Measured and perceived environmental characteristics are related to accelerometer defined physical activity in older adults The effect of a movement-to-music video program on the objectively measured sedentary time and physical activity of preschool-aged children and their mothers: A randomized controlled trial Relationships Between Physical Activity and the Proximity of Exercise Facilities and Home Exercise Equipment Used by Undergraduate University Students Longitudinal Assessment of Physical Activity in Women Undergoing Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Are Perceptions about Worksite Neighborhoods and Policies Associated with Walking? Longitudinal intervention effects on parenting of the Aventuras para Niños study. Effectiveness of parent‐centred interventions for the prevention and treatment of childhood overweight and obesity in community settings: a systematic review Variation in the Heritability of Child Body Mass Index by Obesogenic Home Environment Effects of a multi-pronged intervention on children's activity levels at recess: the Aventuras para Niños study. A group-randomized controlled trial for health promotion in Girl Scouts: Healthier Troops in a SNAP (Scouting Nutrition & Activity Program) The Association of Neighborhood Design and Recreational Environments with Physical Activity The relative influence of demographic, individual, social, and environmental factors on physical activity among boys and girls Does the Environment Moderate the Impact of a Mass Media Campaign to Promote Walking? A Longitudinal Study of the Family Physical Activity Environment and Physical Activity among Youth The Built Environment Moderates Effects of Family-Based Childhood Obesity Treatment over 2 Years Relationships Between Neighborhoods, Physical Activity, and Obesity: A Multilevel Analysis of a Large Canadian City Examination of mid-intervention mediating effects on objectively assessed sedentary time among children in the Transform-Us! cluster-randomized controlled trial Protocol for systematic reviews of determinants/correlates of obesity-related dietary and physical activity behaviors in young children (preschool 0 to 6 years): evidence mapping and syntheses Correlates of preschool children’s objectively measured physical activity and sedentary behavior: a cross-sectional analysis of the SPLASHY study Home Food Environment, Dietary Intake, and Weight among Overweight and Obese Children in Southern Appalachia Building a multiple modality, theory-based physical activity intervention: The development of CardiACTION! Physical activity and its correlates in children: a cross-sectional study (the GINIplus & LISAplus studies) Reliability and validity of the Healthy Home Survey: A tool to measure factors within homes hypothesized to relate to overweight in children Results From an Intervention to Improve Rural Home Food and Physical Activity Environments Testing the Efficacy of OurSpace, a Brief, Group Dynamics-Based Physical Activity Intervention: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Background Few studies have investigated both the self-perceived and measured environment with objective ly determined physical activity in older adults . Accordingly , the aim of this study was to examine measured and perceived environmental associations with physical activity of older adults residing across different neighborhood types . Methods One-hundred and forty-eight older individuals , mean age 64.3 ± 8.4 , were r and omly recruited from one of four neighborhoods that were pre-determined as either having high- or low walkable characteristics . Individual residences were geocoded and 200 m network buffers established . Both objective environment audit , and self-perceived environmental measures  were collected , in conjunction with accelerometer derived physical activity behavior . Using both perceived and objective environment data , analysis consisted of a macro-level comparison of physical activity levels across neighborhood , and a micro-level analysis of individual environmental predictors of physical activity levels . Results Individuals residing in high-walkable neighborhoods on average engaged in 11 min of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day more than individuals residing in low-walkable neighborhoods . Both measured access to non-residential destinations ( b = .11 , p < .001 ) and self-perceived access to non-residential uses ( b = 2.89 , p = .031 ) were significant predictors of time spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity . Other environmental variables significantly predicting components of physical activity behavior included presence of measured neighborhood crime signage ( b = .4785 , p = .031 ) , measured street safety ( b = 26.8 , p = .006 ) , and perceived neighborhood satisfaction ( b = .5.8 , p = .003 ) . Conclusions Older adult residents who live in high-walkable neighborhoods , who have easy and close access to nonresidential destinations , have lower social dysfunction pertinent to crime , and generally perceive the neighborhood to a higher overall satisfaction are likely to engage in higher levels of physical activity behavior . Efforts aim ed at promoting more walkable neighborhoods could influence activity levels in older adults Regular physical activity ( PA ) and the avoidance of prolonged sitting are essential for children ’s healthy growth , and for the physical and mental wellbeing of both children and adults . In the context of exercise , music may promote behavioral change through increased exercise adherence and participation . The purpose of this study was to determine whether a movement-to-music video program could reduce sedentary behavior ( SB ) and increase PA in mother-child pairs in the home environment . A r and omized controlled trial was conducted in the Pirkanmaa region , Finl and , in 2014–2016 . The participants consisted of 228 mother-child pairs ( child age 5–7 years ) . The primary outcomes of interest were tri-axial accelerometer-derived SB and PA , which were measured in weeks one ( baseline ) , two , and eight in both the intervention and control groups . Further , the mothers and children in the intervention group used a movement-to-music video program from the beginning of week two to the end of week eight . Secondary outcomes included self-reported screen time . The statistical methods employed comprised an intention-to-treat and linear mixed effects model design . No statistically significant differences between groups were found in primary or secondary outcomes . Among the children in the control group  , light PA  decreased significantly over time and screen time increased from 89 ( st and ard deviation , SD 37 ) to 99 ( SD 41 ) min/d . Among mothers and children in the intervention group , no statistical differences were found . In supplementary analysis , the children who stayed at home instead of attending daycare/preschool had