Assessment Of Physical Activity Level Research Articles

Too Many Couch Potatoes Among Middle-Aged Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients: Findings from the “BE-FIT-IBD-2” Study

Background: Regular physical activity (PA) is desirable, regardless of age, even in patients with chronic conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Aims: This study aims to assess PA levels and related barriers/facilitators in IBD patients, stratifying them into age groups (with a threshold of 50 years). Methods: The International PA Questionnaire (IPAQ) assessed PA levels regarding resting metabolic rate (Met) in minutes per week (min/wk). Patient-reported outcomes 2 (PRO-2) evaluated disease activity. Results: Among the 237 enrolled patients, PA rates were found to differ significantly in terms of patients being sufficiently active (55% vs. 39.8%), inactive (39.6% vs. 59.1%), and engaging in health-enhancing PA (5.4% vs. 1.1%) between patients under and at least 50 years old, respectively (p < 0.001). Overall, PA levels followed this trend, being higher in younger patients [892 (446.5–1439) vs. 545.25 (257–1210.47) Met min/wk, p = 0.007]. Individuals aged at least 50 years tend to have lower PA at regression analysis (OR: 3.302, p = 0.018). Patients aged at least 50 years perceived IBD as more of a barrier to PA (p = 0.04). Bowel urgency is a significant barrier, especially in older patients (p = 0.022). Conclusions: Age is an unmodifiable factor impacting and influencing PA levels. Strategies to recover exercise levels in older IBD patients should be encouraged.

Where’s the Joy in That? Sexual Minority College Students Report Lower Physical Activity Engagement and Enjoyment Compared to Heterosexual Students

ABSTRACT Sexual minority (e.g. non-heterosexual) individuals are at greater risk for negative health outcomes, often linked to inadequate physical activity (PA). The purpose of this study was to assess PA levels and PA enjoyment among college students, by sexual orientation. Data were collected from a volunteer sample of college students enrolled in general health and wellness courses offered at a large, Northeastern U.S. university via an online survey. Participants self-reported demographic information, PA levels using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ), and PA enjoyment using a 7-item Physical Activity Enjoyment scale (PACES). Among participants (n = 1471), independent sample t-tests showed that sexual minority (SM) students reported significantly lower mean MET-mins/week of MPA (M Heterosexual = 568.09 ± 488.12 vs. M Sexual minority = 469.95 ± 471.51; p = .006) and VPA (M Heterosexual = 1089.54 ± 1110.64 vs. M Sexual Minority = 628.93 ± 942.78; p < .001), ST days/week (M Heterosexual = 1.93 ± 1.90 vs. M Sexual Minority = 1.00 ± 1.60; p < .001), and reported lower total PACES score (M Heterosexual = 7.80 ± 1.92 vs. M Sexual Minority = 6.87 ± 2.14; p < .001) compared to heterosexual students. Bootstrap mediation analyses with 5000 samples revealed that PACES has direct and indirect mediation effects on the association between sexual orientation status and MET-mins/week of MPA and VPA, and ST days/week. The current findings provide evidence of the underlying mechanisms linked to the physical activity disparities experienced by SM college students compared to heterosexual students. Additionally, PACES can serve as a facilitator to promote PA engagement among SM students. These findings can inform future intervention work to target PA enjoyment for meaningful behavior change.

Exploring the complex associations among risks of malnutrition, sarcopenia, and frailty in community-dwelling older adults

