Duration Of Leisure-time Physical Activity Research Articles

Leisure-time physical activity is associated with depressive symptoms in cancer patients: Data from the NHANES 2007–2018

BackgroundCancer patients have a higher risk of depression and are associated with severe adverse prognosis. The relationship between leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and depressive symptoms in cancer patients is currently unclear. Therefore, our study mainly explores the potential association between LTPA and the weekly cumulative time of LTPA with depressive symptoms in cancer patients. MethodsWe included and analyzed 3368 cancer patients (aged >20 years) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) of the United States from 1999 to 2018. The LTPA score was evaluated through a self-report questionnaire, while depressive symptoms were evaluated through the Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to explore the relationship between LTPA duration and the occurrence of cancer-related depressiive symptoms. Linear correlation was studied using the restricted cubic spline method. ResultsAccording to a fully adjusted multivariate logistic regression model with confounding variables, the odds ratio (OR) between LTPA and depressive symptoms in cancer patients in this study was 0.59 (95 % confidence interval = 0.39, 0.92; P = 0.02). When the LTPA level was ≥300 min/week, the incidence of depressive symptoms was reduced by 59 % (OR = 0.41, 95 % CI = 0.21, 0.83). In addition, the cubic spline method was used to obtain a linear negative correlation between LTPA duration and tumor depressive symptoms. ConclusionLTPA was negatively correlated with cancer-related depressive symptoms, and the cumulative time of LTPA/week was linearly correlated with depressive symptoms. The slope of the benefit curve changed significantly when the cumulative time of LTPA reached 600 min per week, suggesting that appropriately increasing LTPA had significant benefits on mental health of cancer patients.

The Relationship between Leisure Time Physical Activity and Cognitive Function in Older Americans.

This study aims to investigate the correlation between leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and cognitive function in older adults. We conducted an analysis of 2,657 participants (aged ≥60 years) from the cross-sectional National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning 2011-2014. Multiple logistic regression and linear regression analyses were employed to explore the associations between leisure-time physical activity and cognitive function. Significant correlations were observed between LTPA duration and frequency with Animal Fluency Test (AF) and Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) scores. Engaging in leisure-time physical activity 1-4 times per week was associated with a 33%((OR) 0.67, (CI) 0.48-0.92) reduced risk of memory decline compared to non-active individuals. An inverted U-shaped relationship was observed between LTPA duration and AF/DSST and a U-shaped relationship between LTPA frequency and the risk of memory decline. Encouraging older adults to participate in leisure activities 3-4 times per week may help protect cognitive function.

Exploring person-specific associations of situational motivation and readiness with leisure-time physical activity effort and experience.

Identifying determinants of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) often relies on population-level (nomothetic) averages, potentially overlooking person-specific (idiographic) associations. This study uses an idiographic perspective to explore how subjective readiness and motives for LTPA relate to volitional effort (duration, intensity) and affective experience (pleasure, displeasure). We also highlight the potential for different interpretations when data are averaged within individuals and assessed using a variable-centered approach. Participants (N = 22, 25±8 years old, 54.5% women) were asked to continue their regular PA patterns for 10 weeks. Ecological momentary assessment procedures allowed participants to provide pre-activity reports (physical, cognitive, emotional readiness and situational motive for activity) and post-activity reports (activity type, duration, perceived exertion, ratings of affective valence). Spearman rank correlation was implemented to interpret within- and between-person associations. Data visualization approaches were used to showcase person-specific differences in associations. Participants provided 519 reports of LTPA (24±11 events/person), which displayed between- and within-person variety in type, duration, intensity, and affective experience. Exemplar cases highlight discrepancies in interpretation based on level of analysis, such that the nomothetic association (rho = .42, p = .05; 95% CI -.02, .72) between motive to replenish energy and LTPA duration was observed in only one within-person analysis (41% were weak-to-large inverse effects). Alternatively, the negligible nomothetic association (rho = .02, p = .93; 95% CI -.41, .44) between physical readiness and LTPA-related affect did not reflect the 59% of within-person analyses showing moderate-to-large, positive effects. Future research aiming to identify determinants of LTPA effort and experience should integrate contemporary, idiographic analyses in early-stage research for developing person-specific strategies for LTPA promotion.

