Light Physical Activity Research Articles

Cardiometabolic Health in Adolescents with Obesity: The Role of Protein Intake, Diet Quality, and Physical Activity.

Background: Although adolescents with obesity have an increased risk of cardiometabolic disease, a subset maintains a healthy cardiometabolic profile. Unhealthy lifestyle behaviors may determine cardiometabolic risk. We aimed to characterize the lifestyle behaviors of adolescents with obesity, compare differences between metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) and metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO), and assess associations between lifestyle behaviors and cardiometabolic profiles. Methods: Participants aged 10-18 years with body mass index (BMI) ≥ 95th percentile were included. Dietary intake (DI) was estimated from 3-day food records, and diet quality (DQ) was assessed using the Healthy Eating Index-Canadian Adaptation. Physical activity (PA), body composition, anthropometrics, blood markers, and blood pressure (BP) were objectively measured. MUO was defined as having high triglycerides, BP, glucose, or low high-density lipoprotein. Regression analyses were performed between lifestyle behaviors and cardiometabolic markers. Results: Thirty-nine participants (BMI z-score 2.8 [2.5-3.5], age 12.5 [10.9-13.5] years, 56.4% female) were included. A high proportion of participants failed to meet lifestyle recommendations, particularly for DQ (94.7%, n = 36), fiber (94.7%, n = 36), and PA (90.9%, n = 30). No differences in lifestyle behaviors were found between MUO (59.0%, n = 22) and MHO (41.0%, n = 16). Protein intake was negatively associated with BMI and waist circumference z-scores, fat mass index, insulin resistance, low-density lipoprotein, and C-reactive protein, whereas higher DQ was associated with lower C-reactive protein. Higher light PA levels were associated with lower total cholesterol and triglycerides. Conclusion: Adolescents with either MUO or MHO displayed low adherence to DQ, DI, and PA recommendations; no differences in lifestyle behaviors were found. Protein intake, DQ, and PA were associated with a healthier cardiometabolic profile.

Associations of pattern-recognition-measured daily activities with sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity in old age: The IMPACT65+ study

BackgroundPhysical activity has shown beneficial effects for a good state of muscles in aging, but the specific activities of daily living that could be protective remains unclear. This study aimed to analyse the associations of different pattern-recognition-measured daily activities with sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity in a sample of older adults. Methods200 community-dwelling older adults wore the Intelligent Device for Energy Expenditure and Activity for two consecutive days. Twelve major daily activities recorded were merged in to three common intensity categories: sedentary behaviour (SB), light physical activity (LPA) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). For physical performance measurements included, hand grip dynamometer and chair-stand tests were used. Skeletal muscle mass and fat mass were estimated by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Associations of daily activities with the study variables were examined using linear regression models. ResultsThere were no significant associations between total time spent in SB, LPA, or MVPA and sarcopenia. Sarcopenic obesity showed a negative association with total time spent in MVPA [ß (95%CI): −0.29 (−0.41, −0.17)]. Walk at a brisk pace was significatively associated with lower limb physical performance, muscle mass and fat mass % [ß (95%CI): 1.15 (0.40, 1.91); 1.45 (0.68, 2.22) and -2.63 (−4.12, −1.14) respectively]. Other MVPA activities were also significatively associated with the same sarcopenic obesity components [ß (95%CI): 4.65 (0.55, 8.75); 8.59 (4.51, 12.67) and -13.98 (−21.96, −5.99) respectively]. ConclusionTime spent in daily activities of moderate-to-vigorous intensity is negatively associated with sarcopenic obesity but not with sarcopenia.

