Purpose of Review
Although fathers have an important influence on their children’s well-being, their unique influence on child lifestyle behaviors has been largely overlooked in the literature. To ...inform and encourage future research, this paper provides an overview of existing studies that have examined the influence of fathers on the physical activity and dietary behaviors of their children.
Recent Findings
While the available data indicate that fathers’ behaviors and parenting practices likely play an important role in promoting healthy behaviors in children, the evidence base is limited by a reliance on observational designs and small, ungeneralizable samples.
Summary
This paper also provides a summary of the methods, research findings, and experiential insights we have gained while conducting the “
Healthy Dads, Healthy Kids
” randomized controlled trials, which tested the efficacy and effectiveness of a socio-culturally targeted program that engages fathers to improve their own health and the health of their children. The paper concludes with a series of recommendations for recruiting and engaging fathers and a summary of directions for future research.
Abstract Background While pedometers have an important role to play in the promotion of lifestyle activity among adults, less known is regarding their impact on behavior among youth (i.e. children ...and adolescents). The primary aim of this review was to identify the effectiveness of pedometers in promoting physical activity among youth. Secondary aims were to assess the quality of existing studies and examine the different ways that pedometers have been used to promote activity. Methods A systematic search of six electronic databases was conducted using combinations of the following key words ‘physical activity’, ‘walking’, ‘intervention’, ‘promotion’, ‘evaluation’, and ‘pedometer’. The quality of the studies was assessed against predetermined criteria. Results Our search identified 14 studies, of which 12 resulted in increases in physical activity. Three studies used pedometers as open-loop feedback mechanisms to increase physical activity by making access to sedentary activities contingent on achieving activity targets. Ten studies used pedometers for self-monitoring and one study incorporated pedometers into an integrated school curriculum. Conclusions Pedometers have been used successfully in a variety of ways to promote activity among youth. Since there are so few studies at this time, there is ample need and opportunity to contribute to the knowledge base.
Recent evidence shows that sport settings can act as a powerful draw to engage men in weight loss. The primary objective of this pilot study was to test the feasibility of delivering and to evaluate ...preliminary efficacy of Aussie-FIT, a weight-loss program for men with overweight/obesity delivered in Australian Football League (AFL) settings, in preparation for a future definitive trial.
This 6-month pilot trial took place in Perth, Australia. Participants were overweight/obese (Body Mass Index BMI ≥ 28 kg/m2), middle-aged (35-65 years old) men. Participants were recruited in May 2018, and the intervention took place between June and December 2018. The intervention involved 12 weekly 90-min face-to-face sessions, incorporating physical activity, nutrition, and behaviour change information and practical activities delivered by coaches at 2 clubs. Data were collected at baseline and immediately postintervention. For trial feasibility purposes, 6-month follow-ups were completed. Outcomes were differences in weight loss (primary outcome) and recruitment and retention rates, self-reported measures (for example, psychological well-being), device-measured physical activity, waist size, and blood pressure at 3 months. Within 3 days of advertising at each club, 426 men registered interest; 306 (72%) were eligible. Men were selected on a first-come first-served basis (n = 130; M age = 45.8, SD = 8; M BMI = 34.48 kg/m2, SD = 4.87) and randomised by a blinded researcher. Trial retention was 86% and 63% at 3- and 6-month follow-ups (respectively). No adverse events were reported. At 3 months, mean difference in weight between groups, adjusted for baseline weight and group, was 3.3 kg (95% CI 1.9, 4.8) in favour of the intervention group (p < 0.001). The intervention group's moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was higher than the control group by 8.54 min/day (95% CI 1.37, 15.71, p = 0.02). MVPA among men attracted to Aussie-FIT was high at baseline (intervention arm 35.61 min/day, control arm 38.38 min/day), which may have limited the scope for improvement.
Aussie-FIT was feasible to deliver; participants increased physical activity, decreased weight, and reported improvements in other outcomes. Issues with retention were a limitation of this trial. In a future, fully powered randomised controlled trial (RCT), retention could be improved by conducting assessments outside of holiday seasons.
Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12617000515392.
This study aimed to examine the preliminary efficacy and feasibility of implementing a tailored version of the MASTER coach education programme in Chinese primary schools to support physical ...education (PE) teachers' basketball lesson design and delivery. A total of 20 primary schools in Beijing, China were recruited, with one PE teacher and their class (N = 715 students aged 10-13 yrs) from each school included in the study and randomly allocated to the MASTER intervention (n = 10) or control group (n = 10). Compared to the control group, a significant difference was observed in the MASTER group for the proportion of playing-form activities delivered during PE (27.65, 95% CI 20.27, 35.03) and for teachers' perceptions of confidence (23.92, 95% CI 15.87, 31.92) and competence (24.12, 95% CI 10.28, 24.71) to teach. Significant differences between groups were observed for students' perceived athletic competence (3.56%; 95% CI 3.15, 3.96), enjoyment (11.83%; 95% CI 10.98, 12.69), well-being (8.51%; 95% CI 7.02, 10.00), intrinsic motivation (+0.74%; 95% CI 0.30, 1.17), introjected motivation (−2.24%; 95% CI −2.77, −1.70), and external motivation (−0.49%; 95% CI −0.90, −0.08). The MASTER programme was effective in improving teaching practices in Chinese primary schools, and in facilitating improvements in teacher and student outcomes.
