Physical Activity, Screen-Time Behavior, and Obesity Among 13-Year Olds in Ireland with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder

The primary purposes of this study were to compare (a) physical activity participation, screen-time habits, obesity, and (b) reported reasons for lack of participation in sport, between a nationally representative sample of Irish children with and without autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Participation in moderate to vigorous activity, light activity, and sports was significantly lower among the group with ASD. On examination of screen time variables, no significant differences were seen between groups. However, time spent watching TV was higher among children with ASD. Overweight or obese status was more prevalent among the group with ASD (34.4 vs. 24.7 %). The findings are discussed in relation to international statistics on youth physical activity, screen-time, and weight status, and recommendations are provided for future research.

[1]  Andrea L Dunn,et al.  Self-management strategies mediate self-efficacy and physical activity. , 2005, American journal of preventive medicine.

[2]  L. Bandini,et al.  The prevalence of obesity in children with autism: a secondary data analysis using nationally representative data from the National Survey of Children's Health , 2010, BMC pediatrics.

[3]  Yanjuan Zhou,et al.  A preliminary study on nutritional status and intake in Chinese children with autism , 2010, European Journal of Pediatrics.

[4]  Micah O. Mazurek,et al.  Prevalence and Correlates of Screen-Based Media Use Among Youths with Autism Spectrum Disorders , 2011, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

[5]  D. Lawlor,et al.  Childhood obesity , 2010, The Lancet.

[6]  Luke Wolfenden,et al.  Parental influences on child physical activity and screen viewing time: a population based study , 2010, BMC public health.

[7]  David Wachob,et al.  Brief Report: Influence of Physical Activity on Sleep Quality in Children with Autism , 2015, Journal of autism and developmental disorders.

[8]  Ihuoma Eneli,et al.  Sedentary and Physical Activity Habits of Obese Adolescents , 2014 .

[9]  Iva Obrusnikova,et al.  Perceived Barriers and Facilitators of Participation in After-School Physical Activity by Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders , 2011 .

[10]  Ryan T. Conners,et al.  Association of physical activity and body mass index with metabolic syndrome among U.S. adolescents with disabilities. , 2013, Disability and health journal.

[11]  S. McNabb.  Comprehensive effective and efficient global public health surveillance , 2010, BMC public health.

[12]  J. Greenberg,et al.  A Longitudinal Investigation of Psychotropic and Non-Psychotropic Medication Use Among Adolescents and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders , 2009, Journal of autism and developmental disorders.

[13]  N. Menachemi,et al.  Obesity, Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors in Children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder , 2016, Maternal and Child Health Journal.

[14]  K. Schreck,et al.  A Comparison of Eating Behaviors Between Children with and Without Autism , 2004, Journal of autism and developmental disorders.

[15]  L. Lee,et al.  Children with Autism: Quality of Life and Parental Concerns , 2008, Journal of autism and developmental disorders.

[16]  C. Pan,et al.  Physical activity during the segmented school day in adolescents with and without autism spectrum disorders , 2015 .

[17]  L. Pescatello,et al.  Current Perspectives on Physical Activity and Exercise Recommendations for Children and Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorders , 2014, Physical Therapy.

[18]  R. Kordi,et al.  Physical activity in children and adolescents with autism assessed by triaxial accelerometry , 2013, Pediatric obesity.

[19]  P. Kearney,et al.  The effects of individual, family and environmental factors on physical activity levels in children: a cross-sectional study , 2014, BMC Pediatrics.

[20]  Micah O. Mazurek,et al.  Television, Video Game and Social Media Use Among Children with ASD and Typically Developing Siblings , 2012, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

[21]  Keith Lividini,et al.  Comparison of physical activity between children with autism spectrum disorders and typically developing children , 2013, Autism : the international journal of research and practice.

[22]  C. Ogden,et al.  Physical activity in U.S. youth aged 12-15 years, 2012. , 2014, NCHS data brief.

[23]  P. Whiteley,et al.  Body mass index of children from the United Kingdom diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorders , 2004, Pediatrics international : official journal of the Japan Pediatric Society.

[24]  Patrice L Tamar Weiss,et al.  Improving physical fitness of individuals with intellectual and developmental disability through a Virtual Reality Intervention Program. , 2009, Research in developmental disabilities.

[25]  Dawn D. Rosser Sandt,et al.  Comparison of Physical Activity Levels between Children with and Without Autistic Spectrum Disorders , 2005 .

[26]  Bob Houlton,et al.  Researches in Brief , 2000 .

[27]  M. Gurka,et al.  Emotional, Developmental, and Behavioral Health of American Children and Their Families: A Report From the 2003 National Survey of Children's Health , 2006, Pediatrics.

[28]  Joey A. Lee,et al.  Concurrent Associations between Physical Activity, Screen Time, and Sleep Duration with Childhood Obesity , 2014, ISRN obesity.

[29]  C. Pan,et al.  Objectively Measured Physical Activity Between Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders and Children Without Disabilities During Inclusive Recess Settings in Taiwan , 2008, Journal of autism and developmental disorders.

[30]  E. Ravussin,et al.  Body mass index as a measure of adiposity in children and adolescents: relationship to adiposity by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry and to cardiovascular risk factors. , 2001, The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism.

[31]  G. Godin,et al.  Assessment of leisure time exercise behavior by self-report: a concurrent validity study. , 1986, Canadian journal of public health = Revue canadienne de sante publique.

[32]  J. Rimmer,et al.  Obesity and obesity-related secondary conditions in adolescents with intellectual/developmental disabilities. , 2010, Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDR.

[33]  Megan Barr,et al.  Perceived barriers and facilitators to physical activity for children with disability: a systematic review , 2011, British Journal of Sports Medicine.

[34]  Patrick B. Wilson,et al.  Mobility Status as a Predictor of Obesity, Physical Activity, and Screen Time Use among Children Aged 5-11 Years in the United States. , 2016, The Journal of pediatrics.

[35]  J. Reilly,et al.  Associations between objectively measured habitual physical activity and adiposity in children and adolescents: Systematic review. , 2010, International journal of pediatric obesity : IJPO : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity.

[36]  K. Short,et al.  Playing Active Video Games Increases Energy Expenditure in Children , 2009, Pediatrics.

[37]  C. Currie,et al.  Social determinants of health and well-being among young people: Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study: international report from the 2009/2010 survey. , 2012 .

[38]  Setting Brazil.  Establishing a standard definition for child overweight and obesity worldwide: international survey. , 2008 .

[39]  S. McGuire,et al.  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. State indicator report on Physical Activity, 2014. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2014. , 2014, Advances in nutrition.

[40]  C. Currie,et al.  Social determinants of health and well-being among young people , 2012 .

[41]  J. Sallis,et al.  Seven-day recall and other physical activity self-reports in children and adolescents. , 1993, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[42]  Megan MacDonald,et al.  Physical Activity and Physical Fitness of School-Aged Children and Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders , 2014, Autism research and treatment.

[43]  L. Bandini,et al.  Barriers to Physical Activity in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders: Relationship to Physical Activity and Screen Time. , 2015, Journal of physical activity & health.

[44]  L. Bandini,et al.  Comparison of sedentary behaviors between children with autism spectrum disorders and typically developing children , 2014, Autism : the international journal of research and practice.

[45]  Nalan R. Ayvazoglu,et al.  Determinants and challenges in physical activity participation in families with children with high functioning autism spectrum disorders from a family systems perspective. , 2015, Research in developmental disabilities.