Increase In Daily Physical Activity Research Articles

Effect of an After-School Intervention on Increases in Children’s Physical Activity

Evaluate the effect of an after-school intervention on physical activity program changes and individual behaviors among children. A quasi-experimental evaluation of a YMCA-driven environmental change intervention with 16 intervention and 16 control sites in four metropolitan areas in the United States. Intervention sites participated in learning collaboratives designed to promote physical activity and nutrition through environmental change, educational activities, and parent engagement. Behavioral foci included increasing overall physical activity levels as well as combined moderate and vigorous physical activity and vigorous physical activity. Outcomes were assessed longitudinally using preintervention and follow-up surveys of program implementation and accelerometer measures of physical activity. ActiGraph accelerometer data were collected from a sample of 212 children, ages 5-11 yr, attending the programs. On average, 3 d of data were gathered per child. Reliability of the accelerometer counts averaged 0.78. Multivariate regression models were used to control for potential confounding variables and to account for clustering of observations. Data indicate greater physical activity increases in children in intervention versus control sites after modest intervention implementation. Controlling for baseline covariates, children in intervention sites showed greater increases in average physical activity level than in control sites (76 counts per minute, P = 0.037, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 8.1-144) and more minutes of moderate and vigorous physical activity (10.5 min·d(-1), P = 0.017, 95% CI = 1.5-18.6), minutes of moderate physical activity (5.6 min·d(-1), P = 0.020, 95% CI = 0.99-10.2), and minutes of vigorous physical activity (5.1 min·d(-1), P = 0.051, 95% CI = 0.21-9.93). Results indicate significant increases in daily physical activity among children in intervention versus control sites. This study documents the effectiveness of an environmental change approach in an applied setting.

Using Pedometers to Promote Physical Activity Among Clinical Populations

Using Pedometers to Promote Physical Activity Among Clinical Populations

Exercise and Type 2 diabetes: the metabolic benefits and challenges

SUMMARY Regular exercise is known to decrease the risk of all-cause mortality, improve insulin sensitivity and decrease blood glucose in patients with Type 2 diabetes. These improvements have been associated with increased skeletal muscle glucose disposal and a decreased hepatic glucose production. In recent times exercise has been linked to improved cognitive function and a reduced risk of dementia. In addition, the changes in hepatic gene expression are very rapid and suggest a direct impact of exercise. Therefore, the benefits of exercise may be more wide ranging than previously believed. Despite the known benefits it has been a challenge to influence policy makers to incorporate exercise into the management of Type 2 diabetes. This is partly owing to a lack of randomized controlled trials to determine the optimal exercise prescription and the variability in study design. In order to affect an increase in daily physical activity there is a need to develop new screening and monitoring tools to provide i...

Lifestyle Intervention Leading to Moderate Weight Loss Normalizes Postprandial Triacylglycerolemia Despite Persisting Obesity

Obesity is associated with impaired postprandial triacylglycerolemia, an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Given that obesity is hard to treat, efforts should focus on treating its comorbidities. We aimed to investigate whether moderate weight loss normalizes postprandial triacylglycerol (TAG) concentrations, in the absence of the acute effects of negative energy balance. For this purpose, postprandial lipemia was investigated in eight obese but otherwise healthy, sedentary men (age: 41.3 ± 4.1 years, BMI: 36.5 ± 1.6 kg·m(-2)), once before and again after a 10% weight loss followed by ≥4 weeks of weight maintenance, and was compared with that of eight age-matched healthy lean men (BMI: 24.7 ± 0.6 kg·m(-2)). Dietary intervention consisted of reduced carbohydrate and saturated fat intake and increased monounsaturated fat intake. Obese volunteers were advised to increase physical activity using pedometers to record daily activity. Postprandial triacylglycerolemia after weight loss was reduced by 27-46% (P < 0.05), and became similar to that of lean men despite persisting obesity (BMI after weight loss: 32.9 ± 1.5 kg·m(-2)). Reduction in postprandial TAG responses was inversely correlated with the decrease in postprandial insulin sensitivity index (ISI) after weight loss (r = -0.714, P = 0.047). We conclude that moderate weight loss induced by a low-carbohydrate and saturated fat diet and a slight increase in daily physical activity normalizes postprandial triacylglycerolemia in obese men, independently of acute diet-induced negative energy balance, and possibly through enhancement of insulin action.

