Report Card Leaders

Olga Lucía Sarmiento Dueñas, PH.D.
Olga L. Sarmiento is a Professor of the Department of Public Health in the School of Medicine at Universidad de Los Andes (Bogotá, Colombia). Her transdisciplinary research focuses on the relationship between the built environment, policy, and physical activity, with emphasis on inclusive and sustainable community programs in Latin America. Dr. Sarmiento is a member of the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance and has been a board member of the “International Society of Physical Activity and Health” (ISPAH), the “Global Advocacy for Physical Activity” (GAPA), the “Urban Health Network for Latin America and the Caribbean” and the “International Society of Urban Health”. She is currently a researcher of the “Urban Health in Latin America” (SALURBAL) project, the “International Physical Activity, and Environment Network” (IPEN), the “International Study of Childhood Obesity, Lifestyle and the Environment” (ISCOLE), and the “Stanford-Colombia Collaboratory on Chronic Disease” (S-C3). She has received multiple distinctions for promoting healthy behaviors in Colombia.

Judy Benavides Castro
Psychologist from Universidad Javeriana, master’s candidate in Psychology Research in the Socialization and Parenting line at the National University of Colombia. Her research interests focus on topics related to sedentary behaviors and physical activity in childhood and adolescence. Currently, she focuses on physical activity and exercise, with experience in both quantitative and qualitative research. Expert in digital safety for minors under 18, support for families and caregivers, as well as advocacy for the prevention of digital risks and sexual violence against children and adolescents. She is committed to building bridges between academia and societal issues.

Report Card Grades

• Overall Physical Activity: D+
• Organized Sport and Physical Activity: D+
• Active Play: INC
• Active Transportation: B
• Sedentary Behavior: D+
• Physical Fitness: INC
• Family and Peers: INC
• School: D+
• Community and Environment: B-
• Government: C+

Related Links

• Short form
• Poster
• Website

Report Card Leaders

Silvia González, M.P.H., Ph.D. candidate
Silvia holds a Nutrition Degree from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia (Bogotá), and an M.P.H. from the School of Government and the School of Medicine at the Universidad de los Andes (Bogotá). Currently, she is a PhD candidate in Epidemiology from the University of Ottawa in Canada. She is affiliated to the Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group at the Children´s Hospital of Eastern Ontario and to the Group of Epidemiology at Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá, Colombia. Her research has been focused in physical activity, mainly active transportation and community-based programs in children and adults from Latin America. She has been the main coordinator of the three versions of the Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth in Colombia. Currently, she is the representative for South America in the Board of Directors of the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance.

Olga Lucia Sarmiento, Ph.D.
Olga L. Sarmiento is a Professor of the Department of Public Health in the School of Medicine at Universidad de Los Andes (Bogotá, Colombia). Her transdisciplinary research focuses on the relationship between the built environment, policy, and physical activity, with emphasis on inclusive and sustainable community programs in Latin America. Dr. Sarmiento is a member of the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance and has been a board member of the “International Society of Physical Activity and Health” (ISPAH), the “Global Advocacy for Physical Activity” (GAPA), the “Urban Health Network for Latin America and the Caribbean” and the “International Society of Urban Health”. She is currently a researcher of the “Urban Health in Latin America” (SALURBAL) project, the “International Physical Activity, and Environment Network” (IPEN), the “International Study of Childhood Obesity, Lifestyle and the Environment” (ISCOLE), and the “Stanford-Colombia Collaboratory on Chronic Disease” (S-C3). She has received multiple distinctions for promoting healthy behaviors in Colombia.

Report Card Grades

• Overall Physical Activity: D+
• Organized Sport and Physical Activity: C
• Active Play: INC
• Active Transportation: B
• Sedentary Behavior: D+
• Physical Fitness: D-
• Family and Peers: INC
• School: D
• Community and Environment: B-
• Government: B

Related Links

• Long form
• Scientific paper
• Poster
• Website
• Conference abstract

Top Three Priorities

1. Provision of high-quality Physical Education classes. Physical Education needs to be recognized as a fundamental area in the school curriculum, with the appropriate time allocation, safe and adequate facilities for its implementation and taught by a professional in the area.
2. To integrate initiatives from multiple sectors to work together for the promotion of physical activity and to advocate for a reduction in sedentary behaviours. Several policies and promising strategies from Health, Education, Sports and Transport sectors are in place. However, these could have a better and more sustainable impact in the promotion of healthy lifestyles among children if efforts are put together with a multi-sectoral approach.
3. To create supporting environments that allow to maintain and even increase active transportation, and leisure time physical activity in the community environment. It is important to provide the safety conditions and appropriate infrastructure to allow these behaviours to be sustained in time.