BACKGROUND: Although previous studies have demonstrated that children with high levels of fundamental movement skill competency are more active throughout the day, little is known regarding ...children’s fundamental movement skill competency and their physical activity during key time periods of the school day (i.e., lunchtime, recess and after-school). The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between fundamental movement skill competency and objectively measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) throughout the school day among children attending primary schools in low-income communities. METHODS: Eight primary schools from low-income communities and 460 children (8.5 ± 0.6 years, 54% girls) were involved in the study. Children’s fundamental movement skill competency (TGMD-2; 6 locomotor and 6 object-control skills), objectively measured physical activity (ActiGraph GT3X and GT3X + accelerometers), height, weight and demographics were assessed. Multilevel linear mixed models were used to assess the cross-sectional associations between fundamental movement skills and MVPA. RESULTS: After adjusting for age, sex, BMI and socio-economic status, locomotor skill competency was positively associated with total (P = 0.002, r = 0.15) and after-school (P = 0.014, r = 0.13) MVPA. Object-control skill competency was positively associated with total (P < 0.001, r = 0.20), lunchtime (P = 0.03, r = 0.10), recess (P = 0.006, r = 0.11) and after-school (P = 0.022, r = 0.13) MVPA. CONCLUSIONS: Object-control skill competency appears to be a better predictor of children’s MVPA during school-based physical activity opportunities than locomotor skill competency. Improving fundamental movement skill competency, particularly object-control skills, may contribute to increased levels of children’s MVPA throughout the day. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry No: ACTRN12611001080910 .
Objective: To increase girls' well-being, strategies are needed to optimize their social-emotional competence during childhood. Although positive fathering is important for girls, many fathers ...discount their unique influence and few participate in interventions. The Dads And Daughters Exercising and Empowered (DADEE) program was developed to engage fathers and their daughters through shared physical activity experiences. This study examined the program's impact on girls' well-being and the father-daughter relationship. Method: Overall, 115 fathers (age range: 29-53 years) and 153 daughters (age range: 4-12 years) were randomized to (1) the DADEE program (9 weekly educational and practical sessions plus home-based challenges) or (2) a wait-list control. Assessments were baseline, 2 months (postintervention), and 9 months (94% retention). Daughters' social-emotional well-being was measured with the Devereux Student Strengths Assessment composite. Secondary outcomes included additional well-being indicators (e.g., global self-perception) plus validated measures of father involvement and father-daughter relationship quality. Results: At 2 months, intervention daughters showed a medium-to-large improvement in overall well-being (+24.9 units, 95% CI 8.6, 41.1, d = 0.6), when compared with controls. Intervention daughters were also more likely to show clinically meaningful improvements in well-being (54%) than controls (18%). Medium-to-large effects were observed for: seven of eight social-emotional competencies (e.g., personal responsibility, d = 0.4-0.9), father-daughter relationship quality (d = 0.8, father-report; d = 0.5, daughter-report), daughters' prosocial behavior (d = 0.3) and several indicators of father involvement. Most outcomes had improved by 9 months. No effects were observed for daughters' emotional difficulties or global self-perception. Conclusions: This study provided the first experimental evidence that father-daughter physical activity programs may improve girls' well-being and the father-daughter relationship.
What is the public health significance of this article?
Cross-sectional evidence suggests fathers may have an important yet overlooked impact on their daughters' well-being. This study provided the first experimental evidence supporting the implementation of targeted cophysical activity programs for fathers and daughters to optimize girls' social-emotional outcomes, enhance the quality of fathers' involvement with their daughters, and improve the closeness of their relationship.
Abstract Objective To determine the comparability and feasibility of wrist- and hip-worn accelerometers among free-living adolescents. Design 89 adolescents (age = 13–14 years old) from eight ...secondary schools in New South Wales (NSW), Australia wore wrist-worn GENEActiv and hip-worn ActiGraph (GT3X+) accelerometers simultaneously for seven days and completed an accelerometry behavior questionnaire. Methods Bivariate correlations between the wrist- and hip-worn out-put were used to determine concurrent validity. Paired samples t -test were used to compare minutes per day in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Group means and paired sample t -tests were used to analyze participants’ perceptions of the wrist- and hip-worn monitoring protocols to assist with determining the feasibility. Results Wrist-worn accelerometry compared favorably with the hip-worn in average activity (r = 0.88, p < 0.001) and MVPA (r = 0.84 p < 0.001, mean difference = 3.54 min/day, SD = 12.37). The wrist-worn accelerometer had 50% fewer non-valid days (75 days, 12%) than the hip-worn accelerometer (n = 152, 24.4%). Participants reported they liked to wear the device on the wrist (p < 0.01), and that it was less uncomfortable (p = 0.02) and less embarrassing to wear on the wrist (p < 0.01). Furthermore, that they would be more willing to wear the device again on the wrist over the hip (p < 0.01). Conclusions Our findings reveal there is a strong linear relationship between wrist- and hip-worn accelerometer out-put among adolescents in free-living conditions. Adolescent compliance was significantly higher with wrist placement, with participants reporting that it was more comfortable and less embarrassing to wear on the wrist.
