Increase In Vigorous Physical Activity Research Articles

Impact of a Semi-Rigid Knee Orthotic Intervention on Pain, Physical Activity, and Functional Capacity in Patients with Medial Knee Osteoarthritis.

Background: The effectiveness of knee orthoses as part of conservative treatment for patients with medial knee osteoarthritis has not been fully explored. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a novel semi-rigid knee orthosis on pain, physical activity, and functional capacity. Methods: Pain levels, physical activity, and functional capacity were assessed in 24 participants experiencing symptomatic medial knee osteoarthritis one week before (i.e., pretest) initiating a six-week orthosis intervention and again during the final week of the intervention (i.e., post-test). Results: Night pain, pain during walking, pain during stair climbing, and pain during sitting consistently decreased by 41% to 48% while wearing the knee orthosis. Device-based measured physical activity showed a 20.2-min increase in vigorous physical activity during the post-test, while light and moderate physical activity did not show significant changes. After six weeks of orthosis application, there was a 5% increased distance for the six-minute walk test, and participants reported fewer limitations both in everyday and athletic activities, as well as an enhanced quality of life. Conclusions: These findings highlight the potential effectiveness of a semi-rigid knee orthosis to enhancing functional capacity and quality of life. More extensive and longer clinical trials are needed to improve confidence in these findings and understand their impact on disease progression.

The Effects Of The Web-based WeActive And WeMindful Interventions On Physical Activity And Resilience

PURPOSE: This study examined the effectiveness of an aerobic and resistance training (WeActive) and mindful exercise (WeMindful) web-based interventions in improving physical activity (PA) and resilience among college students. METHODS: Participants were randomly assigned to either an aerobic and resistance training group (WeActive; n = 31) or a mindful exercise group (WeMindful; n = 24). Each group attended two virtual 30-minute sessions per week for 8 weeks. All participants completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10) via Qualtrics one week prior to (pretest), and after the intervention (posttest), and 6 weeks after the intervention (follow up). RESULTS: The repeated measures ANOVA yielded a significant main effect of time for total PA (F = 8.20, p = 0.001), vigorous PA (F = 3.90, p = 0.027), and walking (F = 8.67, p = 0.001) in both groups. The post-hoc tests indicated that the WeActive group showed a significant increase in vigorous PA from pretest to posttest (t = -2.5, p = 0.04) while the WeMindful group showed a significant decrease in total PA from pretest to follow-up (t = 3.6, p = 0.03) and from posttest to follow up (t = 2.5, p = 0.002). There was a significant interaction effect of time and group for moderate PA (F = 4.81 p = 0.01) and walking (F = 3.32 p = 0.047), indicating that the WeActive group showed a n increase in moderate PA and walking across all time points while the WeMindful group showed a decrease in moderate PA across all time points. The WeMindful group showed an increase in walking from pretest to posttest, then a decline from posttest to follow up. There was a significant main effect of time for resilience (F = 4.15, p = 0.024). The post-hoc tests revealed that both the WeActive and WeMindful groups showed a significant increase in resilience scores from pretest to follow up (t = -2.74, p = 0.02; t = -2.54, p = 0.04), respectively. The results showed no significant differences in resilience scores between the two groups regardless of time. CONCLUSION: Both interventions were effective in increasing resilience from pretest to 6-week follow up. Only the WeActive intervention was effective in increasing moderate PA and walking over time. These findings suggest that web-based PA interventions may strengthen the resilience of college students.

An Increase in Vigorous but Not Moderate Physical Activity Makes People Feel They Have Changed Their Behavior.

