Insufficient Levels Of Physical Activity Research Articles

Barriers to physical activity and associated factors in public school teachers – an transversal epidemiological study

Introduction: Teachers have a high prevalence of insufficient physical activity (PA) levels. However, the barriers to the practice of PA in this population and their associated factors are still not established in the literature. Objective: To describe the barriers to PA and identify associated factors in public school teachers. Methods: The sample was composed of 246 teachers (45.2 ± 10.4 years, 76% women). Barriers to PA, socioeconomic status, work-related factors, and habitual level of PA were assessed by questionnaire. The PA level according to each reported barrier was compared by analysis of variance and the association between barriers for PA and the categories of independent variables was analyzed by binary logistic regression. Results: Lack of Time (LT) and laziness, tiredness, or discouragement (LTD) were the most widely reported barriers (36.2% and 35.0%, respectively). Obese teachers were more likely to report LTD (OR = 2.34, p < 0.05) and less likely to report no barrier to PA (OR = 0.07, p < 0.05), when compared with teachers with normal weight. Teachers who reported working 21-30 hours per week were more likely to report LTD than those who worked 20 hours or less per week (OR = 4.12, p < 0.05). Teachers with a moderate-to-low PA level in leisure-time and sports practice were more likely to report LTD as the main barrier to PA (OR = 2.53, p < 0.05 and OR = 2.29, p < 0.05; respectively). Conclusion: LT and LTD were the most frequently reported barriers to PA by teachers. LTD was associated with obesity, higher hours worked, and lower levels of PA in leisure-time and sports practice.

Parent perceptions of their child’s and their own physical activity after treatment for childhood cancer

PurposeParents are important facilitators of physical activity for children, yet little is known about the perceptions of parents of childhood cancer survivors. We investigated parent perceptions of their own and their child’s physical activity levels after cancer treatment and examined associations with clinical, demographic, and psychosocial factors.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional survey among 125 parents and 125 survivors. Parents reported on the perceived importance of their child being physically active and concerns regarding exercising after cancer treatment.ResultsParents and survivors self-reported median (range) of 127.5 (0–1260) and 220 (0–1470) min/week of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Most parents (n = 109, 98%) believed that physical activity was highly important for their child. Some parents (n = 19, 17%) reported concerns, most commonly regarding exercise safety (n = 7, 22%). Parents were more likely to perceive that their child should increase physical activity if their child was an adolescent and had high body fat percentage.ConclusionsPhysical activity levels varied widely among survivors, reflecting factors including parents’ lifestyles, limited understanding of exercise benefits and perceptions of risk. Given survivors’ insufficient physical activity levels and sedentary behaviour among families, embedding physical activity promotion into health systems and follow-up support could benefit the entire family unit.

Normative Reference Values and Validity for the 30-Second Chair-Stand Test in Healthy Young Adults

Background Clinicians often use physical performance tests (PPT) to measure performance measures in sports since they are easy to administer, portable, and cost-efficient. However, PPT often lack good or known psychometric properties. Perhaps, the 30-second chair-stand test (30CST) would be a good functional test in athletic populations as it has been shown to demonstrate good psychometric properties in older adults. Hypothesis/Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine normative values for and concurrent, convergent and discriminative validity of 30CST for healthy young adults aged 19-35 years. Study Design Cross-sectional Methods Eighty-one participants completed this study. All participants performed two trials of 30CST, 5-times sit-to-stand (5xSTS), and lateral step-up test (LSUT). Investigators used the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Leisure Domain (LD-IPAQ) to divide participants into insufficiently or sufficiently active groups based on the weekly metabolic equivalent of task per the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. Results Participants (Mean + SD age, 25.1 ± 3.4 years; body height, 1.71 ± 0.09 m; body mass, 72.6 ± 16.1 kg; females 47) performed an average of 33.0±5.4 30CST repetitions. The 30CST performance was negatively associated with 5xSTS (r=-0.79 p=0.01) and positively associated with LSUT performances (r=0.51, p=0.01) when using Pearson correlations. In addition, the sufficiently active group performed significantly greater 30CST repetitions than the insufficiently active group (mean difference = 2.5; p=0.04). Conclusions In addition to finding a reference value for 30CST performance in young adults, investigators found that the 30CST displayed concurrent and convergent validity in assessing functional lower extremity (LE) muscle strength and discriminated between those with sufficient and insufficient physical activity levels. Training and rehabilitation professionals could use the 30CST for testing functional LE muscle strength for athletes in pre-season or during rehabilitation. Future investigators should perform studies to determine if 30CST predicts sport performance. Level of Evidence Level 2