BackgroundMalnutrition, sarcopenia, and frailty are age-related conditions that are associated with multiple health-related negative outcomes. However, the complex associations between them remain to be elucidated. The aims of the study were to explore: (1) whether the risk of sarcopenia has a mediator effect on the association between risks of malnutrition and frailty; and (2) whether physical activity (PA) level modulates this mediator effect in community-dwelling older adults.MethodsThis cross-sectional study involved 593 older adults (62.73% female; mean age = 71.35 ± 5.86 years). The Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNA-SF), the SARC-F Questionnaire, and the FRAIL Questionnaire were used to assess the risks of malnutrition, sarcopenia, and frailty, respectively. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF) was employed to assess PA level. Using the Hayes PROCESS macro (Models 4 and 7), mediation and moderated mediation analyses were performed.ResultsThe mediation analysis demonstrated that the MNA-SF had a significant effect on the SARC-F (B=-0.325; p < 0.001) and the SARC-F, in turn, had a significant effect on the FRAIL (B = 0.341; p < 0.001). The total (B=-0.171; p < 0.001), direct (B=-0.061; p = 0.001), and indirect (B=-0.111; bootstrap CI did not include zero, which indicates a significant effect) effects of MNA-SF on FRAIL were significant, showing that 65% of the association between the MNA-SF and FRAIL was explained by the SARC-F acting as a mediator. The moderated mediation analysis demonstrated that the association between MNA and SARC-F was moderated by the PA level (B = 0.253; p = 0.016). The SARC-F mediated and relatively enhanced the association between MNA-SF and FRAIL only in older adults with a moderate PA level (B=-0.120; CI: -0.154 to -0.085).ConclusionsThe SARC-F partially mediates the association between the MNA-SF and the FRAIL, indicating that malnutrition affects frailty through an indirect path via sarcopenia. Furthermore, the PA level moderates this mediator effect, with sarcopenia serving as a mediator in older adults with moderate a PA level but not in those with a low PA level. These findings reveal that it may be beneficial to consider PA level in combination with malnutrition and sarcopenia in the management and prevention of frailty in community-dwelling older adults.

Physical Activity Level and Sleep Quality in Community-Dwelling Older Adults. A Cross-Sectional Study

AbstractThe worldwide increase in life expectancy has resulted in a significant aging of the population. The physiological and functional changes that result from the aging process, changes in sleep patterns, and the prevalence of chronic diseases affect the health and well-being of individuals aged over 60. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between levels of physical activity (PA) and sleep quality in community-dwelling older adults. Methods This is a cross-sectional study, with the participants randomly recruited according to the region and street in which they live. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was applied to assess sleep quality, the Modified Baecke Questionnaire for the Elderly (MBQ-E) to assess PA levels, as well as questionnaires to obtain social, demographic and anthropometric data. Multivariable regression analyses were conducted with PA activity as the independent variable and sleep quality as the dependent variable of interest, while also considering all potential covariates. Results A total of 503 older adults were analyzed, of whom 377 (75%) were classified as inactive and only 126 (25%) as active. Among the participants, 344 (68.4%) had poor sleep quality, 86 (17.1%) had symptoms of insomnia, and 57 (11.5%) reported complaints of excessive daytime sleepiness. We found that 128 participants (25.4%) consumed alcohol and 41 (8.2%) were current smokers. Multivariate regression results showed an inverse association between PA levels and sleep (Beta coefficient = −0.67 ([95% confidence interval = −1.29 to −0.04]). Conclusions The results of the study indicate that being physically inactive is associated with poor sleep quality.

The impact of inactivity during the COVID-19 pandemic on the physical performance of high school athletes

Background/ObjectiveThis study was conducted during the 2019–2020 academic year to evaluate the impact of participation in school sports on students’ Body Mass Index (BMI) and Assessing Levels of Physical Activity (ALPHA) test scores. Interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a suspension of in-person education, the study resumed in September 2021, refocusing on the effects of pandemic-induced inactivity on the physical fitness levels of the same cohort.MethodsThe study included twenty-nine male high school students (age: 17,24 ± 0,73 years), divided into thirteen athletes (participating in sports such as football, basketball, and track) and sixteen non-athletic counterparts. They underwent reassessment using the ALPHA test battery, evaluating cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal, and motor skills fitness. Data were analyzed using independent and paired samples t-tests and a two-way repeated measures ANOVA to assess changes over time and between groups. Discriminant function analysis evaluated the ALPHA test’s ability to classify students based on their athletic status pre- and post-pandemic.ResultsInitially, athlete students exhibited significantly better BMI, 20 m shuttle run, and 4 × 10 m speed run scores compared to their non-athlete peers. After the pandemic, only the 20 m shuttle run scores remained significantly higher for athletes, with diminished distinctions in other fitness areas. The classification accuracy of the ALPHA test battery decreased from 89.7 to 75.9% post-pandemic.ConclusionThe enforced sedentary lifestyle due to the COVID-19 pandemic adversely affected all students, particularly diminishing health-related fitness parameters such as body composition, cardiorespiratory and musculoskeletal strength, and motor skills. Students previously engaged in regular physical activity, notably school athletes, experienced significant fitness declines. This highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions to encourage active lifestyles among youth in the post-pandemic phase, aiming to avert long-term adverse health outcomes.