Effect of asthma treatment on fitness, daily activity and body composition in children with asthma

Although several cross-sectional studies have assessed the daily physical activity in children with asthma, the impact of the level of asthma control remains unknown. To assess the influence of asthma treatment-induced changes in asthma control on daily physical activity, cardiovascular fitness and body composition in children with asthma. Daily accelerometer-measured physical activity, cardiovascular fitness, body composition (percent fat, percent lean tissue and bone mineral density) and a variety of asthma outcomes (to assess the level of asthma control) were measured over 4 weeks in 55 children with newly diagnosed untreated asthma and 154 healthy, sex and age-matched controls. Treatment with inhaled corticosteroids was initiated after the baseline period. All outcome measurements were repeated after 1 year and some also during the year of treatment. Asthma control improved markedly during the year of treatment. The improvement in control was associated with a significant increase in total daily activity of 2.8 h/week compared with the healthy controls (P < 0.001). In addition, significant increases were seen in moderate-vigorous activity (33 min/week; P = 0.01) and in cardiovascular fitness (1.2 ml O₂/min*kg) compared with the healthy controls. The improvement in activity was mainly seen during the last 6 month of the study. No difference was seen between the two groups in changes in percent body fat. Poorly controlled asthma is associated with reduced physical activity and cardiovascular fitness. Improvement in asthma control is associated with a clinically relevant increase in daily physical activity and cardiovascular fitness.

Outcome data from the LEAP (Live, Eat and Play) trial: a randomized controlled trial of a primary care intervention for childhood overweight/mild obesity

To reduce gain in body mass index (BMI) in overweight/mildly obese children in the primary care setting. Randomized controlled trial (RCT) nested within a baseline cross-sectional BMI survey. Twenty nine general practices, Melbourne, Australia. (1) BMI survey: 2112 children visiting their general practitioner (GP) April-December 2002; (2) RCT: individually randomized overweight/mildly obese (BMI z-score <3.0) children aged 5 years 0 months-9 years 11 months (82 intervention, 81 control). Four standard GP consultations over 12 weeks, targeting change in nutrition, physical activity and sedentary behaviour, supported by purpose-designed family materials. Primary: BMI at 9 and 15 months post-randomization. Secondary: Parent-reported child nutrition, physical activity and health status; child-reported health status, body satisfaction and appearance/self-worth. Attrition was 10%. The adjusted mean difference (intervention-control) in BMI was -0.2 kg/m(2) (95% CI: -0.6 to 0.1; P=0.25) at 9 months and -0.0 kg/m(2) (95% CI: -0.5 to 0.5; P=1.00) at 15 months. There was a relative improvement in nutrition scores in the intervention arm at both 9 and 15 months. There was weak evidence of an increase in daily physical activity in the intervention arm. Health status and body image were similar in the trial arms. This intervention did not result in a sustained BMI reduction, despite the improvement in parent-reported nutrition. Brief individualized solution-focused approaches may not be an effective approach to childhood overweight. Alternatively, this intervention may not have been intensive enough or the GP training may have been insufficient; however, increasing either would have significant cost and resource implications at a population level.

Increased daily physical activity and fatigue symptoms in chronic fatigue syndrome

Individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) have been shown to have reduced activity levels associated with heightened feelings of fatigue. Previous research has demonstrated that exercise training has beneficial effects on fatigue-related symptoms in individuals with CFS.PurposeThe aim of this study was to sustain an increase in daily physical activity in CFS patients for 4 weeks and assess the effects on fatigue, muscle pain and overall mood.MethodsSix CFS and seven sedentary controls were studied. Daily activity was assessed by a CSA accelerometer. Following a two week baseline period, CFS subjects were asked to increase their daily physical activity by 30% over baseline by walking a prescribed amount each day for a period of four weeks. Fatigue, muscle pain and overall mood were reported daily using a 0 to 100 visual analog scale and weekly using the Profile of Mood States (Bipolar) questionnaire.ResultsCFS patients had significantly lower daily activity counts than controls (162.5 ± 51.7 × 103 counts/day vs. 267.2 ± 79.5 × 103 counts/day) during a 2-week baseline period. At baseline, the CFS patients reported significantly (P < 0.01) higher fatigue and muscle pain intensity compared to controls but the groups did not differ in overall mood. CFS subjects increased their daily activity by 28 ± 19.7% over a 4 week period. Overall mood and muscle pain worsened in the CFS patients with increased activity.ConclusionCFS patients were able to increase their daily physical activity for a period of four weeks. In contrast to previous studies fatigue, muscle pain, and overall mood did not improve with increased activity. Increased activity was not presented as a treatment which may account for the differential findings between this and previous studies. The results suggest that a daily "activity limit" may exist in this population. Future studies on the impact of physical activity on the symptoms of CFS patients are needed.