Objective: While behavioral recommendations regarding physical activity commonly focus on reaching demanding goals by proposing “thresholds,” little attention has been paid to the question of how much of a behavioral change is needed to make people feel that they have changed. The present research investigated this relation between actual and felt behavior change. Design: Using data from two longitudinal community samples, Study 1 and Study 2 comprised 614 (63% women) and 398 participants (61% women) with a mean age of 40.9 years (SD = 13.6) and 42.5 years (SD = 13.4), respectively. Using a stage-approach, participants were classified into four groups by asking them at the respective second measurement to indicate whether they had become more physically active since their last participation 6 months ago (“Changers”), they had tried but did not succeed in becoming more physically active (“Attempters”), they were already physically active on a regular basis (“Regular Actives”), or they had not tried to become more physically active (“Non-Attempters”). Physical activity was measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and fitness level was assessed as physical working capacity (PWC) via bicycle ergometry. Mixed ANOVAs including Time and Perceived Change as within and between factors were conducted, followed up by simple effect analyses. Results: Participants stating to have become more active in the past 6 months (Changers) showed a significant increase in vigorous physical activity but not in moderate physical activity, with an average of 6.8 (Study 1) and 10.6 (Study 2) metabolic equivalent value-hours (MET-hours) per week in vigorous activity. Corroborating these findings, objective fitness also significantly increased in the group of Changers. No systematic change in moderate or vigorous physical activity was observed for the three other “non-changer” groups (Regular actives, Attempters, Non-Attempters). Conclusion: The intensity of physical activity is the crucial variable for people’s perception of change in physical activity. Moderate physical activity seems not to be perceived as an effective means for behavior change. It thus might fail to unfold sufficient motivational impact, despite its known positive effects on health.

Regular aerobic exercise improves sexual function assessed by the Aging Males’ Symptoms questionnaire in adult men

The leading cause of aging-induced male-specific disorders such as physical, mental and/or sexual symptoms is testosterone deficiency. Although aerobic exercise is suggested to improves circulating testosterone levels, physical fitness, depressive symptoms, and sexual function, the effect of regular aerobic exercise on aging-induced disorders has not yet been clarified. Here we performed cross-sectional and interventional studies to identify the effect of aerobic exercise on aging-induced disorders assessed by the Aging Males’ Symptoms questionnaire (AMS). In study 1, the relationship between aerobic exercise capacity (i.e. peak oxygen consumption) and AMS scores were cross-sectionally examined in 169 adult men. In study 2, the effect of a 12-week regular aerobic exercise on AMS scores was longitudinally investigated in 18 adult men. In study 1, the AMS-total, AMS-somatic, AMS-psychological, and AMS-sexual scores were significantly correlated to aerobic exercise capacity even after considering age and testosterone levels. In study 2, 12-week aerobic exercise training significantly improved AMS-sexual and tended to improve AMS-total scores. Additionally, an increase in vigorous physical activity was correlated to improve in the AMS-sexual score. These results suggest that regular aerobic exercise is an effective strategy to improve aging-induced disorders in men.

Vigorous physical activity in relation to family affluence: time trends in Europe and North America

ObjectivesThe aim of the study was to determine secular trends in vigorous physical activity (VPA) among adolescents in relation to family affluence across 34 countries.MethodsThis study used data from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study from 34 countries in Europe and North America. Adolescents (N = 501,647) aged 11, 13 and 15 years across three survey cycles (2006, 2010, 2014) self-reported data on VPA and a family affluence scale (FAS) using standardized questionnaires.ResultsA significant increase in VPA was found in low-FAS boys (girls) in four (10) countries and a decrease in four (three) countries. In high-FAS boys (girls), a significant increase was observed in nine (11) countries and a decrease in two(three) countries. An overall significant increase in meeting the VPA recommendations was found in high-FAS boys (OR 1.11; 95% CI 1.06–1.16) and in all FAS groups in girls, with the largest effect being found among high-FAS girls (OR 1.24; 95% CI 1.18–1.30).ConclusionsA country-specific increase in VPA was observed primarily in the medium- and high-FAS categories. This study suggests a need to focus on increasing VPA efforts, especially in low- and medium-FAS boys.

Prevalence of overweight and obesity among adolescents in Bangladesh: do eating habits and physical activity have a gender differential effect?

The aim of this study was to examine the gender differential effects of eating habits and physical activity on overweight and obesity among school-aged adolescents in Bangladesh. Nationally representative data extracted from the 2014 Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) were utilized. The survey collected information related to physical and mental health from 2989 school-aged adolescents in Bangladesh. An exploratory data analysis and multivariate logistic regression model were employed in this study. Female adolescents were at a lower risk of being overweight or obese (AOR=0.573) than males, with a prevalence of 7.4% (males: 9.9%). The results showed that high consumption of vegetables (both: AOR=0.454; males: AOR=0.504; females: AOR=0.432), high soft drink consumption (both: AOR=2.357; males: AOR=2.929; females: AOR=1.677), high fast food consumption (both: AOR=2.777; males: AOR=6.064; females: AOR=1.695), sleep disturbance (both: AOR=0.675; males: AOR=0.590; females: AOR=0.555) and regular walking or cycling to school (both: AOR=0.472; males: AOR=0.430; females: AOR=0.557) were vital influencing factors for being overweight or obese among adolescents for both sexes. Sedentary activities during leisure time were also identified as significant predictors of being overweight or obese for males. Regular fruit and vegetable consumption, the avoidance of soft drinks and fast food, an increase in vigorous physical activity, regular attendance at physical education classes and fewer sedentary leisure time activities could all help reduce the risk of being overweight or obese for both sexes.

Vigorous Physical Activity is Associated with Regular Aerobic Exercise-Induced Increased Serum Testosterone Levels in Overweight/Obese Men

Testosterone is a male sex hormone and low circulating testosterone levels are associated with various health disorders in men. Obesity results in reduced circulating testosterone levels in men. Previously, we demonstrated that lifestyle modifications (combination of aerobic exercise and dietary modification) increase circulating testosterone levels in overweight/obese men. However, the effect of regular aerobic exercise on serum testosterone levels remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a 12-week aerobic exercise intervention on circulating testosterone levels in normal-weight and overweight/obese men. Sixteen normal-weight men and twenty-eight overweight/obese men completed a 12-week aerobic exercise intervention. Before and after the intervention, we measured serum total testosterone, free testosterone, and bioavailable testosterone levels, and categorized the physical activity levels (light, moderate, or vigorous) in all participants. At baseline, serum total testosterone, free testosterone, and bioavailable testosterone levels were significantly lower in overweight/obese men than in normal-weight men (all p<0.01). After the 12-week aerobic exercise intervention, serum total testosterone, free testosterone, and bioavailable testosterone levels significantly increased in overweight/obese men (p<0.01). In addition, stepwise multivariable linear regression analysis revealed the increase in vigorous physical activity was independently associated with increased serum total testosterone levels (β=0.47, p=0.011). We demonstrated that a 12-week aerobic exercise intervention increased serum total testosterone, free testosterone, and bioavailable testosterone levels in overweight/obese men. We suggest that an increase in vigorous physical activity increased circulating testosterone levels in overweight/obese men.

Exploring The Link Between Exercise Identity And Intervention Dosage

Adolescent overweight and obesity in the United States has increased in past decades, resulting in numerous physiological and psychological consequences. Obesity interventions often aim to increase physical activity (PA). Such interventions may strengthen Exercise Identity (EI). A strong EI has been positively related to long-term PA engagement, as individuals seek to engage in behaviors congruent with the role identity of “exerciser.” Greater dosage of PA intervention may progressively increase EI, and enhance future exercise behavior. However, the relationship between PA intervention dosage and EI in an overweight and obese adolescent population is unclear. PURPOSE: To determine if a PA intervention, when delivered in varying dosages, may strengthen an overweight or obese adolescent’s EI. METHODS: Fifty overweight and obese adolescents (age=14.16 ± 1.88 years, BMI=35.66 ± 7.87 kg/m2, BMI percentile=97.5% ± 3.7%) were recruited from a behavior change summer camp, which included a PA intervention component. Age, gender, height, and weight were collected, and BMI was calculated. The participants were categorized into three separate groups, according to length of PA intervention (dosage): 3 week PA dosage, 4-5 week PA dosage, and 6-7 week PA dosage. Participants completed the Anderson Exercise Identity Scale and 3 Day Physical Activity Recall (3DPAR) at pre- and post-intervention. Group comparisons of EI were made using two-way ANOVA. Changes in vigorous physical activity (VPA) within groups were calculated using Log-Rank, Kaplan-Meier, and Wilcoxon. Activities on the 3DPAR were categorized and coded to compare exercise behavior within groups. RESULTS: Upon comparison, the mean EI in the 6-7 week intervention group significantly differed from other group means and resulted in a significant increase in EI within groups (p<0.001). All intervention groups demonstrated significant increases in VPA (p<0.05), and complied with National PA Guidelines of 60+ minutes of MVPA daily; VPA performed on at least 3 days/week. CONCLUSION: Exercise Identity may be increased in overweight and obese adolescents following a physical activity intervention. Greater dosage of physical activity intervention will result in greater benefits to Exercise Identity, and may ultimately enhance long-term exercise behavior.

The effect of a self-constructed material on children's physical activity during recess.

ABSTRACTOBJECTIVETo analyze whether an intervention supported by free play with a self-constructed material increases the level of physical activity of students during recess.METHODSThe participants were 166 children of third to sixth grade, between nine and 12 years old (average = 10.64; SS = 1.13). An experimental project was conducted with pre-test and post-test measurement, and a control group. Experimental group participants built cardboard paddles (third and fourth) and flying rings (fifth and sixth), a material they used freely for one week during recess. ActiGraph-GT3X accelerometers were used to measure physical activity. An ANOVA of repeated measures was used to find differences between groups and genders.RESULTSSignificant intervention effects were found in the analyzed variables: sedentary activity (F = 38.19; p < 0.01), light (F = 76.56; p < 0.01), moderate (F = 27.44; p < 0.01), vigorous (F = 61.55; p < 0.01), and moderate and vigorous (F = 68.76; p < 0.01). Significant gender differences were shown (time × group × gender) for moderate (F = 6.58; p < 0.05) and vigorous (F = 5.51; p < 0.05) activity.CONCLUSIONSThe self-constructed material is effective to increase the physical activity levels of children during recess; it decreases sedentary activity and light physical activity and increases the time devoted to moderate physical activity and vigorous physical activity, both in boys and in girls. The boys had an increase in vigorous physical activity and the girls in moderate physical activity. Due to its low cost, this strategy is recommended for administrators and teachers to increase the physical activity of children during recess.

Active School Lesson Breaks Increase Daily Vigorous Physical Activity, but Not Daily Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity in Elementary School Boys.

Brief classroom-based episodes of physical activity (active lesson breaks, ALBs) have improved schoolchildren's classroom behaviors in some studies, and may also increase the likelihood of children meeting the recommended daily minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). However, there is emerging evidence that increases in physical activity at particular times of the day may lead to compensatory declines at other times. This study explored evidence for compensatory declines in response to a 10 min ALB during the school day. Thirty-eight 12-year-old boys from a single elementary school completed intervention and control conditions in a cross-over design, with each phase lasting one week. The intervention consisted of a single 10-min active lesson break delivered on each of three days in the intervention week. Twenty-four hour accelerometry was used to quantify moderate and vigorous physical activity. ALBs increased in-school MVPA by 5.8 min (p < .0001), but overall daily MVPA was similar between intervention and control conditions (77.2 vs 77.4 min/d, p > .05), However, vigorous physical activity increased significantly over the whole day (11.2 vs 8.9 min, p = .0006). A brief episode of classroom-based play led to a modest increase in vigorous physical activity in elementary school students, but did not increase MVPA across the day.

Abstract MP83: Increases in Vigorous Physical Activity Improve Pulse Wave Velocity in Adolescents

Introduction: The beneficial effects of vigorous physical activity (VPA) on arterial stiffness have been established, but the effect of changes in VPA over time on these vascular measures is unclear. Hypothesis: Increases in VPA will be associated with improvement in measures of arterial stiffness. Methods: As part of a longitudinal study of the effects of obesity &amp; diabetes on cardiovascular health, 317 subjects (mean age 17.2 years at baseline, 38% male, 63% non-Caucasian) were enrolled and followed up 5 years later. Anthropometrics, accelerometer-measured physical activity, blood pressure, central and peripheral measures of arterial stiffness (pulse wave velocity (PWV), brachial distensibility (BrachD), and augmentation index (AI)), and blood (lipids &amp; metabolic tests) were collected. General linear modeling was performed to test for the independent relationship of change in VPA with change of arterial stiffness. Results: Overall, VPA increased slightly (0.2 minutes) from baseline to follow up. Increased VPA from baseline to follow up was significantly associated (P = 0.0364) with a decrease in PWV but was not associated with a change in BrachD nor AI. The effect of change in VPA on change in PWV was independent of change in glucose (P = 0.024), but not independent of changes in BMI, blood pressure, lipids, or CRP. Conclusions: Increase in vigorous physical activity during late adolescence is significantly associated with improved pulse wave velocity. This relationship may be mediated through improvements in other cardiovascular risk factors such as body mass index, blood pressure, and lipids.

The effect of a kindergarten-based, family-involved intervention on objectively measured physical activity in Belgian preschool boys and girls of high and low SES: the ToyBox-study

BackgroundThe ToyBox-study developed an evidence- and theory-based intervention to improve preschoolers’ energy balance-related behaviours – including physical activity (PA) – by targeting the kindergarten environment and involving their parents/caregivers. The present study aimed to examine the effect of the ToyBox-intervention on increasing Belgian preschoolers’ objectively measured PA levels.MethodsA sample of 472 preschoolers (4.43 ± 0.55 years; 55.1% boys) from 27 kindergartens (15 intervention, 12 control kindergartens) in Flanders, Belgium were included in the data analyses. Preschoolers wore an ActiGraph accelerometer for six consecutive days and were included in the data analyses if they had a minimum of two weekdays and one weekend day, both at baseline and follow-up (one year later). Preschoolers’ PA outcomes were estimated for an average day, weekday, weekend day, during school hours, and during after school hours. To assess intervention effects, multilevel repeated measures analyses were conducted for the total sample, and for sub-groups (according to sex, kindergarten levels of socio-economic status (SES) and risk groups (low levels of PA at baseline)) of preschoolers.ResultsSmall intervention effects were found in the total sample. Most intervention effects were found in boys and in preschoolers from high SES kindergartens. Boys from the intervention group had an increase in vigorous PA (ß = 1.47, p = 0.03) and moderate-to-vigorous PA (ß = 1.27, p = 0.03) from baseline to follow-up, whereas PA levels in boys from the control group stagnated or decreased. In preschoolers from high SES kindergartens, the largest effects were found for PA outcomes during school hours and during after school hours.ConclusionThe results from the Belgian sample demonstrate that effects of the PA-component of the ToyBox-intervention on objectively measured PA were found in preschool boys and in preschoolers from high SES kindergartens, which means that the ToyBox-intervention was mainly effective in those sub-groups. Future interventions should search for alternative strategies to increase preschoolers’ PA levels in preschool girls and preschoolers from low SES kindergartens, as these are the most important at-risk groups regarding PA.

Evaluation of the Latino food and Fun curriculum for low-income Latina mothers and their children: a pilot study.

This study assessed the 8-week nutrition and physical activity program "Food and Fun," adapted for low-income Spanish-speaking mothers and their children. Fruit/vegetable consumption, physical activity, and other characteristics were measured at baseline and at the end of the program. The final sample consisted of 7 mothers and 13 children. Among mothers, there was a significant increase in vigorous physical activity (p =.045). Among children, there was a significant increase in fruit and vegetable consumption (p =.05) and in physical activity (p =.02). This program may be effective in promoting healthy nutrition and physical activity among low-income Latinas and their children.

Serum Vitamin D, Physical Activity, and Metabolic Risk Factors in Korean Children

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of serum vitamin D levels with lifestyle factors, including body fatness and physical activity (PA) parameters, and the clustering of metabolic risk factors in the Korean pediatric population. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels, accelerometer-based PA, and body fatness and metabolic syndrome parameters were assessed in a sample of children of Korean descent (N = 310). Correlation and multivariate linear regression were used to explore the relationships among serum vitamin D levels, lifestyle factors, and the clustering of metabolic risk factors in the study sample. Serum vitamin D levels were negatively associated with body fatness parameters, including body mass index, percent body fat, and waist circumference, but positively associated with accelerometer-based PA including low, moderate, and vigorous levels. In addition, serum vitamin D levels were inversely related to total cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting glucose, and insulin. A stepwise linear regression model showed that both low serum vitamin D levels and decreased vigorous PA were independent predictors for individual variation in the clustering of metabolic risk factors in this study sample. The results of this study suggest that an increase in vigorous PA and vitamin D intake should be two major targets of public health inventions against the clustering of metabolic risk factors in the Korean pediatric population.

