Publications by authors named "Amanda Staiano"
Study Objectives: To examine 1) multidimensional sleep profiles in pre-schoolers (3-6 years) across geocultural regions and 2) differences in sleep characteristics and family practices between Majority World regions (Pacific Islands, Sub-Saharan Africa, Eastern Europe, Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, Latin America) and the Minority World (the Western world).
Methods: Participants were 3507 pre-schoolers from 37 countries. Nighttime sleep characteristics and nap duration (accelerometer: n=1950) and family practices (parental questionnaire) were measured.
Background: Exergames may be a feasible alternative to in-person exercise that is adaptable for adults with Down Syndrome (DS).
Objective: The purpose of this study was to conduct a 12-week pilot trial to assess the feasibility of exergames for adults with DS.
Methods: Adults with DS were provided Ring Fit Adventure™ which uses a resistance ring and body weight to perform cardiovascular and strength exercises.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to explore whether indoor activities could help preschoolers achieve moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and compare how different accelerometer placements measure this activity.
- Thirty-five preschoolers participated in six different activities, and their MVPA was monitored through direct observation and accelerometers placed on the ankle, waist, and wrist.
- Results indicated that activities like balloon/bubbles, cycling, and circuits were effective in promoting MVPA, while others like dancing and cleaning up were less effective; parent and child feedback suggested that most activities were feasible and acceptable.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to improve global surveillance of child and adolescent movement behaviors (like physical activity and screen time) by gathering expert opinions through a Delphi method involving 62 participants.
- Experts ranked important items in categories like funding, capacity building, and methods, with a consensus on key priorities such as increased public funding and standard protocols for measures.
- The findings highlighted common priorities across different income countries and initiatives, but there was no agreement on the use of private funding for surveillance.
Article Synopsis
- The prevalence of physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep among 3- and 4-year-old children globally is unclear, highlighting the need for consistent data.
- This study analyzed data from 14 cross-sectional studies across 33 countries to determine how many children met WHO guidelines for physical activity, screen time, and sleep over recent years.
- Only 14.3% of the 7017 children studied met all the guidelines, with no significant differences found between countries with varying income levels regarding adherence to these health recommendations.
Purpose: Summer day camp offers children opportunities to grow knowledge and skills, be physically active, and have fun. Compared to healthy children, at-risk children (i.e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Toddler physical activity is critical for child health, but little is known about its applications in early childhood education (ECE) centers. The aims of this study were 1) to determine if pragmatic and nature-based modifications to an ECE center's outdoor setting were feasible and acceptable, and 2) to identify barriers and facilitators of toddler physical activity at ECE centers.
Methods: A multiphase mixed-methods study (QUANT+QUAL) was conducted.
The aim of this meta-meta-analysis was to systematically review randomised controlled trial (RCT) evidence examining the effectiveness of e- and m-Health interventions designed to improve physical activity, sedentary behaviour, healthy eating and sleep. Nine electronic databases were searched for eligible studies published from inception to 1 June 2023. Systematic reviews with meta-analyses of RCTs that evaluate e- and m-Health interventions designed to improve physical activity, sedentary behaviour, sleep and healthy eating in any adult population were included.
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- A cross-sectional study involving 797 children aged 3-4 from diverse countries found that only about 30.9% met the global guideline of 180 minutes of total physical activity (TPA) daily, as indicated by a mean daily step count of 10,295 steps.
- The study revealed that boys, younger children, urban residents, and those from higher-income countries were less likely to meet the TPA guideline, highlighting significant sociodemographic differences in physical activity levels.
- These results emphasize the importance of monitoring TPA in early childhood and call for potential interventions to enhance physical activity and overall health among young children worldwide.
There is some, albeit inconsistent, evidence supporting sex differences in preschoolers' motor competence (MC), with these observations not uniform when analyzed by age, and cultural groups. Thus, this study examined sex differences across ages in 3- to 5-year-old children's MC. A cross-country pooled sample of 6241 children aged 3-5 years (49.
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- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), now often referred to as metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), is prevalent among children and teens with obesity and is linked to metabolic syndrome factors like insulin resistance.
