ABSTRACT Background and Aims Movement behaviours, including sedentary behaviour (SB), physical activity (PA), and sleep, play a crucial role in cardiometabolic health. This study evaluated their relationships and assessed the effects of reallocating SB to different PA intensities. Methods This cross‐sectional study conducted between March 2024 and March 2025, included 75 individuals from Sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA) (51% female; mean age: 40 ± 10 years). Time (minutes/day) spent in the different movement behaviours was determined using wrist‐worn accelerometers (GENEActiv, UK). Cardiometabolic outcomes included body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), HDL cholesterol, total: HDL cholesterol ratio, random glucose, and cardiorespiratory fitness. Pairwise correlations and compositional analyses were performed to investigate associations between movement behaviours and cardiometabolic outcomes. Results The median daily movement composition (minutes) was sleep (346), SB (672), LPA (112), and MVPA (96). MVPA showed a moderate inverse relationship with total cholesterol and was the only movement category associated with cardiorespiratory fitness. Sleep duration showed an inverse relationship with BMI and WC. Reallocating 30 min of SB to sleep, LPA, or MVPA did not result in significant changes in cardiometabolic outcomes (p > 0.05 for all comparisons). Conclusion Moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity showed the most consistent associations with favourable cardiometabolic markers, suggesting it may play a particularly important role in cardiometabolic health among this population. However, these benefits may be dependent on prolonged exposures. Sleep regulation may also contribute to the management of adiposity.

Fundamental movement skills (FMS) are important for children's physical, cognitive, and social development, yet proficiency levels among UK children remain low. Despite FMS featuring within curriculum frameworks across all four UK nations, no study has systematically examined how these skills are represented across early childhood and primary education. This study explored how FMS are represented and contextualised within curriculum frameworks across England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales. Using directed content analysis, twelve curriculum documents were examined and coded against an established FMS taxonomy encompassing locomotor, object control, and stability skill categories. Locomotor skills were most consistently represented; object control and stability skills showed greater variability in presence and specificity. FMS were situated within play-based contexts in early years provision and structured activity areas in primary education. Variation in terminology and skill representation was evident across nations and phases; explicit FMS terminology appeared only in the primary frameworks of England and Northern Ireland. These findings highlight inconsistencies in how FMS are conceptualised at a policy level and call for greater curriculum alignment, clearer terminology, and more explicit guidance on FMS development across the early years–primary education continuum.

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) and repeated-sprint sets (RSS) are established conditioning methods in soccer, yet their integration with plyometric training among highly trained youth soccer players remains underexplored. This study investigated the effects of an 8-week program combining plyometric training with either RSS (PLYO-RSS) or HIIT (PLYO-HIIT) on physical fitness in young soccer players. Twenty-nine male players (14–15 years) were randomly assigned to PLYO-RSS (n = 14) or PLYO-HIIT (n = 15). Both interventions lasted 20 minutes per session and replaced part of regular soccer training. Physical fitness assessments included countermovement jump (CMJ), 15-s repeated vertical jumps (15’’RJ), five-jump test (5JT), 10 m and 30 m sprint, maximal aerobic speed (MAS), VO2max, and repeated sprint performance (total sprint time, best sprint, fatigue index). Physiological markers (lactate, rating of perceived exertion, and HRmax) were also monitored. Significant improvements over time were observed in muscle power, sprint speed, aerobic capacity, and repeated-sprint ability (p ≤ 0.001; η²p = 0.339–0.489). However, no main effects or group × time interaction effects were observed, indicating no evidence of differential responses between the two training modes. In conclusion, integrating plyometric training with either RSS or HIIT effectively enhances physical fitness in highly trained youth soccer players, offering flexible options for training prescription.