Physical activity levels among college students during the pandemic - a narrative review

The period of the pandemic and government restrictions introduced many changes in health-promoting behaviors among college students. It is known that insufficient levels of physical activity are associated with a number of chronic diseases and mental health disorders. The aim of this study was to provide an overview of the current state of art regarding the level of physical activity during the pandemic among students in Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Analysis of included studies revealed a decrease in the level of physical activity. Thus, the implementation of education programs to increase physical activity levels to counteract the effects of the pandemic remains crucial.

Counseling for Physical Activity in Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Scope Review.

Objective: The aim of this scope review was to map the available scientific evidence on physical activity counseling for adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The search was performed in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, LILACS, SciELO, and CINAHL databases. Studies that described the population of adults over 18 years of age that used physical activity counseling during the COVID-19 pandemic context were selected. Data extracted were author, study location, sample, age group, sex, population characteristics, design, means used for intervention, time of intervention, professionals involved, and intervention or counseling strategy. Results: Physical activity counseling interventions were aimed at participants with insufficient levels of physical activity or with comorbidities; counseling was carried out in the online format; by health professionals, in the highest proportion of coaches, physicians, researchers, and nutritionists; through educational contents regarding the practice of physical activity; and using the transtheoretical model of behavior change as a reference method. Conclusions: The results of this review can provide tools for health professionals to assist in the process of coping with physical inactivity.

Insufficient Level of Physical Activity and Its Effect on Health Costs in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

Evidence suggests that mortality attributed to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) will increase from 38 million in 2012 to 52 million by 2030. The recent epidemiological data show that these diseases are increasing in low- and middle-income countries so that about 80% of all deaths of NCDs occurred in low- and middle-income countries. It has been estimated that an insufficient level of physical activity leads to a large share of the burden of these diseases. Evidence suggests that the rate of insufficient levels of physical activity in low- and middle-income countries has increased over the past 15 years. The authorities and policymakers must be advocated with consistent evidence from low- and middle-income countries on productivity loss and increased healthcare costs due to the absence or insufficient levels of physical activity. It is also necessary to include physical activity across all policies to prevent possible escalation of the economic burden related to physical inactivity in the near future.

Association between short-term exposure to ambient PM1 and PM2.5 and forced vital capacity in Chinese children and adolescents.

This study aims to examine the association between short-term exposure to ambient PM1, PM1-2.5, and PM2.5 and forced vital capacity (FVC). Population data were obtained from a school-based cross-sectional survey in Shandong in 2014. Distributed lag non-linear models were used to examine the association between exposure to PM1, PM1-2.5, and PM2.5 and FVC at the day of FVC measurement and the previous 6days (lag 0 to 6days). A total of 35,334 students aged 9 to 18years were included in the study, and the mean exposure concentrations of ambient PM1, PM1-2.5, and PM2.5 for them were 47.4 (standard deviation [SD] = 21.3) μg/m3, 32.8 (SD = 32.2) μg/m3, and 80.1 (SD = 47.7) μg/m3, respectively. An inter-quartile range (IQR, 24μg/m3) increment in exposure to PM1 was significantly associated with a lower FVC at lag 0 and lag 1day (β = - 80mL, 95% CI = - 119, - 42, and β = - 37mL, 95% CI = - 59, - 16, respectively), and an IQR (54μg/m3) increment in exposure to PM2.5 was significantly associated with a lower FVC at lag 0 and lag 1day (β = - 57mL, 95% CI = - 89, - 18, and β = - 34mL, 95% CI = - 56, - 12, respectively) after adjustment for gender, age, body mass index category, residence, month of the survey, intake of eggs, intake of milk, physical activity, and screen time. No significant associations were observed for PM1-2.5. The inverse associations of PM1 and PM2.5 with FVC were larger in males, younger children, those overweight or obese, and those with insufficient physical activity levels. Short-term exposure to ambient PM1 and PM2.5 was associated with decreased FVC, and PM1 may be the primary fraction of PM2.5 causing the adverse pulmonary effects. Our findings emphasize the need to address ambient PM, especially PM1, pollution for affecting pulmonary health in children and adolescents.

