Higher Frequency Of Physical Activity Research Articles

Adolescents’ health literacy is directly associated with their physical activity but indirectly with their body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness: mediation analysis of the Slovak HBSC study data

BackgroundHealth literacy is a core public health issue in relation to children and adolescents associated with multiple health behaviours and health outcomes. The aim of the study is to test the direct associations between health literacy, physical activity behaviour, health outcomes of body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness among Slovak adolescents and possible indirect effect of health literacy on health outcomes of body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness mediated by adolescents’ physical activity behaviour.MethodsData from the Slovak Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study conducted in 2022 were used. For the purposes of this study, a subsample of the adolescents (n = 508; mean age = 14.50; SD = 0.82; 54.3% boys) which provided HBSC questionnaire data on health literacy, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and vigorous physical activity and participated in body composition (InBody 230) and cardiorespiratory fitness (20-m shuttle run test) measurements. Data were analysed using linear regression analysis.ResultsThe findings showed that higher health literacy of the adolescents was directly associated with higher frequency of physical activity represented by moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and vigorous physical activity and only with the visceral fat area in the crude model. Furthermore, there was an indirect effect of health literacy on cardiorespiratory fitness and most of the body composition variables (except the Body Mass Index) which was mediated by physical activity of the respondents.ConclusionsHealth literacy is indirectly associated to body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness through higher frequency of physical activity. It seems that health literacy as cognitive and social competencies need behavioural components to be involved in the proposed causal pathway between health literacy and health outcomes. Our findings may contribute to the process of creating a framework for future health literacy interventions in adolescents.

963-P: Is Using an Automated Insulin Delivery System Associated with a Higher Physical Activity Frequency? A BETTER Registry Analysis

963-P: Is Using an Automated Insulin Delivery System Associated with a Higher Physical Activity Frequency? A BETTER Registry Analysis

The preventative effects of statin on lung cancer development in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis using the National Health Insurance Service Database in Korea.

Little is known about the effect of statin use in lung cancer development in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). We analyzed the database of the National Health Insurance Service to further investigate the clinical impacts of statin on lung cancer development and overall survival (OS) in IPF patients. The analysis included 9,182 individuals diagnosed with IPF, of which 3,372 (36.7%) were statin users. Compared to statin non-users, the time from diagnosis of IPF to lung cancer development and OS were longer in statin users in IPF patients. In Cox proportional hazard regression models, higher statin compliance, statin use, and being female had an inverse association with lung cancer risk, while older age at diagnosis of IPF and smoking history were associated with higher risk of lung cancer in IPF patients. For OS, statin use, female sex, higher physical activity frequency, and diabetes were associated with longer survival. In contrast, older age at diagnosis of IPF and smoking history were associated with shorter OS in IPF patients. These data from a large population indicate that statin had an independent protective association with lung cancer development and mortality in IPF patients.

Bone mass, fracture risk, and associated factors in postmenopausal women living with HIV.

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of low bone mass (osteopenia/osteoporosis), the factors associated with low bone mass, and the risk of fractures in Brazilian postmenopausal women living with HIV (WLH) in the Amazon region. This is a cohort study with a cross-sectional assessment at baseline conducted between March 2021 to August 2022 with 100 postmenopausal WLH undergoing antiretroviral therapy (ART) between 45 and 60 years of age and 100 age-matched HIV-negative women. Data on bone mineral density in the lumbar spine (LS) and femoral neck (FN) were collected using dual x-ray absorptiometry and the 10-year risk of hip and major osteoporotic fractures was assessed using the Fracture Risk Assessment tool (FRAX). The age of menopause onset occurred earlier in WLH ( P < 0.001). No differences in prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia in LS and FN were observed except for a lower T score in FN in WLH ( P = 0.039). The FRAX for major osteoporotic fracture and hip fracture were low in both groups, despite the mean of both FRAX scores was higher in WLH ( P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that years since menopause onset, higher body mass index and higher FRAX major osteoporotic fracture were associated with the WLH group, while a higher frequency of physical activity was registered in the HIV-negative group. Multivariate analysis also showed that in WLH, a lower T score in FN was associated with years since menopause onset and body mass index and that the number of years since menopause onset was associated with a lower T score in the LS and a higher score in the FRAX hip fracture. Our findings show a high prevalence of low bone mass (osteopenia/osteoporosis) in Brazilian postmenopausal women from the Amazon region. Women living with HIV have higher FRAX scores than HIV-negative women and a lower T score in the FN.