The design and structure of public playgrounds can influence opportunities for children to be physically active. Playground design can impact children's movement. Decisions regarding playground design are made by playground design stakeholders, a population that is rarely examined in research. Seven design professionals involved in the creation of a large playground in Rugby, UK, were interviewed to understand this gap. Findings showed six key factors (playground owner, personal experiences, user demographics, risk/safety, finance and aesthetics) that impact playground design. Children's physical activity was not a contributing factor, and therefore, improvements could be made by considering previous research and user preferences.

Background: The Bruininks-Oseretzky Test of Motor Proficiency, Second Edition (BOT2), in its complete form, is considered a clinical, objective diagnostic tool that focuses on the motor proficiency of individuals with typical development and moderate motor skill difficulties. The BOT2 Short Form (SF), an alternative tool with 19 selected test items, is designed for quick screening of motor proficiency. This study aimed to evaluate the predictive validity of the German BOT-2 SF for below-average and well-below-average motor proficiency compared to the BOT-2 CF. Methods: The motor proficiency of 637 Czech children (46.6% girls) aged 6.0-11.0 years was assessed using the BOT-2 CF. We compared differences in sensitivity, predictive validity for motor difficulties, and feasibility between the BOT-CF and SF. Results: The BOT-2 SF yielded lower total motor composite scores than the BOT-2 CF (t(636) = 8.84, p < .001). This is reflected in the low precision and predictive value of a positive test result. The BOT-2 SF sensitivity was moderate (77%), the specificity was high (94%), and the accuracy was high (93%). Conclusions: The BOT-2 SF is a suitable assessment tool for low motor proficiency when used as an alternative to the BOT-2 CF. Improving the diagnostic quality of the BOT-2 SF can be achieved by adjusting the cutoff point. Further improving the BOT-2 SF's properties as a screening tool would require revising the selection of test items to eliminate the ceiling effect.

INTRODUCTION:This scoping review aims to identify all outcomes reported in school-based obesity prevention interventions in childhood. It serves as an essential first step towards developing an internationally agreed-upon Core Outcome Set (COS), which defines what should be measured in all school-based childhood obesity prevention studies, thereby reducing research waste and enhancing the comparability and relevance of future research. METHODS:Four databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and PsycINFO) were searched for published studies on controlled trials of school-based overweight/obesity prevention interventions in 6- to 12-year-olds, from inception until June 2024. Two researchers independently searched for relevant articles, extracted study/intervention characteristics, and reported outcomes. Through multiple meetings and feedback rounds, an international expert panel, including researchers (n = 5), healthcare providers (n = 4; i.e., pediatrician, youth health physician, dietician, psychologist), and a health educator identified unique outcomes underlying all reported outcomes, by reflecting on what was measured irrespective of how outcomes were defined and measured. RESULTS:In total, 262 published studies that evaluated 242 interventions were included in this review. From these studies, we extracted 642 different reported outcomes. BMI (kg/m2) was the most frequently reported outcome (128 studies), then BMI-z (108 studies) and BMI categories (100 studies). Experts identified 69 unique outcomes from all reported outcomes. CONCLUSION:There is substantial heterogeneity in outcomes reported in studies evaluating school-based overweight/obesity prevention interventions in 6- to 12-year-olds, limiting a synthesis of evidence in meta-analyses. This highlights the need for a consensus-based COS to improve the comparability and relevance of evidence of childhood obesity prevention trials.

