Health Organization Physical Activity Research Articles

Prevalence of overweight and obesity, dietary behaviors, and physical activities among sixth graders: a cross-sectional study in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

The prevalence of overweight and obesity among adolescents has been increasing worldwide and is a significant public health challenge. Obesity is linked to several non-communicable diseases. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity based on three growth references and described physical activities and dietary patterns among sixth graders in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC). From 2018 to 2020, a cross-sectional study was conducted on 1375 students from 16 junior high schools in HCMC. We applied Probability Proportional to Size sampling to select schools. Anthropometric measurements, pubertal status assessment, and diet and physical activity data were collected through Food Frequency and Physical Activity Questionnaires. The study revealed a high prevalence of overweight and obesity among grade 6 students, with ∼45%-56% of students classified as overweight or obese using various growth references. Moreover, most students did not meet the World Health Organization's physical activity and sedentary behavior recommendations. Most students spent <60 min/day on moderate to vigorous physical activity, and over 70% spent at least 120 min/day on sedentary activities during weekdays and weekends. The diet of the students was also imbalanced, with high intakes of protein, lipids, and carbohydrates and low consumption of fruits and vegetables. Nutritionists and policymakers should inform and encourage opportunities for healthier food and more daily activity for children, starting before the sixth-grade, so they can learn how to make healthier choices and change their behavior before they reach adolescence.

Physical activity and recreational screen time among Chinese children and adolescents: a national cross-sectional study.

The increasing prevalence of physical inactivity and prolonged Recreational Screen Time (RST) among children and adolescents is emerging as a significant public health concern. This study investigates the current status of Physical Activity (PA) and RST among Chinese children and adolescents from 2017 to 2019. It also examines variations in PA and RST across different school levels, genders, urban-rural areas, regions, and seasons. A national cross-sectional survey, conducted in China from 2017 to 2019, included 53,101 children and adolescents from grades 4 to 12 (aged 10 to 18 years old). Data on PA and RST were collected via self-administered questionnaires. The study employed descriptive statistics, calculated weighted prevalence rates, and conducted differential analysis across diverse demographic groups. Between 2017 and 2019 in China, merely 28.73% of children and adolescents adhered to World Health Organization's PA guidelines, while 76.09% met China's RST guidelines. Notably, females, higher-grade students, rural residents, and children and adolescents from southern regions exhibited significantly lower levels of PA compared to their male, lower-grade, urban, and northern counterparts. Concurrently, RST was significantly higher among males, lower-grade students, rural residents, and those from northern regions. Seasonal variations were also observed, with lower PA and higher RST in autumn and winter as compared to spring. The study reveals a concerning low level of PA among Chinese children and adolescents, with marked disparities in PA and RST across different groups. This underscores the need for targeted health promotion strategies to enhance PA and mitigate RST among various child and adolescent populations.

Perspectives of the World Health Organization's physical activity guidelines among patients with musculoskeletal conditions: A mixed-methods survey.

Physical activity (PA) promotion is a core element of musculoskeletal rehabilitation. Many people with musculoskeletal conditions do not meet PA guidelines, such as those provided by the World Health Organization (WHO). This study aimed to explore the level of awareness and perspectives on the WHO PA guidelines among people with musculoskeletal conditions and identify how patients can be supported with PA in clinical practice. A mixed-method cross-sectional survey was conducted using a uniquely developed questionnaire, which was disseminated to patients attending outpatient physiotherapy or occupational therapy appointments. The questionnaire collected data on participant characteristics, awareness and perspectives on the WHO guidelines and suggestions for supporting patients with PA in clinical practice. Descriptive statistics and content analysis were used to analyse the quantitative and qualitative data respectively. One-hundred and two responses were included in the analysis. Forty-two percent of respondents were aware of the guidelines, 50% knew why they existed and 53% felt they were achievable. Perspectives varied, ranging from the guidelines being positive and aiding motivation to being unachievable. Some respondents felt an individualised approach is required. Suggestions for supporting patients with PA included facilitating social support, providing education, exercise groups and personalised advice, and signposting to community services. There is limited awareness of the WHO PA guidelines and a variety of perspectives on the guidelines among patients with musculoskeletal conditions. There is a need to enhance the promotion of the guidelines in clinical practice, whilst considering local context and individual patient's circumstances.

