Health-related behavioral changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. A comparison between cohorts of French and Italian university students.

This cross-sectional observational study compares the health behaviors of university students in France and Italy, examining how their choices and lifestyles were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic with the aim of contributing to the development of adequate public health and higher education institutions interventions. The French cohort was investigated between January and February 2022, while the Italian cohort was examined between March and April 2022. In both contexts, data were collected through web surveys using institutional directories of university degree programs. Data were collected using standardized tools, validated and recovered in full or partial form. The tool used consisted of three specific sections (general experience, eating habits, physical activity), to which a fourth, dedicated to describing the sociographic picture of the respondents, was added. It was found that the pandemic mainly affected the mental health and sense of well-being of young people in both countries. The pandemic altered dietary habits (41.8% of the French subjects and 38.3% of the Italians declared an increasing of their food intake), alcohol consumption (9.0% of the Italian respondents and 4.0% of the French respondents reported an increased alcohol consumption), propensity to smoke (among the French 85.3% subjects remained non-smokers versus 65.3% of the Italian subjects), sleep quality (25.7% of Italian students 16.6% of French students experienced a decline in the quality of their sleep), and physical activity levels (the percentage of physically active French subjects rose to 72.4%, whereas among Italian students, it dropped to 68,4%). The results emphasize the need for the implementation of relational and psychological interventions, even digital, to face the consequences of social isolation and negative changes in everyday behaviors due to the restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Effect of Aerobic Exercise Training on Sleep and Core Temperature in Middle-Aged Women with Chronic Insomnia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Exercise represents a viable non-pharmacological intervention to help treating insomnia but the interaction mechanisms between sleep and physical activity still remain poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a aerobic exercise training intervention on sleep and core temperature. METHODS: Twenty-four adult women suffering from insomnia participated in this study. They were randomized into an exercise group and a control group. Aerobic exercise training consisted in moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise training for 12 weeks. Outcome measures included both subjective (Insomnia Severity Index, ISI) and objective (actigraphy recordings) sleep quality assessments, and core body temperature continuously recorded for a minimum 24 h. RESULTS: The exercise group showed a decrease in ISI (p < 0.001) and in various objective sleep parameters. The core temperature batyphase value was lowered (p = 0.037) whereas its amplitude was larger (p = 0.002). We also found a tight correlation between the evolution of insomnia and the evolution of mean night-time core temperature and batyphase values. CONCLUSIONS: A moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise program appears to be an effective non-drug therapy for improving sleep in women with insomnia. In addition, exercise programs should aim to increase core body temperature during practice to induce sleep-promoting adaptations and rebound.

The Effect of Social Isolation on Physical Activity during the COVID-19 Pandemic in France.

The objective of this cross-sectional study is to analyze the changes in physical activity (PA) practice of a sample of 2099 French adults, mostly females, who answered an online questionnaire during the first COVID-19 lockdown (March-May 2020). A descriptive analysis of participants was performed using relative frequencies. Chi-squared tests were performed to compare the responses of selected variables. Multinomial logistic regressions were performed to compare the variations of PA with all the variables identified. The age of participants ranged from 18 to 88. Among people who practiced PAs before the first lockdown, the probability to keep practicing PAs is higher among those with a lower level of education, among housewives and retirees and among those who lived in cities of 10,000-19,999 inhabitants. For those who did not practice PAs before the social distancing, the probability of starting to practice is greater in those with a lower level of education and for those who suffered from a chronic disease. Our results place the emphasis on the complexity and multifactoriality of the changes that emerged during the first lockdown. The "education" factor emerges, as a significant determinant of PA that should certainly be explored further.

Neuroenhancement in French and Romanian University Students, Motivations and Associated Factors.

This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the use of neuroenhancers, the motivations and factors associated with their use in French and Romanian university students. Students from two universities in France (Rouen and Opal Coast University) and one in Romania (Cluj-Napoca) were asked to complete a self-administered anonymous questionnaire, either online or on paper, about the use of three different categories of substance: Prescription drugs (methylphenidate, modafinil, and beta-blockers), drugs of abuse (alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, and amphetamines), and soft enhancers (coffee, vitamins, caffeine tablets, and energy drinks). In total, 1110 students were included: The users were 2.2% for prescription drugs, 4.3% for drugs of abuse, and 55.0% for soft enhancers. Students used neuroenhancement to stay awake for study (69.3%), to improve concentration (55.5%), to decrease stress (40.9%), and to improve memory (39.6%). Neuroenhancement was considered to meet expectations by 74.4% of users. The factors associated with the use of drugs of abuse were frequent binge drinking (Adjusted Odds Ratio-AOR: 6.49 [95% CI: 2.53-16.6]), smoking (AOR: 5.50 [95% CI: 2.98-10.14]), having a student job (AOR: 2.42 [95% CI 1.13-5.17]), and being male (AOR: 2.23 [95% CI:1.21-4.11]). No significant associations with eating disorders were detected for any of the three categories of substances. University students reported neuroenhancement with prescription drugs, drugs of abuse, and mainly soft enhancers. These substances were used mainly to increase the waking hours. Educational programs in universities seem to be required in order to increase student awareness of the problems caused by neuroenhancements, and to decrease the associated risks by changing students' attitudes and beliefs.