Introduction: Holistic development is encompassed by a learner's physical, emotional, social, cognitive, and affective development. The English Football Association presents its own model of holistic development known as the FA Four Corner model. Previous research has investigated the association between the four facets of the model, including physical, social, psychological and technical and tactical skills. However, the relationship between the aforementioned components and learners' performance within in-game contexts is yet to be investigated. Therefore, this study examined the relationship between learners' physical, technical and tactical skills, perceived competence and decision-making and execution within small-sided games (SSGs). Methods: Grassroots footballers (N = 96, 13.02 +/- 0.82years) were recruited for the study, including 51 boys and 45 girls. Physical skill measurements were obtained through the Test of Gross Motor Development-3. Technical skill was measured using the Loughborough Soccer Passing Test and the University of Ghent Dribbling Test. The Procedural Tactical Knowledge Test measured tactical skill. Perceived competence and social acceptance were obtained through Harter's Self Perception Profile for Adolescents. Finally, the Game Performance Evaluation Tool (GPET) measured decision-making and execution within small-sided games (SSGs). Statistical analysis was undertaken over three stages. Statistical Analysis and Results: Through Principal Components Analysis (PCA) in stage one, the outputs from GPET were grouped into three in-game constructs, termed 'maintaining possession', 'progressive retention' and 'dynamic attacking play' (r = 0.723-0.852). In stage two, PCA grouped skills test scores into 'holistic game competence' (physical, technical and tactical skills) and 'psycho-social skills' (perceived competence and social acceptance) (r = 0.680-0.827). In stage three, despite not meeting traditionally accepted thresholds, the Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) can be interpreted as a modest fit chi 2(112) = 204.025, p < .001, CFI = .819, TLI = .780, RMSEA = .093. Consequently, results should be interpreted as preliminary; however, significant relationships were witnessed between holistic game competence and all three in-game constructs (r = 0.34-1.00). Additionally, SEM revealed a significant relationship between perceived competence and dynamic attacking play (r = 0.33). Conclusion: Consequently, this study presents novel preliminary evidence of the relationship between the traditional 'Four Corners' and learners' in-game performance, offering implications for coaching practice within grassroots football, pioneering the concept of holistic game competence and demonstrating its importance along with perceived competence in fostering innovative and exploratory skills within young learners.

PURPOSE:Aging and sarcopenia are associated with metabolic inflexibility. This study investigated the effects of resistance exercise (RE) and a high protein diet (PRO) on metabolic flexibility (the ability to adjust rates of substrate oxidation to changes in fuel availability) in older men. METHODS:In a pooled groups analysis, 33 healthy older men [(mean±SE) age: 67±1 years; BMI: 25.4±0.4 kg/m2] were randomized to either RE (2×/week; n=17) or no exercise (NE; n=16), and either high protein diet [∼1.6 g/kg/day (∼25% of energy intake (EI))] via twice daily (25 g) whey protein supplementation (PRO; n=17) or control (CON, 2 × 23.75 g maltodextrin/day; n=16). An exploratory sub-analysis was also conducted between RE+CON (n=8) and RE+PRO (n=9). At baseline and 12 weeks, participants resided in whole-room indirect calorimeters for 24 h for measurement of metabolic flexibility via changes in relative substrate utilization [non-protein respiratory quotient (npRQ)] under different conditions (fasting sleep to awake, step exercise, and 2-h postprandial meal consumption, and peak step exercise to exercise end). RESULTS:Compared to NE, RE significantly increased (indicating medium-to-large effects on improved metabolic flexibility) ΔnpRQ (awake-sleep) (+0.02±0.004 vs. 0.00±0.05, p=0.01, f=0.48), and ΔnpRQ (steady state exercise-sleep) (p ≤0.045) and ΔnpRQ (peak exercise-exercise end) (p ≤0.04, f=0.39-0.64) for two step exercise bouts performed ∼2 h postprandially. Compared to CON, PRO increased ΔnpRQ (steady state-sleep) for one step exercise bout (+0.02±0.01 vs. -0.002±0.01, p=0.047, f=0.39). No significant differences occurred between the RE+CON and RE+PRO groups (p ≥0.06). CONCLUSION:In older men, RE improved metabolic flexibility. PRO had a limited benefit. No synergistic effects were observed.

Background As football becomes more competitive with age, children's experiences of the game may change, with enjoyment playing an important role in continued participation. Limited research has examined how children understand this shift or interpret associated psychological pressures. This study used a Write-Draw-Show-Tell (WDST) approach to explore children's enjoyment, perceptions of seriousness, and emotional responses across developmental stages in transition to a more competitive level. Methods Forty six children from grassroots football in the West Midlands, UK participated across two age groups (U13). Eleven focus groups were conducted, including six groups with boys (n = 24) and five with girls (n = 22). Groups completed WDST activities incorporating short written prompts, drawing tasks, and guided discussions. Data were inductively analysed using reflexive thematic analysis, supported by pen profile diagrams. Results Five themes captured children's experiences of increasing competitiveness in football and illustrated how enjoyment, pressure, support, and emotional responses were intertwined across developmental phases: friendship and fun (n = 43), winning and improvement (n = 37), emotional highs and lows (n = 31), support systems (n = 34), and developing within the game (n = 27). Gendered patterns were evident, with girls more frequently emphasising emotional support and social belonging, while boys described competitiveness, performance expectations, and outcome focused pressure. Conclusion Children's enjoyment shifted from being socially anchored and play centred to being increasingly shaped by evaluation and performance expectations, with boys and girls emphasising different aspects of this transition. Findings highlight the need for age appropriate coaching and parent practices that protect enjoyment while supporting development as competitive demands increase.

OBJECTIVE:Stability skill proficiency is purported to be below the norm in children. However, no process-oriented proficiency data are available examining this issue. This study assessed stability skill proficiency in British children. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Stability skill proficiency of 243 (116 boys and 127 girls) English children aged 4-5 years was assessed using the Test of Stability Skills. Stability skill proficiency was classed as proficient, near proficient and poor. RESULTS:Approximately 60% did not achieve proficiency in any of the three stability skills. Only three children (1.2%) were proficient in all three stability skills. Individual skill proficiency was poor, with proficiency of the roll, rock and back support being 10.3%, 4.9% and 8.2%, respectively. CONCLUSION:This study provides preliminary normative data for process-oriented stability skill in British children aged 4-5 years. As stability skill is a prerequisite for the development of other gross motor skills, such information is important in effective targeting for stability skill intervention.

Exploring how 24—h movement behaviours influence executive function (EF) is crucial, as early childhood represents a critical period for cognitive development and healthy lifestyle promotion. The main purpose of this study was to relate child’s 24—h movement with EF. Variables were evaluated in 80 preschoolers, aged between 3 and 5 years, of whom 51

Physical literacy (PL) is an emerging framework aimed at promoting children's holistic development through sport. Despite widespread recognition of the benefits of sport participation on physical, mental, and social wellbeing, the extent to which coaches understand and can foster PL remains unclear. Guided by constructivist and interpretivist paradigms, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 male football coaches in England, exploring their understanding of PL, barriers to its implementation, and its role in promoting holistic development. Reflexive thematic analysis revealed a predominant lack of knowledge of PL among coaches, with many associating it narrowly with physical skills and overlooking its cognitive, social, and affective dimensions. Nevertheless, coaches reported implicit use of PL-related practices aligned with child wellbeing, although explicit adoption of PL frameworks was limited by knowledge gaps and resource constraints. Findings suggest the need for targeted coach education to bridge theoretical and practical understandings of PL, enhancing coaches' capacity to promote wellbeing through community sport. Future research should focus on developing practical, accessible resources for coaches, exploring how governing bodies and sport organisations can collaborate and support PL integration through policy and training, and evaluating the long-term effects of PL-based coaching on children's sustained participation and holistic physical, mental, and social wellbeing.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) have significantly influenced contemporary obesity pharmacotherapy, emerging as a major development in obesity care. Rising visibility in public discourse, healthcare practice, and commercial markets highlights the need to understand how these medications are accessed and experienced outside controlled experimental studies. Despite widespread use, real-world patterns of engagement, motivations, and concerns remain poorly understood amid high discontinuation rates, substantial and accelerated weight regain following cessation compared to traditional weight management intervention, and the potential for reduced effectiveness outside of the controlled setting of clinical trials. This study is the first to explore public perceptions, attitudes, and lived experiences of GLP-1RA use among UK adults, with attention to age, sex, BMI and use duration-specific responses. A cross-sectional design was employed using a self-administered online survey (n = 684), including 544 current or former GLP-1RA users. The survey captured demographic characteristics, health status, medication use, satisfaction, side effects, and body image. Findings showed high satisfaction with GLP-1RA use, however effects on perceived energy, dietary habits, and concerns about a reduction in muscle mass were reported, with age and BMI influencing these experiences. Most users sourced medication from online pharmacies, reporting inconsistent pre-assessment rigour. Social media was the dominant information source, while healthcare professionals were less frequently consulted. A minority of users reported behaviours suggestive of misuse, including exceeding recommended doses, often driven by perceived inefficacy. Non-users expressed conditional willingness to adopt GLP-1RAs, influenced by clinical recommendation and stronger evidence, though concerns about side effects and long-term safety were prevalent. This study suggests potential implications for regulatory strategy and highlights a need for targeted education and integrated behavioural support, particularly in light of reported rapid weight regain and reversal of beneficial effects on cardiometabolic markers following medication cessation. These results also provide important insights into demographic-specific experiences and provide important considerations to aid development of holistic, evidence-informed strategies to ensure safe and effective GLP-1RA use.

BACKGROUND:Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) is a prevalent respiratory condition among summer sport elite athletes, yet epidemiological data from Asian populations remain scarce. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence, sport-specific patterns, and physiological characteristics of EIB in Chinese summer sport elite athletes. METHODS:A cross-sectional study of 500 summer sport elite athletes across 17 sports was conducted. Participants underwent standardized exercise challenge testing, spirometry, and serum biomarker assessments (eosinophils, interleukin-5 (IL-5), interleukin-8 (IL-8), Clara Cell protein 16 (CC16), immunoglobulin E (IgE), and uric acid (UA)). RESULTS:EIB prevalence was 27.6% (138/500), with significant variation across sports: highest in swimming (51.52%) and lowest in wrestling (6.45%). Female athletes were more prevalent than males (31.1% vs. 23.7%, p = 0.030). Outdoor sports demonstrated higher rates than indoor disciplines (37.4% vs. 19.4%, p = 0.002). EIB-positive athletes showed pronounced post-exercise declines in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) at 5 min (p < 0.001) and elevated inflammatory biomarkers: eosinophils (p < 0.001), neutrophils (p = 0.019), IL-5 (p < 0.001), IL-8 (p < 0.001), CC16 (p < 0.001), IgE (p < 0.001), and UA (p < 0.001) vs. EIB-negative counterparts. CONCLUSION:This is the first large-scale study of Chinese athletes to reveal EIB prevalence exceeding global averages. Distinct risk profiles emerge, associated with gender, athletic level, sport type, and environmental factors. The findings outline the need for targeted screening programs and biomarker-guided management to mitigate respiratory health risks in athletic populations.

This study identified key variables to differentiate selected and non-selected Brazilian young beach handball players using non-linear approaches. A total of 64 players (16.5 ± 0.8 years-old; 33 male) participated in the Brazilian National Team preparatory stage for the Beach Handball World Championships (2017), and were grouped in selected and non-selected players. Participants were assessed for anthropometrics and body composition, countermovement jump, and ball speed throwing. Comparisons between groups were tested, and the outcomes were analyzed using logistic regression (SPSS 25.0; p < 0.05). Network analysis was used to establish systemic non-linear interrelationships between variables, and the Expected Influence was calculated (Rstudio). For male players, increments of 1 kg in fat-free mass and 1 m/s in ball speed, increased the odds of being selected by 44% and 17 times, respectively. For females, 1 cm increase in jump height and in palm diameter, increased the odds of being selected by 29.5%, and 6.7 times, respectively. The non-linear approach showed body mass as the expected influence variable for both selected and non-selected male and female players, differently of those variables observed using the logistic regression. The results reflect the multidimensional predictors of talent in beach handball, and represent important finding for coaches and stakeholders.

The aim of this study was to analyze the association between motor competence (MC) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) in preschoolers. A cross-sectional study included 210 children aged 3-6 years. MC was assessed according to the Movement Assessment Battery for Children, which comprised the aiming and catching and balance components. MC was categorized in the red zone as poor MC and in the green zone as high MC. WHtR was categorized as no risk (<0.05) and at risk (>= 0.05). Sedentary behavior was assessed by accelerometer. The WHtR prevalence at risk was 45.2%. For participants who were categorized in the red zone, the prevalence for the aiming and catching components was 38.6% and 15.2% for the balance component. Adjusted binary logistic regression showed that children at WHtR risk were 4.0 times more likely (odds ratio: 4.0; confidence interval: [1.8, 8.9]) to be in the red zone for aiming and catching and 4.1 times more likely (odds ratio: 4.1; confidence interval: [1.4, 11.8]) for balance compared with their no-risk peers. The findings suggest that poor MC is associated with a higher WHtR in preschoolers, highlighting the importance of early interventions that support the development of MC in preschoolers, particularly among those presenting early signs of central adiposity.

Being active is good for both our minds and bodies, but many people worldwide are not moving enough. There are lots of reasons for this, and there are lots of ways we can help people to move more. Just like literacy is about our ability to read and write, physical literacy is about our ability to be active, as well as understanding what we enjoy and value about being active. Our thoughts, feelings, and all the physical activities that we have done before impact how we feel about moving. Playing in a park with friends and trying hard to catch a ball are examples of things that can change how we think about being active, now and in the future. Physical literacy is different for everyone, and it changes all the time. This article will explain what physical literacy is and why it is a very important part of growing up.

To identify the association between body size and atherogenic risk index (Total Cholesterol/High Density Lipoprotein (TC/HDL) ratio) associated with ischemic heart disease (IHD). Allometric models were used to reveal the association between body size and social behaviours associated with TC:HDL based on the effect sizes obtained from the log-transformed allometric models. Mediation analysis was used to explain why moderate (MPA) or vigorous physical activity (VPA) were strongly associated with body size dimensions or directly associated with TC/HDL. An allometric model for the atherogenic risk index (TC/HDL) ratio identified waist circumference (WC) and smoking as having the strongest association (strongest effect sizes) with cholesterol-related indices and hence IHD. A strong negative exponent or effect associated with height was also identified, suggesting that taller individuals will inherently have lower cholesterol-related indices. The mediation analysis identified that MPA and VPA were both strongly associated with reducing WC but only VPA was directly associated with the TC/HDL. These results confirm that taller, non-smokers who have smaller WC are more likely to have a lower atherogenic risk index (TC/HDL) ratio and hence be at reduced risk of IHD. Participation in regular moderate activity to reduce their WC is not necessarily or directly associated with lower atherogenic risk index (TC/HDL) and hence a lower risk of IHD. Being taller with smaller WC, possibly but not necessarily due to taking MVPA, was associated with a lower atherogenic risk index (TC/HDL-C) ratio and hence have lower risk of IHD.

IntroductionThe concept of physical literacy has been defined differently across the world. To create a consensus statement and definition of physical literacy for England, it was felt important to incorporate the views and opinions of children and young people who are often the focus of interventions to increase physical activity and physical literacy. The aim of this qualitative study was to understand what physical literacy means to children by exploring their perceptions of meaningful physical activity and what they think will be needed to continue to be active for life.MethodsThrough a series of directed tasks and thematic analysis, several important considerations are discussed. These included the pertinence of social relationships-whether it was to share experiences, support and encourage friends, or learn from your family.Results and DiscussionChildren discussed how physical activity positively affects their emotions and the importance of enjoyment in continuing to engage in movement for the rest of their lives. In addition, there was an awareness of the benefits for mental and physical health, which indicated the prominence of knowing these benefits in engaging. The findings offer some important contributions from children to better understand what physical literacy means in England.