Health Benefits of Different Sports: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Longitudinal and Intervention Studies Including 2.6 Million Adult Participants.

BACKGROUND: Several reviews have examined the health benefits of participation in specific sports, such as baseball, cricket, cross-country skiing, cycling, downhill skiing, football, golf, judo, rugby, running and swimming. However, new primary studies on the topic have recently been published, and the respective meta-analytic evidence needs to be updated. OBJECTIVES: To systematically review, summarise and appraise evidence on physical health benefits of participation in different recreational sports. METHODS: Searches for journal articles were conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, SpoLit, SPORTDiscus, Sports Medicine & Education Index and Web of Science. We included longitudinal and intervention studies investigating physical health outcomes associated with participation in a given sport among generally healthy adults without disability. RESULTS: A total of 136 papers from 76 studies conducted among 2.6 million participants were included in the review. Our meta-analyses of available evidence found that: (1) cycling reduces the risk of coronary heart disease by 16% (pooled hazard ratio [HR] = 0.84; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.80, 0.89), all-cause mortality by 21% (HR = 0.79; 95% CI: 0.73, 0.84), cancer mortality by 10% (HR = 0.90; 95% CI: 0.85, 0.96) and cardiovascular mortality by 20% (HR = 0.80; 95% CI: 0.74, 0.86); (2) football has favourable effects on body composition, blood lipids, fasting blood glucose, blood pressure, cardiovascular function at rest, cardiorespiratory fitness and bone strength (p < 0.050); (3) handball has favourable effects on body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness (p < 0.050); (4) running reduces the risk of all-cause mortality by 23% (HR = 0.77; 95% CI: 0.70, 0.85), cancer mortality by 20% (HR = 0.80; 95% CI: 0.72, 0.89) and cardiovascular mortality by 27% (HR = 0.73; 95% CI: 0.57, 0.94) and improves body composition, cardiovascular function at rest and cardiorespiratory fitness (p < 0.010); and (5) swimming reduces the risk of all-cause mortality by 24% (HR = 0.76; 95% CI: 0.63, 0.92) and improves body composition and blood lipids (p < 0.010). CONCLUSIONS: A range of physical health benefits are associated with participation in recreational cycling, football, handball, running and swimming. More studies are needed to enable meta-analyses of health benefits of participation in other sports. PROSPERO registration number CRD42021234839.

Tiredness after work associates with less leisure-time physical activity.

Physical activities and sedentary behaviors take place in different contexts. This study aimed to determine if the context, total score, and leisure-time MET-index assessed by the Baecke questionnaire associate with each other or with sedentary behavior and physical activity outcomes from a 4-week accelerometer measurement in physically inactive adults with overweight. The item "After working I am tired" correlated negatively with items related to leisure-time physical activity and sports participation. The total Baecke Score showed weak but significant correlations with accelerometer-measured sedentary behavior, physical activity, daily steps, and mean activity intensity of the day (r = - 0.33, 0.41, 0.35, and 0.41, respectively). The associations strengthened when the Sport Index was omitted from the Score. The leisure-time MET-Index did not correlate with accelerometer-measured sedentary behavior or physical activity. Tiredness after working associated with less self-reported physical activity during leisure time. This suggests that better recovery from work-related stress could increase leisure-time physical activity, or increasing leisure-time physical activity could reduce tiredness after working. Moreover, among self-reportedly inactive adults with overweight, focusing the questionnaire on work and non-sport leisure time instead of total time might give more accurate estimates of sedentary behavior and physical activity when compared to accelerometry.The study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03101228, 05/04/2017).

Perceived coaches' health promotion activity, maintenance of participation in sports, and lifestyle habits among emerging adults: a four-year follow-up study.

OBJECTIVES: This study focused on how adolescents' perceptions of coaches' health promotion activity predict maintained participation and dropout in organized sports in emerging adulthood. In addition, differences in lifestyle habits between maintainers, dropouts, and nonparticipants in organized sports were explored. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Overall, 616 adolescents reported organized sports participation in the Finnish Health Promoting Sports Club (FHPSC) study at ages 15 and 19. Of these, 323 reported coach's health promotion activity on health topics at the age of 15. An index of a coach's general health promotion activity was formed. At age 19, all study participants reported their lifestyle habits. RESULTS: Among males, those who had perceived coaches' general health promotion activity as frequent were more likely to be maintainers than dropouts (48.6% vs. 20.0%) (p = .002). Among females, there was no significant difference (32.0% vs. 28.4%). Logistic regression analysis adjusted for gender showed that perceiving coach's general health promotion activity as frequent increased the odds of being a maintainer rather than a dropout. Moreover, maintainers had higher odds of having healthy lifestyle habits when compared to nonparticipants (related to physical activity; sleep; fruit and vegetable consumption; and cigarette use) or dropouts (related to physical activity; and cigarette use). In addition, dropouts had higher odds of having healthy lifestyle habits than nonparticipants (related to sleep; and cigarette use). CONCLUSIONS: Perceiving coaches' health promotion activity as frequent was related to maintained participation in organized sports among males. Maintainers were more likely to have more healthy lifestyle habits than nonparticipants and dropouts. There is a need to invest in coaches' health promotion activity when it is infrequent. A more detailed understanding is needed of coaches' health promotion activity that supports both maintained participation in sports, especially among females, and healthy lifestyle habits in emerging adulthood.

