Physical Activity Behavior Patterns Research Articles

Associations Between Intersecting Sociodemographic Characteristics and Device-Measured Physical Activity Among Children and Adolescents Living in the United States.

Despite robust evidence demonstrating sociodemographic characteristics may underly some of the disparities in physical activity observed among children and adolescents, the often-overlooked nexus of potential interactions between these characteristics warrants further exploration. This study explored the intersectionality of gender, race/ethnicity, parental education, and household income in relation to device-measured physical activity volume and intensity in a nationally representative sample of US children and adolescents. Cross-sectional data from 3 cycles of the US National Health and Nutrition Survey (2011-2012; 2012 National Youth Fitness Survey; and 2013-2014) were used. A total of 6116 participants (49% female) between 3 and 17years of age wore an accelerometer on their nondominant wrist for 7days. Monitor-independent movement summary units were used to represent physical activity volume and intensity. A Social Jeopardy Index was created to represent increasing levels of intersecting social disadvantages based on combinations of gender, race/ethnicity, parental education, and household income-to-poverty ratio tertiles. Generalized linear regression models were computed. The results showed social disadvantages become increasingly evident among children and adolescents during the most intense 60minutes of daily physical activity (B = -48.69 [9.94] SE, P < .001), but disparities in total volume were not observed (B = 34.01 [44.96] SE, P = .45). Findings suggest that patterns of physical activity behavior may differ based on intersecting sociodemographic characteristics-more socially disadvantaged children and adolescents appear to accumulate activity at lighter intensities. Collecting contextual information about device-measured physical activity represents an important next step for gaining insight into these sociodemographic differences.

IJCM_392A: Assessment of the level of Physical activity among school and college going adolescents in the urban field practice area of Guntur Medical College

Background: Inadequate Physical Activity is a common feature running through most public health problems across the world. Physical activity declines during the lifespan, especially during adolescence. Identifying patterns of physical activity behaviour in adolescent population will help to improve interventions for youth to become and stay active into adulthood. Objective: 1. To assess the level of physical activity among school and college going adolescents in the urban field practice area of Guntur Medical College. 2. To identify the factors influencing the level of physical activity. Methodology: This cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out among 300 adolescents (aged 10 to 19 years) attending government schools or junior colleges. One school and one college from the field practice area were selected by simple random sampling whereas students from each class were selected by stratified random sampling. A pre-tested, pre-designed semi-structured questionnaire adapted from the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) and the Physical Activity Questionnaire- Adolescent (PAQ-A) was used for collecting data on physical activity. Results: 30.3% of the adolescents were practicing low physical activity. Level of physical activity was significantly associated with gender, academic grade, father’s schooling, availability of facilities in the neighbourhood, and availability of facilities at home. Among adolescents who are practicing low physical activity, 76.1% reported lack of time as the barrier. Conclusion: A substantial proportion of the adolescents are practicing low physical activity varying across different factors viz., gender, academic grade, availability of facilities in neighborhood or at home.

Multimorbidity and physical activity profiles: results of the SMILE community cohort study

Background: Physical Activity has emerged as the key treatment option for a wide range of chronic diseases. Many adults aged 55 and up suffer from multiple chronic diseases. Behavioral change is driven by stimulating specific physical activity behaviors, such as walking. Knowing which behaviors are common among which patients may inform interventions. This study describes the types of physical activity performed in a representative, community-based Dutch sample of adults with multimorbidity. We hypothesize that chronic disease clusters exist within this large population and that these meaningful classes may encompass a range of specific physical activity behaviors. Patients and Methods: Cross-sectional data was used from 3,386 patients, who were 55 years and up, were registered at one of nine primary healthcare facilities that participated in the SMILE cohort study and completed a lifestyle and a chronic illness questionnaire. A model for the association between multimorbidity and physical activity behavior was developed using latent class analysis. Results: The best fit was a 4-class solution with: (1) a group with the lowest prevalence of cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and cardiovascular disease and very active in walking, light and intensive household activities; (2) a relatively healthy group in which liver disease or cirrhosis and cycling, gardening, odd jobs and sports were prevalent; (3) a group with the lowest prevalence of migraine, inflammatory joint disease and lowest activity levels in all types of physical activities except for light household chores; and (4) a group with the highest prevalence of all chronic diseases except for liver disease or cirrhosis with moderate physical activity levels. Conclusion: Multimorbidity did not seem to be the primary obstacle to engaging in physical activity. There was a difference between the classes in terms of the probability to engage in each form of activity, even though the pattern of physical activity behavior for all seven categories of activities appeared equivalent among classes.

Time-Varying Associations of Physical Activity on Weekdays and Weekend Days in Minority Older Adults

Older adults are insufficiently physically active, and therefore, are at an increased health risk. However, less is known about the moment-to-moment physical activity behavior patterns that change across the day. The current study utilized accelerometry to better understand diurnal physical activity patterns. Minority older adults (N=91, age M=70.14, 96% Black/African American) participated in an 8-day study where they wore an ActivPAL accelerometer to measure physical activity. Physical activity was operationalized as stepping in the 60-minute window (±30-min) around a given moment. Time varying-effect modeling was used to determine how physical activity patterns change over the course of weekdays and weekend days. Results are rounded to the 5-min interval. On weekdays, time spent stepping increased from 8:00am (B=7.16, 95%CI: 5.04, 9.27) until peaking at 11:10am (B=8.46, 95%CI: 6.59, 10.33), slowly decreased to the lowest point at 6:10pm (B=6.72, 95%CI: 4.82, 8.62), and then increased slightly in the evening. On weekend days, time spent stepping was lowest at 8:00am (B=4.47, 95%CI: 2.14, 6.80), peaked at 12:20pm (B=5.50, 95%CI: 3.22, 7.78), gradually decreased until 5:50pm (B=5.21, 95%CI: 2.90, 7.52), and then increased slightly in the evening. Minority older adults engage in more stepping time around mid-day, but less stepping in the late afternoon to early evening on both weekdays and weekend days. Self-care activities (e.g., mealtime, bed-time routines) may influence older adults’ physical activity. This work identifies vulnerable times during the day when older adults engage in relatively low levels of physical activity which may be of interest for interventions.

Relationships between muscle size, strength, and physical activity in adults with muscular dystrophy.

BackgroundMuscular dystrophy (MD) is characterized by progressive muscle wasting and weakness, yet few comparisons to non‐MD controls (CTRL) of muscle strength and size in this adult population exist. Physical activity (PA) is promoted to maintain health and muscle strength within MD; however, PA reporting in adults with MD is limited to recall data, and its impact on muscle strength is seldom explored.MethodsThis study included 76 participants: 16 non‐MD (CTRL, mean age 35.4), 15 Duchenne MD (DMD, mean age 24.2), 18 Becker's MD (BMD, mean age 42.4), 13 limb‐girdle MD (LGMD, mean age 43.1), and 14 facioscapulohumeral MD (mean age 47.7). Body fat (%) and lean body mass (LBM) were measured using bioelectrical‐impedance. Gastrocnemius medialis (GM) anatomical cross‐sectional area (ACSA) was determined using B‐mode ultrasound. Isometric maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) was assessed during plantar flexion (PFMVC) and knee extension (KEMVC). PA was measured for seven continuous days using triaxial accelerometry and was expressed as daily average minutes being physically active (TPAmins) or average daily percentage of waking hours being sedentary (sedentary behaviour). Additionally, 10 m walk time was assessed.ResultsMuscular dystrophy groups had 34–46% higher body fat (%) than CTRL. DMD showed differences in LBM with 21–28% less LBM than all other groups. PFMVC and KEMVC were 36–75% and 24–92% lower, respectively, in MD groups than CTRL. GM ACSA was 47% and 39% larger in BMD and LGMD, respectively, compared with CTRL. PFMVC was associated with GM ACSA in DMD (P = 0.026, R = 0.429) and CTRL (P = 0.015, R = 0.553). MD groups were 14–38% more sedentary than CTRL groups, while DMD were more sedentary than BMD (14%), LGMD (8%), and facioscapulohumeral MD (14%). Sedentary behaviour was associated with LBM in DMD participants (P = 0.021, R = −0.446). TPAmins was associated with KEMVC (P = 0.020, R = 0.540) in BMD participants, while TPAmins was also the best predictor of 10 m walk time (P < 0.001, R 2 = 0.540) in ambulant MD, revealed by multiple linear regression.ConclusionsQuantified muscle weakness and impaired 10 m walking time is reported in adults with MD. Muscle weakness and 10 m walk time were associated with lower levels of TPA in adults with MD. Higher levels of sedentary behaviour were associated with reduced LBM in DMD. These findings suggest a need for investigations into patterns of PA behaviour, and relevant interventions to reduce sedentary behaviour and encourage PA in adults with MD regardless of impairment severity.

Assessment of the influence of family history of type 2 diabetes or hypertension on the physical activity pattern among young Saudi population aged 15-25 years

Background: With a high prevalence of non communicable diseases and its risk factors among the Saudi Arabian population, the present study was conducted to determine the levels and pattern of physical activity behavior of the youth with reference to their parents’ diabetes/hypertension status.Methods: A cross sectional study was performed in higher secondary schools and university. Multistage cluster random sampling technique was used to obtain a sample of 450 subjects aged 15-25 years. All types of physical activity performed in daily routine were recorded using a validated questionnaire. Data was reported as mean or median physical activity hours for normal and skewed data and corresponding test of significance was applied.Results: There was a high prevalence of sedentary behavior among the overall population (76.5 median hours per week). Female gender (p&lt;0.002) and transition to university (p&lt;0.000) showed increased sedentarism. Subjects whose both parents were affected with diabetes showed least sedentary behavior [70 (19) mean hours per week] and higher levels of moderate (2.25 median hours per week; p&lt;0.025) and strenuous physical activity (1.25 median hours per week; p&lt;0.034). Maternal diabetes also showed significant influence in improving the physical activity of the subjects. Presence of maternal history of hypertension or both parents affected by hypertension did not make any significant impact on the physical activity pattern of their offsprings.Conclusions: Increased physical activity was observed only among those who had family history of diabetes. Otherwise the normal population showed a typical sedentary lifestyle reflecting on the questionable effectiveness of national programs on physical activity.

Fatigue Alters the Pattern of Physical Activity Behavior in Older Adults: Observational Analysis of Data from the Generation 100 Study.

Fatigue has been associated with reductions in daily activity of older people. Summary measures of daily physical activity provide limited understanding of how fatigue affects physical activity behavior. This study examined the hour-by-hour energy expenditure estimated from accelerometry data to provide insight into physical activity behaviors of older people experiencing fatigue. Fatigued participants were matched to 'not fatigued' participants by age, sex, and BMI. Each group consisted of 86 people with a mean age 73.8 years (SD 2.0), BMI 26.5 kg⋅m-2 (SD 3.9) and 61% female. The phase-space plot, constructed to express rate of change of average vertical axis counts per hour as a time series, showed fatigued participants deviated from the not fatigued participants during the morning period, when hour-by-hour activity was increasing. Older people who feel fatigued have a different morning activity pattern, which appears to lead to the lower overall levels of physical activity.

Physical Activity Behavior Patterns during School Leisure Time in Children

Optimizing physical activity (PA) in children is paramount to attenuate the incidence of chronic disease and to improve social and cognitive health. Limited research exists examining the observed PA patterns during school leisure times in children from the U.S. The purpose of this study was to examine the observed PA patterns of children during three school leisure times: before school, during lunch, and after school. The SOPLAY instrument was used to observe PA during the three leisure times across six weeks at four elementary schools in the U.S. Observer PA counts were stratified by sex, PA intensity (sedentary, walking, and very active), and leisure time. Multi-level models were employed to examine the effect of leisure time and PA intensity on observer PA counts, adjusting for day and school-level clustering. Lunch displayed the greatest number of counts for sedentary, walking, and very active PA intensities ( p 0.05). After school displayed the fewest counts for walking and very active PA in both sexes ( p < 0.05). An emphasis should be placed on increasing walking and very active PA intensities before school and during lunch in girls and after school in both sexes. Keywords: after school, before school, lunch, SOPLAY, systematic observation

Relationships Among Meeting Physical-Activity Guidelines and Health Risk Behaviors.

Young adults have the highest participation in physical activity but also have the highest incidence rates of binge drinking, cigarette smoking, and smokeless tobacco use. We examined these factors to determine whether there are relationships among physical activity and health risk behaviors. We conducted correlation and χ² analyses using the American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment fall 2009 data set (N = 34,208) to examine the relationship among meeting physical-activity guidelines, binge drinking, and tobacco use among survey participants. The data suggest a positive relationship between meeting physical-activity guidelines and binge drinking, with the strongest relationship between those reporting binge drinking 4 times in a 2-week period. Meeting physical-activity guidelines was negatively associated with cigarette use but positively associated with all other types of tobacco use. Associations between physical activity and binge-drinking episodes indicate a need to address the relationship between heavy drinking and alcohol dependence and physical-activity behavior patterns. Further studies should examine relationships between physical activity and binge drinking in other age groups. Results also suggest the need to examine differing associations between physical activity and types of tobacco use.

Comparing the physical activity patterns of 3-year-old Finnish and Australian children during childcare and homecare days

AbstractLimited previous research has contrasted physical activity (PA) patterns in preschool children across different hourly patterns or segments of day, or adopted similar methodologies to compare the PA behaviors of children from different countries. The purpose of this study was to examine how the PA levels and patterns differed between 3- year-olds within and between childcare and homecare days in Finland and Australia.ActiGraph GT3X accelerometers were used to monitor 121 (80 Finnish, 41 Australian) children’s PA for five consecutive days.No significant country differences were observed in children’s daily total PA (light-tovigorous PA [LMVPA]), except that during childcare days Finnish children spent more time in light PA compared to Australian children. During childcare attendance hours children engaged in moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) for an average of 48 minutes (SD = 24) covering 54% of their daily MVPA in Finland, and for 53 minutes (SD = 34) covering 64% of their daily MVPA in Australia. Variation in children’s hour-by-hour PA was more pronounced during childcare days than homecare days.Despite the variations based on cultural practices, no major differences were observed in children’s daily total PA between the countries. However, these findings provide a better understanding of 3-year-olds’ PA behavior patterns and will serve as valuable evidence for the development of PA promotion in preschool children in both Finland and in Australia.

Correlates of 15-year maintenance of physical activity in middle-aged women.

Interventions to increase sustained physical activity are needed and should be based on proven theories. To gain a better understanding of the correlates of sustained physical activity in midlife women, we used longitudinal epidemiologic data to investigate links between sustained physical activity and constructs advocated by three basic behavioral and social science theories: (1) self-determination, (2) social cognitive, and (3) social networks. A random sample of 90 midlife women, stratified by level of physical activity over 15 years, was selected from the Chicago cohort of the Longitudinal Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN). Using data on self-reported physical activity collected over 15 years, women were categorized into consistently active, sporadically active, and sedentary. New data were collected on theory-relevant constructs, i.e., autonomous motivation (assessed by the Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire) and self-efficacy (assessed by the Self-Efficacy and Exercise Habits Survey). Every SWAN woman identified a close female friend who also completed the physical activity questionnaire. SWAN women with higher autonomous motivation (p = 0.002) and higher self-efficacy (p < 0.001) were more likely to be consistently physically active in analyses adjusted for age, race, and socioeconomic status. Sixty-one percent of SWAN women with a history of consistent physical activity had a friend who is currently highly active, versus 38 and 23 % for sporadically active and sedentary women, respectively (test for trend p = 0.008). In midlife women, constructs advocated by basic behavioral and social science theories were consistent with long-term patterns of physical activity behavior. Special focus should be given to these basic theories in the design of interventions to promote sustained physical activity in mid-life women.

Assessing Tribal Youth Physical Activity and Programming Using a Community‐Based Participatory Research Approach

American Indian youth experience a greater prevalence of obesity compared with the general U.S. population. One avenue to reverse the trend toward increasing obesity prevalence is through promoting physical activity. The goal of this project was to understand tribal youths' current patterns of physical activity behavior and their beliefs and preferences about physical activity. This assessment used a community-based participatory research approach. Sample included 35 Native youth aged 8-18. A Community Advisory Board was created that specifically developed an exercise survey for this assessment to explore physical activity patterns, preferences, and determinants. Twenty-six youth completed the survey. Descriptive statistics were analyzed, exploring differences by age group. Nine youth participated in 2 focus groups. Qualitative data were analyzed with thematic analysis. Youth distinguished between sports and exercise, with each possessing different determinants. Common motivators were friends, coach, and school, and barriers were lack of programs and school or work. None of the youth reported meeting the recommended 60 min of strenuous exercise daily. This tribal academic partnership responded to a tribal concern by developing an exercise survey and conducting focus groups that addressed tribal-specific questions. The results are informing program development.

Tailoring interventions to promote physically active lifestyles in women

Women can achieve improved qualitv of life’,2 and reduce risk of all-cause morbidity and mortality ” by regular participation in physical activity. In both men and women, physical activity has been associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, obesity, non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, and depression”. Although less research has been conducted regarding benefits specific to women, physical activity has been shown to provide protection from osteoporosis, red-uced risk of breast and cervical cancer, reduction or alleviation of premenstrual syndrome and dysmenorrhea, reduced risk of gestational diabetes, reduced pregnancy-related pelvic and back pain, and the facilitation of labor and postnatal recovery.“,’ Unfortunately, 75% 0 f American women are inactive or underactive.” Women tend to be less active than men when vigorous activity is assessed; however, gender differences disappear when moderate and light intensity activity are considered.” Participation in physical activity decreases as women increase in age,7 and women of minority status are less active than their majority peers.8 Much of what is known about enhancing physical activity behavior comes from studies that have used psychological theories and models to guide intervention design and delivery. This area of research has identified several psychological, social, and environmental variables that are associated with patterns of physical activity behavior. The following discussion highlights some of these factors as they relate specifically to women.