Kick Start Your Day

Obesity rates among Hispanic/Latino youth are 5-10% higher than Caucasian youth. Kick Start Your Day was a six-week intervention that was pilot tested in a low-income, predominantly Latino community. The intervention consisted of nutrition education for parents, fun physical activities for children, low glycemic breakfasts and snacks for parents and children, and bilingual resources (e.g., recipe books) to take home. Fifty-six Latino parents (n= 25 intervention, n= 31 control) and their children ages 6-12 participated, and completed both baseline and end-of-program self-report questionnaires. Logistic regression models were used to examine intervention effects on increases in nutrition knowledge, while linear regression models were used to examine intervention effects on changes in parents’ and children’s physical activity. All models adjusted for outcome scores at baseline. Results indicated that intervention group parents were more likely to learn that eating breakfast can help their child pay attention and can prevent moodiness, and that nutrition labels contain information about sodium content. Intervention group parents also had greater increases in vigorous physical activity. This study provided preliminary evidence that a low-cost, family-centered intervention can lead to increases in knowledge and behavior change.

Television Viewing: Moderator or Mediator of an Adolescent Physical Activity Intervention?

To determine whether the amount of television (TV) watched by participants enrolled in a physical activity intervention mediates or moderates program effectiveness. Nine-month, controlled, school-based physical activity intervention. Public high school. One hundred twenty-two sedentary adolescent females (mean +/- standard deviation age = 15.04 +/- 0.79 years). Supervised in-class exercise, health education, and internet-based self-monitoring. Physical activity by 3-day physical activity recall; TV viewing by self-reports; cardiovascular fitness by cycle ergometer. T-tests were conducted to examine between-group differences. Linear regression equations tested the mediating or moderating role of TV watching relative to the intervention. TV viewing moderated the intervention's effect on vigorous activity; the intervention significantly predicted change in physical activity among high (beta = -.45; p < .001), but not among low (p > .05), TV watchers. TV viewing did not mediate the intervention effect. Consistent with displacement theory, adolescents who watched more TV prior to the intervention showed postintervention increases in vigorous physical activity and concomitant decreases in TV viewing, whereas those who watched less TV showed no change in physical activity or TV viewing.

A Pilot of a Video Game (DDR) to Promote Physical Activity and Decrease Sedentary Screen Time

We examined the feasibility of Dance Dance Revolution (DDR), a dance video game, in participants' homes, to increase physical activity (PA) and to decrease sedentary screen time (SST). Sixty children (7.5 +/- 0.5 years) were randomized in a 2:1 ratio to DDR or to wait-list control (10-week delay). DDR use was logged, PA was measured objectively by accelerometry. SST was self-reported at weeks 0 and 10. At week 28, after both groups had access to DDR, accelerometry and SST were repeated. Mean use of DDR was 89 +/- 82 (range 0-660 min) min per week (mpw). The DDR group showed increased vigorous PA and a reduction in light PA; the control group showed no increase in moderate and/or vigorous PA (MVPA) although they also had a reduction in light PA. Differences between the groups were not observed. The DDR group also reported a decrease in SST of -1.2 +/- 3.7 h per week (hpw) (P < 0.05), whereas the controls reported an increase of +3.0 +/- 7.7 hpw (nonsignificant). The difference in SST between the groups was significant, with less SST in the DDR group. Between weeks 10 and 28, numeric reductions in SST were reported in both groups. In the DDR group, SST at week 28 (8.8 +/- 6.0 hpw) was lower than baseline (10.5 +/- 5.5 hpw; P < 0.03). This pilot study suggests that DDR reduces SST and may facilitate slight increases in vigorous PA. Further study is needed to better characterize children and contexts in which DDR may promote a healthy lifestyle.