Physical Activity Among Preadolescents Modifies the Long-Term Association Between Sedentary Time Spent Using Digital Media and the Increased Risk of Being Overweight.

This study aimed to examine whether sedentary digital media use in preadolescence increases the risk of being overweight 3 years later, and whether this association differs based on preadolescents' leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) levels. The authors conducted a 3-year follow-up study among 4661 participants with a mean (SD) age of 11 (1)years at baseline and 14 (1)years at follow-up. A web-based questionnaire assessed sedentary digital media use and LTPA. The authors categorized baseline LTPA duration into 3 levels: 0 to 5 (low), 6 to 8 (moderate), and ≥9 (high) hours per week. In addition, the authors categorized adolescents as normal weight or overweight/obese at follow-up. Greater amounts of sedentary digital media use at baseline associated with an increased risk of being overweight 3 years later even after adjusting for confounders. This only held for preadolescents with low baseline LTPA (OR = 1.14; 95% confidence interval, 1.05-1.24), but not among those with moderate (OR = 1.02; 0.91-1.15) or high (OR = 0.96; 0.85-1.08) LTPA. Preadolescent LTPA modified the long-term association between sedentary digital media use and being overweight; specifically, 6hours per week or more of LTPA mitigated the increased risk of being overweight associated with higher amounts of digital media use.

Dimensions of leisure-time physical activity and risk of depression in the \u201cSeguimiento Universidad de Navarra\u201d (SUN) prospective cohort

BackgroundAn inverse association between total leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and depression has been previously documented in the scientific literature. Our objective was to prospectively assess the association of LTPA with the risk of depression, focusing on several dimensions of LTPA (intensity, duration and type).MethodsThe SUN (Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra) project is a prospective cohort study formed by Spanish university graduates. A total of 15,488 adults (40.2% men, mean age 37 ± 12 years) initially free of depression were assessed. A report of a validated medical diagnosis of depression or the habitual use of antidepressants (any of both) were considered as incident cases of depression. LTPA was estimated through previously validated self-reported questionnaires. Participants were classified following Physical Activity recommendations from the World Health Organization, and according to the intensity, duration and type of LTPA. Cox proportional hazards regression models were run, adjusted for demographic, lifestyle, and dietary factors, to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (HR) of depression and 95% confidence intervals (CI).ResultsDuring 163,059 person-years of follow-up we registered 870 incident cases of depression. Participants with higher total LTPA (METs-h/wk) and higher duration of LTPA (hours/wk) exhibited a lower risk of depression HR = 0.84 (95% CI: 0.72–0.99) and HR = 0.83 (0.70–0.99) respectively, whereas intensity of LTPA (MET) did not show any association with depression.ConclusionParticipants with higher LTPA had a lower risk of depression. The inverse association was stronger for total LPTA time than for its intensity. Higher duration of LTPA should be encouraged to prevent depression.

Rural-urban differences in meeting physical activity recommendations and health status in cancer survivors in central Pennsylvania.

This study explored rural-urban differences in meeting physical activity (PA) recommendations and health status in cancer survivors in central Pennsylvania and associations between PA and health status. Cancer survivors (N = 2463) were identified through a state cancer registry and mailed questionnaires assessing PA and health status. Rural-urban residence was based on county of residence at diagnosis. Participants self-reported frequency and duration of leisure-time PA and were classified as meeting: (1) aerobic recommendations (≥ 150min/week), (2) muscle-strengthening recommendations (≥ 2 times/week), (3) both aerobic and muscle-strengthening recommendations, or (4) neither recommendation. Logistic regression models examined associations between rural-urban residence and meeting PA recommendations and associations between PA and health status, adjusting for age, cancer type, gender, and income. Nearly 600 (N = 591, 24.0%) cancer survivors returned completed questionnaires (rural 9.5%, urban 90.5%). Half (50.0%) of rural cancer survivors reported no leisure-time PA compared to 35.2% of urban cancer survivors (p = 0.020), and urban cancer survivors were 2.6 times more likely to meet aerobic PA recommendations (95% CI 1.1-6.4). Odds of reporting good physical and mental health were 2.3 times higher among survivors who reported meeting aerobic recommendations compared to those who did not meet PA recommendations (95% CI 1.1-4.5), adjusting for rurality and covariates. Results demonstrate persistent rural-urban differences in meeting PA recommendations in cancer survivors and its association with self-reported health. Findings underscore the need for interventions to increase PA in rural cancer survivors in an effort to improve health status and reduce cancer health disparities.

