Insufficient Physical Activity Research Articles

Sedentary Lifestyle as a Leading cause of Some Diseases and Disability

The prevalence of inactive lifestyles has increased, leading to detrimental effects on health. Sedentary behavior refers to any action that involves extended periods of sitting, reclining, or lying down and requires minimal energy expenditure. Insufficient physical activity is prevalent among one-third of the global population aged 15 years and older, leading to adverse health effects. Nevertheless, there is a lack of awareness regarding the health hazards associated with sedentary behaviors. The prevalence of sedentary lifestyles is expanding globally due to limited opportunities for physical activity, the rise in sedentary work environments including office jobs, and the growing prevalence of television and video devices. As a result, the related health issues are increasing. Sedentary behaviors have a broad range of negative effects on the human body, including an increased risk of death from any cause, death from cardiovascular disease, cancer, and metabolic disorders such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. They also increase the risk of musculoskeletal disorders like arthralgia and osteoporosis, as well as depression and cognitive impairment. Therefore, minimizing sedentary behaviors and boosting physical exercise are both vital to promote public health.

INSUFFICIENT PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND ITS IMPACT ON NATIONAL ECONOMY AND SECURITY

Healthy and active people not only strengthen the health of the population of Latvia, prolong life in good health, prevent premature mortality, but also make an important contribution to the economic development and security of the country. Unfortunately, Latvia ranks among the last places in a number of areas among the EU member states. Latvian Health and Fitness Association (LVFA) has adapted the “Deloitte Research” global study on the preventive impact of physical activity on the national economy to the circumstances in Latvia, revealing that the Latvian economy suffers significant losses every year due to physically inactivity among the population. Furthermore, insufficient physical fitness also affects the internal and external security of the country. Must be concluded also across the globe governments face rising healthcare costs and the increasing prevalence of lifestyle diseases. This raises questions as to how bet improve the health of populations, while keeping healthcare and security costs under control. The aim of the article is to study the impact of insufficient physical activity on the national economy and security, to recommend directions for policy development in this field, and to propose improvements of the legal framework. Analytical method, comparative method, as well as the method of qualitative and quantitative data analysis were used in the development of the article.

Costs associated with insufficient physical activity in Germany: cross-sectional results from the baseline examination of the German national cohort (NAKO).

Insufficient physical activity (PA) is a leading risk factor for non-communicable diseases posing a significant economic burden to healthcare systems and societies. The study aimed to examine the differences in healthcare and indirect costs between sufficient and insufficient PA and the cost differences between PA intensity groups. The cross-sectional analysis was based on data from 157,648 participants in the baseline examination of the German National Cohort (NAKO) study. Healthcare and indirect costs were calculated based on self-reported information on health-related resource use and productivity losses. PA in the domains leisure, transport, and work was assessed by the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire and categorized into sufficient/insufficient and intensity levels (very low/low/medium/high) based on PA recommendations of the World Health Organization. Two-part models adjusted for relevant covariates were used to estimate mean costs for PA groups. Insufficiently active people had higher average annual healthcare costs (Δ €188, 95% CI [64, 311]) and healthcare plus indirect costs (Δ €482, 95% CI [262, 702]) compared to sufficiently active people. The difference was especially evident in the population aged 60 + years and when considering only leisure PA. An inverse association was observed between leisure PA and costs, whereas a direct association was found between PA at work and costs. Adjusting for the number of comorbidities reduced the differences between activity groups, but the trend persisted. The association between PA and costs differed in direction between PA domains. Future research may provide further insight into the temporal relationship between PA and costs.

Association between physical activity and allostatic load among pregnant women.

