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. 2023 Jan;21(1):58-66.
doi: 10.1016/j.jesf.2022.10.009. Epub 2022 Nov 4.

Results from Aotearoa New Zealand's 2022 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth: A call to address inequities in health-promoting activities

Oliver W A Wilson  1   2 , Erika Ikeda  1   3 , Erica Hinckson  4 , Sandra Mandic  4   5 , Justin Richards  2   6 , Scott Duncan  4 , Geoff Kira  4   6   7 , Ralph Maddison  8   9 , Kim Meredith-Jones  10 , Lana Chisholm  4 , Lisa Williams  1 , Melody Smith  1
Affiliations

Results from Aotearoa New Zealand's 2022 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth: A call to address inequities in health-promoting activities

Oliver W A Wilson et al. J Exerc Sci Fit. 2023 Jan.

Abstract

Background: This article reports the methods and findings for Aotearoa New Zealand's 2022 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth indicators, and on inequities within these indicators.

Methods: Grades were assigned to indicators using the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance criteria depending on data availability, and inequities reported based on gender, ethnicity, disability status, area-level socioeconomic deprivation, urbanicity, and school year. Two additional indicators were included in this report card: Sleep, and Physical literacy.

Results: Grades were assigned to indicators as follows: Overall physical activity: C+, Organised sport and physical activity: B-, Physical literacy: B, Active transportation: D, Sedentary behaviours: C-, Sleep: B+, Whānau (family) and peers: D, School: C+, Government: A. Inequities across all socio-demographic variables were observed. An 'inconclusive' grade was assigned to the Active play, Physical fitness, and Community and Environment indicators due to insufficient data.

Conclusion: It is imperative that targeted, comprehensive, and population-specific approaches are implemented to support health-promoting physical activity behaviours and reduce inequities among children and youth in Aotearoa. There is a need to promote all dimensions of physical activity (overall activity, active play, recreation, organised sport, active transportation) and the reduction of screen time through policy, research, evidence-based social marketing campaigns, and urban design. Regular, nationally representative surveys that enable the consistent and regular measurement of key Report Card indicators are needed.

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Conflict of interest statement

Sandra Mandic is the founder and the director of the research consultancy AGILE Research Ltd. (www.agileresearch.nz) and Principal Advisor Transport Strategy at Wellington City Council (Wellington, New Zealand). Other authors have no conflicts of interest. The authors otherwise declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

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Graphical abstract
Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Front cover of the 2022 Aotearoa New Zealand physical activity report card.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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