Previously, studies examining correlates of sedentary behavior have been limited by small sample ... more Previously, studies examining correlates of sedentary behavior have been limited by small sample size, restricted geographic area, and little socio-cultural variability. Further, few studies have examined correlates of total sedentary time (SED) and screen time (ST) in the same population. This study aimed to investigate correlates of SED and ST in children around the world. The sample included 5,844 children (45.6% boys, mean age = 10.4 years) from study sites in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Finland, India, Kenya, Portugal, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Child- and parent-reported behavioral, household, and neighborhood characteristics and directly measured anthropometric and accelerometer data were obtained. Twenty-one potential correlates of SED and ST were examined using multilevel models, adjusting for sex, age, and highest parental education, with school and study site as random effects. Variables that were moderately associated with SE...
... References Aarup, M., Sokolowski, I., & Lous, J.(2008) The prevalence... more ... References Aarup, M., Sokolowski, I., & Lous, J.(2008) The prevalence of obesity and overweight among 3 year-old children in ... Klein-Platat, C., Wagner, A., Haan, M., Arveiler, D., Schlienger, J., & Simon, C.(2003) Prevalence and sociodemographic determinants of overweight in ...
Developmental medicine and child neurology, Jan 22, 2015
This study aimed to investigate fatigue, and its correlates, in children and adolescents with phy... more This study aimed to investigate fatigue, and its correlates, in children and adolescents with physical disabilities. Sixty-five young people aged 8 to 17 years (35 males, 30 females; mean age 13y 2mo, SD 2y 8mo) with mild to moderate physical disabilities (Gillette Functional Assessment Questionnaire levels 7-10) were recruited. Self-reported fatigue was measured using the PedsQL Multidimensional Fatigue Scale. Physical activity was measured using 7-day hip-worn accelerometer. Associations between fatigue, physical activity, and socio-demographic characteristics were examined using analysis of covariance, with significance (α) set at 0.05. Results were compared with normative data from other paediatric populations. Among children with physical disabilities, fatigue was associated with being physically inactive (F-statistic=4.42, p=0.040), female (F=4.37, p=0.042), and of low socio-economic status (F=3.94, p=0.050). Fatigue was not associated with age, weight status, or functional im...
Popular media, health experts and researchers talk about a paediatric 'obesity epidemic' ... more Popular media, health experts and researchers talk about a paediatric 'obesity epidemic' with exponentially increasing rates of obesity and overweight. However, some recent reports suggest that prevalence may have plateaued. This study examined trends in the prevalence of Australian childhood overweight and obesity since 1985. Specifically, it aimed to determine whether there have been (a) overall increases in average body mass index (BMI), (b) differential patterns of change within age groups and (c) increases in BMI within each weight-status category. Forty-one Australian studies of childhood weight status conducted between 1985 and 2008 were reviewed. The studies included data on 264 905 Australians aged 2-18 years, with raw data being available on 70 758 children (27%). Children were classified as overweight or obese based on BMI using the criteria of Cole et al. (BMJ, 2000). The prevalence estimates were adjusted for age and sex, and plotted against measurement year usi...
Low physical activity has been associated with increased fatness and deceased fitness. This obser... more Low physical activity has been associated with increased fatness and deceased fitness. This observational study aimed to describe the magnitude, composition, and time-distribution of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in Australian children. A total of 1132 10 to 13 year old schoolchildren completed a 24-h activity recall diary on 2 to 4 occasions. MVPA was defined as any activity requiring ≥3METs, including sport, play, active transport, chores, and other activities. MVPA was higher in boys than girls (173 vs 140 min/day; P<.0001), higher on nonschool days than school days (166 vs 143 min/day; P<.0001), and decreased with age (9 min/day per year of age). MVPA consisted of structured sport (37%), active transport (26%), unstructured play (24%), and chores/miscellaneous activities (13%). Every hour of MVPA was associated with a reduction in screen time (26.5 min), non-screen-based sedentary pastimes (8 min), and sleep (5.5 min). The least active quartile of children ...