Allostatic load (AL) in pregnant women is associated with maternal and infant health outcomes. Whether physical activity (PA) is a modifiable factor associated with AL during pregnancy is unknown. In this cross-sectional study, including 725 pregnant women in 3 different trimesters, 8 biomarkers were included, and the high-risk quartile approach based on sample distribution was used to construct AL index (ALI). ALI <2 was defined as a low level and ≥2 as a high level. Student's t-test or Mann-Whitney U test and chi-squared test or Fisher exact test were used to compare differences in AL with different demographic characteristics among pregnant women. The relationship between PA and AL in pregnant women was analyzed using a binary logistic regression model. The results show that the detection rate of high-risk AL during pregnancy was 47.3%. In the adjusted model, sufficient PA was related to a lower AL than insufficient PA (OR=.693, 95%CI:.494,.971; p=.033). Compared with low- and high-intensity PAs, moderate-intensity PA was associated with lower AL (OR=.645, 95%CI:.447,.930; p=.019). The results suggest that PA is a modifiable factor related to AL, and intervention is recommended to be carried out in the first trimester to prevent the increased likelihood of high AL as pregnancy progresses. In addition, health care personnel should encourage pregnant women to participate in PA, especially moderate-intensity PA, in order to obtain lower AL and promote maternal and child health.

Internet use and its association with physical activity among adolescents in Beni Municipality, Myagdi, Nepal.

Adolescence is a critical phase marked by distinct health and developmental needs and rights. It represents a pivotal time for the acquisition of knowledge, skills, emotional regulations, and relationship management. However, a recent surge in internet usage among adolescents has been observed, leading to a concerning decline in physical activity. This study aims to evaluate the level of physical activity and its correlation with internet use among adolescents. A cross-sectional study, conducted within educational institutions in Beni, Nepal, utilized a self-structured questionnaire to collect data on physical activity levels and associated factors. The relationship between physical activity and independent variables was assessed through the chi-square test, and regression analysis was employed to quantify the strength of this association. The study revealed that 75.3% of adolescents (out of 385) exhibited inadequate physical activity levels. Notably, late adolescents were more susceptible to insufficient physical activity than their middle adolescent counterparts were. Adolescents from nuclear families (UOR = 2.689, C.I = 4.074-22.822), those with higher monthly family income (UOR = 3.318, C.I = 1.209-9.105), and individuals using Wi-Fi (UOR = 1.801, C.I = 1.117-2.904) demonstrated a higher likelihood of internet addiction. Moreover, these groups were more prone to engage in inadequate physical activity (UOR = 1.1740, C.I = 0.938-3.226) compared to their counterparts not addicted to the internet. The study concludes that over two-thirds of adolescents were addicted to the Internet, and three-fourths were inadequately physically active, with late adolescents being more affected than middle adolescents. Inadequate physical activity was associated with various factors, including family type, monthly family income, monthly pocket money, father's occupation, type of school, type of internet access, and Internet Addiction Test (IAT) score. Internet-addicted adolescents were found to be more likely to be physically inactive.

A Cross-Sectional Study on Health Behaviors of Nurses in Kathmandu, Nepal

Introduction: Nurses have an increased risk for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and a high prevalenceof obesity, poor eating habits and insufficient physical activity. A descriptive study in title with nurses’ healthbehaviours in Kathmandu was conducted to assess health behaviour among nurses.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used. 104 nurses from Kathmandu with at least aproficiency certificate level in nursing with a minimum of one year of experience in clinical or academic areas were included. Data were collected from January to February 2020.A nonprobability, convenience sampling technique was used. A semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data and descriptive statistics were used to describe the findings.Results: The study showed that 51.9% of the respondents have normal body mass index (BMI) followed by 38.5% overweight, 6.7% obese and 2.9% underweight. Almost all of the respondents’ blood pressure and blood sugar levels were in the normal range (99% and 91.1% respectively). Regarding health behaviour, 84.6% were nonvegetarian,91.3% consumed vegetables daily, and 48% consumed fruits daily. All the respondents were nonsmokers but 21% consume alcohol occasionally. Around 42.3% of the respondents do walking. Non-communicable disease was prevalent among 11.5% of respondents, among them hypertension was the highest (74.2%).Conclusion: Only half of the respondents have normal Body mass index (BMI). Almost all respondents’ Bloodpressure and Sugar levels were normal. Very few of the respondents mentioned the regular morning or evening walk. Most of the respondents were taking vegetables daily but only half of the participants taking fruits daily. Four-fifths of the respondents have adequate sleep hours. The majority of the respondents have a family history of non-communicable diseases.