Short-term effects of exposure to ambient PM1 on blood pressure in children and adolescents aged 9 to 18 years in Shandong Province, China

Limited evidence exists regarding the effect of exposure to ambient particle matters with aerodynamic diameter ≤1 μm (PM1) in a short-term on blood pressure (BP) in the pediatric population. This study aims to examine the association between short-term exposure to ambient PM1 on BP in children and adolescents. Population data were obtained from a large cross-sectional survey from 102 schools in Shandong Province, China. Daily air pollution data were collected, and individual exposure level was assigned based on coordinates of school addresses. Distributed lag non-linear models incorporated with a linear mixed model were used. A total of 35241 students aged 9–18 years were included in the study, and the mean values of PM1, particle matters with aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 μm (PM2.5), and ≤10 μm (PM10) at the schools during the study period were 50.8 (SD = 7.2) μg/m3, 75.5 (SD = 14.7) μg/m3, and 138.9 (SD = 25.9) μg/m3, respectively. We found that per 10 μg/m3 increment in a cumulative exposure of PM1 at lag 0 and lag 1 day was significantly associated with a higher systolic BP (SBP, β = 1.46 mmHg), diastolic BP (DBP, β = 1.20 mmHg, 95% CI = 0.52 to 1.88), mean arterial pressure (MAP, β = 1.28 mmHg, 95% CI = 0.61 to 1.96), and pulse pressure (PP, β = 0.65 mmHg, 95% CI = 0.14 to 1.16), after adjusting for other air pollutants and individual covariates (including sex, age, BMI, residence, month of the survey, intake of eggs, intake of milk, physical activity, and screen time). The above associations were stronger in magnitude than for PM2.5- and PM10-related associations. The associations of PM1 with SBP, DBP, MAP, and PP were stronger among females, younger children, those overweight or obese, and those with insufficient physical activity levels. In conclusion, the susceptible window of short-term exposure to ambient PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 on BP levels for children and adolescents are lag 0 and lag 1 day, with PM1 exhibiting a stronger association. Future interventions should be conducted to reduce the impact of PM exposure, especially PM1, on health in children and adolescents.

MHealth Interventions to Reduce Physical Inactivity and Sedentary Behavior in Children and Adolescents: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

