A Canadian longitudinal study of the associations between weight control status and lifestyle behaviors during adolescence.

This study aimed to estimate associations between weight control status (trying to lose, gain or maintain weight) and lifestyle behaviors (moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), screen time, and the consumption of breakfast, fast food, fruits and vegetables, and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB)) in adolescents. Data from 919 adolescents in the MATCH study, in New Brunswick, Canada, who self-reported their weight control status at least once within 24 data collection cycles over 8 years (from 2011 to 2019) and from 812 who provided data at least once over the 7 cycles on eating behaviors were used. Generalized estimating equations were used. At the first cycle, mean age was 11.3 (SD = 1.2) years old and 56% were girls. Trying to gain (ß = 0.47, CI = [0.15, 0.79]) and maintain weight (ß = 0.35, CI = [0.12, 0.57]) were positively associated with MVPA. Trying to lose weight was negatively associated with breakfast (IRR = 0.90, CI = [0.85, 0.94]) and positively associated with screen time (ß = 0.62, CI = [0.15, 1.10]), fruit and vegetable (IRR = 1.12, CI = [1.01, 1.25]) and SSB (IRR = 1.42, CI = [1.10, 1.84]). Changes from one weight control status to trying to lose weight were associated with increases in fast food consumption (ß = 0.49, CI = [0.15, 0.84]). Weight control status was associated with healthy and unhealthy behaviors in adolescents. Trying to gain or maintain weight was generally associated with more favorable health-related behaviors. Education on healthy weight management behaviors is needed to improve adolescents' health.

Report card grades on physical activity for children and adolescents from 18 Asian countries: Patterns, trends, gaps, and future recommendations.

Background: Physical inactivity is a persistent and worsening population health concern in Asia. Led by the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance, Global Matrix (GM) initiative provides an opportunity to explore how regional and cultural differences across 18 Asian countries relate to physical activity (PA) participation among children and adolescents. Objectives: To synthesize evidence from the GM2.0 to GM4.0 (2016-2022) in Asian countries. Methods: Report Card grades on behavioral/individual and sources of influence indicators were reported from 18 Asian countries. Letter grades were converted into numerical values for quantitative analyses. Based on this, cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses were conducted to investigate patterns and trends. Qualitative evidence synthesis was performed based on Report Card grades and published papers to identify gaps and suggest future recommendations. Results: In total, 18 countries provided grades for at least one round of GM, 12 countries provided grades for at least two rounds, and seven countries provided grades for all three GMs. Of possible grades, 72.8%, 69.2%, and 76.9% of the grades were assigned from GM 2.0 to GM 4.0, respectively. In terms of the Report Card grades, there was a slight decrease in behavioral/individual indicators from "D+" in GM 2.0 to "D-" in GM 3.0 but this reverted to "D" in GM 4.0. For the sources of influence, a "C" grade was given in all three rounds of GM. Longitudinal observation of seven Asian countries that provided grades in all three rounds of GM revealed that grades are generally stable for all indicators with some country-specific fluctuations. In future GM initiatives and research, considerations should be made to provide more accurate and rich data and to better understand contextual challenges in evaluating certain indicators such as Active Transportation, Active Play, and Physical Fitness in particular. Further, macro level factors such as socioeconomic/cultural disparities and gender-specific barriers, ideology, or climate change should also be proactively considered in future research as these factors are becoming increasingly relevant to indicators of GM and United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals. Conclusions: Participation from Asian countries in GM has increased over the years, which demonstrates the region's enthusiasm, capacity, and support for global PA promotion efforts. The efforts to promote a physically active lifestyle among children and adolescents should be a collective interest and priority of the Asia region based on the gaps identified in this paper.

A systematic review summarizing the effect of health care provider-delivered physical activity interventions on physical activity behaviour in cancer survivors.

OBJECTIVE: To synthesize knowledge regarding the effect of health care provider-delivered physical activity interventions on cancer survivors' physical activity behaviour. METHODS: Ten electronic databases were searched for articles reporting on the effect of health care provider-delivered physical activity interventions on cancer survivors' physical activity behaviour. Articles were included if they met the following criteria: English-language, participants were adult cancer survivors, the effect of health care provider-delivered physical activity interventions on physical activity behaviour was assessed, and physical activity behaviour was measured at least twice. Data were extracted and summarized descriptively. RESULTS: Seventeen articles representing 11 studies met inclusion criteria. Two studies reported within-person increases in physical activity behaviour and one reported decreases. Nine studies reported between-group differences in physical activity behaviour favouring the intervention group. CONCLUSIONS: Health care provider-delivered physical activity interventions may increase cancer survivors' physical activity behaviour. However, increases may depend on administering additional behaviour change techniques and resources. Given the limited number of studies, degree of heterogeneity, and high level of bias observed, more research is needed to ascertain the effect of health care provider-delivered interventions on cancer survivors' physical activity behaviour and to compare different interventions.

