Physical Activity In Population Research Articles

Ten-Year Changes in the Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors of Adults: An Analysis of the 2 Cross-Sectional Observation of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Luxembourg Studies.

Monitoring population physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior over time is important to guide public health actions. The objective of this study was to investigate the changes in PA and sedentary behavior of adult residents in Luxembourg over 10years. We also investigated variations in change over time across sociodemographic subgroups. Two population-based cross-sectional studies of adults living in Luxembourg (Observation of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Luxembourg [ORISCAV-LUX] [2007-2008] and ORISCAV-LUX 2 [2016-2018]) were considered. Multilevel mixed-effects models were used to investigate changes over time between the studies with regard to self-reported total PA (metabolic equivalent of task-min/week), PA levels (inactive/sufficiently active/highly active), total sitting time, recreational television viewing, and personal computer (PC) use outside of work (in minutes per day). The ORISCAV-LUX study included 1318 participants and the ORISCAV-LUX 2 study involved 1477 participants; 573 adults took part in both studies. The proportion of participants categorized as highly active increased over time by 6.9%. Total PA (761 metabolic equivalent of task-min/wk), television viewing (12min/d), and PC use outside of work (13min/d) also increased, whereas the total sitting time decreased by 25minutes per day. Variations in change over time were observed by sex, country of birth, education, employment status, and perceived financial difficulty. Over a 10-year period, PA increased and total sitting time decreased in adults living in Luxembourg. With regard to specific sedentary behaviors, television viewing, and PC use outside of work increased. Specific population subgroups will benefit the most from targeted efforts to increase PA and minimize sedentary behavior.

A Protocol for a Local Community Monitoring and Feedback System for Physical Activity in Organized Group Settings for Children.

Communities are wellness landscapes of geospatially and temporally bound settings where children spend their time. Improving population physical activity (PA) requires investigating available community settings for children, such as classrooms and sport teams, and the dynamic social interactions producing PA. This protocol describes a multiscale community wellness landscape monitoring and feedback system of adult-led organized group settings and PA outcomes for children. The data system assessed organized groups for third- through sixth-grade children in 2 rural communities within seasons (fall 2018-2019). Within each season, groups were identified, sampled, and recruited. Sampled group meetings were assessed for children's PA (accelerometry) and meeting routines (video observation). A data processing protocol time-segmented data into meetings and meeting routines into smaller units (sessions). A purpose code was assigned to each meeting (eg,classroom, sport) and session (eg,academic, PA). Group accelerometer data were paired with the coded segments. Multiscale metrics (season, meeting, and session) were generated and provided to the communities in tailored reports. A total of 94 groups were recruited, and 73 groups with 1302 participants were included in the data system. Data were collected from 213 meetings and 844 sessions. Most participants (83.1%) consented to link their accelerometer data with demographic data from school enrollment records. The community data system identified available organized group settings for children and collected video and PA data from these settings. Incorporating setting data into local data systems provides detailed accounts of whole-of-community PA social systems to inform population health improvement efforts.

Cut-point values for classifying active children and validity and reliability of physical activity questionnaire for children in Morocco.

The Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children (PAQ-C) is widely used to assess physical activity in populations; however, there is a lack of information about the psychometric properties (validity and reliability) and about the PAQ-C score meaning in populations from low-middle income countries. The aim of this study is to evaluate the reliability and validity of PAQ-C and to determine the cut-point values of PAQ-C using accelerometry as a reference in a group of Moroccan children. In a sample of 171 children and adolescents aged 8 to 14 years, physical activity was assessed with the GT3X + accelerometer and the PAQ-C. PAQ-C was administered for a second time (retest) after 1week for a subsample (n = 73). Reliability was analyzed by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The PAQ-C was compared against count per minute CPM and moderate to vigorous intensity PA (MVPA) obtained by accelerometry. Receiver operating curve analyses were performed to assess the performance of PAQ-C in identifying MVPA as measured by accelerometry (reference method). Test-retest reliability was poor with an ICC = (0.48 [0.27; 0.63] for the whole sample, while for the ≥11 year group, the intra-class correlation coefficient was moderate (0.71 [0.42; 0.86]. PAQ-C scores were significantly related to accelerometry-derived metrics of physical activity, CPM (R = 0.29, P < 0.001) and MVPA (R = 0.26, P < 0.001). For the age group ≥11 years, the associations between PAQ-C Scores and CPM and MVPA were stronger, respectively, R = 0.37 (P <0.001), R =0.38 (P < 0.0001). We identified that a PAQ-C Score cut-point of 2.33 (95%CI [0.43-0.68]) discriminated adequately between those who met physical activity guidelines and those that did not in the overall sample. The PAQ-C is valid and useful to assess population level physical activity in those ≥11 years in Morocco and so might be helpful in population surveillance of physical activity in Moroccan adolescents.

