Bidirectional relationships of physical activity and gross motor skills before and after summer break: Application of a cross-lagged panel model.

BACKGROUND: Gross motor skills are postulated to have a bidirectional relationship with physical activity (PA); however, no study has tested this relationship before and after a summer break. The purpose of this study was to examine the bidirectional relationships between school PA and gross motor skills in children before and after a summer break. METHODS: Participants were a sample of 440 children recruited from 3 low-income schools (age = 8.9 ± 1.2 years, mean ± SD). PA was assessed as average school-day step counts using Yamax DigiWalker pedometers (Yamasa Tokei Keiki, Tokyo, Japan) worn for 5 consecutive school days. Gross motor skills were assessed using the Test for Gross Motor Development, 3rd edition. Data were collected at 2 timepoints: at the end of spring semester (T1) and at the beginning of the subsequent fall semester (T2). An age- and body mass index-adjusted cross-lagged model was employed to relate T1 school step counts with T2 gross motor skills and T1 gross motor skills with T2 school step counts. RESULTS: T1 gross motor skills significantly predicted T2 school step counts (ß = 0.24, 95 % confidence interval (95%CI): 0.08-0.40, p = 0.003); however, T1 school step counts did not predict T2 gross motor skills (ß = 0.04, 95%CI: -0.06 to 0.14, p = 0.445). The model explained 35.4% and 15.9% of the variances of T2 gross motor skills and T2 school step counts, respectively. Additional analyses indicated that these relationships were driven primarily by ball skills. CONCLUSION: The relationship between gross motor skills and school PA was not bidirectional; however, higher gross motor skills, specifically ball skills, predicted higher school PA after a 3-month summer break.

Exploring attitudes toward taxation of sugar-sweetened beverages in rural Michigan.

BACKGROUND: While policies to address "obesity" have existed for decades, they have commonly focused on behavioral interventions. More recently, the taxation of sugar-sweetened beverages is gaining traction globally. This study sought to explore individuals' attitudes and beliefs about sugar-sweetened beverages being taxed in a rural Michigan setting. METHODS: This qualitative study was conducted using critical policy analysis. Data were collected in 25 semi-structured, audio-recorded interviews with adult Michiganders. Following data collection, transcripts were coded into themes using NVivo software. RESULTS: Four themes emerged in participants' perspectives regarding sugar-sweetened beverages being taxed: resistance, unfamiliarity, tax effects, and need for education. While some participants were unfamiliar with sugar-sweetened beverage taxes, many viewed taxation as a "slippery slope" of government intervention, which invoked feelings of mistrust. In addition, participants predicted a sugar-sweetened beverage tax would be ineffective at reducing intake, particularly among regular consumers, who were frequently perceived as mostly low income and/or of higher weight. CONCLUSIONS: Further research is needed to explore perceptions of sugar-sweetened beverage taxes in different geographic areas in the USA to examine how perceptions vary. Policymakers should be aware of the potential implications of this health policy with respect to government trust and stigma towards lower income and higher-weight individuals.

Familial Factors Associating with Youth Physical Activity Using a National Sample.

The purpose of this study was to examine the associations of familial and child-related factors with reported child physical activity using a representative sample of US children and adolescents. Data were analyzed from the combined 2017-2018 National Survey of Children's Health. Household addresses were randomly selected within each US state. One parent within each household answered health and wellness questions pertaining to one randomly selected child (n = 37,392; 48.8% female; 6-17 years old). Weighted logistic regression models examined the independent and joint associations between family-level and child-level factors with a child meeting the 60 min of physical activity per day guideline. After controlling for confounders, higher levels of family resilience (odds ratio (OR) = 2.17; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.35-3.49, p = 0.001), high event attendance (OR = 1.65; 95%CI: 1.18-2.31, p = 0.004), and high family income (OR = 1.84, 95%CI: 1.34-2.52, p < 0.001) significantly associated with higher odds of a child meeting the 60 min of physical activity per day guideline. Family generational status and adult education significantly modified the association between family resilience and child physical activity. Programs that develop family resilience and encourage parental attendance for their child's events or activities may positively influence a child's physical activity behaviors. Expanded or enhanced programming may be needed for lower income families.