Vigorous-intensity Activity Research Articles

Effect of Soft Knee Brace on Shank Movement in Running

Background: Soft knee braces are used for the protection and treatment of knee injuries in light-intensity activities of daily life. Soft knee braces have several functions, such as stabilizing and supporting the lower limb posture. However, previous studies did not investigate the effects of a soft knee brace on the lower limbs during vigorous-intensity activities. Aims: The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of a soft knee brace on the physical load and stability of the lower limb during running as a vigorous-intensity activity. Methods: Participants were asked to run with or without a soft knee brace, and lower-limb movements during running were measured using an inertial sensor on the shank. Results: The result showed that soft knee brace significantly reduced the magnitude and mediolateral standard deviation of shank acceleration. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate the possibility that wearing a soft knee brace can improve the physical load and stability of the lower limbs during running.

Accelerometer-measured physical activity pattern in older patients with frailty and heart failure

Abstract Background Physical activity (PA) assessed by accelerometers represents a novel method to understand the PA profile of older patients with heart failure (HF). We hypothesized that PA level and pattern vary in HF patients across the spectrum of frailty status. Aim To report the duration, intensity and volume of PA in older patients with HF according to frailty status. Methods We recruited 150 HF patients≥65 years from a hospital-based HF clinic between March and October 2023. Frailty was assessed using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB); patients with SPPB 10-12, 7-9, 4-6 and ≤3 was classified as robust, mildly, moderately and severely frail respectively. To evaluate PA profile, all patients wore a wrist accelerometer on their non-dominant hand for 7 days (24 hours/ day). PA parameters including average acceleration over 24 hours (proxy of volume of activity); time spent in inactive, light, moderate and vigorous intensity activities; intensity gradient (more negative gradient equates to poorer intensity profile) and time of most active continuous bouts of PA, were compared amongst frailty groups. Results 146 participants with good quality accelerometer data were included in the analysis; median age 80 (range 65-94 years), 65% male. Thirty-eight percent had heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF); 21% had NYHA class III/IV symptoms; median NT-proBNP was 2040 ng/L (IQR = 1110 - 4930). Frail patients were more likely to be older with more comorbidities; they also had more severe HF symptoms and higher NT-proBNP. Frail patients had lower volume of PA compared to robust patients, evidenced by lower average acceleration (milligravity-mg) over 24 hours [20.4 (robust); 16.0 (mildly frail); 13.5 (moderately frail); 13.2 (severely frail), p<0.001]. PA intensity profile was poorer in frail patients compared to robust patients [median intensity gradient: -2.72 (robust); -2.92 (mildly frail); -3.00 (moderately frail); -3.07 (severely frail), p<0.001]. (Table 1) Frail patients spent more time inactive compared to robust patients [median time spent inactive (minutes): 654 (robust); 689 (mildly frail); 780 (moderately frail); 720 (severely frail), p<0.001]. The median time (minutes) spent in light [225 (robust); 190 (mildly frail); 164 (moderately frail); 159 (severely frail)] and moderate to vigorous activity [62 (robust), 23 (mildly frail), 15 (moderately frail) and 13 (severely frail), p<0.001] were significantly shorter in frail compared to robust patients. (Figure 1) The most active continuous bout of PA of patients across the frailty spectrum appeared to between 10 AM to 2 PM. Conclusion The duration, volume and intensity of PA was generally low in older patients with HF. Worse frailty status was associated with longer duration of physical inactivity, shorter duration of light, moderate or vigorous activity, poorer PA intensity profile and lower volume of PA.

Race, Ethnicity, and Geography as Determinants of Excessive Weight and Low Physical Activity in Pediatric Population: Protocol for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The rationale for the current study is the sparsity of data on the combined effect of the environmental and individual risks of obesity and sedentary lifestyle in children of different races/ethnicities from different regions. An effective weight management strategy is hard to design due to insufficient evidence. This work was initiated to study race, ethnicity, and geography as determinants of excessive weight and low physical activity in the pediatric population. To achieve this aim, we systematically review publications on daily length of physical activity of light, moderate, and vigorous intensity, as well as sedentary time and BMI and its dynamics in children of different races/ethnicities and geographies. The extracted data are stratified into six major geographic regions and six races/ethnicities. Then, a random-effects meta-analysis is used to calculate the pooled mean of each outcome measure. A ridge regression is constructed to explore age-related change in BMI. A Kruskal-Wallis H test is applied to compare the pooled duration of physical activity and sedentary time in the subgroups. Finally, we calculate paired correlation coefficients between BMI and physical activity/inactivity for each group. The findings can be further used in public health surveillance to clarify the epidemiology of obesity, to guide priority setting and planning, and to develop and evaluate public health policy and strategy.