An Assessment of Physical Activity and Risk Factors in People Living with Dementia: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Study in a Long-Term Care Facility in Vietnam.

People living with dementia (PLWD) may experience substantial cognitive decline as the disease progresses, which interferes with their daily activities. This study aimed to assess physical activity (PA) performance and care dependency (CD) and identify factors related to PA among PLWD. We conducted a cross-sectional study in 63 PLWD from National Geriatrics Hospital, Vietnam, from 2021 to 2023. We used the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and Care Dependency Scale (CDS) to assess the nutritional status and the levels of PA and CD, respectively. We used the Mann-Whitney test to compare the differences in the PA types and CD levels between dementia levels and a multivariable logistics regression model to analyze factors related to PA. More than half of the subjects had mild dementia. In total, 35% of the PLWD had a low level of PA, and 46.3% were completely independent of care. The mean score in each CDS aspect of the subjects with moderate/severe dementia was statistically significantly lower than that of those with mild dementia (p ≤ 0.05). Lower dependency (OR = 0.9; 95% CI = 0.88-0.99) and malnutrition (OR = 15.4; 95% CI = 1.18-20.21) were associated with insufficient PA in the PLWD. Formal caregivers and healthcare workers should encourage PLWD to perform physical activities at any level and personalize the development of tailored and nutritional care strategies for each individual.

Type 2 diabetes is linked to higher physiologic markers of effort during exercise.

People with type 2 diabetes (T2D) have lower rates of physical activity (PA) than the general population. This is significant because insufficient PA is linked to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, particularly in individuals with T2D. Previously, we identified a novel barrier to physical activity: greater perceived effort during exercise in women. Specifically, women with T2D experienced exercise at low-intensity as greater effort than women without T2D at the same low-intensity - based on self-report and objective lactate measurements. A gap in the literature is whether T2D confers greater exercise effort in both sexes and across a range of work rates. Our overarching objective was to address these gaps regarding the influence of T2D and relative work intensity on exercise effort. We hypothesized that T2D status would confer greater effort during exercise across a range of work rates below the aerobic threshold. This cross-sectional study enrolled males and post-menopausal females aged 50-75 years. Measures of exercise effort included: 1) heart rate, 2) lactate and 3) self-report of Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE); each assessment was during the final minute of a 5-minute bout of treadmill exercise. Treadmill exercise was performed at 3 work rates: 1.5 mph, 2.0 mph, and 2.5 mph, respectively. To determine factors influencing effort, separate linear mixed effect models assessed the influence of T2D on each outcome of exercise effort, controlling for work rate intensity relative to peak oxygen consumption (%VO2peak). Models were adjusted for any significant demographic associations between effort and age (years), sex (male/female), baseline physical activity, or average blood glucose levels. We enrolled n=19 people with T2D (47.4% female) and n=18 people (55.6% female) with no T2D. In the models adjusted for %VO2peak, T2D status was significantly associated with higher heart rate (p = 0.02) and lactate (p = 0.01), without a significant association with RPE (p = 0.58). Across a range of low-to-moderate intensity work rates in older, sedentary males and females, a diagnosis of T2D conferred higher objective markers of effort but did not affect RPE. Greater objective effort cannot be fully attributed to impaired fitness, as it persisted despite adjustment for %VO2peak. In order to promote regular exercise and reduce cardiovascular risk for people with T2D, 1) further efforts to understand the mechanistic targets that influence physiologic exercise effort should be sought, and 2) comparison of the effort and tolerability of alternative exercise training prescriptions is warranted.

Unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, overweight, and obesity among childhood cancer survivors in the Netherlands: A DCCSS LATER study.