on average 25 ( 95 % confidence interval , CI 19–30 ) min/d more sedentary time and 11 ( 95 % CI 8–14 ) min/d less moderate-to-vigorous PA than those who were at daycare/preschool . The higher body mass index of mothers was related with 5 ( 95 % CI 2–7 ) min/d more sedentary time and 1 ( 95 % CI 0–2 ) min/d less moderate-to-vigorous PA . The movement-to-music video program did not change the objective ly measured SB or PA of the mother-child pairs . However , mothers and children seemed to be more sedentary at home , and therefore interventions for decreasing SB and increasing PA should be targeted in the home environment The authors used stratified r and om sampling procedures to investigate the relationships among physical activity ( PA ) , the proximity of exercise facilities , and the quantity of home exercise equipment in a sample of 411 undergraduates . To examine the data they collected from the modified Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Question naire and the Home Environment Question naire , the authors used correlational analyses and analysis of variance . Intensity and duration of PA  showed a significant relationship to the proximity of exercise facilities . Intensity , frequency , and duration of PA  were significantly related to the quantity of students ' home exercise equipment . Freshmen and sophomores engaged in PA closer to their residences and participated in 3 more exercise bouts per week than juniors and seniors . These findings suggest that proximity of the activity episode may have an effect on  PA behavior of college students Background Patients undergoing bariatric surgery  do not seem to increase objective ly measured  physical activity ( PA ) after surgery , despite substantial weight loss . The aims of the present study were ( i ) to objective ly characterize 3 months pre-surgery to 9 months postsurgery PA and sedentary behavior changes in women undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass ( RYGB )  using tri-axial accelerometers and ( ii ) to examine associations between pre-surgery versus postsurgery PA and sedentary behavior with anthropometric measures taken in home environment . Methods Fifty-six women , with an average pre-surgery body mass index ( BMI ) of 37.6 ( SD 2.6 ) and of age 39.5 years ( SD 5.7 ) , were recruited at five Swedish hospitals .  PA  was measured for 1 week by the Actigraph GT3X+ accelerometer , and anthropometric measures were taken at home visits 3 months pre-surgery and 9 months postsurgery , thus limiting seasonal effects . Results Average BMI loss , 9 months postsurgery , was 11.7 ( SD 2.7 ) BMI units . There were no significant pre- to postsurgery differences in PA or sedentary behavior . However , pre-surgery PA showed negative association with PA change and positive association with postsurgery PA . Adjustments for pre-surgery BMI had no impact on these associations . Conclusions No significant differences were observed in objective ly measured changes in PA or time spent sedentary from 3 months pre-surgery to 9 months postsurgery among women undergoing RYGB . However , women with higher pre-surgery PA decreased their PA postsurgery while women with lower pre-surgery PA increased their PA Purpose . To examine associations of the built environment surrounding worksites and of work policies with walking behaviors . Design . Cross-sectional convenience sample survey . Setting . Workplace . Subjects . Employed adults residing in Montgomery County , Maryl and . Measures . Four different step measures taken at or near work as recorded using an accelerometer and a fifth measure indicated self-reported walking from work . Participants reported on eight built environment characteristics surrounding the worksite ( e.g. , the presence of sidewalks , crosswalks , and pedestrian signals ) and on four worksite policies ( e.g. , the presence of exercise facilities and exercise programs ) . Analysis . Cross-sectional associations of self-reported built environment characteristics surrounding worksites and worksite policies with walking behavior were examined . Results . Although participants reported worksites exhibiting built environment characteristics that were supportive of walking ( seven of eight characteristics were reported by > 50 % of participants ) , no built environment characteristic was associated with walking more than the median number of average weekday steps ( p > .05 ) . All four worksite policies were associated with walking more than the median number of average weekday steps ( p < .05 ) . In addition , a perception of few cul-de-sacs and of the presence of litter , sidewalks , crosswalks , and pedestrian signals surrounding the worksites was associated with a higher proportion of participants taking at least one walking trip from work in the past month ( p < .05 ) . Conclusions . Locating worksites in walkable environments and implementing worksite policies may favorably influence  employee walking .  Future studies should consider a prospect i ve design and examine a larger , more diverse employee population and worksite environment to examine these associations BACKGROUND Parenting interventions have achieved changes in factors associated with childhood obesity but few have tested the effects on multiple parental influences . PURPOSE This study examined the efficacy of an intervention aim ed at improving several dimensions of parenting related to childhood obesity . DESIGN The study used a 2 x 2 factorial design . SETTING / PARTICIPANTS In 2003 , a sample of 13 Southern California schools was r and omized to one of four conditions : micro-environment only , macro-environment only , micro-plus-macro-environment , and no treatment control condition .  Participants included 811 predominantly Mexican immigrant/Mexican-American mothers with children in kindergarten through second grade . INTERVENTION In both micro conditions , participants received monthly home visits by a promotora over a 7-month period plus monthly mailed newsletters . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES In 2008 , intervention effects were examined on ( 1 )  parenting strategies , including limit setting , monitoring , discipline , control , and reinforcement related to children 's diet and physical activity ;  ( 2 )  parental support for physical activity ;  ( 3 ) parent-mediated family behaviors such as family meals eaten together and TV watching during family dinners ; and ( 4 ) perceived barriers and other parent cognitions related to children 's eating and activity . RESULTS At the 2-year follow-up , significant improvements were observed in three of five parenting strategies , parental support , and two of four parent-mediated family behaviors among parents receiving the micro intervention ( i.e. , those who received promotora visits and monthly newsletters ) , as compared with those in the macro-only and control conditions . CONCLUSIONS Aspects of parenting related to children 's risk for obesity and related health outcomes are modifiable with the support of a promotora and print media Background Worldwide in 2000 , 10 % of children aged five to 17 years were reported as being overweight with an additional 2‐3 % being obese . Overweight and obesity in childhood can adversely impact on both physical and psychological health . The rise in the prevalence of childhood obesity is a complex issue but widely recognised contributors include increased energy intake , decreased levels of physical activity and greater time spent in sedentary pursuits . A large number of environmental and cultural factors have also been identified as contributing to the problem . Evidence to support an optimal approach to treating childhood obesity is limited with many studies showing only modest results at best in the long‐term . However , the importance of family‐based treatment that combines diet , physical activity and behavioral components has been acknowledged in a recent Cochrane Systematic Review . It has also been suggested that interventions offered in the community setting may help overcome barriers to participation , by making programs more accessible and allowing the targeting of specific sub‐groups of the population . Objectives The objective of this review was to identify the effectiveness of parent‐centred interventions implemented in the community setting in modifying eating and physical activity behaviors or weight‐related outcomes of children . Inclusion criteria Types of participants This review considered studies that included free‐living children of pre‐school , primary and secondary school age and /or their parents/guardians aged > 18 years . Types of intervention(s)/phenomena of interest Intervention programs were required to have a parental component , to target eating and /or exercise behaviors for the prevention or treatment of obesity , and child weight status reported . Types of studies All intervention studies were included in the review including : r and omized controlled trials ( RCTs ) ; non‐r and omized controlled trials , longitudinal studies , cohort ( both retrospective and prospect i ve ) , case control and time series studies which had been conducted in a community setting . Types of outcomes This review considered studies that included overweight/obesity related outcomes , eating behavior outcomes , physical activity behaviour outcomes , and sedentary behavior outcomes and constructs . Search strategy A literature search of community‐based parent‐centred intervention studies to promote nutrition and physical activity for the prevention and treatment and of childhood overweight and obesity was performed in eight electronic data bases dating from 1975 to April 2009 . Method ological quality Studies were critically appraised for method ological quality using st and ardized tools . Data collection Data was extracted by one review er using a st and ardized data extraction form developed by the research ers and checked for accuracy and consistency by a second review er . Data synthesis Data in relation to setting , methodology , intervention components and effect on weight , dietary intake and physical activity was extracted , and described in a narrative synthesis . Where possible a meta‐ analysis was undertaken . Results Of the home‐based interventions , five of nine studies reported statistically significant changes in anthropometric outcomes post intervention . Of the 10 studies in the before and after school care setting , seven reported a significant decrease in a weight‐related outcome post intervention , with only one reporting an increase . Conclusions Results from the review support the after‐school setting as the most promising for community intervention setting for targeting parents as agents of change within child obesity prevention and treatment programs . Implication s for practice At this stage , interventions to support parents should target the after‐school environment as opposed to being conducted in the home , summer camps , leisure centers or churches . Targeting a decrease in energy intake and sweetened beverages in parallel with increasing number of daily steps and decreasing screen time use . Implication s for research Future studies of high quality are needed across the full range of community setting s. Given that currently most of the higher quality RCTs and the studies showing positive impacts of weight change are in the after‐school setting , further studies in this area using similar method ologies to those already published will facilitate future meta‐analyses in this area Importance The early obesogenic home environment is consistently identified as a key influence on child weight trajectories , but little research has examined the mechanisms of that influence . Such research is essential for the effective prevention and treatment of overweight and obesity . Objective To test behavioral susceptibility theory ’s hypothesis that the heritability of body mass index ( BMI ) is higher among children who live in more obesogenic home environments . Design , Setting , and Participants This study was a gene-environment interaction twin study that used cross-sectional data from 925 families ( 1850 twins ) in the Gemini cohort ( a population -based prospect i ve cohort of twins born in Engl and and Wales between March and December 2007 ) . Data were analyzed from July to October 2013 and in June 2018 . Exposures Parents completed the Home Environment Interview , a comprehensive measure of the obesogenic home environment in early childhood . Three st and ardized composite scores were created to capture food , physical activity , and media-related influences in the home ; these were summed to create an overall obesogenic risk score . The 4 composite scores were split on the mean , reflecting higher-risk and lower-risk home environments . Main Outcomes and Measures Quantitative genetic model fitting was used to estimate heritability of age-adjusted and sex-adjusted BMI ( BMI SD score , estimated using British 1990 growth reference data ) for children living in lower-risk and higher-risk home environments . Results Among 1850 twins ( 915 [ 49.5 % ] male and 935 [ 50.5 % ] female ; mean [ SD ] age , 4.1 [ 0.4 ] years ) , the heritability of BMI SD score was significantly higher among children living in overall higher-risk home environments ( 86 % ; 95 % CI , 68%-89 % ) compared with those living in overall lower-risk home environments ( 39 % ; 95 % CI , 21%-57 % ) . The findings were similar when examining the heritability of BMI in the separate food and physical activity environment domains . Conclusions and Relevance These findings support the hypothesis that obesity-related genes are more strongly associated with BMI in more obesogenic home environments . Modifying the early home environment to prevent weight gain may be particularly important for children