2018 Chilean Physical Activity Report Card for Children and Adolescents: Full Report and International Comparisons

Abstract

Background: The study summarizes the findings of the 2018 Chilean Report Card (RC) on Physical Activity (PA) for Children and Adolescents and compares the results with the first Chilean RC and with other countries from the Global Matrix 3.0. Methods: A Research Work Group using a standardized methodology from the Global Matrix 3.0 awarded grades for 13 PA-related indicators based on the percentage of compliance for defined benchmarks. Different public data sets, government reports, and papers informed the indicators. Results: The grades assigned were for (1) “behaviors that contribute to overall PA levels”: overall PA, D−; organized sport participation, D−; active play, INC; and active transportation, F; (2) “factors associated with cardiometabolic risk”: sedentary behavior, C−; overweight and obesity, F; fitness, D; sleep, INC; and (3) “factors that influence PA”: family and peers, F; school, D; inclusion, INC; community and built environment, B; government strategies and investments, B−. Conclusions: Chile’s grades remained low compared with the first RC. On the positive side, Chile is advancing in environmental and policy aspects. Our findings indicate that the implementation of new strategies should be developed through collaboration between different sectors to maximize effective investments for increasing PA and decreasing sedentary time among children and adolescents in Chile.

The Moderating Role of Sociodemographic Factors in the Relationship between Physical Activity and Subjective Well-Being in Chilean Children and Adolescents

“…For Chilean children and adolescents, the gap in physical activity habits is largely explained by existing socioeconomic inequality. This is mainly reflected in aspects such as access and quality of sports infrastructure, the promotion of physical activity within schools and the allocation of resources for its development [ 57 ]. Regarding subjective well-being, it is important to highlight that, in developed countries with lower levels of social and economic inequality, the relationship between SWB and SES is practically non-existent [ 58 ].…”

Sociodemographic Predictors of Changes in Physical Activity, Screen Time, and Sleep Among Toddlers and Pre-Schoolers in Chile During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…This finding is different from that commonly observed in Chilean children and adolescents. [13,14] It is plausible that those caregivers were less likely to work from home under lockdown and kept more "normal" routines with their families, at the same time that those children may have had more freedom to play indoors and less demand to stay quiet during working hours.…”

Interés por la actividad física y recomendaciones recibidas con relación a conductas físicas durante etapas tempranas de la pandemia por COVID-19 en Chile

“…Esto resulta crítico para contener el deterioro adicional de la salud que la inactividad física y sedentarismo, incrementados secundariamente a la aplicación de medidas de contención de la pandemia, puedan acarrear. La inactividad física en Chile también está influenciada por los determinantes sociales de la salud 18 . Por lo tanto, profesionales deben considerar el contexto en que viven las personas para que sus mensajes orientados al cambio conductual sean pertinentes y efectivos en mejorar la salud de la población.…”