The association of adherence to 24-hour movement guidelines with frailty and mortality: cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses of NHANES data

BackgroundAdherence to the Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines (24 H-MG) has been associated with a reduced risk of developing various chronic conditions. However, its association with frailty and all-cause mortality has not been investigated. Therefore, our primary and secondary objective was to investigate the association between adherence to the 24 H-MG and frailty and mortality, respectively.MethodsThis study included 2739 individuals (age = 50.6 ± 18.1 years; male = 1370 (50.0%)) from the 2005–2006 cycle of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Frailty was quantified with a 46-item frailty index and analyzed cross-sectionally using linear regression. All-cause mortality data were obtained from the National Death Index and was analyzed prospectively over 10 years using Cox regression. The primary exposure variable was six individual and combined 24 H-MG components including the moderated-to-vigorous physical activity, light physical activity, sedentary time, recreational screen time, sleep, and strength training guidelines. All analyses were stratified into two age groups (younger: 20–64 and older adults 65 + years).ResultsOur cross-sectional analyses demonstrated an inverse dose-response relationship between the number of individual 24 H-MG components met and frailty level in adults aged 20–64 (β = -0.439 (95% C.I. = -0.551:-0.328)) and 65+ (β = -0.322 (95% C.I. = -0.490:-0.154)). Of the individual guideline components, following the moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) guideline in individuals aged 20–64 and the recreational screen time guideline in adults aged 65 + was associated with lower frailty (p < 0.001). There was no clear prospective relationship between adherence to the combined 24 H-MG and mortality. Of the individual guideline components, only meeting the MVPA guideline component in the 65 + group was prospectively associated with reduced mortality risk (HR = 0.48 (95% C.I. = 0.25–0.93)).ConclusionAdherence to the Canadian 24 H-MG may be protective against frailty. Increasing MVPA and decreasing recreational screen time may be important behaviors to consider for frailty prevention and should be investigated further.

Reallocating just 10 min to moderate-to-vigorous physical activity from other components of 24-hour movement behaviors improves cardiovascular health in adults

BackgroundAs components of a 24-hour day, sedentary behavior (SB), physical activity (PA), and sleep are all independently linked to cardiovascular health (CVH). However, insufficient understanding of components’ mutual exclusion limits the exploration of the associations between all movement behaviors and health outcomes. The aim of this study was to employ compositional data analysis (CoDA) approach to investigate the associations between 24-hour movement behaviors and overall CVH.MethodsData from 581 participants, including 230 women, were collected from the 2005–2006 wave of the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). This dataset included information on the duration of SB and PA, derived from ActiGraph accelerometers, as well as self-reported sleep duration. The assessment of CVH was conducted in accordance with the criteria outlined in Life’s Simple 7, encompassing the evaluation of both health behaviors and health factors. Compositional linear regression was utilized to examine the cross-sectional associations of 24-hour movement behaviors and each component with CVH score. Furthermore, the study predicted the potential differences in CVH score that would occur by reallocating 10 to 60 min among different movement behaviors.ResultsA significant association was observed between 24-hour movement behaviors and overall CVH (p < 0.001) after adjusting for potential confounders. Substituting moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) for other components was strongly associated with favorable differences in CVH score (p < 0.05), whether in one-for-one reallocations or one-for-remaining reallocations. Allocating time away from MVPA consistently resulted in larger negative differences in CVH score (p < 0.05). For instance, replacing 10 min of light physical activity (LPA) with MVPA was related to an increase of 0.21 in CVH score (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.11 to 0.31). Conversely, when the same duration of MVPA was replaced with LPA, CVH score decreased by 0.67 (95% CI -0.99 to -0.35). No such significance was discovered for all duration reallocations involving only LPA, SB, and sleep (p > 0.05).ConclusionsMVPA seems to be as a pivotal determinant for enhancing CVH among general adult population, relative to other movement behaviors. Consequently, optimization of MVPA duration is an essential element in promoting overall health and well-being.

Associations of activity, sedentary and sleep behaviors with prevalent steatotic liver disease in middle-aged and older adults: the ELSA-Brasil study