Pet's influence on humans' daily physical activity and mental health: a meta-analysis.

The benefits of the human-animal bond on owners' health and quality of life have been the focus of research in recent decades. However, the results are still inconsistent. Thus, this study aims to investigate whether the presence of a pet, compared to a control group, influences daily physical activity levels and mental health using a meta-analytic method. The PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were searched for all research articles that included pets as an object of study and related mental health and quality of life variables between pet owners and non-owners until April 2022. The PRISMA 2020 checklist was used, and the Downs and Back checklist was used to assess the methodological quality of the studies. Standardized mean differences and 95% confidence intervals were used to assess the difference between a group of pet owners and non-pet owners. An initial search located 11,389 studies, but only 49 studies fulfilled all requirements. Our results indicate that pets have a moderately significant positive effect on the physical activity of owners compared to non-pet owners. Among the moderating variables, the frequency of physical activity showed a highly significant effect, indicating that owners had a higher frequency of physical activity than non-owners. Moreover, our results indicate a significant impact but with a low effect size of pets on owners' mental health when compared to non-pet owners. Pet ownership does not seem to influence owners' mental health, but it does influence their physical activity. Specifically, owners show a higher frequency of physical activity than non-owners.

Network analysis of physical activity and depressive and affective symptoms during COVID-19 home confinement.

The aim of this study was to analyze the network structure of physical activity, frequency, depressive, and affective symptoms in people under home isolation due to COVID-19. A longitudinal study was conducted in two phases (beginning (March 19, 2020) and end of home confinement (April 8, 2020)). The sample consisted of 579 participants from Spain (250 men and 329 women) aged 16 to 92years (overall sample: M=47.06, SD=14.52). A network analysis was performed. Four clusters emerged (PA, depressive symptoms, positive affect, and negative affect). A higher frequency of physical activity was related to better-sustained attention, increased alertness, and enthusiasm. In addition, feelings of guilt and shame were mitigated, and confinement distress and irritability were reduced. Physical activity also mitigated fatigue in women, whereas feelings of unhappiness were reduced in men. Physical activity seems to be an effective option for mitigating the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Public health policymakers should develop programs to promote physical activity in order to be able to cope with confinement or similar scenarios in the future.

A higher frequency of physical activity is associated with reduced rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection

Background Physical activity (PA) is associated with health benefits. Previous studies have shown that regular PA decreases the incidence of viral respiratory tract infections, but data on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection are unavailable. Objectives The objective of this study is to examine the association between PA frequency and SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted on data from 1 February 2020 to 31 December 2020, using the registry of Leumit Health Services (LHS), a national health maintenance organisation in Israel. All LHS patients aged 18 to 80 years who underwent at least one RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 during the study period were included. We examined the association between PA frequency (hours per week) and being tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Results Of 113,075 subjects tested for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR (mean age 41.6 years, 54.4% female), 17,465 (15%) were positive. In the SARS-CoV-2-negative group, significantly more subjects were engaged with PA than in the SARS-CoV-2-positive group [crude odds ratio (OR) for any PA 0.75 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.72–0.77)]. After adjusting for possible confounders, PA frequency had a significant negative association with the likelihood of being SARS-CoV-2 positive (adjusted OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.64–0.68). Moreover, as the frequency of PA increased, the ORs of being SARS-CoV-2-positive decreased (occasional PA: OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.67–0.74; PA 1–3 times/week: OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.58–0.65 and PA > 3 times/week: OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.49 − 0.59). Conclusion Our large population-based study in patients undergoing SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR testing showed that a higher frequency of PA is associated with a lower rate of positive test results

Association of time intervals in cancer screenings and older participants' characteristics, in a nationally representative sample

