AUTHOR=Kuzik Nicholas , Cameron Christine , Carson Valerie , Chaput Jean-Philippe , Colley Rachel , Doiron Joe , Faulkner Guy , Janssen Ian , Saunders Travis , Spence John C. , Tucker Patricia , Vanderloo Leigh M. , Tremblay Mark S. TITLE=The 2022 ParticipACTION Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth: Focus on the COVID-19 pandemic impact and equity-deserving groups JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health VOLUME=11 YEAR=2023 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1172168 DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2023.1172168 ISSN=2296-2565 ABSTRACT=Introduction

The ParticipACTION Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth is the most comprehensive national assessment of physical activity and related behaviors, characteristics, and opportunities for children and youth. The 2022 Report Card assigned grades based on data gathered during the COVID-19 pandemic to reflect this extraordinary time-period in Canada. Further, while not graded, efforts were made to summarize key findings for early years children and those identifying as: having a disability, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQ+, newcomers to Canada, racialized, or girls. The purpose of this paper is to summarize the 2022 ParticipACTION Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth.

Methods

The best available physical activity data captured during the whole COVID-19 pandemic was synthesized across 14 different indicators in four categories. The 2022 Report Card Research Committee assigned letter grades (i.e., A–F) based on expert consensus of the evidence.

Synthesis

Grades were assigned for: Daily Behaviors (Overall Physical Activity: D; Active Play: D−; Active Transportation: C−; Organized Sport: C+; Physical Education: Incomplete [INC]; Sedentary Behaviors: F; Sleep: B; 24-Hour Movement Behaviors: F), Individual Characteristics (Physical Literacy: INC; Physical Fitness: INC), Spaces and Places (Household: C, School: B−, Community and Environment: B), and Strategies and Investments (Government: B−). Compared to the 2020 Report Card, the COVID-19 specific grades increased for Active Play and Active Transportation; and decreased for Overall Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviors, Organized Sport, and Community and Environment. There were many data gaps for equity-deserving groups.

Conclusion

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the grade for Overall Physical Activity decreased from a D+ (2020) to a D, coinciding with decreases in grades reflecting fewer opportunities for sport and community/facility-based activities as well as higher levels of sedentary behaviors. Fortunately, improvements in Active Transportation and Active Play during COVID-19 prevented a worse shift in children’s health behaviors. Efforts are needed to improve physical activity for children and youth during and post-pandemic, with a greater emphasis on equity-deserving groups.