Evidence that the prevalence of childhood overweight is plateauing: data from nine countries.

Until quite recently, there has been a widespread belief in the popular media and scientific literature that the prevalence of childhood obesity is rapidly increasing. However, high quality evidence has emerged from several countries suggesting that the rise in the prevalence has slowed appreciably, or even plateaued. This review brings together such data from nine countries (Australia, China, England, France, Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland and USA), with data from 467,294 children aged 2-19 years.

Effects of active video games on body composition: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Sedentary activities such as video gaming are independently associated with obesity. Active video games, in which players physically interact with images on screen, may help increase physical activity and improve body composition.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of active video games over a 6-mo period on weight, body composition, physical activity, and physical fitness.

Associations between after-school physical activity, television use, and parental strategies in a sample of New Zealand adolescents.

Background: Youth display suboptimal levels of[1] physical activity and sedentary behaviors. Few studies have examined the existence of the "displacement hypothesis" or the effect of parental strategies on activity behaviors during the after-school period.

Methods: A total of 3471 students (12-18 years old) completed a self-report survey that assessed after-school physical activity and television (TV) use and perceived parental strategies (ie, encouragement to be active, TV-viewing rules).

Feasibility, design and conduct of a pragmatic randomized controlled trial to reduce overweight and obesity in children: The electronic games to aid motivation to exercise (eGAME) study.

Background: Childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions in developed countries. Sedentary screen-based activities such as video gaming are thought to displace active behaviors and are independently associated with obesity. Active video games, where players physically interact with images onscreen, may have utility as a novel intervention to increase physical activity and improve body composition in children.

Pedometer-determined physical activity levels of adolescents: differences by age, sex, time of week, and transportation mode to school.

Background: Few studies have examined high school students' physical activity habits using objective measures. The purpose of this study was to describe pedometer-determined habitual physical activity levels of youth.

Methods: 236 high school students (age 12-18 years) wore sealed pedometers for 5 consecutive days.

Self-reported physical activity levels during a segmented school day in a large multiethnic sample of high school students.

The school day provides youth several opportunistic time periods to be active. How active youth are during these time periods or whether they engage in physical activity across multiple time periods is not well established. A cross-sectional sample of 12-18-year-old students (n=3471) were recruited from low socioeconomic status high schools within South Auckland, New Zealand.

Social support for youth physical activity: Importance of siblings, parents, friends and school support across a segmented school day.

Background: Whilst evidence exists for the influence of encouragement on physical activity participation, the diversity of support sources and the type of physical activity examined previously is limited. This study examined the importance of perceived encouragement from parents, siblings/cousins, friends, and schools on participation levels across three time-specific activity opportunities that are available during a school day (after-school physical activities, lunchtime activity, and active transportation to and from school).

Methods: A cross-sectional sample of 12-18 year old high school students (n = 3,471) were recruited from low SES schools within South Auckland, New Zealand and categorised as either Junior (Years 9-11) or Senior (Years 12 & 13) students.

Physical activity: what do high school students think?

Purpose: To explore the views high school students have about various physical activity contexts and their ideas of potential physical activity promoting strategies.

Methods: Forty-four students from New Zealand high schools with a low decile rating participated in one of nine focus groups. All groups were separated by gender and ethnicity (Maori, New Zealand European).

Adolescent obesity and physical inactivity.

Globally, obesity and physical inactivity are two health issues affecting young people. In New Zealand, the most current statistics indicate that 33.6% of 11 to 14 year olds, and 27% of 15 to 18 year olds, are considered overweight or obese.

Decreasing landing forces in children: the effect of instructions.

Study Design: Randomized controlled experimental design.

Objectives: To examine the effects of verbal instructions related to control of joint kinematics and auditory feedback on lowering the vertical peak ground reaction forces associated with landing from a jump in children.

Background: The majority of children's injuries are associated with activities that involve jumping and landing.