IntroductionHealth agencies and guidelines have proposed various recommendations regarding breast and prostate cancer screening intervals for older adults. However, there is limited data about factors that could impact older individuals' adherence to these guideline-based intervals. This study emphasized the differences in screening rates between men and women undergoing screening for breast (mammogram) and prostate (prostate-specific antigen [PSA] test) cancer. It also investigated the socio-demographic and emotional factors associated with screening time intervals. Materials and MethodsThis cross-sectional design study used data from the National Social Life Health and Aging Project Wave 3 (NSHAP-W3, 2015). The outcome measures were screening time intervals (PSA test or mammogram). Individuals were asked, “About how long has it been since you last had a screening?” Response categories ranged from 1 = within the past year to 5 = never. Differences in screening time intervals were evaluated and displayed by age group (PSA vs. mammogram). The association between the outcome measures and participants' characteristics was evaluated via ordinal logistic regression. ResultsThere were 2320 participants included: 52% women and 48% men. They had a mean age of 66.9 years old, were mostly White (74%) and college graduates (68%). The average time interval between screenings was greater for PSA testing than mammography (mean [M] = 2.28 vs. M = 1.89, p < 0.001). The middle age groups (PSA: 60–79 and mammogram: 65–74), had significantly more frequent screenings compared to the youngest group (50–54). In contrast, older (80+) individuals did not display shorter screening time intervals compared to the youngest group. Furthermore, shorter time intervals between screenings were associated with higher household income (mammogram: odds ratio [OR] = 0.804; PSA: OR = 0.785, p < 0.05), African American descent (mammogram: OR = 0.458, p < 0.001), and higher frequency of physical activity (PSA: OR = 0.921, p = 0.030). Lastly, women who responded “yes” to skipping care due to lack of insurance reported longer periods between mammograms (OR = 1.784, p = 0.002). DiscussionFindings from this real-world US population representative database highlight the role of age, income, and insurance in the timing between screenings; participants aged between 60 and 79 years old, African American women, and physically active men are more likely to pursue earlier screening. These results emphasize the importance of socioeconomic and lifestyle factors when seeking to impact screening timing.

Physical Activity, Healthy Behavior and Its Motivational Correlates: Exploring the Spillover Effect through Stages of Change.

On the basis of the spillover or transfer effect and the transtheoretical model of change, this study assessed the association between amount of physical activity, healthy and unhealthy weight control behaviors, and motivational types, as well as their variability across stages of change. A total of 1219 randomly selected Mexican adults from 18 to 65 years old, representative of the city of Monterrey (México), participated in the study. Correlation analyses, differences by gender, and multivariate analyses of variance, controlling for age, were performed. We found that in the maintenance stage, there is higher frequency of physical activity more healthy weight control behaviors, as well as higher autonomous motivation. In the contemplation stage, there is less physical activity, a higher frequency of unhealthy weight control behaviors, higher controlled motivation, and amotivation. Relationships were found between the healthy behaviors studied and the interaction dynamics observed across the stages of change, highlighting the key role of the contemplation and maintenance stages in weight control change. Physical activity as a targeted intervention objective could be a gateway to healthier weight control behavior, as well as higher autonomous motivation.

Associations Between Self-Reported Sleep, Wellbeing and Physical Activity in Irish Adolescents

Growing evidence suggests sleep plays an important role in the development of healthy adolescents, with increased interest in the associations between sleep and mental health. Higher duration and quality of sleep has been suggested as a mechanism for increased wellbeing in adolescents. Cross sectional data was collected from 5,661 Irish adolescents. 55% of Irish adolescents reported meeting the guidelines for adolescents of 8-10 hours per night. This was found to decrease with age. Higher duration and quality of sleep was positively associated with wellbeing and negatively associated with symptoms of anxiety and depression. A higher frequency of physical activity was associated with longer duration and higher quality of sleep. 9-10 hours of sleep was associated with the highest levels of wellbeing and lowest symptoms of anxiety and depression. The relationship between physical activity and increased wellbeing may be impacted by physical activity leading to higher durations and quality of sleep. Higher frequencies of physical activity may increase sleep quality and quantity thereby improving markers of mental health in adolescents.

Higher Frequency of Physical Activity Reduces the Risk of Kidney Function Loss in a General Non-Diabetic Population

Higher Frequency of Physical Activity Reduces the Risk of Kidney Function Loss in a General Non-Diabetic Population

Impact of physical activity on redox status and nitric oxide bioavailability in nonoverweight and overweight/obese prepubertal children