BackgroundSteatotic liver disease (SLD) is a prevalent metabolic disease. While single component movement behaviors have been related to its development, comprehensive assessments of their joint associations are scarce.ObjectiveTo investigate the single-component and multi-component associations of moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA), light physical activity (LPA), sedentary behavior (SB), and sleep with prevalent SLD in Brazilian adults.MethodsA cross-sectional analysis using data from the third wave of the ELSA-Brasil cohort (2017–2019). Participants wore an ActiGraph wGT3X-BT in the waist for seven days and completed a sleep diary. SLD was defined by a Fatty Liver Index ≥ 60. To investigate single-component and multi-component associations, we used three exposure modeling approaches based on Poisson models: multivariable-adjusted regression, restricted cubic splines, and compositional data analysis.ResultsAmong 8569 participants (55.7% women, mean age 59.2 ± 8.60), 43.9% had SLD. Total activity volume adjusted for covariates was inversely associated with prevalent SLD. Every 1 mg/day increase in total activity volume was associated with a PR of 0.95 in individuals sleeping < 7 h/day (95% CI 0.94–0.97) and 0.95 (95% CI 0.93–0.96) in those sleeping ≥ 7 h/day. Increasing 30 min/day of MVPA was associated with decreasing prevalence of SLD (sleep ≥ 7 h/day [PR 0.83; 95% CI 0.77–0.89]; sleep ≥ 7 h/day [PR 0.78; 95% CI 0.74–0.83]). Sleep, SB, and LPA were not associated with SLD. Associations of total activity volume and MVPA were more pronounced among females. Adjustment with adiposity markers attenuated the associations.ConclusionsIn adults, total activity volume and MVPA were inversely associated with SLD in a dose–response fashion. Substituting lower-intensity behaviors with MVPA was associated with a lower prevalence of SLD independent of sleep duration, sex, and age.

Device-measured sedentary time and intensity-specific physical activity in relation to all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality: the UK Biobank cohort study

Background and aimsUnderstanding the amounts of intensity-specific movement needed to attenuate the association between sedentary time and mortality may help to inform personalized prescription and behavioral counselling. Herein, we examined the joint associations of sedentary time and intensity-specific physical activity with all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality.MethodsProspective cohort study including 73,729 adults from the UK Biobank who wore an Axivity AX3 accelerometer on their dominant wrist for at least 3 days, being one a weekend day, between June 2013 and December 2015. We considered the median tertile values of sedentary time and physical activity in each intensity band to determine the amount of physical activity needed to attenuate the association between sedentary time and mortality.ResultsDuring a median of 6.9 years of follow-up (628,807 person-years), we documented 1521 deaths, including 388 from CVD. Physical activity of any intensity attenuated the detrimental association of sedentary time with mortality. Overall, at least a median of 6 min/day of vigorous physical activity, 30 min/day of MVPA, 64 min/day of moderate physical activity, or 163 min/day of light physical activity (mutually-adjusted for other intensities) attenuated the association between sedentary time and mortality. High sedentary time was associated with higher risk of CVD mortality only among participants with low MVPA (HR 1.96; 95% CI 1.23 to 3.14).ConclusionsDifferent amounts of each physical activity intensity may attenuate the association between high sedentary time and mortality.

Effects of a staff-led multicomponent physical activity intervention on preschooler's fundamental motor skills and physical fitness: The ACTNOW cluster-randomized controlled trial

BackgroundFundamental motor skills (FMS) and physical fitness (FIT) play important roles in child development and provide a foundation for lifelong participation in physical activity (PA). Unfortunately, many children have suboptimal levels of PA, FMS, and FIT. The Active Learning Norwegian Preschool(er)s (ACTNOW) study investigated the effects of a staff-led PA intervention on FMS, FIT, and PA in 3–5-year-old children.MethodsPreschools in Western Norway having ≥ six 3–4-year-old children were invited (n = 56). Of these, 46 agreed to participate and were cluster-randomized into an intervention (n = 23 preschools [381 children, 3.8 yrs., 55% boys]) or a control group (n = 23 [438, 3.7 yrs., 52% boys]). Intervention preschools participated in an 18-month PA intervention involving a 7-month staff professional development between 2019 and 2022, amounting to 50 h, including face-to-face seminars, webinars, and digital lectures. Primary outcomes in ACTNOW were cognition variables, whereas this study investigated effects on secondary outcomes. FMS was measured through 9 items covering locomotor, object control, and balance skills. FIT was assessed as motor fitness (4 × 10 shuttle-run test) and upper and lower muscular strength (handgrip and standing long jump). PA was measured with accelerometers (ActiGraph GT3X +). All measures took place at baseline, 7-, and 18-month follow-up. Effects were analysed using a repeated measures linear mixed model with child and preschool as random effects and with adjustment for baseline scores.ResultsParticipants in the intervention preschools showed positive, significant effects for object control skills at 7 months (standardized effect size (ES) = 0.17) and locomotor skills at 18 months (ES = 0.21) relative to controls. A negative effect was found for handgrip strength (ES = -0.16) at 7 months. No effects were found for balance skills, standing long jump, or motor fitness. During preschool hours, sedentary time decreased (ES = -0.18), and light (ES = 0.14) and moderate-to-vigorous PA (ES = 0.16) increased at 7 months, whereas light PA decreased at 18 months (ES = -0.15), for intervention vs control. No effects were found for other intensities or full day PA.ConclusionsThe ACTNOW intervention improved some FMS outcomes and increased PA short-term. Further research is needed to investigate how to improve effectiveness of staff-led PA interventions and achieve sustainable improvements in children’s PA, FMS, and FIT.Trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT04048967, registered August 7, 2019.FundingACTNOW was supported by the Research Council of Norway (grant number 287903), the County Governor of Sogn og Fjordane, the Sparebanken Sogn og Fjordane Foundation, and the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences.

