Ten years of physical activity surveillance in children/adolescents in Latin America through the Global Matrix

Oral

Abstract Overview

Background: The Global Matrix (GM), launched a decade ago, initially included two Latin American countries among its first 15 participants. Today, eight Latin American countries have developed Report Cards on physical activity (PA) for children and adolescents.

Purpose: This study aims to analyse longitudinal trends in grades for the 10 key indicators included in the GM over the past ten years in the Latin American region (GM1.0, 2014; GM2.0, 2016; GM3.0, 2018; GM4.0, 2022).

Methods: Data from published Report Cards were analysed for Argentina (GM4.0), Brazil (GM2.0, GM3.0, GM4.0), Chile (GM2.0, GM3.0, GM4.0), Colombia (GM1.0, GM2.0, GM3.0, GM4.0), Ecuador (GM3.0), Mexico (GM1.0, GM2.0, GM3.0, GM4.0), Uruguay (GM3.0, GM4.0), and Venezuela (GM2.0, GM3.0). Mean averages were calculated using the GM methodology, and the number of indicators with incomplete grades was identified by country and edition. Longitudinal analysis used GM3.0 as the baseline due to its comprehensive ten indicators.

Results: Five of the eight countries were included in the longitudinal analysis. Argentina and Ecuador participated in one edition, and Venezuela in two, but without including GM4.0. Brazil showed no change in average indicator grades between 2018 and 2022. Other countries exhibited a positive increase of 0.5 to 0.8 points. Latin American countries, on average, demonstrated a 9.3% relative increase in grades from 2018 to 2022. Incomplete grades varied, with Brazil (GM3.0, GM4.0) having none and Venezuela (GM2.0) having six.

Conclusion: A limited number of Latin American countries have consistently developed Report Cards. The trend analysis indicates an improvement in average grades from 2018 to 2022, however many indicators lack sufficient data for grading.

Practical Implications: The increase in research capacity on PA for children and adolescents in Latin America and the information provided can help inform policies to promote healthier and more active lifestyles in Latin American children and adolescents.

Funding: None.

Additional Authors

Name: Bruno Bizzozero-Peroni
Affiliation: Grupo de Investigación en Análisis del Rendimiento Humano, Universidad de la República, Rivera, Uruguay
Presenting Author: no
Name: Salomé Aubert
Affiliation: Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance, Ottawa, Canada
Presenting Author: no
Name: Diego Augusto Santos Silva
Affiliation: Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
Presenting Author: no
Name: Mark S. Tremblay
Affiliation: Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group, CHEO Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
Presenting Author: no

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Information

Study Type: Measurement or surveillance
Subtheme: Monitoring and data systems
Population Group: Children, Adolescents
Setting: Not Applicable

Submitting Author

Javier Brazo-Sayavera
Associate professor / Professor
Universidad Pablo de Olavide / Universidad de la República
Spain

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