Assessment of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour
According to the Australian Physical Activity Guidelines how many minutes of physical activity per day do 5 to 12 year olds need?
At least 60 minutes (and up to several hours) of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity everyday
Define Metabolic Equivalent (MET)?
Concept expressing the energy cost of physical activity for example 3 METs means three times the amount of energy expended at rest
Identify the four levels of the socio-ecological model.
Individual, social, environmental and policy
What is the social ecological model?
One of the following: - Is a tool for health and physical activity interventions - Recognises the interplay between individual, social, physical and policy factors -
Identify and describe the method most suitable to assess population physical activity and sedentary behaviour?
Recall survey, seven days or longer A seven-day recall survey is most easily administered to population groups, and is valid and reliable when conducted over seven days
What factors are individual approaches based on? Provide examples.
Demographic factors that affect physical activity for example, age, gender, socioeconomic status, marital status
How do individual approaches work?
By modifying the thought and behaviour process of the person
State three reasons to assess physical activity?
Three of these answers: - Identify concerns - Identify at-risk groups - Identify trends - Monitor levels of physical activity - Plan appropriate physical activity interventions - Evaluate interventions
List the 4 dimensions of physical activity?
The four dimensions of physical activity are: - Duration - Intensity - Frequency - Type
Identify three examples of the policy level of influence
Answers such as : - Workplace legislation to protect the health of the employees - Urban planning policies - Active transport policies - Education mandates - Physical activity recommendations - Workplace procedures - School rules
Identify three factors from the physical environment level of influence
Three of these answers: - Health-related efforts of organisations for their staff and clients - Access and availability to facilities and spaces - The perceived beauty and safety of the surroundings - The natural environmental factors such as geographic location, climate and weather - The built environmental factors such as housing density, land use, public transport and destinations.
State the Australian Physical Activity Guidelines for Older Adults.
Guideline 1: Think of movement as an opportunity, not an inconvenience Guideline 2: Be active every day in as many ways as possible Guideline 3: Put together at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity on most, preferably all, days Guideline 4: If possible, also enjoy some regular, vigorous activity for extra health and fitness
Outline 2 purposes of a monitoring and surveillance of physical activity at the population-level.
What is- Document the frequency and distribution of physical activity in defined population groups - Monitor the achievement of physical activity guidelines and population trends - Study the relationship between physical activity and health conditions (eg. Cardiovascular risk factors, Type 2 diabetes, Obesity, Cancer and mental health) - Determine the amount or dose of physical activity required to influence specific health parameters - Identify the biological, psychosocial and environmental factors that influence physical activity - Evaluate the effectiveness of large-scale physical activity intervention programs
Provide an example of an individual approach.
One of these answers: - Counselling - Education - Self-help, Improving motor skills, Goal setting,
What are four strengths of an environmental approach?
Four strengths of an environmental approach: - Consider all the factors that can impact on a person’s physical activity - Address the social environment across a variety of settings and influences - Address the perceived and actual physical environment - Bring about action on social and physical environmental factors over which the intervention program has control.
Explain whether pedometry could be used to determine if an adult was meeting the Australian physical activity guidelines.
Pedometry could not be used to determine if an individual is meeting the national physical activity guidelines because they cannot assess frequency, intensity, duration or type of activity.
Provide three similarities and three differences between accelerometry and observation.
Similarities: - Both objective tools of assessing physical activity - Both accurately measure frequency, intensity and duration - Both offer high validity and reliability - Both record in real time - Both high in cost Differences: - Accelerometers are not appropriate for all types of activities - Observation requires extensive training - Observation can cause reactivity - Complexity to administer
Evaluate the Australian Physical Activity Guidelines agaisnt the social ecological model.
The level of influence Evaluation Individual: The individual level is partially addressed through providing guidelines, recommendations and information specific to age Social: The social environment level is not addressed. While the social environment is referred to (such as saying that physical activity is a good social outlet and good for social development of youth) it is not tackled in the intervention Physical: The physical level is not addressed Policy: The policy level is addressed through the recommendations for physical activity and screen time