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While there is wide consensus regarding the importance of early intervention, health is rarely considered within priorities. Twenty-five children on the autism spectrum (M.sub.age = 4.67, SD = 0.82) participated in a 12-week physical activity intervention. Primary objective was to examine impact of a physical activity intervention on physical activity, fitness and motor competence. Secondary objective was to examine associations between motor behavior and ASD symptoms. Ball skills (p < .001) and isometric push-up performance (p = .02) improved. Autism symptoms were associated with motor skills (r > - .49, p < .05). Study outcomes provide new knowledge regarding design, delivery, and measures for early interventions targeting health disparities in young children on the autism spectrum., Author(s): Leah Ketcheson [sup.1] , Kerri Staples [sup.2] , Edward Andrew Pitchford [sup.3] , Franziska Loetzner [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.254444.7, 0000 0001 1456 7807, Department of Kinesiology, Health and [...]

Older children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have high levels of motor impairment, however we are unsure if similar patterns exist in young children. This study aimed to investigate motor competence in four-to-seven-year-old children with (n = 17) and without (n = 17) ASD. A series of ANOVAS indicated children with ASD performed significantly poorer on all measures of motor competence, except MABC-2 manual dexterity and ball skills subscales. Results indicate that moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour (SB) may influence motor competence, regardless of diagnosis. Establishing appropriate levels of engagement in moderate-to-vigorous PA and SB during early school years is important for the development of all children and may be an important early intervention avenue for motor impairment in children with ASD., Author(s): S. Thomas [sup.1] , L. M. Barnett [sup.2] [sup.3] , N. Papadopoulos [sup.1] , N. Lander [sup.4] , J. McGillivray [sup.1] , N. Rinehart [sup.5] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.1021.2, [...]

Objective We examined the association between parent and child fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake, physical activity (PA), and body mass index in an ethnic minority and low-income sample. Methods The study sample consisted of 86 children ages 5-7 years (80% Hispanic) and their parents. Three parent health variables (healthy weight, recommended F&V servings per day, and recommended weekly PA) were used to create a healthy role model index. Associations between the parent index and corresponding child health behaviors and weight were examined. Results Most parents (53.5%) were not healthy role models, 30.2% were limited healthy role models, 16.3% were good role models, and none were excellent role models; most parents and children did not meet guidelines for healthy weight, F&V intake, and PA. Parents who scored higher on the index were more likely to have children with higher levels of F&V. Furthermore, parents who had a healthy weight were 3.7 times more likely to have a child who had a healthy weight. Additionally, parents who were consuming the recommended servings of F&V per day were 10 times more likely to have children who were also consuming the recommended servings of F&V per day compared to parents who were not consuming the recommended servings of F&V per day. Conclusions for Practice These findings suggest the important role of parental modeling of healthy behaviors to their young children among minority/low-income families. Parents may serve as an important mechanism of change for children's health status by increasing their own healthy lifestyle behaviors., Author(s): Jennifer Coto [sup.1] , Elizabeth R. Pulgaron [sup.2] , Paulo A. Graziano [sup.1] , Daniel M. Bagner [sup.1] , Manuela Villa [sup.2] , Jamil A. Malik [sup.3] , Alan [...]