Accelerometer-Measured Daily Behaviors That Mediate the Association Between Refractive Status and Depressive Disorders.

To identify the accelerometer-measured daily behaviors that mediate the association of refractive status with depressive disorders and enhance the understanding of behavioral differences in depression. Participants with baseline mean spherical equivalent (MSE) and 7-day accelerometer measurements from the UK Biobank were included in this cohort study. Refractive status was categorized as hyperopia and non-hyperopia. Four daily behaviors, including moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA), light physical activity (LPA), sedentary, and sleep were recorded between 2013 and 2015. We also assessed 24-hour behavior patterns. Depression cases were defined through both questionnaires and hospital records over 10 years of follow-up. Among 20,607 individuals, every 0.5-diopter increase in MSE was associated with a 6% higher risk of depressive disorders, with hyperopia participants at a higher risk than non-hyperopia participants (odds ratio, 1.14; 95% confidence interval, 1.05-1.23; P = 0.001). MVPA and sleep time significantly correlated with depressive disorders, with odds ratios of 0.79 and 1.14 (P < 0.05). MSE showed significant correlations with all four behaviors. The effects of MVPA and sleep duration on MSE and depressive disorders varied throughout the day. Mediation analyses showed that MVPA and sleep partially mediated the relationship between MSE and depressive disorders, with 35.2% of the association between moderate to high hyperopia and depression mediated by MVPA. Physical activity and sleep significantly mediate the relationship between MSE and depressive disorders. The mediation effect of MVPA highlights its therapeutic potential in reducing the risk of depression among individuals with moderate to severe hyperopia. Interventions aimed at increasing daytime MVPA and decreasing daytime sleep could enhance mental health in this vulnerable group.

Accelerometer-Based Estimates of Physical Activity and Sedentary Time Among Samoan Adults.

The prevalence of obesity-related cardiometabolic disease in Samoa is among the highest globally. While physical activity is a modifiable risk factor for obesity-related disease, little is known about physical activity levels among adult Samoans. Using wrist-worn accelerometer-based devices, this study aimed to characterize physical activity among Samoan adults. Samoan adults (n = 385; 55% female, mean [SD] age 52 [10] y) wore Actigraph GT3X+ devices for 7 to 10days. General linear models were used to examine mean daily minutes of sedentary time, light physical activity, and moderate to vigorous physical activity by various participant characteristics. Time spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity did not differ statistically between men (88 [5]min; 95% confidence interval [CI], 80-97) and women (78 [4]min; 95% CI, 70-86; P = .08). Women, however, spent more time than men in light physical activity: 380 (7)minutes (95% CI, 367-393) versus 344 (7)minutes (95% CI, 329-358; P < .001). While there were no differences in physical activity by census region, education, or occupation among women, men in urban areas spent significantly less time in moderate to vigorous physical activity than those in peri-urban and rural areas (P = .015). Women with class II/III obesity spent more time in sedentary activities than those with healthy weight or overweight/class I obesity (P = .048). This study characterizes physical activity among Samoan adults and highlights variation by sex, urbanicity, and weight status. In providing initial device-measured estimates of physical activity in Samoa, this analysis establishes a baseline from which the success of future attempts to intervene on physical activity may be assessed.