Nutritional status might contribute to variations induced by physical activity (PA) in redox status biomarkers. We investigated the influence of PA on redox status and nitric oxide (NO) production/metabolism biomarkers in nonoverweight and overweight/obese prepubertal children. We performed a cross-sectional evaluation of 313 children aged 8–9 years (163 nonoverweight, 150 overweight/obese) followed since birth in a cohort study (Generation XXI, Porto, Portugal). Plasma total antioxidant status (P-TAS), plasma and urinary isoprostanes (P-Isop, U-Isop), urinary hydrogen peroxide (U–H2O2), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and plasma and urinary nitrates and nitrites (P-NOx, U-NOx) were assessed, as well as their association with variables of reported PA quantification (categories of PA frequency (>1x/week and ≤1x/week)and continuous PA index (obtained by the sum of points)) in a questionnaire with increasing ranks from sedentary to vigorous activity levels. U-NOx was significantly higher in children who presented higher PA index scores and higher PA frequency. Separately by BMI classes, U-NOx was significantly higher only in nonoverweight children who practiced PA more frequently (p = 0.037). In overweight/obese children, but not in nonoverweight, P-TAS was higher among children with higher PA frequency (p = 0.007). Homeostasis model assessment index (HOMA-IR) was significantly lower in more active overweight/obese children, but no differences were observed in nonoverweight children. In the fully adjusted multivariate linear regression models for P-TAS, in the overweight/obese group, children with higher PA frequency presented higher P-TAS. In the U-NOx models, U-NOx significantly increased with PA index, only in nonoverweight children. Our results provide additional evidence in support of a protective effect of physical activity, in nonoverweight by increasing NO bioavailability and in overweight/obese children by enhancing systemic antioxidant capacity and insulin sensitivity. These results highlight the importance of engaging in regular physical exercise, particularly among overweight/obese children, in which a positive association between oxidant status and cardiometabolic risk markers has been described.

A Pilot Study of a Culturally Tailored Lifestyle Intervention for Chinese American Cancer Survivors.

Although Asian Americans generally have the lowest cancer incidence rates and mortality rates, cancer is the leading cause of death among Asian Americans. The goal of this pilot study was to engage Chinese American cancer survivors (CACS) in systematic changes toward desired health behaviors through a healthy lifestyle intervention delivered by a community-based organization. The Reach out to ENhanceE Wellness (RENEW) program workbook was translated into Mandarin Chinese with additional physical activity (PA) and dietary information that are culturally appropriate (RENEW-C). Fifty-five Chinese cancer survivors were recruited from the greater Houston area to participate in this 50-week program and 50 of them completed both the baseline and postintervention surveys in 2013 and 2014, respectively. Paired sample t tests were used to assess changes in 5 groups of outcomes: (1) patient knowledge (measured by Health Education Impact Questionnaire [heiQ]), (2) dietary intake (Automated Self-Administered 24-Hour [ASA24] Dietary Assessment Tool), (3) PA (Community Healthy Activities Model Program for Seniors [CHAMPS]), (4) body mass index, and (5) quality of life (36-item Short-Form Survey [SF-36]). Compared with the baseline, participants reported significantly higher consumption of vegetables and higher frequency of PAs at the postintervention survey. They also showed improved mental health and lower limitation in doing their work or other activities due to physical health or emotional problems. Despite the small sample size, this pilot study demonstrated the effectiveness of using a community-based participatory approach in a healthy lifestyle intervention tailored for CACS.

Tooth Erosion Association with Obesity: Findings from a Brazilian Survey in Schoolchildren

Objective: To evaluate a possible association between tooth erosion and weight status in Brazilian schoolchildren. Material and Methods: 1211 children aged 8-12-year-old from public and private schools in Southern Brazil were selected by a two-stage cluster method. Oral conditions were assessed by six trained and calibrated examiners. Tooth erosion assessment was determined by using the O´Sullivan index. Anthropometric measures were taken in order to obtain the body mass index. Socio-demographic and behavioral data were collected using questionnaires in children and parents. Multivariate Poisson regression model considering the cluster sample was used for data analysis (Prevalence ratio - PR; 95% Confidence Interval - CI). Results: Tooth erosion was observed in 25.1% of the children. Obesity and overweight prevalence was 34.6%. In the multivariate adjusted model, tooth erosion was associated with children from private schools (PR 1.68; 95%CI 1.05-2.68) and higher frequency of physical activity weekly (PR 1.48; 95%CI 1.04-2.09), whereas dental crowding in both arches was considered a protective effect (PR 0.55; 95%CI 0.34-0.89). In the stratified analysis regarding the type of school, children from private schools presented a positive association between tooth erosion and obesity (PR 3.26; 95%CI 1.38-7.69). Conclusion: Tooth erosion was not associated with obesity in the total sample. Socioeconomic differences seem to influence the relationship tooth erosion and obesity.

The influence of physical activity, sedentary behavior on health-related quality of life among the general population of children and adolescents: A systematic review.