The objective of this study was to examine the prevalence of unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, overweight, and obesity in Dutch childhood cancer survivors (CCSs) compared with sibling controls and the Dutch general population. Other aims were to assess associated factors of unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, overweight, and obesity and to identify subgroups of CCSs at risk for these unhealthy statuses. The authors included 2253 CCSs and 906 siblings from the Dutch Childhood Cancer Survivor Study-Late Effects After Childhood Cancer cohort, part 1, and added data from the Dutch general population. Questionnaire data were collected on overweight and obesity (body mass index >25.0 kg/m2), meeting physical activity guidelines (>150 minutes per week of moderate or vigorous exercises), excessive alcohol consumption (>14 and >21 alcoholic consumptions per week for women and men, respectively), daily smoking, and monthly drug use. Multivariable logistic regression analyses and two-step cluster analyses were performed to examine sociodemographic-related, health-related, cancer-related, and treatment-related associated factors of unhealthy lifestyle behaviors and to identify subgroups of CCSs at risk for multiple unhealthy behaviors. CCSs more often did not meet physical activity guidelines than their siblings (30.0% vs. 19.3%; p<.001). Married as marital status, lower education level, nonstudent status, and comorbidities were common associated factors for a body mass index ≥25.0 kg/m2 and insufficient physical activity, whereas male sex and lower education were shared associated factors for excessive alcohol consumption, daily smoking, and monthly drug use. A subgroup of CCSs was identified as excessive alcohol consumers, daily smokers, and monthly drug users. The current results emphasize the factors associated with unhealthy behaviors and the potential identification of CCSs who exhibit multiple unhealthy lifestyle behaviors.

The Physical Activity Guidelines and Diabetes-Related Mortality: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2006.

Background: Previous studies have indicated an inverse relationship between aerobic physical activity (PA) and risk of diabetes-related mortality (DRM). However, the contribution of aerobic PA across multiple domains, while also considering the contribution of muscle-strengthening activity (MSA), in reduction of risk for DRM has yet to be examined. Purpose: The aim of this study is to examine the individual and combined associations of aerobic PA and MSA with DRM. Methods: The study sample (n = 13,350) included adult (20-79 years of age) participants from the 1999 to 2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. PA was categorized into 6 categories based around the 2018 PA guidelines: category 1 (inactive), category 2 (insufficient aerobic PA and no MSA), category 3 [active (aerobic) and no MSA], category 4 (no aerobic PA and sufficient MSA), category 5 (insufficient aerobic PA and sufficient MSA), and category 6 (meeting both recommendations). The dependent variable in this study was DRM, which includes those who had diabetes as the primary cause of death as well as those with diabetes listed as an underlying cause of death. Cox proportional hazards models were used for all analyses. Results: Following adjustment for covariates, significant risk reductions for DRM were found only in category 3 (HR = 0.57; 95% confidence interval: 0.37-0.88). Conclusions: Results suggest that meeting the aerobic PA guidelines significantly reduces the risk for DRM. Those meeting versus not meeting the MSA guidelines seem to have no difference in risk for DRM independent of aerobic PA.

Impact of ambient air pollution on colorectal cancer risk and survival: insights from a prospective cohort and epigenetic Mendelian randomization study

