built and policy environments. Methods: Home-to-school trips by 11-12-year-old children in the City of Toronto were examined using data from the 2006 Transportation Tomorrow Survey. Binomial logistic regressions were estimated to explore the correlates of the choice of active (i.e., walking) versus non-active (i.e., private automobile, transit and school bus) mode for school trips. Results: Climate and weather-related variables were not associated with choice of school travel mode. Children living within the sidewalk snow-plough zone (i.e., in the inner-suburban neighbourhoods) were less likely to walk to school than children living outside of the zone (i.e., in the inner-city neighbourhoods). Conclusion: Given that seasonality and short-term weather conditions appear not to limit active school transportation in general, built environment interventions designed to facilitate active travel could have benefits that spill over across the entire year rather than being limited to a particular season. Educational campaigns with strategies for making the trip fun and ensuring that the appropriate clothing choices are made are also warranted in complementing built environment modifications. Key words: Climate; weather; school travel; walking; built environment Objectif : Les conditions climatiques pourraient favoriser ou entraver le transport scolaire actif dans de nombreuses villes d'Amerique du Nord, mais ce sujet est en grande partie inexplore dans la recherche existante. Notre etude porte sur l'effet du climat saisonnier (p. ex., automnal ou hivernal) et des conditions atmospheriques hebdomadaires (temperature, precipitations) sur le transport scolaire actif dans differents milieux batis et environnements politiques. Methode : Nous avons examine les trajets de la maison a l'ecole d'enfants de 11 et 12 ans vivant a Toronto a l'aide des donnees du Sondage pour le systeme de transports de demain de 2006. Des regressions logistiques binomiales ont ete estimees pour explorer les correlats du choix d'un mode de transport actif (comme la marche) ou non actif (voiture privee, transports en commun, autobus scolaire) pour se rendre a l'ecole. Resultats : Les variables liees au climat et a la meteo n'etaient pas associees au choix du mode de transport scolaire. Les enfants vivant a l'interieur de la zone de deneigement des trottoirs (c.-a-d. dans les quartiers de la proche banlieue) etaient moins susceptibles de se rendre a l'ecole en marchant que les enfants vivant hors de cette zone (c.-a-d. dans les quartiers du centre-ville). Conclusion : Etant donne que les cycles saisonniers et les conditions atmospheriques de courte duree ne semblent pas limiter le transport scolaire actif en general, les interventions sur le milieu bati concues pour faciliter les deplacements actifs pourraient avoir des repercussions positives toute l'annee plutot que de se limiter a une saison particuliere. On devrait aussi envisager, pour completer des modifications au milieu bati, des campagnes de sensibilisation comportant des strategies pour rendre le trajet amusant et pour aider les enfants a choisir des vetements appropries. Mots cles : climat; temps; transport scolaire; marche; milieu bati, Children who walk or cycle for school transportation tend to be more physically active overall than those who use other travel modes. (1) Policy and program initiatives in North America [...]

Objective: A child's opportunity for physical activity and the safety of engaging in activity are influenced by built environment (BE) elements. This study examined the relationship of neighbourhood type and socio-economic status (SES) with activity using a sampling frame that purposely located schools in varying neighbourhoods to ensure that there was variability in BE characteristics and SES. Methods: Participants (1,027 Grade 5 & 6 students, Toronto, ON) were drawn from 16 schools that varied by neighbourhood type (pre-1946 'old/urban BE' with grid-based street layout versus post-1946 'new/inner-suburban BE' with looping street layout) and socio-economic status (low and high SES). Physical activity was recorded by accelerometry for seven days. Only children living within 1.6 km of school were included in the analyses (n=713; boys=339, girls=374). Generalized linear mixed models examined sex-specific differences in physical activity across four geographic stratifications: old BE, low-SES (OL); old BE, high-SES (OH); new BE, low-SES (NL); and new BE, high-SES (NH). Results: Children who attended schools in more affluent neighbourhoods (urban and inner-suburban) had more positive physical activity profiles. Across school days, boys were more active in inner-suburban neighbourhoods whereas urban and inner-suburban girls' activity levels were similar. On the weekend, the influence of the neighbourhood environment was stronger, especially for girls and also for boys with respect to total activity and the accumulation of moderate- to-vigorous physical activity. Conclusion: These findings focus attention on the need to consider the broader social and temporal contexts of specific geographic locations when planning and implementing built environment interventions to increase physical activity among children. Key words: Accelerometer; child; built environment; physical activity Objectif: Les occasions pour un enfant de faire de l'activite physique et la possibilite de le faire en toute securite sont influencees par les elements du milieu bati (MB). Notre etude porte sur la relation entre le type de quartier, le statut socioeconomique (SSE) et l'activite; la base d'echantillonnage utilisee contenait volontairement des ecoles de divers quartiers pour assurer la variabilite des caracteristiques du MB et du SSE. Methode: Les participants (1 027 eleves de 5e et de 6e annee a Toronto, en Ontario) ont ete choisis dans 16 ecoles qui variaient selon le type de quartier (<< MB ancien/urbain >> d'avant 1946 avec rues quadrillees ou <> d'apres 1946 avec rues en boucles) et le statut socioeconomique (SSE faible ou eleve). L'activite physique a ete enregistree par accelerometrie pendant sept jours. Seuls les enfants vivant a moins de 1,6 km de l'ecole ont ete inclus dans l'analyse (n=713; garcons=339, filles=374). Au moyen de modeles lineaires mixtes generalises, nous avons examine les differences par sexe dans l'activite physique entre quatre stratifications geographiques : MB ancien, faible SSE; MB ancien, SSE eleve; MB nouveau, faible SSE; et MB nouveau, SSE eleve. Resultats: Les enfants qui frequentaient les ecoles des quartiers aises (urbains et de la proche banlieue) avaient des profils d'activite physique plus positifs. Les jours d'ecole, les garcons des quartiers de la proche banlieue etaient plus actifs, tandis que les niveaux d'activite des filles etaient semblables en milieu urbain et dans la proche banlieue. Les fins de semaine, l'influence de l'environnement du quartier etait plus forte, surtout chez les filles, mais aussi chez les garcons en ce qui a trait a l'activite totale et a l'accumulation d'activite physique moderee a vigoureuse. Conclusion: Ces resultats montrent qu'il faut examiner le contexte social et temporel des lieux geographiques lorsqu'on planifie et que l'on met en oeuvre des interventions sur le milieu bati pour accroitre l'activite physique chez les enfants. Mots cles: accelerometre; enfant; milieu bati; activite physique La traduction du resume se trouve a la fin de l'article. Can J Public Health 2012;103(Suppl. 3):S9-S14., The built environment consists of the buildings, roads and planned open spaces in which people live, work and perform other daily activities (e.g., study, eat, socialize and play). The physical [...]

