Low-intensity Leisure-time Physical Activity Research Articles

Leisure-time physical activity and milk intake synergistically reduce the risk of pathoglycemia: A cross-sectional study in adults in Beijing, China.

To evaluate the synergistic and individual associations of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) intensity and the frequency of milk intake in adulthood with newly diagnosed pathoglycemia. Pathoglycemia comprised impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This cross-sectional study of 3977 adults was conducted in Mentougou District, Beijing, China. After excluding ineligible individuals or those with missing data, 2977 participants were included in the final analysis. Data on LTPA, milk intake, and other demographic characteristics were obtained through previously designed questionnaires. Newly diagnosed pathoglycemia was determined based on fasting plasma glucose (FPG) concentration. Among all participants, 21.4% had newly diagnosed pathoglycemia, 9.9% engaged in moderate to vigorous leisure-time physical activity (MVLTPA), and 63.7% drank milk more than once weekly. Relative to those who engaged in low-intensity LTPA and drank milk less than once weekly, those who engaged in MVLTPA (OR: 0.584, 95%CI: 0.410-0.810) and drank milk more than once weekly (OR: 0.734, 95% CI: 0.614-0.878) had a lower risk of pathoglycemia; this association was greater when both variables interacted (OR: 0.446, 95% CI: 0.287-0.669). MVLTPA and enough frequency of milk intake synergistically decreased the risk of pathoglycemia. A future interventional study including both factors should be performed.

Association between leisure-time physical activity and the risk of chronic diseases

Abstract Background According to the World Health Organization, non-communicable diseases or chronic diseases, account for 71 percent of all deaths globally, affecting individuals of all age groups and countries. Epidemiological studies have shown an association between a lack of physical activity (PA) and the risk of raised blood pressure, increased body mass index and obesity that can lead to chronic diseases. Methods The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between leisure-time PA and the risk of chronic diseases among adult population. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 470 men and 641 women who participated in “The Impact of Sustainable Mobility, Physical Activity and Environmental Factors on Urban Population Health Study (ISMA)” in Lithuania. Leisure-time PA was self-reported and divided into three levels: low, moderate and high. Logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of chronic diseases according to leisure-time PA. Results More than half (55%) of the study population engaged in a moderate intensity PA and 12% of participants engaged in a high intensity leisure-time PA. Men 1.6 times more often than women reported engaging in a high intensity PA in leisure time (p = 0.004). Adults who engaged in low intensity leisure-time PA had almost 3 times (OR = 2.91; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.62-5.24) higher risk of chronic diseases, whereas those adults who reported moderate intensity leisure-time PA had an OR of 1.63 (95% CI 0.92-2.87) compared to individuals who engaged in a high-level PA. Conclusions Our findings suggest that high levels of leisure-time PA could reduce the risk of chronic diseases and this effect was significantly stronger in men. Key messages Global decline in PA is related to inaction during leisure time and sedentary behaviour at work and at home that has a major health impact worldwide. High levels of leisure-time PA are important factor for chronic disease prevention.

Physical-work ability and chronic musculoskeletal complaints are related to leisure-time physical activity: Cross-sectional study among manual workers aged 50-70 years.

To investigate the associations between both high- and low-intensity leisure-time physical activity on physical-work ability and chronic musculoskeletal complaints among manual workers aged 50-70 years. In this cross-sectional study, 1763 manual workers (mean age 57.1, SD ± 4.7 years) replied to questions about leisure-time physical activity, physical-work ability, chronic musculoskeletal complaints as well as health and lifestyle factors. Ordinal and binomial logistic regression models were constructed to assess the influence of the duration of both low- and high-intensity physical activity on physical-work ability and chronic musculoskeletal complaints, respectively. Models were adjusted for gender, age, smoking, alcohol intake, body mass index, physical-work demand, work experience, chronic disease and, regarding physical-work ability, also for chronic musculoskeletal complaints. A statistically significant association between greater physical-work ability and high-intensity physical activity was found for workers engaged in 3-4 h/wk and ⩾ 5 h/wk (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.15-2.19 and OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.10-2.22, respectively). For both high- and low-intensity physical activity, a duration of 3-4 h/wk was associated with lower odds of reporting chronic musculoskeletal complaints in the knees (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.42-1.00 and OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.38-0.99, respectively). Engaging in ⩾ 3 h/wk of high-intensity leisure-time physical activity was associated with greater physical-work ability among manual workers aged 50-70 years. Both high- and low-intensity physical activity related to lower odds of having chronic musculoskeletal complaints in the knees.

Leisure-Time Physical Activity Is Associated With Reduced Risk of Dementia-Related Mortality in Adults With and Without Psychological Distress: The Cohort of Norway.

Background: Leisure-time physical activity (PA) has been proposed as a protective factor against dementia, whereas psychological distress is associated with an increased risk of dementia. We investigated the associations of leisure-time PA and psychological distress with dementia-related mortality, and whether the association between leisure-time PA and dementia-related mortality differs according to level of psychological distress.Methods: 36,945 individuals from the Cohort of Norway aged 50-74 years at baseline (1994–2002) were included and followed up until January 1st 2015. Leisure-time PA and psychological distress were assessed through questionnaires, whereas dementia-related mortality was obtained through the Norwegian Cause of Death Registry. Adjusted Cox regression analyses were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI).Results: Compared to inactivity, leisure-time PA was associated with a decreased risk of dementia-related mortality; low intensity leisure-time PA (HR = 0.73, 95% CI 0.59–0.89); high intensity leisure-time PA (HR = 0.61, 95%CI 0.49-0.77). A statistically significant difference in dementia-related mortality risk was observed between low and high intensity leisure-time PA (p < 0.05). Psychological distress was associated with an increased risk of dementia-related mortality (HR = 1.45, 95% CI 1.16–1.81). Among non-distressed, leisure-time PA was associated with a decreased dementia-related mortality risk; low intensity leisure-time PA (HR = 0.77, 95% CI 0.61–0.97); high intensity leisure-time PA (HR = 0.65, 95% CI 0.51–0.84). The same applied for those with psychological distress; low intensity leisure-time PA (HR = 0.57, 95% CI 0.35–0.94); high intensity leisure-time PA (HR = 0.42, 95% CI 0.22–0.82). The interaction between leisure-time PA and psychological distress on dementia-related mortality was not statistically significant (p = 0.38).Conclusions: Participating in leisure-time PA was associated with a reduced risk of dementia-related mortality, whereas psychological distress was associated with an increased risk of dementia-related mortality. Leisure-time PA appears to be equally strongly related with dementia-related mortality among those with and without psychological distress, underlining the importance of leisure-time PA for various groups of middle-aged and older adults.

Association of physical activity with body mass index, waist circumference and incidence of obesity in older adults.

There is limited, and inconsistent, data on the prospective association between physical activity and surrogate markers of adiposity in older adults. We aim to determine the prospective association of leisure time physical activity (LTPA) with body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and the incidence of obesity. This prospective analysis included 7144 individuals with a mean age of 67 ± 6.2 years, from the PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea (PREDIMED) study. BMI and WC were measured and LTPA was recorded using the Minnesota Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire. Exposure and outcome variables were calculated as cumulative average of repeated measurements. Total LTPA was inversely associated (P < 0.001) with BMI and WC. The difference in BMI and WC between extreme quintiles of LTPA (Q1-Q5) was 2.1 kg/m2 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.68; 2.49, P < 0.001) and 4.8 cm (CI 2.28; 7.25, P < 0.001), respectively. Low-intensity LTPA was inversely associated with BMI but not with WC, while moderate/vigorous LTPA showed an inverse relationship with BMI and WC. The hazard of general and abdominal obesity incidence decreased across quintiles of total and moderate/vigorous LTPA (P < 0.001 for both), whereas low-intensity LTPA was inversely associated with the incidence of general obesity (P < 0.001). LTPA was inversely associated with BMI, WC and incidence of general and abdominal obesity. The finding that low-intensity LTPA was inversely related to BMI and the incidence of obesity is of particular importance because this level of physical activity could be a feasible option for many older adults.