genetically at risk for obesity Latino children spend more time in sedentary activities than other American children , and only ~1 in 5 Latino children in public elementary and middle schools meet all 6 fitness st and ards in statewide fitness testing . Schools that facilitate physical activity ( PA ) by maintaining playgrounds and providing physical education classes have children who are more active and less overweight . The aims of the present study were to examine the extent to which several social and physical environmental changes in school setting s result ed in observed changes in area characteristics and children 's activity levels during recess . Thirteen elementary schools serving predominantly Mexican American children were r and omized into  control or activity and nutrition environmental intervention conditions . Playgrounds and activities were restructured in 6 intervention schools to promote more PA . After 1 y , there were no overall statistical differences between treatment groups in PA or sedentary behavior in these setting s and results did not differ by gender . Changing the social and physical environments to promote children 's moderate-to-vigorous PA is important to the design of active and healthy recess environments . The present results are not conclusive as to the link between these interventions and actual behavior , but show sufficient promise for further population and setting specific research Background  Girl Scouting may offer a viable channel for health promotion and obesity prevention programs . This study evaluated the effectiveness of an intervention program delivered through Girl Scout Junior troops that was design ed to foster healthful troop meeting environments and increase obesity prevention behaviors at home . Methods Seven Girl Scout troops were r and omized to intervention ( n = 3 , with 34 girls ) or st and ard-care control ( n = 4 , with 42 girls ) conditions . Girls ranged in age from 9 to 13 years ( mean 10.5 years ) . Intervention troop leaders were trained to implement policies promoting physical activity ( PA ) and healthful eating opportunities at troop meetings , and to implement a curriculum promoting obesity-prevention behaviors at home . The primary outcome variable was child body mass index ( BMI ) z-score . Secondary outcomes included accelerometer-assessed PA levels in troop meetings , direct observations of snack offerings , time spent in physically active meeting content , and leader encouragement of PA and healthful eating . Results The intervention was delivered with good fidelity , and intervention troops provided greater opportunities for healthful eating and PA ( x2 = 210.8 , p < .001 ) , relative to control troops . In troop meetings , intervention troop leaders promoted  PA  ( x2 = 23.46 , p < .001 ) and healthful eating ( x2 = 18.14 , p < .001 ) more frequently , and discouraged healthful eating and PA less frequently ( x2 = 9.63 , p = .002 ) compared to control troop leaders . Most effects of the intervention on individual-level variables of girls and parents were not significantly different from the control condition , including the primary outcome of child BMI z-score ( F1 , 5 = 0.42 , p = .544 ) , parent BMI ( F1 , 5 = 1.58 , p = .264 ) , and related behavioral variables . The notable exception was for objective ly assessed troop PA , wherein girls in intervention troops accumulated significantly less sedentary ( x2 = 6.3 , p = .011 ) , significantly more moderate ( x2 = 8.2 , p = .004 ) , and more moderate-to-vigorous physical activity , ( x2 = 18.4 , p < .001 ) , than girls in control troops . Conclusions Implementing a health promotion curriculum and supporting policies to provide more healthful environments in Girl Scout troop meetings appears feasible on a broader scale . Additional work is needed to bridge health promotion from such setting s to other environments if lasting individual-level behavior change and obesity prevention remain targeted outcomes . Trial registration number : Purpose . To determine the association of neighborhood design factors and recreational environments with physical activity . Methods . R and omly selected adults ( n = 102 , 52 % female , 81 % white , mean age = 48 years ) completed a survey of eight neighborhood design variables , convenient recreational facilities , and availability of home equipment .  Physical activity was measured by self-report and 7 days of accelerometer monitoring . Results . Residential density and an overall environment index were significantly related to both vigorous-intensity self-reported ( r = .35 and .28 , respectively ) and objective ly measured physical activity ( r = .39 and .23 , respectively ) . Home equipment was correlated with self-reported total ( r = .34 ) and vigorous leisure-time physical activity ( r = .27 ) . The vigorous and total activity accelerometer measures were correlated with street connectivity ( r = .25 and .21 , respectively ) . Discussion . Few self-reported neighborhood design factors and recreational environment variables were correlated with physical activity , and some findings were unexpected Background This study aim ed to evaluate the associations of selected demographic , individual , social , and environmental factors with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity ( MVPA ) in a sample of children and adolescents . Methods  MVPA  was assessed among youth ( n = 294 ) 10 - 17-years-old using the ActiGraph accelerometer . Youth completed measures of demographic and individual variables related to physical activity ( PA ) , perceived social support by parents and peers , and perceived neighborhood characteristics . Parents completed the long-form of the International Physical Activity Question naire . The Physical Activity and Media Inventory was used to measure the home environment and Geographical Information Systems software was used to measure the physical neighborhood environment . Bivariate correlations and hierarchical multiple regression were conducted stratified by gender . Results Boys participated in significantly more MVPA than girls . In hierarchical analyses , peer support , home PA equipment , and temperature were significantly associated with MVPA among boys whereas distance to the school they attended was associated with MVPA among girls . The final models accounted for 25 % and 15 % of the variance in MVPA among boys and girls , respectively . Conclusions Important differences exist among the individual , social , and environmental factors related to MVPA between boys and girls . Boys ' levels of activity appear to be influenced by factors closely linked to unstructured and social types of activities whereas girls ' activities relate to internal and external barriers as well as their proximity to their schools . The prospect i ve contribution of these important individual , social , and environmental factors to changes in MVPA among