Variation in population levels of physical activity in European children and adolescents according to cross-European studies: a systematic literature review within DEDIPAC

Abstract

BackgroundRegular physical activity is associated with physical, social and mental health benefits, whilst insufficient physical activity is associated with several negative health outcomes (e.g. metabolic problems). Population monitoring of physical activity is important to gain insight into prevalence of compliance to physical activity recommendations, groups at risk and changes in physical activity patterns. This review aims to provide an overview of all existing studies that measure physical activity in youth, in cross-European studies, to describe the variation in population levels of physical activity and to describe and define challenges regarding assessment methods that are used.MethodsA systematic search was performed on six databases (PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, SportDiscus and OpenGrey), supplemental forward- and backward tracking was done and authors’ and experts’ literature databases were searched to identify relevant articles. Journal articles or reports that reported levels of physical activity in the general population of youth from cross-European studies were included. Data were reviewed, extracted and assessed by two researchers, with disagreements being resolved by a third researcher. The review protocol of this review is published under registration number CRD42014010684 in the PROSPERO database.ResultsThe search resulted in 9756 identified records of which 30 articles were included in the current review. This review revealed large differences between countries in prevalence of compliance to physical activity recommendations (i.e. 60 min of daily moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA)) measured subjectively (5–47 %) and accelerometer measured minutes of MVPA (23–200 min). Overall boys and children were more active than girls and adolescents. Different measurement methods (subjective n = 12, objective n = 18) and reported outcome variables (n = 17) were used in the included articles. Different accelerometer intensity thresholds used to define MVPA resulted in substantial differences in MVPA between studies conducted in the same countries when assessed objectively.ConclusionsReported levels of physical activity and prevalence of compliance to physical activity recommendations in youth showed large variation across European countries. This may reflect true variation in physical activity as well as variation in assessment methods and reported outcome variables. Standardization across Europe, of methods to assess physical activity in youth and reported outcome variables is warranted, preferably moving towards a pan-European surveillance system combining objective and self-report methods.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12966-016-0396-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Individual-Level Fitness and Absenteeism in New York City Middle School Youths, 2006–2013

“…However, accelerometry data show that only 42% of children aged 6 to 11 years meet international physical activity recommendations for at least 60 minutes per day of moderate to vigorous physical activity (8). Although these rates are similar to rates in European countries (9), declines in physical activity are steeper from childhood to adolescence in the United States compared with declines in other nations (10). This national trend is also evident in New York City (NYC), where 40% and 20% of youths aged 6 to 12 and 14 to 18, respectively, meet physical activity recommendations (11,12).…”

Nutrition in adolescents: physiology, metabolism, and nutritional needs

“…Many theories have been proposed to explain body image disturbances and their link with eating disorders, but most researchers appear to agree that the strongest influence in Western societies is the sociocultural factor, the theory best supported by available data . A recent systematic review evaluating variations in population‐level physical activity in European children and adolescents suggests that the reported levels of physical activity and prevalence of compliance to physical activity recommendations in youth vary widely across European countries owing to variation in physical activity as well as variation in assessment methods and reported outcome variables . Over the last decade, many studies have been conducted to evaluate the impact of lifestyle changes, health behavior modifications, and nutrition interventions among children, adolescents, and youth in various population groups .…”

“…69 A recent systematic review evaluating variations in population-level physical activity in European children and adolescents suggests that the reported levels of physical activity and prevalence of compliance to physical activity recommendations in youth vary widely across European countries owing to variation in physical activity as well as variation in assessment methods and reported outcome variables. 70 Over the last decade, many studies have been conducted to evaluate the impact of lifestyle changes, health behavior modifications, and nutrition interventions among children, adolescents, and youth in various population groups. [71][72][73][74][75][76] These include the European Youth Heart Survey (EYHS), the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence (HELENA) study, the Identification and Prevention of Dietary and Lifestyle Induced Health Effects in Children and Infants (IDEFICS) study, the Health Behavior in School Ages Children (HBSC) study, and the Dortmund Nutritional and Anthropometric Longitudinally Designed Study (DONALD).…”

Identifying and sharing data for secondary data analysis of physical activity, sedentary behaviour and their determinants across the life course in Europe: general principles and an example from DEDIPAC

“…[20][21][22][23][24] Although comparable, objectively measured data are currently lacking, there are indications that adults in northern European countries engage in more sitting time than in countries in the south of Europe 20 and that some southern European countries generally appear to be among the less physically active countries. 22 24 Analysing combined (ie, pooled) datasets in which the variables are matched (ie, harmonised) is a way to increase statistical power, the representativeness of wider populations and variation in outcomes or correlates of interest.…”

“…The substantial variation in assessment methods and operationalisation of outcome variables across current European studies (as illustrated in table 2) not only hampered the practical harmonisation process, but also presented comparability issues, as estimations of physical activity and sedentary behaviour levels are known to differ based on the assessment method used. [21][22][23][24] Fourth, next to harmonisation issues of core outcomes (physical activity and/or sedentary behaviour, in this context), our focus on determinants of physical activity and sedentary behaviours meant that individual-level and contextual-more upstream-factors were to be taken into account. It was possible to harmonise some of the core outcomes sometimes, and some key sociodemographic variables (eg, age, gender and educational background) could be harmonised.…”