Asthma as a Barrier to Children's Physical Activity: Implications for Body Mass Index and Mental Health

Glazebrook, Cris; McPherson, Amy C.; Macdonald, I. A.; Swift, Judy A.; Ramsay, Christopher; Newbould, Rachel; Smyth, Alan

doi:10.1542/peds.2006-1846

Cited by 156 publications

(157 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…8,9 Research has confirmed the link between parents' perceptions of risk and physical activity levels in their children. 9 A US study of 137 parents found that children whose parents believed that the child would become ill from exercise were more likely to be inactive.…”

Section: Comparison With Existing Literaturementioning

confidence: 95%

“…5 However, it has specific benefits for children with asthma, including reduced hospital admissions, reduced school absenteeism, fewer consultations with GPs, reduced medication, 6 and improved ability to cope with asthma. 7 Despite these benefits, rates of physical activity among young people with asthma are lower than their nonasthmatic peers, [8][9][10][11][12] and are continuing to decline as rates fall more generally among young people in most industrialised nations. 13,14 Three interconnected factors affect participation in physical activity by children with asthma: the illness beliefs of young people; 15,16 parental and family beliefs; 9,17 and the knowledge of teachers and organisational arrangements in schools.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Low exercise among children with asthma: a culture of over protection? A qualitative study of experiences and beliefs

Williams¹,

Hoskins

Pow

et al. 2010

Br J Gen Pract

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Background: Research shows that children are insufficiently active in most affluent societies. Although children with asthma may particularly benefit from physical activity, they are less active than their peers. Aim: To explore the reasons for low physical activity levels among children with asthma and to identify strategies to improve activity. Design of study: A qualitative study using in-depth interviews and focus groups. Setting: Six GP practices, a Paediatric Respiratory Unit, and four schools in Tayside, Scotland. Method: Purposive sampling identified 30 children with asthma, their parents (n = 38) and school staff (n = 28), who were interviewed or took part in focus groups. Data were examined using constant comparative analysis. Results: The lower level of activity among children with asthma was supported by a climate of fear among parents and teachers about what was safe and possible for the child. Restrictions were imposed because of perceived dangers of exercising in the presence of 'triggers'. Physical activity was regarded as a threat to be managed rather than something beneficial. Teachers found it difficult to distinguish between children who were physically incapable of exercise due to asthma and those who were unmotivated. GPs were unknowingly drawn into the controversy by children and parents who cite medical advice to sanction exemption from exercise. Conclusion: GPs and asthma nurses need to provide clear management plans explaining what is appropriate and safe in terms of exercise on a child-by-child basis, to counter the considerable misunderstanding and disagreement among children, parents, and teachers

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Section: Comparison With Existing Literaturementioning

confidence: 95%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Low exercise among children with asthma: a culture of over protection? A qualitative study of experiences and beliefs

Williams¹,

Hoskins

Pow

et al. 2010

Br J Gen Pract

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…A number of studies showed that children who wheezed were less physically active than children who did not wheeze. [20][21][22] By contrast, others did not find such association 9 or even found the reverse. 23 Because these studies were cross-sectional in design, they provide no information about the direction of the association.…”

mentioning

confidence: 88%

Asthmatic Symptoms, Physical Activity, and Overweight in Young Children: A Cohort Study

Eijkemans

Mommers²,

Vries³

et al. 2008

Pediatrics

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The authors have indicated they have no financial relationships relevant to this article to disclose. ABSTRACTOBJECTIVE. Prevalence of asthma and overweight has increased simultaneously during the past decades. Several studies have reported an association between these two health problems, but it is unclear whether this relation is causal. We hypothesize that children with asthmatic symptoms are less physically active, which may contribute to the development of overweight.PATIENTS AND METHODS. The study included children from the KOALA Birth Cohort Study who were invited at 4 to 5 years of age to wear an Actigraph accelerometer for 5 days (n ϭ 305; 152 boys). Information on wheezing was gathered by repeated questionnaires completed by parents at child ages 7 months and 1, 2, and 4 to 5 years. Questionnaires on physical activity were completed at child age 4 to 5 years, and height, weight, and abdominal circumference were measured. Accelerometer data were expressed as mean counts per minute, minutes per day performing vigorous activity, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity during Ն1 minute. RESULTS.Children who had wheezed in the last 12 months showed very similar activity levels compared with children who had never wheezed. By contrast, boys who had wheezed at least once but not in the last 12 months were more physically active than boys who had never wheezed (geometric mean: 694 vs 625 cpm; adjusted geometric mean ratio: 1.11). This was not found for girls. Similar results were found in parent-reported physical activity data. No association was found between wheezing at any age and overweight at the age of 4 to 5 years.CONCLUSIONS. These results do not support our hypothesis and previous studies that showed that wheezing children are less physically active. Our data provide no evidence that asthmatic symptoms induce a lower physical activity level and more overweight. Additional research could concentrate on the effect of physical activity and overweight on the development of asthmatic symptoms.

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“…Asthma not only increases school absenteeism and fears, but it also decreases physical activity for children with asthma. Glazebrook et al (2006) reported that two-thirds of children with asthma stated that asthma stopped them from doing sports and limited their activity based on reports of an average of two fewer activities per day than children without asthma, (4 activities per day vs. 6 activities per day). For parents of children with asthma a decreased quality of life is related to missed workdays, limited activities, inadequate sleep, frequent night awakenings and decreased emotional health.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors That Influence Quality of Life in Rural Children With Asthma and Their Parents

Walker

Winkelstein²,

Land³

et al. 2008

Journal of Pediatric Health Care

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Asthma as a Barrier to Children's Physical Activity: Implications for Body Mass Index and Mental Health

Cited by 156 publications

References 38 publications

Low exercise among children with asthma: a culture of over protection? A qualitative study of experiences and beliefs

Low exercise among children with asthma: a culture of over protection? A qualitative study of experiences and beliefs

Asthmatic Symptoms, Physical Activity, and Overweight in Young Children: A Cohort Study

Factors That Influence Quality of Life in Rural Children With Asthma and Their Parents

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