Physical Activity and Dietary Habits in Young Females with Varying Levels of Body Fat and Fat Distribution

Abstract Introduction. Physical activity and good diet are the primary determinants of body weight. The aim of the study was to compare physical activity and eating behaviours of overweight and obese females (taking into consideration their body fat distribution) with individuals with normal levels of body fat. Material and methods. The study included females aged 20-35. The study group consisted of 449 subjects, who were categorised into groups based on their body fat percentage: underweight, normal body fat, overweight and obese. The WHR index was computed in individuals who were overweight or obese. The assessment of physical activity levels was conducted using data obtained from the IPAQ, while eating behaviours were examined using the Dietary Habits And Nutrition Beliefs Questionnaire developed by the Polish Academy of Sciences. Results. Females who were overweight or obese exhibited greater values of the examined physical characteristics in comparison to individuals with normal levels of body fat. Subjects with fat tissue in the abdomen area had higher values of somatic characteristics. There were no statistically significant differences in physical activity levels between individuals with normal body fat and overweight or obese females. However, when the second group was divided into those with abdominal fatness and those with peripheral fatness, it was observed that individuals with abdominal fatness had lower levels of physical activity, including both total activity as well as vigorous and moderate activity. There were no significant differences in eating behaviours found between the groups. Conclusions. The amount and placement of fat tissue in young females is more closely linked to their levels of physical activity rather than their eating habits and knowledge about food and nutrition.

Temporal relationships in the movement behaviour of adolescents: Testing and methodological considerations of the ActivityStat hypothesis

ABSTRACT The study aimed to investigate the ActivityStat hypothesis by examining the presence and the timeframe of the temporal relationships among physical activity (PA) levels and stationary time (ST) in adolescents. A secondary analysis was performed on data involving 356 adolescents in Dunedin, New Zealand. Participants wore a waist-worn accelerometer for several consecutive days to assess PA levels [i.e. light PA (LPA), and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA)] and ST. Bayesian continuous-time structural equation modelling (CT-SEM) was used to examine the relationship between the behaviours over time and the timeframe during which these relationships occur. Increases in LPA, MVPA, and ST were positively associated with their later behaviours until 2.5, 1.7, and 2 days later, respectively. A cross-behavioural reciprocal and negative relationship between LPA and ST was demonstrated 0.4 days later. A positive relationship between ST and MVPA was observed until about 0.4 days later. This is the first study to investigate the ActivityStat hypothesis using Bayesian CT-SEM in adolescents, examining the multivariate relationships among different behaviours and the associated timeframes. To conclude, evidence of activity synergy was suggested for the within-behavioural relationships, while behavioural compensation was noted for ST. Thus, the findings provide some support for the ActivityStat hypothesis in adolescents.

Stroke related sarcopenia in individuals with different physical activity levels: A cross-sectional study.