To date, most health-related time-use research has investigated behaviours in isolation; more rec... more To date, most health-related time-use research has investigated behaviours in isolation; more recently, however, researchers have begun to conceptualise behaviours in the form of multidimensional patterns or clusters. The study employed two techniques: radar graphs and centroid vector length, angles and distance to quantify pair-wise time-use cluster similarities among adolescents living in Australia (N = 1853) and in New Zealand (N = 679). Based on radar graph shape, two pairs of clusters were similar for both boys and girls. Using vector angles (VA), vector length (VL) and centroid distances (CD), one pair for each sex was considered most similar (boys: VA = 63 degrees, VL = 44 and 50 units and CD = 48 units; girls: VA = 23 degrees, VL = 65 and 85 units and CD = 36 units). Both methods employed to determine similarity had strengths and weaknesses. The description and quantification of cluster similarity is an important step in the research process. An ability to track and compare clusters may provide greater understanding of complex multidimensional relationships, and in relation to health behaviour clusters, present opportunities to monitor and to intervene.
Physical activity affords a wide range of physiological and psychological benefits for children a... more Physical activity affords a wide range of physiological and psychological benefits for children and adolescents, yet many children with physical disabilities are insufficiently active to achieve these benefits. The StepUp program is a newly developed 6-week pedometer-based self-management program for children and adolescents with physical disability. Participants use a pedometer to undertake a 6-week physical activity challenge, with personalised daily step count goals set in consultation with a physiotherapist. The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the StepUp program, using a randomised control trial design. A target sample of 70 young people with physical disabilities (aged 8-17 years, ambulant with or without aid, residing in Adelaide) will be recruited. Participants will be randomly allocated to either intervention or control following completion of baseline assessments. Assessments are repeated at 8 weeks (immediately post intervention) and 20 weeks (12 weeks post intervention). The primary outcome is objective physical activity determined from 7 day accelerometry, and the secondary outcomes are exercise intention, physical self-worth, quality of life and fatigue. Analyses will be undertaken on an intention-to-treat basis using random effects mixed modelling. This study will provide information about the potential of a low-touch and low-cost physical activity intervention for children and adolescents with cerebral palsy. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR): ACTRN12613000023752.
BackgroundThere is conflicting evidence regarding the relationship between socio-economic positio... more BackgroundThere is conflicting evidence regarding the relationship between socio-economic position (SEP) and physical activity in adolescents. The aim of this study was to investigate associations between SEP and characteristics of physical activity in Australian adolescents using a high-resolution use-of-time tool.MethodUse-of-time and pedometer data were collected on a random sample of 2071 9–16-year-old Australian children. Use-of-time was recorded using a computerised
Previously, studies examining correlates of sedentary behavior have been limited by small sample ... more Previously, studies examining correlates of sedentary behavior have been limited by small sample size, restricted geographic area, and little socio-cultural variability. Further, few studies have examined correlates of total sedentary time (SED) and screen time (ST) in the same population. This study aimed to investigate correlates of SED and ST in children around the world. The sample included 5,844 children (45.6% boys, mean age = 10.4 years) from study sites in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Finland, India, Kenya, Portugal, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Child- and parent-reported behavioral, household, and neighborhood characteristics and directly measured anthropometric and accelerometer data were obtained. Twenty-one potential correlates of SED and ST were examined using multilevel models, adjusting for sex, age, and highest parental education, with school and study site as random effects. Variables that were moderately associated with SE...
... References Aarup, M., Sokolowski, I., &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Lous, J.(2008) The prevalence... more ... References Aarup, M., Sokolowski, I., &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Lous, J.(2008) The prevalence of obesity and overweight among 3 year-old children in ... Klein-Platat, C., Wagner, A., Haan, M., Arveiler, D., Schlienger, J., &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Simon, C.(2003) Prevalence and sociodemographic determinants of overweight in ...
Developmental medicine and child neurology, Jan 22, 2015
This study aimed to investigate fatigue, and its correlates, in children and adolescents with phy... more This study aimed to investigate fatigue, and its correlates, in children and adolescents with physical disabilities. Sixty-five young people aged 8 to 17 years (35 males, 30 females; mean age 13y 2mo, SD 2y 8mo) with mild to moderate physical disabilities (Gillette Functional Assessment Questionnaire levels 7-10) were recruited. Self-reported fatigue was measured using the PedsQL Multidimensional Fatigue Scale. Physical activity was measured using 7-day hip-worn accelerometer. Associations between fatigue, physical activity, and socio-demographic characteristics were examined using analysis of covariance, with significance (α) set at 0.05. Results were compared with normative data from other paediatric populations. Among children with physical disabilities, fatigue was associated with being physically inactive (F-statistic=4.42, p=0.040), female (F=4.37, p=0.042), and of low socio-economic status (F=3.94, p=0.050). Fatigue was not associated with age, weight status, or functional im...