Study of active design strategies to enhance physical activity in university educational buildings: a case study at King Abdulaziz University

Saudi Arabia is taking significant steps to improve urban lifestyles by implementing the Quality-of-Life Program, which focuses on increasing public participation in physical activities. Studies have shown a link between physical inactivity and poor health. A large percentage of the adult population does not meet the World Health Organization's physical activity recommendations due to many reasons, including the lack of active design strategies in the built environment. This research aims to measure the extent to which active design strategies are applied in university buildings at King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia and suggest recommendations for university educational buildings in KSA. A comparative analysis of systems for evaluating the application of active design strategies was conducted, and The Movement Checklist in WELL Building Standard was used as a tool to evaluate educational buildings. Additionally, a questionnaire and interviews were used to identify the awareness of the study sample of the importance of physical activity and to discover appropriate active design strategies for them. The findings of this research will help to inform the development of active design strategies that can be applied to university educational buildings in KSA and will contribute to achieving the objectives of the National Transformation Program's Quality-of-Life Program.

Physical Activity Among Adolescent Cancer Survivors: The PACCS Study.

Physical activity (PA) may modify risks of late effects after cancer. We aimed to examine levels of PA and sedentary time (ST) in a large, international sample of adolescent childhood cancer survivors in relation to sociodemographic and cancer-related factors and compare levels of PA and ST to reference cohorts. Survivors from any cancer diagnosis who had completed cancer treatment ≥1 year ago, aged 9 to 16 years, were eligible for the multicenter Physical Activity in Childhood Cancer Survivors study. PA and ST were measured by ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometers. We performed linear regression analyses to assess factors associated with moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and ST, and compared marginal means of total PA, MVPA, and ST in 432 survivors to sex- and age-stratified references (2-year intervals) using immediate t-tests for aggregated data. Among survivors, 34% fulfilled the World Health Organization's PA recommendation of ≥60 min of daily MVPA on average and their ST was 8.7 hours per day. Being female, older, overweight, a survivor of central nervous system tumor, or having experienced relapse were associated with lower MVPA and/or higher ST. Generally, male survivors spent less time in MVPA compared with references, whereas female survivors had similar levels. Both male and female survivors had higher ST than references in nearly all age groups. The low PA and high ST in this large sample of adolescent childhood cancer survivors is worrisome. Combined, our results call for targeted interventions addressing both PA and ST in follow-up care after childhood cancer.

Are Exercise Interventions in Clinical Trials for Chronic Low Back Pain Dosed Appropriately to Meet the World Health Organization's Physical Activity Guidelines?

This study aimed to estimate the proportion of exercise interventions tested in clinical trials of people with chronic low back pain (CLBP) that meet the World Health Organization's (WHO) physical activity guidelines. A secondary analysis of the 2021 Cochrane review of exercise therapy for CLBP was performed. Data from each study were extracted by 1 reviewer and were checked by a second reviewer. Data extracted related to the frequency, duration and intensity of each exercise intervention, and the proportion of exercise interventions that met the WHO's physical activity guidelines (aerobic, muscle strengthening, or both) were determined. The 249 included trials comprised 426 exercise interventions. Few interventions reported an exercise type and dose consistent with the WHO guidelines (aerobic: 1.6%, muscle strengthening: 5.6%, both: 1.6%). Poor reporting of exercise intensity limited our ability to determine whether interventions met the guidelines. Few interventions tested in clinical trials for people with CLBP prescribe an exercise type and dose consistent with the WHO guidelines. Therefore, they do not appear sufficiently dosed to achieve broader health outcomes. Future trials should investigate the effect of WHO guideline-recommended exercise interventions on patient-reported outcomes (pain and disability) as well as health-related outcomes in people with CLBP. This exploratory analysis showed the lack of exercise interventions in the CLBP literature that meet the WHO's physical activity guidelines. With people in chronic pain groups, such as people with CLBP, being at higher risk for noncommunicable disease, it appears this is a key consideration for exercise practitioners when designing interventions for people with CLBP.

Autonomous Motivation for Exercise Is Key to an Active Lifestyle in Firefighters.

