Screen time, sleep duration, leisure physical activity, obesity, and cardiometabolic risk in children and adolescents: a cross-lagged 2-year study.

BACKGROUND: Considering the previous research that suggested that screen time (ST), sleep duration, physical activity (PA), obesity and cardiometabolic risk factors are related, it is essential to identify how these variables are associated over time, to provide knowledge for the development of intervention strategies to promote health in pediatric populations. Also, there is a lack of studies examining these associations longitudinally. The aims of the present study were: (1) to investigate the longitudinal relationships between ST, sleep duration, leisure PA, body mass index (BMI), and cardiometabolic risk score (cMetS) in children and adolescents; and (2) to verify scores and prevalence of cMetS risk zones at baseline and follow-up. METHODS: This observational longitudinal study included 331 children and adolescents (aged six to 17 years; girls = 57.7%) from schools in a southern city in Brazil. ST, sleep duration, and leisure PA were evaluated by a self-reported questionnaire. BMI was evaluated using the BMI z-scores (Z_BMI). The cMetS was determined by summing sex- and age-specific z-scores of total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio, triglycerides, glucose, and systolic blood pressure and dividing it by four. A two-wave cross-lagged model was implemented. RESULTS: ST, sleep duration, and leisure PA were not associated with cMetS after 2-years. However, it was observed that higher ST at baseline was associated with shorter sleep duration at follow-up (B=-0.074; 95%IC=-0.130; -0.012), while higher Z_BMI from baseline associated with higher cMetS of follow-up (B = 0.154; 95%CI = 0.083;0.226). The reciprocal model of relationships indicated that the variance of ST, sleep time, leisure PA, Z_BMI, and cMetS explained approximately 9%, 14%, 10%, 67% and 22%, respectively, of the model. Individual change scores and prevalence indicated that cMetS had individual changes from 2014 to 2016. CONCLUSION: Sleep duration, ST and leisure PA were not associated with cMetS after 2 years. ST showed an inverse association with sleep duration, and Z_BMI was positively associated with cMetS after a 2-year follow-up. Finally, the prevalence of no clustering of risk factors increased after two years. These findings suggest the need to promote healthy lifestyle habits from childhood and considering individual factors that can influence cardiometabolic health in children and adolescents.

Impact of a Self-Autonomous Evaluation Station and Personalized Training Algorithm on Quality of Life and Physical Capacities in Sedentary Adults: Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for noncommunicable diseases and a leading cause of premature death. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity (PA) weekly, regardless of age, gender, or personal habits. However, in both sports performance and clinical settings, personalized training (PT) regimens have shown superior efficacy over general guidelines. OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that an automatic PT program, informed by initial physical evaluations, would increase overall quality of life, quality of sleep, and physical capabilities and reduce fatigue and depression compared with adherence to WHO recommendations. METHODS: This 5-month, randomized, single-blinded controlled trial involved 112 sedentary or minimally active participants, divided randomly into PT and free training (FT) groups. Physical capabilities and subjective measures such as quality of life, sleep, depression, and fatigue were evaluated for both groups. After 1 month, both groups were asked to perform 150 minutes of PA per week for 4 months; the PT group could either follow a "virtual coach" on a mobile app to follow some personalized PA or do what they would like, while the FT group was to follow the general PA recommendations of the WHO. RESULTS: We did not find any group×time interaction for PA duration or intensity, physical qualities, and subjective measures. However, considering both groups together, there was a significant pretest and posttest time effect for duration of PA (18.2 vs 24.5 min/d of PA; P<.001), intensity (2.36 vs 3.11; P<.001), and workload (46.8 vs 80.5; P<.001). Almost all physical qualities were increased pretest and posttest (ie, estimated VO2max 26.8 vs 29 mL min-1 kg-1; P<.001; flexibility 25.9 vs 26.9 cm; P=.049; lower limb isometric forces 328 vs 347 N m; P=.002; reaction time 0.680 vs 0.633 s; P<.001; power output on cyclo-ergometer 7.63 vs 7.82 W; P<.003; and balance for the left and right leg 215 vs 163 mm2; P<.003 and 186 vs 162 mm2; P=.048, respectively). Finally, still considering the PT and FT groups together, there were significant pretest to posttest improvements in the mental component of quality of life using the 12-item Short Form Health Survey (41.9 vs 46.0; P<.006), well-being using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (48.3 vs 51.7; P<.002), depression using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (15.5 vs 11.5; P=.02), and fatigue using the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (37.1 vs 39.5; P=.048). CONCLUSIONS: The individualized training was not more effective than the general recommendations. A slight increase in PA (from 18 to 24 min/d) in sedentary or poorly active people is enough for a significant increase in physical capabilities and a significant improvement in quality of life, well-being, depression, and fatigue. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04998266; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04998266.

A systematic review of research reporting practices in observational studies examining associations between 24-h movement behaviors and indicators of health using compositional data analysis.

Background: Compositional data analysis (CoDA) techniques are well suited for examining associations between 24-h movement behaviors (i.e., sleep, sedentary behavior, physical activity) and indicators of health given they recognize these behaviors are co-dependent, representing relative parts that make up a whole day. Accordingly, CoDA techniques have seen increased adoption in the past decade, however, heterogeneity in research reporting practices may hinder efforts to synthesize and quantify these relationships via meta-analysis. This systematic review described reporting practices in studies that used CoDA techniques to investigate associations between 24-h movement behaviors and indicators of health. Methods: A systematic search of eight databases was conducted, in addition to supplementary searches (e.g., forward/backward citations, expert consultation). Observational studies that used CoDA techniques involving log-ratio transformation of behavioral data to examine associations between time-based estimates of 24-h movement behaviors and indicators of health were included. Reporting practices were extracted and classified into seven areas: (1) methodological justification, (2) behavioral measurement and data handling strategies, (3) composition construction, (4) analytic plan, (5) composition-specific descriptive statistics, (6) model results, and (7) auxiliary information. Study quality and risk of bias were assessed by the National Institutes of Health Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-sectional Studies. Results: 102 studies met our inclusion criteria. Reporting practices varied considerably across areas, with most achieving high standards in methodological justification, but inconsistent reporting across all other domains. Some items were reported in all studies (e.g., how many parts the daily composition was partitioned into), whereas others seldom reported (e.g., definition of a day: midnight-to-midnight versus wake-to-wake). Study quality and risk of bias was fair in most studies (85%). Conclusions: Current studies generally demonstrate inconsistent reporting practices. Consistent, clear and detailed reporting practices are evidently needed moving forward as the field of time-use epidemiology aims to accurately capture and analyze movement behavior data in relation to health outcomes, facilitate comparisons across studies, and inform public health interventions and policy decisions. Achieving consensus regarding reporting recommendations is a key next step. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s44167-024-00062-8.

Impact of active breaks on sedentary behavior and perception of productivity in office workers.

Introduction: The increasing prevalence ofsedentary behavior at work, which has been exacerbated by technological advancement and remote work models, can compromise worker health, leading to both physical and mental problems. Increasing research on sedentary behavior has resulted in interventions such as active breaks. Objectives: This study addresses the impact of sedentary behavior at work and the effects of active breaks. Methods: This descriptive-exploratory study with a mixed-methods approach included 70 professionals of both sexes, 86% women (35.2 [SD, 10.2] years) and 14% men (33.5 [SD, 11] years), who worked remotely in administrative roles. The intervention was a 25-week active break protocol involving lectures, a questionnaire, and an app. Results: At the end of the intervention, 64% of participants were taking active breaks. Spending > 10 hours a day in sedentary behavior reduced significantly (from 31% to 14%), as did the proportion of workers who did not exercise (from 43% to 26%; p = 0.002). There were also reductions in post-lunch sleepiness, perceived stress (p < 0.01), and pain/discomfort (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Management programs for sedentary behavior should consider the use of active breaks, since they can reduce sedentary behavior and perceived sleepiness, stress, and pain. This will result in a healthier work environment, increasing employee quality of life as well as company productivity.

Introdução: Com a predominância do sedentarismo ocupacional, agravado pelo avanço tecnológico e pelo trabalho remoto, a saúde dos trabalhadores pode ser comprometida, incluindo problemas físicos e mentais, o que faz com que estudos sobre o comportamento sedentário e intervenções como pausas ativas ganhem destaque. Objetivos: O estudo aborda o impacto do sedentarismo no ambiente de trabalho e a relevância das pausas ativas para mitigar seus efeitos. Métodos: Tratou-se de estudo descritivo-exploratório com abordagem qualiquantitativa, realizado com 70 profissionais de ambos os sexos, 86% mulheres (35,2±10,2 anos) e 14% homens (33,5±11 anos). Todos trabalhavam remotamente em funções administrativas. Os participantes foram orientados a seguir uma rotina de pausas ativas durante 25 semanas. O estudo usou palestras, um questionário e um aplicativo para a prática. Resultados: Dos participantes, 64% adotaram as pausas ativas após a intervenção. Foi observada uma redução significativa no tempo sedentário (superior a 10 horas), de 31 para 14%, e no número de trabalhadores que não se exercitavam, de 43 para 26% (p = 0,002). Notou-se também uma redução na sonolência após o almoço, na percepção do estresse (p < 0,01) e nas dores e/ou desconforto no corpo (p < 0,01). Conclusões: A rotina de pausas ativas parece ser uma estratégia para diminuir o comportamento sedentário e melhorar a percepção quanto a sonolência, estresse e dores. Portanto, a implementação de programas de gestão ativa do comportamento sedentário, por meio de pausas ativas, pode proporcionar um ambiente de trabalho mais produtivo e saudável, beneficiando a qualidade de vida dos funcionários e a produtividade da empresa.

Optimal dose of vigorous physical activity on cardiorespiratory and perceptual response for sedentary youths using internal load monitoring.

Introduction: Vigorous physical activity (VPA) has been demonstrated to enhance cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in sedentary college students more effectively than other PA. However, differences in training volume may affect this outcome. This study examines the physiological, psychological, and internal training load (ITL) characteristics of VPA with varying volumes in a single session. Methods: Thirty sedentary college students were divided into three groups: high-intensity interval training (HIIT), sprint interval training (SIT), and threshold training (THR). PA process was monitored. The study measured various cardiorespiratory parameters, including heart rate (HR), respiratory waveform and amplitude, respiratory rate (RR), tidal volume (TV), minute ventilation volume (VE), fractional concentration of oxygen in end-tidal gas (O2%), fractional concentration of end-tidal carbon dioxide (CO2%), global oxygen consumption (VO2), carbon dioxide discharge (VCO2), and the amount of carbon dioxide in the air. The following physiological indicators were measured: carbon dioxide discharge (VCO2), Oxygen pulse (OP), and respiratory exchange ratio (RER). Additionally, subjective perception indicators were recorded, including the feeling scale (FS), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and dual-mode model (DMM). The session-RPE (s-RPE) and Edward's TRIMP were used to measure ITL. Results: There were no significant differences in HR across the three conditions. THR had the highest level of TV (p = 0.043), but RR was significantly lower than that of HIIT and SIT (p < 0.01). HIIT had the highest levels of VO2, VCO2, O2%, and OP (p < 0.05). RPE was higher in HIIT and SIT compared to THR (p < 0.01), but the difference in FS was not significant. The DMM time-domain trajectories were similar in HIIT and THR. The correlation between exercise intensity, RPE, and FS was highest in THR group (r = 0.453, r = -0.58, r = -0.885). ITL did not show a significant difference between three conditions, but TRIMP and s-RPE readings were opposite in magnitude. Conclusion: This study proposes that using an appropriate amount of THR to foster interest and adaptive strength during the PA habit establishment period, incorporating HIIT to enhance exercise efficiency during the adaptation period, and implementing SIT to reduce the monotony may effectively enhance the cardiorespiratory fitness of sedentary college students and establish PA habit.

Association of screen exposure/sedentary behavior and precocious puberty/early puberty.

Background: In recent years, with the development of society, children's daily exposure to screen time has gradually increased. Screen exposure and sedentary behavior have brought a host of harms to children's lives. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of screen exposure and sedentary behavior on precocious puberty and early development. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study in the school-based population. A total of 3,560 children were recruited from Qufu City, Shandong province using multistage stratified cluster random sampling. All study subjects had a physical examination by professional pediatricians in October 2019, and were investigated with health questionnaires. Precocious puberty is defined as development of secondary sexual signs in boys before 9 years or in girls before 8 years. Screen time was calculated as the average of screen time on weekdays and weekend days, and sedentary time was calculated as the average of sedentary time on weekdays and weekend days. After adjusting for potential confounders, logistic regression was used to examine the association between screen exposure and sedentary behavior and early puberty and precocious puberty. Results: Sedentary time was a risk factor for precocious puberty and early development (OR = 1.428, 95% CI = 1.087-1.876) in girls without adjustment. No significant association was found between screen exposure and early puberty and early development both in girls and boys. Conclusions: Excessive sedentary behavior was associated with an increased risk of early puberty, especially in girls, while there was no significant association between screen exposure and early puberty and early development. In addition, further longitudinal investigations are needed to determine the causal relationship between screen exposure, sedentary behavior and precocious puberty.

Physical activity and sedentary behavior among ambulatory children with cerebral palsy using accelerometer: a cross-sectional study.

Background and objective: Physical activity (PA) is paramount for childhood development and growth. However, children diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy (CP) were often considered sedentary, and their physical inactivity was associated with adverse health conditions and complications. Therefore, this study aimed to objectively describe and compare the PA levels and SB levels of children with and without CP of the same age group. It also studied the factors correlating with PA, SB, and step count per day in children with CP. Subjects and methods: A cross-sectional study using a wrist-worn accelerometer was conducted. PA and SB were measured over seven consecutive days. Results: Eighty-five children aged 6-12 years, consisting of 41 children with CP and 44 TD children, participated in this study with a mean age of 9.18 ± 1.95 and 8.45 ± 1.78 years, respectively. According to the gross functional measures, 53.6% of children with CP were classified as first classification. A significant amount of time was spent in SB and Light PA (LPA) by children with CP compared to TD children, and no significant differences were observed in moderate PA (MPA) or step count. Gender mainly affected MPA as girls spent more time in MPA than boys. The age, height, and weight of children with CP correlate significantly with SB. As children's age, height, and weight increase, SB increases. Additionally, children with higher weights have lower step counts per day. Conclusion: This study showed that children with CP spend more time in LPA and SB than typically developed children. Therefore, concerted efforts are needed to encourage physical activity and reduce the sedentary lifestyle, to take into account the gender and anthropometric measures of children to enhance the quality of life among children with CP, and to consider gender and anthropometric measures of the children.

Move more today, sleep better tonight? Daily associations between physical activity and sedentary behavior with sleep among young adults with and without insomnia symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: At the between-person level, it is well-documented that individuals with more physical activity (PA) and less sedentary behavior (SB) tend to have better sleep outcomes than their peers. However, the associations at the within-person level remain unclear. This study investigated the daily associations between PA and SB with nighttime sleep among young adults with and without insomnia symptoms. METHODS: Data was collected through activity trackers and online questionnaires for 7 consecutive days among 147 university students, including time spent on moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), light physical activity (LPA), and SB, along with sleep duration, sleep efficiency, and sleep quality. Participants were classified into two subgroups according to the presence of insomnia symptoms, which were determined by a self-reported insomnia scale. Multilevel compositional data analysis was conducted on the total sample, and separately on subsamples characterized by the presence and absence of insomnia symptoms. RESULTS: In the total sample and subsample without insomnia symptoms, substitutions among MVPA, LPA, and SB were not associated with changes in sleep outcomes at the daily level. However, in the subsample with insomnia symptoms, days with more MVPA or SB and less LPA were associated with higher sleep efficiency, while days with more LPA at the expense of MVPA or SB were associated with lower sleep efficiency. CONCLUSIONS: For young adults with insomnia symptoms, replacing LPA with MVPA on a given day may improve their sleep efficiency that night.

Sedentary Behavior and Ultra-Processed Food Consumption Associated to BMI Changes in Brazilian Students During COVID-19.

INTRODUCTION: University students experienced significant changes in their routines with the implementation of remote learning during Covid-19 pandemic, including increase in sedentary behavior (SB) time and ultra-processed foods (UPF's) consumption, which may have influenced changes in body mass index (BMI). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between the variation in SB time and UPF's consumption with the variation in BMI, before and during the pandemic, in university students. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study, conducted between November 2020 and February 2021, with students from a public university of Southeast of Brazil, who answered an online questionnaire with questions regarding to the period before and during the pandemic. SB was assessed through questions about time spent on TV and electronic devices. A score of the frequency of UPF's consumption was estimated based on the Brazilian Food Guide. Self-reported information on height and body mass was used to calculate BMI. RESULTS: The sample comprised 3390 university students, with an average age of 28.7 (± 10.0) years. Among them, 65.4% were undergraduates, and 66.9% were women. SB time, UPF score, and BMI increased significantly during the pandemic, compared to the previous period. In this population, there was a significant association between increased SB time (ß = 0.06; SE = 0.01; p < 0.001) and UPF score (ß = 0.08; SE = 0.01; p < 0.001) with an increase in BMI. CONCLUSION: Changes in SB time and UPF score were associated with an increase in BMI before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in students from a Brazilian University.

24-Hour Movement Behaviors of LGBTQA+ Young People: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: The movement behaviors of LGBTQA+ young people, who encounter specific health, and other, challenges are not well understood. This systematic review examines the 24-hour movement behaviors of LGBTQA+ young people compared with population estimates of meeting the 24-hour movement guidelines. METHODS: Seven electronic databases were searched from inception to January 2024. Observational studies published in English and reporting quantitative data for physical activity, sedentary behavior, or sleep duration for LGBTQA+ individuals <24 years old were included. Data were narratively synthesized for children/adolescents (<18 years) and young adults (18-24 years), guided by the Cochrane Synthesis Without Meta-analysis guidelines. RESULTS: Fifty-six studies were included; 46 were of "fair" quality and 37 were conducted in the United States. Physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep outcomes were reported in 46, 11, and 14 studies, respectively. Ninety unique LGBTQA+ terms were identified. Based on outcomes reported in ≥1 study, and compared to population estimates, LGBTQA+ young people were less likely to meet aerobic physical activity and strength/resistance training guidelines. LGBTQA+ children/adolescents were less likely to meet the sleep guidelines. Young adults demonstrated similar adherence to sleep guidelines as population estimates. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our results suggest that LGBTQA+ young people have suboptimal 24-hour movement behaviors; in some cases, worse than population estimates. Utilization of more robust measures of exposure and outcome variables is recommended, with a focus on sleep and sedentary behavior.

Perceived social support on objective measured sedentary behavior of stroke patients: the mediating role of exercise self-efficacy.

Introduction: As stroke patients may have impaired motor function, there may have increased sedentary behavior. Factors associated with sedentary behavior need to be explored to develop targeted interventions. Although studies explore the effects of exercise self-efficacy and perceived social support on sedentary behavior, the relationship is not clear. The aim of this study was to explore the mediating effect of exercise self-efficacy on perceived social support and objective measured sedentary behavior in stroke patients. Methods: The random sampling method was adopted to select 275 stroke patients from the neurology department of a third-grade hospital of Henan Province from June 2023 to March 2024 in a cross-sectional descriptive study. A general data questionnaire, exercise self-efficacy scale, perceived social support scale, and ActiGraph GT3X accelerometer were used to investigate. The structural equation model was used to analyze the mediating effect of exercise self-efficacy between perceived social support and sedentary behavior. Results: The mean sedentary behavior time in stroke patients in this study was (479.65 ± 112.65) min, the mean score of perceived social support was (47.53 ± 17.16), and the mean score of exercise self-efficacy was (24.19 ± 6.25). The correlation analysis revealed that, the sedentary behavior of stroke patients was negatively correlated with exercise self-efficacy and perceived social support. The results of the mediation analysis showed that exercise self-efficacy played a partial mediating role between perceived social support and sedentary behavior. Conclusion: Perceived social support and exercise self-efficacy were influential factors in sedentary behavior. Moreover, the impact of perceived social support on sedentary behavior was partially mediated by exercise self-efficacy. Therefore, to decrease the sedentary behavior, it is crucial to improve the level of perceived social support in stroke patients. Patients with less perceived social support can improve their exercise self-efficacy and thus perceive more social support.

Raw Photoplethysmography as an Enhancement for Research-Grade Wearable Activity Monitors.

Wearable monitors continue to play a critical role in scientific assessments of physical activity. Recently, research-grade monitors have begun providing raw data from photoplethysmography (PPG) alongside standard raw data from inertial sensors (accelerometers and gyroscopes). Raw PPG enables granular and transparent estimation of cardiovascular parameters such as heart rate, thus presenting a valuable alternative to standard PPG methodologies (most of which rely on consumer-grade monitors that provide only coarse output from proprietary algorithms). The implications for physical activity assessment are tremendous, since it is now feasible to monitor granular and concurrent trends in both movement and cardiovascular physiology using a single noninvasive device. However, new users must also be aware of challenges and limitations that accompany the use of raw PPG data. This viewpoint paper therefore orients new users to the opportunities and challenges of raw PPG data by presenting its mechanics, pitfalls, and availability, as well as its parallels and synergies with inertial sensors. This includes discussion of specific applications to the prediction of energy expenditure, activity type, and 24-hour movement behaviors, with an emphasis on areas in which raw PPG data may help resolve known issues with inertial sensing (eg, measurement during cycling activities). We also discuss how the impact of raw PPG data can be maximized through the use of open-source tools when developing and disseminating new methods, similar to current standards for raw accelerometer and gyroscope data. Collectively, our comments show the strong potential of raw PPG data to enhance the use of research-grade wearable activity monitors in science over the coming years.

Sitting Interruption Modalities during Prolonged Sitting Acutely Improve Postprandial Metabolome in a Crossover Pilot Trial among Postmenopausal Women.

Older adults sit during most hours of the day; more than 30% are considered physically inactive. The accumulation of prolonged sitting time is an exercise-independent risk factor for aging-related conditions such as cardiometabolic disease and cancer. Archival plasma samples from a randomized controlled, four-condition crossover study conducted in 10 postmenopausal women with overweight or obesity were analyzed. During 5-hour conditions completed on separate days, the trial tested three interruption modalities: two-minute stands each 20 min (STS), hourly ten-minute standing breaks (Stand), hourly two-minute walks (Walk), and a controlled sit. Fasting baseline and 5-hour end point (2 h postprandial) samples were used for targeted metabolomic profiling. Condition-associated metabolome changes were compared using paired t-tests. STS eliminated the postprandial elevation of amino acid metabolites that was observed in the control. A norvaline derivative shown to have anti-hypertensive and -hyperglycemic effects was significantly increased during Stand and STS. Post-hoc testing identified 19 significantly different metabolites across the interventions. Tight metabolite clustering by condition was driven by amino acid, vasoactive, and sugar metabolites, as demonstrated by partial least squares-discriminant analyses. This exploratory study suggests that brief, low-intensity modalities of interrupting prolonged sitting can acutely elucidate beneficial cardiometabolic changes in postmenopausal women with cardiometabolic risk.

Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Body Image among Young Adults in Hong Kong: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The COVID-19 pandemic has considerably impacted the health and lifestyle of various populations worldwide, leading to decreased physical activity, increased sedentary behavior, and increased health problems. This study aimed to investigate Hong Kong young adults' physical activity, related behaviors, and perceptions of body image during the pandemic. A cross-sectional online survey of young adults aged 18-29 was conducted from February to March 2021 using the well-validated Multidimensional Body Self-Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ). Among 408 respondents, 52.5% had a normal weight in the BMI range, 45.1% engaged in ≥8 h of sedentary behavior daily, 77.2% engaged in no regular or inadequate physical activity (<2.5 h/week), and only 22.3% joined a fitness club. BMI, regular physical activity, and joining any fitness club/class were significantly associated with the most factors or additional subscales. A multiple linear regression model showed that the underweight respondents (reference group: normal) (ß = -0.26, 95% CI: -0.41 to -0.12) were less likely to have high scores of fitness orientation. The respondents who engaged in regular physical activity <2.5 h/week (ß = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.29 to 0.54), engaged in regular physical activity ≥2.5 h/week (ß = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.84 to 1.14) (reference group: no regular physical activity), and joined a fitness club/class (ß = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.18 to 0.45) were more likely to have a high score of fitness orientation. Local governments, non-governmental organizations, schools, and community centers should establish appropriate strategies and activities in order to sufficiently encourage and support young adults' physical health and well-being.

Health-Related Physical Fitness and Biochemical Parameters in Overweight Older People during Social Isolation Imposed by the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal and Observational Study.

With COVID-19, evidence indicates that the elderly will have worse biochemical markers related to health in social isolation. The objective was to analyze the impacts on physical fitness and biochemical parameters of older adults' health during COVID-19 social isolation. Quantitative, longitudinal, and observational study was conducted between 2020, 2021, and 2022. Thirty-three older adults of both sexes were evaluated. A sociodemographic questionnaire, biomarkers, and health-related physical fitness were used. Significant differences were observed for the sum of maximum isometric right and left handgrip strength, with a reduction in 2022 (p = 0.009); getting up and walking (p < 0.001), reduction in 2021 and 2022 (p < 0.05); elbow flexion and extension (p = 0.004), reduction in 2021 (p = 0.006); and sitting and standing (p = 0.002), reduction in 2022 (p = 0.003) and peak oxygen consumption (p < 0.001), reduction in 2021 and 2022 (p < 0.05). Differences were observed in fasting blood glucose (p < 0.001), with increase in 2021 and 2022 (p < 0.05), triglycerides (p < 0.001), with increase in 2021 and 2022 (p < 0.05), triglyceride-glucose index (p < 0.001), with increase in 2021 and 2022 (p < 0.05), triglyceride-glucose index with waist circumference (p < 0.001), with increase in 2021 (p < 0.001); and triglyceride-glucose index with body mass index (p < 0.001), with increase in 2021 (p < 0.001). However, no differences were observed between anthropometric and body composition (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Older people had changes in biochemical and physical fitness parameters related to health during the social isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Qualitative Description of Graduate Students' Perceived Decline in Physical Activity from Undergraduate School.

Many university students, especially graduate students, are experiencing poor physical and psychological health. Thus, universities are initiating programs like Exercise is Medicine-On Campus (EIM-OC) to promote positive physical activity behavior to improve physical and mental health for primarily undergraduate university students. However, the influences on physical activity when transitioning from an undergraduate to a graduate student are unknown. To explore perceptions of if and how the physical activity levels of graduate students changed from their time as undergraduate students while considering environmental and lifestyle factors. METHODS: Using a qualitative, phenomenological research design, a convenience sample of current graduate students enrolled at a large, mid-South university completed a 20-minute interview. Questions included inquiring on current household, occupational, active transportation, leisure time, and overall physical activity during the graduate and past undergraduate programs. All interviews were transcribed, and major themes were derived using thematic analysis. Twenty-one (62% female; 52% master's students) participants completed interviews. Overall, participants perceived their physical activity decreased, including occupational, active transport, and leisure-time physical activity. Major themes discussed by participants included: increased academic and occupational responsibilities, changes in the physical and social environment, increased awareness of health and activity, and life transitions. The decline in physical activity once individuals enter their graduate program necessitates an intervention, like EIM-OC, during or after undergraduate studies to promote the initiation or continuation of regular physical activity to improve graduate students' overall health.

The association between physical activity and delayed neurocognitive recovery in elderly patients: a mediation analysis of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

BACKGROUND: Delayed neurocognitive recovery (dNCR) can result in unfavorable outcomes in elderly surgical patients. Physical activity (PA) has been shown to improve cognitive function, potentially by reducing systemic inflammatory responses. However, there is a lack of supportive data indicating whether PA has a protective effect against dNCR. AIMS: To examine the correlation between dNCR and PA, and to further analyze if pro-inflammatory cytokines mediate this relationship. METHODS: This study is a prospective nested case-control investigation of elderly patients who had knee replacement surgery. dNCR was defined as a decline in cognitive function compared with baseline by using a battery of neuropsychological tests. PA was assessed with the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the serum concentrations of IL-6, IL-1ß, and TNF-α. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the association between PA and dNCR. Mediation analysis was employed to evaluate whether pro-inflammatory cytokines mediate the relationship between them. RESULTS: A cohort of 152 patients was included, resulting in an incidence rate of dNCR of 23.68%. PA was associated with dNCR after full adjustment [OR = 0.199, (95% CI, 0.061; 0.649), P = 0.007]. Mediation analysis showed that the IL-6 mediated the statistical association between PA and dNCR, with mediation proportions (%) of 77.68 (postoperative concentration of IL-6) or 27.58 (the absolute change in IL-6 before and after surgery). CONCLUSIONS: PA serves as a protective factor against dNCR, possibly through the reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokine concentrations. THE CHINESE CLINICAL TRAIL REGISTRY: : www.http://chictr.org.cn , Registration No. ChiCTR2300070834, Registration date: April 24, 2023.

Isotemporal substitution of sedentary behavior with physical activity and its influence on depressive symptoms among adults with overweight/obesity in the United States: A cross-sectional study.

Objective: This cross-sectional study examined the influence of sedentary behavior (SB) time substitution with physical activity (PA) on depressive symptoms among adults with overweight/obesity. SB time was replaced with equal amount of walking/bicycling or leisure-time moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA). Methods: Data of the 18344 adults, who were overweight and obesity was obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2006-2018. PA of participants was measured by the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. Depressive symptoms, including overall, somatic, and cognitive depressive symptoms were assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Isotemporal substitution model based on weighted multiple linear regression was used to assess the association of SB time substitution with PA on depressive symptoms. Results: Independent model analysis showed that 30 min/day SB time was significantly associated with higher PHQ-9 depressive symptoms, while engage in walking/bicycling or leisure-time MVPA for 30 min/day was associated with lower depressive symptoms. Isotemporal substitution analyses revealed that replacing 30 min/day SB time with equal amount of walking/bicycling or leisure-time MVPA was associated with significant lower PHQ-9 total scores (walking/bicycling: ß = -0.088, 95%CI = -0.129, -0.047, P < 0.01; MVPA: ß = -0.160, 95%CI = -0.185, -0.134, P < 0.01). Moreover, cognitive depressive symptoms (walking/bicycling: ß = -0.035, 95%CI = -0.058, -0.013, P < 0.01; MVPA: ß = -0.074, 95%CI = -0.088, -0.060, P < 0.01), and somatic depressive symptoms (walking/bicycling: ß = -0.053, 95%CI = -0.075, -0.030, P < 0.01; MVPA: ß = -0.085, 95%CI = -0.100, -0.071, P < 0.01) were also significantly lower after replacing SB time with either walking/bicycling or MVPA. However, replacing 30 min/day PA with SB time represented with higher depressive symptoms. Conclusions: Replacing SB time with walking/bicycling or MVPA is beneficial in lowering the depressive symptoms among overweight/obese adults. Owing to the benefits of PA on depression, strategies promoting PA participation, are necessary for better social/mental well-being and healthy society.

Intervening to reduce sedentary behavior among African American elders: the "Stand Up and Move More" intervention.

Background: Reducing sedentary behavior is a promising intervention target for improving health for older adults; however, few interventions include African American communities. The purpose of this research was to extend the reach of an effective sedentary behavior intervention to African American elders. Methods: Two pilot studies assessed the feasibility (retention, adherence, and safety) and acceptability (participant and leader perspectives) of a 4-wk "Stand Up and Move More" (SUMM) intervention. Sedentary behavior (self-reported and monitor-derived), function (short physical performance battery), and quality of life (SF-36) were measured at baseline (wk0), postintervention (wk4), and follow up (wk12; study 1) to examine preliminary effectiveness of the intervention. Participants (N=26) attended SUMM or an attention-matched stress management intervention (study 2). The magnitude of treatment effects were determined using Hedge's g effect size calculations [small (g=0.20 to 0.49), moderate (g=0.50 to 0.79), large (g>0.80)]. Results: Retention and adherence rates ranged from 50%-100% and 80%-100%, respectively. There were no adverse events. Participants expressed high satisfaction, and the leader of the SUMM intervention indicated that the intervention content was beneficial. Hedges' g revealed negligible to small changes in sedentary behavior (g<0.50) following SUMM. There were moderate to large improvements in function (g=0.51-0.82) and quality of life (g=0.54-1.07) from wk0 to wk4 in study 1; and moderate to large improvements in function (g=0.51-0.88) from wk0 to wk4 in study 2. There was a moderate improvement in quality of life (SF-36 emotional role limitations g=0.54) in the SUMM group only. Conclusion: Given its feasibility, safety, and acceptability, SUMM may be a promising intervention to improve functioning and well-being among African American elders.

The prospective associations of 24-hour movement behaviors and domain-specific activities with executive function and academic achievement among school-aged children in Singapore.

Background: Physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior (SB), and sleep are collectively referred to as 24-h movement behaviors, which may be linked to cognitive development in children. However, most of the evidence was based on cross-sectional studies and/or solely relied on parent-reported information on children's behaviors, and it remains uncertain whether all domains/contexts of PA and SB are similarly associated with executive function and academic achievement. Objective: We investigated the prospective associations of accelerometer-measured 24 h-movement behaviors and domain-specific PA and SB with executive function and academic achievement among school-aged children in Singapore. Methods: The Growing Up in Singapore Toward healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) cohort used a wrist-worn accelerometer (Actigraph-GT3x+) to measure 24 h-movement behaviors data at ages 5.5 and 8 years. Executive function and academic achievement were assessed using NEuroPSYchology (NEPSY) and Wechsler Individual Achievement Tests at ages 8.5 and 9-years, respectively. Compositional data analyses were conducted to explore the associations of 24 h-movement behavior with outcomes, and multiple linear regression models to examine the associations of domain-specific PA and SB with outcomes (n = 432). Results: Among 432 children whose parents agreed to cognitive assessments (47% girls and 58% Chinese), the composition of 24 h-movement behaviors at ages 5.5 and 8 years was not associated with executive function and academic achievement. However, higher moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) relative to remaining movement behaviors at age 5.5 years was associated with lower academic achievement [Mean difference (95% confidence interval): -0.367 (-0.726, -0.009) z-score], and reallocating MVPA time to sleep showed higher academic achievement scores [30 min from MVPA to sleep: 0.214 (0.023, 0.404) z-score]. Certain domains of PA and SB, notably organized PA/sports, outdoor play, and reading books were favorably associated with outcomes of interest, while indoor play and screen-viewing were unfavorably associated. Conclusion: The associations between movement behaviors and cognitive outcomes are multifaceted, influenced by specific domains of PA and SB. This study underscores the importance of participation in organized PA/sports, outdoor active play, and reading books, while ensuring adequate sleep and limiting screen viewing, to enhance cognitive outcomes. These findings underscore the need for further research into time-use trade-offs. Such studies could have major implications for revising current guidelines or strategies aimed at promoting healthier 24 h-movement behaviors in children. Study registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/, NCT01174875.