This study investigates the associations between air pollution and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk and survival from an epigenomic perspective. Using a newly developed Air Pollutants Exposure Score (APES), we utilized a prospective cohort study (UK Biobank) to investigate the associations of individual and combined air pollution exposures with CRC incidence and survival, followed by an up-to-date systematic review with meta-analysis to verify the associations. In epigenetic two-sample Mendelian randomization analyses, we examine the associations between genetically predicted DNA methylation related to air pollution and CRC risk. Further genetic colocalization and gene-environment interaction analyses provided different insights to disentangle pathogenic effects of air pollution via epigenetic modification. During a median 12.97-year follow-up, 5767 incident CRC cases among 428,632 participants free of baseline CRC and 533 deaths in 2401 patients with CRC were documented in the UK Biobank. A higher APES score was associated with an increased CRC risk (HR, 1.03, 95% CI= 1.01-1.06; P=0.016) and poorer survival (HR, 1.13, 95% CI= 1.03-1.23; P=0.010), particularly among participants with insufficient physical activity and ever smokers (Pinteraction > 0.05). A subsequent meta-analysis of seven observational studies, including UK Biobank data, corroborated the association between PM2.5 exposure (per 10μg/m3 increment) and elevated CRC risk (RR,1.42, 95% CI= 1.12-1.79; P=0.004; I2=90.8%). Genetically predicted methylation at PM2.5-related CpG site cg13835894 near TMBIM1/PNKD and cg16235962 near CXCR5, and NO2-related cg16947394 near TMEM110 were associated with an increased CRC risk. Gene-environment interaction analysis confirmed the epigenetic modification of aforementioned CpG sites with CRC risk and survival. Our study suggests the association between air pollution and CRC incidence and survival, underscoring the possible modifying roles of epigenomic factors. Methylation may partly mediate pathogenic effects of air pollution on CRC, with annotation to epigenetic alterations in protein-coding genes TMBIM1/PNKD, CXCR5 and TMEM110. Xue Li is supported by the Natural Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars of Zhejiang Province (LR22H260001), the National Nature Science Foundation of China (No. 82204019) and Healthy Zhejiang One Million People Cohort (K-20230085). ET is supported by a Cancer Research UK Career Development Fellowship (C31250/A22804). MGD is supported by the MRC Human Genetics Unit Centre Grant (U127527198).

Two-year incidence and risk factors of diabetic foot ulcer: second phase report of Ahvaz diabetic foot cohort (ADFC) study

Aim/IntroductionThis study was designed as the second phase of a prospective cohort study to evaluate the incidence and risk factors of diabetic foot ulcers (DFU).Materials and methodsThe study was conducted in a university hospital in Iran. Each participant was checked and followed up for two years in terms of developing newfound DFU as ultimate outcome. We investigated the variables using univariate analysis and then by backward elimination multiple logistic regression.ResultsWe followed up 901 eligible patients with diabetes for two years. The mean age of the participants was 53.24 ± 11.46 years, and 58.53% of them were female. The two-year cumulative incidence of diabetic foot ulcer was 8% (95% CI 0.071, 0.089) [Incidence rate: 49.9 /1000 person-years]. However, the second-year incidence which was coincident with the COVID-19 pandemic was higher than the first-year incidence (4.18% and 1.8%, respectively). Based on our analysis, the following variables were the main risk factors for DFU incidence: former history of DFU or amputation [OR = 76.5, 95% CI(33.45,174.97), P value < 0.001], ill-fitting foot-wear [OR = 10.38, 95% CI(4.47,24.12), P value < 0.001], smoking [OR = 3.87,95%CI(1.28, 11.71),P value = 0.016], lack of preventive foot care [OR = 2.91%CI(1.02,8.29),P value = 0.045], and insufficient physical activity[OR = 2.25,95% CI(0.95,5.35),P value = 0.066].ConclusionOverall, the two-year cumulative incidence of diabetic foot ulcer was 8% [Incidence rate: 49.9 /1000 person-years]; however, the second-year incidence was higher than the first-year incidence which was coincident with the COVID-19 pandemic (4.18% and 1.8%, respectively). Independent risk factors of DFU occurrence were prior history of DFU or amputation, ill-fitting footwear, smoking, lack of preventive foot care, and insufficient physical activity.

Health and economic burden of insufficient physical activity in Saudi Arabia.