The "sweet- and sour-spot" of occupational physical activity for back pain: a prospective accelerometer study among eldercare workers.

Both high and low levels of occupational physical activity are associated with back pain. Thus, there might be a "sweet- and sour-spot" of occupational physical activity for back pain. Our aim was to investigate if there exists an occupational physical activity "sweet- (lowest risk) and sour-spot" (highest risk) for back pain. A total of 396 eldercare workers from 20 Danish nursing homes participated. Occupational physical activity was measured between 1-4 working days using thigh-worn accelerometry. Back pain intensity was reported monthly on a scale from 0-10 over 1-year. A zero-inflated mixed-effects model was developed regressing occupational physical activity against back pain, adjusted for confounders. The "sweet- and sour-spot" were defined as the occupational physical activity compositions (sitting, standing, light, and moderate-to-vigorous) associated with the 5% lowest and highest risk for back pain, respectively. The composition associated with the lowest risk of back pain - the "sweet-spot"- consisted of 71% worktime spent sitting, 18% spent standing, 5% spent on light physical activity and 6% spent on moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. The composition associated with highest risk for back pain -the "sour-spot"- consisted of 8% worktime spent sitting, 66% spent standing, 4% spent on light physical activity, and 21% spent on moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. The "sweet-spot" of occupational physical activity for back pain among eldercare workers involves more sitting and light physical activity time, while the "sour-spot" involves more standing and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity time. Research on the occupational physical activity "sweet- and sour-spot" is needed.

Differences in Objective Physical Activity Between Children With Visual Impairment and Those With Normal Sight.

To compare objective physical activity (PA) levels of children with visual impairment (VI) and children with normal sight. One hundred children with VI and 100 age- and gender-matched normal-sighted peers 7 to 17years of age wore an ActiGraph for 1 week. Activity count per minute (cpm) was modeled using a series of generalized linear mixed-effects models including vision, age, sex, time of day, and vision by time of day interaction. PA outcomes included mean counts per minute and proportion of time spent on sedentary, light, moderate, and vigorous intensity PA. Data of 83 children with VI and 77 normal-sighted peers were included. Mean counts per minute were lower in children with VI (P < 0.001), especially during and after school. Children with VI were less sedentary (55%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 53-57) than children with normal sight before school (62%; 95% CI, 60-64) and over weekends: children with VI, 41% (95% CI, 39-43); children with normal sight, 45% (95% CI, 43-47). Yet, children with VI were more sedentary during school (36%; 95% CI, 34-37) compared with children with normal sight (30%; 95% CI, 29-32). They also spent more time performing light PA and less time performing moderate PA at school and vigorous PA across all periods of day (P < 0.001). Children with VI participated in light and moderate PA but did not perform as much vigorous PA as children with normal sight, especially during school hours. There is a need to promote more intense PA programs in schools tailored for children with VI.

The Role of Physical Literacy in the Association Between Weather and Physical Activity: A Longitudinal Multilevel Analysis With 951 Children.

Numerous studies showed an effect of weather on physical activity (PA) levels in children. However, no study has yet examined the relevance of personal factors in this relationship. Therefore, this study analyzes (1) whether there are systematic interindividual differences in the extent to which weather affects the PA behavior and (2) whether physical literacy (PL) moderates the weather-PA association in children. A total of 951 children in 12 Danish schools (age 9.76 [1.59]y; 54.3% girls) completed objective PA assessments via accelerometry (moderate to vigorous PA, light PA, and sedentary behavior). Local weather data (precipitation, wind speed, temperature, and sunshine duration) were provided by the Danish Meteorological Institute. Participants' PL was measured employing the Danish version of the Canadian Assessment of Physical Literacy-2. The 4116 accelerometer days underwent longitudinal multilevel analyses while considering their nesting into pupils and school classes (n = 51). Fluctuations in all PA indicators were significantly explained by variations in weather conditions, especially precipitation (P ≤ .035). Significant interindividual differences were found for 9 of 12 analytical dimensions, suggesting that weather changes influence PA behavior differently across individuals (especially moderate to vigorous PA, χ2[4] ≥ 11.5, P ≤ .021). However, PL moderated the relationship between weather and PA in only 2 of the 48 analytical constellations. Despite the varying impact of weather on PA across individuals, the present study favors a main effect model in which weather and PL exert independent effects on children's PA. The insufficient support for PL as a moderating factor calls for future studies to test alternative mechanisms in the weather-PA association.

