The Danish 2018 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth
Thomas Skovgaard & Danielle Louise Nørager Johansen
Introduction
There is a need for gathering and translating high quality knowledge on children, youth and physical activity (PA) to guide practice, program and policy development.
Methods
The 2018 Report Card includes 10 indicators for PA amongst children and youth. A national committee, consisting of members with different areas of expertise related to PA and human movement among children and youth, graded each indicator on the basis of a structured consensus process. Designated committee members were asked to collect, analyze and present best available evidence on specific indicators and suggest an grading. The presentation and preliminary grade formed the starting point for joint committee discussions to establish consensus for each indicator.
Results
Indicator assessment were based on national surveys related to health and/or PA behaviors, scientific literature and government reports/legislative documents. While 7 of the 10 indicators were assigned a grade in the 2018 Report Card, research and monitoring gaps remain that, if addressed, would better inform the process. Firstly, methodological challenges related to objective versus subjective measures are observed. Secondly, quality data is missing on a total of three core indicators. Thirdly, current data do not sustainably cover the entire age range.
Indicator |
Grade |
Overall Physical Activity |
D- |
Organized Sport Participation |
A- |
Active Play |
INC |
Active Transportation |
B+ |
Sedentary Behaviours |
D+ |
Physical Fitness |
INC |
Family and Peers |
INC |
School |
A- |
Community and Environment |
B+ |
Government |
A- |
Conclusion
The 2016 Danish Report Card on PA for children and youth showed that Denmark performed rather well on strategic and political levels, but the impact on the individual level were somewhat scanty. This indicated an implementation gap between the governmental and individual level. Two years later, the implementation issue remains the perhaps greatest challenge – alongside the need for more comprehensive and methodologically solid studies to better address and grade the full range of indicators.