Insufficient physical activity (PA) was estimated to cause 4.8% of deaths and 2.6% of disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) due to noncommunicable diseases in Saudi Arabia in 2019. While Saudi Arabia is already achieving great improvements, we predict the health and economic burden of insufficient PA up to 2040 to present a case for policy makers to invest more in the uptake of PA. Using a population health model to estimate avoidable health loss, we identified four causes of health loss related to low PA (cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer) and estimated the deaths and DALYs from these causes. We projected the expected disease burden until 2040 under alternative assumptions about future PA levels and trends by using three health scenarios: baseline (no change in 2019 PA levels), intervention (81% of the population achieving sufficient PA levels), and ideal (65% of population: moderate PA, 30%: high PA, and 5%: inactive). We applied an "intrinsic value" approach to estimate the economic impact of each scenario. Overall, we estimate that between 2023 and 2040, about 80,000 to 110,000 deaths from all causes and 2.0 million to 2.9 million DALYs could be avoided by increasing PA levels in Saudi Arabia. The average annual economic loss from insufficient PA is valued at 0.49% to 0.68% of the current gross domestic product, with an average of US$5.4 billion to US$7.6 billion annually till 2040. The most avoidable disease burden and economic losses are expected among males and because of ischemic heart disease. This study highlights that low PA levels will have considerable health and economic impacts in Saudi Arabia if people remain inactive and do not start following interventions. There is an urgent need to develop innovative programs and policies to encourage PA among all age and sex groups.

Prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors according to urbanization level, gender and age, in apparently healthy adults living in Gabon, Central Africa.

The prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRFs) is increasing in sub-Saharan Africa and represents a serious public health issue. Accurate data are required to implement adapted prevention programs and healthcare strategies. Thus, the aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence rates of CMRFs according to the level of urbanization, age and gender in Gabon. A cross-sectional study was conducted in northern (Bitam), western coast (Libreville, Melen) and southeast (Koulamoutou) areas of Gabon using the World Health Organization's (WHO) stepwise approach for the surveillance of chronic disease risk factors. Participants over 18 years of age, without known underlying disease, living in rural and urban areas of Gabon were included. Sociodemographic, biological, and behavioral data were collected. Univariate and multivariate analysis were used to identify the CMRFs. Of the 978 participants, 499 lived in urban and 479 in rural areas. Their median age was 38[28-50] years. Tobacco (26.1% vs 6.2%; p < 0.01) and excessive alcohol consumption (19.4% vs 9.6%; p < 0.01) predominated in rural than in urban areas, respectively. Urban dwellers had more often insufficient physical activity than rural people (29.5% vs 16.3%; p < 0.01). In total, 79.9% of participants aged under 54 years had a high blood pressure;10.6% of the younger participants had pre-hypertension. Metabolic syndrome was more frequent in women (21.7%) than in men (10.0%) (p < 0.01); 6.4% of men and 2.5% of women had a high Framingham score (p = 0.03). Finally, 54.0% of the participants had three or four CMRFs. The multivariate analysis showed that men were more likely to be smokers and to be at risk of pre-hypertension or high blood pressure (p < 0.01). Women were more likely to be obese or to have a metabolic syndrome (p < 0.01). Living in urban areas was also a risk factor for hypertension, diabetes, metabolic syndrome and high LDL cholesterol level. The prevalence of CMRFs was high in the study population. Disparities were observed according to urban and rural areas, gender and age. National prevention and healthcare strategies for cardiometabolic diseases in Gabon should consider these observed differences.

Physical activity on prescription for children with obesity: a focus group study exploring experiences in paediatric healthcare.

Insufficient physical activity is a growing public health concern and is closely linked to obesity in both adults and children. Swedish physical activity on prescription (PAP) is effective in increasing physical activity levels in adults, but knowledge about how PAP is used in paediatric healthcare is lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to explore experiences of working with PAP for children with obesity amongst paediatric staff and managers. Seven focus group discussions with 26 participants from paediatric outpatient clinics in western Sweden were conducted. Data were analysed both inductively and deductively, framed by the Normalization Process Theory's four core constructs: coherence, cognitive participation, collective action, and reflexive monitoring. The PAP work for children with obesity was experienced to be about helping children to become physically active, and less about losing weight. Identified barriers for using PAP were the non-uniform nature of the work and a perceived lack of guidelines. Collaboration with physiotherapists and physical activity organisers outside the organisation was identified as an important facilitator. An important contextual factor for implementing PAP is the collaboration between paediatric clinics and physical activity organisers. In the transition between these stakeholders, maintaining a family-centred approach when working with PAP was experienced as challenging. PAP is a well-known intervention that is inconsistently used for children with obesity. The intervention should include a family-centred approach for this patient group. It also needs to align better with existing collaborations with other healthcare units as well as with new forms of collaboration with physical activity organisers in the community.

