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There is little information on the determinants of sleep hygiene behaviors (SHBs) among women. The objective was to identify women of childbearing age's beliefs on SHBs based on the Reasoned Action Approach. Between February-May 2018, thirty women (18-41 years) from Houston were randomly assigned to answer questions regarding one of three SHBs: avoiding media use in bed; avoiding caffeine, alcohol and cigarettes before bedtime; and having a regular bedtime and wake up time even on weekends. A content analysis was performed independently by two experts to identify the most important beliefs using a 75% cumulative frequency of mention. Women reported that adopting the SHBs would improve sleep, avoid side effects, help them relax before bedtime and make them feel like they were missing out on things. Adopting the SHBs was associated with feeling relaxed and satisfied, but also qualified as unpleasant and abnormal. Women mentioned their parents, partner, siblings and children would approve/disapprove if they adopted the SHBs and were the most/least likely to adopt them. Barriers were having activities in the evening and social situations. Facilitating factors were putting their turned-off devices away from bed, having alternatives and a regular schedule. These results can guide the development of interventions.

Purpose of review. This review summarizes the latest scientific evidence on determinants and interventions to promote water consumption among adolescents. Recent findings. We identified 15 studies on determinants of water consumption and 11 interventions to promote water consumption among adolescents. Determinants of adolescent’s water consumption included individual (e.g., physiological, demographic, psychological and behavioral variables), social (e.g., peer influence) and environmental (e.g., availability of water at school and at home) ones and school policies. Interventions with both educational/behavioral and legislative/environmental components seem the most promising to promote water consumption among adolescents. Summary. To our knowledge, this is the first review integrating the results on both determinants of, and interventions to promote, water consumption among adolescents. Gaps in the scientific literature were identified and recommendations to improve future studies were given. Promoting water consumption among adolescents could be a promising avenue to lower obesity and promote early acquisition of healthy dietary habits.

Introduction. Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption is associated with many health problems, such as obesity and cardiovascular diseases. Objectives. To identify adolescents’ beliefs concerning SSB abstinence. Methods. Based on the Reasoned Action Approach, thirty semi-structured interviews were conducted with adolescents (12-17 years). They were selected based on age, sex and setting in order to ensure a broad representation of adolescents from two French-speaking regions of the province of Quebec in Canada (Eastern Canada). Adolescents were invited to answer eight open-ended questions regarding SSB abstinence in the next month. A qualitative content analysis was performed independently by two experts to identify the most important beliefs. Results. According to adolescents, the main advantage of abstaining from SSB was that it would be good for their health and the main disadvantage was that they would have to give up products they liked drinking for the taste. Parents and friends seemed to be the most important social influences regarding abstaining from SSB. Adolescents mentioned many barriers to SSB abstinence, such as contextual barriers (e.g., special occasions, eating out, following sports activities), the presence of SSB drinkers, advertisements promoting SSB, and the urge to drink SSB. Facilitating factors included absence of SSB at home/school, having easy access to water and pure fruit juices, and receiving information about the negative health effects of SSB. Discussion/Conclusions. The results of this preliminary study can be used to guide the development of interventions to promote SSB abstinence among adolescents., Introduction. La consommation de boissons sucrées (BS) est associée à de nombreux problèmes de santé tels que l'obésité et les maladies cardiovasculaires. Objectif. Identifier les croyances des adolescents concernant l'abstinence de consommer des boissons sucrées (ACBS). Méthodes. Fondées sur l'Approche de l'action raisonnée, trente entrevues semi-structurées ont été réalisées avec des adolescents (12-17 ans). La sélection selon l'âge, le sexe et le milieu a permis d'assurer une large représentation d'adolescents de deux régions francophones du Québec (Est du Canada). Suivant la définition des BS, les adolescents ont répondu à huit questions ouvertes au sujet de l'ACBS au cours du mois à venir. Une analyse qualitative de contenu réalisée indépendamment par deux experts a permis d'identifier les croyances les plus importantes. Résultats. Le principal avantage de l'ACBS est le bénéfice pour la santé et le principal désavantage est de ne pas pouvoir boire des produits dont ils aiment le goût. Les parents et les amis semblent les personnes les plus influentes concernant l'ACBS. De nombreux obstacles à l'ACBS ont été identifiés, tels que le contexte (occasions spéciales, au restaurant, après les activités sportives), la présence de personnes qui boivent des BS, les publicités sur les BS et l'envie d'en boire. Les facteurs facilitants comprenaient l'absence de BS à la maison ou à l'école, un accès facile à l'eau et à des jus de fruits purs et l'information sur les conséquences des BS. Discussion/conclusion. Les résultats de cette étude préliminaire peuvent guider le développement d'interventions favorisant l'abstinence de la consommation de BS chez les adolescents.