BackgroundThe association between physical activity, sedentary behavior and health-related quality of life in children and adolescents has been mostly investigated in those young people with chronic disease conditions. No systematic review to date has synthesized the relationship between physical activity, sedentary behavior and health-related quality of life in the general healthy population of children and adolescents. The purpose of this study was to review systematically the existing literature that evaluated the relations between physical activity, sedentary behavior and health-related quality of life in the general population of children and adolescents.MethodsWe conducted a computer search for English language literature from databases of MEDLINE, EMBASE, PSYCINFO and PubMed-related articles as well as the reference lists of existing literature between 1946 and the second week of January 2017 to retrieve eligible studies. We included the studies that assessed associations between physical activity and/or sedentary behavior and health-related quality of life among the general population of children and adolescents aged between 3–18 years. The study design included cross-sectional, longitudinal and health intervention studies. We excluded the studies that examined associations between physical activity, sedentary behavior and health-related quality of life among children and adolescents with specific chronic diseases, and other studies and reports including reviews, meta-analyses, study protocols, comments, letters, case reports and guidelines. We followed up the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement in the reporting of this review. The risk of bias of the primary studies was assessed by the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. We synthesized the difference in health-related quality of life scores between different levels of physical activity and sedentary time.ResultsIn total, 31 studies met the inclusion criteria and were synthesized in the review. Most of the included studies used a cross-sectional design (n = 21). There were six longitudinal studies and three school-based physical activity intervention studies. One study used both cross-sectional and longitudinal designs. We found that higher levels of physical activity were associated with better health-related quality of life and increased time of sedentary behavior was linked to lower health-related quality of life among children and adolescents. A dose-response relation between physical activity, sedentary behavior and health-related quality of life was observed in several studies suggesting that the higher frequency of physical activity or the less time being sedentary, the better the health-related quality of life.ConclusionsThe findings in this study suggest that school health programs promoting active lifestyles among children and adolescents may contribute to the improvement of health-related quality of life. Future research is needed to extend studies on longitudinal relationships between physical activity, sedentary behavior and health-related quality of life, and on effects of physical activity interventions on health-related quality of life among children and youth.

Physical Activity, Sleep, and BMI Percentile in Rural and Urban Ugandan Youth

BackgroundUganda is experiencing a dual burden of over- and undernutrition, with overweight prevalence increasing while underweight remains common. Potential weight-related factors, particularly physical activity, sleep, and rural/urban status, are not currently well understood or commonly assessed in Ugandan youth. ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to pilot test a survey measuring weight-related factors in rural and urban Ugandan schoolchildren. MethodsA cross-sectional survey measured sociodemographics, physical activity, sleep patterns, and dietary factors in 148 rural and urban schoolchildren aged 11-16 in central Uganda. Height and weight were objectively measured. Rural and urban youth were compared on these factors using χ2 and t tests. Regression was used to identify correlates of higher body mass index (BMI) percentile in the full sample and nonstunted youth. FindingsYouth were on average 12.1 ± 1.1 years old; underweight (10%) was more common than overweight (1.4%). Self-reported sleep duration and subjective sleep quality did not differ by rural/urban residence. Rural children overall had higher BMI percentile and marginally higher stunting prevalence. In adjusted analyses in both the full and nonstunted samples, higher BMI percentile was related to living in a rural area, higher frequency of physical activity, and higher subjective sleep quality; it was negatively related to being active on weekends. In the full sample, higher BMI percentile was also related to female gender, whereas in nonstunted youth, higher BMI was related to age. BMI percentile was unrelated to sedentary time, performance of active chores and sports, and dietary factors. ConclusionsThis study is one of the first to pilot test a survey assessing weight-related factors, particularly physical activity and sleep, in Ugandan schoolchildren. BMI percentile was related to several sociodemographic, sleep, and physical activity factors among primarily normal-weight school children in Uganda, providing a basis for understanding weight status in the context of the nutrition transition.

How is quality of urban green spaces associated with physical activity and health?

This study investigates the associations between quality of urban green spaces (UGS), self-reported physical activity (PA), and health indicators in Aydın, Turkey. Data was collected through a survey with 420 participants. The associations between quality of UGS, self-reported frequency and duration of PA, and stress, mental health, and physical health were examined with multivariate linear regression while controlling for confounding factors. Results showed that nearest distance to UGS and quality of UGS (i.e. maintenance and cleanliness) were associated with increased frequency of PA. Higher frequency of PA was related to less stress and better mental health and longer duration of PA was associated with better physical health. In addition, large and open/visible UGS were associated with better physical health. The findings also showed that stress mediates the relationship between PA and mental health. Results suggest that providing large, visible as well as clean and well-maintained UGS close to people's homes may be an effective strategy to improve PA and people's health.