Trends in physical activity and participation in sports clubs among Icelandic adolescents

Physical activity among adolescents and its implications for health status is of increasing concern. We examined trends in physical activity and participation in sports clubs among Icelandic adolescents. Cross-sectional survey data were used to determine levels of vigorous physical activity and participation in sports clubs (defined as engaging in moderately intensive activity four times or more a week) for cohorts of Icelandic adolescents in 1992, 1997, 2000 and 2006. There was a 6% increase in the rate of vigorous physical activity and a 15% increase in active sports club participation among 14- and 15-year old Icelandic adolescents from 1992 to 2006. The trends were consistent across genders; however, only 53% of boys actually achieved the recommended criterion for vigorous physical activity, with the percentage of girls averaging 16% lower than that for boys. Additionally, there was an overall increase in the proportion of inactive adolescents, with girls consistently reporting higher levels of inactivity than boys even though the net increase in inactivity was higher for boys. Although our results show an overall increase in vigorous physical activity and participation in sports clubs over the past decade among both genders, our data also indicate that over half of all Icelandic adolescents are not achieving the recommended level of participation in physical activity. Furthermore, less than one third of the population studied is achieving the recommended level of activity through organized clubs. Initiatives to increase physical activity among the least active of adolescents should receive high priority in public health.

Can we skill and activate children through primary school physical education lessons? “move it groove it”—a collaborative health promotion intervention

Background Physical education (PE) lessons are an ideal setting to improve child fundamental movement skills (FMSs) and increase physical activity (PA) for optimal health. Despite this, few studies have assessed the potential to do both simultaneously. The “Move It Groove It” primary school intervention in New South Wales, Australia, had this opportunity. Methods A whole school approach to implementation included establishment of school project teams, a teacher “buddy” system, project Web site, teacher training workshops, and small grants for equipment. The quasi-experimental evaluation involved 1,045 year 3 and 4 children (aged 7 to 10 years) in nine intervention and nine control rural primary schools (53% boys/47% girls). It utilised pre- and postobservational surveys of (1) mastery or near mastery levels for each of eight FMSs, (2) proportion of PE lesson time spent in moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) and vigorous PA (VPA), and (3) teacher- and lesson-related contextual covariates. Data were analysed by hierarchical logistic multiple regression. Results For FMSs, overall mastery or near mastery level at baseline was 47% ranging from 22.7% for the overarm throw among girls to 75.4% for the static balance among boys. The intervention delivered substantial improvements in every FMS for both genders ranging from 7.2% to 25.7% (13 of 16 comparisons were significant). For PA level, mean MVPA at baseline was 34.7%. Baseline MVPA for boys was 38.7% and for girls was 33.2%. The intervention was associated with a nonsignificant 4.5% increase in MVPA and a significant 3.0% increase in VPA. This translates to a gain of <1 minute of MVPA per average 21-minute lesson. Conclusions This is the first study to show that by modifying existing PE lessons, significant improvements in FMS mastery can be gained without adversely affecting children’s MVPA and VPA. To increase PA levels, we recommend increasing the number of PE lessons per week.

Sports participation and emotional wellbeing in adolescents

Summary Background Regular physical activity may have psychological benefits. Our study assessed the association between extent of participation in regular sport or vigorous recreational activity and emotional wellbeing in adolescents aged 16 years. Methods Data were collected from a cohort of adolescents, born between April 5 and April 11, 1970, in England, Scotland, and Wales, who took part in the follow-up assessment at age 16 years. Emotional wellbeing was assessed by the general health questionnaire (GHQ) and the malaise inventory (divided into psychological and somatic subscales). Information was obtained about participation in ten team and 25 individual sports and vigorous recreational activities during the previous year. Non-vigorous recreations, such as darts and snooker, were assessed separately. Social class and health status (recent illness and use of hospital services) were included in our analyses as possible confounding factors. 2223 boys and 2838 girls with a mean age of 16·3 years (SD 0·38) were included in our analysis. Statistical analysis was by multiple linear and logistic regression. Findings The sport and vigorous recreational activity index was positively associated with emotional wellbeing independently of sex, social class, health status, and use of hospital services. These associations were significant for the psychological symptom subscale of the malaise inventory (regression coefficient -0·024, 95% Cl -0·036 to -0·011, p<0·001) and the GHQ (odds ratio of emotional distress per unit increase in vigorous physical activity 0·992, 95% Cl 0·985-0·998, p<0·01). By contrast, participation in non-vigorous activities was associated with high psychological and somatic symptoms on the malaise inventory. Interpretation We conclude that emotional wellbeing is positively associated with extent of participation in sport and vigorous recreational activity among adolescents. Although causal associations cannot be assumed in this cross-sectional analysis, our results are consistent with experimental evidence that vigorous exercise has favourable effects on emotional state.