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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #361250
Title: Barriers and facilitators for adherence to physical activity recommendations among adults and children in a multi-site cross-sectional study

Author
item NICKLAS, THERESA - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item Thompson, Deborah - Debbe
item LIU, YAN - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)

Submitted to: Journal of Physical Health and Sports Medicine
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/6/2019
Publication Date: 2/8/2019
Citation: Nicklas, T.A., Thompson, D.J., Liu, Y. 2019. Barriers and facilitators for adherence to physical activity recommendations among adults and children in a multi-site cross-sectional study. Journal of Physical Health and Sports Medicine. 2:18-30.

Interpretive Summary: Physical activity is a component of the energy balance equation. The current physical activity recommendation (PAR) is that children and adolescents up to age 17 get at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity every day. Adults ages 18-65 should get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week on five days of the week. Only 21.6% of 6 to 19-year-old children and adolescents in the U.S. attained 60 or more minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity on at least 5 days per week. The goal of this qualitative research was to examine the barriers to and facilitators of following government PAR among adults and children in a multi-site study. Participants were African American, Hispanic American, or European American 5th grade children and their adult caregivers who were defined as "the person responsible for food preparation most days of the week". Participants were part of the HEALTH Study, a multi-site collaboration of five Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Human Nutrition Research Centers, and the ARS Delta Obesity Prevention Research Unit. Adult's reported barriers included lack of motivation (interest), time, and competing life demands. Although financial constraints were a reported barrier, the predominant barrier was chaotic life events that limited time available to adhere to the PAR. Children reported competing activities, health and psychological limitations as barriers to meeting the PAR. Adults perceived health benefits as a facilitator to being physically active, and children reported peer support and ways to be physically active as facilitators. Barriers and facilitators to following PAR reported by adults and children should be taken into consideration when designing interventions.

Technical Abstract: Qualitative research on barriers and facilitators to meeting the physical activity recommendations (PAR) among adults and children are limited. Most studies focused on correlates of children's physical activity and sedentary behavior. The goal of this research was to examine the barriers and facilitators to following federal PAR among adults and children enrolled in a multi-site study. Adult's reported barriers included lack of motivation (interest), time, and competing life demands. Although financial constraints were a reported barrier, the predominant barrier was chaotic life events that limited time available to adhere to the PAR. Children reported competing activities, health and psychological limitations as barriers to meeting the PAR. Adults perceived health benefits as a facilitator to being physically active, and children reported peer support and ways to be physically active as facilitators. Barriers and facilitators to following PAR reported by adults and children should be taken into consideration when designing interventions.