Accumulated physical activity and the association with obesity, fitness, and cardiometabolic risk factors in healthy adults.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the prevalence of ≥150 min/wk of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) using different criteria for bout length and to examine associations with measures of obesity, cardiorespiratory fitness, and cardiometabolic risk factors in healthy adults with overweight or obesity. METHODS: Baseline data from healthy adults (N = 375; age [mean ± SD] = 45.2 ± 7.7 years; BMI = 32.3 ± 3.8 kg/m2 ) enrolled in a behavioral weight-loss intervention were examined cross-sectionally. Categorization was by objectively measured MVPA as follows: 1) LOW-MVPA: <150 min/wk (n = 122, 32.5%); 2) MVPA-NON-BOUTED: ≥150 min/wk in bouts < 10 min (n = 72, 19.2%); 3) MVPA-COMBINED: ≥150 min/wk with a combination of bouts < 10 and ≥10 min (n = 50, 13.3%); and 4) MVPA-BOUTED: ≥150 min/wk with bouts ≥ 10 min (n = 131, 34.9%). RESULTS: Weight, BMI, and waist circumference were higher in the LOW-MVPA category versus the other categories. Body fatness was significantly lower in the MVPA-BOUTED category compared with the LOW-MVPA category (p < 0.05). Differences by category for cardiorespiratory fitness and cardiometabolic risk factors were limited. CONCLUSIONS: Some adults with overweight or obesity may be more active than they perceived themselves to be, and accumulation of ≥150 min/wk of MVPA may have favorable effects on weight and adiposity status. Findings may influence physical activity recommendations, and confirmation with prospective and randomized studies is needed.

Relationship Between Strength and Conditioning Assessments and Rowing Performance in Female Collegiate Athletes.

ABSTRACT: Folk, AL, Garcia, CA, Whitney, SH, and Kovacs, SJ. Relationship between strength and conditioning assessments and rowing performance in female collegiate athletes. J Strength Cond Res 36(6): 1618-1621, 2022-The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between strength and conditioning variables and rowing performance, as measured by a 2000 m ergometer time, in female collegiate rowers. Twenty-four female collegiate rowers qualified for this study by completing both types of assessments and a demographic questionnaire. Pearson correlation coefficients (r) were used to determine the association between the total 2000 m ergometer time and each strength and conditioning assessment. The assessments included a 1 repetition maximum (1RM) squat and a 1RM hang clean. After this, all significant correlations were placed in a stepwise linear regression analysis to predict the total 2000 m ergometer time. The 1RM squat and 1RM hang clean correlated with 2000 m ergometer performance (p = 0.034 and p = 0.002, respectively). Only the 1RM squat emerged as a predictor of 2000 m ergometer performance. This study highlights that the 1RM squat may be a way to predict rowing performance and build successful female collegiate rowing teams.

Psychosocial factors associated with physical activity in patients who have undergone bariatric surgery.

BACKGROUND: Identifying psychosocial variables associated with physical activity may lead to the development of interventions that better address the challenges to participating in physical activity experienced by postbariatric surgery patients. OBJECTIVE: To examine associations between select psychosocial variables and physical activity in patients who had undergone bariatric surgery within the past 2 years. SETTINGS: Bariatric surgery candidates were recruited from the Greater Pittsburgh region. METHODS: Eighty-three patients who had undergone bariatric surgery self-reported current physical activity and select psychosocial constructs. In addition, participants provided retrospective information on physical activity and psychosocial constructs before surgery. RESULTS: Patients increased physical activity from baseline (median = 156.00 [25th, 75th percentiles: 53.00, 600.00] kcal/week) to post surgery (median = 976.00 [25th, 75th percentiles: 344.00, 1832.00] kcal/week) (P < .001). A number of pre- to postsurgery changes in psychosocial variables were associated with change in physical activity; however, only change in fitness orientation (P = .001), change in social support from friends (P = .005), and change in self-reported weight (P = .012) emerged as predictors of change in physical activity from pre- to postsurgery. Several postsurgery psychosocial factors were also significantly associated with postsurgery physical activity, but only postsurgery fitness orientation (P < .001), social support from co-workers (P = .002), and physical function (P = .023) emerged as predictive of the amount of postsurgical PA. CONCLUSIONS: Pre- and postbariatric surgery interventions aimed at increasing physical activity participation may need to target important constructs that include the encouragement of social support and strategies to enhance the effort individuals put forward to engage in physical activity, as well as a focus on enhancing physical function and awareness of weight status.