- A consensus of 65 international experts was reached through surveys to create recommendations covering various aspects of pediatric MAFLD, including its causes, epidemiology, and treatment strategies.
- The final consensus aims to enhance clinical outcomes and life quality for affected youth, highlighting the importance of standardized diagnosis and treatment methods.
Article Synopsis
- Family-based behavioral treatment (FBT) is an effective method for reducing obesity in children, but access is often limited, which led to this study comparing FBT combined with enhanced standard of care (eSOC) against eSOC alone.
- The trial involved children aged 6-15 with obesity and their caregivers, assessing outcomes over 12 months through regular health coaching and guidelines-based treatment approaches.
- The results aim to provide insights into the effectiveness of these interventions in primary care settings, focusing on changes in child weight, parent weight, psychosocial factors, and obesity-related risks.
Article Synopsis
- A study investigated the relationship between maternal gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and the risk of childhood overweight/obesity in children aged 6 to 8 years.
- Researchers followed 1,156 mother-child pairs, measuring various indicators of childhood adiposity, finding that children of mothers with GDM had significantly higher body fat and waist circumference compared to those of mothers without GDM.
- The results suggested that maternal GDM is linked to increased risks of childhood overweight/obesity, independent of factors like maternal BMI and weight gain during pregnancy.
Objective: The aim of this substudy within the Treatment Efforts Addressing Child Weight Management by Unifying Patients, Parents, and Providers (TEAM UP) pragmatic clinical trial was to compare the validity of anthropometric measurements collected remotely versus in person (≤7 days apart) among youth with obesity who were 6 to 15 years of age.
Methods: Child (n = 37) weight and height were measured in person by a trained data assessor. These were compared with measurements taken remotely by the child's parent with live videoconferencing observation by a study data assessor.
Objective: Examine the prospective association among diet with adolescent cardiometabolic risk (CMR) and anthropometrics.
Methods: Secondary analysis of an observational study of adolescents aged 10-16 years. Twenty-four-hour food recalls were used to calculate Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015) scores.
Background And Objective: One in five preschool children are overweight/obese, and increased weight status over time increases the risks of poorer future health. Motor skill competence may be a protective factor, giving children the ability to participate in health-enhancing physical activity. Yet, we do not know when the relationship between motor competence and weight status first emerges or whether it is evident across the body mass index (BMI) spectrum.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Health disparities faced by autistic youth are exacerbated by inadequate physical activity (PA) and sleep, whereas healthy PA and sleep may improve mood and function. Adaptive Game Squad (AGS) is an evidence-based telehealth coaching and exergaming intervention to improve PA and sleep for adolescents with diverse neurodevelopmental and psychiatric conditions. This study aimed to adapt AGS for autistic youth ages 10-15 years; beta-test the modified intervention for feasibility, accessibility, and engagement; and further refine the intervention for a larger planned demonstration pilot.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Preschool children are not meeting recommended levels of physical activity (PA) nor are they proficient in fundamental motor skills (FMS), which are the foundation for PA. As such, interventions are needed to increase PA and FMS in young children. This trial examined the effects of an environmental ("painted playgrounds") and capacity-building (written toolkit) intervention on child FMS, PA, and sedentary behavior at early childhood education (ECE) centers and examined feasibility.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study aimed to examine the temporal changes in energy-balance behaviors and home factors in adolescents with normal weight and those with overweight or obesity (OWOB). Adolescents or parent proxies completed survey assessments two to four years before (T0; ), ≤ six months before (T1; ), and ≤ three months after the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak (T2; ), to capture energy-balance behaviors (i.e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Disadvantaged neighborhood environments are a source of chronic stress which undermines optimal adolescent health. This study investigated relationships between the neighborhood social environment, specifically, chronic stress exposures, adiposity, and cardiometabolic disease risk factors among 288 Louisiana adolescents aged 10 to 16 years.
Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized baseline data from the Translational Investigation of Growth and Everyday Routines in Kids (TIGER Kids) study.
Introduction: Remotely delivered treatment and research procedures were rapidly adopted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it is unclear if these measures are valid. The purpose of this study was to compare the validity of anthropometry and motor skill proficiency measurements collected in a remote-setting to in-person setting among a sample of children ages 3-4 years.
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