Impact of spa therapy on physical activity, sleep and heart rate variability among individuals with fibromyalgia: Results of an ancillary study

Spa therapy is recommended to manage symptoms of fibromyalgia, but the physiological mechanisms underlying this improvement have been poorly studied. In an original study, we explored the effect of a 3-week rheumatology spa treatment for fibromyalgia patients on quality of life and with a symptom severity questionnaire. We present here the results of an ancillary study which explored three secondary criteria using objective measurement methods: diurnal actimetry for physical activity analysis, nocturnal actimetry for sleep analysis and heart rate variability. Eighty-three fibromyalgia patients were randomized to participate in an immediate 3-week rheumatological spa therapy, either a start within 6 weeks after inclusion (interventional group, n = 39) or a delayed, start 6 months after inclusion (control group, n = 44). Patients were asked to wear an actimeter (n = 56) to assess diurnal physical activity and sleep quality and a 24-h Holter ECG (n = 60) to assess nocturnal heart rate variability at baseline, 3 months and 6 months after inclusion. Time spent in sedentary and light physical activity was reduced to ∼30 min at 6 months in the interventional group (P = 0.027). Sleep quality and heart rate variability were not improved. Spa therapy made it possible to reduce sedentary activities in patients’ daily life for up to 6 months afterwards, concomitant with the improvement in quality of life, pain and fatigue as highlighted in the original Thermalgi study.

Associations of Reallocating Sedentary Time to Physical Activity and Sleep with Physical and Mental Health of Older Adults.

Twenty-four-hour movement behaviors: moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), light physical activity (LPA), sedentary behavior (SB), and sleep are crucial factors affecting older adults' health. Using a compositional data analysis approach, this study examined the associations of time spent in these four movement behaviors with cardiometabolic health, physical fitness, and mental health among older adults. Furthermore, this study identified the estimated changes in aforementioned health outcomes by reallocating SB time to other movement behaviors. A population-based cross-sectional study of 4562 participants (67.68 ± 5.03 yr; 55.8% female) were implemented in Hubei China between July 25 and November 19, 2020. Measures included demographics, movement behaviors, cardiometabolic indicators (body mass index, waist circumference, waist-hip ratio, percentage body fat, systolic and diastolic blood pressure), physical fitness, and mental health outcomes (depressive symptoms and loneliness). Compositional data analyses were implemented in R. MVPA and sleep time were associated with greater health outcomes (all P < 0.001), except blood pressure ( P = 0.13-0.83). LPA time was associated with waist circumference ( B = 0.313, P = 0.009), waist-hip ratio ( B = 0.003, P = 0.003), physical fitness ( B = 0.36, P < 0.001), and mental health indicators (both P < 0.001). Reallocating 30-min SB to MVPA and sleep was associated with predicated improvements in all health outcomes, except blood pressure, whereas reallocating 30-min SB to LPA resulted in predicted improvements in physical fitness (0.187 units), depressive symptoms (-0.264 units), and loneliness (-0.395 units). For dose-effect relationships, reallocating 5-60 min of SB to MVPA showed greatest benefits for all health outcomes. This study provides timely empirical evidence for future interventions and policymaking on promoting healthy aging during the post-COVID-19 era. The findings underline the importance of including 24-h movement behaviors in future health promotion among older adults.

Comparison of motion sensor and heart rate monitor for assessment of physical activity intensity in stroke outpatient rehabilitation sessions: an observational study.

