Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance Global Matrix 4.0—A Resource for Physical Activity Researchers

Abstract

Background: This brief report provides an overview of the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance (AHKGA); an introduction to the Global Matrix 4.0; an explanation of the value and opportunities that the AHKGA efforts and assets provide to the physical activity research, policy, practice, and advocacy community; an outline of the series of papers related to the Global Matrix 4.0 in this issue of the Journal of Physical Activity and Health; and an invitation for future involvement. Methods: The AHKGA was formed to help power the global movement to get kids moving. In 2019–2021, we recruited countries to participate in the Global Matrix 4.0, a worldwide initiative to assess, compare, and contrast the physical activity of children and adolescents. Results: A total of 57 countries/jurisdictions (hereafter referred to as countries for simplicity) were recruited. The current activities of the AHKGA are summarized. The overall findings of the Global Matrix 4.0 are presented in a series of papers in this issue of the Journal of Physical Activity and Health. Conclusions: The Global Matrix 4.0 and other assets of the AHKGA are publicly available, and physical activity researchers, practitioners, policy makers, and advocates are encouraged to exploit these resources to further their efforts.

Association Between Physical Activity Indicators and Human Development Index at a National Level: Information From Global Matrix 4.0 Physical Activity Report Cards for Children and Adolescents

“…The present research is a cross-sectional, ecological observation study, and used information from Global Matrix 4.0 project. 4,10 As has been done in 3 previous editions of the Global Matrix initiatives, 3,5,6 the AHKGA led the development of the Global Matrix 4.0, bringing together 57 countries/territories from 6 continents. 4,10 Each of these countries or territories had one Report Card team comprising national experts (researchers, professors, stakeholders, students, staff, and practitioners) led by one or more Report Card leader(s) following an established, harmonized process.…”

“…10 Thus, the project had a direct involvement of nearly 700 people. 4 The development of the Global Matrix 4.0 project started in 2019 and included data up to early 2022. Each national Report Card team gathered the best available evidence to systematically grade each of the 10 common indicators included in Global Matrix 4.0.…”

“…1 While specific targets for children are not identified in the Global Action Plan on Physical Activity, the fourth edition of the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance (AHKGA) Global Matrix project aims to monitor the PA of school-aged children and adolescents at global, regional, and local levels, using a harmonized approach. [4][5][6] Some of the recognized benefits of PA for children and adolescents include maintaining and improving indicators of cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular fitness, adiposity, bone health, and cardiometabolic health, reduced depressive symptoms, and positive effects on cognitive function and academic outcomes. 7 Although these health benefits are well established, there is still a high prevalence of insufficient PA in children and adolescents around the world.…”

“…The letter grades ranged between "A+" (best performance) and "F" (worst performance). 4,10 For indicators with incomplete (INC), inadequate, or insufficient data, the INC grade is assigned. 4,10 To align with the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals through PA monitoring and promotion, this study aims to explore the associations between the 10 key indicators of the Global Matrix 4.0 project and human development index (HDI) at the national level according to sex, age, area of residence, and ability levels.…”

“…4,10 For indicators with incomplete (INC), inadequate, or insufficient data, the INC grade is assigned. 4,10 To align with the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals through PA monitoring and promotion, this study aims to explore the associations between the 10 key indicators of the Global Matrix 4.0 project and human development index (HDI) at the national level according to sex, age, area of residence, and ability levels. The main hypothesis of this study is that in countries/localities with better HDI, PA indicators will be better than in countries/localities with lower HDI for all subgroups analyzed.…”