Device-measured physical activity and sedentary time in a national sample of Luxembourg residents: the ORISCAV-LUX 2 study

BackgroundExisting information about population physical activity (PA) levels and sedentary time in Luxembourg are based on self-reported data.MethodsThis observational study included Luxembourg residents aged 18-79y who each provided ≥4 valid days of triaxial accelerometry in 2016-18 (n=1122). Compliance with the current international PA guideline (≥150 min moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) per week, irrespective of bout length) was quantified and variability in average 24h acceleration (indicative of PA volume), awake-time PA levels, sedentary time and accumulation pattern were analysed by linear regression. Data were weighted to be nationally representative.ResultsParticipants spent 51% of daily time sedentary (mean (95% confidence interval (CI)): 12.1 (12.0 to 12.2) h/day), 11% in light PA (2.7 (2.6 to 2.8) h/day), 6% in MVPA (1.5 (1.4 to 1.5) h/day), and remaining time asleep (7.7 (7.6 to 7.7) h/day). Adherence to the PA guideline was high (98.1%). Average 24h acceleration and light PA were higher in women than men, but men achieved higher average accelerations across the most active periods of the day. Women performed less sedentary time and shorter sedentary bouts. Older participants (aged ≥55y) registered a lower average 24h acceleration and engaged in less MVPA, more sedentary time and longer sedentary bouts. Average 24h acceleration was higher in participants of lower educational attainment, who also performed less sedentary time, shorter bouts, and fewer bouts of prolonged sedentariness. Average 24h acceleration and levels of PA were higher in participants with standing and manual occupations than a sedentary work type, but manual workers registered lower average accelerations across the most active periods of the day. Standing and manual workers accumulated less sedentary time and fewer bouts of prolonged sedentariness than sedentary workers. Active commuting to work was associated with higher average 24h acceleration and MVPA, both of which were lower in participants of poorer self-rated health and higher weight status. Obesity was associated with less light PA, more sedentary time and longer sedentary bouts.ConclusionsAdherence to recommended PA is high in Luxembourg, but half of daily time is spent sedentary. Specific population subgroups will benefit from targeted efforts to replace sedentary time with PA.

P01-19 Building a cross-sectoral collaboration to support insight, intelligence and innovation for physical activity promotion in Ireland

IssueThe national physical activity plan (NPAP) for Ireland originated from an interdepartmental, cross-disciplinary structure that was put in place to promote population physical activity (PA) levels. There is a documented gap between research, policy and practice which hinders this promotion of population levels of PA. The Irish Physical Activity Research Collaboration (I-PARC) was established to play a key role in contributing to the outcomes of the NPAP, including the creation of a platform that enables knowledge translation and the sharing of valuable insight.Description of MethodsUsing elements of participatory action research, the collaboration encompasses 1) cross-sectoral buy in and interaction to reflect upon and understand the current PA landscape in Ireland, 2) a knowledge translation plan that provides strategies for ensuring any collaborative outputs are effectively shared with those relevant, and 3) interaction with PA professionals to generate a common aim and objectives for I-PARC, and identify the added value of sustaining such a collaboration.ResultsTo date, I-PARC has gained buy in from key stakeholders (N = 20) involved in PA promotion across government departments (N = 3), government agencies (N = 5) and research institutes (N = 4) in Ireland. Furthermore, the collaboration encompasses a Practitioner Advisory Group (PAG; N = 25), a Research Advisory Panel (RAP; N = 5) and I-PARC members (N = 140). This collaboration has generated a common aim and objectives that are reinforced through a website, social media account and I-PARC led events. Feedback from events and from focus groups with the PAG shows that a cross-sectoral collaboration, such as I-PARC, is needed to support insight, intelligence and innovation to enable more people to be more active in Ireland.LessonsKey learnings show that generating buy in from key stakeholders, creating and reinforcing a common aim, use of a knowledge translation plan, and identifying the added value and need for a collaboration have aided with establishing and sustaining I-PARC. Buy in from government departments, agencies and research institutes enables future planning around the sustainability of the collaboration, which will allow for continued collaboration between key stakeholders, narrowing the gap between practice, policy and research, and help work towards the common goal of PA promotion.