Physical activity and epigenetic biomarkers in maternal blood during pregnancy.

Investigate associations of leisure time physical activity (LTPA) with DNA methylation and miRNAs during pregnancy. Patients& methods: LTPA, candidate DNA methylation and circulating miRNAs were measured (average 15 weeks gestation) in pregnant women (n =92). Each additional hour of prepregnancy LTPA duration was associated with hypermethylation in C1orf212 (β=0.137, 95% CI: 0.004-0.270) and higher circulating miR-146b-5p (β=0.084, 95% CI: 0.017-0.151). Each additional metabolic equivalent hour of early-pregnancy LTPA energy expenditure was associated with higher circulating miR-21-3p (β=0.431, 95% CI: 0.089-0.772) in women carrying female offspring, and lower circulating miR-146b-5p (β= -0.285, 95% CI: -0.528 to -0.043) and miR-517-5p (β= -0.406, 95% CI: -0.736 to -0.076) in women carrying male offspring. Our findings suggest that LTPA may influence maternal epigenetic biomarkers, possibly in an offspring sex-specific manner.

Maternal sedentary behavior during pre-pregnancy and early pregnancy and mean offspring birth size: a cohort study

BackgroundSedentary behavior is associated with adverse health outcomes in the general population. Whether sedentary behavior during pregnancy is associated with newborn outcomes, such as birth size, is not established, and previous studies have been inconsistent. While previous research suggests that male and female fetuses respond differently to maternal behaviors, such as physical activity, the role of infant sex in sedentary behavior-birth size associations has not been examined.MethodsParticipants in the Omega study, a cohort in Washington State (1996–2008), reported leisure time sedentary behavior (non-work time spent sitting), light intensity physical activity, and moderate/vigorous leisure time physical activity duration in the year before pregnancy (N = 1373) and in early pregnancy (N = 1535, mean 15 weeks). Offspring birth size was abstracted from delivery records. Non-parametric calibration weighting was used to assign adjustment weight (matching the distribution of sociodemographic and medical characteristics of the full cohort (N = 4128)) to participants with available sedentary behavior data. Weighted linear regression models were used to estimate mean differences in offspring birthweight, head circumference, and ponderal index (birthweight/length3) associated with leisure time sedentary behavior. Regression models were run overall and stratified by offspring sex. Isotemporal substitution modeling was used to determine mean differences in birthweight associated with replacing sedentary behavior with light or moderate/vigorous physical activity.ResultsOn average, women spent 2.3 and 2.6 h/day in leisure time sedentary behavior during pre- and early pregnancy, respectively. There were no associations of pre-pregnancy leisure time sedentary behavior with mean birthweight, head circumference, or ponderal index (adjusted β = − 12, 95% CI: -28, 4.1; β = 0.0, 95% CI: -0.04, 0.1; and β = 0.1, 95% CI: -0.2, 0.4, respectively). Early pregnancy sedentary behavior was not associated with mean birth size. Associations of sedentary behavior with mean birth size did not differ by offspring sex. Replacing sedentary time with light or moderate/vigorous physical activity was not associated with mean birthweight.ConclusionsWe did not observe associations of maternal sedentary behavior during pre- or early pregnancy with mean offspring birth size. Pre-pregnancy and early pregnancy sedentary behavior may have important adverse effects on maternal health, but our results do not support associations with mean offspring birth size.

Leisure-time physical activity, objective urban neighborhood built environment, and overweight and obesity of Chinese school-age children

The prevalence of overweight and obesity in Chinese children and adolescents has a significant increase. This study aims to investigate the associations between objective urban neighborhood built environment, leisure-time physical activity, and overweight and obesity of Chinese school-age children between 6 and 13 years old. This study conducted surveys at thirty-two public elementary schools, evenly chosen from four strata of residential building density and located in 16 urban districts of Shanghai, China. A total of 719 completed surveys were collected between May 2015 and April 2016. There were 447 records geocoded to their home address. Objective neighborhood built environmental attributes were measured in 200-m and 400-m buffers of respondent's home using application programming interfaces provided by a Chinese web mapping services company. We found that active school commuters were more physically active than passive commuters. Distance from home to school and counts of restaurants in 400-meter buffer of a respondent's home were positively associated with school-age children's duration of leisure-time physical activity in a week. School-age children's BMI was negatively associated with their duration of leisure-time physical activity. This is one of first studies that quantified the association between objectively measured neighborhood built environmental attributes and children's leisure-time physical activity in China.