Physical inactivity is an important risk factor for chronic mental and physical health conditions in firefighters. It remains unclear why a substantial portion of firefighters do not meet the World Health Organization's physical activity (PA) recommendations. In this cross-sectional study, we explored associations between motivational reasons for being physically active and time spent exercising, walking, and in incidental PA in firefighters. A secondary aim was to investigate differences in motivational reasons between physically active versus physically inactive firefighters. Eighty-seven participants (43.1 ± 10.3 years; 87.6% male) who were recruited via a nonprofit peer support network of fire rescue personnel in Flanders, Belgium, completed the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire 2 (BREQ-2), Simple Physical Activity Questionnaire (SIMPAQ), and the Physical Activity Vital Sign (PAVS) via an online survey. Firefighters who identified the benefits of exercising and/or those who found pleasure or a personal challenge in it exercised more. Those who did not meet the guideline of 150 min of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per week had much less intrinsic motivation. This study demonstrates that autonomous motives for PA (i.e., because it is perceived to be consistent with intrinsic goals or outcomes and emanates from the self) are important for an active lifestyle in firefighters. Occupational health professionals can foster autonomous motivation in firefighters by focusing on the benefits of exercise, making sure there are a wide range of exercise options available, and supporting initiatives of firefighters within the fire station.

Adherence to aerobic and muscle-strengthening components of the physical activity guidelines and mental health.

Despite a clear distinction between aerobic and muscle strengthening (MS) components in the physical activity guidelines, public health surveillance has largely focused only on aerobic components, limiting the reach of epidemiological research on the physical activity guidelines. Hence, this study investigated the association between adherence to both components (i.e. aerobic and muscle-strengthening) of the World Health Organization's physical activity guidelines and mental health among the college student population. A cross-sectional study was conducted among a nationally representative sample of Irish college students (7088 participants, M age: 23.17 years; 50.9% female). Participants were categorized as meeting both components of the guidelines (n = 41%), only the aerobic component (n = 25.3%) or the MS component (n = 7.3%), and neither (n = 26.4%). Group membership effects on mental health was determined through mixed univariate ANOVAs, with a Bonferroni correction for post hoc analyses to assess multiple comparisons. Results revealed that meeting both components of the guidelines was significantly (all p < 0.01) associated with greater self-reported happiness, body image and general health, and less mental ill-being, relative to all other respective groupings. Meeting aerobic or MS components in isolation was significantly (p < 0.05) associated with better happiness, general health and body image compared to not meeting either component. To conclude, 59% of the college-aged population are insufficiently active, and adherence to both guideline components is positively associated with mental health. Co-produced, evidence-based, physical activity interventions are needed in students and could contribute to mental health promotion.

Virtual reality exergaming improves affect during physical activity and reduces subsequent food consumption in inactive adults

An individual's affective (i.e. emotional) response to exercise may play an important role in post-exercise eating behaviour for some individuals. Taking advantage of advances in fully immersive virtual reality (VR) technology, this study aimed to: a) examine whether VR exergaming can improve the psychological response to exercise in inactive adults, and b) assess the extent to which this improvement reduces post-exercise appetite and eating behaviour. In a cross-over study, 34 adults not meeting the World Health Organisation's physical activity recommendations completed two exercise sessions on a stationary bike; one while engaging in a VR exergame and one without VR. Monitoring enabled heart rate, energy expenditure, and duration across conditions to be closely matched. The Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale, Feeling Scale, Felt Arousal Scale and Borg's Ratings of Perceived Exertion were measured to capture the affective responses to exercise. Appetite and eating behaviour were evaluated using visual-analogue scales, a computerised food preference task, and intake at a post-exercise buffet meal. Cycling in VR elicited greater exercise enjoyment (p < 0.001, η2p = 0.62), pleasure (p < 0.001, η2p = 0.47), and activation (p < 0.001, η2p = 0.55). VR exergaming did not alter perceived physical exertion (p = 0.64), perceived appetite (p = 0.68), and preference for energy dense (p = 0.78) or sweet/savoury foods (p = 0.90) compared to standard exercise. However, it did result in a mean 12% reduction in post-exercise food intake (mean difference: 105.9 kcal; p < 0.01; η2p = 0.20) and a decrease in relative food intake (p < 0.01; η2p = 0.20), although inter-individual differences in response to VR exergaming were observed. The integration of VR in a cycling workout improves the affective experience of physical activity for inactive adults and reduces subsequent food intake. Virtual reality technology shows potential as an adjunct tool to support adults in weight management programmes become more active, especially for those individuals who are prone to eat in excess after physical activity.