Have Paved Trails and Protected Bike Lanes Led to More Bicycling in Atlanta?: A Generalized Synthetic-Control Analysis.

Bicycling is an important form of physical activity in populations. Research assessing the effect of infrastructure on bicycling with high-resolution smartphone data is emerging in several places, but it remains limited in low-bicycling US settings, including the Southeastern US. The Atlanta area has been expanding its bicycle infrastructure, including off-street paved trails such as the Atlanta BeltLine and some protected bike lanes. Using the generalized synthetic-control method, we estimated effects of five groups of off-street paved trails and protected bike lanes on bicycle ridership in their corresponding areas. To measure bicycling, we used 2 years (October 1, 2016 to September 30, 2018) of monthly Strava data in Atlanta's urban core along with data from 15 on-the-ground counters to adjust for spatiotemporal variation in app use. Considering all infrastructure as one joint intervention, an estimated 1.10 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.99, 1.18) times more bicycle-distance was ridden than would have been expected in the same areas had the infrastructure not been built, when defining treatment areas by the narrower of two definitions (defined in text). The Atlanta BeltLine Westside Trail and Proctor Creek Greenway had especially strong effect estimates, e.g., ratios of 1.45 (95% CI: 1.12, 1.86) and 1.55 (1.10, 2.14) under each treatment-area definition, respectively. We estimated that other infrastructure had weaker positive or no effects on bicycle-distance ridden. This study advances research on the topic because of its setting in the US Southeast, simultaneous assessment of several infrastructure groups, and data-driven approach to estimating effects. See video abstract at, http://links.lww.com/EDE/B936.

Subjective and objective characteristics of physical activity in older adults

Physical activity is often considered as an essential component of a healthy lifestyle and is required to be studied in detail. It is especially important to study this issue in reference to the population of older age groups. The aim of the research was to analyse subjective and objective characteristics of physical activity in population of older age groups. Methods of sociological survey, parametric and nonparametric statistics were used in the work. Data on the characteristics of physical activity were obtained on the basis of a study of 1,045 subjects of both genders aged 60 years and older. The participants of the survey did not have any kinds of disability and were not engaged in any sport activities. According to the results of the study, the age of the men and women was the determinant of assessing a level of physical activity. The average level of physical activity prevailed in men aged 60–74 years. Low levels of physical activity prevailed in men aged 75 years and older. Women had mostly low levels of physical activity. Comparison of subjective and objective characteristics of physical activity showed a significant overestimation of subjective characteristics of high levels of physical activity and underestimation of the prevalence of low levels of physical activity in both men and women. As a result of gender comparisons, it was revealed that men aged 60–74 years overestimated their level of physical activity by a fourfold, while women were more objective assessing their level of physical activity.

Legal strategies to improve physical activity in populations.

The World Health Assembly has adopted the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended target of achieving a 15% reduction in physical inactivity by 2030. The WHO Global Action Plan on Physical Activity provides a framework for countries to achieve this, using a systems-based approach to address the social and environmental determinants of physical inactivity. Lack of progress in many countries indicates a need to identify new ways of addressing this public health priority. WHO continues to highlight the importance of legislative and regulatory measures within the multicomponent and multisectoral action needed to reduce physical inactivity. Yet research into the role of law for addressing physical inactivity has been limited, in contrast to the legal approaches to other major noncommunicable disease risk factors such as smoking and alcohol use. Conceptual frameworks for public health law offer a method for mapping and understanding the determinants, mechanisms and outcomes of law-making for the promotion of physical activity within populations. We describe the development and application of a framework that aligns legal strategies with the WHO Global Plan policy objectives. This new framework – the Regulatory Approaches to Movement, Physical Activity, Recreation, Transport and Sport – can help policy-makers to use the untapped potential of legal interventions to support or strengthen a whole-system response for promoting physical activity. The framework illustrates the role of legal interventions to improve physical activity and identifies opportunities for research to advance understanding, implementation and evaluation of legal responses to this issue.

