Browsing by Author "Cardon, Greet Maria"

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Global matrix 3.0 physical activity report card grades for children and youth: results and analysis from 49 countries
(2018) Aubert, Salome; Barnes, Joel D.; Abi Nader, Patrick; Adeniyi, Ade Fatai; Aguilar Farias, Nicolas; Andrade Tenesaca, Dolores Susana; Brazo Sayavera, Javier; Cardon, Greet Maria; Gába, Ales; González, Silvia; Herrera Cuenca, Marianella; Huang, Wendy Yajun; Ibrahim, Izzeldin A.e.; Jurimae, Jaak; Katapally, Tarun Reddy; Katzmarzyk, Peter T.; Khan , Azizuddin; Tremblay, Mark S.
Background: Accumulating sufﬁcient moderate to vigorous physical activity is recognized as a key determinant of physical, physiological, developmental, mental, cognitive, and social health among children and youth (aged 5–17 y). The Global Matrix 3.0ofReportCardgradesonphysicalactivitywasdevelopedtoachieveabetterunderstandingoftheglobalvariationinchildand youth physical activity and associated supports. Methods: Work groups from 49 countries followed harmonized procedures to develop their Report Cards by grading 10 common indicators using the best available data. The participating countries were divided into 3 categories using the United Nations’ human development index (HDI) classiﬁcation (low or medium, high, and very high HDI). Results: A total of 490 grades, including 369 letter grades and 121 incomplete grades, were assigned by the 49 work groups. Overall, an average grade of “C−,”“D+,” and “C−” was obtained for the low and medium HDI countries, high HDI countries, and very high HDI countries, respectively. Conclusions: The present study provides rich new evidence showing that the situation regarding the physical activity of children and youth is a concern worldwide. Strategic public investments to implement effective interventions to increase physical activity opportunities are needed.
Nature relatedness as a potential factor to promote physical activity and reduce sedentary behavior in Ecuadorian children
(2021) Escandón Dután, Samuel Adrián; Van Dyck, Delfien; Cardon, Greet Maria; Salvo, Deborah; Fiebelkorn, Florian; Andrade Tenesaca, Dolores Susana; Ochoa Avilés, María Cristina; Garcia Garcia, Ana Angelica; Brito Parra, Jorge Eduardo; Alvarez Alvarez, Mario; Ochoa Avilés, Angélica María; Molina Cando, María José
Background Nature relatedness can be associated with health-related outcomes. This study aims to evaluate the associations of nature relatedness with physical activity and sedentary behavior. Methods A cross-sectional study involving 9–12 year old children living in Cuenca, Ecuador, was conducted between October 2018 and March 2019. Questionnaires were used to evaluate physical activity (PAQ-C), out-of-school sedentary behavior, nature relatedness and wellbeing. Associations of nature relatedness with physical activity, and sedentary behavior were evaluated using linear regression models or tobit regressions adjusted by age, sex, school type, wellbeing, and body mass index z-score. Results A total of 1028 children were surveyed (average age:10.4±1.22 years, 52% female.). Nature relatedness was positively associated with physical activity (β = 0.07; CI 95%: 0.05–0.09; p < 0.001) and non-screen-related sedentary leisure (β = 3.77 minutes; CI 95%: 0.76–6.68; p < 0.05); it was negatively associated with screen time (β = -5.59 minutes; CI 95%: -10.53–0.65; p < 0.05). Conclusions Findings suggest that nature relatedness is associated with physical activity and some sedentary behaviors among Ecuadorian school-age children. The promotion of nature relatedness has the potential to improve health.
Physical fitness among urban and rural ecuadorian adolescents and its association with blood lipids: a cross sectional study
(2014) Ochoa Avilés, Angélica María; Lachat, Carl K.; Andrade Tenesaca, Dolores Susana; Kolsteren, Patrick Wilfried; Cardon, Greet Maria; Rojas Reyes, Rosendo Ivan; Donoso Moscoso, Silvana Patricia; Van Camp, John Hendrik; Verstraeten, Roosmarijn
Background: Physical fitness has been proposed as a marker for health during adolescence. Currently, little is known about physical fitness and its association with blood lipid profile in adolescents from low and middle-income countries. The aim of this study is therefore to assess physical fitness among urban and rural adolescents and its associations with blood lipid profile in a middle-income country. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between January 2008 and April 2009 in 648 Ecuadorian adolescents (52.3% boys), aged 11 to 15 years, attending secondary schools in Cuenca (urban n = 490) and Nabón (rural n = 158). Data collection included anthropometric measures, application of the EUROFIT battery, dietary intake (2-day 24 h recall), socio-demographic characteristics, and blood samples from a subsample (n = 301). The FITNESGRAM standards were used to evaluate fitness. The associations of fitness and residential location with blood lipid profile were assessed by linear and logistic regression after adjusting for confounding factors. Results: The majority (59%) of the adolescents exhibited low levels of aerobic capacity as defined by the FITNESSGRAM standards. Urban adolescents had significantly higher mean scores in five EUROFIT tests (20 m shuttle, speed shuttle run, plate tapping, sit-up and vertical jump) and significantly most favorable improved plasma lipid profile (triglycerides and HDL) as compared to rural adolescents. There was a weak association between blood lipid profile and physical fitness in both urban and rural adolescents, even after adjustment for confounding factors. Conclusions: Physical fitness, in our sample of Ecuadorian adolescents, was generally poor. Urban adolescents had better physical fitness and blood lipid profiles than rural adolescents. The differences in fitness did not explain those in blood lipid profile between urban and rural adolescents.