Physiotherapists lack knowledge of the WHO physical activity guidelines. A local or a global problem?

BackgroundPhysical inactivity is a significant cause of premature deaths globally, yet many physiotherapists)PT's) have little knowledge of the World Health Organization's physical activity guidelines (PA). ObjectivesTo assess the knowledge of Israeli PT's regarding the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommendations for PA for adults and adolescents. Secondary aims were to determine how many Israeli PT's, are recommending PA for their patients and to evaluate the knowledge level of Israeli PT's in relation to PT's in other countries. DesignCross-sectional online survey. ParticipantsOf the 1413 Israeli PT's offered the survey, 1062 (75%) completed it, which represents 16.4% of the 6450 licensed PT's in Israel. ResultsA mere 6.8% physiotherapists were aware of the WHO-recommended level of adult PA, and only 4% were knowledgeable of the recommendations for adolescents. Novice PT's (5 > years of experience) knew significantly more about adult PA recommendations (P < 0.05) than did the more senior physiotherapists. Nine out of every ten (90%) PT's routinely initiate conversations about PA, 83.5% signpost to PA support elsewhere, and 70.5% deliver brief intervention themselves for PA. The main barriers to promoting PA were (1) the belief that promotion would not change patient behavior, (2) lack of time, and (3) perceived lack of skills at counseling for behavior change. ConclusionsIsraeli PT's have poor knowledge of the WHO's adults and adolescent guidelines for PA. Lack of knowledge among PT's regarding the WHO's PA guidelines is a recurrent global problem that requires immediate attention.

Comparing physical activity and sedentary behavior levels between deaf and hearing adolescents

BackgroundDeaf adolescents may engage in less physical activity (PA) and longer sedentary time than their hearing peers. Yet, literature comparing PA levels and sedentary time between deaf and hearing control groups, as well as studies examining predictors of PA among deaf adolescents, are lacking. ObjectiveThis cross-sectional survey aimed to compare PA levels and sedentary time between the two groups and examine predictors (i.e., gender and social inclusion) of PA participation among deaf adolescents. MethodsParticipants were 98 deaf and 99 hearing adolescents, who completed the survey measuring the variables of interest. ResultsDeaf adolescents had a higher level of sedentary behavior as well as lower levels of light PA, moderate-to-vigorous PA, and total metabolic equivalent task (MET) than the hearing group. Only a small proportion of participants (deaf: 4%; hearing: 24%) met the World Health Organization's PA recommendation. Gender was found to negatively predict total MET among deaf, while social inclusion was a positive predictor. ConclusionsDeaf adolescents may have restricted PA participation. Measures should be used to promote social inclusion for increasing PA levels of this population.

Prevalence of physical activity in European adults — Compliance with the World Health Organization's physical activity guidelines

BackgroundAdults are recommended to engage in at least 150min/week of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (PA). PurposeThis study aimed to examine the level of compliance with PA recommendations among European adults. MethodsUsing data from European Social Survey round 6, PA self-report data was collected from 52,936 European adults from 29 countries in 2012. Meeting PA guidelines was assessed using World Health Organization criteria. Results61.47% (60.77% male, 62.05% female) of European adults reported to be engaged in moderate to vigorous PA at least 30min on 5 or more days per week. The likelihood of achieving the PA recommended levels was higher among respondents older than 18–24. For those aged 45–64years the likelihood increased 65% (OR=1.65, 95% CI: 1.51–1.82, p<0.001) and 112% (OR=2.12, 95% CI: 1.94–2.32, p<0.001) for males and females, respectively. Those who were high school graduates were more likely to report achieving the recommended PA levels than those with less than high school education (males: OR=1.19, 95% CI: 1.12–1.27, p<0.001; females: OR=1.13, 95% CI: 1.06–1.20, p<0.001). ConclusionAlthough about 60% of European adults reported achieving the recommended levels of PA, there is much room for improvement among European adults, particularly among relatively inactive subgroups.