Influence of grade of obesity on the achievement of VO2max using an incremental treadmill test in youths.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the influence of grade of obesity on the probability of achieving a VO2 plateau and threshold secondary criteria for verifying VO2max during a treadmill walk test in youths with obesity. Therefore, 72 youths with obesity (aged 8-16) performed an incremental treadmill walk test to exhaustion during which oxygen uptake (VO2), minute ventilation (VE), heart rate (HR) and rating of perceived exertion were continuously measured. HR corresponding to a "hard" level of perceived exertion was reported and expressed as a percentage of the predicted HRmax. The rate of achievement of criteria for validation VO2max (VO2 plateau; HR>95% theoretical HRmax; RER>1.0; rating of perceived exertion ≥ "hard") was compared between participants with grade I and grade II obesity. 37% of the participants achieved a VO2 plateau and 23% achieved both an HR>95% and RER >1.0. Youths with grade II obesity had lower minute ventilation (p<0.01) tended to be more likely to reach an HR>95% (OR = 0.33; P=0.06) and a "hard" rating of perceived exertion than grade I (OR = 4.5; P=0.07). However, there was no influence of grade of obesity on the achievement of VO2 plateau, and RER>1.0.

Estimated physical fitness and sociability: an interdisciplinary pilot study among French students.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this pilot study is to explore the main social factors influencing estimated physical fitness. METHODS: During the academic year of 2014/2015, 909 students from two French universities of the Hauts-de-France region completed a study including standardized anonymous self-reported questionnaires. Data were related to age, sex, social class, physical activity, social life and sociability. Physical fitness estimation was assessed through a validated VO2max questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 749 17- to 24-year-old students were included. The mean age was 19.58. The sample was composed mainly of girls (59.68%). The mean estimated VO2max was 39.30±2.29 for males and 32.79±2.56 for girls. Some significant dependence and risk factors were found between estimated PF and some sociocultural aspects. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows the importance of the socialization environment. The role, the age and the employment status of the parents are significant as they are a reference for the practice of sports and physical activities. The level of independence and sociability is strongly correlated to estimated physical fitness. These findings stress the need to develop a more holistic study, based on comprehensive and interdisciplinary approaches.

Photoperiod Impact on a Sailor's Sleep-Wake Rhythm and Core Body Temperature in Polar Environment.

INTRODUCTION: Studies have reported circadian desynchronizations and sleep disruptions in onshore populations in the Arctic during the polar day. Although the Arctic region is becoming more accessible by sea and evidence is growing to implicate the importance of fatigue in sailing accidents, no study related to circadian disruptions has focused on sailors. The aim of this study was to observe, during a 155-d polar sailing trip between Greenland and Russia, the evolution of the sleep-wake rhythm and core body temperature (Tc) in a sailor. METHODS: During the expedition, an electronic sleep diary was recorded daily and a continuous measurement of Tc using telemetric pills was performed every 10 d (recording depending on transit time, ≈24 h). Ephemerides were manually determined day by day using global positioning system position and revealed 3 phases (phase 1: decrease of night duration; phase 2: polar day; phase 3: increase of night duration). RESULTS: A significant difference (P<0.05) was observed in daily sleep time between phase 2 (7.6±2.5 h) and phase 3 (8±2 h). The period of Tc rhythm changed during the expedition (phase 1: 24.2±0.5 h; phase 2: 25±0.3 h; phase 3: 24±0.6 h). Dissociation between Tc rhythm and sleep occurred during phase 2. CONCLUSIONS: Our study observed that during a polar sailing expedition, many circadian disruptions appeared as free-running rhythms or dissociation between sleep and Tc rhythm. Future studies will evaluate effects of these disruptions and their probable association with accident risks.

[Utility of the 6-minute walk test in assessing maintenance of physical activity after cardiac rehabilitation]. / Utilité du test de marche de 6 minutes comme outil d'évaluation de la poursuite de l'activité physique après une rééducation réadaptation cardiovasculaire.