Hypothetical mechanisms driving physical activity levels in ethnic minority groups living in Europe: a systematically identified evidence-based conceptual systems model

BackgroundIn Europe, physical activity levels tend to be lower in ethnic minority groups than the general population. Interventions and policies based on research examining isolated determinants of physical activity have had limited success in increasing physical activity levels. This study used systems dynamics theory and the capability approach theoretical framework to develop a conceptual model of how individual characteristics, institutional and physical environments and the migration context may interact to promote or hinder physical activity in ethnic minority groups living in Europe.MethodsA systematic update of Langøien et al.’s 2017 review of the determinants of physical activity in ethnic minority groups living in Europe was conducted. Our target population included individuals of all ages who reported a familial migration background from any low- and middle-income countries or belonging to minority indigenous population in Europe. Outcomes pertaining to non-work related physical activity of light, moderate or vigorous intensity performed in any setting were included. Included studies provided an evidence base from which to derive the causal loop diagrams comprising our conceptual model. Sub-system causal loop diagrams were interpreted in co-author review sessions to explicate non-linear system mechanisms, such as reinforcing and balancing feedback loops.ResultsForty-one studies were identified, of which the majority was qualitative. The conceptual model consisted of 4 causal loop diagrams relating to psychosocial constructs; sociocultural constructs; health and health communication and social and material resources, in interaction with environmental/migration context. Four hypothetical mechanisms were identified, e.g. hypothesizing that participation in organised activities leads to increased self-efficacy, thereby enabling further participation.ConclusionsThis study contributes an evidence-based conceptual systems model which elucidates how low levels of physical activity in ethnic minority groups in Europe could be supported by reinforcing and balancing mechanisms involving factors relating to physical and institutional environments, migration context and individuals. A pluralistic approach to literature review, integrating complexity methods such as CLDs into more conventional systematic literature review, supports novel insights into how factors could interact to support persistently low levels of activity, moving beyond the identification of potential relationships between isolated factors to indicating the ways in which these relationships are sustained and could be modified by intervention or policy.

Effects of moderate/vigorous activity on 3-year body composition changes in postmenopausal women: a target trial emulation.

Background and Objective Postmenopausal women tend to experience significant changes in body composition, particularly abdominal adipose tissue (AAT) deposition patterns, which are hypothesized to be critical factors influencing future cardiometabolic disease risk. Physical activity has a demonstrable effect on body composition and overall health. However, there is little evidence for how different intensities and durations of physical activity over a sustained period of time influence AAT patterns and other measures of body composition in postmenopausal women. We emulated a target trial of physical activity interventions, including the 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommendations, on 3-year changes in AAT and body composition. Methods We analyzed observational data from 4,451 postmenopausal women aged 50-79 years in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) to emulate a three-year target trial of adhering to increasing minutes of moderate (at least 15, 30, 75, 150, 300 minutes/week) and vigorous (at least 15, 30, 75, 150 minutes/week) physical activity aligned with the physical activity guidelines. All participants had repeated whole body Dual X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA) scans with derived abdominal visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT). The measured differences in average levels of VAT, SAT, and other body composition measures determined at end of follow-up were estimated with the parametric-g formula. Results Over 3 years, interventions of increasing minutes of moderate activity would result in dose-dependent reductions in abdominal VAT, SAT, and overall body fat, and increases in lean soft tissue, with the greatest estimated benefit at the 2018 physical activity guideline recommendation of 150 mins/wk or more. Compared to no intervention, if all participants had adhered to at least 150 mins/wk of moderate physical activity, they would have 16.8 cm2 lower VAT (95% CI -23.1, -10.4), 26.8 cm2 lower SAT (95% CI -36.3, -17.3), 1.3% lower total body fat% (95% CI -1.8, -0.7), 1.2 % higher total lean soft tissue% (95% CI 0.7, 1.8), and 2.6 kg lower total bodyweight (95% CI -3.6, -1.5). We saw similar patterns in our vigorous-intensity activity interventions - if all participants adhered to at least 150 mins/wk, they would have experienced 6.7 cm2 lower VAT (95% CI -17.7, 4.3), 13.3 cm2 lower SAT (95% CI -28.8, 2.1), 1.0 % lower total body fat percent (95% CI -2.0, 0.0 ), % higher total lean soft tissue percent (95% CI) and a 0.9 kg lower total bodyweight (95% CI -2.7, 0.8). Conclusion This hypothetical emulated intervention indicated that postmenopausal women who adhere to physical activity guideline recommendations would experience beneficial changes in abdominal VAT, SAT, and overall body composition over 3 years. The study results underscore the imperative to explore further how physical activity may serve as a potential determinant of body composition.

