GamerFit-ASD beta test: adapting an evidence-based exergaming and telehealth coaching intervention for autistic youth.

Background: 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.

Presenting a New Framework to Improve Engagement in Physical Activity Programs for Children and Adolescents With Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Disabilities.

Children and adolescents with psychiatric and neurodevelopmental diagnoses such as anxiety, depression, autism, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) face enormous health disparities, and the prevalence of these disorders is increasing. Social, emotional, and behavioral disabilities (SEBD) often co-occur with each other and are associated with unique barriers to engaging in free-living physical activity (PA), community-based exercise and sports programming, and school-based physical education. Some examples of these barriers include the significantly depleted parental reserve capacity associated with SEBD in children, child dysregulation, and previous negative experiences with PA programming and/or exclusion.

Barriers and facilitators to physical education, sport, and physical activity program participation among children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders: a systematic review.

Children and adolescents with heterogeneous psychiatric disorders, of whom over 50% have a second psychiatric comorbidity, have low rates of physical activity and experience unique challenges to engaging in community-based exercise programming, school-based physical education programming, and targeted physical activity interventions. This contributes to elevated rates of gross and fine motor delays, lower mood and self-regulation, and increased risk of chronic diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. Perform a systematic scoping review of the literature to assess known barriers to and facilitators of engaging in physical activity programming among children and adolescents with heterogeneous and/or comorbid psychiatric disorders, in order to improve engagement among this population in real world intervention settings.

The Adaptive GameSquad Xbox-Based Physical Activity and Health Coaching Intervention for Youth With Neurodevelopmental and Psychiatric Diagnoses: Pilot Feasibility Study.

Background: The prevalence of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric diagnoses (NPDs) in youth is increasing, and unhealthy physical activity (PA), diet, screen time, and sleep habits contribute to the chronic disease disparities and behavioral challenges this population experiences.

Objective: This pilot study aims to adapt a proven exergaming and telehealth PA coaching intervention for typically developing youth with overweight or obesity; expand it to address diet, screen, and sleep behaviors; and then test its feasibility and acceptability, including PA engagement, among youth with NPDs.

Methods: Participants (N=23; mean age 15.

Do ADHD-impulsivity and BMI have shared polygenic and neural correlates?

There is an extensive body of literature linking ADHD to overweight and obesity. Research indicates that impulsivity features of ADHD account for a degree of this overlap. The neural and polygenic correlates of this association have not been thoroughly examined.

Healthy Foods, Healthy Families: combining incentives and exposure interventions at urban farmers' markets to improve nutrition among recipients of US federal food assistance.

Background: Healthy Foods, Healthy Families (HFHF) is a fruit and vegetable (F&V) exposure/incentive program implemented at farmers' markets in low-income neighborhoods, targeting families receiving US federal food assistance. We examined program effects on participants' diet and associations between attendance, demographics and dietary change.

Methods: Exposure activities included F&V tastings and cooking demonstrations.