Inverse association of resistin with physical activity in the general population.

AimResistin is a cytokine related with inflammation and ischemic heart disease. Physical activity (PA) prevents chronic inflammation and ischemic heart disease. We studied the relationship of serum concentration of resistin with HDL cholesterol, a known biomarker of PA, and with different measures of PA, in a large sample of the general adult population in the Canary Islands.MethodsCross-sectional study of 6636 adults recruited randomly. We analyzed the correlation of resistin and HDL cholesterol with PA (as metabolic equivalent level [MET]), and fitted the results with linear and logistic regression models using adjustment for age, alcohol consumption and smoking.ResultsMean resistin level was higher in women (p<0.001), correlated inversely with age, HDL cholesterol (p<0.001) and alcohol consumption (p<0.001 in men), and correlated directly with smoking (p<0.001). Resistin correlated inversely with the duration of leisure time PA (p<0.001), leisure time MET (p<0.001) and moderate leisure time PA (p<0.001), with some differences between sexes. Men (OR = 0.78 [0.61–0.99; p<0.05]) and women (OR = 0.75 [0.61–0.92; p<0.01]) in the upper quintile of leisure time PA had a lower risk of elevated resistin. In contrast, a high degree of sedentarism was associated with an increased risk elevated resistin in women (OR = 1.24 [1.04–1.47; p<0.05] and in men (OR = 1.40 [1.01–1.82; p<0.05]).ConclusionsIn our sample of the general population, resistin was inversely associated with measures and levels of PA and HDL cholesterol. The association of resistin with PA was stronger than the association of HDL cholesterol with PA, making resistin a potentially useful biomarker of PA.

Occupational Social Class and Personality Traits in Relation to Leisure-Time Physical Activity Level: Cross-Sectional Results From the Copenhagen Aging and Midlife Biobank.

To investigate separate and combined associations of occupational social class and personality traits with late midlife leisure-time physical activity duration and intensity. Cross-sectional data from the Copenhagen Aging and Midlife Biobank ( N = 4,649) were analyzed using linear regression models with leisure-time physical activity (metric equivalence) as outcome. Low versus high occupational social class was associated with 4% (95% confidence interval [CI] = [3%, 5%]) greater leisure-time physical activity duration, but 2% (CI = [1%, 3%]) lower intensity. Each 10-unit increase in extraversion was associated with 5% (CI = [2%, 8%]) greater duration. Intensity increased by each 10-unit increase in conscientiousness (6%, CI = [4%, 7%]), openness (3%, CI = [1%, 4%]), neuroticism (3%, CI = [1%, 4%]), and extraversion (5%, CI = [4%, 7%]). Conscientiousness was positively associated with duration in low, but not in high, occupational social class (interaction p value = .002). Higher occupational social class was associated with lower leisure-time physical activity duration, but higher intensity. Extraversion was positively associated with duration and intensity. Conscientiousness, openness, and neuroticism were positively associated with intensity. Overall, interactions were not consistent.

