Search

Highlights: [•] A biopsychosocial model of weight status perception was examined. [•] Biological, psychological, and social variables were associated with misperception. [•] Moderately overweight adolescents are at most risk of underestimating their weight status. [•] Healthy weight boys tended to perceive themselves as underweight. [•] Boys are most satisfied with a perceived weight within the healthy weight range. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objectives: To examine the relationships between physical activity, sedentary behaviour and body mass index (BMI) among a sample of Australian adolescents. Methods: Anthropometric, demographic and behavioural data were collected from students (n =3040 mean age 14.6, 44% female) from 12 secondary schools in South West Victoria, Australia (response rate=48.6%). The appropriate descriptive, univariate and regression analysis were used to examine the strength of the associations between physical activity, sedentary behaviour and odds of overweight or obese and the effect of interaction between physical activity and sedentary behaviour on odds of overweight and obese. Results: Males were more likely to be active during the school day than females and had higher median hours of screen time per school day. Physical activity during the school day was associated with higher standardized BMI (BMI-z) among males. Higher levels of activity after school were associated with lower BMI-z for males and females. For both males and females the odds of overweight or obese were higher among the least active. An interaction was observed for females whereby the prevalence of overweight and obesity among the most physically active was lowest for the least sedentary and highest for the most sedentary. Conclusions: The relationships between physical activity, sedentary behaviour and BMI-z were complex. Interventions to reduce BMI through increasing physical activity or decreasing sedentary behaviour need to consider the complex inter-relationships between these variables and moderating factors such as age, sex and socio economic status in their design and interpretation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary Pediatric obesity continues to be a major public health concern. Once established it is difficult to treat, therefore well-designed and evaluated prevention interventions are vitally important. Schools have an important role in the prevention of childhood obesity, however, their involvement can be limited by a number of constraints and barriers, which need to be considered when designing interventions. Members of the Prevention Stream of the Australasian Child and Adolescent Obesity Research Network have extensive experience in implementing and evaluating school-based obesity prevention initiatives. Based on their collective experience and evidence from implementation research, the aim of this paper was to highlight six areas to consider when designing, implementing and evaluating obesity prevention initiatives in schools. Further, this paper aimed to provide guidance for overcoming some of the challenges and barriers faced in school-based obesity prevention research. The six key areas discussed include: design and analysis; school–community engagement; planning and recruitment; evaluation; implementation; and feedback and sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]