Recent Secular Trends in Child and Adolescent Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Internationally: Analyses of Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance Global Matrices 1.0 to 4.0

Abstract

Background: We examined recent global secular trends in 5 indicators of child and adolescent physical activity and sedentary behavior (Overall Physical Activity, Organized Sport and Physical Activity, Active Play, Active Transportation, and Sedentary Behavior) and 4 influences on these (Family and Peers, School, Community and Environment, and Government). Methods: Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance letter grades (A+ to F) were assigned numbers from 15 to 2, with 0 assigned for missing/incomplete grades. Trends from Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance Global Matrices 1.0 (2014) to 4.0 (2022) were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models with level of economic development and gender inequity considered as potential moderators. Results: Report card grades were generally relatively stable. Trends generally did not differ significantly by level of economic development (except for Active Transportation and Active Play), but gender inequality did significantly moderate trends for most of the indicators, with higher gender inequality associated with more adverse changes in grades. The number of “incomplete” grades decreased over time, but this did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions: While trends varied within and between countries, physical activity and sedentary behaviors, and the influences on these behaviors globally, were relatively stable over the past decade or so, albeit at undesirable levels.

Indicators of physical activity and nutritional status among children and adolescents in Zimbabwe: Findings from three global matrix initiatives

“…Our finding showing that Overall Physical Activity did not change over time is consistent with the results reported from Canada, 19 and a recent international paper 20 summarizing secular trends in Report Card Grades from Global Matrix 1.0–4.0. Similarly, findings from other previous studies also suggest that generally, physical activity has remained relatively stable, 21 although below the recommended levels 3 or has declined 22 among children and adolescents over time.…”

Global Matrix 4.0 Physical Activity Report Card Grades for Children and Adolescents: Results and Analyses From 57 Countries

“…This encouraging decrease of INC and deeper analysis providing a synthesis of international trends for behavioral and sources of influence grades that occurred from 2014 to 2022 are discussed in another article, which is part of the present special issue. 120 However, the remaining high prevalence of INC and the reliance on smaller regional surveys or studies in the absence of consistently nationally representative data highlight the need for advocacy to promote regular, national surveillance of PA in children and adolescents worldwide.…”

Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance Global Matrix 4.0—A Resource for Physical Activity Researchers

“…Health Summary of impact on behavioral indicators: It is too early to observe significant change in active behaviors in children, and any potential change in behavior (observed by grade temporal change for behavioral indicators) cannot be directly linked to the impact of the AHKGA Report Cards. However, our analysis of secular trends in report card grades between Global Matrices 1.0 and 4.0 24 found some modest international improvements in grades for both behavioral indicators and sources of influence indicators as well as modest improvements in surveillance of report card indicators, as indicated by a reduction in incomplete grades. In 2018, 89% of the report card leaders who participated in the Global Matrix 3.0 reported that in their opinion, the Global Matrix initiative was contributing to power the movement to get kids moving.…”

“…This Brief Report is the first of 5 papers in this issue of the Journal of Physical Activity and Health that are focused on the findings from the Global Matrix 4.0. A detailed summary of the methods and main findings for the 10 report card indicators for all 57 participating jurisdictions, and geocultural clusters of countries, from the Global Matrix 4.0 is provided in the paper by Aubert et al 7 The main findings are then further dissected by Reilly et al, 24 who examine temporal changes in report card findings between and within countries that participated in combinations of the Global Matrices 1.0 to 4.0. Lee et al 25 explore geopolitical differences in grades with analyses considering economic freedom and climate culpability as well as specific national environmental indicators.…”