Behavioral Assessment of Physical Activity in Obese Preschool Children

Abstract

We measured changes in physical activity in 2 obese preschool children when a package intervention was evaluated in a reversal design. Physical activity was measured via direct observation and pedometers. Although the intervention produced only modest increases in activity, the results provide preliminary concurrent validation for the dependent measures used, in that the two measures covaried and a similar degree of change was observed with each across baseline and intervention phases.

Improving Public Perception of Behavior Analysis

“…When the environment prompts people to behave in ways that moderate net calories, and helps them to feel rewarded for doing so, people tend to do better in controlling weight (The Look AHEAD Research Group 2014). Many behavior analysts have been actively involved in recent years in researching and applying effective interventions to that end, notably Matt Normand at the University of the Pacific (Hustyi et al 2011) and Richard Fleming of the University of Massachusetts Boston (2012).…”

Applied Behavior Analysis and Behavioral Medicine: History of the Relationship and Opportunities for Renewed Collaboration

“…These areas include the reduction of tissue-damaging self-injurious behavior with individuals with developmental disabilities (e.g., McGinnis, Houchins-Juárez, McDaniel, & Kennedy, 2010;Tiger, Fisher, & Bouxsein, 2009;Toussaint & Tiger, 2012), dental hygiene (e.g., Barnoy, Najdowski, Tarbox, Wilke, & Nollet, 2009;Lang et al, 2013), treatment of problem behavior and skill acquisition in individuals with brain injury (e.g., Fienup, Ahlers, & Pace, 2011;Guercio, Johnson, & Dixon, 2012;Travis & Sturmey, 2010), treatment of Tourette's syndrome (e.g., Capriotti, Brandt, Ricketts, Espil, & Woods, 2012;Wiskow & Klatt, 2013), obesity (e.g., Hustyi, Normand, & Larson, 2011;Hustyi, Normand, Larson, & Morley, 2012;Shayne, Fogel, Miltenberger, & Koehler, 2012), smoking cessation (e.g., Dallery & Raiff, 2011) and inappropriate sexual behavior (e.g., Reyes, Vollmer, & Hall, 2011a;Reyes, Vollmer, & Hall, 2011b). According to our analysis, ABA conducted in a medical setting (e.g., medical adherence) would be considered behavioral medicine as long as there is an underlying biological condition of the organism that is somehow altered as a result of compliance with the prescribed regimen.…”

Assessing and Increasing Physical Activity

“…Recent behavioral studies used validated pedometers as the primary source of data (i.e., steps per day or steps per session) in evaluations that focused on increasing physical activity in both children and adults. New Lifestyles 2000 pedometers (Hustyi, Normand, & Larson, 2011; Normand, 2008) and Yamax Digi‐Walker Model SW‐200 pedometers (VanWormer, 2004) also provided data via digital display, which contributed to the self‐monitoring component of the self‐management intervention. Pedometers are particularly useful when direct observation is not feasible, including assessments of daylong activity or measurement of activity of multiple individuals at one time.…”

“…Although MVPA occurred at some level in the outdoor toys and open space conditions, MVPA rarely occurred in the table play condition (in which children were seated). Combinations of OSRAC activity codes have become common practice (see also Hustyi et al, 2011), but Larson et al (2011) evaluated the validity of the individual codes by instructing four children to engage in activities associated with each of the codes while exertion was measured with pedometers and HRMs. Differential levels of heart rate were observed with each level of activity, suggesting that experimenters should use all five individual OSRAC activity codes.…”

“…The experimenters conducted a component analysis that indicated that self‐monitoring alone (without the feedback via e‐mail) was effective for all subjects, and e‐mail feedback produced further improvements for only one subject. Hustyi et al (2011) evaluated self‐monitoring, goal setting, and reinforcement to increase the physical activity (steps per session) of two obese children. Results indicated modest or no increases in physical activity; however, the authors noted that the rewards used may not have functioned as reinforcers.…”