Association between Physical Activity and Phase Angle Obtained via Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis in South Korean Adults Stratified by Sex.

This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the association of various aspects of physical activity, including intensity, duration, type, and purpose, with the phase angle (PhA), an objective indicator of health, in Korean adults after stratification by sex. Data from the 2022 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a nationwide, representative, population-based survey, were used. In total, 3996 participants were included in the study. Participants self-reported their weekly intensity, frequency, duration of engagement in physical activity. PhA was categorized into two groups on the basis of sex-specific averages. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between physical activity and PhA, and proportional odds logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the association between physical activity and different subclasses of PhA. A positive association was found between sufficiently active aerobic physical activity and PhA compared with inactive physical activity (sufficiently active, male: odds ratio = 1.952, 95% confidence interval = 1.373-2.776; female: odds ratio = 1.333, 95% confidence interval = 1.019-1.745). This association was further strengthened when aerobic physical activity was accompanied by muscle-strengthening activity (sufficiently active with muscle-strengthening activity, male: aOR = 2.318, 95% CI = 1.512-3.554; female: aOR = 1.762, 95% CI = 1.215-2.556) and vigorous-intensity activities (sufficiently active with sufficient vigorous-intensity activity, male: aOR = 2.785, 95% CI = 1.647-4.709; female: aOR = 2.505, 95% CI = 1.441-4.356) and when there was more leisure-time physical activity than occupational physical activity (sufficiently active with more leisure-time physical activity, male: aOR = 2.158, 95% CI = 1.483-3.140; female: aOR = 1.457, 95% CI = 1.078-1.969). Furthermore, the inclusion of muscle-strengthening activity made a significant difference in the values of PhA for males with insufficiently active physical activity (aOR = 2.679, 95% CI = 1.560-4.602). For females with highly active physical activity (aOR = 1.521, 95% CI = 1.068-2.166), the inclusion of muscle-strengthening and vigorous-intensity activities were significantly associated with higher values for PhA. This study can be utilized to provide specific suggestions for better health programs and can change perception that only occupational physical activity is enough. This study also indicated that PhA can be used for personalized health assessments.

Relationship of Self-Reported Physical Activity with Cognition in Middle- Aged Adults.

The increasing prevalence of age-related cognitive decline highlights the importance of physical activity for cognitive health. Regular exercise has been associated with improved mental health and reduced risk of cognitive decline. This study investigated the connection between self-reported physical activity and cognitive function in middle-aged adults. This cross-sectional study included 56 Indian adults aged 30-55, selected based on a health screening questionnaire. Participants reported their physical activity using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), which categorized them into low, moderate, and high activity levels. Cognitive functions, including visual memory, executive function, and attention, were assessed using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Automated Testing Battery (CANTAB). Results were statistically analyzed for relationships between cognitive domains and physical activity parameters using Pearson's correlation and linear regression analysis. The study showed a significant positive correlation of attention with moderate and vigorous physical activity, while sedentary behavior negatively impacted attention. Linear regression showed that attention is affected by moderate-intensity activity whereas executive function and visual memory are affected by age. This study supports the view that moderate and vigorous intensity activities may positively affect attention in middle-aged adults highlighting the benefits of physical activity.

National, regional, and global trends in insufficient physical activity among adults from 2000 to 2022: a pooled analysis of 507 population-based surveys with 5·7 million participants