Individuals after stroke are likely to deal with the possible development of sarcopenia and reduced physical activity levels. The purpose of this study was to compare sarcopenia of individuals with chronic stroke who were stratified according to their physical activity levels, and to evaluate the relationship between sarcopenia and physical activity levels. This cross-sectional study was conducted with individuals after chronic stroke recruited from the general community. Individuals were submitted to sarcopenia screening (SARC-F questionnaire) and assessment of physical activity levels (Human Activity Profile questionnaire) to classify the individuals as impaired, moderately active, and active according to their AdjustedActivity Status (AAS). ANOVA was used to investigate the sarcopenia between groups and Pearson's coefficient to investigate the association among variables. Fifty-four individuals with a mean age of 56±17.4years were included. Twenty-one percent of the individuals were screened for sarcopenia. Inactive individuals had higher mean scores in the SARC-F (3.6±2.1 points), whereas moderately active and active individuals presented lower mean scores in the same questionnaire, being 1.2±1.1 points and 0.5±0.7 points, respectively. A statistically significant inverse and high association was found between sarcopenia and physical activity levels (r=-0.716; p<0.01). Sarcopenia was found to be higher in individuals after chronic stroke with lower physical activity levels considered inactive when compared to individuals with higher physical activity levels. Furthermore, there was an inverse relationship between sarcopenia and physical activity level in stroke survivors.

Walkability and socio-economic status in relation to walking, playing and sports practice in a representative Spanish sample of youth: The PASOS study.

Physical activity (PA) provides multiple health-related benefits in children and adolescents, however, at present, the majority of young people are insufficiently physically active. The aim of this study was to evaluate if neighborhood walkability and/or socio-economic status (SES) could affect the practice of walking, play outdoors and sports practice in a representative sample of Spanish children and adolescents. A sample of 4092 youth (aged 8-16 years old) from 245 primary and secondary schools in 121 localities from each of the 17 Spanish autonomous communities participated in the study. Walk Score was used to evaluate walkability of the neighborhood and household income was used as an indicator of SES. A 7-item self-reported validated questionnaire, was used to assess PA levels, and in a subsample of 10% of the participants, randomly selected from the entire sample, PA was objectively measured by accelerometers. Youth from more walkable areas reported more minutes walking per day compared with those from less walkable neighborhoods (51.4 vs 48.8 minutes, respectively). The lowest average minutes spent in playing outdoors was found among participants from low-SES and low-walkable neighborhoods. Neighborhood SES influenced on the participation in team sports during the weekend, being this participation higher in high SES neighborhoods. Providing high walkable environments seems a good strategy to promote PA regardless SES levels. It seems that improving the walkability is a key component to partially overcome the SES inequalities, especially in urban areas with low SES. High-SES environments can offer better sports facilities and more organized physical activities than low-SES ones.

Gender Disparities in Health Biomarkers, Lifestyle Patterns, and Nutritional Status among Bank Staff: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background and Objectives: Despite the importance of nutritional status and a healthy lifestyle in shaping overall well-being, little is known about examining gender-specific differences and trends in health, lifestyle, and nutritional status. The present study aimed to evaluate blood levels of micronutrients, homocysteine, and CoQ10, as well as physical activity (PA) levels and sedentary behavior, among a cohort of Austrian bank staff, with a particular focus on identifying gender differences as well as gender-specific nutritional deficiencies compared to the reference ranges. Materials and Methods: Following a cross-sectional study design, 123 Austrian bank staff (mean age: 43 years; 51% females) participated in this study. Blood samples were collected to evaluate participants' micronutrient status and serum levels of homocysteine and CoQ10. Whole-blood values of macronutrients were compared to gender-specific reference ranges and categorized into three groups: below, within, or over the range. The WHO's Global Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to assess PA levels and sedentary behaviors. Results: No significant difference between males and females was found for diet types, PA levels, sedentary time, homocysteine levels, or CoQ10 values (p > 0.05). A high PA level was reported by 64% of males and 58% of females. 71% of females and 56% of males were found to have a vitamin D deficiency. 63-98% of females and 72-97% of males showed normal blood levels for the remaining micronutrients, including potassium, calcium, magnesium, copper, iron, zinc, selenium, manganese, molybdenum, B6, B9, and B12. Conclusions: The findings highlight the necessity of implementing tailored strategies to foster healthy lifestyle behaviors, thereby enhancing the overall state of health, particularly in the context of occupational health.