Development and psychometric testing of the \u2018barriers to physical activity during pregnancy scale\u2019 (BPAPS)

BackgroundPregnancy can affect the amount of physical activity that women engage in, so ensuring adequate physical activity in pregnant women can be a challenge. Therefore, there is a need to explore and identify barriers to physical activity in this population. Consequently, this study was conducted in order to develop and validate a scale to assess barriers to physical activity in pregnant populations.MethodsThe study was conducted in two phases. During phase 1, a comprehensive review of the most relevant literature from electronic databases on barriers to physical activity was carried out and appropriate scale items were extracted using a deductive approach. During phase 2, the psychometric properties of the extracted scale items were determined using face, content and construct validity, internal consistency and stability. Qualitative and quantitative face validity was assessed via face-to-face interviews with 30 and 10 pregnant women, respectively. To confirm the qualitative and quantitative content validity, 10 experts in the field of research and instrument design were invited to complete the resulting scale. To assess construct validity, the scale items were further tested among 320 pregnant women attending perinatal clinics at health centers in Ilam, Iran, where data were collected via continuous sampling. The internal consistency and stability of the study were measured by Cronbach’s alpha and intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), respectively.ResultsFollowing a review of the relevant literature, 48 items for the BPAPS were extracted. Subsequent to the assessment of face and content validity, the number of items was reduced to 38. Through a subsequent exploratory factor analysis, the number of items dropped further to 29. These items were then structured under four major factors. Finally, the internal consistency and stability of the scale was confirmed by a Cronbach alpha coefficient of 0.824 and a test-retest reliability score of 0.87.ConclusionFindings show that the 29-item scale to assess barriers to physical activity in pregnant populations is a valid and appropriate instrument.

Legacies of Environmental Injustice on Neighborhood Violence, Poverty and Active Living in an African American Community.

Features of the built environment such as parks and open spaces contribute to increased physical activity in populations, while living in neighborhoods with high poverty, racial/ethnic segregation, presence of neighborhood problems, and violence has been associated with less active living. Our present study examined the factors that may facilitate or hinder the long-term success of built environment interventions aimed at promoting physical activity in communities with a legacy of environmental injustice. The data for this study came from a larger assessment of the impact of a new local park in Newark, NJ. Analysis included all adults from the original study population who self-identified as African American/Black (N=95). To provide an in-depth understanding of how neighborhood social and physical features influence physical activity among African Americans living in high poverty neighborhoods, we analyzed data from two focus groups with a total of 14 participants, and six in-depth interviews held in 2009-2010. Survey results indicated high exposure to violence, and associations between neighborhood features and walking. Self-reported neighborhood walkability was associated with increased walking (P=.01), while increased perception of neighborhood safety was associated with less walking (P=.01). Qualitative results indicated that residents perceived the new park as a positive change, but also expressed concern about the presence of violence and lack of social cohesion among neighbors, with younger generations expressing less optimism than the elderly. Positive changes associated with improvements to the built environment may be limited by social conditions such as neighborhood violence. These mixed findings suggest that policies and initiatives aimed at improving the built environment should address poverty, safety, and social cohesion to ensure more active living communities.

Gender differences and trends of attitude toward physical activity in population aged 25- 64 years from 1988 to 2017

The aim: To determine gender differences in the dynamic of attitude toward physical activity in an open population of 25-64 years over a long-term period - 29 years in Russia / Siberia (Novosibirsk). Methods: Within the framework of the screening in 1988-89 under the WHO MONICA-psychosocial (MOPSY) program (n=1676, 49.5% males, mean age 44.1±0.4 years), in 2003-2005 under the international project HAPIEE (n=1650, 34.9% males, mean age 54.25±0.2 years), in 2013-2016 (n=975, 43.8% males, mean age 34.5±0,4 years) and 2016-2017 (n=663, 41.3% years 51.95±0.32 years) within the framework of the budgetary theme No. AAAA-A17-117112850280-2, random representative samples of men and women in one of districts in Novosibirsk were examined. Physical activity assessed by questionnaire proposed by MONICA-MOPSY protocol. Results: Men were 2 times more likely than women to report that they did not need to do physical exercises in 1988. In 2013- 2016, the proportion of young men and women who regularly did physical exercises increased significantly: 28.7% and 21.4%, respectively. In 2017, this trend continued among women but there were fewer men who regularly train. 59.9% of men and 73.1% of women aged 25-64 in 1988 reported “failed” attempts to exercise regularly. By 2017, the share of such men has not changed but for women it decreased to 7%. Women more often than men (30.3% vs 24.6%) spent their leisure time physically actively in 1988. By 2017, there was a tendency towards an increase in women aged 25-34 years with passive pastime to 21.1% and among men their share did not change. In 1988, the proportion of those who became less mobile during the year increased linearly with age, reaching 31.5% for men and 38.8% for women 55-64 years old. In 2017, the proportion of men and women who became less mobile decreased in comparison with 1988 and 2003 (11.6% and 22.2%, respectively; p &lt;0.05). In 1988, women more often than men considered themselves insufficiently active. In 2013-2017, individuals of both sexes began to report more often that they are physically more active than other people of their own age. Males aged of 25-44 years considered themselves as active more often than females. But in the older age groups there was an increase in physical activity among women. Conclusions: There is an essential decline in physical activity with age but trends in self-rated levels of physical activity show a steady increase from 1988 to 2017, predominantly in women.

Light-Intensity Physical Activity and Life Expectancy: National Health and Nutrition Survey

Quantifying the years of life gained associated with light-intensity physical activity may be important for risk communication in public health. Because no studies have examined the role of light-intensity physical activity in life expectancy, this study aims to quantify the years of life gained from light-intensity physical activity in a population-based U.S. This study used data from 6,636 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2003-2006). Analyses were conducted in 2020. Light-intensity physical activity was categorized into low, medium, and high on the basis of tertiles, and survival models were applied to estimate the years of life gained from each light-intensity physical activity group. Analyses were repeated in participants with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity above or below the median. During a mean follow-up of 11 years and at 55,520 person-years, 994 deaths were recorded. At age 20 years, participants with low, medium, and high light-intensity physical activity had a predicted life expectancy of 53.92 (95% CI=46.66, 61.18), 58.16 (95% CI=52.10, 65.22), and 58.44 (95% CI=51.29, 65.60) years, suggesting significant years of life gained from medium and high levels of light-intensity physical activity of 2.89 (95% CI=0.90, 4.12) and 3.07 (95% CI=0.84, 5.30) years. The corresponding years of life gained at age 45 years and 65 years were 2.51 (95% CI=0.40, 5.47) and 1.52 (95% CI=0.54, 2.50) years for the medium light-intensity physical activity group and 2.66 (95% CI=0.80, 4.52) and 1.62 (95% CI=0.49, 52.75) years for the high light-intensity physical activity group. This association was significant in participants with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity below the median but not for those with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity above the median. Light-intensity physical activity may extend life expectancy. Given the low prevalence of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in populations, physical activity promotion efforts may capitalize on emerging evidence on light-intensity physical activity, particularly among the most inactive groups.

The poetics of everyday movement: human movement ecology and urban walking

ABSTRACT Departing from the hegemonic position of epidemiology in population physical activity (PA) research and policy, I argue for the significance of a complementary, holistic approach: human movement ecology (HME). The argument is developed in two steps. In a first step, and using perspectives from body ecology and eco-philosophy, I emphasize the potential in movement of a ’dynamic and spontaneous ecologization’, which opens for the development of ecological consciousness and sustainable practice. In a second step, I test HME towards a ’hard case’: everyday routine walking in urban settings. Even here, and paying particular attention to the nature of habitual movement and the need for a ’greening’ of urban environments, I point to a significant movement ecological potential. I conclude that HME provides a fertile and complementary conceptual alternative to PA epidemiology. The challenge of low population PA levels is probably best met with facilitating for movement as an integral part of a sustainable everyday life. Actually, with an increased realization of HME ideals in practice, instrumental PA policies would become less relevant and, on a longer-term basis, perhaps not needed at all.

Home-Based Kettlebell Exercise and Coronavirus Outbreak: Practical Suggestions

ABSTRACT The coronavirus pandemic and the adopted social isolation to contain the virus spread led to several negative consequences including the decrease in the population's physical activity levels and increased physical inactivity and sedentary behavior. Home-based physical exercise assumes fundamental importance to maintain physical activity and fitness levels. Among the various exercise possibilities of home-based exercise, the kettlebell exercise can be a useful and low-cost tool. The kettlebell is a round-shaped steel or cast-iron weight, commonly described as resembling a cannonball with a handle whose dimensions increase with weight that varies from 2 to 92 kg. Kettlebell exercise offers an opportunity to train multiple muscles through functional exercises that could be performed at home to improve and maintain health-related physical fitness (e.g., cardiorespiratory capacity, muscle strength, and body composition) and mental health. In addition, kettlebell exercise (with a progressive increase in training overload) could be an alternative of home-based exercise program for the general population during pandemic outbreaks.

PMS46 New HIP-Worn Accelerometer in Testing Hungarian Population's Physical Activity Patterns, RM42 in the Eupasmos Project

The RM42 is a triaxial hip-worn accelerometer, suitable to measure physical activity (PA) level, movements, sitting time and sleeping quality. We aimed to test the tool on Hungarian sample and present the preliminary data of the EUPASMOS project. The study comprised 546 participating adults (228 males and 318 females), during February-May 2019 using quota sampling by age and gender representing the Hungarian adult population. PA was measured by RM 42 for 7 consecutive days. Data were presented as median (IQR), using SPSS 24, where level of significance was set at p<0.05. Mann-Whitney U Test and Kruskal Wallis Test were used. Females took 5926 (4808-7506), males 6869 (4760-10067) steps daily. Respondents spent 8.33 to 8.50 hours [M 500.00 (432.25-555.00), F 510.00 (440.00-598.50) min/day] sedentary per day, 10.50 to 12.25 hours [F 630 (420-903), M 735 (599-1130) min/week] with standing and 5.25-7.58 hours [M 315 (210-432), F 455 (147-588) min/week] with moderate PA (MPA) per week. Light PA was more characteristic with 28 weekly hours [F 1673 (1480-1960), M 1663 (1437-1901) min/week]. Vigorous PA (VPA) could be only described in the 18-35 male [7.00; (0.00-36.75) min/week] and 35-49 female [14.00; (0.00-49.00) min/week] age group. Significant gender difference was found between steps and sitting (p=0.022, p=0.033 respectively). The level of LPA, MVPA and VPA and the number of steps as well significantly decreased with age (p=0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001 respectively). The first Hungarian examination using RM42 could be considered successful. More accurate description on light PA could be given. Low level of VPA can be explained by the lack of sport, which requires interventions. However, a population-based representative study is needed to confirm this assumption.

Airsoft: an efficient and motivating cardiovascular training choice.

Obesity and sedentarism have reached pandemic levels, postulating World Health Organization physical exercise as an important key factor for the prevention and treatment. In order to find a motivating and effective physical activity, we conducted this research intending to analyze the physiological and mechanical demands of an airsoft game. Cardiovascular and mechanical activity were analyzed by heart rate monitors and GPS in 32 sedentary subjects (27.3±6.2 years; 26.3±7.9 BMI). Participants performed moderate to vigorous aerobic intensity for 3 hours and 20 min of which 55.2% was between 60-70% of their maximal heart rate and 14.2% above 70% of it, turned into distance 9.5 km of which 91.5% was moderate and 8.5% vigorous intensity. A single airsoft game performed by sedentary subject exceed the international recommendation of physical activity and weekly physical activity of US adults' citizens. This motivating and outdoor activity is an effective alternative to increase the population's physical activity levels.

