Food, physical activity and climate change perspectives in relationship to allotment ownership

Objective:Physical inactivity is associated with a greater risk of frailty, neuropsychiatric symptoms, worse quality of life, and increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Little is known about how physical activity engagement of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic relates to subjective cognitive concerns and management of emotional distress. This study aimed to examine whether there were changes in physical activity during the pandemic in older adults at baseline and 3 months compared to before the pandemic and whether these changes varied based on age, sex, income level, and employment status. Further, we examined whether individuals who reported engaging in less physical activity experienced greater subjective cognitive difficulties and symptoms of depression and anxiety than those who maintained or increased their physical activity levels.Participants and Methods:301 participants (73% non-Hispanic whites) completed an online survey in either English or Spanish between May and October 2020 and 3 months later. The Everyday Cognition Scale was used to measure subjective cognitive decline, the CES-D-R-10 scale to measure depressive symptoms, and the GAD-7 scale to measure anxiety symptoms. Changes in physical activity were measured with the question “Since the coronavirus disease pandemic began, what has changed for you or your family in regard to physical activity or exercise levels?” with options “less physical activity,” “increase in physical activity,” or “same activity level.” Income was self-reported as high, middle, or low. Analyses of chi-squared tests were used to examine differences in physical activity maintenance by age, income level, sex, and employment status.Results:Most individuals (60%) reported having decreased their physical activity levels during the pandemic, at baseline and 3-month followup. There were differences in physical activity levels based on income and age: participants with a high income reported engaging in more physical activity than those with low income (X^2=4.78, p =.029). At the 3-month follow-up, middle-income participants reported being less active than the high-income earners (X^2=8.92, p=.003), and younger participants (55-65 years, approximately) reported being less active than older participants (X^2=5.28, p =.022). Those who reported an increase in their physical activity levels had fewer cognitive concerns compared to those who were less active at baseline, but this difference was not seen in the 3-month follow-up. Participants of all ages who reported having maintained or increased their physical activity levels had fewer depressive symptoms than those who were less active (p < 0.0001). Those who reported maintaining their physical activity levels exhibited fewer anxiety symptoms than those who were less active (p < 0.01).Conclusions:Older adults reported changes in physical activity levels during the pandemic and some of these changes varied by sociodemographic factors. Further, maintaining physical activity levels was associated with lower symptoms of depression, anxiety, and cognitive concerns. Encouraging individuals and providing resources for increasing physical activity may be an effective way to mitigate some of the pandemic’s adverse effects on psychological wellbeing and may potentially help reduce the risk for cognitive decline. Alternately, it is possible that improving emotional distress could lead to an increase in physical activity levels and cognitive health.

Calls to action addressing the interconnections between physical (in)activity and the climate crisis are increasing. The current study aimed to investigate public support for policy actions that potentially have co-benefits for physical activity promotion and climate change mitigation. In 2023, a survey through the Angus Reid Forum was completed by 2507 adults living in Canada. Binary logistic regressions were conducted. Separate models were created to reflect support or opposition to the 8 included policy items. Several covariates were included in the models including age, gender, political orientation, physical activity levels, income, urbanicity climate anxiety, and attitudes surrounding physical activity and climate change. The data were weighted to reflect the gender, age, and regional composition of the country. Most individuals living in Canada strongly or moderately supported all actions (ranging from 71% to 85%). Meeting the physical activity guidelines, higher self-reported income, and scoring high on personal experience of climate change were associated with higher odds of supporting the policy actions related to climate actions. Most adults living in Canada support policies that align with the recommended policy actions related to physical activity and climate change. National campaigns enhancing awareness and understanding of the bidirectional relationship between physical activity and climate change are warranted, and these should consider the consistent demographic differences (eg,gender, age, and political orientation) seen in public support for physical activity-related policies.