Early Pregnancy Leisure Time Physical Activity and Circulating MicroRNAs

Leisure time physical activity (LTPA) during pregnancy is associated with pregnancy complications and fetal outcomes. Epigenetic mechanisms potentially play key roles in these associations. Few studies have investigated epigenetic biomarkers in relation to LTPA. PURPOSE: To determine if maternal LTPA in early pregnancy is associated with candidate circulating microRNAs (miRNAs), epigenetic biomarkers with post-transcription regulatory roles. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among participants (N=74) of the Omega study, a pregnancy cohort study. Participants self-reported LTPA duration (hours/week) and energy expenditure (MET-hours/week) during an interview in early pregnancy (16 weeks gestation, on average). LTPA was considered both as a continuous variable and categorized according to current American College of Sports Medicine recommendations for physical activity (not active, active<150 minutes/week, active≥150 minutes/week). Levels of circulating microRNAs (miR-126-3p, 146b-5p, miR-155-5p, miR-21-3p, miR-210-3p, miR-222-3p, miR-223-3p, miR-517-5p, miR-518a-3p, miR-29a-3p), selected based on their role in pathophysiologic pathways (e.g. inflammation, oxidative stress, and placental function) related to pregnancy complications and outcomes, were measured using qRT-PCR. Linear regression adjusted for maternal age and gestational age at blood draw was used to determine beta estimates and 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: Each additional hour or MET-hour/week of LTPA was not associated with levels of circulating miRNAs (all P>0.05). Compared to women who were not active, women who were active but did not meet recommendations had higher levels of circulating miR-517-5p (β=0.24; 95% CI: 0.06, 1.0; P=0.05). Compared to women who were active below recommended levels, meeting or exceeding recommendations was associated with higher levels of circulating miR-517-5p (β=3.7; 95% CI: 0.99, 14; P=0.05). Early pregnancy LTPA was not associated with levels of other circulating miRNAs. CONCLUSION: Maternal LTPA in early pregnancy may be associated with circulating levels of miR-517-5p, a placenta-specific miRNA related to placental growth, development, and function.

Leisure Time Physical Activity and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in the Omega Study

Findings of studies investigating associations of leisure time physical activity (LTPA) with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) risk have been inconsistent. We investigated associations of LTPA with GDM and whether these associations differ by prepregnancy overweight/obese status or gestational weight gain category. Participants (N = 3209) of the Omega study, a pregnancy cohort study in Washington State (1996-2008), reported LTPA duration (h·wk) and energy expenditure (MET·h·wk) in the year before pregnancy and in early pregnancy. Diagnoses of GDM were abstracted from medical records. Poisson regression models were used to determine relative risks of GDM across tertiles of prepregnancy or early pregnancy LTPA duration and energy expenditure. Stratified analyses and interaction terms were used to assess effect modification by prepregnancy overweight/obese status (BMI ≥25 kg·m) or gestational weight gain category (adequate or excessive). Each tertile increase in prepregnancy LTPA duration or energy expenditure was associated with 15% (95% CI = 0.72-1.00) and 19% (95% CI = 0.69-0.96) lower risk of GDM, respectively. Each tertile increase in early pregnancy LTPA duration or energy expenditure was associated with 16% (95% CI = 0.72-0.97) and 17% (95% CI = 0.72-0.95) lower risk of GDM, respectively. LTPA during both prepregnancy and early pregnancy was associated with a 46% reduced risk of GDM (95% CI = 0.32-0.89) compared with inactivity during both periods. LTPA-GDM associations were similar by prepregnancy BMI and gestational weight gain. Our results support a role for the promotion of physical activity before and during pregnancy in the prevention of GDM.

Maternal Physical Activity, Placental Variation In LEKR1/CCNL1, And Offspring Birthweight - A Sex-specific Gene-Environment Interaction

Gene-environment interactions have been reported to contribute to fetal growth. The placenta mediates effects of maternal behaviors on fetal growth. The role of placental genetic variation in previously reported sex-specific associations of maternal leisure time physical activity (LTPA) with offspring birth size is unknown. PURPOSE: We examined whether offspring sex-specific associations of maternal LTPA with offspring birthweight (BW) differ by placental fetal growth-related common genetic variations. METHODS: Participants (N=412) were identified from the Omega study, a prospective pregnancy cohort study. Participants reported LTPA duration (hours/week) and energy expenditure (MET-hours/week) in the year before pregnancy (ppLTPA) and in early pregnancy (epLTPA). BW was abstracted from medical records. Placental tissue was collected at delivery and genotyped for common single nucleotide polymorphisms (minor allele frequency (MAF) >20%) related to fetal growth: rs1482853 (LEKR1/CCNL1), rs9883204 (ADCY5), rs1042725 (HMGA2), rs724557 (LCORL), rs1801253 (ADRB1), and rs4432842 (5q11.2). Interaction terms and stratified regression models were used to determine effect modification of associations of maternal LTPA with offspring BW by genotypes. RESULTS: Among females, rs1482853 (MAF=43%) modified associations of ppLTPA (P for interaction=0.05) and epLTPA (P for interaction=0.01) duration with BW. Each quartile increase in ppLTPA duration was associated with 154g greater BW (95% CI: 12, 295) among females homozygous for the rs1482853 minor allele, while it was associated with 120g lower BW (95% CI: -223, -18) among heterozygous females. Similarly, each quartile increase in epLTPA duration was associated with 158g greater BW (95% CI: 1, 316) among females homozygous for the rs1482853 minor allele, while it was associated with a marginally significant 53g lower BW (95% CI: -156, 50) among heterozygous females. Genotypes did not modify LTPA-BW associations among males. Results were similar for energy expenditure. CONCLUSIONS: Placental genetic variation in LEKR1/CCNL1 may modify associations between maternal LTPA and birthweight among females, but not males. Replication of results and research on mechanisms of interaction between LTPA, placental genes, and fetal growth are warranted.