Insufficient physical activity increases the risk of non-communicable diseases, poor physical and cognitive function, weight gain, and mental ill-health. Global prevalence of adult insufficient physical activity was last published for 2016, with limited trend data. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of insufficient physical activity for 197 countries and territories, from 2000 to 2022. We collated physical activity reported by adults (aged ≥18 years) in population-based surveys. Insufficient physical activity was defined as not doing 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity, 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity, or an equivalent combination per week. We used a Bayesian hierarchical model to compute estimates of insufficient physical activity by country or territory, year, age, and sex. We assessed whether countries or territories, regions, and the world would meet the global target of a 15% relative reduction of the prevalence of insufficient physical activity by 2030 if 2010-22 trends continue. We included 507 surveys across 163 countries and territories. The global age-standardised prevalence of insufficient physical activity was 31·3% (95% uncertainty interval 28·6-34·0) in 2022, an increase from 23·4% (21·1-26·0) in 2000 and 26·4% (24·8-27·9) in 2010. Prevalence was increasing in 103 (52%) of 197 countries and territories and six (67%) of nine regions, and was declining in the remainder. Prevalence was 5 percentage points higher among female (33·8% [29·9-37·7]) than male (28·7% [25·0-32·6]) individuals. Insufficient physical activity increased in people aged 60 years and older in all regions and both sexes, but age patterns differed for those younger than 60 years. If 2010-22 trends continue, the global target of a 15% relative reduction between 2010 and 2030 will not be met (posterior probability <0·01); however, two regions, Oceania and sub-Saharan Africa, were on track with considerable uncertainty (posterior probabilities 0·70-0·74). Concerted multi-sectoral efforts to reduce insufficient physical activity levels are needed to meet the 2030 target. Physical activity promotion should not exacerbate sex, age, or geographical inequalities. Ministry of Public Health, Qatar, and World Health Organization. For the Spanish and Portuguese translations of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

Exercise in the management of polycystic ovary syndrome: A position statement from Exercise and Sports Science Australia

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most prevalent endocrine condition amongst females of reproductive age, leading to lifelong cardiometabolic, reproductive, psychological, and dermatologic symptoms as well as a reduced quality of life. Lifestyle interventions, which can include structured exercise programmes delivered by appropriately trained exercise professionals such as clinical exercise physiologists, are considered first-line strategies in PCOS management due to their therapeutic effects on various health outcomes and quality of life. This position statement builds on the 2023 International Evidence-based Guideline for the Assessment and Management of PCOS and describes the role of the exercise professional in the context of the multidisciplinary care team which includes physicians and allied health professionals. This position statement aims to equip exercise professionals with a broad understanding of the pathophysiology of PCOS, how it is diagnosed and managed in clinical practice, and evidence- and consensus-based recommendations for physical activity and exercise in PCOS management. In line with the physical activity recommendations for the general public, individuals with PCOS should aim to undertake between 150 to 300min of moderate-intensity or 75 to 150min of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity per week, or an equivalent combination of both spread throughout the week. Additionally, muscle-strengthening activities on two non-consecutive days per week are recommended to maintain health and prevent weight gain. For further health benefits and to achieve modest weight loss, individuals with PCOS should aim for a minimum of 250min of moderate-intensity or 150min of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity per week, or an equivalent combination of both spread throughout the week, plus muscle-strengthening activities on two non-consecutive days per week. Adolescents with PCOS should aim for a minimum of 60min moderate- to vigorous-intensity activity each day, incorporating muscle- and bone-strengthening activities three times per week. Finally, exercise professionals should consider the significant psychological burden, including weight stigma, and the high prevalence of comorbidities amongst individuals with PCOS and take appropriate measures to deliver safe and efficacious exercise interventions.

Assessing children's outdoor thermal comfort with facial expression recognition: An efficient approach using machine learning

In this study, children's physiological indices and facial expressions during activities with distinct intensities in outdoor open spaces were real-timely measured. Correspondingly, meteorological measurements and questionnaire surveys were conducted to explore change laws of children's physiological feedback, facial expressions, and subjective perception. Then, a predictive model of children's outdoor thermal sensations was built with the coupling relations of physiological indices and facial expressions. Results showed that the skin temperature on the face tended to increase as thermal stress increased but gradually declined with increasing activity intensity. Mean ear skin temperature (Tear) was the most sensitive, followed by mean cheek temperature (Tcheek). When conducting moderate and vigorous intensity activities, the heart rate (HR) increased significantly within 5 min of exercise and then stabilized. The HR increase in vigorous intensity activities was greater than that during moderate intensity activities. With an increase in thermal stress and activity intensity, the proportion of negative emotions (NegEmo) in facial expressions gradually increased. Sadness and disgust expressions both increased significantly, followed by fear and anger. Thus, Tear and NegEmo expressed facially were important indices to predict children's outdoor thermal sensation. Finally, the predictive model for children's outdoor thermal sensation based on facial expressions, Tear, and HR allowed for non-invasive data collection was built integrating machine learning, and its accuracy reached as high as 97.1 %. Our results propose a faster feedback method for children's thermal perception based on facial expression recognition, which can real-timely monitor thermal comfort for children, ensuring their outdoor thermal health and safety.

Study on the outdoor thermal comfort of college students under different activity intensities in a high-altitude climate zone.

