An investigation into the relationship between screen time, consumption of advertised foods, and physical activity among Texas 4th grade elementary school children

Background. The high prevalence of obesity among children has spurred creation of a list of possible causative factors, including the advertising of foods of minimal nutritional value, a decrease in physical activity, and increased media use. Few studies show prevalence rates of these factors among large cohorts of children. ^ Methods. Using data from the 2004-2005 School Physical Activity and Nutrition project (SPAN), a secondary analysis of 7907 4th-grade children (mean age 9.74 years) was conducted. In addition, a comic-book–based intervention that addressed advertised food consumption, physical activity, and media use was developed and evaluated using a pre-post test design among 4th-grade children in an urban school district. ^ Results. Among a cohort of 4th-grade children across the state of Texas, children who had more than 2 hours of video game or computer time the previous day were more than twice as likely to drink soda and eat candy or pastries. In addition, children who watched more than 2 hours of TV the previous day were more than three times as likely to consume chips, punch, soda, candy, frozen desserts, or pastries (AOR 3.41, 95% CI: 1.58, 7.37). A comic-book based intervention held great promise and acceptance among 4th-grade children. Outcome evaluation showed that while results moved in a positive direction, they were not statistically significant. ^ Conclusion. Statistically significant associations were found between screen time and eating various types of advertised food. The comic book intervention was widely accepted by the children exposed to it, and pre-post surveys indicated they moved constructs in a positive direction. Further research is needed to look at more specific ways in which children are exposed to TV, and the relationship of the TV viewing time with their consumption of advertised foods. In addition, researchers should look at comic book interventions more closely and attempt to utilize them in more in studies with a longer follow-up time. ^

A dose-response analysis of a school-based nutrition intervention in middle school children

Childhood obesity in the US has reached epidemic proportions. Minority children are affected the most by this epidemic. Although there is no clear relationship between obesity and fruits and vegetables consumption, studies suggest that eating fruits and vegetables could be helpful in preventing childhood obesity. A few school-based interventions targeting youth have been effective at increasing fruits and vegetables intake.^ In Austin, Texas, the Sustainable Food Center delivered the Sprouting Healthy Kids (SHK) program that targeted low socio-economic status children in four intervention middle schools. The SHK program delivered six intervention components. This school-based intervention included: a cafeteria component, in-class lessons, an after-school garden program, a field trip to a local farm, food tasting, and farmers' visits to schools. This study aimed to determine the effects of the SHK intervention in middle school students' preferences, motivation, knowledge, and self-efficacy towards fruits and vegetables intake, as well as the actual fruits and vegetables intake. The study also aimed to determine the effects of exposure to different doses of the SHK intervention on participants' fruits and vegetable intake.^ The SHK was delivered during Spring 2009. A total of 214 students completed the pre-and-posttest surveys measuring self-report fruits and vegetables intake as well as intrapersonal factors. The results showed that the school cafeteria, the food tasting, the after school program, and the farmers' visits had a positive effect on the participants' motivation, knowledge, and self-efficacy towards fruits and vegetables intake. The farmers' visits and the food tasting components increased participants' fruits and vegetables intake. Exposure to two or more intervention components increased participants' fruits and vegetables intake. The statistically significant dose-response effect size was .352, which suggests that each intervention component increased participants' fruits and vegetables consumption this amount. Certain intervention components were more effective than others. Food tasting and farmers visits increased participants fruits and vegetables intake, therefore these components should be offered in an ongoing basis. This study suggests that exposure to multiple intervention components increased behaviors and attitudes towards fruits and vegetables consumption. Findings are consistent that SHK can influence behaviors of middle school students.^

A path analysis of an after-school health and exercise program for elementary school children in El Paso, Texas

As schools are pressured to perform on academics and standardized examinations, schools are reluctant to dedicate increased time to physical activity. After-school exercise and health programs may provide an opportunity to engage in more physical activity without taking time away from coursework during the day. The current study is a secondary data analysis of data from a randomized trial of a 10-week after-school program (six schools, n = 903) that implemented an exercise component based on the CATCH physical activity component and health modules based on the culturally-tailored Bienestar health education program. Outcome variables included BMI and aerobic capacity, health knowledge and healthy food intentions as assessed through path analysis techniques. Both the baseline model (χ2 (df = 8) = 16.90, p = .031; RMSEA = .035 (90% CI of .010–.058), NNFI = 0.983 and the CFI = 0.995) and the model incorporating intervention participation proved to be a good fit to the data (χ2 (df = 10) = 11.59, p = .314. RMSEA = .013 (90% CI of .010–.039); NNFI = 0.996 and CFI = 0.999). Experimental group participation was not predictive of changes in health knowledge, intentions to eat healthy foods or changes in Body Mass Index, but it was associated with increased aerobic capacity, β = .067, p < .05. School characteristics including SES and Language proficiency proved to be significantly associated with changes in knowledge and physical indicators. Further effects of school level variables on intervention outcomes are recommended so that tailored interventions can be developed aimed at the specific characteristics of each participating school. ^

Formative evaluation of a parental involvement program for obesity prevention with low-income elementary school children