The Negative Bidirectional Interaction Between Climate Change and the Prevalence and Care of Liver Disease: A Joint BSG, BASL, EASL, and AASLD Commentary

Aging, in conjunction with decreasing physical activity, is associated with a range of health problems. Simple, low-maintenance, population-based means of promoting activity to counteract the age-associated decline are required. We therefore assessed the effect of pedometry and buddy support to increase physical activity. We undertook a clustered randomized trial (HKCTR-346) of 24 community centers involving 399 older Chinese participants (≥ 60 yr). Centers were randomly allocated to 1) pedometry and buddy, 2) pedometry and no buddy, 3) no pedometry and buddy, and 4) no pedometry and no buddy with a 2 × 2 factorial design. The trial simultaneously tested the individual and combined effects of the interventions. The intervention groups also received monthly organized group activities to provide encouragement and support. Outcome measures were assessed at 6 and 12 months, including physical fitness and activity and cardiovascular disease risk factors (anthropometry and blood pressure). From the 24 centers, 356 volunteers (89.2%) completed the study. Those receiving the interventions had higher mean physical activity levels at 12 months of 1820 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1360-2290) and 1260 (95% CI = 780-1740) MET·min·wk(-1), respectively relative to the decrease in the control groups. The buddy peer support intervention significantly improved mean aerobic fitness (12% [95% CI = 4%-21%]) and reduced both body fat (-0.6% [95% CI = -1.1% to 0.0%]) and time to complete the 2.5-m get-up-and-go test (-0.27 [95% CI = -0.53 to -0.01] s). No other improvements in the cardiovascular disease risk factors were observed. The combination of motivational tools was no better than the individual interventions. Both motivational interventions increased physical activity levels, and the buddy style improved fitness. These tools could be useful adjuncts in the prevention of obesity and age-related complications.

Climate change impacts are associated with dramatic consequences for human health and threaten physical activity (PA) behaviors. The aims of this systematic review were to present the potential bidirectional associations between climate change impacts and PA behaviors in humans and to propose a synthesis of the literature through a conceptual model of climate change and PA. Studies published before October 2020 were identified through database searches in PubMed, PsycARTICLES, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, GreenFILE, GeoRef, Scopus, JSTOR and Transportation Research Information Services. Studies examining the associations between PA domains and climate change (e.g., natural disasters, air pollution, and carbon footprint) were included. A narrative synthesis was performed and the 74 identified articles were classified into 6 topics: air pollution and PA, extreme weather conditions and PA, greenhouse gas emissions and PA, carbon footprint among sport participants, natural disasters and PA and the future of PA and sport practices in a changing world. Then, a conceptual model was proposed to identify the multidimensional associations between climate change and PA as well as sport practices. Results indicated a consistent negative effect of air pollution, extreme temperatures and natural disasters on PA levels. This PA reduction is more severe in adults with chronic diseases, higher body mass index and the elderly. Sport and PA communities can play an important mitigating role in post-natural disaster contexts. However, transport related to sport practices is also a source of greenhouse gas emissions. Climate change impacts affect PA at a worldwide scale. PA is observed to play both a mitigation and an amplification role in climate changes. PROSPERO CRD42019128314.

Net-zero emissions chemical industry in a world of limited resources

To investigate the association between diabetes symptoms and physical activity (PA) levels among middle-aged and older Chinese adults. Data for this study were obtained from 2018 Charles data. Z test, logistic regression analysis, and linear hierarchical regression analysis were performed in 5352 individuals aged ≥50 years with complete information. In terms of diabetes, 6.8% of the middle-aged and elderly people with diabetes were detected, and 93.2% of the middle-aged and elderly people without diabetes symptoms. The proportion of middle-aged and elderly people with high PA levels was 50.5%, and the proportion of middle-aged and elderly people with low PA was 49.5%. There was a significant positive correlation between low PA and diabetes (P < .05). After adjusting demographic characteristics (gender, registered permanent residence type, education level, age, widowhood) and health status characteristics (poor mood, asthma, hyperlipidemia, disability, memory disease, self-assessment of health status, hypertension, smoking, stroke, depression), there was still a statistical significance between PA level and diabetes (P < .05). The risk of diabetes of middle-aged and elderly people in China increases with age, while the risk of diabetes of middle-aged and elderly people with low level of PA is higher. The risk of diabetes is high among middle-aged and elderly people who are old, have poor self-evaluation health, suffer from hyperlipidemia, memory disease, and asthma. The middle-aged and old people should increase their PA levels to prevent and improve diabetes.