Research on the outdoor thermal comfort (OTC) of a university campus is beneficial to the physical and mental health of college students. In this study, the OTC of students attending Tibet University in Lhasa, which experiences high-altitude cold climate conditions, under different activity intensities was studied using field measurements and a questionnaire survey. With the increase in activity intensity, the comfort physiologically equivalent temperature (PET) value gradually increased in summer, while the comfortable PET value gradually decreased in winter. The most comfortable PET value is 17.6°C in summer and 11.5°C in winter. The neutral PET of Tibetan college students during outdoor activities in summer was 16.3°C, and the neutral PET of outdoor activities in winter was 12.1°C. Gender and ethnicity had different effects on thermal sensation under different activity intensities. Under vigorous-intensity activities, PET in winter and summer had the greatest influence on thermal sensation. The situation was different under moderate-intensity activity. PET had the greatest influence on thermal sensation in summer, and Tmrt had the greatest influence on thermal sensation in winter. These findings provide a basis for an improved design of the outdoor environment under different outdoor activity intensities in high-altitude areas.

Survey on Physical Activity Among Adolescents in Pune City

The main aim of the study was to assess the physical activity among adolescents of Pune City. For this study total 500 students were randomly selected from Pune city. The subject’s age was ranged in between 13-17 years. For the purpose of collecting the data the researcher used and selected International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) is a widely used instrument for assessing physical activity levels in various populations by (Craig et al., 2003). The questionnaire is divided into four domains. These are Leisure-Time Physical Activity: Activities during discretionary time, such as sports, exercise, and recreational activities. Occupational Physical Activity: Activities related to work or employment. Transportation Physical Activity: Activities related to commuting, such as walking or cycling. Household and Garden Physical Activity: Activities related to household chores and gardening. Data were measured by IPAQ questionnaire which is used to calculate the total metabolic equivalent of task (MET) minutes per week. MET is a unit that represents the energy expenditure of an activity relative to resting metabolic rate. MET values are assigned to different levels of physical activity intensity (e.g., walking, moderate-intensity activities, vigorous-intensity activities), and the total MET minutes per week are calculated by multiplying the duration and frequency of each activity. Percentage was used as a statistical tool analyses the data. The result of the study revealed that students 57.6% (288) are less involved in physical activity, where as 23.4% (117) students are moderately involved in physical activity and 19% (95) students are highly involved in physical activity.

Effects of outdoor activity intensities on college students’ indoor thermal perception and cognitive performance

Using neurobehavioral tests, electroencephalogram signal monitoring, and questionnaire surveys, we recruited 158 healthy college students to explore the effects of light, moderate, and vigorous intensity activities on indoor thermal perception, cognitive performance, physical health and emotions in a hot outdoor environment. Our results suggested four principal outcomes: (1) compared with the pre-exercise, reduction in mean thermal sensation gradually increased while reduction in mean thermal comfort decreased as the proportion of thermal symptoms increased by 17.0%, 48.0%, and 76.0% during light to vigorous activity; (2) when the Universal Thermal Climate Index changed between 23.0 °C and 49.2 °C, moderate intensity activity can maximize the cognitive performance of college students indoors; (3) the skin temperature measured at the upper arm increased at higher intensity activity. Systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, and eardrum temperature significantly increased after engaging in different intensity activities. Heart rate showed a significant increase after moderate to vigorous intensity, while oxyhemoglobin saturation decreased following vigorous intensity; and (4) when returning indoors after engaging in outdoor activities, frontal brain asymmetry increased by 0.17 as positive emotions enhanced; but after vigorous intensity, the frontal lobe asymmetry decreased by 0.11 as negative emotions increased. Our results could provide fundamental guidance to improve the indoor learning efficiency and thermal comfort of college students.