Sex-Differences of Low to Moderate Leisure-Time Physical Activity on Metabolic Risk Factors in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients

Background: Exercise is an integral part of the diabetes management and prevention. However, it is hard to maintain and to reach current recommendation due to the unavoidable aging process. This cross-sectional study investigates our type 2 diabetes patients participating in our DM education program from January to December 2011 to find out if low to moderate physical activity could have benefits and to investigate if there were sex- differences of benefits. Results: In 3240 type 2 DM patients, 53.7% had Leisure Time Physical Activity (LTPA) but only 24.7% had adequate LTPA. Those who had adequate physical activity had lower BMI, longer DM duration (10.4 ± 7.6 vs 8.4 ± 6.8 years). Significantly less smoking, betel-nut chewing and alcohol drinking habits in male adequate LTPA group was found. The benefits of exercise in male subjects includes lower hemoglobulin A1C (7.4 ± 1.4 vs 7.9 ± 1.8%), lower diastolic blood pressure (80.0 ± 11.6 vs 82.9 ± 12.2 mmHg), triglyceride (136.8 ± 89.0 vs 152.3 ± 114.0), GPT (34.8 ± 29.0 vs 39.8 ± 37.3), Creatinine (1.20 ± 0.45 vs 1.28 ± 0.94). The benefit of exercise in female is lower GPT only (30.6 ± 27.5 vs 34.4 ± 31.2). The difference might be a result of less exercise intensity and volume in female subjects. The mean METs are 3.4 ± 1.1 in male and 3.1± 1.0 in female, P= 0.000, MET min/ week are 1303.7 ± 792.4 (38.5) in male group, 1188.6 ± 757.7 (39.01) in female group respectively, p=0.036. Correlation analysis showed exercise volume is the determinant of better glycemic control. Conclusion: Adequate low to moderate LTPA appears to help the achievement of metabolic risks reduction in male subjects only, who also demonstrated a healthier lifestyle. Exercise intensity and volume were higher in male subjects too. To enhance metabolic benefits from low intensity LTPA, increase of exercise volume is probably needed.

Leisure-time physical activity over the life course and cognitive functioning in late mid-adult years: a cohort-based investigation.

The objective of the present study was to estimate the association between different leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) parameters from 11 to 50 years and cognitive functioning in late mid-adulthood. The study used a prospective birth cohort study including participants in the UK National Child Development Study (NCDS) from age 11 to 50 years. Standardized z scores for cognitive, memory and executive functioning at age 50 represented the primary outcome measures. Exposures included self-reported LTPA at ages 11, 16, 33, 42, 46 and 50 years. Analyses were adjusted for important confounders including educational attainment and long-standing illness. The adjusted difference in cognition score between women who reported LTPA for at least 4 days/week in five surveys or more and those who never reported LTPA for at least 4 days/week was 0.28 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.20-0.35], 0.10 (95% CI 0.01-0.19) for memory score and 0.30 (95% CI 0.23-0.38) for executive functioning score. For men, the equivalent differences were: cognition 0.12 (95% CI 0.05-0.18), memory 0.06 (95% CI -0.02 to 0.14) and executive functioning 0.16 (95% CI 0.10-0.23). This study provides novel evidence about the lifelong association between LTPA and memory and executive functioning in mid-adult years. Participation in low-frequency and low-intensity LTPA was positively associated with cognitive functioning in late mid-adult years for men and women. The greatest benefit emerged from participating in lifelong intensive LTPA.

