ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Physical activity (PA) promotion/obesity prevention in toddlerhood should include home environments. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine social/physical home environment factors associated with toddler PA using ecological momentary assessment (EMA, real-time data collection). METHODS: Low-income mother-toddler dyads were recruited and given a handheld EMA device (53 random beeps followed by social/physical environment survey over 8 d). Simultaneously, PA was assessed via accelerometry (data extracted 15 min before/after response, average activity counts per minute). Linear mixed-effects models were used, adjusting for toddler age, urban/suburban residence and time of day; covariate moderating effects were examined; within-subjects and between-subjects findings were reported. PA was hypothesized to be greater when toddlers are outside (vs. inside), children are nearby (vs. alone), toddlers are interacting with their mothers (vs. not) and TV is off (vs. on). RESULTS: The final count was 2454 EMA/PA responses for 160 toddlers (mean age 20 months, range 12-31; 55% male, 66% Black and 54% urban). Associations with PA include (within subjects) the following: outside location (212 additional counts min-1 ), children nearby (153 additional counts min-1 ) and interacting with mother (321 additional counts min-1 ), compared with alternatives. Age was moderated by outside location/PA association (within subjects), with 90 additional counts min-1 per 3-month age group outside vs. inside. No between-subjects or television/PA associations were found. CONCLUSIONS: Home environment factors were associated with PA, including outside location, children nearby and mother interaction. EMA is a novel method, allowing identification of contextual factors associated with behaviours in natural environments.
Subject(s)
Ecological Momentary Assessment , Environment , Exercise , Accelerometry , Adolescent , Adult , Child, Preschool , Data Collection , Female , Health Surveys , Humans , Infant , Male , Mothers , Socioeconomic Factors , Young AdultABSTRACT
A prospective study on the amount of sodium administered in the first five days of life in a group of 18 low-birth-weight infants is presented. Their mean birth weight, and gestational age were 1.150 gm., and 28.8 weeks. Patients were cared for in radiant warmers, and protected with a plastic blanket. Minimum amount of sodium necessary to maintain a normal plasma sodium concentration was given. Mean daily sodium and free water given was 0.96 mEq/kg/day, and 108.4 ml/kg/day, respectively. In day 5, there was a mean accumulated body weight loss of ten per cent. This group of patients were compared with a similar group in whom plastic blanket was not used, and who received a sodium intake of 1.5 mEq/kg/day. In this latter group of patients there was a higher incidence of hypernatremia (p less than 0.005). The incidence of hyponatremia was similar in both groups. Daily sodium intake might be very low, in infants of very-low-birth-weight if a negative weight balance is allowed in the first days of life.