Adherence to the WHO recommendation of three weekly days of vigorous intensity activities in children: an accelerometry study of vigorous physical activity bouts.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that children and adolescents incorporate vigorous intensity activities (VIAs) at least three days a week. This recommendation has not been sufficiently studied using objective methods, such as accelerometry. Physical education classes and extracurricular sports activities are optimal opportunities for compliance with this recommendation. To identify VIAs through bouts of vigorous physical activity (VPA-Bouts) evaluated with accelerometry and, with this, to know the compliance with the recommendation on VIAs. A cross-sectional study of the habitual physical activity of 353 children (8-9 years old) was carried out using accelerometry and participation in organized extracurricular sports activities was asked through a questionnaire. School days with and without physical education class, weekends, and the average weekly day were identified, as well as school time and out-of-school time. A VPA-Bout was defined as an interval of at least 60 minutes with a proportion of VPA of at least 16.7% in boys and 12.5% in girls (10.0 and 7.5 minutes/hour of VPA, respectively). The average daily time in organized extracurricular sports activities declared by questionnaire and the average daily duration of the VPA-Bouts evaluated with accelerometers in the extracurricular period was 21.3 (SD 19.8) and 23.9 (SD 31.2) minutes, respectively, in boys, whereas, in girls it was 20.2 (SD 17.4) and 11.0 (SD 16.9) minutes, respectively. In school time including a physical education class, there was a higher proportion of VPA-Bouts than without these classes (with: 28.6%, without: 2.1%, p < 0.001). Children who reported at least three weekly hours of organized extracurricular sports activities accumulated a higher proportion of school afternoons with VPA-Bouts than those with fewer weekly hours of this type of activities (≥3 hours/week: 27.5%, <3 hours/week: 9.3%, p < 0.001). On the weekend, boys who reported at least three weekly hours of organized extracurricular sports activities performed more VPA-Bouts than those participating in less weekly hours, while in girls no significant differences were observed (weekend; boys, ≥3 hours/week: 26.0%, <3 hours/week: 9.0%, p < 0.001; girls: 8.3%, 8.0%, p = 0.917). Compliance with the recommendation to incorporate VIAs at least three days a week was 23.8%. Children who reported at least three weekly hours of extracurricular sports activities achieved higher compliance than those who reported fewer extracurricular activities (≥3 hours/week: 35.1%, <3 hours/week: 12.7%, p < 0.001). Additionally, boys showed higher compliance rates than girls (boys: 32.9%, girls: 15.3%, p < 0.001). One in every four children met the WHO recommendation to incorporate VIAs at least three days a week, as evaluated by accelerometry. Physical education classes and extracurricular organized sports activities contributed to compliance with this recommendation.

Characteristics of non-exercise activity thermogenesis in male collegiate athletes under real-life conditions.

Athletes experience high total energy expenditure; therefore, it is important to understand the characteristics of the components contributing to this expenditure. To date, few studies have examined particularly the volume and activity intensity of non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT) in athletes compared to non-athletes under real-life conditions. This study aimed to determine the volume and intensity of NEAT in collegiate athletes. Highly trained Japanese male collegiate athletes (n = 21) and healthy sedentary male students (n = 12) participated in this study. All measurements were obtained during the athletes' regular training season under real-life conditions. NEAT was calculated using metabolic equivalent (MET) data using an accelerometer. The participants were asked to wear a validated triaxial accelerometer for 7 consecutive days. Physical activity intensity in NEAT was classified into sedentary (1.0-1.5 METs), light (1.6-2.9 METs), moderate (3.0-5.9 METs), and vigorous (≥6 METs) intensity. NEAT was significantly higher in athletes than in non-athletes (821 ± 185 kcal/day vs. 643 ± 164 kcal/day, p = 0.009). Although there was no significant difference in NEAT values relative to body weight (BW) between the groups (athletes: 10.5 ± 1.7 kcal/kg BW/day, non-athletes: 10.4 ± 2.2 kcal/kg BW/day, p = 0.939), NEAT to BW per hour was significantly higher in athletes than in non-athletes (0.81 ± 0.16 kcal/kg BW/h vs. 0.66 ± 0.12 kcal/kg BW/h, p = 0.013). Athletes spent less time in sedentary and light-intensity activities and more time in vigorous-intensity activities than non-athletes (p < 0.001, p = 0.019, and p = 0.030, respectively). Athletes expended more energy on vigorous- and moderate-intensity activities than non-athletes (p = 0.009 and p = 0.011, respectively). This study suggests that athletes' NEAT relative to BW per day is similar to that of non-athletes, but athletes spend less time on NEAT, which makes them more active in their daily lives when not exercising and sleeping.

A Cross-Sectional Study on Physical Activity Patterns and Dietary Habits of a Nursing College Students in Central Karnataka

Introduction: Nutritional habits and physical activity influence the health status of young adults. Noncommunicablediseases (NCDs) such as obesity and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the major humanhealth problems of 21st century. NCD risk factors like sedentary lifestyle, increased consumption of diet richin sugar, fats and salt, tobacco and alcohol consumption are increasingly found among youth. Having properdietary habits (nutritional behaviour) and moderate physical exercise are the best methods for reducingCVD risk.Objectives: To assess patterns of physical activity and dietary habits followed by students studying at a nursingcollege in Chitradurga.Methodology: It was a cross-sectional study. Assessments, by questionnaire, included daily food intake, frequencyof consuming foodstuffs with an adequate nutritional value and evaluating adverse dietary habits and types ofphysical activity undertaken.Results: 175 students participated in the study. Physical activities of moderate and vigorous intensity werefollowed by 65.7% and 65.1% students respectively. Foods with good nutritional value were consumed in lesserquantities. 14.9% consumed &lt; 1 vegetable serving/day, 38.3% consumed &lt; 1 fruit serving / week. There werestudents who did not consume vegetables (8%) or fruits (14.9%) at all. Higher frequencies (2-6 days/week) ofconsumption of junk food (12.6%) and soft drinks (10.3%) were found.Conclusion: It is an encouraging fact to know that students were involved in moderate or vigorous physicalactivities on regular basis. Whereas healthy dietary practice was less and consumption of junk food and softdrinks was more. Present study highlights areas of nutritional concerns that must be addressed to bringabout reduction in proportion of modifiable risk factors of NCDs among youth in health care professionalcourses.

Association of Physical Activity and Sleep Metrics with Depression in People with Type 1 Diabetes.

This study aimed to investigate the association of physical activity and sleep metrics, measured via wrist-worn accelerometers, with depression in people with type 1 diabetes. People with type 1 diabetes were recruited from the Dasman Diabetes Institute in Kuwait and were invited to wear a wrist-worn accelerometer device for 7 days. Mean physical activity (overall acceleration), inactivity, light activity, moderate activity, vigorous activity, the distribution of physical activity intensity (intensity gradient), sleep duration and sleep efficiency were quantified from the accelerometer data. The associations of these metrics with depression were investigated using multiple linear regression. A total of 551 people with type 1 diabetes (age 33.1 (9.5) years) were included. Overall physical activity (B = -0.09, CI = -0.14 to -0.04), moderate intensity activity (B = -0.02, CI = -0.02 to -0.01), vigorous intensity activity (B = -0.16, CI = -0.27 to -0.05), and the intensity gradient (B = -2.11, CI = -3.51 to -0.72) were negatively associated with depression score (p < 0.01) and these associations remain significant even after adjustment for age, sex, diabetes duration, and BMI. However, sleep duration and efficiency were not associated with depression. After mutual adjustment overall physical activity (B = -0.07, CI = -0.12 to -0.01), but not the intensity gradient (B = -0.90, CI = -2.47 to 0.68), remained associated with depression. Overall, moderate and vigorous physical activity, and the intensity gradient were associated with lower symptoms of depression. Overall physical activity, rather than the distribution of activity intensity, appears more important in depression. This information can help guide physical activity interventions to improve depression in people with type 1 diabetes.

Activity of Daily Living of Elderly People in Rural Setting of Nepal: Situation and Scenarios in Present Context

Ageing is the global issue that affects almost all countries of the globe but its pace and level varies largely. The activities of daily living of elderly people are affected by various factors which reduce the activeness of elderly for their fullest contribution for development of society and nation. The activities of daily living are decreases with increasing the age and requires due medical care, support and treatment. The objective of this paper is to examine the contributing factors for activity of daily living in rural setting of Nepal. The cross-sectional study was carried out in Sunkoshi Rural Municipality, Sindhuli district in 2022 in which 413 elderly people aged 60+years were interviewed applying structured questionnaire. Chi-square test was employed to assess the association between dependent and independent variables whereas logistic regression was used to examine the contributing independent variables to activity of daily living. Of the total respondents, the significant proportion of respondents needed help for urination (50.12%) followed by carrying things (38.74%), walking (26.63%) and standing up (18.16%) whereas the least expressed that they need help for feeding (5.81%). Elderly having higher age have significantly higher likelihood of need of help for activity of daily living [70-79 years of age (OR=4.40, CI: 2.77-6.98) and 80+ years of age (OR=15.02, CI: 6.18-36.50)] than elderly aged 60-69 years of age. The likelihood of need of help for supporting daily activity is observed higher in joint family (OR=2.79, CI: 1.75-4.42) Janajati (OR=2.48, CI: 0.79-3.64) and having no provision of insurance (OR=2.88, CI: 0.97-8.55). The likelihood of need of help for daily activities is found higher among elderly who stopped working completely (OR=4.38, CI:1.46-3.34). The likelihood of seeking help for daily activity is significantly higher among elderly who do not involve in vigorous and moderate intensity activity and need of such help is observed highest among elderly who does not have capacity of grazing animals, putting grass and collecting dung. Daily activity of elderly people is the major symbol of active and successful ageing so it is most essential to promote the activity of daily living by ensuring and enhancing the aforementioned aspects.