Report Card Leader

Silvia González, M.P.H., Ph.D. candidate
Silvia holds a Nutrition Degree from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia (Bogotá), and an M.P.H. from the School of Government and the School of Medicine at the Universidad de los Andes (Bogotá). Her current research interests include physical activity, nutrition and built environment among the populations of children and adults in Latin America. As a Research Associate of the Group of Epidemiology at the Department of Public Health at the School of Medicine at the Universidad de los Andes she was a co-investigator of the projects: Longitudinal evaluation of the spread of behaviors related with overweight and obesity in school aged children: A social network analysis, The evaluation of the effectiveness of Muévete Escolar for the promotion of physical activity among school-aged children, The evaluation of Ciclovías Recreativas programs as strategies for the prevention of non-communicable diseases and social inclusion through physical activity promotion, and Our Voice in the city: An approach to urban environments from the Citizen Science to build healthy cities. She was a research assistant of The International Study of Childhood Obesity, Lifestyle and the Environment (ISCOLE), and she was the main coordinator of the first and second Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth in Colombia. Currently she is a co-investigator of the Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors component of the National Nutrition Survey for Colombia 2015. She is an executive committee member of the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance.

Testimonial

"The Global Matrix 3.0 has been a unique opportunity to work together with senior and junior physical activity leaders from all over the world, in the pursuit of solutions for common challenges in the promotion and study of physical activity among children. This network of researchers and practitioners is providing a great opportunity for capacity building and is a pleasure to be part of this effort!" - Silvia González, M.P.H., Ph.D. candidate

Conference Abstract: Movement to Move

Results from Colombia’s 2018 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth

Authors:

Silvia A. González^{1, 2}, Camilo A. Triana¹, Catalina Abaunza³, Laura Aldana¹, Luis F. Arias-Gómez¹,  Jhael Bermúdez⁴, Diana Marina Camargo Lemos⁵, Juan Camilo Cuya¹, Daniel D. Cohen⁶, Jorge Enrique Correa-Bautista⁷, Iván D. Escobar⁸, Karen Lorena Fajardo¹, Johnattan García⁹, Rocio Gámez¹⁰, Julia Andrea Gómez¹, Yaneth Herazo Beltrán¹¹, Maria Jose Lizarazo¹, Oscar Lozano¹², Paola Andrea Martínez¹, Mercedes Mora¹³,  Diana C. Páez¹, Robinson Ramírez-Vélez⁷, Maria Isabel Rodríguez¹⁴, Nubia Ruiz¹², Gustavo Tovar¹⁵, Julieth Pilar Uriza³, Olga L. Sarmiento¹.

¹School of Medicine, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia; ²Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; ³Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia; ⁴Colombian Family Welfare Institute, Bogotá, Colombia; ⁵School of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health, Universidad Industrial de Santander, Bucaramanga, Colombia; ⁶ Faculty of Life Sciences, Universidad de Santander (UDES), and Fundación Oftalmológica de Santander, Bucaramanga, Colombia; ⁷Center of Studies in Physical Activity Measurements (CEMA Group), School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia; ⁸Colombian Foundation of Obesity Funcobes, Bogotá, Colombia; ⁹Takemi Program in International Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, United States; ¹⁰Muévete Bogotá Program, Sports Area, District Institute of Recreation and Sports, Bogotá Government, Bogotá, Colombia; ¹¹Physiotherapy Program, School of Health Sciences, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Barranquilla, Colombia; ¹²Physical Activity Group Division, Coldeportes, Bogotá, Colombia; ¹³Nutrition and Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia; ¹⁴Division of Students Welfare, Education Secretary, Bogotá Government, Bogotá, Colombia; ¹⁵School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia.

Introduction:

Physical activity (PA) promotion across the lifespan is a key strategy for the prevention of non-communicable diseases in the public health agenda in Colombia. The purpose of this article is to summarize the methodology and results of the Colombian 2018 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth.

Methods:

The 2018 Report Card was informed by the best and most recent evidence available from national surveys, peer-reviewed literature, policy documents and government reports, covering the period between 2010 to 2018. The evidence was summarized in 12 indicators grouped in three categories: Daily behaviors, settings and sources of influence and health outcomes. A research team and a group of national experts from multiple sectors developed the Report Card. Grades were based on common benchmarks and a standardized grading rubric defined by the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance.

Results:

Only a third of Colombian children are achieving the recommended levels of PA, while 61% spend excessive time in screens. Active transportation is a highly prevalent behavior and important actions are being taken at the community level to promote PA. The policy framework related to PA promotion is broad, but there is a lack of evaluation to document its impact. Active play in children over 5 years and influence of family and peers are main research gaps.

Conclusion

Only a third of the children and youth population in Colombia are enjoying the physical, social and cognitive benefits of being active. Higher involvement of the education sector, and the implementation of sustainable programs and policies, are required to contribute to spreading the benefits of PA across all Colombian children and youth.

Report Card Grades

• Overall Physical Activity: D
• Organized Sport Participation: C
• Active Play: INC
• Active Transportation: D
• Sedentary Behaviors: D
• Family and Peers: INC
• School: D
• Community and Built Environment: C
• Government Strategies and Investments: B/B

Related Links

• Short form
• Scientific paper
• Website
• Conference abstract

Recommendations

1. Physical activity programs in public spaces, like Ciclovías, Recreovías and the National Program of Healthy habits and Lifestyles that promote physical activity among people from all ages and all socioeconomic levels.
2. In the capital city, Bogotá, strategies that have evidence on the increase of PA levels among children include: (a) The extension of the school day (from 5 hours to 8) in public schools to involve children in arts, sports and PA practice in the additional time; and, (b) Recess-time interventions in the school setting.
3. Policies on school transport that promote active transport or multi-modal commuting among children who live within 2km from the school (In Bogotá).

