Encouraging Physical Activity Research Articles

The Burden Cancer-Related Deaths Attributable to High Body Mass Index in a Gulf Cooperation Council: Results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.

BMI has been reported to be a major risk factor for the increased burden of several diseases. This study explores the burden of cancer linked to high body mass index (BMI) in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and assesses the correlation with Socio-demographic Index (SDI). Using Global burden of disease (GBD) 2019 data, the authors quantified cancer burden through mortality, DALYs, age standardized mortality rate (ASMR), and age standardized DALYs rate (ASDR) across sexes, countries, cancer types, and years. Spearman's correlation tested ASMR against SDI. The authors estimated 95% uncertainty limits (UIs) for population attribution fraction (PAFs). Between 1990 and 2019, all six GCC countries showed increased number of the overall cancer-related deaths (398.73% in Bahrain to 1404.25% in United Arab Emirates), and DALYs (347.38% in Kuwait, to 1479.35% in United Arab Emirates) reflecting significant increasing in deaths, and burden cancer attributed to high BMI. In 2019, across GCC countries, pancreatic, uterine, and kidney cancer accounted for 87.91% of the total attributable deaths associated with high BMI in females, whereas in male, colon and rectum cancer alone accounted for 26% of all attributable deaths associated with high BMI. The study highlights the significant impact of high BMI on cancer burden in GCC countries. Moreover, the study identifies specific cancers, such as pancreatic, uterine, and kidney cancer in females, and colon and rectum cancer in males, as major contributors to attributable deaths, urging targeted prevention strategies at reducing weight and encouraging physical activity could greatly lessen the impact of diseases in the GCC countries.

How Do Awareness, Perceptions, and Expectations of an Urban Greenway Influence Residents’ Visits and Recreational Physical Activity? Evidence From the Connswater Community Greenway, Belfast, Northern Ireland

How Do Awareness, Perceptions, and Expectations of an Urban Greenway Influence Residents’ Visits and Recreational Physical Activity? Evidence From the Connswater Community Greenway, Belfast, Northern Ireland

A randomized controlled trial of an app-based intervention on physical activity and glycemic control in people with type 2 diabetes.

We investigated the effects of a physical activity encouragement intervention based on a smartphone personal health record (PHR) application (app) on step count increases, glycemic control, and body weight in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). In this 12-week,single-center, randomized controlled, 12-week extension study, patients with T2D who were overweight or obese were randomized using ratio 1:2 to a group using a smartphone PHR app (control group) or group using the app and received individualized motivational text messages (intervention group) for 12weeks. During the extension period, the sending of the encouraging text messages to the intervention group was discontinued. The primary outcome was a change in daily step count after 12weeks and analyzed by independent t-test. The secondary outcomes included HbA1c, fasting glucose, and body weight analyzed by paired or independent t-test. Of 200 participants, 62 (93.9%) and 118 (88.1%) in the control and intervention group, respectively, completed the 12-week main study. The change in daily step count from baseline to week 12 was not significantly different between the two groups (P = 0.365). Among participants with baseline step counts < 7,500 steps per day, the change in the mean daily step count at week 12 in the intervention group (1,319 ± 3,020) was significantly larger than that in control group (-139 ± 2,309) (P = 0.009). At week 12, HbA1c in the intervention group (6.7 ± 0.5%) was significantly lower than that in control group (6.9 ± 0.6%, P = 0.041) and at week 24, changes in HbA1c from baseline were significant in both groups but, comparable between groups. Decrease in HbA1c from baseline to week 12 of intervention group was greater in participants with baseline HbA1c ≥ 7.5% (-0.81 ± 0.84%) compared with those with baseline HbA1c < 7.5% (-0.22 ± 0.39%) (P for interaction = 0.014). A significant reduction in body weight from baseline to week 24 was observed in both groups without significant between-group differences (P = 0.370). App-based individualized motivational intervention for physical activity did not increase daily step count from baseline to week 12, and the changes in HbA1c levels from baseline to week 12 were comparable. ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03407222).

School Closures and the Impact on Screen Time and Behavior during the Pandemic

Abstract Objective: The objective of the study is to examine the impact of school closures on recreational screen time, emotional, and behavioral functioning of school-going children and adolescents during the imposition of social containment measures and school closure in India. Methodology: The survey utilized a Google Form that was sent to parents of children aged 6–14 years through e-mails and social media platforms. Parents were asked to report on the child’s duration of recreational screen time and whether the child’s overall behavioral functioning had changed since the school closures. The child’s emotional and behavioral functioning was assessed by the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The scores on the SDQ and screen time use were compared by overall parental behavioral rating to identify the areas of concerns for children whose functioning was reported to have worsened after the closing of schools. Results: The mean recreational screen time was reported to be 2.65 h (standard deviation = 1.89). A significantly higher proportion of children whose behavior worsened after school closures, relative to those who improved or were same, had scores in the abnormal range of functioning on three of the subscales of SDQ including emotional problems (χ² = 29.03, P = 0.0001), hyperactivity/inattention (χ² = 24.67, P = 0.0001), conduct problems (χ² = 22.01, P = 0.0001), and overall total SDQ score (χ² = 41.20, P = 0.0001). Conclusions: Interventions should be aimed at encouraging outdoor physical activity while respecting government restrictions, healthy routines, pursuing hobbies, and promoting responsible use of electronic devices during the pandemic and crisis recovery period.

'We get to learn as we move': effects and feasibility of lesson-integrated physical activity in a Swedish primary school.

Physical activity (PA) promotes health in adults as well as children. At the same time, a large proportion of children do not meet the recommendations for PA, and more school-based efforts to increase PA are needed. This study investigates the effectiveness and feasibility of lesson-integrated PA in a Swedish primary school. We evaluate a new method called 'Physical Activity and Lesson in Combination' (abbreviated FALK in Swedish) using a mixed methods approach; a quasi-experimental study followed by qualitative interviews. Two schools participated in the study, one constituting the intervention group (I-school, n = 83) and the other the control group (C-school, n = 81). In addition to regular physical education, the I-school had three 30-minute FALK lessons each week. A total of 164 students aged 7-9 years wore pedometers for a whole week, four times over two semesters, and the number of steps per day (SPD) and the proportion of students with < 10,000 SPD were compared. Statistical differences between the schools were tested with ANOVA, Chi2, t-tests, and ANCOVA. Interviews with students (n = 17), parents (n = 9) and teachers (n = 9) were conducted and analysed using qualitative content analysis. The results show that FALK led to the I-school getting more SPD and fewer students with < 10,000 SPD. Also, FALK was experienced as a positive, clear, and flexible method, simultaneously encouraging PA and learning. Challenges experienced concerned the teachers' work situation, time, finding suitable learning activities, outdoor school environment changes, and extreme weather conditions. This study indicates that FALK has the desired effects on PA and is a feasible method of integrating PA into theoretical teaching. We conclude that FALK is worth testing at more schools, given that implementation and sustainment of FALK considers both general enablers and barriers, as well as context-specific factors at the individual school.

Rural and urban differences in the prevalence and determinants of Type-2 diabetes in Bangladesh.

To estimate the prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) in urban and rural settings and identify the specific risk factors for each location. We conducted this study using data from the 2017-18 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS), sourced from the DHS website. The survey employed a stratified two-stage sampling method, which included 7,658 women and 7,048 men aged 18 and older who had their blood glucose levels measured. We utilized chi-square tests and ordinal logistic regression to analyze the association between various selected variables in both urban and rural settings and their relationship with diabetes and prediabetes. The prevalence of T2D was 10.8% in urban areas and 7.4% in rural areas, while pre-diabetes affected 31.4% and 27% of the populations in these respective settings. The study found significant factors influencing diabetes in both urban and rural regions, particularly in the 55-64 age group (Urban: AOR = 1.88, 95% CI [1.46, 2.42]; Rural: AOR = 1.87, 95% CI [1.54, 2.27]). Highly educated individuals had lower odds of T2D, while wealthier and overweight participants had higher odds in both areas. In rural regions, T2D risk was higher among caffeinated drink consumers and those not engaged in occupation-related physical activity, while these factors did not show significant influence in urban areas. Furthermore, urban participants displayed a significant association between T2D and hypertension. Our study outlines a comprehensive strategy to combat the increasing prevalence of T2D in both urban and rural areas. It includes promoting healthier diets to control BMI level, encouraging regular physical activity, early detection through health check-ups, tailored awareness campaigns, improving healthcare access in rural regions, stress management in urban areas, community involvement, healthcare professional training, policy advocacy like sugary drink taxation, research, and monitoring interventions. These measures collectively address the T2D challenge while accommodating the distinct features of urban and rural settings.

Socioecological factors influencing physical activity engagement for women across the menopausal transition: a systematic review.

Physical activity during menopause can be effective in reducing the physiological changes associated with reproductive aging that increase risks for noncommunicable diseases, yet many women do not meet the recommendations for physical activity. This study aimed to synthesize factors influencing physical activity for women across menopausal transition phases using a socioecological approach. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis was used to systematically search 10 databases between 2001 and 2021. A comprehensive search strategy was used to identify studies on physical activity of women in various stages of menopause. A socioecological model was used to categorize the reported barriers and enablers. Twenty studies met the inclusion criteria. The findings highlight several intrapersonal barriers such as existing health complaints versus enablers such as awareness of the health benefits of physical activity during menopause. Ensuring women's safety, preventing injury, and enhancing exercise self-efficacy were important components of programs. Social support was also an important enabler of women's engagement in activities. Several barriers and enablers were identified and can inform practitioners and future interventions to encourage physical activity among women in various stages of menopause. For instance, when encouraging physical activity during menopause, practitioners should consider other health complaints, safety, and injury prevention while discussing the benefits of physical activity related to managing menopausal symptoms. There was a lack of theoretically informed studies exploring the barriers and enablers to physical activity for women in various stages of menopause; thus, research designs may not have fully accounted for influences. Future research that combines socioecological and individual theories of behavior is needed to comprehensively understand the complexity of physical activity among women across the menopausal transition.

StepsBooster-S: A Culturally Tailored Step-Based Persuasive Application for Promoting Physical Activity

An inactive lifestyle is associated with an increased risk of health problems. The combination of mobile step-trackers and persuasive strategies can be considered useful tools for encouraging physical activity. This paper presents the design, development, and evaluation of a culturally tailored persuasive app to motivate physical activity. For this research, we developed a step-tracking app, StepsBooster-S, that is tailored to be culturally appropriate for Saudi adults using the user-centred design approach. A 10-day in-the-wild study was conducted with 30 participants to evaluate the usability and effectiveness of the app using a mixed-methods approach. Results showed that StepsBooster-S is generally effective; however, it led to a highly significant increase in physical activity among the Saudis compared to Canadians. Our results also showed that the Saudi audience engaged more with the app, reported more positive experience from using the app, and enjoyed the collectivists-oriented features such as cooperation more than the Canadian audience. We conclude that persuasive health apps, especially those that are targeted at physical activity, are more effective if they are tailored to be culturally appropriate for the target audience. These findings reinforce the importance of cultural factors for designing technologies that motivate behaviour change.

Cognitive function and work resilience of healthcare professionals: A comparative cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Healthcare professionals (HCPs) face a variety of work-related stressors that have impact on their mental health and cognitive performance. Work resilience is a psychological resource that helps workers cope with stress and prevents unfavorable psychological impact. The aim of this study was to assess the associations between working as HCPs and cognitive function as well as work resilience. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a comparative cross-sectional study conducted among HCPs at Suez Canal University Hospital in Ismailia Governorate, Egypt, during April 2023 to August 2023. Two hundred and thirty-five HCPs and 107 administrative employees (Admins) were invited to participate in this study. A self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain sociodemographic and other relavent data. Cognitive function was assessed with the Mini-Mental State Examination test; work resilience was assessed with the Brief Resilience Scale; and psychological distress was measured with the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale - 21-items (DASS-21) scale. Statistical significance was determined by Mann Whitney U-test for continuous variables, and Chi-square test or Fisher’s exact, as appropriate, for categorical variables. Multiple logistic regression models were employed to determine associations between the main outcomes (cognitive impairment and low resilience) and the main covariate (working as HCPs vs. Admins), adjusting for all potential confounders. RESULTS: HCPs showed a significantly greater cognitive impairment, less resilience, and DASS-21 than the Admins. The odds of impaired cognitive function in HCPs were significantly higher than the Admins (odds ratio [OR]: 4.45, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.27–15.67, P = 0.020), adjusted for all potential covariates. Similarly, the odds of low resilience in HCPs were significantly higher than Admins (OR: 5.81, 95% CI: 2.72–12.44, P &lt; 0.001), adjusted for all potential covariates. However, the adjusted association between impaired cognitive function and low resilience was not statistically significant (OR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.23–1.33, P = 0.185). CONCLUSION: HCPs had significantly impaired cognitive function and low work resilience. Workplace policies and interventions to control depression, stress, and anxiety are required as it is the encouragement of physical activity. Programs that combine positive coping skills training (e.g., relaxation training, positive thinking, and problem solving) with resilience-building interventions (e.g., taking a proactive approach to solving problems, being flexible and adaptive) should be developed, with special attention to HCPs who have a higher sense of self-efficacy.

Physical Activity Dependence on Relative Temperature and Humidity Characteristics in a Young, Insufficiently Active Population: A Weather Typing Analysis.

Physical activity (PA) is an important contributor to one's physical and mental health both acutely and across the lifespan. Much research has done on the ambient environment's impact on PA; however, these studies have used absolute values of atmospheric measures such as temperature and humidity, which vary spatiotemporally and make comparisons between studies which differ in location or time of year difficult to square with one another. Here, we employ the Global Weather Type Classification, Version 2, to determine the combined impact of temperature and humidity on PA in a sample of insufficiently active young adults. We conducted secondary analyses of data from a single-group behavioral intervention trial that varied the number of digital messages sent daily. Young adults (n = 81) wore Fitbit Versa smartwatches for a 6-month period sometime between April 2019 and July 2020, and location was tracked using a custom smartphone application. Mixed linear models indicated that, across 8179 person-days, PA was significantly lower on days with humid conditions and significantly higher on warm dry days, though the latter relationship was no longer significant when controlling for timing in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic declaration. Demographic factors did not affect the relationship between weather and PA. Results are a first step in providing additional guidance for encouraging PA in insufficiently active individuals given forecasted daily weather conditions. Future work should examine seasonal variability in the weather type-PA relationship without the influence of a world-altering event influencing results.

Parental physical activity support for parents of children with disabilities in Saudi Arabia

Physical activity (PA) is crucial for promoting physical, cognitive, and psychosocial health. Unfortunately, children with disabilities spend less time engaging in PA compared to their typically developing peers. Parents play a crucial role in supporting children with disabilities to increase their level of PA. However, there is scant research on the factors linked to parental support for PA among non-Western parents of children with disabilities, particularly in the context of Saudi Arabia. Therefore, to address this gap in the literature, the current study aimed to (i) measure parental support for encouraging PA in children with disabilities in Saudi Arabia, and (ii) examine the demographic factors associated with such support (e.g., family income, age of the child, type of disability, and parents' educational background). The sample included Saudi Arabian parents of children with disabilities (N = 239; fathers: n = 123; mothers: n = 116) who completed the Arabic version of the Parental Physical Activity Support Questionnaire for Parents of Children with Disabilities (PPSQ for PCD). The findings revealed that parental support for children with disabilities to engage in PA typically occurs less than once a week, indicating an inadequate level of support. A generalized linear model analysis demonstrated that several independent demographic variables are associated with overall parental support for PA among children with disabilities: participant age, educational background, parental engagement in PA, age of the child with a disability, disability status, club participation, knowledge of legislation or policies related to the rights of children with disabilities, and number of children in the family. The findings emphasize the significance of raising awareness among parents of children with disabilities to support their children in participating in PA, as well as addressing the barriers that hinder such support.

Economic burden of diabetic foot ulcer: a case of Iran

BackgroundDiabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is known as a serious complication of diabetes mellitus in patients with diabetes, imposing heavy medical costs on healthcare systems due to its chronic nature. patients with severe diabetic foot ulcer are often disabled to work, and some of them may even die, leading to associated productivity losses. Since no previous study has investigated the economic burden of DFU in Iran, this study is to estimate the economic burden of diabetic foot disease in Iran.MethodsIn this descriptive cross-sectional study, randomly selected samples consisted of 542 patients with DFU, hospitalized in the hospitals of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. The demographic profile and cost data used in this analysis were derived from a researcher-designed checklist. Lost productivity was calculated based on Human Capital Approach, and the total economic cost of DFU was determined using patient-level data on costs and prevalence data from the global burden of diseases reports. All analyses were performed using SPSS software (Version 23), and Microsoft Excel (Version 19).ResultsThe economic burden of DFU in Iran in two scenarios of discounting future costs and not discounting them was about $8.7 billion and $35 billion, respectively (about 0.59 and 2.41% of GDP). 79.25% of the estimated costs in this study were indirect costs and productivity losses, of which 99.34% (7,918.4 million Dollars) were productivity losses due to premature death. 20.75% (2,064.4 million dollars) of the estimated costs in this study were direct costs. The average length of stay (LOS) was 8.10 days (SD = 9.32), and 73.3% of patients recovered and were discharged after hospitalization and 7.6% died. The majority of the costs are imposed on the age group of 60–69 year (53.42% of the productivity lost due to hospital length of stay, 58.91% of the productivity lost due to premature death & 40.41% of direct costs).ConclusionsDFU represents a heavy burden to patients, Iran’s health system, and the economy. Early prevention strategies need to be prioritized in making public health policies. These policies and decisions can be in the area of changing lifestyle, health education, changing people's behavior, and encouraging physical activity that targeted high-risk populations in order to reduce the prevalence of diabetic foot and resulting substantial economic burden.

Factors Affecting Fatigue in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of nutrition risk, physical activity, insomnia, anxiety, and depression on fatigue among breast cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy.Methods: The participants of this study were 160 breast cancer patients at Yeungnam University Medical Center in South Korea. The data were collected from September to November 2022 and analyzed using descriptive statistics, the t-test, analysis of variance, the Mann-Whitney test, the Kruskal-Wallis test, the Bonferroni correction, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression with SPSS version 28.0.Results: The mean fatigue score was 18.44±7.30 points, while the scores for nutrition risk, insomnia, anxiety, and depression were 2.03±1.52, 5.43±4.79, 6.79±2.81, and 8.17±3.36 points, respectively. Physical activity was measured at 1366.49±1617.87 METs. The general characteristics of the participants showed significant differences in fatigue concerning pain (F=13.97, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt;=.001), duration of illness (t=-2.37, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt;=.019), and total radiation dose (t=-2.13, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt;=.035). Fatigue exhibited significant positive correlations with nutrition risk (r=.35, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt;&lt;.001), insomnia (r=.35, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt;&lt;.001), and anxiety (r=.35, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt;&lt;.001), and a significant negative correlation with physical activity (r=-.20, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt;=.012). In multiple regression analysis, the factors influencing fatigue were identified as nutrition risk (β=.28, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt;&lt;.001), duration of illness (β=.19, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt;=.005), depression (β=.23, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt;=.006), total radiation dose (β=.19, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt;=.005), and physical activity (β=-.14, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt;=.036).Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of addressing nutrition risk and depression in breast cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy. Encouraging physical activity may also play a crucial role in managing fatigue in these patients. These findings could guide the development of targeted interventions to improve the well-being of breast cancer patients during radiotherapy.

Complex Behavior Change Interventions for Community Health

How can community health professionals connect with resident health consumers to encourage positive self care? This goes beyond encouraging physical activity to encompass a range of life style behavior changes with a tailored approach that engages those least engaged with health and wellness and potentially most at risk from acute health risks and longer term conditions such as Type 2 Diabetes. Is the answer purely digital, or does a network of health service managers help drive engagement and better outcomes?&#x0D; Objectives• Insight into own practices and the balance between acute and preventative care• Understand how smartphone technology, combined with incentives, can be used to engage community residents in their own self care• Learn how to baseline existing behavior and measure change over time• Gain insights from smartphone derived data and understand how it can be used to identify barriers to change

Prevalence and associated factors of depression, anxiety and stress among clinical therapists in China in the context of early COVID-19 pandemic.

To study the socio-demographic characteristics and the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among clinical therapists in China during the early Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and to identify associated factors. This cross-sectional study was part of a multicenter, nationally representative survey conducted through WeChat from January 2021 to March 2021. Data, including socio-demographics, health-related behaviors, and information on whether they participated in the frontline work of treating COVID-19, were collected anonymously. Respondents also completed the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21). In total, 396 clinical therapists in the selected hospitals completed the questionnaires, with a response rate of 89.0%. Respondents were predominantly female (77.3%). About 6.6% of the participants were current tobacco users, and 20.7% had participated in the frontline work of treating COVID-19. Overall, 22.0%, 17.9%, and 8.8% of participants were classified as having clinically meaningful depression, anxiety, and stress, respectively, based on DASS-21 scores. Multiple logistic regression in Model 1 and Model 2 showed that depression, anxiety, and stress were associated with regular physical activity and frequent insomnia (all, p < 0.05). In anxiety model 2, the associated factors for anxiety during the pandemic were identified as education (master's degree or more, OR=0.520; 95% CI=0.283-0.955), marital status (single, OR=2.064; 95% CI=1.022-4.168), tobacco use (OR=4.265; 95% CI=1.352-13.454), regular physical activity (OR=0.357; 95% CI=0.192-0.663), frequent insomnia (OR=6.298; 95% CI =2.522-15.729), and participation in the frontline work of treating COVID-19 (OR=3.179; 95% CI=1.697-5.954). The COVID-19 epidemic did not significantly increase the depression and stress levels among clinical therapists, but it did significantly increase anxiety levels. During the COVID-19 pandemic, depression, anxiety and stress were relatively common among clinical therapists in China. Regular physical activity and good sleep were important protective factors against emotional problems. Therefore, encouraging regular physical activity and actively addressing clinical therapists' sleep problems is beneficial to improving the ability to cope with negative emotions. The COVID-19 epidemic significantly increased anxiety, and awareness and interventions should be recommended to reduce anxiety among clinical therapists during the COVID-19 pandemic.

TOWARDS GROWTH-FOCUSED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY: QUALITATIVE EVALUATION OF A BETTER FUTURE

BACKGROUND Physical activity promotion has traditionally centered on weight loss, contributing to harmful practices and missed opportunities to do good. This study emphasizes the multifaceted benefits of physical activity beyond weight loss. The objective is to provide evidence for a growth-focused approach that will hopefully encourage more successful referral networks between clinical practice and health fitness professionals. METHODS Qualitative data were gathered through questionnaires from participants in 1:1 personal training and fitness classes. Questions included intended goals of participation, what they were able to accomplish, what aspects were most enjoyable and provided the greatest benefit, what may have exceeded their expectations, a single word to describe the experience, feedback about the instructor, and what they would tell someone who is considering participation. RESULTS Qualitative findings revealed that participants responded positively to the growth-focused approach, expressing increased enjoyment and adherence to sustain physical activities. Social connections formed during group activities emerged as significant contributors to sustained engagement, along with the instructor’s support and structure throughout the process. Data showed improvements in overall mental well-being, reductions in stress levels, increased fitness knowledge, self-efficacy, adherence, strength, conditioning, and mobility. CONCLUSIONS This study advocates for a shift in physical activity promotion, moving away from a weight-centric model towards a growth-focused approach. The positive reception and sustained engagement observed among participants suggest that emphasizing well-being, mental health, social connections, and overall growth can be effective in encouraging regular physical activity. This approach has the potential to contribute to a more positive and sustainable health and fitness culture. Future interventions and public health campaigns should encourage continued collaboration between clinical practice and health fitness professionals.

Exploring the Intricate Interplay Between Obesity and Atrial Fibrillation: Mechanisms, Management, and Clinical Implications.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) stands as a prevalent and escalating cardiac arrhythmia in the United States, with obesity emerging as a prominent modifiable risk factor. This article explores the intricate relationship between obesity and AF, delving into the multifaceted pathophysiological mechanisms linking the 2 conditions. Various factors, such as autonomic dysfunction, left atrial stretch, inflammation, and hormonal imbalances, contribute to the initiation and perpetuation of AF in obese individuals. The Atrial Fibrillation Better Care pathway, emphasizing lifestyle modifications and weight loss strategies, emerges as a practical guideline for managing AF in obesity. This comprehensive review underscores the critical role of obesity as a significant modifiable risk factor for AF, urging a proactive approach to its management. Implementing the Atrial Fibrillation Better Care approach, focusing on encouraging physical activity, promoting healthy dietary habits, and raising awareness about the risks associated with obesity prove essential in preventing and mitigating the burden of AF in the obese population.

Effectiveness of multi-component modular intervention on screen-based and non-screen-based sedentary time among adolescents in an urban area of Mangalore: a school-based cluster randomised controlled trial-protocol

Background Behavioural risk factors are often present during adolescence and account for 70% of premature deaths during adulthood. Excessive sedentary behaviour and screen time have become significant concerns, especially among adolescents, due to their potential negative impact on physical and mental health. Adolescents with a high screen-based sedentary time are more likely to be physically inactive, have unhealthy body structure and poor academic performance. The objective of our study is to assess the effect of multi-component modular educational intervention on screen-based sedentary time (SST) and non-screen-based Sedentary time (NSST) among adolescents. Methods Ethical approval for the study has been obtained from the institutional Ethics Committee of Kasturba Medical College in Mangalore, India. This cluster randomized control trial will be carried out in schools located in the urban area of Mangalore. Using simple randomization, the eligible schools will be randomized into intervention and control arms, each consisting of 10 clusters. A multi-component modular educational intervention will be administered to participants in the intervention group at baseline, second and fourth month. The control group will receive the standard curriculum. Both the groups will be assessed at baseline and at second month, fourth month and sixth month of follow up for SST, NSST and level of physical activity. Anthropometric measurements like height, weight, waist circumference and hip circumference will be taken at baseline and sixth month of follow up. Results A comprehensive school-based modular educational intervention can have cumulative advantages by reducing screen- and non-screen-based sedentary time, and encouraging physical activity. Similar modular teaching can be incorporated into the curriculum, which will promote healthy life-style among the adolescents.

Examining the influence of wealth status on prehypertension risk in women aged 30–49: evidence from the 2018 Benin demographic and health survey

BackgroundThere is an interest in the extent to which the wealth status of women predicts their risk of being pre-hypertensive. This understanding is lacking in the current body of empirical literature, particularly within the context of Benin. Thus, indicating a knowledge gap that must be filled. To this end, the present study aimed to assess the association between wealth status and the risk of prehypertension among women aged 30–49 years in Benin.MethodsThis study used a secondary data from the recent (2018) Demographic and Health Survey of Benin. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were computed to examine the association between wealth index and the risks of prehypertension using Stata version 14. Findings were presented in adjusted odds ratio at 95% confidence level.ResultsWomen in the richest wealth index were significantly more likely to have prehypertension than those in the poorest wealth index [AOR = 1.4; 95%CI: 1.26–2.26]. Women aged 45–49 years were more likely to have prehypertension [AOR = 1.5; 95%CI: 1.15–1.98] compared to younger women. Women who used unclean cooking fuel were less likely to have prehypertension compared to those using clean cooking fuel [AOR = 0.6; 95%CI: 0.37,0.87].ConclusionThe study concludes that wealth status is a significant predictor of prehypertension among women in Benin. Therefore, the Ministry of Health in Benin should prioritize health education and prehypertension awareness campaigns specifically targeting women in affluent communities and households. These campaigns should focus on promoting healthy dietary choices and encouraging physical activity to mitigate the elevated risk associated with wealth status. Recognizing the influence of age on prehypertension risk, it is imperative for older-middle aged women to be targeted as primary beneficiaries of health education programs and prehypertension screening programs.

A neurologist’s perspective of approach to falls in the elderly

Abstract Falls constitute an important public health problem that impact the quality of life of an individual. Falls contribute to disability, especially among older adults and elderly individuals. Recurrent fallers are those who fall one or more times per year. The purpose of this article is to provide a detailed systemic qualitative review of the recent definition of falls, their mechanism, risk factors, classification; falls in neurodegenerative disorders; and their approach and management. Sources of literature were drawn from peer-reviewed original and systematic review articles published until January 2024 in the PubMed database using the following key words: falls, elderly, definition, management, etiology, neurodegenerative diseases, epilepsy and fall, dementia and fall, and prevention and diagnostic tests for postural instability and falls. This review summarizes the current understanding of falls and provides a pragmatic and clinically focused approach to their management. Falls are usually multifactorial. Neurodegenerative disorders such as cognitive decline and parkinsonism lead to increased risk of falling. There are several tools to assess the risk of early falls. A multidisciplinary approach is needed in the management of falls. The main goal is encouraging physical activity, home hazard modification, management of postural hypotension, and underlying neurodegenerative diseases.