TITLE: Results from Wales’ 2018 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Young People
AUTHORS: Lowri Edwards, Richard Tyler, Dylan Blain, Anna Bryant, Neil Canham, Lauren Carter-Davies, Cain Clark, Tim Evans, Ceri Greenall, Julie Hobday, Anwen Jones, Marianne Mannello, Emily Marchant, Maggie Miller, Graham Moore, Kelly Morgan, Sarah Nicholls, Chris Roberts, Michael Sheldrick, Karen Thompson, Nalda Wainwright, Malcolm Ward, Simon Williams, Gareth Stratton.
ABSTRACT:
Background:
This is the third Active Healthy Kids Wales (AHK-Wales) Report Card following the inaugural and second report card published in 2014 and 2016 respectively. The 2018 report card consolidates and translates research related to physical activity (PA) among children and young people in Wales. The report card aimed to raise the awareness of children and young people’s engagement in PA behaviours and influences, and advocate for children’s right to be active and healthy.
Methods:
The AHK-Wales research work group (RWG) consisted of 24 members, and comprised of academics, postgraduate researchers, professionals and practitioners with expertise in PA and access to national data sources. Ten PA indicators were graded using the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance (Global Matrix 3.0) methodology involving a synthesis and expert consensus of the best available evidence. The RWG also graded an eleventh indicator for Wales: physical literacy. Data from several nationally representative surveys distributed between 2016-2018 were analysed by the RWG when grading each quality indicator.
Results:
Grades assigned to each indicator by the RWG were:
Indicator |
Grade |
Overall Physical Activity |
D+ |
Organized Sport Participation |
C+ |
Active Play |
C- |
Active Transportation |
D+ |
Sedentary Behaviours |
F |
Physical Fitness |
INC |
Family and Peers |
D |
School |
INC |
Community and Environment |
INC |
Government |
C+ |
Physical Literacy |
INC |
Conclusions/recommendations:
Despite the existence of 21 national policies, which incorporate strategies, action plans, legislation, and guidance, geared towards promoting PA in the youth population of Wales, evidence suggests PA behaviours in children and young people remain low; conversely sedentary behaviours remain high. The RWG recommends that a concerted effort be made to generate nationally representative data on the AHK indicators and to develop effective approaches, in the context of a political climate, that seek to increase PA and decrease sedentary behaviours at scale.
Keywords: physical activity, health, sedentary, play, policy, community and environment, school, physical literacy.