Assessment of physical activity levels and back pain among poles and Portuguese in the further year of the COVID-19 pandemic - a pilot study

BackgroundThe vast majority of people have experienced the problem of back pain at least once in their lives for a variety of reasons. It is well known that regular physical activity at a moderate level has a number of health benefits regardless of age or gender with positive effects on the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, respiratory or nervous systems improving fitness levels. During the pandemic, Poland experienced one of the longest periods of school lockdown in Europe. In Portugal, this period was considerably shorter. The aim of this study was to determine the level of physical activity and back pain as well as relationship between physical activity and back pain in a group of Polish and Portuguese students in the following year the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsThe study was conducted via the Internet among students from Poland and Portugal (398 respondents − 229 from Poland and 169 from Portugal) in October 2022. In the pilot study, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and The Oswestry Disability Index and Neck Disability Index questionnaires were used to assess the level of back pain.ResultsThere are no statistically significant differences in the level of physical activity and pain complaints of respondents from the two countries. At least half of the students do not report any pain complaints (median in some groups being 0). In the Portuguese men, there is a correlation between the level of physical activity and the Neck Disability Index score (p = 0.0304).ConclusionsThe following year, after the pandemic COVID-19 was declared, the prevalence of back pain among students in Poland and Portugal is still significant.

P1101 Patient-reported physical activity of IBD patients is of concern when weighed with the international physical activity questionnaire regardless of disease activity and IBD phenotype: barriers and facilitators emerged from the extended "BE-FIT-IBD" cross-sectional study

Abstract Background As the World Health Organization recommends, regular physical activity (PA) determines quality of life. The qualitative/quantitative characteristics of ideal PA to be suggested for inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) nor the relationship with disease activity are not yet well defined. This study aimed to weigh PA levels and barriers/facilitators to PA in a cross-sectional group of patients with IBD. Methods Consecutive Italian non-severe IBD patients (assessed with partial Mayo score for and Harvey-Bradshaw index) received an anonymous online questionnaire to assess PA levels using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), disease activity as Patient-Reported Outcomes 2 (PRO-2), and finally habits, beliefs, and barriers in conducting regular PA. Clinical, anthropometric, and demographic data were also collected. PA was processed as continuous units of resting metabolic rate in minutes/week (Met min/wk). Three PA groups were identified: inactive (&amp;lt; 700 Met min/wk), sufficiently active (700-2500 Met min/wk) and Health Enhancing PA (i.e., HEPA active, &amp;gt; 2500 Met min/wk) patients. Results The 219 patients enrolled exhibited overall PA levels of 834.5 Met min/wk, with a large proportion (94, 42.9%) classified as inactive. Only a minority (9, 4.1%) resulted as health-enhancing PA. Patients with a non-dyslipidaemia metabolic profile (p &amp;lt; 0.0001) or on biologics therapy (p=0.022) showed better IPAQ scores in moderate activities. PRO-2 correlated negatively with IPAQ intense activities scores (τ= -0.156, p=0.038) in ulcerative colitis patients. PRO-2 did not show notable sensitivity/specificity in predicting IPAQ inactivity (AUC &amp;lt; 0.6). IPAQ showed no notable differences when related to disease activity categories according to PRO-2 (p &amp;gt; 0.05). Physically active patients were more willing to discuss their PA with their IBDologists. Several barriers (e.g., diagnosis of IBD and fear of flare-ups after PA) are firmly rooted in physically inactive patients. Evacuation urgency (rectal syndrome) is the IBD-related barrier most physically inactive patients reported. Some fears about PA were worse felt in the absence of a stable partner (i.e., fear of worsening or recurrence of IBD, p &amp;lt; 0.05). Conclusion Many Italian IBD patients show a worrying rate of physical inactivity, depriving themselves of the multidimensional benefits that regular PA can bring. There is a need for IBDologists to act by removing barriers to PA and engaging in a regular discussion on the importance of PA with IBD patients. IPAQ has shown good feasibility and patient acceptance in this setting.