Objective: In 2005, the Ontario Ministry of Education announced a policy requiring that all elementary students be provided with opportunities to participate in a minimum of 20 minutes of sustained moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) each school day during instructional time. To the authors' knowledge, this policy has never been formally evaluated. In a form of natural experiment with Project BEAT, we explored within 16 Toronto District School Board schools the proportion of children who participate in DPA, and the proportion who achieve sustained MVPA within these sessions; these are the objectives of this article. Methods: Consent was given by 1,027 parents/guardians for their children to participate (boys, n=478; girls, n=549). Physical activity (PA) was measured using accelerometry and classroom schedules collected to identify sessions of DPA. The frequency of DPA and number and duration of sustained bouts of MVPA ([greater than or equal to] 5 min) were computed and explored relative to PA levels and health outcomes. Results: Fewer than half of the participating children were provided with DPA every day and not a single child engaged in sustained MVPA for [greater than or equal to] 20 minutes. On the more positive side, children who engaged in DPA every day were significantly more active than their peers. Those accumulating at least 1 bout of MVPA were more active and likely to meet PA guidelines, and fewer of these children were overweight. Conclusion: The majority of schools are not meeting the DPA policy. However, as the frequency and intensity of DPA increases, so do positive health outcomes. This paper provides supporting evidence that when this policy is implemented, the intended health benefits are achievable. Key words: Accelerometer; children; health; policy; school La traduction du resume se trouve a la fin de l'article. Objectif : En 2005, le ministere de l'Education de l'Ontario annoncait une politique exigeant que tous les eleves du primaire aient l'occasion de participer a au moins 20 minutes d'activite physique moderee a vigoureuse (APMV) soutenue chaque jour d'ecole pendant les heures de classe. A la connaissance des auteurs, cette politique n'a jamais ete officiellement evaluee. Dans le cadre d'une experience dans les conditions naturelles menee avec le projet BEAT, nous avons analyse dans 16 ecoles du Conseil scolaire du district de Toronto la proportion d'enfants pratiquant une activite physique quotidienne (APQ) et la proportion d'enfants atteignant un niveau soutenu d'APMV durant ces seances; ce sont la les objectifs de notre article. Methode : Mille vingt-sept parents et tuteurs ont consenti a ce que leurs enfants participent a l'etude (garcons, n=478; filles, n=549). Nous avons mesure l'activite physique (AP) par accelerometrie et obtenu les horaires des classes pour identifier les seances d'APQ. La frequence de l'APQ et le nombre et la duree des episodes soutenus d'APMV ([greater than or equal to] 5 min) ont ete calcules et analyses par rapport aux niveaux d'AP et aux resultats de sante. Resultats : Moins de la moitie des eleves participants avaient droit a une seance d'APQ tous les jours, et absolument aucun ne pratiquait une APMV soutenue pendant >20 minutes. En revanche, les eleves qui pratiquaient une activite physique quotidienne etaient sensiblement plus actifs que leurs pairs. Ceux qui accumulaient au moins un episode d'APMV etaient plus actifs et plus susceptibles de respecter les criteres d'AP, et ces enfants etaient moins nombreux a etre en surpoids. Conclusion : La majorite des ecoles ne respectent pas la politique d'APQ. Or, les resultats de sante positifs augmentent avec la frequence et l'intensite de l'APQ. Les resultats de notre etude montrent que lorsque la politique est appliquee, les avantages escomptes pour la sante sont realisables. Mots cles : accelerometre; enfant; sante; politique; ecole, On October 6, 2005, the Ontario Ministry of Education (OME) announced a policy requiring that 'all students in Grades 1 to 8, including students with special needs, be provided with [...]

Background: Research evaluating mediated physical activity campaigns uses an unsophisticated conceptualization of the media and would benefit from the application of a media studies approach. The purpose of this article is to report on the application of this type of analysis to the Canada on the Move media campaign.Methods: Through interviews and document analysis, the press release surrounding Canada on the Move was examined at four levels: inception, production, transmission and reception. Analytic strategies of thematic and textual analysis were conducted.Results and Conclusion: The press release was well received by journalists and editors and was successfully transmitted as inferred from national and local television coverage, although there was no national print pickup. Canada on the Move was perceived by sampled audience members as a useful and interesting strategy to encourage walking. A holistic approach to media analysis reveals the complex and frequently messy process of this mediated communication process. Implications for future media disseminations of Canada on the Move are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]