Evaluation of therapeutic patient education (TPE) is an integral part of cardiac rehabilitation programs. An important component of this involves assessing continued physical activity (PA) after rehabilitation. Few tools are available to assess the maintenance of physical activity, and we argue that use of a field test like the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) can provide some useful indicators. Objective: to study the utility of the 6MWT as a tool for assessing maintenance of PA in post-rehabilitation follow-up. Methods: we conducted a retrospective study of 168 patients (133 men and 35 women) with a mean age of 60.65 years (+/-9.7). First, we analyzed the data from a stress test (ST) and a 6MWT at the beginning and end of rehabilitation. We then analyzed the data from a 6MWT and an International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) performed six months after the end of rehabilitation. Results: there was a significant correlation between the 6MWT and the initial and final ST (r=0.5456, p<0.001 for the initial ST, r= 0.604, p<0.001 for the final ST), confirming the validity of using this test in cardiac rehabilitation. We observed a slight correlation between the 6MWT and the IPAQ (r=0.3923, p<0.001) six months post-rehabilitation. The IPAQ results show that patients with a significant level of physical activity during the week maintain their 6MWT distance. Conclusion: the 6MWT is a reliable test in cardiac rehabilitation. It can be used in conjunction with the IPAQ to assess patient adherence to physical activity guidelines in post-rehabilitation follow-up.

Nutritional status and eating disorders among medical students from the Cluj-Napoca University centre.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The nutritional disorders are modifiable predisposing factors of the current leading causes of morbidity and premature mortality, such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancers. An early recognition of appropriate interventions could decrease the burden of medical costs and increase the healthy life expectancy. The aims of our study were the description of nutritional status, its associated factors, and the detection of eating disorders among Romanian medical students of the "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted during the 2015-2016 academic year, including medical students from all study years, by an online questionnaire. The statistics, both descriptive and inferential, were calculated using EpiInfo. RESULTS: A total of 222 students from the University Romanian section were included, with a sex-ratio (men:women) of 0.22. The average body mass index of the medical students included was 21.3±3.3 kg/m2, for females it was 20.7±3 kg/m2 and for males 23.9±3.1 kg/m2. For the nutritional disorders such as overweight, the prevalence among males (30%) had a net predominance (p<0.001) over females (4.4%), while for underweight, it was prevalent only for female students (20.3%). Overweight was associated with low academic performance (odds ratio (OR)=7.2; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1-53.94), smoking (OR=2.4; 95% CI: 1-5.76) and binge drinking (OR=3; 95% CI: 1.26-7.25). Eating disorders were reported by 25.7% of the students and were significantly more prevalent in students in the second academic study cycle (47.4%; 95% CI: 34.7-60.3%) and in students with jobs (7%; 95% CI: 2.3-16.1%). CONCLUSIONS: In this survey, two different distribution models of nutritional disorders for both genders were identified, with the predominance of overweight among men. Eating disorders were more prevalent among students in the second study cycle and those with jobs at the same time.

Cognitive performance and self-reported sleepiness are modulated by time-of-day during a mountain ultramarathon.

Ninety-two runners completed the study during a 168 km mountain ultramarathon (MUM). Sleepiness, self-reported sleep duration, and cognitive performance were assessed the day before the race and up to eight checkpoints during the race. Sleepiness was assessed using the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale. Cognitive performance was also assessed using the Digital Symbol Substitution Task (DSST). Runner reported 23.40 ± 22.20 minutes of sleep (mean ± SD) during the race (race time: 29.38 to 46.20 hours). Sleepiness and cognitive performance decrements increased across this race, and this was modulated by time-of-day with higher sleepiness and greater performance decrements occurring during the early morning hours. Runners who slept on the course prior to testing had poorer cognitive performance, which may suggest that naps on the course were taken due to extreme exertion. This study provides evidence that cognitive performance deficits and sleepiness in MUM are sensitive to time into race and time-of-day.

Effects of a 12-week physical activities programme on sleep in female university students.

Lack of sleep is known to negatively affect adolescent's health and the links between regular physical activity and sleep are unclear.This pilot study investigated whether the regular practice of physical activities among sedentary female students would improve their sleep. Nineteen female students, identified as sedentary and having poor subjective sleep quality were assigned in two groups to a 12-week university physical activities programme in accordance with the recommendations of World Health Organisation (N = 10) or to a control condition (N = 9). Sleep was assessed with actigraphy before and after the study and with the Pittsburg Sleep Quality 15 Index (PSQI) at the beginning, middle, and end of the study. The intensity of physical activities was controlled by heart rate monitor. The analysis showed that sleep quality in the physical activities group improved, with the mean ± SD PSQI score decreasing from 9.1 ± 1.7 to 4.8 ± 2.0. Despite some limitations, these pilot data indicate that a physical activities programme is feasible to implement in students, and that participation in such a programme improves sleep in 18- 24 -year-old female adolescents. Further potential benefits remain to be investigated in follow-up research.