中高齢者における身体活動が動脈系コンプライアンスおよび収縮期血圧に及ぼす影響

The distensibility of the arterial wall progressively decreases with age, and the aging of the arterial wall may be responsible for the decrease of central arterial compliance and the consequent rise of systolic blood pressure (SBP) in the elderly. We hypothesized that an increase in daily physical activity (DPA) might have a favorable effect on systemic arterial compliance (SAC : an index of central arterial compliance) and lower SBP in the elderly. We therefore investigated relationships among DPA, SAC and SBP cross-sectionally in 92 middle-aged and elderly individuals (30 males, 62 fe- males ; aged 64 ± 8 years, mean ± SD). DPA was estimated by using an accelerometer as expended calories. SAC was calculated from the finger pulse pressure waveform recorded by using a Portapres and the stroke volume obtained from the same pressure waveform based on the volume-clamp method. Preliminarily in 37 subjects (17 male, 20 females ; aged 25-97 years), we confirmed a significant negative correlation between the simultaneously measured SAC and aortic pulse wave velocity (r=-0.68, p<0.0001). Correlation analysis and path analysis applied to the hypothetical model demonstrated that SBP was directly affected by both DPA and the SAC which decreased with age, and that DPA had an increasing effect on SAC, i. e. DPA might have a suppressive effect on the rise of SBP not only directly but also indirectly through SAC. These results suggest that an increased level of daily physical activity could improve the age-dependent decrease of central arterial compliance and the rise of systolic blood pressure in middle-aged and elderly humans.

Dealing with Obesity: An Australian Perspective

Over half of all Australians are classified as overweight or obese and this is increasing by 1% of the population per year. Obesity is linked with a range of health ailments including type 2 diabetes, heart diseases and some cancers. At a population level it is well accepted that obesity is a result of the increasing use of modern technology, resulting in decreased energy expenditure, in combination with easily available high energy density foods, the "obesogenic environment". In the modern environment, there are two major areas of management to assist the overweight and obese. Both include a change in lifestyle. Future strategies in weight management should include reduction in energy density and increase in daily physical activity.

Actividad física y factores de riesgo cardiovascular y metabólico en la población general

Our purpose was to evaluate in a cross-section, populational study the association between daily physical activity and various metabolic and cardiovascular disease risk factors. A total of 1226 randomly selected persons (aged 18-65 years) from a town in southeast Spain were evaluated for studying the association between the level of daily physical activity, both in and out of working hours, and the following variables: body mass index, plasma lipids, hypertension, obesity, altered baseline glycemia, and abnormal glucose tolerance. The intensity of the physical activity at work was related negatively with insulin resistance and levels of LDL cholesterol, and positively with HDL cholesterol. The probability of hypertension, altered baseline glycemia, and abnormal glucose tolerance was greater in those undertaking less daily physical activity. Daily physical activity, considered as part of the lifestyle, is related with the presence of components of the metabolic syndrome. An increase in daily physical activity should contribute to improve preventible cardiovascular risk factors.

Family-based interventions for the treatment of childhood obesity

Family-based interventions for the treatment of childhood obesity

生活活動量と運動習慣の違いが健康および生活習慣に及ぼす影響

This study aimed to examine the effects of physical activities, including daily physical activity and habitual physical exercise, on health and lifestyle and to seek the ways of promotion of health care. Five hundred male employees, aged 20 to 55 years old, were investigated for their health and lifestyle, and 259 of them were subject to examinations of serum lipids. The major findings were as follows. 1. Habitual physical exercise showed more effective results than daily physical activity, in terms of self-care for health, balance of food intake, subjective feel on health condition, increase in HDL cholesterol and decrease in an atherogenic index. Also found were a negative association between exercise duration and atherogenic index and a positive association between exercise intensity and subjective feel on health condition. 2. Increase of daily physical activity tended to trigger increase in the number of health complaints and decrease in frequency of breakfast taken but tended to decrease total cholesterol and triglyceride. When the physical activities were broken down, decrease of health complaints was related to decrease of sedentary activity and increases of walking and sleeping. It was thus suggested that grasp of physical activities by types, improvement of lifestyle such as the habit of taking breakfast and preparation of program for physical exercise played important roles in promotion of health care.

Marginal malnutrition in school-aged Colombian boys: body composition and maximal O2 consumption

Do changes in body composition account for the changes in O2 consumption during maximal exercise (VO2max) in nutritionally deprived boys? School age urban and rural boys with no deficits (N) or with significant deficits (W-H) in weight for age and for height were studied. Percentage lean body mass was higher in W-H than in N boys. By contrast percentage intracellular water, the creatinine excretion coefficient and percentage arm muscle mass were not higher in W-H boys. Thus nutritional compromise decreased more the cellular than the support tissues of the body. VO2max per unit body weight was higher in W-H than in N boys. In the rural group, this was accounted for by the higher percentage lean body mass in W-H boys. In the urban group, VO2max/lean body mass was also higher in most W-H boys. Thus W-H urban boys had higher levels of aerobic training than N urban boys, reflecting perhaps a relative increase in daily physical activity as the same tasks have to be performed with less muscle by W-H boys.