Changes in leisure time physical activity and risk of all-cause mortality in men and women: The Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging

Background Higher levels of leisure time physical activity (LTPA) are associated with reduced mortality. However it is unclear how changes in LTPA over time impact all-cause mortality in men and women. Methods From 1958 to 1996 for men ( n = 1316) and 1978 to 1996 for women ( n = 776), participants aged 19–90+ years from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (Baltimore, MD) were assessed for LTPA at baseline and at ∼ 2-year intervals over a mean follow-up of 21.2 ± 9.4 years for men and 10.2 ± 5.6 years for women. Death occurred in 538 men and 90 women. LTPA was derived from self-reports of time spent in 97 activities converted into MET-min per 24 h and was further grouped into high-, moderate- and low-intensity LTPA. The longitudinal data was analyzed using mixed effects models to determine the rate of change in LTPA at each assessment. Proportional hazard models were used to assess the associations between LTPA at baseline and rate of change in LTPA with all-cause mortality. Results In younger (< 70 years) men, those who reported increases or negligible declines in total and high-intensity LTPA had lower all-cause mortality compared to those with greater declines in LTPA. In older (≥ 70 years) men, the association between rate of change in high-intensity LTPA and mortality was similar to that seen in younger men. For women, longitudinal analyses showed neither rates of change in total, high-, moderate- nor low-intensity LTPA were predictive of mortality. Conclusions In this health-conscious population, greater longitudinal declines in total and high-intensity LTPA are independent predictors of all-cause mortality in men.

The Relationship Between Depression and Occupational, Household, and Leisure-Time Physical Activity

This study examined whether the negative correlation between exercise and depression also exists for other types of physical activity, such as occupational and household physical activity. Participants numbered 528 (285 men, 243 women) between the ages of 20 and 70 years were included in the study. Data on leisure, occupational, and household physical activity were collected over the course of one year using 24-hr telephone recalls, as well as data on depression as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory (Beck & Steer, 1987). Leisure-time physical activity was predictive of lower depression scores in women, whereas occupational and household physical activity was not predictive of depression scores for either men or women. In women, high intensity leisure-time physical activity was more predictive of depression scores than was low intensity leisure-time physical activity. Mental health effects of exercise may be specific to the characteristics of the exercise activity itself, rather than mere physiological activation. Implications for future research are discussed.

Comparison of cardiorespiratory fitness versus leisure time physical activity as predictors of coronary events in men aged ≤65 years and >65 years

Both high peak oxygen consumption (VO 2) and high levels of leisure time physical activity (LTPA) are associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. We examined the contributions of LTPA and peak VO 2 to the risk of coronary events (CEs) in healthy younger (≤65 years, n = 522) and older (>65 years, n = 167) men from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. LTPA derived from self reports of time spent in 97 activities were converted into METs−minutes/24 hours and grouped into high (≥6 METs), moderate- (4 to 5.9 METs), and low-intensity LTPA (<4 METs). Cardiorespiratory fitness was determined by measuring peak VO 2 during a maximal treadmill exercise test. Over a mean follow-up of 13.4 ± 6.3 years, CEs occurred in 63 men. After accounting for coronary risk factors, proportional-hazards analyses showed a relative CE risk of 0.53 (p <0.0001) for a SD increase in peak VO 2 in younger men and 0.61 (p = 0.024) in older men, whereas total LTPA was unrelated to coronary risk in either age group. When the 3 LTPA intensity levels were substituted for total LTPA in the model, peak VO 2 remained the only predictor of events in younger men, whereas high-intensity LTPA (RR = 0.39 for tertile 3 vs tertiles 1 and 2, p = 0.016) and peak VO 2 (RR = 0.61/SD increase, p = 0.024) were of similar importance in older men. Thus, in healthy younger men, higher cardiorespiratory fitness but not LTPA predicts a reduced risk of coronary heart disease, independent of conventional risk factors. For older men, high-intensity LTPA and fitness appear to be of similar importance in reducing coronary risk.

Physical fitness related to age and physical activity in older persons.

This study investigated physical fitness as a function of age and leisure time physical activity (LTPA) in a community-based sample of 624 persons aged 57 yr and older. LTPA during the last 12 months was assessed through personal interviews. A wide range of physical fitness components was measured using performance-based tests. Physical fitness was associated with the interaction age by LTPA in only a few components, in a gender-specific way, with generally larger differences in fitness between active and less active persons with increasing age. All LTPA, including low intensity LTPA, is positively and age-independent associated with most physical fitness components. The importance of LTPA typically participated in by the general population lies not so much in the delaying of the motor aging process but rather in a general, age-independent, positive effect.