Performance physique et densité minérale osseuse chez de jeunes adultes libanais.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to explore the relationships between performances obtained in different physical tests and bone parameters (bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC)) in a group of young Lebanese adults. Methods: One hundred and six young Lebanese adults (45 women and 61 men) whose ages range from 17 to 34 years participated in this study. Weight and height were measured, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Daily calcium intake, daily protein intake and physical activity level (h/week) were evaluated using validated questionnaires. The level of physical performance was measured using several physical tests: vertical-jump test, standing long jump test, 3-jumptest, 5-jump-test and 1-RM half-squat. Body composition, bone mineral content (BMC) and BMD at whole body (WB), lumbar spine (L2-L4), total hip (TH) and femoral neck (FN) were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Results: In women, height, lean mass, 1- RM half-squat and performances obtained in three physical tests (vertical jump test, 5-jump-test and 1-RM halfsquat) were positively correlated to BMD and BMC. In men, lean mass and 1-RM half-squat were positively correlated to BMD and BMC. Conclusion: This study suggests that lean mass and maximum strength obtained in half-squat are positively correlated to BMD in young adults.

[Physical activity of students: prevalence and profiles of associated risk behaviours]. / Activité physique chez les étudiants : prévalence et profils de comportements à risque associés.

More than 40% of students do not practice any PA. These results highlight the need for a better understanding to develop intervention strategies for students, based on new public health approaches. The contribution of social and physical environmental factors to changes in PA needs to be further explored. .

Evaluation of Global Health in Master Swimmers Involved in French National Championships.

BACKGROUND: Swimming is often recommended as a means of increasing physical activity and gaining health benefits. The present study examined the psychological, social, and physical health states in competitive swimmers engaged in long-term training. METHODS: The study took place during the 4 days of the French master championships in France in 2011 (from 10 to 13 March). Global health parameters were evaluated and compared with general values reported in studies aiming to describe health standard values in France or Europe. All swimmers selected for the event were invited to participate in the study. Setting questionnaires concerning mental and social health (short form 36), physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire), and medication were administered. Peak expiratory flow (l.min-1) was measured, and body mass index (kg.m-2) was calculated from height (m) and body mass (kg). Prevalence of overweight and obesity was calculated by age and gender. Chi-squared tests were used to compare prevalence of overweight and obesity between participants and reference values. Short form 36 scores and physical activity (met.h.week-1) were compared with reference values by single t-tests. Two-way ANOVA was used to compare peak flow results with standard values. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Out of 1554 master swimmers, 490 participated in this study (rates of participation = 44.8 and 23.5 % for females and males, respectively). Data showed inequality of health indexes as compared with reference values, despite a significantly higher level of physical activity including swimming activity. The prevalence of obesity was significantly lower (p < 0.05), and peak expiratory flow values were higher among female swimmers (from 7.6 to 17 % higher according to the age, p < 0.05). Perception of vitality was significantly higher for all female swimmers and the older age groups of male swimmers (p < 0.05). Perception of bodily pain indicated significantly lower scores for swimmers than the reference values (p < 0.05). Significantly lower prevalence of swimmers taking medication was noted in comparison with the French national values (p = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with reference data from various sources, master competitive swimmers used less medication, had lower rates of obesity in most age groups, had greater peak expiratory flow values suggesting improved lung function, had higher levels of total physical activity, and had more favorable scores for various subscales of the SF-36. The results argue in favor of competitive swimming for its positive effects on health outcomes. KEY POINTS: French master swimmers involved in national championships have many positive health outcomes in terms of weight management, respiratory function, and vitality. However, the very high physical activity level in this competitive context did not result in significantly better levels on all parameters in comparison with their national counterparts (pain perception, social, emotional, and mental health).Positive health outcomes were higher for female master swimmers in terms of weight management, respiratory function, and vitality.The fact that these benefits were not linked with medication consumption could be interesting in an economic context aimed at controlling expenditures on health. Based on these data, we can argue for promoting this form of physical activity across the lifespan.

Combined effects of sleep deprivation and strenuous exercise on cognitive performances during The North Face® Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc® (UTMB®).

This study investigated the effects of combined sleep deprivation and strenuous exercise on cognitive and neurobehavioral performance among long-distance runners completing one of the most difficult ultramarathons in the world. Seventeen runners participated. Each had a wrist-worn actigraph throughout the race to record their sleep time. In addition, each individual's performance in 10-min response-time tests before and after the race was recorded and a questionnaire enabled participants to report any difficulties they experienced during the competition. During race completion times of 27 to 44 h, combined acute lack of sleep (12 ± 17 min of rest during the race) and strenuous exercise (168.0 km) had marked adverse effects on cognitive performances ranging from mere lengthening of response time to serious symptoms such as visual hallucinations. This study suggests that regardless of rest duration and time in race, cognitive performances of ultramarathoners are adversely affected.