Effect of Physical Activity Level on Biomarkers of Inflammation and Insulin Resistance Over 5 Years in Outpatients With Coronary Heart Disease (from the Heart and Soul Study)

Higher levels of physical activity are associated with lower rates of coronary heart disease (CHD). Previous studies have suggested that this is due partly to lower levels of inflammation and insulin resistance. The aim of this study was to determine whether physical activity level was associated with inflammation or insulin resistance during a 5-year period in outpatients with known CHD. A total of 656 participants from the Heart and Soul Study, a prospective cohort study of outpatients with documented CHD, were evaluated. Self-reported physical activity frequency was assessed at baseline and after 5 years of follow-up. Participants were classified as low versus high activity at each visit, yielding 4 physical activity groups: stable low activity, decreasing activity (high at baseline to low at year 5), increasing activity (low at baseline to high at year 5), and stable high activity. Year 5 markers of inflammation (C-reactive protein [CRP], interleukin-6, and fibrinogen) and insulin resistance (insulin, glucose, and glycated hemoglobin) were compared across the 4 activity groups. After 5 years of follow-up, higher activity was associated with lower mean levels of all biomarkers. In the fully adjusted regression models, CRP, interleukin-6, and glucose remained independently associated with physical activity frequency (log CRP, p for trend across activity groups = 0.03; log interleukin-6, p for trend = 0.01; log glucose, p for trend = 0.003). Subjects with stable high activity typically had the lowest levels of biomarkers. In conclusion, in this novel population of outpatients with known CHD followed for 5 years, higher physical activity frequency was independently associated with lower levels of CRP, interleukin-6, and glucose.

Physical activity and screen-based media use: cross-sectional associations with health-related quality of life and the role of body satisfaction in a representative sample of German adolescents

Purpose: Although it is widely accepted that physical activity (PA) positively, and screen-based media use (SBM) negatively, affects well-being, there is a lack of studies relating PA and SBM to health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adolescents. We examined these associations in German adolescents for different HRQoL subdomains and explored the role of body satisfaction as a possible mediator. Methods: The 11–17-year-old subsample of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey (2003–2006) was analysed (N = 6813; 51.3% male). Cross-sectional associations of self-reported PA frequency and amount of daily SBM with HRQoL subscale scores (according to KINDL-R) were examined by hierarchical linear regression models, adjusting for the clustering of the sample and for a variety of possible confounders. The size and significance of indirect effects via body (dis)satisfaction (BDS) were examined by mediation analyses. Results: Higher PA frequency was significantly associated with higher HRQoL on nearly all subscales and dose–response-relationships were observable. Variations were greatest in terms of social well-being in boys (effect size d = 0.59) and physical well-being in girls (d = 0.43). Higher SBM was related to lower HRQoL on all subscales in girls and on some subscales in boys, with the largest effects for school functioning in both genders (d = 0.31 and 0.37, respectively). The mediated effects for PA and SBM were significant in both genders, but the sizes and the proportions of total effects mediated by body satisfaction were rather small. Conclusions: Higher PA frequency was associated with higher self-reported HRQoL, and higher SBM was associated with lower self-reported HRQoL in both genders, even after adjusting for relevant covariates. The results support the assumption of independent health impacts of both behaviours, although no causal relationship can be confirmed with these cross-sectional data. Mechanisms other than body satisfaction must largely account for the effects of PA and SBM on well-being.

Habit Formation Among Regular Exercisers at Fitness Centers: An Exploratory Study

Predictive modeling for physical activity behavior has included many different psychological components, including planning, motivation, personality, and self-efficacy. However, habit formation in exercise maintenance has not been well explored and lacks reliable measurement tools. The current study explores novel survey questions that examine behavioral components of exercise habit, including frequency, environmental cuing, and temporal constancy of behavior. We then relate these concepts to an established psychological measure of habit, the Self-Report Habit Inventory (SRHI). One hundred and seventy-four exercisers were surveyed at 2 private fitness clubs. A single questionnaire was administered that included the SRHI and the novel behavioral questions developed from habit formation concepts. Habit formation was reported by many of the exercisers. Participants scoring higher on the SRHI also reported higher frequency of physical activity and a higher probability of environmental cuing. Exercise frequency did not correlate well with environmental cuing. Habit formation appears relevant to the physical activity patterns of many regular exercisers. However, wide variation in response styles was evident suggesting further development and exploration of the novel questionnaire is warranted. The ultimate goals are to include habit in predictive models of physical activity, and then to inform interventions to increase exercise adherence.