To compare the estimation of time spent on 4 categories of physical activity intensity (sedentary behaviour, light physical activity, moderate physical activity, and vigorous physical activity) between a motion sensor and a heart rate monitor during a stroke outpatient rehabilitation session. A multicentre cross-sectional observational study. Participants with stroke (> 6 months) undergoing outpatient rehabilitation sessions. Participants wore the SenseWear Armband motion sensor and the Polar H10 heart rate monitor during 2 rehabilitation sessions. The times estimated by each device were compared using a generalized linear mixed model and post-hoc tests. Ninety-nine participants from 29 clinics were recruited and data from 146 sessions were included in the analysis. The estimated times depended on the devices and the physical activity intensity category (F = 135, p < 0.05). The motion sensor estimated more time spent in sedentary behaviour and less time spent in moderate physical activity and vigorous physical activity than the heart rate monitor. The motion sensor and heart rate monitor provide different estimates of physical activity intensity during stroke rehabilitation. Further research is needed to establish the most appropriate device for each physical activity category.

Use of natural environments is associated with reduced inequalities in child mental wellbeing: A cross-sectional analysis using global positioning system (GPS) data

Exposure to natural environments may benefit child mental wellbeing whilst offering a lever to reduce health inequalities. However, understanding of these relationships is limited by evidence from indirect measures of exposure. We objectively measured children’s direct use of natural environments—and use in low or high physical activity (PA) states—and associated this with their mental wellbeing. We then examined moderation by sex and household income.Using global positioning system and accelerometry data from children (n = 640), we measured mean daily time in natural environments (‘total use’), which we stratified by PA level as ‘passive use’ (sedentary and light PA) and ‘active use’ (moderate and vigorous PA). Logistic regression associated exposures with dichotomised Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire outcomes (internalising difficulties; externalising difficulties; prosocial behaviour), with interactions to examine moderation.A 10-minute increase in total use was associated with 10.5 % lower risk of abnormal internalising outcomes (OR: 0.895; 95 % CI 0.809, 0.990), and 13.2 % lower risk of abnormal externalising outcomes (OR: 0.868; 95 % CI 0.776, 0.990). This suggests that ∼ 60 min of daily total use was associated with 50 % lower risk of abnormal internalising and externalising outcomes. The relative effects of passive and active use were equal, but their associations were moderated by income independently for specific outcomes. For externalising outcomes, the risk of abnormal scores in lower-income children reduced as passive use increased (P = 0.027) but remained constant for higher-income children. For prosocial outcomes, the likelihood of normal scores increased with active use in lower-income children, but not higher-income children (P = 0.005). Sex did not moderate these associations.The findings suggest that targeted interventions supporting disadvantaged children to use natural environments could help address inequalities in mental wellbeing. Further, the moderated associations with types of use suggest the equigenic effects of natural environments may operate through multiple pathways.

Organised and non-organised activities contribute to overall physical activity levels in adolescents and young adults with Down syndrome: a cross-sectional study.

Participation in organised and non-organised physical activities among adolescents and young adults with Down syndrome is underexplored. This study aimed to examine differences between organised and non-organised physical activities among adolescents and young adults with Down syndrome. Forty participants with Down syndrome (27 woman; mean age 21.4±4.9years) were recruited. Data on physical activity participation were collected by self- or proxy-reported questionnaires about attendance, involvement and type of physical activity. Adolescents and young adults with Down syndrome participated in more organised than non-organised activities (P<0.05), more often (P<0.05), but there was no difference in the total time spent participating in these activities overall. Participants spent more time in vigorous physical activity during organised activities (P<0.05) and spent more time in light physical activity during non-organised physical activities (P<0.05). Dancing (organised activity) and walking (non-organised activity) were the most reported activities. Participation in both organised and non-organised physical activities is important to increase overall physical activity levels of adolescents and young adults with Down syndrome. Future research exploring physical activity preferences may help guide the planning and adaption of community programmes for this group.