An Examination of Physical Activity, Non-Communicable Diseases, and Health Screening among People Living with HIV in Zamfara State, Nigeria

Aim: This study provides a comprehensive analysis of physical activity levels, non-communicable disease prevalence, and health screening practices of people living with HIV in Zamfara State, Nigeria.&#x0D; Methodology: This study is a cross-sectional study involving a total of 424 individuals living with HIV (PLWH) in Zamfara State, Nigeria.&#x0D; Results: The socio-demographic analysis reveals that the study participants were predominantly within the age group of 30-39 (38.7%) and were mainly female (70.3%). In terms of ethnicity, Hausa was the most common (75.7%), followed by Yoruba (9.7%) and Igbo (4.7%). The participants were largely married (57.8%) and had no formal schooling (45.8%). Physical activity levels were evaluated based on the time spent on different domains of activity in a typical week. The mean time spent on vigorous intensity activity was 28.6 minutes per week, while moderate-intensity activity and walking/cycling were higher at 69.9 minutes and 205.1 minutes per day, respectively. However, 47.2% of participants overall did not meet WHO recommendations on physical activity for health, with females demonstrating a higher rate of non-compliance (50.7%) compared to males (38.9%). A notable aspect of the study is the examination of the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among the participants. Overall, the highest prevalence was seen for raised blood pressure (10.4%), followed by cardiovascular diseases (7.3%) and raised blood sugar (4.0%), while raised cholesterol levels were minimal (0.2%). Females presented a higher prevalence of raised blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases. The study also scrutinized health screening practices, revealing that the screening for cervical cancer among female respondents was worryingly low at 2.3%. The mean weight and height for both sexes were 63.8 Kg and 1.6 meters, respectively. The mean Body Mass Index (BMI) was found to be 23.5 for males and 25.5 for females. Concerningly, 37.5% of the population had a BMI greater than 25, indicating overweight or obesity, with a higher prevalence among females (31.8%) than males (7.6%).&#x0D; Conclusion: This study provides valuable insights into physical activity trends, non-communicable disease prevalence, and health screening practices among PLWH in Zamfara State, Nigeria. The findings underline the importance of tailored interventions to promote physical activity, manage non-communicable diseases, and encourage routine health screenings in this demographic.

Joint associations of leisure-time physical activity and sitting time with emotional wellbeing, physical functioning and work ability: an occupational study among young and early midlife Finnish municipal employees

BackgroundPhysical inactivity and sedentary behaviour are major public health problems. We examined the individual and joint associations of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and total sitting time with emotional wellbeing, physical functioning and work ability in young and early midlife employees.MethodsCross-sectional questionnaire survey data were collected in 2017 among 19–39-year-old employees of the City of Helsinki (response rate 51.5%). LTPA (including commuting PA) was converted into a metabolic equivalent (MET) index. We classified the participants into four groups according to PA recommendations and participation in vigorous intensity activities. Total sitting time was classified into three groups using tertile cut-points (5.5 and 8.5 h/day). For joint analyses, we truncated LTPA into three groups and sitting time into two groups yielding a six-category variable. Emotional wellbeing and physical functioning were measured using the RAND-36 questionnaire and work ability with a scale ranging from 0 to 100. Linear regression analysis was used to estimate adjusted means and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The analytical sample included 4544 participants (80% females).ResultsAdjusting for age and sex, high sitting time (> 8.5 h/day) was associated only with poorer emotional wellbeing. LTPA, especially vigorous activity, showed clear positive associations with emotional wellbeing, physical functioning and work ability. For emotional wellbeing, the low activity groups with low (70.51, 95% CI 69.1–71.9) and high (67.5, 65.5–69.5) sitting time and the moderate activity groups with low (72.5, 71.3–73.7) and high (70.4, 68.6–72.1) sitting time had statistically significantly lower mean scores than the corresponding vigorous activity groups with low (74.9, 74.2–75.7) and high (72.7, 71.6–73.9) sitting time. For physical functioning, the vigorous activity groups with low (96.3, 95.8–96.7) and high (96.2, 95.5–96.9) sitting time had significantly higher scores than the other groups. For work ability, the vigorous activity groups with low (82.0, 81.3–82.6) and high (80.8, 79.8–81.8) sitting time had significantly higher scores than the other groups. Adjusting for covariates only slightly attenuated these associations.ConclusionsPromoting PA among employees can contribute to better physical and mental health as well as better work ability.