This study addresses the responses to a postcard campaign with health messages targeting the parents of children in a sample of low-income elementary schools and assesses the feasibility and areas of possible improvements in such a project. The campaign was implemented in Spring 2009 with 4 th grade students (n=1070) in fifteen economically disadvantaged elementary schools in Travis County, Texas. Postcards were sent home with children, and parents filled out a feedback card that the children returned to school. Response data, in the form of self-administered feedback cards (n=2665) and one-on-one teacher interviews (n=8), were qualitatively analyzed using NVivo 8 software. Postcard reception and points of improvement were then identified from the significant themes that emerged including health, cessation or reduction of unhealthy behaviors, motivation, family, and the comprehension of abstract health concepts. ^ Responses to the postcard campaign were almost completely positive, with less than 1% of responses reporting some sort of dislike, and many parents reported a modification of their behavior. However, possible improvements that could be made to the campaign are: increased focus of the postcards on the parents as the target population, increased information about serving size, greater emphasis on the link between obesity and health, alteration of certain skin tones used in the graphical depiction of people on the cards, and smaller but more frequent incentives to return the feedback cards for the students. The program appears to be an effective method of communicating health messages to the parents of 4th grade children.^

Total cholesterol and anthropometric measurements distributions in a cross-sectional study of school children

Cross-sectional age and sex specific distributions of serum total cholesterol were described for 1091 children age 6-18 years, in The Woodlands, Texas. Associations of serum total cholesterol with five anthropometric measurements (weight, height, body mass index, arm circumference, and triceps skinfold thickness) were examined by correlation and regression analyses. Examination of serum total cholesterol distributions showed lower levels in boys than in girls for most of the age groups studied. Mean levels of total cholesterol peaked at age 9 for boys and 8 for girls. Serum total cholesterol leveled off until age 14 for boys and 11 for girls, and then dropped through age 18 for both boys and girls. These results support the hypothesis that serum total cholesterol concentration drops at pre-adolescence.^ Age adjusted correlations were observed between serum total cholesterol and triceps skinfold thickness for both boys and girls. This association was stronger in boys. Triceps skinfold thickness and arm circumference were consistently the strongest correlates for serum total cholesterol in boys. Weight and arm circumference were consistently the strongest correlates for serum total cholesterol in girls. ^

THE EFFECT OF IRON SUPPLEMENT ON THE GROWTH OF RURAL INDONESIAN SCHOOL CHILDREN

The effect of oral iron supplementation on blood iron levels and physical growth in 119 Indonesian rural school children was assessed in the double-blind study. The children were classified into anemic and normal groups according to their initial hemoglobin and transferrin saturation levels and were randomly assigned to either iron or placebo treatment for twelve weeks. Biochemical, anthropometric and morbidity data were collected prior to and after the treatment period. Before treatment, anemic subjects were smaller and had higher morbidity than normal subjects. Treatment with 10 mg ferrous sulfate/kg/day for twelve weeks resulted in a significant improvement in blood iron biochemical status of the anemic subjects and in their growth velocity and morbidity. ^

The heart challenge: The effect of regular aerobic exercise on body fat distribution in third and fourth grade school children: A randomized clinical trial

The pattern of body fat distribution known as "centralized", and characterized by a predominance of subcutaneous fat on the trunk and a "pot belly", has been associated with an increased risk of chronic disease. These patterns of fat distribution, as well as the lifestyle habit variables associated with adult fatness and chronic morbidity clearly begin to develop during childhood, indicating the need for intervention and primary prevention of obesity, particularly the centralized form, during childhood or adolescence. The purpose of this study was to determine whether regular aerobic exercise could beneficially alter the distribution of body fat in 8 and 9 year old children. One hundred and eighty-eight participants were randomized into either a regular aerobic exercise treatment group or a standard physical education program control group. A variety of aerobic activities was used for intervention 5 days per week during physical education class for a period of 12 weeks. Fat distribution was measured by a number of the most commonly used indices, including ratios of body circumferences and skinfolds and indices derived from a principal components analysis. Change over time in average pulse rate was used to determine if intervention actually occurred. Approximately 10% of the students were remeasured, allowing the calculation of intra- and interexaminer measurement reliability estimates for all indices.^ This study group was comparable to the U.S. population, though the study children were slightly larger for certain measures. No effect of the exercise intervention was found. The most likely explanation for this was inadequacy of the intervention, as indicated by the lack of any change in average pulse rate with treatment. The results of the measurement reliability analysis are reported and indicate that body circumference ratios are more precise than skinfold ratios, particularly when multiple observers are used. Reliability estimates for the principal component indices were also high.^ It remains unclear whether the distribution of body fat can be altered with exercise. It is likely that this issue will remain undecided until one highly reliable, valid, and sensitive measure of fat distribution can be found. ^

Relationships among multiple intelligences, motor performance and academic achievement in secondary school children

This study examines the relationships between multiple intelligences, academic achievement and motor performance in a group of secondary school children. Four hundred and eighty schoolchildren participated in this study (171 female and 309 male) with an average age of 13.33 years (SD: 1.41). The Revised self-efficacy Inventory for Multiple Intelligences (IAIM-R) and the motor test Sportcomp were applied, and the average results of the academic year they had made were obtained. The analysis of the results showed how female scored significantly higher on the Linguistic, Spatial and Interpersonal intelligences, and older pupils scored significantly higher on the linguistic and naturalistic intelligences. It was the logical-mathematical intelligence which showed significant relationships with academic performance and it was the intelligence that better predicted this achievement. It was the bodily-kinesthetic intelligence that was significantly related to motor competence and the best intelligence that predicted its achievement. Finally, indicate that schoolchildren with better scores in the motor test were those who scored higher in both academic achievement and all the multiple intelligences, with the exception of musical intelligence.

The cry of our Board School children; a sermon preached at the St. John's Wood Synagogue on ... December 1st, 1894,

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