Papers by Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij
International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 2015
Background: Ecological models of health behaviour are an important conceptual framework to addres... more Background: Ecological models of health behaviour are an important conceptual framework to address the multiple correlates of obesity. Several single-country studies previously examined the relationship between the built environment and obesity in adults, but results are very diverse. An important reason for these mixed results is the limited variability in built environments in these single-country studies. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine associations between perceived neighbourhood built environmental attributes and BMI/weight status in a multi-country study including 12 environmentally and culturally diverse countries. Methods: A multi-site cross-sectional study was conducted in 17 cities (study sites) across 12 countries (Australia,
International journal of pediatric obesity : IJPO : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity, 2011
The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in gross motor coordination in healthy-w... more The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in gross motor coordination in healthy-weight, overweight, and obese children of different ages. Using a cross-sectional design, data were collected in 954 Flemish primary school children (500 girls, 454 boys) stratified in consecutive age groups (5-7 years, 8-9 years, 10-12 years). Weight status (healthy-weight, overweight, obese) was defined according to the International Obesity Task Force body mass index (BMI) cut-off points for children. Gross motor coordination was assessed by means of the Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder (KTK). Childhood overweight and particularly obesity were found to result in poorer KTK performances (p < 0.001), with the most apparent effect of BMI on items requiring physical properties next to dynamic body coordination. Expressed as an age-related Motor Quotient (MQ), overall KTK performance was featured by a BMI × AGE interaction (p < 0.01). Healthy-weight children displayed similar MQs ac...
International journal of obesity (2005), 2008
Environmental factors such as dietary habits, breastfeeding, socioeconomic conditions and educati... more Environmental factors such as dietary habits, breastfeeding, socioeconomic conditions and educational factors are strong influences on nutritional and puberty status, physical activity, food choices and their interactions. Several diseases of adulthood seem to be linked to, or to originate from, lifestyle in childhood and adolescence. The aims of this study are to describe birth parameters and socioeconomic factors and to assess clinical status in adolescents aged 13-16 years from 10 European countries participating in the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence (HELENA) Cross-Sectional Study (CSS). A self-report questionnaire on the socioeconomic status, a parental questionnaire concerning neonatal period and also a case report form (CRF), in which clinical items during clinical examination (such as medical history, treatments, anthropometry, Tanner staging, blood pressure, heart rate) were assessed. To develop these documents, first a list of items was established,...
BMC public health, Jan 31, 2007
Before starting interventions addressing energy-balance related behaviors, knowledge is needed ab... more Before starting interventions addressing energy-balance related behaviors, knowledge is needed about the prevalence of sedentary behaviors and low physical exercise, their interrelationships, possible gender differences. Therefore this study aimed to describe gender differences in sedentary and physical exercise behaviors and their association with overweight status in children from nine European countries. Additionally, to identify clusters of children sharing the same pattern regarding sedentary and physical exercise behavior and compare these groups regarding overweight status. Cross-sectional study among 11-year-old children in nine countries (n = 12538). Self-administered questionnaires assessed the time spent on TV viewing during dinner and during the day, PC use and on physical exercise. The parents reported children's weight and height. Descriptive statistics, cluster analyses, and logistic regression analyses were used for data analyses. Boys spent more time on sedentar...
Spine, 2006
A quasi-experimental pre/post design. To investigate effects of a 2-school-year multifactorial ba... more A quasi-experimental pre/post design. To investigate effects of a 2-school-year multifactorial back education program on back posture knowledge and postural behavior in elementary schoolchildren. Additionally, self-reported back or neck pain and fear-avoidance beliefs were evaluated. Epidemiologic studies report mounting nonspecific back pain prevalence among youngsters, characterized by multifactorial risk factors. Study findings of school-based interventions are promising. Furthermore, biomechanical discomfort is found in the school environment. The study sample included 193 intervention children and 172 controls (baseline, 9-to-11-year-olds). The multifactorial intervention consisted of a back education program and the stimulation of postural dynamism in the class through support and environmental changes. Evaluation consisted of a questionnaire, an observation of postural behavior in the classroom, and an observation of material handling during a movement session. The interventi...