Exploring the relationship between physical activity and cognitive function: an fMRI pilot study in young and older adults.

There are limited studies exploring the relationship between physical activity (PA), cognitive function, and the brain processing characteristics in healthy older adults. A total of 41 participants (42.7 ± 20.5 years, 56.1% males) were included in the data analysis. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form was used to assess PA levels, and the Chinese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Basic and the Flanker task were employed to evaluate cognitive function. Furthermore, fMRI technology was utilized to examine brain activation patterns. The cognitive function of the older adults was found to be significantly lower compared to the young adults. Within the older adults, those with high levels of PA exhibited significantly higher cognitive function than those with low and medium PA levels. The fMRI data showed significant differences in brain activation patterns among young adults across the different PA levels. However, such difference was not observed among older adults. A decline in cognitive function was observed among older adults. There was a significant correlation between the levels of PA and cognitive function in healthy older adults. The study demonstrated significant effects of PA levels on brain activation patterns in inhibitory control-related regions among young adults, while not significant among older adults. The findings suggest that neurological mechanisms driving the relationship between PA and cognitive function may differ between older and young adults.

Do participants in a physical activity program from a Care Sport Connector become healthier? An explorative study from the Netherlands

Introduction Care Sport Connectors (CSCs) have been appointed to create a connection between the primary care and physical activity (PA) sectors to stimulate residents who are inactive to become more physically active to gain health benefits. The objective of this explorative study was to find out whether CSCs achieve these goals by testing the hypothesis that more residents become physically active, and score higher for health-related fitness and health-related quality of life. Method We conducted a longitudinal study design whereby participants (n = 402) were measured at three time points: at the start of their PA program (T0); after 6 months (T1); and after 1 year (T2). Participants conducted a fitness test to measure their health-related physical fitness and filled in questionnaires to assess PA level (PA-, Fit-, Combi-, and sport norm), health-related quality of life, motivation for PA, and personal information. We used a multi-level analysis to test whether outcomes of participants differ over time. Participants who dropped out and maintainers were compared with a chi-square test and a one-way ANOVA. Results This study showed that one-third of the participants dropped out (n = 139). Participants who dropped out were, compared with maintainers, less physically active (P = 0.004) and were more often reached in bigger municipalities, by an integral approach. More participants meet the PA norm (P = 0.007) and sport norm (P&lt;0.001) at T2 then at T0. Scores in health-related physical fitness and quality of life were significant but not a meaningful gain in health-related fitness. Conclusion More residents become physically active and participate in sport because they took part in a PA programs or activity organized by a CSC. Lifestyle interventions should be offered with a higher frequency, intensity, and focus on behavior change. It is necessary to invest in combined lifestyle interventions offered by a collaboration of primary care, welfare, and PA professionals.

Continuous-time modeling of the multivariate relationships between physical activity levels and stationary time in preschool-aged children: an investigation of the ActivityStat hypothesis

BackgroundThe ActivityStat hypothesis proposes that an increase or decrease in physical activity (PA) greater than a certain set point activates behavioural and/or energy compensatory responses to maintain a stable level of total energy expenditure. Few studies have tested this hypothesis in children and even fewer have focused on young children. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the ActivityStat hypothesis by examining the presence and timeframe of the relationships among PA levels and stationary time (ST) in preschool-aged children.MethodsA secondary analysis was performed on repeated measurement data (i.e., day-to-day activity) involving 98 preschool-aged children (age: 4.5 ± 0.7 years) in Edmonton, Canada. Participants were asked to wear an ActiGraph wGT3X-BT on the waist for 7 consecutive days to assess PA levels (i.e., light PA [LPA], and moderate-to-vigorous PA[MVPA]) and ST. Bayesian continuous-time structural equation modeling (CT-SEM) was used to examine the relationship between behaviours over time and the timeframe during which these relationships occur.ResultsEach behaviour (i.e., LPA, MVPA, and ST) positively and meaningfully predicted itself at a later time. These relationships persisted up to 0.5 days later, at which point past behaviour no longer meaningfully predicted future behaviour. In contrast, no relationships were observed between the three behaviours.ConclusionsThis is the first study to investigate the ActivityStat hypothesis using Bayesian CT-SEM in preschool-aged children. When simultaneously taking into account all dynamic relationships suggested by the ActivityStat, the findings fail to support the hypothesis.