Report Card Leader

Silvia González, M.P.H.
Silvia González is a Research Associate of the Group of Epidemiology at the Department of Public Health at the School of Medicine at the Universidad de los Andes (Bogotá, Colombia). She holds a Nutrition Degree from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia (Bogotá), and an M.P.H. from the School of Government and the School of Medicine at the Universidad de los Andes (Bogotá). Her current research interests include physical activity, nutrition and built environment among the populations of children and adults in Latin America. She is currently a co-investigator of the projects: Longitudinal evaluation of the spread of behaviors related with overweight and obesity in school aged children: A social network analysis, The evaluation of the effectiveness of Muévete Escolar for the promotion of physical activity among school-aged children, The Evaluation of Ciclovías Recreativas programs as strategies for the prevention of non-communicable diseases and social inclusion through physical activity promotion, and the evaluation of the effectiveness of the Recreovia Program for the promotion of physical activity in community settings. She was a research assistant of The International Study of Childhood Obesity, Lifestyle and the Environment (ISCOLE), and she was the main coordinator of the first Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth in Colombia. Currently she is a co-investigator of the Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors component of the National Nutrition Survey for Colombia 2015. She is an executive committee member of the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance.

Testimonial

"Participation in the Global Matrix 2.0 has been a unique opportunity for the group in Colombia to contribute to the surveillance agenda in the country. Based on the nine common indicators included in the Global Matrix, new indicators on physical activity for the National Survey of Nutrition in Colombia have been proposed and are being collected at the national level for the upcoming version of the survey. We also consider that the comparisons with other countries, and for the first time with other countries from the South American region, provide a great opportunity to learn from the successful efforts of other nations to promote active and healthy lifestyles among children and youth." - Silvia González, M.P.H.

Conference Abstract: 6th International Congress on Physical Activity and Public Health

Results from Colombia 2016 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth

González SA, Castiblanco MA, Arias-Gómez, LF, Martinez-Ospina A, Cohen DD, Holguin GA, Almanza A, Camargo-Lemos DM, Correa-Bautista JE, Escobar ID, García J,  Gámez R, Garzon M, Herazo-Beltrán Y, Hurtado H, Lozano O, Páez DC, Ramírez-Vélez R, Ruiz N, Tovar G, Sarmiento OL.

Background: Physical activity (PA) is vital to the holistic development of young people. Regular participation in PA is associated with substantial benefits for health, cognitive function, and social inclusion. Recognizing the potential of PA in the context of the current process of peace in Colombia, the purpose of this article is to present the methodology and results of Colombia’s second Report Card on PA for children and youth. Methods: Twelve indicators of PA were graded by a group of experts on PA based on data from national surveys and policy documents.  The grades were defined according to benchmarks for desirable conditions. Results: National and departmental policy indicators were graded “B,” while organized sport participation, overweight, obesity, community influence and non-government initiatives indicators were graded “C.” Overall PA levels, active transportation, sedentary behaviours and school influence were graded “D”. Active play, low physical fitness and family influence received an “INC” grade. Conclusion: PA levels are low and sedentary behaviours are high in Colombian children and youth, with notable geographic differences.  A broad policy framework translated into specific actions could provide unique opportunities to bridge the gap between knowledge and practice, and contribute to social integration goals in a post-conflict setting.

Report Card Grades

• Overall Physical Activity: D
• Organized Sport Participation: D
• Active Play: INC
• Active Transportation: INC
• Sedentary Behaviors: D
• Family and Peers: INC
• School: F
• Community and Built Environment: INC
• Government Strategies and Investments: B

Related Links

• Short form
• Scientific paper
• Website

Report Card Leader

Silvia González, M.P.H.
Silvia González is a Research Associate of the Group of Epidemiology at the Department of Public Health at the School of Medicine at the Universidad de los Andes (Bogotá, Colombia). She holds a Nutrition Degree from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia (Bogotá), and an M.P.H. from the School of Government and the School of Medicine at the Universidad de los Andes (Bogotá). Her current research interests include physical activity, nutrition and built environment among the populations of children and adults in Latin America. She is currently a co-investigator of the projects: Longitudinal evaluation of the spread of behaviors related with overweight and obesity in school aged children: A social network analysis, The evaluation of the effectiveness of Muévete Escolar for the promotion of physical activity among school-aged children, The Evaluation of Ciclovías Recreativas programs as strategies for the prevention of non-communicable diseases and social inclusion through physical activity promotion, and the evaluation of the effectiveness of the Recreovia Program for the promotion of physical activity in community settings. She was a research assistant of The International Study of Childhood Obesity, Lifestyle and the Environment (ISCOLE), and she was the main coordinator of the first Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth in Colombia. Currently she is a co-investigator of the Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors component of the National Nutrition Survey for Colombia 2015. She is an executive committee member of the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance.