Patterns of physical activity and sedentary behaviour in the general population in France: cluster analysis with personal and socioeconomic correlates.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have focused on relating physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour (SB) to identify homogeneous groups. This study aimed to identify patterns of PA and SB in France general population and their correlates. METHODS: A sample of 3294 (mean age 44 ± 17 years) from the general population in France was included. PA and SB were assessed by the World Health Organization Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. Cluster analysis was used to identify PA and SB patterns, with polytomous logistic regression to identify their correlates. RESULTS: Five clusters were identified: (i) 'low total PA, active-transportation and low SB' (41%), (ii) 'low total PA and moderate SB' (22%), (iii) 'low total PA, leisure-time PA and high SB' (15%), (iv) 'high total PA, moderate occupational PA and moderate SB' (17%) and (v) 'high total PA, vigorous occupational PA and low SB' (5%). Occupational PA substantially contributed to total PA which depended on socioeconomic status (SES): low total PA and high SB in higher SES and high total PA and low SB in lower SES. CONCLUSIONS: Based on PA and SB, French adults were clustered into groups with socioeconomic differences emphasizing that adapted interventions may be more beneficial for health.

Recent changes in sociodemographic characteristics, dietary behaviors and clinical parameters of adults receiving food assistance in France.

BACKGROUND: In 2004-2005, a survey carried out on food recipients in France revealed an alarming nutritional situation. In 2011-2012, and using a protocol similar to that of 2004-2005, our objective was to update the description of sociodemographic characteristics, dietary behaviors and clinical parameters of food assistance recipients and to analyze changes since 2004-2005. METHODS: Both surveys included multistage random sampling of adults benefitting from structures that supply food pantries and charitable grocery stores. Data on sociodemographic characteristics and dietary behaviors were collected along with weight, height and blood pressure measurements. Comparisons between the 2004-2005 (n = 883) and 2011-2012 (n = 1,058) survey observations were made, adjusting for socio-demographic changes which had occurred in the meantime. RESULTS: Since 2004-2005, proportions of food recipients ≥55 years (13.1-19.1 %), born in France (29.2-36.8 %) and employed (5.5-11.7 %) have increased; food insufficiency has decreased (95-74 %). For over half of the recipients, canned (52.4 %) and non-perishable (50.9 %) foods were obtained only from food assistance. Frequency of consumption significantly increased even after adjustment for socio-demographic changes; this was the case for dairy products (for twice a day consumption, 30.2-36.4 %), fruits and vegetables (three times a day, 7.8-13.9 %), and meat, eggs and fish (twice a day, 9.4-19.2 %). In 2011-2012, 15.6 % of men and 36.0 % of women were obese, while 44.5 and 35.1 % had high blood pressure, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Between 2004-2005 and 2011-2012 in France, consumption of staple foods has been slightly improved in food assistance recipients. However, prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors remains high, which underlines the need for long-term efforts at better quality of foods delivered.

[Parents support for the ban on television food advertising to children is particularly high in France, especially compared to the USA. This result should influence political decision-making to restrict food marketing targeting young people]. / Publicités alimentaires télévisées à destination des enfants : opinions des parents sur leur impact et leur interdiction.

INTRODUCTION: Massive exposure of children to low-nutrient food advertising combined with the increasing prevalence of obesity have led to growing support for statutory regulations concerning food marketing targeting children. Food and advertising industries lobbies have nevertheless managed to stop such measures in many countries. In this context, civil society support for statutory regulation, especially by parents, is essential. The objective of this study was to describe and analyse factors associated with parents' opinion on the impact and possible banning of food TV advertisements targeting children. METHODS: An online survey of 2,387 parents of children aged 3 to 17 was conducted in 2013. Associations between parents'opinion on food advertising and their socio-demographic characteristics were analysed by multivariate logistic regressions. RESULTS: The influence of food advertising on children' preferences was perceived by 64.7% of parents, 68.8% of parents were at least occasionally asked by their children to purchase food or beverages seen on television, 43.5% reported that their children influenced their food purchases and 73.7% supported a statutory regulation that would ban advertisements for excessively fatty, salty and sugary beverages and foods during television programmes for children or teenagers. This view was positively associated with high socio-economic status and a high perceived impact of advertising on children's food preferences. CONCLUSION: Parents support for the ban on television food advertising to children is particularly high in France, especially compared to the USA. This result should influence political decision-making to restrict food marketing targeting young people.

[Development of an evidence-based media campaign to promote walking among physically inactive women and increased physical activity among adults]. / Construction d'un dispositif de communication scientifiquement fondé visant à promouvoir la marche des femmes peu actives et l'activité physique des adultes.

This paper demonstrates the feasibility of developing a multimodal media campaign-based intervention to promote physical activity using theory, evidence and media campaign construction expertise. An evaluation of this media campaign and its various components is the next stage of this work..

Contribution of taking part in sport to the association between physical activity and quality of life.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the contribution of sport to the association between physical activity (PA) and quality of life (QoL). METHODS: Cross-sectional data were gathered on 4,909 subjects (age 15-69) from the French National Barometer 2005 survey. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and the abbreviated version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF) were administered. An additional question was used to assess sporting activity. All analyses used linear regression models and were adjusted on variables associated with QoL in a general population. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants (both men and women) decreased with increasing PA level. Sport was positively associated with QoL among men (ß range from 4.2 [95 % CI 3.1-5.4] for physical health to 2.4 [95 % CI 1.1-3.8] for social relationship domains) and women (ß range from 3.6 [95 % CI 2.6-4.5] for physical health to 1.6 [95 % CI 0.6-2.8] for social relationship domains). The association between sport and QoL was greater for low or high PA levels rather than moderate PA for men (physical and psychological health) and women (physical health only). For women, there was a dose-response association with psychological health and social relationships (contribution of sport to QoL increased with PA level). CONCLUSIONS: These results showed that sport was nearly always associated with better QoL, even more so for people who had low or high PA levels (physical and psychological health for men and physical health for women). Prospective studies are necessary to confirm these findings.

[Physical activity between the ages of 55 and 75, analysis]. / L'activité physique de 55 a 75 ans, analyse.

The 2008 Nutrition and Health Barometer, a national cross-sectional survey carried out by the French National Institute for Prevention and Health Education, has enabled to study the physical activity of elderly people aged 55 to 75 years. The amount of physical activity they do is not so different from that of younger adults. They have a better knowledge of the recommendations than the latter, but this does not necessarily fit their practice. This highlights the need to improve also the environment.

Exposure of French Children and Adolescents to Advertising for Foods High in Fat, Sugar or Salt.

Food marketing of products high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS), including television advertising, is one of the environmental factors considered as a contributor to the obesity epidemic. The main objective of this study was to quantify the exposure of French children and adolescents to television advertisements for HFSS products. TV food advertisements broadcast in 2018 were categorized according to the Nutri-Score of the advertised products. These advertisements, identified according to the days and times of broadcast, were cross-referenced with audience data for 4- to 12-year-olds and 13- to 17-year-olds. More than 50% of food advertisements seen on television by children and adolescents concerned HFSS products, identified as classified as Nutri-Score D and E. In addition, half of advertisements for D and E Nutri-Score products were seen by children and adolescents in the evening during peak viewing hours, when more than 20% of both age groups watched television. On the other hand, during the same viewing hours, the percentage of children and adolescents who watched youth programs, the only programs subject to an advertising ban, was very low (<2%). These results show that the relevance of regulating advertising at times when the television audience of children and adolescents is the highest and not targeted at youth programs, in order to reduce their exposure to advertising for products of low nutritional quality.

Reliability and validity of the French version of the global physical activity questionnaire.

BACKGROUND: The Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) has been used to measure physical activity (PA) and sedentary time in France, but no study has assessed its psychometric properties. This study aimed to compare the reliability as well as criterion and concurrent validity of the French version of the GPAQ with the French International Physical Activity Questionnaire long form (IPAQ-LF) and use of an accelerometer in a general adult population. METHODS: We included 92 participants (students or staff) from the Medicine Campus at the University of Lorraine, Nancy (north-eastern France). The French GPAQ was completed twice, 7 days apart, to study test-retest reliability. The IPAQ-LF was used to assess concurrent validity of the GPAQ, and participants wore an accelerometer (ActiGraph GT3X+) for 7 days to study criterion validity. Reliability as well as concurrent and criterion validity of the GPAQ were tested by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), Spearman correlation coefficient for quantitative variables, and Kappa and Phi coefficients for qualitative variables. Both concurrent and criterion validity of GPAQ were assessed by Bland-Altman plots. RESULTS: The GPAQ showed poor to good reliability (ICC = 0.37-0.94; Kappa = 0.50-0.62) and concurrent validity (Spearman r = 0.41-0.86), but only poor criterion validity (Spearman r = -0.22-0.42). Limits of agreement for the GPAQ and accelerometer were wide, with differences between 286.5 min/week and 601.3 min/week. CONCLUSION: The French version of the GPAQ provides limited but acceptable reliability and validity for the measurement of PA and sedentary time. It may be used for assessing PA and sedentary time in a French adult population.