The Association of Physical Activity Level with Micronutrient and Health Status of Austrian Bank Employees

Background: Favorable health benefits of an active lifestyle have been clearly documented within the context of occupational health. However, a knowledge gap exists regarding the monitoring and comparison of micronutrient status across varying levels of physical activity (PA). This study aimed to investigate the association of PA level with micronutrient status and the associated health biomarkers among a cohort of Austrian bank employees. Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, this study involved the participation of bank employees (n = 123; average age: 43 years; 49% males) from the federal state of Tyrol, located in the western part of Austria. To assess PA levels and sedentary behavior, the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ; developed by the WHO) was administered. Accordingly, participants were categorized into three groups: low PA, moderate PA, and high PA. Participants’ blood samples were obtained to measure blood levels of micronutrients, homocysteine, and CoQ10. The values of vitamins and minerals in whole-blood were compared to sex-specific reference ranges and grouped into three categories: below, within, or exceeding the reference range. Results: The prevalence of a high PA level was 61%, while 18% of participants had a low PA level. Overweight/obesity was significantly less prevalent among participants with high PA levels (22%) compared to those with moderate (50%) and low (50%) PA levels (p = 0.045). No significant differences between PA levels were found for sex, age, diet type, homocysteine, or CoQ10 markers (p &gt; 0.05). There was no significant PA-based difference in blood concentrations of most vitamins and minerals (p &gt; 0.05), except for vitamin D (p = 0.001) among females, as well as selenium (p = 0.040) and vitamin B12 (p = 0.048) among males. Conclusion: The present findings offer initial insights into the link between PA behaviors, micronutrient status, and health, highlighting potential implications in occupational health and lifestyle, specifically in developing tailored approaches based on PA levels.

Association between physical activity and health literacy in patients with Parkinson’s disease: an online web survey

BackgroundFor patients with Parkinson's disease (PwPD), promotion of habitual physical activity (PA) assists in the prevention of disease progression. Patients' health literacy (HL) is integral for meeting PA standards and turning it into a habit. This study evaluated the association between PA level and each HL domain in PwPD.MethodsOnline web-based assessment instruments and self-administered questionnaires, including the PA Questionnaire (IPAQ) Short Form and the Functional, Communicative, and Critical Health Literacy (FCCHL) scale, were used to assess PA levels and health literacy domains of PwPD.ResultsThe mean age of PwPD (n = 114) was 65.9 (SD = 11.6) years; 59.6% female, and the mean duration of disease was 6.4 (SD = 5.1) years. Of participants, 47.4% met the recommended criteria for PA. When comparing each HL domain by PA level, participants with lower PA had significantly lower critical HL (p = 0.03). Logistic regression analysis revealed that PA level correlated with critical HL (OR = 2.46; 95% CI = 1.16–5.19; p = 0.02).ConclusionsAdherence to recommended PA standards was associated with critical HL, but not other HL domains. Proactive attitudes to critically evaluate and utilize as well as understand health information may positively influence the promotion of PA.

Physical activity and exercise during pregnancy in Turkey: A narrative review

It is known that physical activity (PA) in pregnancy is beneficial for both women and fetal health. For the optimal exercise prescription, healthcare professionals interested in obstetrics-gynecology should evaluate women carefully before making any exercise recommendations during pregnancy. If there aren’t any contraindications, pregnant women should be encouraged to engage in regular physical activity. This narrative review aimed to determine PA during pregnancy in Turkey. A literature search was performed in the databases. A total of 29 original articles on PA during pregnancy in Turkey were included in this present study. Eighteen studies were chosen from among these articles for analysis. Two studies assessed PA levels in pregnancy with objective/direct methods such as PA monitors and pedometers, and non-objective/indirect methods were used in all 18 studies. Regarding exercise types, the most preferred exercises during pregnancy were walking, breathing exercises, strengthening exercises, and stretching neck muscles. This narrative review revealed that the level of PA participation and the frequency of regular exercise during pregnancy in Turkey is inadequate. More studies are necessary to examine PA participation from various contexts during pregnancy in Turkey to guide interventions for improving maternal health.