Non-occupational Physical Activity And The Risk Of Preterm Birth

Active participation in physical activity (PA) has been confirmed to help maintain health condition and reduce risks of developing chronic diseases in the general population. Systematic reviews and meta-analysis studies have been conducted to investigate the association between occupational physical activity and the risk of preterm birth (PTB). However, the influence of non-occupational physical activity, such as leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), domestic physical activity (DPA) and commuting physical activity (CPA), on incident preterm birth has not been evaluated separately. PURPOSE: To evaluate the association between non-occupational physical activity and risk of preterm birth. Design Meta-analysis of observational studies. Data source PubMed and EMBASE database was searched through Oct 2015. Eligibility criteria Observational studies published in English language, which reported relative risk (RR) and the corresponding confidence intervals (CIs) of PTB in relation to any non-occupational physical activity during pregnancy. RESULTS: Twenty-six observational studies (18 cohort and 8 case-control studies) were included in this meta-analysis. LTPA studies include 13 cohort studies totaling 167,087 participants and 4 case-control studies totaling 966 cases and 1,685 controls. DPA studies include 7 cohort studies totaling 11,009 participants and 3 case-control studies totaling 391 cases and 651 controls. CPA studies include 5 cohort studies totaling 5,489 participants and 2 case-control studies totaling 2,558 cases and 4,144 controls. For LTPA, comparing the highest to the lowest level of PA, the pooled RR was 0.83 (95% CI=0.74-0.93) for cohort studies and 0.60 (95% CI=0.43-0.84) for case-control studies. But, no evidence of reduced risk of PTB was observed with elevated DPA or CPA during pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: It was found in this meta-analysis that levels of leisure-time, but not domestic or commuting PA during pregnancy was inversely and significantly associated with risk of PTB. Further research is needed to confirm our findings and to determine the optimal intensity and duration of LTPA for pregnant women considering risk of PTB. Supported by the Graduate Abroad Visiting Program from Shanghai University of Sport, China (STFX20150103).

Maternal Leisure Time Physical Activity and Infant Birth Size

Associations of maternal leisure time physical activity with birth size are inconsistent. Roles of infant sex and maternal prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) in these associations have not been studied. Participants (N = 3,310) in the Omega study, a cohort in Washington State (1996-2008), reported leisure time physical activity duration and energy expenditure in the year prepregnancy and in early pregnancy (mean 15 weeks gestation). Regression models estimated mean differences in infant head circumference, birthweight, and ponderal index (birthweight/length) across quartiles of pre- or early-pregnancy leisure time physical activity. We assessed effect modification by infant sex or prepregnancy overweight/obese status (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m). We observed positive associations between prepregnancy leisure time physical activity and head circumference overall and among male infants. Among males, each quartile increase in prepregnancy physical activity duration was associated with 0.14 cm (95% confidence interval = 0.046, 0.24; trend P = 0.004) greater head circumference. We did not observe associations between leisure time physical activity and birthweight or ponderal index overall. Each quartile increase in pre- or early-pregnancy physical activity duration was associated with 17-23 g lower birthweight among female infants and among women with normal prepregnancy BMI. We observed positive associations between prepregnancy leisure time physical activity and head circumference among male infants, and inverse associations of pre- and early-pregnancy physical activity with birthweight among female infants and women with normal prepregnancy BMI. Future studies should confirm results and elucidate mechanisms of observed associations.