This study evaluated the effect of the Dads And Daughters Exercising and Empowered (DADEE) program on daughters' social-emotional well-being when delivered by trained facilitators. Fathers (n = 158; ...Mage = 41.95 ± 5.32 years; 86% Australian born) and daughters (n = 193; Mage = 8.35 ± 1.85 years) from Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, were randomized into (a) the DADEE intervention or (b) a wait-list control. At baseline and 3 months, fathers, daughters, and mothers completed validated scales of daughters' social-emotional well-being (main outcome of interest), daughters' self-esteem, and other family-related outcomes. Intervention daughters improved their social-emotional well-being from father and mother perspectives compared to the control group (d = 0.51-0.64). Intervention effects were observed for the father-daughter relationship, indicators of father involvement, fathering warmth, coparenting, and family-related well-being, but not daughters' self-reported self-esteem and family-related well-being.
Public Significance StatementPhysical activity, positive father involvement, and a strong father-daughter relationship may have important benefits for girls' social-emotional well-being. Our study findings provide promising evidence that targeting numerous psychosocial (e.g., father-daughter bond) and behavioral (e.g., developing social-emotional skills) variables, in a cophysical activity context, has a positive impact on girls' social-emotional well-being.
Slowing the decline in participation in physical activity among adolescent girls is a public health priority. This study reports the outcomes from a multi-component school-based intervention (Girls ...in Sport), focused on promoting physical activity among adolescent girls.
Group randomized controlled trial in 24 secondary schools (12 intervention and 12 control). Assessments were conducted at baseline (2009) and at 18 months post-baseline (2010). The setting was secondary schools in urban, regional and rural areas of New South Wales, Australia. All girls in Grade 8 in 2009 who attended these schools were invited to participate in the study (N = 1769). Using a Health Promoting Schools and Action Learning Frameworks, each school formed a committee and developed an action plan for promoting physical activity among Grade 8 girls. The action plan incorporated strategies in three main areas - i) the formal curriculum, ii) school environment, and iii) home/school/community links - based on the results of formative data from target girls and staff and on individual needs of the school. A member of the research team supported each school throughout the intervention. The main outcome measure was accelerometer-derived total physical activity (TPA) spent in physical activity. Data were analyzed from December 2011 to March 2012.
1518 girls (mean age 13.6y ±0.02) were assessed at baseline. There was a significant decline in TPA from baseline to 18-month follow-up with no differences between girls in the intervention and control schools. Only one-third of schools (4/12) implemented the intervention as per their action plan. Per-protocol analyses on these schools revealed a smaller decline in percentage of time spent in MVPA among girls in the intervention group (adjusted difference 0.5%, 95% CI = -0.01, 0.99, P = 0.05).
The Girls in Sport intervention was not effective in reducing the decline in physical activity among adolescent girls. Lack of implementation by most intervention schools was the main reason for a null effect. Identifying strategies to enhance implementation levels is critical to determining the true potential of this intervention approach.
This study was retrospectively registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12610001077055 . Date of registration: 7 December 2010.
Physical activity (PA) levels decline substantially during adolescence and are consistently lower in girls. Competency in a range of fundamental movement skills (FMSs) may serve as a protective ...factor for the decline in PA typically observed in adolescent girls; yet, girls' mastery in FMS is low. Although interventions can improve FMS, there is a lack of interventions targeting girls, and very few are conducted in high schools. In addition, interventions are usually conducted by researchers, not teachers, and thus have little chance of being embedded into curricula.
This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a school-based intervention, delivered by teachers, in improving adolescent girls' FMS.
Four all-girls Australian secondary schools were recruited and randomized into intervention or control groups. In total, 190 year 7 girls (103 control/87 intervention; mean age, 12.4 ± 0.3 yr) completed baseline and posttest measures at 12 wk. Six FMS (i.e., catch, throw, kick, jump, leap, and dodge) were measured using the Victorian FMS Assessment instrument. Mixed models with posttest skill (i.e., locomotor, object control, and total skill) as the outcome, adjusting for baseline skill, intervention and control status, and relevant covariates, as well as accounting for clustering at school and class level, were used to assess the intervention impact.
There were significant intervention effects, and large effect sizes (Cohen d) noted in locomotor (P = 0.04, t = 5.15, d = 1.6), object control (P < 0.001, t = 11.06, d = 0.83), and total skill (P = 0.02, t = 7.22, d = 1.36).
Teachers adequately trained in authentic assessment and student-centered instruction can significantly improve the FMS competency of early adolescent girls. Therefore, comprehensive teacher training should be viewed as an integral component of future school-based interventions.
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