Cooking at home is associated with health benefits, and 10- and 11-year-old children are capable of participating in meal preparation. However, opportunities for children to cook at home have declined. This study aimed to identify determinants of the frequency and the intention to cook at home in fifth graders using the Theory of Planned Behavior as a framework with quantitative methodology. A total of 241 participants across five elementary schools of the Chaudière-Appalaches region (Quebec, Canada) took part in this correlational study. Data were collected via a self-administered questionnaire based on the Theory of Planned Behavior. Regression analyses led to the identification of determinants of frequency and intention to cook at home. More than two-thirds of participants (69%) declared having cooked at home in the past 7 days. Intention was the only significant variable explaining 18% of the variance for frequency. Intention was determined by perceived behavioral control, attitude, descriptive norms, subjective norms, perceived barriers, being a girl, and normative beliefs, which explain 74% of the variance. Whereas other studies aiming at better understanding children’s involvement in meal preparation at home focused on self-efficacy for cooking, this study highlights other behavioral determinants. For example, support from parents appears to be crucial to promote this behavior in this age group. Future research and interventions should be oriented toward determinants such as subjective norms and normative beliefs, and focus on children’s autonomy. -- Keywords : cooking ; children ; Theory of Planned Behavior ; intention ; behavior assessment ; public health.

The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a theory- and evidence-based intervention for promoting physical activity (PA) among children by changing PA-related psychosocial variables and reducing obesity and screen time outside school hours. A cluster randomised trial was conducted on two Lebanese elementary schools involving 374 children aged 10–12 years. While a control group received the standard curriculum, an intervention group received a 14-week school-based intervention comprising changes in the school environment, increased opportunities for PA provided by educational staff and PA-related learning activities. Measures included PA, psychosocial and obesity-related variables [body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and screen time outside school hours]. Measures were evaluated before the first week and in the last week of the intervention. Compared with the control group, significant increases were observed in the general PA levels and proportion of physically active children within 1 week. The proportion of children engaged in ≥30-min daily school-based moderate-to-vigorous PA MVPA increased from 0% to 67%. The intervention group showed significant improvement in almost all psychosocial variables. The children’s BMI class and waist circumference significantly reduced with the intervention. The intervention was effective in increasing the children’s general PA levels and school-based MVPA and in decreasing BMI and waist circumference.

Objective: To verify the efficacy of school-based interventions aimed at reducing sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption among adolescents in order to develop or improve public health interventions. Design: Systematic review of interventions targeting adolescents and/or the school environment. Setting: The following databases were investigated: MEDLINE/PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL and EMBASE. Proquest Dissertations and Theses was also investigated for unpublished trials. Subjects: Adolescents were defined as individuals between the ages of 12 and 17 years. Results: A total of thirty-six studies detailing thirty-six different interventions tested among independent samples (n 152 001) were included in the review. Twenty interventions were classified as educational/behavioural and ten were classified as legislative/environmental interventions. Only six interventions targeted both individuals and their environment. Over 70 % of all interventions, regardless of whether they targeted individuals, their environment or both, were effective in decreasing SSB consumption. Legislative/environmental studies had the highest success rate (90·0 %). Educational/behavioural interventions only and interventions that combined educational/behavioural and legislative/environmental approaches were almost equally effective in reducing SSB consumption with success rates of 65·0 and 66·7 %, respectively. Among the interventions that had an educational/behavioural component, 61·5 % were theory-based. The behaviour change techniques most frequently used in interventions were providing information about the health consequences of performing the behaviour (72·2 %), restructuring the physical environment (47·2 %), behavioural goal setting (36·1 %), self-monitoring of behaviour (33·3 %), threat to health (30·6 %) and providing general social support (30·6 %). Conclusions: School-based interventions show promising results to reduce SSB consumption among adolescents. A number of recommendations are

