Search

The global transition to current low levels of habitual physical activity among children and adolescents began in the second half of the last century. Low physical activity harms health in both the short term (during childhood and adolescence) and long term (during adulthood). In turn, low physical activity could limit progress towards several sustainable development goals, undermine noncommunicable disease prevention, delay physical and mental health recovery from the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, increase health-care costs and hinder responses to climate change. However, despite the importance of physical activity, public health surveillance among children and adolescents is very limited globally and low levels of physical activity in children is not on the public health agenda in many countries, irrespective of their level of economic development. This article details proposals for improvements in global public health surveillance of physical activity from birth to adolescence based on recent systematic reviews, international collaborations and World Health Organization guidelines and strategies. Empirical examples from several countries illustrate how improved surveillance of physical activity can lead to public health initiatives. Moreover, better surveillance raises awareness of the extent of physical inactivity, thereby making an invisible problem visible, and can lead to greater capacity in physical activity policy and practice. The time has arrived for a step change towards more systematic physical activity surveillance from infancy onwards that could help inform and inspire changes in public health policy and practice globally. Durant la seconde moitie du siecle dernier, l'activite physique des enfants et adolescents a commence a baisser a l'echelle mondiale pour atteindre le faible niveau actuel. La sedentarite a des effets nefastes sur la sante, tant a court terme (pendant l'enfance et l'adolescence) qu'a long terme (a l'age adulte). Elle peut egalement entraver la progression vers de nombreux objectifs de developpement durable, compromettre les efforts de prevention des maladies non transmissibles, retarder la guerison physique et mentale liee a la pandemie de maladie a coronavirus 2019, accroitre les depenses en soins de sante et freiner les reactions au changement climatique. Pourtant, malgre l'importance que revet l'activite physique, rares sont les dispositifs de surveillance de la sante publique mis en place pour les enfants et adolescents dans le monde. En outre, la lutte contre la sedentarite chez les plus jeunes ne figure pas parmi les priorites de sante publique dans la plupart des pays, quel que soit le niveau de developpement economique de ces derniers. Le present article detaille une serie de propositions visant a ameliorer la surveillance de la sante publique en matiere d'activite physique de la naissance a l'adolescence, fondees sur des revues systematiques recentes, des collaborations internationales ainsi que des strategies et lignes directrices de l'Organisation mondiale de la Sante. Des exemples empiriques provenant de plusieurs pays illustrent comment cette amelioration peut deboucher sur des initiatives de sante publique. De plus, une meilleure surveillance permet de sensibiliser a l'ampleur de cette inactivite, donnant ainsi de la visibilite a un probleme jusqu'alors invisible, et peut renforcer les capacites politiques et pratiques relatives a l'activite physique. Il est temps de proceder a un changement en profondeur afin de surveiller plus systematiquement l'activite physique des le plus jeune age, en vue d'orienter et d'encourager l'evolution des politiques et pratiques en la matiere dans le monde. La transicion mundial hacia los niveles bajos actuales de actividad fisica regular entre ninos y adolescentes comenzo en la segunda mitad del siglo pasado. La disminucion de la actividad fisica perjudica la salud tanto a corto plazo (durante la infancia y la adolescencia) como a largo plazo (durante la edad adulta). A su vez, la falta de actividad fisica podria limitar el progreso hacia varios objetivos de desarrollo sostenible, socavar la prevencion de enfermedades no transmisibles, retrasar la recuperacion de la salud fisica y mental tras la pandemia de la enfermedad por coronavirus de 2019, aumentar los costes de la atencion sanitaria y dificultar las respuestas al cambio climatico. No obstante, a pesar de la importancia de la actividad fisica, la vigilancia de la salud publica entre los ninos y los adolescentes es muy limitada a nivel mundial y los niveles bajos de actividad fisica en los ninos no se incluyen en la agenda de salud publica de muchos paises, sea cual sea su nivel de desarrollo economico. En este articulo, se detallan propuestas para mejorar la vigilancia de la actividad fisica en la salud publica a nivel mundial, desde el nacimiento hasta la adolescencia, a partir de recientes revisiones sistematicas, colaboraciones internacionales y directrices y estrategias de la Organizacion Mundial de la Salud. Ejemplos empiricos de varios paises ilustran como una mejor vigilancia de la actividad fisica puede conducir a iniciativas de salud publica. Asimismo, una mejor vigilancia aumenta la concienciacion sobre el alcance de la inactividad fisica, haciendo evidente un problema poco visible, y puede conducir a una mayor capacidad en la politica y la practica de la actividad fisica. Ha llegado el momento de dar un paso adelante hacia una vigilancia mas sistematica de la actividad fisica desde la infancia que podria ayudar a informar e inspirar cambios en la politica y la practica de la salud publica en todo el mundo., Introduction The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes that physical activity in childhood is essential for healthy development, for short- and long-term physical and mental health, for the achievement of several [...]

This report aims to provide a better understanding of physical activity (PA) and related factors among Spanish children and adolescents living with disabilities. The 10 indicators used for the Global Matrix on Para Report Cards of children and adolescents living with disabilities were evaluated based on the best available data in Spain. An analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats based on data provision was drafted by three experts and critically reviewed by the authorship team to provide a national perspective for each evaluated indicator. Government was the indicator with the highest grade (C+), followed by Sedentary Behaviors (C−), School (D), Overall PA (D−), and Community & Environment (F). The remaining indicators received an incomplete grade. There were low levels of PA in Spanish children and adolescents living with disabilities. Yet, opportunities to improve the current surveillance of PA among this population exist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is an alarming and constant worldwide progression of physical inactivity and sedentary behaviors in children and adolescents. The present paper summarizes findings from France's 2020 Report Card on physical activity for children and youth, comparing its results to its 2 previous editions (2016 and 2018). Methods: France's 2020 Report Card follows the standardized methodology established by the Active Healthy Kids Global Matrix, grading 10 common physical activity indicators using the best available evidence. The grades were informed by national surveys, peer-reviewed literature, government and nongovernment reports, and online information. Results: The expert panel awarded the following grades: Overall Physical Activity: D; Organized Sport Participation and Physical Activity: C−; Active Play: INC; Active Transportation: C−; Sedentary Behaviors: D−; Family and Peers: D−; Physical Fitness: D; School: B−; Community and the Built Environment: F; Government: C. Conclusions: This 2020 edition of France's Report Card again highlights the alarming levels of physical activity and sedentary behaviors among French children and adolescents, calling for the development of effective national action. It also draws attention to the particular deleterious effects of the COVID-19 confinement on youth's movement behaviors, which significantly worsened the situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]