DETERMINANTS OF LEISURE-TIME PHYSICAL ACTIVITY: EVIDENCE FROM MALAYSIA

This paper examines how socio-demographic and health-lifestyle factors determine participation and duration of leisure-time physical activity in Malaysia. Based on the Malaysia Non-Communicable Disease Surveillance-1 data, Heckman's sample selection model is employed to estimate the probability to participate and duration on physical activity. Results indicate that gender, age, years of education and family illness history are significant in explaining participation probability in leisure-time physical activity. Gender, income level, smoking-status and years of education are significant in explaining the weekly duration conditional on participation, whereas smoking-status and years of education are significant in determining the unconditional level of leisure-time physical activity.

Association of Leisure-Time Physical Activity With Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Indian Men

The relationship between leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is not clearly understood in Indian men. It is important to elucidate whether the duration or intensity of LTPA is responsible for increasing CRF. This will help in designing better physical activity intervention strategies for improving CRF in Indian men. Healthy nondiabetic urban Indian men with no history of coronary heart disease (CHD) were selected (n = 603; aged 22-64 years) and their energy intake and physical activity was determined using a questionnaire. Body fat (percent) was determined by leg-to-leg bioelectrical impedance analysis while CRF was measured on multistage, continuous treadmill test using Bruce protocol. Intensity of physical activity (METs) emerged as the best independent predictor of CRF (β = 0.217; P < .001). Using univariate General Linear Model, it was found that CRF is more a function of LTPA intensity than LTPA duration, since LTPA duration was not related to CRF when controlled for LTPA intensity. However, LTPA intensity remained significantly associated with CRF even after adjustment for LTPA duration. LTPA of preferably higher intensity should be incorporated in the lifestyle to improve CRF and prevent CHD in Indian men.

Correlates of daily leisure-time physical activity in a community sample: Narrow personality traits and practical barriers.

Previous studies examining correlates of leisure time physical activity (LTPA) have identified personality factors that are correlated with LTPA and practical factors that impede LTPA. The purpose of the present study was to test how several narrow traits predict daily reports of LTPA and to test whether traits that predict LTPA moderate the effects of practical barriers. 1192 participants completed baseline measures of personality, then reported their LTPA and several situational and environmental factors daily for 25 days. We used generalized estimating equations to measure how personality traits, practical barriers, and interactions between these factors affected (1) the odds of engaging in LTPA and (2) the duration of daily LTPA. Higher standing on Activity and Discipline and lower standing on Assertiveness predicted greater odds of engaging in LTPA and longer duration of LTPA, and higher standing on Aesthetics predicted shorter duration of LTPA. Poor weather conditions and less leisure time were associated with less LTPA, and effects of these barriers were generally greater among participants 30 and older. In participants older than 30, poor weather was associated with less LTPA among those with lower standing on Activity but was not associated with LTPA among those high in Activity. Despite Discipline's overall positive association with LTPA, less leisure time and less routineness were greater barriers for those high in Discipline. Assessing narrow personality traits could help target LTPA interventions to individual patients' needs and could help identify important new personality dynamics that affect LTPA.

Self-rated health according to amount, intensity and duration of leisure time physical activity

Objective To examine the dose–response relationship between leisure time physical activity (LTPA) and self-rated health. Methods A survey ( n = 18,058) representative of the population aged 18–64 years of Madrid (Spain) conducted between 2000 and 2008. A questionnaire on the frequency and duration of numerous activities was used to assess the total amount, the intensity, and the duration of LTPA. Self-rated health was classified as optimal or sub-optimal (fair/bad/very bad). Analyses were performed using logistic regression. Results Compared with no LTPA, active people in the lowest quintile for total amount of LTPA showed an odds ratio (OR) of sub-optimal health of 0.69; a linear dose–response relationship ( p < 0.001) was observed, with the OR gradually decreasing to 0.49 in the highest quintile of LTPA. There was an inverse gradient for LTPA intensity adjusted for energy expenditure, so that the OR of sub-optimal health was 0.69 for light LTPA, 0.60 for moderate, and 0.48 for vigorous ( p linear trend < 0.001). For the same duration, the frequency of optimal health increases with the intensity of LTPA. Conclusions The total amount of LTPA shows a graded and continuous association with better self-rated health. The benefits of LTPA on self-rated health increase with the intensity of the activity.