BackgroundChildren and adolescents increasingly do not meet physical activity (PA) recommendations. Hence, insufficient PA (IPA) and sedentary behavior (SB) among children and adolescents are relevant behavior change domains for using individualized mobile health (mHealth) interventions.ObjectiveThis review and meta-analysis investigated the effectiveness of mHealth interventions on IPA and SB, with a special focus on the age and level of individualization.MethodsPubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, and Cochrane Library were searched for randomized controlled trials published between January 2000 and March 2021. mHealth interventions for primary prevention in children and adolescents addressing behavior change related to IPA and SB were included. Included studies were compared for content characteristics and methodological quality and summarized narratively. In addition, a meta-analysis with a subsequent exploratory meta-regression examining the moderating effects of age and individualization on overall effectiveness was performed.ResultsOn the basis of the inclusion criteria, 1.3% (11/828) of the preliminary identified studies were included in the qualitative synthesis, and 1.2% (10/828) were included in the meta-analysis. Trials included a total of 1515 participants (mean age (11.69, SD 0.788 years; 65% male and 35% female) self-reported (3/11, 27%) or device-measured (8/11, 73%) health data on the duration of SB and IPA for an average of 9.3 (SD 5.6) weeks. Studies with high levels of individualization significantly decreased insufficient PA levels (Cohen d=0.33; 95% CI 0.08-0.58; Z=2.55; P=.01), whereas those with low levels of individualization (Cohen d=−0.06; 95% CI −0.32 to 0.20; Z=0.48; P=.63) or targeting SB (Cohen d=−0.11; 95% CI −0.01 to 0.23; Z=1.73; P=.08) indicated no overall significant effect. The heterogeneity of the studies was moderate to low, and significant subgroup differences were found between trials with high and low levels of individualization (χ21=4.0; P=.04; I2=75.2%). Age as a moderator variable showed a small effect; however, the results were not significant, which might have been because of being underpowered.ConclusionsEvidence suggests that mHealth interventions for children and adolescents can foster moderate reductions in IPA but not SB. Moreover, individualized mHealth interventions to reduce IPA seem to be more effective for adolescents than for children. Although, to date, only a few mHealth studies have addressed inactive and sedentary young people, and their quality of evidence is moderate, these findings indicate the relevance of individualization on the one hand and the difficulties in reducing SB using mHealth interventions on the other.Trial RegistrationPROSPERO CRD42020209417; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=209417

Prevalence of negative self-rated health in university students and its relationship with the co-occurrence of risk behaviors

The present study estimate the prevalence of negative self-rated health and to analyze its association with simultaneous risk behaviors (insufficient levels of physical activity, greater exposure to sedentary time and inappropriate sleep time) in students at a public university in the state from Minas Gerais, Brazil. It consists of cross-sectional study, with data collected through a questionnaire. The outcome variable was negative self-rated health. The independent variables were estimated by the questions related to the time spent on physical activity, sitting and sleep time, and these three behaviors were considered according to the risk criteria (none, one, two and three risk behaviors). The association was estimated by the Prevalence Ratios (PR), via Poisson regression. 1,110 students participated in the study. The prevalence of negative self-rated health among university students was 47.3%, and the prevalence of two risk behaviors and three risk behaviors were 41.3% and 11.3%, respectively. The simultaneous occurrence of three risk behaviors was associated with negative self-rated health in university students. The information in this study makes it possible to characterize the need for actions to promote health in the university environment.

Tolerance Of Dosed Physical Loads In The Rehabilitation Of Patients With A Recent Experience Of Myocardial Infarction Or Unstable Angina

The study of reaction to dosed physical load of patient with recent experience of myocardial infarction or unstable angina to assess objectively physical condition and performance, to appoint an adequate individual program of physical rehabilitation and to optimize the effectiveness of the sanatorium stage of rehabilitation of this category of patients. Design: Study and observational analysis. Parameter: The subsidiary«Sanatorium-resort rehabilitation center «Slaviansk resort», the sanatorium «Yubileiny», Ukraine. Participants: Patients with recent experience of myocardial infarction or unstable angina who arrived at the sanatorium stage of rehabilitation from cardiological hospitals of Donetsk and Lugansk regions (Ukraine). Intervention: Non-invasive treatment (i.e., therapeutic exercise). Results: 3530 patients who arrived at the sanatorium stage of rehabilitation from cardiological hospitals of Donetsk and Lugansk regions (Ukraine) on 29,4 ±2,4 day of illness were examined. Men accounted for 64%, women-36%. The average age of the patients was 54,4 ±1,8 years old. 1127 people (31,93%) had a Q-positive myocardial infarction (MI), 388 people (10,99%)-a Q-negative, 2015 people (57,08 %)-an unstable angina. When studying the tolerance to dosed physical activity, threshold or inadequate reactions were observed in 144 patients (12.78%) who had Q-positive myocardial infarction, 13 patients (3.35%) who had Q-negative myocardial infarction and 89 patients (4.42%) who had unstable angina. Threshold or inadequate responses in patients with recent experience of Q-positive myocardial infarction were recorded 3-4 times more often. The electrocardiographic examination revealed most often changes in the terminal part of the ventricular complex in the form of inversion or reversal of T waves, to a greater extent in patients who had Q-positive myocardial infarction. Conclusion: It was found during study that patients with recent experience of Q-positive myocardial infarction master less physical activity at the sanatorium stage of rehabilitation than patients of other groups. Our study has shown that an insufficient level of physical activity does not give an optimal effect in increasing the functional reserves of the cardiovascular system and the body, and insufficient control of an increase in the level of physical activity is fraught with negative consequences. Careful selection of optimal physical activity for this category of patients allowed to prescribe adequate physical activity to patients and avoid possible complications.