Social Determinants of Cardiovascular Risk Factors Among Asian American Subgroups.

Social determinants of health (SDOH) play a significant role in the development of cardiovascular risk factors. We investigated SDOH associations with cardiovascular risk factors among Asian American subgroups. We utilized the National Health Interview Survey, a nationally representative survey of US adults, years 2013 to 2018. SDOH variables were categorized into economic stability, neighborhood and social cohesion, food security, education, and health care utilization. SDOH score was created by categorizing 27 SDOH variables as 0 (favorable) or 1 (unfavorable). Self-reported cardiovascular risk factors included diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, insufficient physical activity, suboptimal sleep, and nicotine exposure. Among 6395 Asian adults aged ≥18 years, 22.1% self-identified as Filipino, 21.6% as Asian Indian, 21.0% as Chinese, and 35.3% as other Asian. From multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models, each SD increment of SDOH score was associated with higher odds of diabetes among Chinese (odds ratio [OR], 1.45; 95% CI, 1.04-2.03) and Filipino (OR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.02-1.51) adults; high blood pressure among Filipino adults (OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.03-1.60); insufficient physical activity among Asian Indian (OR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.22-1.65), Chinese (OR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.33-1.88), and Filipino (OR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.06-1.46) adults; suboptimal sleep among Asian Indian adults (OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.01-1.42); and nicotine exposure among Chinese (OR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.15-2.11) and Filipino (OR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.14-1.97) adults. Unfavorable SDOH are associated with higher odds of cardiovascular risk factors in Asian American subgroups. Culturally specific interventions addressing SDOH may help improve cardiovascular health among Asian Americans.

"IMPROVING AWARENESS OF DIABETES MELLITUS AND OBESITY PREVENTION AMONG ADOLESCENTS TO CULTIVATE A HEALTHY GENERATION AT IKHSANIAH HIGH SCHOOL, TEGAL."

The diseases of diabetes and obesity have emerged as serious challenges in global public health, and adolescents are not exempt from this concern. These conditions not only impact physical health but also influence psychological well-being and overall quality of life. Modern lifestyles, characterized by unhealthy eating patterns and insufficient physical activity, contribute to the rising prevalence of both diseases among adolescents. Therefore, it is crucial to raise awareness and implement effective preventive measures among adolescents who are in a crucial stage of development. The objective of this outreach activity is to enhance participants' knowledge regarding the prevention of diabetes mellitus and obesity among teenagers.The method employed for this activity involves socialization with 45 teenage students. The event took place on January 18-19, 2024, at the Ikhsaniah High School Hall in Tegal City. The outcomes of the activity commenced with a pre-test, introduction, presentation of material, and discussion. In the first phase, a pre-test was conducted, revealing that 80.0% of students had insufficient knowledge. The second phase involved educational sessions, with the first covering the definition, risk factors, and prevention of diabetes mellitus. The second segment addressed obesity prevention, including the assessment of nutritional status through practical calculations. In the third phase, an evaluation was conducted, resulting in a notable increase in knowledge, with 90% improvement.