children and adolescents remains to be determined Purpose . To examine if a mass media campaign influenced walking differently in people in different physical environments . Design . Quasi-experimental study . Setting . Wheeling , West Virginia . Participants . R and om sample of adults age 50 to 65 years , response rate : 72.1 % ( n = 719 in intervention community , n = 753 in comparison community ) . Intervention . Mass media campaign . Measures . Self-reported measures were used in before and after telephone surveys for walking and the physical environment . Measures included 11 environmental walkability items , from which two subscales ( i.e. , usable sidewalks/aesthetics and facilities ) were extracted . Analysis . Multiple linear regression . Results . Overall , walking increased by 2.7 minutes per week ( st and ard deviation [ SD ] = 231.1 , not significant [ NS ] ) . When confined to those insufficiently active at baseline ( i.e. , < 30 minutes per day ) the minutes walked increased by 92.1 minutes ( SD = 152.9 , p < .001 ) . For the insufficiently active at baseline in the top half of the environmental factor of usable sidewalks , walking increased by 19 minutes more than in the bottom half ( NS ) . For the factor of aesthetics and facilities , people in the more walkable environment increased walking by 87 minutes more than those in the bottom half ( p < .001 ) . Conclusion . In this community-wide physical activity , intervention changes in walking after the campaign were significantly moderated by some environmental attributes . This contributes to the limited evidence on the impact of the environment in enhancing community physical activity interventions . This finding needs to be replicated in other community interventions with greater environmental variation Purpose . Although the family environment is a potentially important influence on children 's  physical activity ( PA )  , prospect i ve data investigating these associations are lacking . This study aim ed to examine the longitudinal relationship between the family environment and PA among youth . Design . A 5-year prospect i ve cohort study . Setting . Nineteen r and omly selected public schools in Melbourne , Australia . Subjects . Families of 5- to 6-year-old ( n = 190 ) and 10- to 12-year-old ( n = 350 ) children . Measures . In 2001 , parents reported their participation in PA , family-based PA , and support and reinforcement for their child 's PA . In 2001 , 2004 , and 2006 ,  moderate to vigorous intensity PA ( MVPA )  was assessed among youth using accelerometers .  Weekend and “ critical window ” ( after school until 6:00 P.M. ) MVPA were examined because we hypothesized that the family environment would most likely influence these behaviors . Analysis . Generalized estimating equations predicted average change in MVPA over 5 years from baseline family environment factors . Results . Maternal role modeling was positively associated with boys ' critical window and weekend ( younger boys ) MVPA .  Paternal reinforcement of PA  was positively associated with critical window and weekend MVPA among all boys , and paternal direct support was positively associated with weekend MVPA ( older boys ) . Among girls , maternal coparticipation in PA predicted critical window MVPA , and sibling coparticipation in PA was directly associated with weekend MVPA ( younger girls ) . Conclusions . Longitudinal relationships , although weak in magnitude , were observed between the family environment and MVPA among youth . Interventions promoting maternal role modeling , paternal reinforcement of and support for PA , and maternal and sibling coparticipation in PA with youth are warranted . ( Am J Health Promot 2011;25[3]:159–167 . Background Research suggests the neighborhood built environment is related to child physical activity and eating . Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine if characteristics of the neighborhood environment moderate the relationship between  obesity  treatment and weight loss , and if outcomes of particular treatments are moderated by built environment characteristics . Method The relationship between the built environment and st and ardized BMI ( z BMI ) changes for 191 8–12-year-old children who participated in one of four r and omized , controlled trials of pediatric weight management was assessed using mixed models analysis of covariance . Results At 2-year follow-up , greater parkl and , fewer convenience stores , and fewer supermarkets were associated with greater z BMI reduction across all interventions . No treatments interacted with characteristics of the built environment . Conclusions Activity- and eating-related built neighborhood characteristics are associated with child success in behavioral obesity treatments . Efficacy may be improved by individualizing treatments based on built environment characteristics In Canada , there is limited research examining the associations between objective ly measured neighborhood environments and  physical activity ( PA ) and obesity . The purpose of this study was to determine the relationships between variables from built and social environments and PA and overweight/obesity across 86 Ottawa , Canada neighborhoods . Individual-level data including  self-reported leisure-time PA ( LTPA ) , height , and weight were examined in a sample of 4,727 adults from four combined cycles ( years 2001/03/05/07 ) of the Canadian Community Health Survey ( CCHS ) . Data on neighborhood characteristics were obtained from the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study ( ONS ) ; a large study of neighborhoods and health in Ottawa , Canada . Binomial multivariate multilevel models were used to examine the relationships between environmental and individual variables with LTPA and overweight/obesity using survey weights in men and women separately . Within the sample , ~75 % of the adults were inactive ( < 3.0 kcal/kg/day ) while half were overweight/obese . Results of the multilevel models suggested that for females greater park area was associated with increased odds of LTPA and overweight/obesity . Greater neighborhood density of convenience stores and fast food outlets were associated with increased odds of females being overweight/obese . Higher crime rates were associated with greater odds of LTPA in males , and lower odds of male and female overweight/obesity . Season was significantly associated with PA  in men and women ; the odds of LTPA in winter months were half that of summer months . Findings revealed that park area , crime rates , and neighborhood food outlets may have different roles with LTPA and overweight/obesity in men and women and future prospect i ve studies are needed Background The optimal targets and strategies for effectively reducing sedentary behavior among young people are unknown . Intervention research that explores changes in mediated effects as well as in outcome behaviors is needed to help inform more effective interventions . Therefore , the purpose of this study was to examine the mid-intervention mediating effects on children ’s objective ly assessed classroom and total weekday sedentary time in the Transform-Us ! intervention . Methods The results are based on 293 children , aged 7- to 9-years-old at baseline , from 20 schools in Melbourne , Australia . Each school was r and omly allocated to one of four groups , which targeted reducing sedentary time in the school and family setting s ( SB ; n = 74 ) , increasing or maintaining moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity in the school and family setting s ( PA ; n = 75 ) , combined SB and PA ( SB + PA ; n = 80 ) , or the current practice control ( C ; n = 64 ) . Baseline and mid-intervention data ( 5–9 months ) were collected in 2010 and analyzed in 2012 . Classroom and total weekday sedentary time was objective ly assessed using ActiGraph accelerometers . The hypothesized mediators including , child enjoyment , parent and teacher outcome expectancies , and child perceived access to st and ing opportunities in the classroom environment , were assessed by question naire . Results The SB + PA group spent 13.3 min/day less in weekday sedentary time at mid-intervention compared to the control group . At mid-intervention , children in the SB group had higher enjoyment of st and ing in class ( 0.9 units ; 5-unit scale ) and all intervention groups had more positive perceptions of access to st and ing opportunities in the classroom environment ( 0.3 - 0.4 units ; 3-unit scale ) , compared to the control group . However , none of the hypothesized mediator variables had an effect on sedentary time ; thus , no mediating effects were observed . Conclusions While beneficial intervention effects were observed on some hypothesized mediating variables and total weekday sedentary time at mid-intervention , no significant mediating effects were found . Given the dearth of existing information , future intervention research is needed that explores mediated effects . More work is also needed on the development of reliable mediator measures that are sensitive to change overtime . Trial registration ACTRN12609000715279IS RCT Background The aim of these review s is to inform the design and content of interventions to reduce obesity in young children . The behaviors that are associated with obesity/overweight have been studied extensively ; however , the factors associated with these behaviors in young children ( 0 to 6 years ) have not been systematic ally review ed . Over the past few years the focus of obesity prevention has shifted to preschool children because of the high prevalence of obesity at school entry and recognition that habits formed in early life could track into adulthood . In order to develop effective interventions and change behavior , it is important to underst and the factors that are associated with those behaviors . For example , we need to underst and whether it would be more important to target the family , childcare setting s or the wider environment and identify the most effective way of changing these energy balance related behaviors . Methods / Design Quantitative ( intervention and observational ) and qualitative literature on determinants/correlates of fruit and vegetable intake , sugar sweetened beverage and other unhealthy diet intake , and physical activity and sedentary behaviors in young children will be systematic ally identified , mapped and review ed . A common search strategy ( no language or period restrictions ) will be used to identify papers from eight electronic data bases and this will be supplemented by h and - search ing . Next , studies in developed countries that examine the factors associated with these behaviors in children aged 0 to 6 years ( at baseline ) will be screened and mapped descriptively followed by in-depth data extraction , quality assessment and synthesis . Data from quantitative studies will be summarized using either forest plots or harvest plots and narrative synthesis , and qualitative studies using thematic analysis . Qualitative evidence will be integrated with the quantitative evidence , using a parallel synthesis approach , to provide a deeper underst and ing of effective strategies to influence these energy balance related behaviors . Discussion In addition to updating and mapping current research , these review s will be the first to comprehensively synthesize and integrate both the quantitative and qualitative evidence pertaining to determinants/correlates/barriers/facilitators of obesity related behaviors in this young age group ( 0 to 6 years ) with the aim of informing future interventions . Systematic review registration International Prospect i ve Register for Systematic Review s ( PROSPERO ) Registration number : Background Identifying ways to promote physical activity and decrease sedentary time during childhood is a key public health issue . Research on the putative influences on preschool children ’s  physical activity ( PA ) and  sedentary behavior  ( SB ) is limited and has yielded inconsistent results . Our aim was to identify correlates of PA and SB in preschool children . Methods Cross-sectional data were drawn from the Swiss Preschoolers ’ Health Study ( SPLASHY ) , a Swiss population -based cohort study . Of 476 two to six year old children , 394 ( 54 % boys ) had valid PA data assessed by accelerometry .  Information on exposure data was directly measured or extracted from parental question naires . Multilevel linear regression modeling was used to separately assess associations between 35 potential correlates and  total PA ( TPA ) , moderate-to-vigorous PA ( MVPA ) and SB . Results In total , 12 correlates from different domains were identified . TPA and MVPA were greater in boys than girls , increased with age and were positively associated with gross motor skills . Children from single parent families had a higher level of TPA and spent less time sedentary than those living with two parents . Time spent outdoors was positively associated with TPA and negatively with SB . The child ’s activity temperament was related all three outcomes , whereas parental sports club membership , living area per person and neighborhood safety were associated with SB only . Fixed and r and om factors in the final models accounted for 28 % , 32 % and 22 % of the total variance in TPA , MVPA and SB , respectively . Variance decomposition revealed that age , sex and activity temperament were the most influential correlates of both , TPA and MVPA , whereas the child ’s activity temperament , time outdoors and neighborhood safety were identified as the most important correlates of SB . Conclusions A multidimensional set of correlates of young children ’s  activity behavior has been identified . Personal factors had the greatest influence on PA , whereas environmental-level factors had the greatest influence on SB . Moreover , we identified a number of previously unreported , potentially modifiable correlates of young children ’s PA and SB . These factors could serve to define target groups or become valuable targets for change in future interventions .Trial registration Current Controlled Trials IS RCT N41045021 ( date of registration : 21.03.14 ) Objectives This study examined the relation of multiple aspects of the home food environment to dietary intake and body weight among overweight and obese children in southern Appalachia . Methods The study used baseline data from a cluster-r and omized controlled trial , Parent-Led Activity and Nutrition for Healthy Living , evaluating a parent-mediated approach to treating child overweight and obesity in the primary care setting in southern Appalachia . Sixty-seven children ages 5 to 11 years were recruited from four primary care clinics .  