Temporal trend of simultaneous risk factors for chronic non-communicable diseases: National School Health Survey 2009, 2012, 2015.

To analyze the temporal trend of simultaneous occurrence of behavioral risk factors for chronic non-communicable diseases in Brazilian school adolescents. Ecological time-series study that analyzed data from the three editions of the National Survey of School Health with students in the 9th year of public and private schools. Cluster analysis was performed to identify the simultaneity of the following factors: irregular consumption of fresh or minimally processed foods, regular consumption of processed and ultra-processed foods, insufficient level of physical activity during leisure time, consumption of alcoholic beverages, use of cigarettes and illicit drugs. The cluster trend was tested using simple linear regression. The sample was composed of 173,310 school adolescents. Sixty-four possible combinations were evaluated, resulting in the formation of six clusters. The grouping formed by all factors showed the highest ratios observed/expected prevalence in the last two years of the series. The highest ratios were observed for combinations in which alcohol and cigarettes were present. These substances integrated five of the six clusters. One of the groups (insufficient level of physical activity during leisure time + consumption of alcoholic beverages + use of cigarettes and illicit drugs) had an upward trend throughout the series. The trend analysis showed four out of six clusters remaining stable throughout the series, which shows that the factors are persistently present among school adolescents.

Efeito do treinamento funcional na dor e capacidade funcional de mulheres idosas

Abstract Introduction: The growing rate of elderly people in the world can became a public health problem when they exhibit insufficient levels of physical activity, which can increase chronic pain and lead to functional disability. Objective: To analyze the effects of functional training on pain and functional capacity in elderly women. Methods: A non-randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted with 32 elderly women, divided into two groups: functional training (FT: n = 17) and control group (CG: n = 15). Functional capacity was analyzed using the Physical Fitness Test for the Elderly. Pain was assessed by reports of musculoskeletal discomfort symptoms and their characteristics using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Pain Questionnaire and pain visual analog scale (VAS). The functional training program was applied for 12 weeks at a frequency of three times a week. Results: Significant effects after the intervention in the FT group were observed, with pain reduction, increased flexibility and resistance for lower limbs, and cardiorespiratory capacity (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The functional training program in elderly women was effective in improving the variables of lower limb flexibility, pain perception, lower limb strength resistance and cardiorespiratory capacity.

Viés de peso entre os nutricionistas: o status do peso dos pacientes altera as abordagens dietéticas?

ABSTRACT Objective Since obesity is a multifactorial disease, some health professionals may esteem that weight control is a matter of personal willpower and stigmatize individuals. These weight-based attitudes seem quite common even among dietitians. This study aimed to determine whether the level of weight bias affects the dietary approaches of the dietitians. Methods Two hypothetical cases with obese and normal weight vignettes were created to be evaluated, and the explicit weight bias was assessed by the fat phobia scale among 99 dietitians via an online questionnaire. Results The majority of the dietitians demonstrated mild or moderate levels of weight bias (59.6% and 32.3%, respectively). The obese vignette had the highest agreement for nearly all adjectives and was perceived as having poorer diet quality, general health status, and insufficient physical activity level. Conclusion Overall, as weight bias is a concerning issue among most dietitians, necessary steps are required for the reduction of prejudice and thus protect the patients from stigmatizing attitudes.

Differential impact of COVID-19 lockdown on physical activity in younger and older adolescents - prospective study.