Physical Activity among Colorectal Cancer Patients and Survivors in Egypt.

Understanding physical activity (PA) levels is important when developing tertiary cancer prevention interventions, especially in Egypt where colorectal cancer (CRC) is more often diagnosed at later stages and at a younger age of onset (≤40 years). We assessed PA levels among CRC patients and survivors in Alexandria, Egypt. All participants completed two self-reported PA assessments: Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) and Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire (GLTEQ). Participants could opt to wear an accelerometer for seven days. Results were compared against WHO recommendations of ≥150 minutes or ≥600 metabolic equivalents of tasks (METs) of moderate-to-vigorous PA weekly. Of 86 participants enrolled, all completed the surveys and 29 agreed to accelerometer use. Prevalence of meeting PA recommendations was 62.8% based on the GPAQ, 14.0% based on GLTEQ, and 41% based on accelerometer. Based on the GPAQ, very few respondents reported vigorous occupational, vigorous recreational, or moderate recreational activity (median = 0 with interquartile range [IQR] of 0 - 0 weekly minutes for all three) while most activity resulted from moderate occupational and transportation (median [IQR] of 60 [0-840] and 60 [0-187.5] weekly minutes, respectively). Participants meeting PA recommendations were less likely to be married (p = 0.043) according to GPAQ and more likely to be female (p=0.047) and early cancer stage (p=0.007) by GLTEQ. Non-leisure free-living PA is a major contributor to meeting PA recommendations while leisure-time PA is a potential target for future interventions that increase PA in this population.

Assessment of Physical activity Level and Sedentary Behaviour Among Pune City Police Personnel Using Global Physical Activity Questionnaire: A Survey

Background: Policemen being an integral part of the law implementation system have long working hours with huge workloads. They may not be able to save time for regular exercise or eat timely healthy meals which may put them at high risk of developing non-communicable diseases like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, or lifestyle disorders such as obesity. The purpose of this study was to assess their existing physical activity level and sedentary behaviour using Global Physical Activity Questionnaire version 2.0. Objective: To assess the level of physical activity in police officers during work, travel and leisure-time and also determine the sedentary behaviour in them. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 270 policemen, 168 males and 102 females, from 16 different police station of the Pune city using Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. Along with the analysis of demographic factors, data was analysed to evaluate if the study participants met the criteria for physical activity recommended by WHO. Participants were then divided into different categories depending on their energy expenditure i.e., MET-mins/week. Their sedentary behavior was calculated in terms of hours spent in sitting position. Result: Out of the total study participants, 50.4% were physically active and 49.6% were physically inactive.3.7% study participants were involved in the moderate-intensity physical activity at the workplace; 32.2% study participants were active in travel domain and 54.8%in leisure-time domain.12.2% of study participants were involved in vigorous-intensity physical activity in leisure-time domain only. 134 participants were inactive, 132 were low-active, 4 were moderately-active with not a single participant in highly-active category. The average amount of time spent sitting in the male participants was 6.11 + 3.03 hours whereas in female participants it was 7.50 + 2.62 hours. Conclusion: Even though 50.4% policemen were physically active, most of them were “low- active” and very few were “moderately-active” whereas not a single study participant was found to be “highly-active”. Sedentary behaviour in terms of average amount of time spent sitting was found to be more in female than male participants. Also,51.11% percentage of the study participants belonged to the overweight and obese category. Thus, there is huge scope for improving the physical activity level as well reducing the sedentary behavior in these professionals. KEY WORDS: GPAQ, physical activity, sedentary behavior, police personnel, Pune city.