Multiple linear regression was used to estimate the relation between multiple aspects of the home food environment  to dietary intake ( fruit and vegetable intake , fat and sweets intake )  , and st and ardized body mass index ( z BMI ) , adjusted for baseline family characteristics ( education , smoking status during the past month , BMI ) and child characteristics ( sex , age , Medicaid/TennCare ) . Results Findings showed greater parental restriction and pressure in feeding were associated with greater fruit and vegetable intake in children ( & bgr ; = 0.33 , & bgr ; = 0.30 , respectively ; both P < 0.05 ) . The availability of chips and sweets in a child ’s home and parental inappropriate modeling of eating were associated with an increased risk for consumption of fats and sweets by children ( & bgr ; = 0.47 , & bgr ; = 0.54 , respectively ; both P < 0.01 ) . Parental monitoring of the child ’s eating was associated with a reduced risk for fat and sweets intake ( & bgr ; = −0.24 ; P < 0.01 ) . Finally , parental responsibility for feeding the child was associated with lower z BMI ( & bgr ; = −0.20 ; P < 0.05 ) . Conclusions The home food environment , including food availability and parenting behaviors , was associated with overweight and obese children ’s dietary intake and weight . This study adds to evidence suggesting that programs aim ed at improving overweight and obese children ’s eating patterns may target both aspects of the physical home environment and parental behaviors surrounding eating OBJECTIVES : Despite the widely acknowledged benefits of regular physical activity ( PA ) , specific goals for increased population levels of PA , and strongly recommended strategies to promote PA , there is no evidence suggesting that the prevalence of PA is improving . If PA intervention research is to be improved , theory should be used as the basis for intervention development , participant context or environment should be considered in the process , and intervention characteristics that will heighten the likelihood of translation into practice should be implemented ( e.g. , ease of implementation , low human re source costs ) . The purpose of this paper is to describe the implementation of the aforementioned concepts within the intervention development process associated with CardiACTION an ongoing r and omized 2 × 2 factorial trial . METHODS : The Ecological Model of Physical Activity integrated with Protection Motivation Theory was used to inform the design of the interventions . This integrated model was selected to allow for the development of theory-based individual , environmental , and individually + environmentally targeted physical activity interventions . All intervention strategies were matched to proposed mediators of behavior change . Strategies were then matched to the most appropriate interactive technology ( i.e. , interactive computer session , automated telephone counseling , and tailored mailings ) delivery channel . CONCLUSIONS : The potential implication s of this study include determining the independent and combined influence of individual and environment mechanisms of behavior change on intervention effectiveness . In addition , all intervention models are developed to be scalable and disseminable to a broad audience at a low cost Background Physical inactivity  among children is an increasing problem that adversely affects children ’s health . A better underst and ing of factors which affect  physical activity ( PA ) will help create effective interventions aim ed at raising the activity levels of children . This cross-sectional study examined the associations of PA with individual ( biological , social , behavioral , psychological ) and environmental ( East vs. West Germany , rural vs. urban regions ) characteristics in children . Methods Information on PA and potential correlates was collected from 1843 girls and 1997 boys using question naires during the 10-year follow-up of two prospect i ve birth cohort studies ( GINIplus and LISAplus ) . Study regions represent urban and rural sites as well as East and West of Germany . Logistic regression modeling was applied to examine cross-sectional associations between individual as well as environmental factors and  PA levels . Results Five of fourteen variables were significantly associated with  PA .  Among children aged 10 , girls tended to be less active than boys , especially with respect to vigorous PA ( OR = 0.72 for summer ) . Children who were not a member of a sports club showed a substantially reduced amount of PA in winter ( OR = 0.15 ) . Rural environments promote moderate PA  , particularly in winter ( OR = 1.88 ) , whereas an increased time outdoors primarily promotes moderate PA in summer ( OR = 12.41 ) . Children with abnormal emotional symptoms  exhibited reduced physical activity , particularly in winter ( OR = 0.60 ) . BMI , puberty , parental BMI , parental education , household income , siblings , TV/PC consumption , and method of arriving school , were not associated with PA . Conclusions When considering correlates of PA from several domains simultaneously , only few factors ( sex , sports club membership , physical environment , time outdoors , and emotional symptoms ) appear to be relevant . Although the causality needs to be ascertained in longitudinal studies , variables which can not be modified should be used to identify risk groups while modifiable variables , such as sports club activities , may be addressed in intervention programs Background The contribution of the environment to the obesity epidemic is well recognized . Parents have control over their home environment and can , therefore , support healthy dietary and activity habits in their children by manipulating factors such as access to energy-dense foods , availability of physical activity equipment , and restricting screen time . This paper describes the development of the Healthy Home Survey and its reliability and validity . The Healthy Home Survey was design