Greater physical activity levels are associated with lower prevalence of tumors and risk of cancer in Spanish population: A cross-sectional study

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide and insufficient physical activity is a significant risk factor. This study analyzed the tumor prevalence based on sex, age, smoking, BMI, and physical activity level (PAL) in the Spanish people. Data from the Spanish National Health Survey (ENSE) was used, comprising a sample of 17,704 people diagnosed with malignant tumors. The findings revealed compelling associations (P < 0.001) between all variables examined and the prevalence of malignant tumors. Notably, women exhibited a higher prevalence than men (P < 0.05). Furthermore, individuals classified as obese displayed a greater prevalence of tumors than those within the normal weight range (P < 0.05). The analysis also showed that the inactive group had a higher prevalence of malignant tumors than the active group (P < 0.05). This study identified significant dependency relationships (P < 0.001) between PAL and the various population groups examined. Additionally, the general population analyzed in the ENSE2017 study demonstrated a reduced risk of developing malignant tumors among the active (P < 0.05) and very active groups (P < 0.05) compared to the inactive group. This risk reduction was consistently observed across different subgroups, including men, women, specific age groups, smoking, and BMI categories (P < 0.05). This study highlighted the importance of regular physical activity in reducing the risk and prevalence of malignant tumors in the Spanish population. These findings underscore the critical role of engaging in physical activity as a protective measure against cancer. Encouraging individuals to adopt an active lifestyle could significantly contribute to cancer prevention efforts and promote overall well-being.

Characterization of Plasmids Isolated from Bacterial Flora of CRC Patients – Proof of Concept

Abstract Introduction Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading oncogenic disorders, both in terms of incidence and mortality. The etiology of the disease is certainly multifactorial. Various risk factors like alcohol consumption, smoking, CRC family history, inflammatory bowel disease, hormone therapy, aspirin/nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use, higher body mass index, consumption of red and/or processed meat, insufficient physical activity, and decreased intake of fruit and vegetables have been pointed out; however, there is not enough support evidence for a single particular causative mechanism. Recently, gut bacterial microbiota has been shown to influence significantly the pathogenesis of CRC. However, little attention is paid to the putative impact of plasmids in gut flora. Material and methods We have designed and tested the workflow for semi-selective isolation and amplification of random circular sequences. The exploitation of rolling circle amplification (RCA) with a random hexamers protocol is crucial for the outcome. Results Our results suggest that it is possible to isolate and amplify plasmid DNA from gut flora and further process, sequence, and identify them. Discussion Little is known about the interactions between bacterial plasmids and human cells. The collection of plasmid sequencing data and the comparison of CRC patients and healthy control sequences can be the first step to elucidating this phenomenon.

Physical activity and mental health of medical students.

Medical students usually do not meet the recommendations on the minimum level of physical activity, despite knowing the impact that physical activity has on the prevention and treatment of various diseases. Medical students are considered to be insufficiently physically active. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of physically active fifth-year medical students at five universities in Serbia, as well as to identify factors associated with insufficient physical activity of students. A cross-sectional study was performed in the population of fifth-year medical students from five different universities in Serbia. The research instrument was a questionnaire specially designed based on similar research. Descriptive and analytical statistics methods were used in statistical analysis. The study included a total of 573 fifth-year medical students from five universities in Serbia: 311 (54.3%) Belgrade; 86 (15.0%) Kragujevac; 58 (10.1%) Nis; 66 (11.5%) Kosovska Mitrovica; 52 (9.1%) Novi Sad. Insufficient physical activity was statistically significantly associated with studying at the University of Kosovska Mitrovica (OR = 3.98, 95% CI: 1.83-8.57). There was a statistically significant difference in the frequency of anti-anxiety medications use in the last 12 months between students with sufficient and insufficient physical activity (p = 0.040) as well as in the average number of cigarettes smoked per day between students with sufficient and those with insufficient physical activity (2.82 ± 6.35 vs. 4.50 ± 8.29, p = 0.043). There was also a statistically significant difference in the average score on the Beck's depression scale between students with sufficient and students with insufficient physical activity (6.51 ± 6.59 vs. 10.03 ± 9.37, p < 0.001) and in the average score on Zung's anxiety scale (34.86 ± 8.18 vs. 38.07 ± 8.71, p = 0.003). A high percentage of medical faculty students (86.6%) are physically active. Differences in the level of physical activity were observed between students of these five universities as well as between students with different levels of physical activity.