Isotemporal substitution of accelerometer-derived sedentary behavior and physical activity on physical fitness in young children

This study investigates the effects of different types of physical activity (PA) on the physical fitness (PF) of young children in Japan, with a particular focus on how substituting sedentary behavior (SB) with active behaviors influences PF. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 1843 participants aged 3–6 years from northeastern Japan. Using triaxial accelerometers, we quantified PA, and PF was assessed via standardized tests. The innovative application of isotemporal substitution modeling (ISM) allowed us to analyze the impact of reallocating time from SB to more active states, specifically moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and light physical activity (LPA). Our findings reveal a robust association between increased MVPA and enhanced PF outcomes, underscoring the health benefits of reducing SB. Notably, replacing SB with LPA also showed beneficial effects on certain PF metrics, indicating LPA's potential role in early childhood fitness. These results highlight the critical importance of promoting MVPA and minimizing sedentary periods to bolster PF in young children. The study offers vital insights for shaping public health policies and emphasizes the need to cultivate an active lifestyle from an early age to secure long-term health advantages.

Movement behaviour typologies and their associations with adiposity indicators in children and adolescents: a latent profile analysis of 24-h compositional data

ObjectivesGrowing evidence supports the important role of 24-hour movement behaviours (MB) in preventing childhood obesity. However, research to understand the heterogeneity and variability of MB among individuals and what kind of typologies of individuals are at risk of developing obesity is lacking. To bridge this gap, this study identified typologies of 24-hour MB in children and adolescents and investigated their associations with adiposity indicators.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, 374 children and 317 adolescents from the Czech Republic wore wrist-worn accelerometers for seven consecutive days. Time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), light physical activity (LPA), sedentary behaviour (SB), and sleep was quantified using raw accelerometery data. Adiposity indicators included body mass index (BMI) z-score, fat mass percentage (FM%), fat mass index (FMI), and visceral adipose tissue (VAT). Bias-adjusted latent profile analysis was used on the 24-hour MB data to identify MB typologies and their associations with adiposity indicators. The models were adjusted for potential confounders. The identified typologies were labelled to reflect the behavioural profiles of bees to aid interpretability for the general public.ResultsTwo typologies were identified in children: highly active Workers characterised by high levels of MVPA and LPA, and inactive Queens characterised by low levels of MVPA and LPA, high levels of SB and longer sleep duration compared to Workers. In adolescents, an additional typology labelled as Drones was characterised by median levels of MVPA, LPA, SB and longest sleep duration. After controlling for covariates, we found that children labelled as Queens were associated with 1.38 times higher FM%, 1.43 times higher FMI, and 1.67 times higher VAT than Workers. In adolescents, Drones had 1.14 times higher FM% and Queens had 1.36 higher VAT in comparison with Workers, respectively.ConclusionOur study highlights the importance of promoting active lifestyles in children and adolescents to potentially reduce adiposity. These findings can provide insights for interventions aimed at promoting healthy MB and preventing childhood obesity.Graphical

Defining Activity Thresholds Triggering a "Stand Hour" for Apple Watch Users: Cross-Sectional Study.

Sedentary behavior (SB) is one of the largest contributing factors increasing the risk of developing noncommunicable diseases, including cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Guidelines from the World Health Organization for physical activity suggest the substitution of SB with light physical activity. The Apple Watch contains a health metric known as the stand hour (SH). The SH is intended to record standing with movement for at least 1 minute per hour; however, the activity measured during the determination of the SH is unclear. In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed the algorithm used to determine time spent standing per hour. To do this, we investigated activity measurements also recorded on Apple Watches that influence the recording of an SH. We also aimed to estimate the values of any significant SH predictors in the recording of a SH. The cross-sectional study used anonymized data obtained in August 2022 from 20 healthy individuals gathered via convenience sampling. Apple Watch data were extracted from the Apple Health app through the use of a third-party app. Appropriate statistical models were fitted to analyze SH predictors. Our findings show that active energy (AE) and step count (SC) measurements influence the recording of an SH. Comparing when an SH is recorded with when an SH is not recorded, we found a significant difference in the mean and median AE and SC. Above a threshold of 97.5 steps or 100 kJ of energy, it became much more likely that an SH would be recorded when each predictor was analyzed as a separate entity. The findings of this study reveal the pivotal role of AE and SC measurements in the algorithm underlying the SH recording; however, our findings also suggest that a recording of an SH is influenced by more than one factor. Irrespective of the internal validity of the SH metric, it is representative of light physical activity and might, therefore, have use in encouraging individuals through various means, for example, notifications, to reduce their levels of SB.