Congratulations to HALO PhD Candidate Silvia Gonzalez and HALO Senior Scientists Dr. Mark Tremblay and Dr. Jean-Philippe Chaput on their recent publication “Prevalence and correlates of meeting physical activity guidelines among Colombian children and adolescents” just published in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health. Citation details and a summary of the paper are below.
Congratulations, Silvia and team!
González, S. A., Sarmiento, O. L., Katzmarzyk, P. T., Chaput, J., Camargo-Lemos, D. M., & Tremblay, M. S. (2021). Prevalence and Correlates of Meeting Physical Activity Guidelines Among Colombian Children and Adolescents, Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 18(4), 400-417.
Abstract
Background: Global estimates have shown that a small proportion of children and adolescents are physically active. However, the evidence on physical activity (PA) among Colombian children and adolescents is limited. The objective of this study was to describe the prevalence and correlates of meeting PA guidelines among Colombian children and adolescents.
Methods: Data were collected as part of the National Survey of Nutrition 2015. A national sample of 16,612 children and adolescents (3–17 y) was included. Prevalence estimates of meeting PA and active play guidelines were calculated, and Poisson regression models were conducted to identify correlates of PA.
Results: Low proportion of Colombian children and adolescents met the PA guidelines. Low engagement in active play was observed among preschoolers. Correlates varied by age group. Female sex was a consistent negative correlate of meeting PA guidelines across all age groups.
Conclusions: Urgent actions are needed to promote active play and PA among Colombian children and adolescents. The correlates identified in our study can help inform the development of actions to overcome the disparities and provide opportunities for children to achieve their full potential for healthy growth and development.
The full article is available here.
