Is our Youth Cycling to Health? Results From the Netherlands’ 2016 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth

Abstract

Background:The Active Healthy Kids the Netherlands (AHKN) Report Card consolidates and translates research and assesses how the Netherlands is being responsible in providing physical activity (PA) opportunities for children and youth (<18 years). The primary aim of this article is to summarize the results of the 2016 AHKN Report Card. Methods: Nine indicators were graded using the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance report card development process, which includes a synthesis of the best available research, surveillance, policy and practice findings, and expert consensus. Results: Grades assigned were: Overall Physical Activity Levels, D; Organized Sport Participation, B; Active Play, B; Active Transportation, A; Sedentary Behaviors, C; Family and Peers, B; School, C; Community and the Built Environment, A; Government Strategies and Investments, INC. Conclusions: Sedentary behavior and overall PA levels are not meeting current guidelines. However, the Dutch youth behaviors in sports, active transportation, and active play are satisfactory. Several modifiable factors of influence might be enhanced to improve these indicators or at least prevent regression. Although Dutch children accumulate a lot of daily PA through cycling, it is not enough to meet the current national PA guidelines of 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous PA per day.

Global Matrix 2.0: Report Card Grades on the Physical Activity of Children and Youth Comparing 38 Countries

“…While there are successes and challenges across countries, the grades for Denmark, 31 the Netherlands, 44 and Slovenia 51 generally showed greater success. In these countries there is both a welldeveloped infrastructure and policy support network for healthy active living as well as individual commitment to habitual physical activity embedded in all aspects of life (eg, recreation, play, transportation, school).…”

“…Further, there is a high percentage of bike ownership: 84% of the Dutch inhabitants from age 4 years and older own a bicycle. 44 Furthermore, many municipalities are promoting bike use and are banning cars from the inner cities. However, despite robust policies and infrastructure, these supports are not sufficient to score highly on Overall Physical Activity (based on the available measures).…”

“…However, despite robust policies and infrastructure, these supports are not sufficient to score highly on Overall Physical Activity (based on the available measures). 44 In Slovenia, physical activity in children is closely monitored within the school system. Every April, the majority of Slovenian children and youth (aged 6 to 19 y) are included in nation-wide, school-based physical fitness measurements.…”

“…Average grades across all indicators were highest in Denmark, 31 Slovenia, 51 and the Netherlands. 44 Sixteen countries reported at least 1 F grade and 30 countries reported at least 1 D grade. In contrast, only 6 countries reported at least 1 A grade.…”

“…Nevertheless, the success achieved in Slovenia suggests that behavioral changes associated with such transitions are not inevitable. Canada, 27 Denmark, 31 the Netherlands, 44 Sweden 55 ), whereas countries with low grades for Organized Sport Participation often reported low grades for School and Community and the Built Environment (eg, Chile, 28 Mexico, 42 Mozambique 43 )]. This relationship was significant (Spearman's rho for Organized Sport Participation grade ~ School + Community and Environment grades = 0.42, P = .02) and is not surprising considering that organized sport opportunities require space, facilities, equipment, programs, safety precautions, and supervision.…”