PurposeThe long-term impact of primary care behavior change programs on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and physical activity (PA) level is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in HRQoL and PA among participants after a 3-month behavior change intervention at Norwegian healthy life center (HLCs) and at a 15-month follow-up. Furthermore, we aimed to study associations between changes in PA and HRQoL.MethodsWe followed 524 adult participants (18–83 years), recruited from 32 HLCs in August 2016–January 2018, who provided data on HRQoL (SF-36) and PA (ActiGraph accelerometers) 12 months after a 3-month behavior change intervention. Changes in HRQoL and PA between baseline, 3-month and 15-month follow-ups, and associations between changes in PA and HRQoL were analyzed by linear mixed models.ResultsAll HRQoL dimensions improved from baseline to 3-month follow-up, and the improvements maintained at 15-month follow-up (mean 3.1–13.1 points, p < 0.001). PA increased from baseline to 3 months (mean 418 steps/day, p < 0.001), but declined from 3 to 15 months (mean − 371 steps/day, p < 0.001). We observed positive associations between changes in PA and HRQoL (0.84–3.23 points per 1000 steps/day, p < 0.023).ConclusionsTwelve months after completing a 3-month HLC intervention we found improved HRQoL, but not PA level. Still, there were positive associations between PA and HRQoL over this period, indicating that participants increasing their PA were more likely to improve their HRQoL.

Low-carbon production of iron and steel: Technology options, economic assessment, and policy

Total Intravenous Anesthetic Versus Inhaled Anesthetic: Pick Your Poison.

e24121 Background: The diagnosis of cancer can motivate patients to change their physical activity habits. No data has reported level of physical activity before and after breast cancer diagnosis in Chinese women. Methods: In an on-going prospective cohort study which involved 1462 Chinese women with early-stage breast cancer, a validated modified Chinese Baecke questionnaire was used to assess physical activity at baseline, 18-, 36- and 60-month after diagnosis. At baseline, patients recalled their habitual physical activity in the preceding 12 months before cancer diagnosis. At 18-, 36- and 60-month follow-up, patients reported their habitual physical activity over the previous 12 months. The level of physical activity at post-diagnosis was defined as the average value assessed at 18-, 36- and 60-month follow-up. Results: Breast cancer patients significantly increased level of physical activity, with median value of 0.6, 5.3, 4.4 and 3.9 MET-hours/week at baseline, 18-, 36- and 60-month follow-up. The average level of physical activity at post-diagnosis was also significantly higher than that at pre-diagnosis ( P &lt; 0.001), with median value of 5.8 MET-hours/week. However, there was no significant difference between any two follow-ups at post-diagnosis. The proportions of participant who met the exercise recommendation (according to WCRF/AICR, 10 MET-hours/week) were low at pre- and post-diagnosis, being 20.7% and 35.1%, respectively. Compared to pre-diagnosis, most of the patients improved or had no change on level of recreational physical activity at post-diagnosis, with the respective proportion being 48.2% and 43.8%. Multivariate analysis showed that higher increase in physical activity after cancer diagnosis was observed among breast cancer patients who were married or cohabitation, unemployed (compared to full time) and had no comorbidity (compared to patients who had one comorbidity). Conclusions: Chinese breast cancer patients reported significant and long-term changes in physical activity after cancer diagnosis, which was in line with current recommendation. However, the proportion of patients who met the exercise recommendation for cancer survivors was still low. Empowering patients on the importance of durable high level of physical activity in breast cancer survivorship is warranted.

