Team Hong Kong Publishes Paper on Their 2022 Report Card

Report Card team from Hong Kong has recently published a paper titled “Results from the Hong Kong’s 2022 report card on physical activity for children and adolescents” in the Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness. Citation details and a summary of the paper are below.

Congratulations, Team Hong Kong!

ABSTRACT

Background/objective
This paper aimed to summarize the findings of the third (2022) Active Healthy Kids Hong Kong Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Adolescents and evaluate the secular trends of physical activity related indicators.

Methods
Five behavioral indicators (Overall Physical Activity, Organized Sport and Physical Activity, Active Play, Active Transportation, and Sedentary Behavior), three outcome indicators (Physical Fitness, Sleep, and Obesity) and four sources of influence indicators (Family and Peers, School, Community and Environment, and Government) were assigned a letter grade (ranging from A+ to F or incomplete) based on the best available evidence following a harmonized approach developed by the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance. Data sources included published journal articles, government reports, manual searches, and personal contacts; and consisted of both pre-COVID-19 and after-COVID-19 evidence.

Results
Grades for Overall Physical Activity (D−∗∗) and Sedentary Behavior (D) deteriorated compared to the 2018 Report Card. The other three behavioral indicators, Organized Sport and Physical Activity, Active Play, and Active Transportation, were assigned B−, D, and B+, respectively. Physical Fitness (D), Sleep (C−), and Obesity (D−) obtained the same grades as in the 2018 Report Card. School (B) and Government (C+) grades slightly improved, while Community and Environment grade (B) was stable. Family and Peers was not graded due to insufficient evidence.

Conclusions
Despite slight improvements in influence indicators, physical activity and sedentary behavior have changed unfavorably for children and adolescents in Hong Kong. Strategic investments are needed to improve adoption and implementation of effective interventions.

CITATION

Huang WY, Wong SHS, Sit CHP, Wong MCS, Wong SWS, Ho RST. Results from the Hong Kong’s 2022 report card on physical activity for children and adolescents. J Exerc Sci Fit. 2023;21(1):45-51. doi:10.1016/J.JESF.2022.10.010

Click here to read the full paper.