ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The current study aimed at describing influencing factors for physical activity among young children to determine the best approaches for developing the IDEFICS community based intervention. METHODS: In 8 European sites a trained moderator conducted a minimum of 4 focus groups using standardized questioning guides. A total of 56 focus groups were conducted including 36 focus groups with parents and 20 focus groups with children, of which 74 were boys and 81 girls. Key findings were identified through independent reviews of focus group summary reports using content analysis methods. FINDINGS: Findings were generally consistent across countries. The greatest emphasis was on environmental physical (eg, seasonal influences, availability of facilities and safety), institutional (eg, length of breaks at school), and social factors (eg, role modeling of parents). Most cited personal factors by parents were age, social economical status, and perceived barriers. Both children and parents mentioned the importance of children's preferences. CONCLUSIONS: To increase physical activity levels of young children the intervention should aim at creating an environment (physical, institutional, social) supportive of physical activity. On the other hand strategies should take into account personal factors like age and social economical status and should consider personal barriers too.
Subject(s)
Life Style , Motor Activity , Parent-Child Relations , Program Development , Residence Characteristics , Child , Child, Preschool , Community Health Services , Female , Focus Groups , Health Promotion , Humans , Male , Program Evaluation , Qualitative Research , Schools , Social Marketing , Surveys and Questionnaires , Young AdultABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The current study aimed at describing influencing factors for physical activity among young children to determine the best approaches for developing the IDEFICS community based intervention. METHODS: In 8 European sites a trained moderator conducted a minimum of 4 focus groups using standardized questioning guides. A total of 56 focus groups were conducted including 36 focus groups with parents and 20 focus groups with children, of which 74 were boys and 81 girls. Key findings were identified through independent reviews of focus group summary reports using content analysis methods. FINDINGS: Findings were generally consistent across countries. The greatest emphasis was on environmental physical (eg, seasonal influences, availability of facilities and safety), institutional (eg, length of breaks at school), and social factors (eg, role modeling of parents). Most cited personal factors by parents were age, social economical status, and perceived barriers. Both children and parents mentioned the importance of children's preferences. CONCLUSIONS: To increase physical activity levels of young children the intervention should aim at creating an environment (physical, institutional, social) supportive of physical activity. On the other hand strategies should take into account personal factors like age and social economical status and should consider personal barriers too.
ABSTRACT
The nuclei of the olivary complex are involved in regulating motor movements and in motor learning. Aging is characterized by a progressive accumulation of lipofuscin while the number of olivary neurons is unchanged. It is not known whether neuronal loss occurs in the olivary nucleus during Alzheimer's disease (AD). The aim of this study was to estimate the total number of neurons in the principal olivary nucleus (PO) in AD and control brains using an optimized design for sampling and an unbiased stereological method called the optical fractionator. This study was based on 13 control (mean age =57 y, range 17-95 y) and 16 AD brains (mean age = 86 y, range 67-93 y). Using paraffin-embedded, Nissl-stained sections for quantification, we found a significant difference between the mean values (mean+/-SD) of the AD group vs. aged-matched controls (4.3x10^5+/-1.1 vs. 6.53x10^5+/-1.39 p<0,003). There was no significant difference between younger controls vs. older controls (7.1x10^5+/-1.5 vs. 6.5x10^5+/-1.4 p=0.76). While there was no neuronal loss in normal aging, in AD the PO is characterized by a significant neuronal loss up to 34%. can occur in regions devoid of neurofibrillary changes.