An integrated community-based intervention was developed to stimulate physical activity (PA) and healthy eating in older adults in a socioeconomically disadvantaged area. This study aims to assess whether its short-term effects among older adults vary by sociodemographic, psychosocial and health-related variables. The study was a controlled pre-post quasi-experimental design (intervention condition n = 430; control condition n = 213), with a baseline measurement and a 9-month follow-up measurement. The intervention consisted of a local media campaign and environmental approaches. Changes in PA and fruit and vegetable consumption (FVC) were dependent variables assessed at 9-month follow-up. Sociodemographic, psychosocial and health-related variables at baseline were tested as potential moderators of the effects of the conditions. We found different types of moderators in particular for transport-related PA and FVC. Regarding sociodemographic characteristics, gender was a moderator for household-related PA, and educational level for transport-related PA and FVC. Self-efficacy, as a psychosocial variable, was a moderator of transport-related PA and vegetable consumption. Concerning health-related outcomes, baseline levels of transport-related PA and fruit consumption were moderators for transport-related PA and fruit consumption. If adjusted for multiple testing, only three moderators persisted: educational level regarding vegetable consumption, and baseline levels regarding transport-related PA and fruit consumption. The effects of the community intervention vary somewhat by sociodemographic, psychosocial and health-related variables. The intervention seems to be especially beneficial to those who are most in need of more PA and healthy eating.

Recent research does not show an association between fruit and vegetable consumption and bladder cancer risk. None of these studies looked at the variety in fruit and vegetable consumption, which may capture different aspects of fruit and vegetable consumption. We investigated whether the quantity and the variety in vegetable and fruit consumption are associated with bladder cancer risk in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition study. Data on usual food consumption and complete follow-up for cancer occurrence was available for 478,533 participants, who were recruited in 10 European countries. A calibration study was conducted in an 8% representative subsample. After a mean follow-up of 8.7 years, 1015 participants were diagnosed with bladder cancer. Diet Diversity Scores (DDSs) were used to quantify the variety in fruit and/or vegetable consumption by counting the number of different fruit and vegetable products eaten at least every two weeks. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the effect of fruit and vegetable consumption and DDSs on the risk of bladder cancer. Increments of 100 gram/day in fruit and vegetable consumption did not affect bladder cancer risk (calibrated hazard ratio (HR) 0.98; 95%CI: 0.95–1.01). A slightly stronger, although statistically non-significant, inverse association was observed among never smokers (calibrated HR=0.92; 95%CI: 0.79–1.06 with increments of 100 g/day). Unexpectedly, more variety in fruit and vegetable products consumed increased bladder cancer risk (HR=1.30 95%CI=1.00–1.69 comparing the highest with the lowest tertile; p-trend=0.05), which was strongest among never smokers (HR=1.72; 95%CI: 1.00–2.97). Continuous risk estimates did not reach statistical significance (HR for whole cohort 1.02 (95%CI 0.99–1.06 per 2 products increment); HR in never smokers 1.04 (95%CI 0.98–1.11 per 2 products increment)). The quantity and variety of fruit or vegetable consumption separately were not associated with bladder cancer risk. We conclude that in EPIC quantity and variety of vegetable and fruit consumption is not associated with bladder cancer risk. Increased categorical risks for variety in vegetables and fruits without statistical significant findings in the continuous analyses may be due to chance. Our results provide further evidence that fruit and vegetable consumption does not strongly alter bladder cancer risk. Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2010;3(1 Suppl):B103.

The Level of Physical Activity before and after Lymphoma Diagnosis Impacts Overall and Lymphoma-Specific Survival

The present study aims to study the correlation of fruit and vegetable consumption with levels of daily physical activity. Using secondary data obtained from the National School Health Survey in its third edition (2015), with children and adolescents aged 13 to 17 years (162,608 evaluated) through a questionnaire. To identify the association between fruit and vegetable consumption and weekly amount of physical activity, linear regression models were used, in three stages: Individual characteristics: sex, age group; Socioeconomy: region of the country, mother's education; Food consumption: fruit consumption, vegetable consumption. All statistical analyzes were performed using SPSS® 22, with a statistical significance level of p≤0.05. A higher level of physical activity is observed among those who have "regular" fruit, girls 229,32; boys 335.13, vegetables girls 222.07; boys 320.78 or consumption of vegetables and fruits girls 248.34; boys 350.28. A negative association was observed between “irregular consumption of fruits” p&lt;0.001, “irregular consumption of vegetables” p&lt;0.001 and weekly amount of physical activity p&lt;0.001.