Purpose. This study investigated the variance in sitting, walking, and moderate and vigorous phys... more Purpose. This study investigated the variance in sitting, walking, and moderate and vigorous physical activity explained by neighborhood design and recreational environmen- tal variables above and beyond the variance accounted for by individual demographic var- iables. Design. Cross-sectional analyses of self-reported survey data. Setting. A random sample of inhabitants of Ghent, Belgium, aged 18-65 years, was drawn. Subjects. Five hundred
PLoS ONE, 2014
Background: Environmental factors are found to influence transport-related physical activity, but... more Background: Environmental factors are found to influence transport-related physical activity, but have rarely been studied in relation with cycling for transport to various destinations in 10-12 yr old children. The current qualitative study used 'bike-along interviews' with children and parents to allow discussion of detailed environmental factors that may influence children's cycling for transport, while cycling in the participant's neighborhood. Methods: Purposeful convenience sampling was used to recruit 35 children and one of their parents residing in (semi-) urban areas. Bike-along interviews were conducted to and from a randomly chosen destination (e.g. library) within a 15 minutes' cycle trip in the participant's neighborhood. Participants wore a GoPro camera to objectively assess environmental elements, which were subsequently discussed with participants. Content analysis and arising themes were derived using a grounded theory approach. Results: The discussed environmental factors were categorized under traffic, urban design, cycling facilities, road design, facilities at destination, aesthetics, topography, weather, social control, stranger danger and familiar environment. Across these categories many environmental factors were (in)directly linked to road safety. This was illustrated by detailed discussions of the children's visibility, familiarity with specific traffic situations, and degree of separation, width and legibility of cycle facilities. Conclusion: Road safety is of major concern in this 10-12 yr old study population. Bike-along interviews were able to identify new, detailed and context-specific physical environmental factors which could inform policy makers to promote children's cycling for transport. However, future studies should investigate whether hypothetical changes to such micro environmental features influence perceptions of safety and if this in turn could lead to changes in children's cycling for transport.
Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 2006
ObjectiveTo determine factors associated with the consumption of fruit and vegetables among 11-ye... more ObjectiveTo determine factors associated with the consumption of fruit and vegetables among 11-year-old schoolchildren in Belgium-Flanders and the Netherlands.
American Journal of Sports Medicine, 2005
Background: Many variables have been retrospectively associated with ankle sprains. However, very... more Background: Many variables have been retrospectively associated with ankle sprains. However, very little is known about factors predisposing people to these injuries.Hypothesis: Measurable intrinsic factors might predispose male athletes to ankle sprains.Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.Methods: A total of 241 male physical education students were evaluated for possible intrinsic risk factors for inversion sprains at the beginning
Public Health Nutrition, 2011
ObjectiveThe present study aimed to examine the impact of non-wear activities registered in diari... more ObjectiveThe present study aimed to examine the impact of non-wear activities registered in diaries when using accelerometers to assess physical activity (PA) in young adolescents.DesignData arise from a large-scale cross-sectional study on PA. PA was objectively assessed using Actigraph™ accelerometers (Actigraph MTI, Manufacturing Technology Inc., Pensacola, FL, USA) during seven consecutive days. Non-wear time activity diaries were provided to register the activities for which the accelerometer was removed. After correction to deal with over-reporting, the registered minutes of PA were used to replace periods of non-wear time measured by the accelerometer.SettingBetween October 2008 and May 2009 adolescents were recruited by home visits in Ghent (Belgium).SubjectsYoung adolescents (n 513; 48·6 % boys) aged 13 to 15 years.ResultsOf the total sample, 49·9 % registered at least one activity of moderate to vigorous intensity in the non-wear time activity diary. More adolescents regis...
Preventive Medicine, 2009
Objectives. We aimed to investigate the effects of providing play equipment and markings at the p... more Objectives. We aimed to investigate the effects of providing play equipment and markings at the preschool playground on physical activity engagement levels. Methods. We performed a cluster randomised control trial. In November and December 2007, a convenience sample of 40 public pre-schools in Flanders, Belgium, was randomly assigned to one of the following conditions: 1) in 10 pre-schools play equipment was provided, 2) in 10 pre-schools markings were painted on the playground, 3) in 10 schools play equipment was provided and markings were painted, 4) 10 schools served as a control condition. Accelerometer-based physical activity levels during recess were evaluated at baseline and 4 to 6 weeks after the implementation of the intervention in 583 children (52% boys; mean age 5.3 years, SD 0.4). Results. At baseline pre-schoolers spent only 11.2% (average: 4.7 min) of recess time in moderate to vigorous activity, while 61.3% (average: 25.7 min) was spent in sedentary activity. The interventions were not effective in increasing the average activity levels or the percentages of engagement in moderate or vigorous activity, or in decreasing sedentary time. Conclusion. Providing playground markings or play equipment is not sufficient to increase activity levels and decrease levels of sedentary activity during preschool recess. More activating supervision and the inclusion of more structured physical activity seem needed.
Patient Education and Counseling, 2004
This study evaluated differences in sitting habits in the classroom between the project &amp;... more This study evaluated differences in sitting habits in the classroom between the project &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;Moving school&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; and a traditional school in 8-year-old children. Twenty-two children, since 1.5 years involved in the project were compared to 25 children in a traditional school. Making use of the Portable Ergonomic Observation (PEO) method, it was observed that children from a traditional school spend an average of 97% of the lesson time sitting statically, from which one-third with the trunk bend over 45 degrees. In the &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;Moving school&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; this posture was replaced by dynamic sitting (53%), standing (31%) and walking around (10%), while trunk flexion over 45 degrees was nearly not observed. Children from the &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;Moving school&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; also showed significantly less neck and trunk rotation. Additionally, accelerometric data showed significantly more physical activity in lessons of the &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;Moving school&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;. Rates of self-reported back or neck pain did not differ significantly between both study groups. Results show that sitting habits are more favourable in a &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;Moving school&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;. Further research is needed to study the impact of implementing &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;Moving school&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; concepts in traditional schools on sitting habits.
Journal of Urban Health, 2010
The walkability attributes of neighborhood environments (residential density, land use mixture, a... more The walkability attributes of neighborhood environments (residential density, land use mixture, and connectedness of streets) have been found to be associated with higher rates of walking. However, relatively less is known about the associations of walkability attributes with bicycle use for transport. We examined the relationships between adults' bicycle use for transport and measures of neighborhood walkability in two settings: an Australian city (Adelaide) with low rates of bicycle use and a Belgian city (Ghent) with high rates of bicycle use. A total of 2,159 and 382 participants were recruited in Adelaide and Ghent, respectively. A walkability index was derived from objectively measured data in Adelaide, while a similar index was derived from perceived measures in Ghent. Logistic regression models were employed to examine associations of bicycle use with different levels of walkability. There were higher rates of bicycle ownership for Ghent compared to Adelaide participants (96% versus 61%), and there was a higher prevalence of bicycle use for transport for Ghent compared to Adelaide participants (50% vs. 14%). Despite the large differences in bicycle ownership and use, living in a high-walkable neighborhood was associated with significantly higher odds of bicycle use for transport in both cities, after adjusting for relevant confounding factors. Built-environment innovations that are increasingly being advocated by health authorities and transport planners, primarily to promote higher rates of walking for transport, should also impact positively on bicycle use.
Journal of School Health, 2002
A back education program for Belgian elementary school children was evaluated using self-reported... more A back education program for Belgian elementary school children was evaluated using self-reported questionnaires before intervention and at three follow-up points during one year. Most children found the program interesting, important, and amusing. Intervention children (n = 347) showed better back care knowledge than control children (n = 359), and knowledge gained was retained over a period of one year. Back education did not result in increased fear-avoidance beliefs about physical activity, and intervention children reported more checking of their book bag weight than controls at all test moments. Self-reported behavior in rehtion posture-related and back care related segeficacy were affected only minimally by the pmgram, possibly due to pwr serfjudgment. Involvement. fear-avoidance belief, and back care knowledge of teachers and parents of the intervention children showed low correlation with the children's perceptions and knowledge. Suficient promise exists to j u s t i b fitrther development and evaluation of early back education. (J Sch Health. 2002;72(3):100-106)
Journal of Environmental and Public Health, 2009
The present study aimed at investigating the influence of home, neighbourhood and school environm... more The present study aimed at investigating the influence of home, neighbourhood and school environmental factors on adolescents' engagement in self-reported extracurricular physical activity and leisure time sports and on MVPA objectively measured by accelerometers. Environmental factors were assessed using questionnaires. Gender specific hierarchical regression analyses were conducted, with demographic variables entered in the first block, and environmental, psychosocial factors and interactions terms entered in the second block. Participation in extracurricular activities at school was positively related to the number of organized activities and the provision of supervision. Perceived accessibility of neighborhood facilities was not related to engagement in leisure time sports, whereas the availability of sedentary and physical activity equipment was. Findings were generally supportive of ecological theories stating that behaviors are influenced by personal and environmental fac...
Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 2008
Cognitive-motivational accounts of fat food intake propose an association between fat food and ac... more Cognitive-motivational accounts of fat food intake propose an association between fat food and action dispositions, which are according to the biphasic emotion theory of Lang [(1995). The emotion probe. Studies of motivation and attention. . In a positive arousal IAT, implicit associations between fat vs. lean food, and high and low arousal words with a positive valence were assessed. In a negative arousal IAT, high and low arousal words with a negative valence were used. A second experiment was conducted to replicate ARTICLE IN PRESS www.elsevier.com/locate/jbtep 0005-7916/$ -see front matter r address: [email protected] (I. De Bourdeaudhuij).
Journal of Adolescent Health, 2010
Purpose: The present study investigates the effect of the Activ-O-Meter, an internet-based comput... more Purpose: The present study investigates the effect of the Activ-O-Meter, an internet-based computertailored physical activity intervention in adolescents in six European centers involved in the HELENA study. Methods: Adolescents (12-17 years old) from Vienna, Ghent, Heraklion, Dortmund, Athens, and Stockholm were randomized into intervention and control schools. Participants in the intervention condition received the computer-tailored advice at baseline and after 1 month. Participants in the control condition received a generic standard advice. Effects were evaluated after 1 (n ¼ 675) and 3 months (n ¼ 494) using multi-level modeling. Physical activity levels were measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire for adolescents (IPAQ-A). Results: After 1 month, the intervention group reported higher levels of moderate (b ¼ À32.8, 95% CI (confidence interval): À64.2 to À1.4) and vigorous (b ¼ À28.0, 95% CI: À50.7 to À5.3) physical activity in leisure time, as well as higher levels of cycling for transport (b ¼ À19.1, 95% CI: À34.4 to À7.6) compared to the control group. After 3 months, when the intervention group had received the tailored feedback twice, intervention effects were even stronger. Favorable changes in physical activity levels of all intensities and in different contexts were found in the tailored group compared to the control group. Among adolescents not reaching the physical activity recommendations at baseline similar effects as in the total sample were found. Conclusions: The data indicated that the computer-tailored physical activity intervention had positive effects on physical activity levels among the adolescents. However, the implementation of the computer-tailored intervention in the schools was not feasible in all countries. Ó
International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 2008
Background: Low levels of physical activity are characteristic in preschoolers. To effectively pr... more Background: Low levels of physical activity are characteristic in preschoolers. To effectively promote physical activity, it is necessary to understand factors that influence young children's physical activity. The present study aimed to investigate how physical activity levels are influenced by environmental factors during recess in preschool. Methods: Preschool playground observations and pedometry during recess were carried out in 39 randomly selected preschools (415 boys and 368 girls; 5.3 ± 0.4 years old). In order to examine the contribution of playground variables to physical activity levels, taking adjustment for clustering of subjects within preschools into account, multilevel analyses were conducted. Results: During recess boys took significantly more steps per minute than girls (65 ± 36 versus 54 ± 28 steps/min). In both genders higher step counts per minute were significantly associated with less children per m 2 and with shorter recess times. Only in boys a hard playground surface was a borderline significant predictor for higher physical activity levels. In girls higher step counts were associated with the presence of less supervising teachers. Playground markings, access to toys, the number of playing or aiming equipment pieces and the presence of vegetation or height differences were not significant physical activity predictors in both genders. Conclusion: In preschool children physical activity during outdoor play is associated with modifiable playground factors. Further study is recommended to evaluate if the provision of more play space, the promotion of continued activity by supervisors and the modification of playground characteristics can increase physical activity levels in preschoolers.
International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 2007
Background: Fruit and vegetable intake is low among European children and exposure to TV is negat... more Background: Fruit and vegetable intake is low among European children and exposure to TV is negatively associated with the intake of fruit and vegetables. The aim of the present study was to explore exposure to food commercials on TV in nine European countries. Associations between such exposure and intake of fruit and vegetables and possible mediating effects of attitudes toward and liking of fruit and vegetables were assessed.
Health Psychology, 2014
The main study objective was to examine the moderating effects of perceived enjoyment, barriers/b... more The main study objective was to examine the moderating effects of perceived enjoyment, barriers/benefits, perceived social support and self-efficacy, on the associations of perceived environmental attributes with walking for recreation and leisure-time moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and whether these potential moderating effects differed by gender and study site. Data from three observational studies in the United States (Seattle and Baltimore), Australia (Adelaide), and Belgium (Ghent) were pooled. In total, 6014 adults (20-65 years, 55.7% women) were recruited in high-/low-walkable and high-/low-income neighborhoods. All participants completed the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale, a validated questionnaire on psychosocial attributes, and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. General additive mixed models were conducted in R. Enjoyment of physical activity, perceived barriers to physical activity, perceived benefits of physical activity, social support from family and friends, and self-efficacy for physical activity moderated the relationships of specific perceived environmental characteristics with walking for recreation and/or leisure-time moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Overall, moderating effects were in the same direction: environmental perceptions were positively associated with leisure-time activity, but associations were strongest in adults with less positive scores on psychosocial attributes. The findings were fairly consistent across gender and study sites. The present study findings are promising, as it seems that those who might benefit most from environmental interventions to promote physical activity, may mainly be adults at risk of being insufficiently active or those difficult to reach through individual health promotion programs.
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Papers by Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij