The Global Matrix of Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents in Latin America: trends, successes and challenges in practice and surveillance

Objective. To synthesize the grades of physical activity (PA) indicators for children and adolescents (517 years) in Latin American countries; explore the social determinants of health (SDoH) for PA indicators; and identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to improve PA levels. Meth...

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Main Authors: Bruno Bizzozero-Peroni, Mark S. Tremblay, Salomé Aubert, Silvia A. González, Diego Augusto Santos Silva, Juan López-Taylor, Pablo Lobo, Gabriela De Roia, Olga L. Sarmiento, Nicolas Aguilar-Farias, Susana Andrade Tenesaca, Karla I. Galaviz, Javier Brazo-Sayavera
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Pan American Health Organization 2025-08-01
Series:Revista Panamericana de Salud Pública
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Online Access:https://iris.paho.org/handle/10665.2/68175
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author Bruno Bizzozero-Peroni
Mark S. Tremblay
Salomé Aubert
Silvia A. González
Diego Augusto Santos Silva
Juan López-Taylor
Pablo Lobo
Gabriela De Roia
Olga L. Sarmiento
Nicolas Aguilar-Farias
Susana Andrade Tenesaca
Karla I. Galaviz
Javier Brazo-Sayavera
author_facet Bruno Bizzozero-Peroni
Mark S. Tremblay
Salomé Aubert
Silvia A. González
Diego Augusto Santos Silva
Juan López-Taylor
Pablo Lobo
Gabriela De Roia
Olga L. Sarmiento
Nicolas Aguilar-Farias
Susana Andrade Tenesaca
Karla I. Galaviz
Javier Brazo-Sayavera
author_sort Bruno Bizzozero-Peroni
collection DOAJ
description Objective. To synthesize the grades of physical activity (PA) indicators for children and adolescents (517 years) in Latin American countries; explore the social determinants of health (SDoH) for PA indicators; and identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to improve PA levels. Method. Participating Latin American countries graded a set of common PA indicators following the harmonized methodology established by the Global Matrix initiative. Cross-sectional (2014, 2016, 2018, 2022) and time trend (20182022) data were synthesized within and between countries for each PA indicator. PA data were also synthesized according to their SDoH. Report card team leaders completed a questionnaire to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) to improve PA grades. Results. Eight Latin American countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Uruguay, and Venezuela) participated in at least one of the four editions of the Global Matrix initiative. Across all PA indicator grades in the region (n = 193), 35.2% received a D (20%39% success rate), the most frequent grade. Incomplete information was reported in 27.5% of the indicators. A 9.3% improvement was observed in the regional average score of all PA indicators analyzed over time. While source-of-influence indicators improved by 28.1%, behavioral indicators declined by 6.2%. The need for further analyses disaggregated by SDoH, such as sex, was identified. Conclusion. Latin American countries reported poor grades on PA indicators for children and adolescents. Contrasted progress was observed between the behavioral and source of influence indicator groups. Improved surveillance systems and greater country-level investment in PA data collection are urgently needed to enhance comparability and guide regional action.
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spelling doaj-art-702ec4aa01974d97a971a21b0b97da502025-08-20T04:01:08ZengPan American Health OrganizationRevista Panamericana de Salud Pública1020-49891680-53482025-08-01498711110.26633/RPSP.2025.87rpspThe Global Matrix of Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents in Latin America: trends, successes and challenges in practice and surveillanceBruno Bizzozero-Peroni0Mark S. Tremblay1Salomé Aubert2Silvia A. González3Diego Augusto Santos Silva4Juan López-Taylor5Pablo Lobo6Gabriela De Roia7Olga L. Sarmiento8Nicolas Aguilar-Farias9Susana Andrade Tenesaca10Karla I. Galaviz11Javier Brazo-Sayavera12Instituto Superior de Educacion Fisica, Universidad de la Republica, Rivera, Uruguay.Children¡¦s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.School of Medicine, Universidad de los Andes, Bogota, Colombia.Departamento de Educacao Fisica, Centro de Desportos, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, Brazil.Instituto de Ciencias Aplicadas a la Actividad Fisica y al Deporte, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico.Laboratorio de Estudios en Actividad Física (LEAF), Universidad de Flores (UFLO), Buenos Aires, Argentina.Laboratorio de Estudios en Actividad Física (LEAF), Universidad de Flores (UFLO), Buenos Aires, Argentina.School of Medicine, Universidad de los Andes, Bogota, Colombia.Department of Physical Education, Sports and Recreation, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile.Departamento de Biociencias y Facultad de Filosofía, Letras y Ciencias de la Educación, Universidad de Cuenca, Cuenca, Ecuador.Indiana University School of Public Health, Bloomington, USA.Department of Sports and Computer Science, Universidad Pablo de Olavide,Seville, Spain.Objective. To synthesize the grades of physical activity (PA) indicators for children and adolescents (517 years) in Latin American countries; explore the social determinants of health (SDoH) for PA indicators; and identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to improve PA levels. Method. Participating Latin American countries graded a set of common PA indicators following the harmonized methodology established by the Global Matrix initiative. Cross-sectional (2014, 2016, 2018, 2022) and time trend (20182022) data were synthesized within and between countries for each PA indicator. PA data were also synthesized according to their SDoH. Report card team leaders completed a questionnaire to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) to improve PA grades. Results. Eight Latin American countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Uruguay, and Venezuela) participated in at least one of the four editions of the Global Matrix initiative. Across all PA indicator grades in the region (n = 193), 35.2% received a D (20%39% success rate), the most frequent grade. Incomplete information was reported in 27.5% of the indicators. A 9.3% improvement was observed in the regional average score of all PA indicators analyzed over time. While source-of-influence indicators improved by 28.1%, behavioral indicators declined by 6.2%. The need for further analyses disaggregated by SDoH, such as sex, was identified. Conclusion. Latin American countries reported poor grades on PA indicators for children and adolescents. Contrasted progress was observed between the behavioral and source of influence indicator groups. Improved surveillance systems and greater country-level investment in PA data collection are urgently needed to enhance comparability and guide regional action.https://iris.paho.org/handle/10665.2/68175child healthadolescent healthsedentary behaviorepidemiology
spellingShingle Bruno Bizzozero-Peroni
Mark S. Tremblay
Salomé Aubert
Silvia A. González
Diego Augusto Santos Silva
Juan López-Taylor
Pablo Lobo
Gabriela De Roia
Olga L. Sarmiento
Nicolas Aguilar-Farias
Susana Andrade Tenesaca
Karla I. Galaviz
Javier Brazo-Sayavera
The Global Matrix of Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents in Latin America: trends, successes and challenges in practice and surveillance
Revista Panamericana de Salud Pública
child health
adolescent health
sedentary behavior
epidemiology
title The Global Matrix of Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents in Latin America: trends, successes and challenges in practice and surveillance
title_full The Global Matrix of Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents in Latin America: trends, successes and challenges in practice and surveillance
title_fullStr The Global Matrix of Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents in Latin America: trends, successes and challenges in practice and surveillance
title_full_unstemmed The Global Matrix of Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents in Latin America: trends, successes and challenges in practice and surveillance
title_short The Global Matrix of Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents in Latin America: trends, successes and challenges in practice and surveillance
title_sort global matrix of physical activity in children and adolescents in latin america trends successes and challenges in practice and surveillance
topic child health
adolescent health
sedentary behavior
epidemiology
url https://iris.paho.org/handle/10665.2/68175
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