The lifestyle of our kids (LOOK) project: Outline of methods

Abstract

This methods paper outlines the overall design of a community-based multidisciplinary longitudinal study with the intent to stimulate interest and communication from scientists and practitioners studying the role of physical activity in preventive medicine. In adults, lack of regular exercise is a major risk factor in the development of chronic degenerative diseases and is a major contributor to obesity, and now we have evidence that many of our children are not sufficiently active to prevent early symptoms of chronic disease. The lifestyle of our kids (LOOK) study investigates how early physical activity contributes to health and development, utilizing a longitudinal design and a cohort of eight hundred and thirty 7-8-year-old (grade 2) school children followed to age 11-12 years (grade 6), their average family income being very close to that of Australia. We will test two hypotheses, that (a) the quantity and quality of physical activity undertaken by primary school children will influence their psychological and physical health and development; (b) compared with existing practices in primary schools, a physical education program administered by visiting specialists will enhance health and development, and lead to a more positive perception of physical activity. To test the first hypothesis we will monitor all children longitudinally over the 4 years. To test the second we will involve an intervention group of 430 children who receive two 50min physical education classes every week from visiting specialists and a control group of 400 who continue with their usual primary school physical education with their class-room teachers. At the end of grades 2, 4, and 6 we will measure several areas of health and development including blood risk factors for chronic disease, cardiovascular structure and function, physical fitness, psychological characteristics and perceptions of physical activity, bone structure and strength, motor control, body composition, nutritional intake, influence of teachers and family, and academic performance.

Influence of Adiposity and Physical Activity on Arterial Stiffness in Healthy Children

“…Recruitment methods for this community-based longitudinal study have been described previously. 12 In brief, the Lifestyle of Our Kids Study is a prospective cohort study designed to investigate the effect of physical activity on health and development. Participating children were recruited from local primary (elementary) schools in which average family income was very close to that of the Australian national average.…”

“…12 Supine brachial BP and heart rate were determined using an automated oscillometric Omron 7051T. The average of 2 measurements made at 1-minute intervals was recorded.…”

Results From Australia’s 2016 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth

“…However, this year the RWG decided to raise the bar for this indicator, and the primary metric used to assign the grade was changed to "the percentage of school students for which active transport is their usual mode of transport to and from school at least part of the way (defined as at least 5/10 trips or on at least 2.5/5 days)." New state-based data were considered in addition to the data considered in the 2015 Progress Report Card (see Table 1), which collectively showed that approximately 41% to 43% of secondary students 5,25 and 23% to 38% of primary school students 18,19,22,25,26 use active transport as their 'usual mode' of transport to/from school at least part of the way. Even though new data were considered, the grade decline this year was a result of the RWG deciding to 'raise the bar' rather than actual participation rates declining.…”

“…In addition to the statebased data considered in 2014, 29 new state-based data were available in 2016. 22,37 Collectively, these data, which represented more than 5800 9-to 16-year-olds from multiple states and territories who were directly measured using the 20 m shuttle run (20mSRT), were believed by the RWG to be sufficient to confidently inform a grade. Relative to sex-specific and age-specific international normative 20mSRT values generated on 1,142,026 children and young people from 50 countries, 38 Australian children and young people are of below average aerobic fitness (mean ± 95% confidence interval: 43 ± 5 percentile).…”

Longitudinal Studies of Cardiac Troponin I in a Large Cohort of Healthy Children

“…In 2005 a cohort of healthy 8-year-old children was enrolled from Canberra schools, assigned to intervention and control groups, and followed for 4 years. The details of this study have been published elsewhere (11 ).…”