Popular media, health experts and researchers talk about a paediatric 'obesity epidemic' ... more Popular media, health experts and researchers talk about a paediatric 'obesity epidemic' with exponentially increasing rates of obesity and overweight. However, some recent reports suggest that prevalence may have plateaued. This study examined trends in the prevalence of Australian childhood overweight and obesity since 1985. Specifically, it aimed to determine whether there have been (a) overall increases in average body mass index (BMI), (b) differential patterns of change within age groups and (c) increases in BMI within each weight-status category. Forty-one Australian studies of childhood weight status conducted between 1985 and 2008 were reviewed. The studies included data on 264 905 Australians aged 2-18 years, with raw data being available on 70 758 children (27%). Children were classified as overweight or obese based on BMI using the criteria of Cole et al. (BMJ, 2000). The prevalence estimates were adjusted for age and sex, and plotted against measurement year usi...
Low physical activity has been associated with increased fatness and deceased fitness. This obser... more Low physical activity has been associated with increased fatness and deceased fitness. This observational study aimed to describe the magnitude, composition, and time-distribution of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in Australian children. A total of 1132 10 to 13 year old schoolchildren completed a 24-h activity recall diary on 2 to 4 occasions. MVPA was defined as any activity requiring ≥3METs, including sport, play, active transport, chores, and other activities. MVPA was higher in boys than girls (173 vs 140 min/day; P<.0001), higher on nonschool days than school days (166 vs 143 min/day; P<.0001), and decreased with age (9 min/day per year of age). MVPA consisted of structured sport (37%), active transport (26%), unstructured play (24%), and chores/miscellaneous activities (13%). Every hour of MVPA was associated with a reduction in screen time (26.5 min), non-screen-based sedentary pastimes (8 min), and sleep (5.5 min). The least active quartile of children ...
To date, most health-related time-use research has investigated behaviours in isolation; more rec... more To date, most health-related time-use research has investigated behaviours in isolation; more recently, however, researchers have begun to conceptualise behaviours in the form of multidimensional patterns or clusters. The study employed two techniques: radar graphs and centroid vector length, angles and distance to quantify pair-wise time-use cluster similarities among adolescents living in Australia (N = 1853) and in New Zealand (N = 679). Based on radar graph shape, two pairs of clusters were similar for both boys and girls. Using vector angles (VA), vector length (VL) and centroid distances (CD), one pair for each sex was considered most similar (boys: VA = 63 degrees, VL = 44 and 50 units and CD = 48 units; girls: VA = 23 degrees, VL = 65 and 85 units and CD = 36 units). Both methods employed to determine similarity had strengths and weaknesses. The description and quantification of cluster similarity is an important step in the research process. An ability to track and compare clusters may provide greater understanding of complex multidimensional relationships, and in relation to health behaviour clusters, present opportunities to monitor and to intervene.
Physical activity affords a wide range of physiological and psychological benefits for children a... more Physical activity affords a wide range of physiological and psychological benefits for children and adolescents, yet many children with physical disabilities are insufficiently active to achieve these benefits. The StepUp program is a newly developed 6-week pedometer-based self-management program for children and adolescents with physical disability. Participants use a pedometer to undertake a 6-week physical activity challenge, with personalised daily step count goals set in consultation with a physiotherapist. The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the StepUp program, using a randomised control trial design. A target sample of 70 young people with physical disabilities (aged 8-17 years, ambulant with or without aid, residing in Adelaide) will be recruited. Participants will be randomly allocated to either intervention or control following completion of baseline assessments. Assessments are repeated at 8 weeks (immediately post intervention) and 20 weeks (12 weeks post intervention). The primary outcome is objective physical activity determined from 7 day accelerometry, and the secondary outcomes are exercise intention, physical self-worth, quality of life and fatigue. Analyses will be undertaken on an intention-to-treat basis using random effects mixed modelling. This study will provide information about the potential of a low-touch and low-cost physical activity intervention for children and adolescents with cerebral palsy. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR): ACTRN12613000023752.
BackgroundThere is conflicting evidence regarding the relationship between socio-economic positio... more BackgroundThere is conflicting evidence regarding the relationship between socio-economic position (SEP) and physical activity in adolescents. The aim of this study was to investigate associations between SEP and characteristics of physical activity in Australian adolescents using a high-resolution use-of-time tool.MethodUse-of-time and pedometer data were collected on a random sample of 2071 9–16-year-old Australian children. Use-of-time was recorded using a computerised
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