Years Participating in Sports During Childhood Predicts Mental Health in Adolescence: A 5-Year Longitudinal Study.

PURPOSE: Sport participation promotes mental health and prevents mental illness. However, the association between specific sport profiles and mental health has not been examined. We investigate the longitudinal association between number of years with a recreational or performance sport profile and mental health during adolescence and whether these associations differ by sex. METHODS: Participants (n = 318, 58.2% female) reported participation in sport every 4 months over 5 years, from ages 10-11 to 14-15 years. Each year, they were categorized as recreational or performance sport participants or as nonparticipants. Mental health was assessed at age 15-16 years. Multivariate linear regression was used to model the association between number of years (0-5) with a recreational and performance sport profile and mental health, controlling for sex, age, income, and age at puberty. RESULTS: A recreational sport profile for ≥2 years was associated with better mental health compared with 0 years of recreational sport participation; the strongest association was observed for a recreational sport profile of 4-5 years (߈ [95% confidence interval]: 10.29 [2.60, 17.98]). A performance sport profile for ≥1 year was associated with better mental health in late adolescence compared with 0 years of performance sport participation; the strongest association was observed for a performance sport profile of 4-5 years (߈ [95% confidence interval]: 19.48 [9.50, 29.46]). No differences by sex were observed. CONCLUSION: Both recreational and performance sport profiles in childhood and early adolescence are positively associated with mental health in late adolescence. To promote mental health, strategies to encourage youth to engage and remain involved in sport are warranted.

Physical activity levels and obesity status of Oregon Rural Elementary School children.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between physical activity (PA, min/school-day) at school and body mass index (BMI, kg/m(2)) among rural elementary-aged children. METHODS: Height (cm), weight (kg), and PA were measured for 1767 children (5-12 years) enrolled in six rural Oregon elementary schools in fall, 2013. PA at school was measured over four days using Walk4Life pedometers. Children with ≥ 3 valid monitoring days (n = 1482) were included in analyses. Means (min/d) were calculated for wear time, total PA (TPA: combined light, moderate, vigorous PA), and moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA: step count > 120/min). BMI z-scores were calculated and regression models were run to examine the relationship between PA and BMI z-scores, adjusting for wear time, sex, and grade. RESULTS: Overweight (38.1%: BMI ≥ 85(th) percentile for age and sex) and obesity (19.4%: BMI ≥ 95(th) percentile) prevalence was similar for boys (n = 782) and girls (n = 700). More MVPA was associated with lower BMI (P < 0.001), independent of sex, wear time or grade. Mean MVPA was 18.9 +/- 8 min/d, versus 15.2 +/- 6.7 min/d for healthy-weight and obese children, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Children are not meeting minimum MVPA recommendations (60 min/d) during school hours. Efforts to promote PA for obesity prevention in rural elementary schools should focus on increasing opportunities for MVPA.

Sex differences in time to fatigue at 100% VO2 peak when normalized for fat free mass.

The purpose of this investigation was to compare sexes for time to fatigue at 100% VO(2)peak in recreationally trained individuals. Ten men (age: 23.4 ± 1.8; height: 177 ± 6.7; body mass: 83.8 ± 11.3; ± SD) and nine women (age: 25.0 ± 2.5; height: 165.6 ± 5.5; body mass: 62.7 ± 6.7) participated in this investigation after providing written consent. One week after assessing VO(2)peak, subjects exercised on an electrically braked cycle ergometer at 100% of VO(2)peak until fatigue. The time taken to fatigue was 48.9% longer for men than women (274 ± 13s vs. 184 ± 14s; p < 0.001, for men and women, respectively). When normalized for fat free mass (ffm; s/kg ffm) no significant differences between men and women were observed (3.99 ± 0.21s/kg ffm vs. 3.72 ± 0.28s/kg ffm for men and women, respectively, p = 0.431). The difference in fatigability between the sexes at this exercise intensity is to a large degree related to the difference in fat free mass.