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Purpose: This study explored the feasibility of conducting a classroom-based active breaks intervention on sedentary behavior (SB), physical activity (PA) and attention in 8–12-year-old children. Methods: Eight schools were randomized on a 1:1 basis to the control or intervention. Teachers selected 10 cards detailing an activity break at random. Children then undertook each of the ten activity breaks for 30 s, three times per day for 6 weeks. School and participant recruitment, attrition rates, percentage of outcome measures collected, and acceptability were used to explore the feasibility of the study. Mixed effects models were undertaken to examine intervention effects upon measures of PA, SB and attention. Results: Two hundred and thirty-nine consent forms were issued and 153 were returned (64%). Of the 153 consents, 146 children (95%) were measured at baseline, and 117 participated in the follow-up measures (80%) 6 weeks later suggesting the intervention was acceptable for the participants. From teacher interviews, it was noted that the intervention was feasible to implement, and teachers observed positive classroom behavior changes in children. Inclusion rates for outcome measures ranged from 49% to 66%. Significant, intervention effects were observed for sitting time (B = −27.19; 95%CI: −36.84, −17.17), standing time (B = 23.51; 95%CI 14.1, 32.45) and the number of sit to stand transitions (B = 16.1; 95%CI 4.7, 26.79). Conclusion: Findings suggest that it was feasible and acceptable to implement an active breaks intervention within the classroom setting. Future work should consider the effectiveness of implementing this intervention across a full academic year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Physical inactivity and overweight status has been linked to low socioeconomic status (SES) in youth. Parents are known to influence both their child's weight and physical activity (PA). The relationship between parent and child PA is of interest to many researchers; however, previous research typically relies on self-reported measures. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between parent and child moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and body mass index (BMI) in a sample of children (4–11 years old) using wrist-worn accelerometers and to explore mediating processes by which SES influences child MVPA and BMI through their parents MVPA and BMI. Methods: Parent and child dyads (n = 174) wore an ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometer on their non-dominant wrist for 7 days. Mediation analyses were conducted to understand the indirect relationships between SES and child MVPA and BMI. Results: Weekend parent and child MVPA was significantly related (p <.01). Parent and child BMIs were also significantly related (p <.001). There was a significant negative direct effect of SES on child BMI (p <.05). Additionally, we observed a significant negative indirect effect of SES on child BMI via their parents BMI (B = −.04, SE.02, 95% CI = −.07 to −.01). Conclusions: Whilst parent and child MVPA were significantly related during the weekend, there were no associations between SES and MVPA. Future interventions aiming to improve health outcomes in children should consider the influence SES can have as well as parental activity on children's weekend MVPA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Raw acceleration data lend themselves to innovative metrics in which comparisons can be made across populations. This study examined whether the intensity gradient (IG) or average acceleration (AvAcc) was associated with body mass index (BMI) in children and adults and explored parent–child associations between time spent in physical activity intensities and BMI. Methods: Parent–child dyads (n = 90) wore a wrist-mounted ActiGraph GT3X+ monitor for ≥ 3 valid days (i.e., ≥ 16 hrs each day). Participants' BMI was calculated. Results: Girls' BMI-z scores were positively associated with parent BMI and inactive time. Parent BMI was negatively associated with boys' inactive time. Parental inactive time predicted girls' BMI-z scores. The metrics were not associated with parent BMI, and no independent effects were observed between the metrics. Associations between boys' IG and BMI z-score were observed. No independent effects were observed between the metrics and no significant associations were observed between boys' BMI z-score and AvAcc. Girls' AvAcc and IG were not associated with BMI z-score and no independent effects were observed between the metrics. Conclusion: Findings support previous research which suggests that parent's activity does not influence their child's activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]