Prospective Analysis of Levels and Correlates of Physical Activity during COVID-19 Pandemic and Imposed Rules of Social Distancing; Gender Specific Study among Adolescents from Southern Croatia

Background: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, global authorities have imposed rules of social distancing that directly influence overall physical activity in populations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the trends of changes in physical-activity levels (PALs) in adolescents and factors that may be associated with PALs among the studied boys and girls. Methods: Participants in this prospective study comprised 388 adolescents (126 females; mean age: 16.4 ± 1.9 years) from southern Croatia who were tested at a baseline (before the imposed rules of social distancing) and at a follow-up measurement (three weeks after the initiation). Baseline testing included anthropometric variables, variables of fitness status (done at the beginning of the school year), and PALs. At the follow-up, participants were tested on PALs. PALs were evaluated over an online platform using the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents. Results: A significant decrease of PALs was evidenced for the total sample (t-test = 3.46, p &lt; 0.001), which was primarily influenced by a significant decrease of PALs in boys (t-test = 5.15, p &lt; 0.001). The fitness status (jumping capacity, abdominal strength, aerobic endurance, and anaerobic endurance) was systematically positively correlated with PALs at the baseline and follow-up among boys and girls, with the most evident association between aerobic and anaerobic endurance capacities and PALs. Correlations between anthropometric and fitness variables with changes in physical activity (e.g., the difference between baseline and follow-up PALs) were negligible. Conclusions: Differences in PAL changes between genders were probably related to the fact that PALs among boys were mostly related to participation in organized sports. Correlations between baseline fitness status and PALs indicated the importance of overall physical literacy in preserving PALs in challenging circumstances, such as the COVID-19 pandemic observed here.

Physical Activity Modulating Lipid Metabolism in Gallbladder Diseases.

Physical activity encompasses a series of overall benefits on cardiovascular health and metabolic disorders. Research has recently focused on the hepatobiliary tract, as an additional target of the health-related outcomes of different types of physical exercise. Here, we focus on the global features of physical activity with respect to exercise modality and intensity, and on studies linking physical activity to lipid metabolism, gallbladder diseases (gallstones, symptoms, complications and health-related quality of life), gallbladder motor-function, enterohepatic circulation of bile acids, and systemic metabolic inflammation. Additional studies need to unravel the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in both beneficial and harmful effects of physical activity in populations with different metabolic conditions.

Physical exercise and COVID-19: a summary of the recommendations

The rapid increase in the number of cases of corona virus (COVID-19) in 2020 and the lack of effective drug treatment, required the need for social restrictions measures, causing an important impact on the population's physical activity pattern. The decrease in the level of the population's physical activity is not only restricted to the practice of systematic physical exercise, but also the reduction of caloric expenditure with locomotor physical activities, work and leisure. Sedentary lifestyle is associated with an increased risk of the respiratory system infections and with more severe complications as well. On the other hand, systematic physical exercise has a positive effect on the immune system and in reducing the risk of diseases. However, high loads of physical exercise, with an increased amount or intensity, can compromise the immune system's response and increase the risk of respiratory infections. Thus, the aim of the study was to summarize the recommendations for physical exercise during the COVID-19 pandemic, and its relationship between exercise overload and health benefits.

A longitudinal study examining uptake of new recreation infrastructure by inactive adults

BackgroundThe built environment is reported to influence physical activity in populations, but longitudinal evidence about the impact of building new physical activity infrastructure is limited. This study aimed to prospectively investigate the uptake and usage of the newly established Peninsula Aquatic and Recreation Centre (PARC), a large multi-purpose recreation facility in Melbourne, Australia.MethodsPhysically inactive adults (n = 549) from the City of Frankston were recruited before the opening of PARC and followed up 12 months later to measure frequency of attendance at the Centre, and the purposes and barriers to use. Multivariable methods were used to identity the demographic, cognitive and social predictors of attendance, and the relationship between PARC use and improvements in leisure-time physical activity.ResultsOver 12 months 8.7% of the sampled residents used PARC once per month or more, 17.5% attended less than once per month, and 73.8% did not use the Centre. Lap swimming was the dominant purpose for attendance, and the major barriers were cost of transport and cost of entry. Independent predictors of usage were being female, having children, living within 5 km of the Centre, and expressing strong intentions for use prior to its opening. Use of PARC was not associated with progression to a higher level of total leisure-time physical activity.ConclusionsWhile installation of multi-purpose aquatic and recreation facilities may be considered an investment towards physical activity in populations, regular use by inactive people is likely to be low. Strategies to reduce barriers, including cost and transport, and to motivate use should be trialled in order to improve the public health impacts of this form of infrastructure.