Insufficient physical activity levels (PAL) during adolescence is a major public health concern, which is even more pronounced during the COVID-19 pandemic due to restricting movement opportunities. This study aimed to identify PAL changes and examine the age-specific determinants of PAL in younger and older adolescents during the COVID-19 lockdown. This study included 859 high-school students from Bosnia and Herzegovina stratified into 2 age groups: younger (N = 420, 14-16 years of age), and older adolescents (N = 439, 16-18 years of age). Participants were tested over 2 testing waves: before the COVID-19 lockdown (January 2020) and during the COVID-19 lockdown (April 2020). Variables included PAL assessed by the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents, sports factors, and parental factors. The PAL significantly declined as a result of lockdown measures in the total sample (from 2.76±0.79 to 2.50±0.82). Larger absolute and relative decline of PAL was evidenced in younger adolescents. Sport participation positively influenced PAL before lockdown, with no significant influence during the lockdown. Older adolescents whose mothers were better educated were less likely to be in high risk group with regard to a large decline of PAL as a result of COVID lockdown (OR = 0.50, 95% CI: 0.21-0.84). Results of the study suggest that parental education influences health-related behaviors and that parental education is a protective factor against a decrease in PAL during the COVID-19 pandemic. Main educational agents (i.e., school and parents) should pay more attention to provide children and adolescents adequate information and develop their health literacy, which will hopefully positively impact children's PAL even in challenging situations similar to COVID-19 lockdown. Med Pr. 2021;72(6):633-43.

Impact of reducing excess body weight and physical inactivity on cancer incidence in Germany from 2020 to 2050—a simulation model

BackgroundExcess body weight and physical inactivity are key cancer risk factors contributing substantially to the cancer burden in Germany. We aimed to estimate the numbers and proportions of future cancer cases prevented under different scenarios of reducing the prevalence of excess body weight and physical inactivity in Germany. MethodsBased on a macro-simulation approach calculating age-, sex-, and cancer-site specific potential impact fractions, we estimated for a 30-year study period (2020–2050) numbers and proportions of cancer cases prevented under different scenarios of reducing excess body weight (overweight and obesity) and increasing levels of physical activity in the German population. ResultsEstimates of the prevented cancer burden varied in the different scenarios. In the guideline exposure scenarios, in which the prevalence of excess body weight and insufficient levels of physical activity would be eliminated, 8.7% (men: 10.1%; women: 7.8%) of overweight/obesity-related cancer cases and 2.4% (men: 2.3%; women: 2.4%) of cancer cases related to physical inactivity were estimated to be prevented over a 30-year period. This translates to approximately 662,000 (men: 304,000; women: 358,000) and 129,000 (men: 42,000; women: 87,000) prevented cancer cases, respectively. ConclusionOur results illustrate that a substantial number of future cancer cases could be prevented in the German population by reducing excess body weight and physical inactivity.

Obesogens: How They Are Identified and Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Their Action.

Adult and childhood obesity have reached pandemic level proportions. The idea that caloric excess and insufficient levels of physical activity leads to obesity is a commonly accepted answer for unwanted weight gain. This paradigm offers an inconclusive explanation as the world continually moves towards an unhealthier and heavier existence irrespective of energy balance. Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are chemicals that resemble natural hormones and disrupt endocrine function by interfering with the body’s endogenous hormones. A subset of EDCs called obesogens have been found to cause metabolic disruptions such as increased fat storage, in vivo. Obesogens act on the metabolic system through multiple avenues and have been found to affect the homeostasis of a variety of systems such as the gut microbiome and adipose tissue functioning. Obesogenic compounds have been shown to cause metabolic disturbances later in life that can even pass into multiple future generations, post exposure. The rising rates of obesity and related metabolic disease are demanding increasing attention on chemical screening efforts and worldwide preventative strategies to keep the public and future generations safe. This review addresses the most current findings on known obesogens and their effects on the metabolic system, the mechanisms of action through which they act upon, and the screening efforts through which they were identified with. The interplay between obesogens, brown adipose tissue, and the gut microbiome are major topics that will be covered.