Objective: To identify correlates and underlying beliefs regarding the adolescents’ intention to abstain from consuming sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) and the consumption of ≤1 daily portion of SSB. Design: Correlational study. Setting: Region of Chaudière-Appalaches in the province of Quebec, Canada. Participants: 311 adolescents aged 13–18 years completed a self-administrated online questionnaire based on the Reasoned Action Approach. Frequency and quantity of different types of SSB within the past month were measured. Results: Total mean SSB intake was 882·6 ml/d (654·0 kJ/d ). Only 11·3 % abstained from SSB within the last month. Intention to abstain from SSB was explained by identification as SSB abstainers ( β = 0·47), perceived norm ( β = 0·32), attitude ( β = 0·30), age 13–14 years ( β = –0·27) and perception of the school environment ( β = 0·14), which explained 66 % of the variance. Consumption of ≤1 daily portion of SSB was explained by the intention to abstain (OR = 1·55; 95 % CI 1·14, 2·11), perceived behavioural control to abstain (OR = 1·80; 95 % CI 1·29, 2·52), sex (girls v. boys: OR = 2·34; 95 % CI 1·37, 3·98) and socio-economic status (advantaged v. disadvantaged school: OR = 2·08; 95 % CI 1·21, 3·56). Underlying beliefs (i.e. more energy, decreased risk of addiction and friends’ approval) associated with intention as well as perceived barriers (e.g. access to SSB, after an activity that makes you thirsty), and facilitating factors (e.g. access to water) linked to SSB consumption were identified. Conclusions: The results can inform public health interventions to decrease SSB consumption and their associated health problems among adolescents.

The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a theory- and evidence-based intervention for promoting physical activity (PA) among children by changing PA-related psychosocial variables and reducing obesity and screen time outside school hours. A cluster randomised trial was conducted on two Lebanese elementary schools involving 374 children aged 10–12 years. While a control group received the standard curriculum, an intervention group received a 14-week school-based intervention comprising changes in the school environment, increased opportunities for PA provided by educational staff and PA-related learning activities. Measures included PA, psychosocial and obesity-related variables [body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and screen time outside school hours]. Measures were evaluated before the first week and in the last week of the intervention. Compared with the control group, significant increases were observed in the general PA levels and proportion of physically active children within 1 week. The proportion of children engaged in ≥30-min daily school-based moderate-to-vigorous PA MVPA increased from 0% to 67%. The intervention group showed significant improvement in almost all psychosocial variables. The children’s BMI class and waist circumference significantly reduced with the intervention. The intervention was effective in increasing the children’s general PA levels and school-based MVPA and in decreasing BMI and waist circumference.

Introduction: Unhealthy foods are widely available in public settings across Canada, contributing to diet-related chronic diseases, such as obesity. This is a concern given that public facilities often provide a significant amount of food for consumption by vulnerable groups, including children and seniors. Healthy food procurement policies, which support procuring, distributing, selling, and/or serving healthier foods, have recently emerged as a promising strategy to counter this public health issue by increasing access to healthier foods. Although numerous Canadian health and scientific organizations have recommended such policies, they have not yet been broadly implemented in Canada. Methods: To inform further policy action on healthy food procurement in a Canadian context, we: (1) conducted an evidence synthesis to assess the impact of healthy food procurement policies on health outcomes and sales, intake, and availability of healthier food, and (2) hosted a consensus conference in September 2014. The consensus conference invited experts with public health/nutrition policy research expertise, as well as health services and food services practitioner experience, to review evidence, share experiences, and develop a consensus statement/recommendations on healthy food procurement in Canada. Results: Findings from the evidence synthesis and consensus recommendations for healthy food procurement in Canada are described. Specifically, we outline recommendations for governments, publicly funded institutions, decision-makers and professionals, citizens, and researchers. Conclusion: Implementation of healthy food procurement policies can increase Canadians' access to healthier foods as part of a broader vision for food policy in Canada.

Objective: To verify the efficacy of school-based interventions aimed at reducing sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption among adolescents in order to develop or improve public health interventions. Design: Systematic review of interventions targeting adolescents and/or the school environment. Setting: The following databases were investigated: MEDLINE/PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL and EMBASE. Proquest Dissertations and Theses was also investigated for unpublished trials. Subjects: Adolescents were defined as individuals between the ages of 12 and 17 years. Results: A total of thirty-six studies detailing thirty-six different interventions tested among independent samples (n 152 001) were included in the review. Twenty interventions were classified as educational/behavioural and ten were classified as legislative/environmental interventions. Only six interventions targeted both individuals and their environment. Over 70 % of all interventions, regardless of whether they targeted individuals, their environment or both, were effective in decreasing SSB consumption. Legislative/environmental studies had the highest success rate (90·0 %). Educational/behavioural interventions only and interventions that combined educational/behavioural and legislative/environmental approaches were almost equally effective in reducing SSB consumption with success rates of 65·0 and 66·7 %, respectively. Among the interventions that had an educational/behavioural component, 61·5 % were theory-based. The behaviour change techniques most frequently used in interventions were providing information about the health consequences of performing the behaviour (72·2 %), restructuring the physical environment (47·2 %), behavioural goal setting (36·1 %), self-monitoring of behaviour (33·3 %), threat to health (30·6 %) and providing general social support (30·6 %). Conclusions: School-based interventions show promising results to reduce SSB consumption among adolescents. A number of recommendations are