Cited by 451Physical Activity and HealthObesity, Physical Activity, DietUrban Transport and Accessibility

Global matrix 2.0: report card grades on the physical activity of children and youth comparing 38 countries

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Tremblay, Mark S., Barnes, Joel D., González, Silvia A., Katzmarzyk, Peter T., Onywera, Vincent O., Reilly, John J., Tomkinson, Grant R., _, _·2016·Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Abstract

The Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance organized the concurrent preparation of Report Cards on the physical activity of children and youth in 38 countries from 6 continents (representing 60% of the world's population). Nine common indicators were used (Overall Physical Activity, Organized Sport Participation, Active Play, Active Transportation, Sedentary Behavior, Family and Peers, School, Community and the Built Environment, and Government Strategies and Investments), and all Report Cards were generated through a harmonized development process and a standardized grading framework (from A = excellent, to F = failing). The 38 Report Cards were presented at the International Congress on Physical Activity and Public Health in Bangkok, Thailand on November 16, 2016. The consolidated findings are summarized in the form of a Global Matrix demonstrating substantial variation in grades both within and across countries. Countries that lead in certain indicators often lag in others. Average grades for both Overall Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior around the world are D (low/poor). In contrast, the average grade for indicators related to supports for physical activity was C. Lower-income countries generally had better grades on Overall Physical Activity, Active Transportation, and Sedentary Behaviors compared with higher-income countries, yet worse grades for supports from Family and Peers, Community and the Built Environment, and Government Strategies and Investments. Average grades for all indicators combined were highest (best) in Denmark, Slovenia, and the Netherlands. Many surveillance and research gaps were apparent, especially for the Active Play and Family and Peers indicators. International cooperation and cross-fertilization is encouraged to address existing challenges, understand underlying determinants, conceive innovative solutions, and mitigate the global childhood inactivity crisis. The paradox of higher physical activity and lower sedentary behavior in countries reporting poorer infrastructure, and lower physical activity and higher sedentary behavior in countries reporting better infrastructure, suggests that autonomy to play, travel, or chore requirements and/or fewer attractive sedentary pursuits, rather than infrastructure and structured activities, may facilitate higher levels of physical activity.

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  1. Katzmarzyk PT, Barreira TV, Broyles ST, et al. Physical activity, sedentary time and obesity in an international sample of children. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2015;47:2062-2069. PubMed doi:10.1249/ MSS.0000000000000649 · DOI · Paper page
  2. Larouche R, Garriguet D, Gunnell K, Goldfield G, Tremblay MS. Outdoor time, physical activity and health-related indicators among children: the 2012-2013 Canadian Health Measures Survey. Health Rep. 2016;27(9):3-13. PubMed
  3. Tremblay MS, Onywera V, Adamo KB. A child's right to healthy active living -Building capacity in Sub-Saharan Africa to curb the impending physical activity transition: The KIDS-CAN Research Alliance. In S. Bennett and M. Pare (Eds.) 20th Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, University of Ottawa Press, p. 97-110, 2010.
  4. Stone MR, Mammen G, Faulkner G. Canadian School Travel Plan- ning Intervention Results (National Report). (2010-12). Canadian Brought to you by UNIVERSITY OF MOUNT OLIVE | Unauthenticated | Downloaded 01/22/26 09:21 AM UTC Global Matrix 2.0 Report Card Grades S365 JPAH Vol. 13, Suppl. 2, 2016

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Authors
Tremblay, M. S., Barnes, J. D., González, S. A., Katzmarzyk, P. T., Onywera, V. O., Reilly, J. J., Tomkinson, G. R., & _, _.
Affiliations
University of South Australia (AU)
Venue
Journal of Physical Activity and Health
Published
2016-11
Volume
13
Issue
s2
Pages
S343-S366
ISSN
  • 1543-3080 (ISSN-L)
  • 1543-5474
OpenAlex
W2553156512
Cited by
451
References
115
Citations by year
2026: 14 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 43 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 61 · 2021: 56 · 2020: 77 · 2019: 61 · 2018: 67 · 2017: 35 · 2016: 2
FWCI
44.23
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Physical Activity and Health (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Pure (University of Bath) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • UniSA Research Outputs Repository (University of South Australia) (acceptedVersion)
  • Adelaide Research & Scholarship (AR&S) (University of Adelaide) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Edinburgh Research Explorer (University of Edinburgh) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • UND Scholarly Commons (University of North Dakota) (submittedVersion)
  • Utrecht University Repository (Utrecht University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Lirias (KU Leuven) (submittedVersion)
  • The University of Bath Online Publications Store (The University of Bath) (submittedVersion)
  • Utrecht University Repository (Utrecht University) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Thai Health Promotion Foundation
  • Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (15K01690)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
  • Social Sciences › Transportation › Urban Transport and Accessibility
Keywords
physical activity, children and young people, sedentary behavior, active play, organized sports participation, active travel, built environment, family and peer support, cross-national comparison, income level, surveillance gaps
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Child, Health Policy, Health Promotion, Health Surveys, Humans, Motor Activity, Play and Playthings, Exercise, Sedentary Behavior, Research Report

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