ed to assess characteristics of the home environment that are hypothesized to influence healthy weight behaviors in children including diet and physical activity . Methods We recruited 85 families with at least one child between 3–8 years . The Healthy Home Survey was administered to parents via telephone and repeated in a r and om sample of 45 families after 7 days . In-home observations were performed within 14 days of the first Healthy Home Survey interview . Percent agreement , Kappa statistics , Intra-class correlation coefficients and sensitivity analyses were used to evaluate reliability and validity evidence . Results Reliability and validity estimates for the Healthy Home Survey were varied , but generally high ( 0.22–1.00 and 0.07–0.96 respectively ) , with lower scores noted for perishable foods and policy items . Lower scores were likely related to actual change in the perishable foods present and the subjective nature or clarity of policy questions and response categories . Conclusion Initial testing demonstrated that the Healthy Home Survey is a feasible , reliable , and valid assessment of the home environment ; however , it has also highlighted areas that need improvement . The Healthy Home Survey will be useful in future research exploring the relationship between the home environment and child weight Background : Ecological models of healthy eating and physical activity emphasize the influence of behavioral setting s such as homes and worksites in shaping behavior . Research on home environments suggests that both social and physical aspects of the home may impact physical activity and healthy eating . Objective : Using a community-based participatory research ( CBPR ) approach , the Emory Prevention Research Center ( EPRC ) , Cancer Coalition of South Georgia , and the EPRC 's Community Advisory Board ( CAB ) design ed and tested a coach-based intervention to make the home environment more supportive of healthy eating and physical activity for rural adults . Methods : The 6-week intervention consisted of a tailored home environment profile , goal - setting , and behavioral contracting delivered through two home visits and two telephone calls . The study used a quasi-experimental design with data collected via telephone interviews at baseline , 2 and 4 months post-baseline . Ninety households ( n = 90 ) completed all three telephone interviews . Results : Multilevel models indicated that intervention households reported significant improvements in household food inventories , purchasing of fruit and vegetables , healthier meal preparation , meals with the TV off , and family support for healthy eating , relative to comparison households . Intervention households also reported increased exercise equipment and family support for physical activity relative to comparison households . Percent of fat intake decreased significantly , but no changes were observed for fruit and vegetable intake , physical activity , or weight among intervention relative to comparison households , although trends were generally in a positive direction . Conclusion : Coaching combined with a focus on the home environment may be a promising strategy for weight gain prevention in adults Background Emerging technologies ( ie , mobile phones , Internet ) may be effective tools for promoting  physical activity ( PA ) . However , few interventions have provided effective means to enhance social support through these platforms . Face-to-face programs that use group dynamics-based principles of behavior change have been shown to be highly effective in enhancing social support through promoting group cohesion and PA , but to date , no studies have examined their effects in Web-based programs . Objective The aim was to explore proof of concept and test the efficacy of a brief , online group dynamics-based intervention on PA  in a controlled experiment . We expected that the impact of the intervention on PA would be moderated by perceptions of cohesion and the partner ’s degree of presence in the online media . Methods Participants ( n=135 ) were r and omized into same-sex dyads and r and omly assigned to one of four experimental conditions : st and ard social support ( st and ard ) , group dynamics-based – high presence , group dynamics-based – low presence , or individual control . Participants performed two sets of planking exercises ( pre-post ) . Between sets , participants in partnered conditions interacted with a virtual partner using either a st and ard social support app or a group dynamics-based app ( group dynamics-based – low presence and group dynamics-based – high presence ) , the latter of which they participated in a series of online team-building exercises . Individual participants were given an equivalent rest period between sets . To increase presence during the second set , participants in the group dynamics-based – high presence group saw a live video stream of their partner exercising . Perceptions of cohesion were measured using a modified PA Group Environment Question naire . Physical activity was calculated as the time persisted during set 2 after controlling for persistence in set 1 . Results Perceptions of cohesion were higher in the group dynamics-based – low presence ( overall mean 5.81 , SD 1.04 ) condition compared to the st and ard ( overall mean 5.04 , SD 0.81 ) conditions ( P=.006 ) , but did not differ between group dynamics-based – low presence and group dynamics-based – high presence ( overall mean 5.42 , SD 1.07 ) conditions ( P=.25 ) . Physical activity was higher in the high presence condition ( mean 64.48 , SD 20.19 , P=.01 ) than all other conditions ( mean 53.3 , SD 17.35 ) . Conclusions A brief , online group dynamics-based intervention may be an effective method of improving group cohesion in virtual PA groups . However , it may be insufficient on its own to improve PA
Interventions that reduced sedentary time by using TV limiting devices were shown to be effective for children but the results were limited for adults .
Overall , large exercise equipment ( ie .
treadmills ) , and prominent exergaming material s ( exergaming bike , dance mats ) were found to be more effective than smaller devices .
Observational studies revealed that location and quantity of televisions correlated with SD behavior with the latter having a greater effect on girls .
This was similarly found for the quantity of PA equipment which also correlated with behavior in females .
Review s of neighborhood ( macro ) environment characteristics such as the presence of sidewalks and esthetics have shown significant correlations with  resident physical activity ( PA ) and sedentary ( SD ) behavior .
Currently , no comprehensive review has appraised and collected available evidence on the home ( micro ) physical environment .
The purpose of this review was to examine how the home physical environment relates to adult and child PA and SD behaviors .