PHYSICAL INACTIVITY AND HIGH SEDENTARY BEHAVIOR ARE ASSOCIATED WITH HYPERTRIGLYCERIDEMIC WAIST IN ELDERLY

During aging, an increase in sedentary behaviour and a decrease in physical activity levels are observed. These factors may increase abdominal adiposity and triglyceride levels, which characterizes the hypertriglyceridemic waist (HW) phenotype, providing a high risk for cardiometabolic diseases. This study aimed to analyze the association between hypertriglyceridemic waist, physical activity level and sedentary behaviour in community-dwelling elderly. A population-based cross-sectional study was carried out, involving 316 elderlies (≥ 60 years) of both genders. The hypertriglyceridemic waist was diagnosed using high triglycerides (≥ 150 mg/dl) and increased waist circumference ≥ 88 and ≥ 102 cm values for women and men, respectively. The physical activity level and sedentary behaviour were evaluated using the IPAQ. The study included 173 women (54.7%) and 143 men (45.3%), with a mean age of 74.2 ± 9.8 years. The prevalence of HW was 27.1%, 47.7% insufficiently active and 24.1% high sedentary behaviour. The insufficiently active elderly (OR= 2.48; 95% CI: 1.31 - 4.71; p= 0.005) and with high sedentary behaviour (OR= 2.21; 95% CI: 1.04 - 4.32; p= 0.038) were associated positively with HW, indicating that elderly with insufficient physical activity levels and high sedentary behaviour showed themselves to approximately 2.5 and 2.2 times more likely to develop HW, respectively. Low physical activity level and high sedentary behaviour are associated with hypertriglyceridemic waist in community-dwelling elderly.

Comparison of Fitness and Physical Activity Levels of Obese People with Hypertension

This study assessed the relationships between the current level of physical activity (PA) and PA in childhood and the level of physical fitness (PF) of obese people aged 40+ with co-existing hypertension (HT). The study included 82 obese patients with co-existing HT in their history. In order to assess the level of PA, we used the IPAQ. PF was assessed by observing the performance of patients in a fitness test (a 30-s chair stand, a handgrip strength test, a sit-and-reach test, a one leg stand test, a plank test, a wall squat test, and a 2-min step-in-place test). According to the IPAQ category, 24.4% were classified as having a high level of PA, 45.1% a sufficient level of PA, and 30.5% an insufficient level of PA. We noted that the higher the level of PA, the higher the PF—even in obese participants with HT. On the other hand, co-existing diabetes lowered almost all analysed parameters, both biochemical and fitness. The current PA level, a deficiency in which seems to be related to low PF and/or HT, does seem to be related to the degree of PF.

Relationship Between Physical Activity Level and Characteristics of Patients with Cancer

Evidences have shown that Physical Activity (PA) can decrease side effects, such as fatigue and pain, as well as promote increase of muscular endurance, oxygen consumption and quality of life) of patients with different phases of cancer treatments. However, studies have demonstrated that patients with cancer diagnosis may show insufficient levels of PA. Therefore, it is necessary to check the profile of such patients. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze PA level and the sociodemographic and clinical profile of patients with cancer. It is a field study that included 247 patients of both sex, above 18 years old any type of cancer. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire-IPAQ-Bref was used to measure PA and the clinical profile was assessed using a questionnaire. The breast cancer was most common type (32.4%), the mean age was 60.08 ± 13.12 and patients in general have inadequate levels of PA, independent of treatment phase. It was found negative association between age and time of PA (rho=-0.145, p<0.05), years of diagnosis were associated with the level of PA: less than one year of diagnosis can be a significant predictor of low physical activity level (OR= 28.457; 95% CI 1.706 – 474.589; p= 0.020) and for moderate physical activity level (OR= 29.578; 95% CI 1.409 – 620.746; p= 0.029), Implementation of public policies to spread information and to offer PA programs to patients with cancer are needed, especially in the beginning of the treatment.