There is a need to invest in coaches' health promotion activity when it is infrequent in order to support adolescents' continued participation in organized sports and healthy lifestyle habits in emerging adulthood.

Device-measured physical activity and sedentary time in the Nordic countries: A scoping review of population-based studies.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this scoping review was to summarize and describe the methodology and results from population-based studies of physical activity and sedentary time measured with devices in the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) and published in 2000 or later. METHODS: A systematic search was carried out in PubMed and Web of Science in June 2023 using predefined search terms. RESULTS: Fourteen unique research projects or surveillance studies were identified. Additionally, 2 surveillance studies published by national agencies were included, resulting in a total of 16 studies for inclusion. National surveillance systems exist in Finland and Norway, with regular survey waves in school-aged children/adolescents and adults. In Denmark, recent nationally representative data have been collected in school children only. So far, Sweden has no regular national surveillance system using device-based data collection. No studies were found from Iceland. The first study was conducted in 2001 and the most recent in 2022, with most data collected from 2016 to date. Five studies included children/adolescents 6-18 years, no study included preschoolers. In total 11 studies included adults, of which 8 also covered older adults. No study focused specifically on older adults. The analytical sample size ranged from 205 to 27,890. Detailed methodology is presented, such as information on sampling strategy, device type and placement, wear protocols, and physical activity classification schemes. Levels of physical activity and sedentary time in children/adolescents, adults, and older adults across the Nordic countries are presented. CONCLUSION: A growing implementation of device-based population surveillance of physical activity and sedentary behavior in the Nordic countries has been identified. The variety of devices, placement, and data procedures both within and between the Nordic countries highlights the challenges when it comes to comparing study outcomes as well as the need for more standardized data collection.

Measurement of Sedentary Behavior-The Outcomes of the Angle for Posture Estimation (APE) Method.

Hip-worn accelerometers are commonly used to assess habitual physical activity, but their accuracy in precisely measuring sedentary behavior (SB) is generally considered low. The angle for postural estimation (APE) method has shown promising accuracy in SB measurement. This method relies on the constant nature of Earth's gravity and the assumption that walking posture is typically upright. This study investigated how cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and body mass index (BMI) are related to APE output. A total of 3475 participants with adequate accelerometer wear time were categorized into three groups according to CRF or BMI. Participants in low CRF and high BMI groups spent more time in reclining and lying postures (APE ≥ 30°) and less time in sitting and standing postures (APE < 30°) than the other groups. Furthermore, the strongest partial Spearman correlation with CRF (r = 0.284) and BMI (r = -0.320) was observed for APE values typical for standing. The findings underscore the utility of the APE method in studying associations between SB and health outcomes. Importantly, this study emphasizes the necessity of reserving the term "sedentary behavior" for studies wherein the classification of SB is based on both intensity and posture.

Sedentary time associates detrimentally and physical activity beneficially with metabolic flexibility in adults with metabolic syndrome.

Metabolic flexibility (MetFlex) describes the ability to respond and adapt to changes in metabolic demand and substrate availability. The relationship between physical (in)activity and MetFlex is unclear. This study aimed to determine whether sedentary time, physical activity (PA), and cardiorespiratory fitness associate with MetFlex. Sedentary time, standing, and PA were measured with accelerometers for 4 weeks in 64 sedentary adults with metabolic syndrome [37 women, 27 men; 58.3 (SD 6.8) years]. Fitness (V̇o2max; mL·kg-1·min-1) was measured with graded maximal cycle ergometry. MetFlex was assessed with indirect calorimetry as the change in respiratory exchange ratio (ΔRER) from fasting to insulin stimulation with hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp and from low-intensity to maximal exercise. Carbohydrate (CHOox) and fat oxidation (FATox) were calculated from respiratory gases. High sedentary time associated with higher fasting RER [ß = 0.35 (95% confidence interval: 0.04, 0.67)], impaired insulin-stimulated MetFlex (ΔRER) [ß=-0.41 (-0.72, -0.09)], and lower fasting FATox [ß=-0.36 (-0.67, -0.04)]. Standing associated with lower fasting RER [ß=-0.32 (-0.62, -0.02)]. Higher standing time and steps/day associated with higher fasting FATox [ß = 0.31 (0.01, 0.61), and ß = 0.26 (0.00, 0.53)]. Light-intensity and total PA associated with better insulin-stimulated MetFlex [ß = 0.33 (0.05, 0.61)], and ß = 0.33 (0.05, 0.60)]. Higher V̇o2max associated with higher CHOox during maximal exercise [ß = 0.81 (0.62, 1.00)], as well as during insulin stimulation [ß = 0.43 (0.13, 0.73)]. P values are less than 0.05 for all associations. Sedentary time and PA associate with MetFlex. Reducing sitting and increasing PA of even light intensity might aid in the prevention of metabolic diseases in risk populations through their potential effects on energy metabolism.NEW & NOTEWORTHY High accelerometer-assessed sedentary time associates with metabolic inflexibility measured during hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp in adults with metabolic syndrome, and more light-intensity and total physical activity associate with more metabolic flexibility. Physical activity behaviors may thus play an important role in the regulation of fuel metabolism. This highlights the potential of reduced sedentary time and increased physical activity of any intensity to induce metabolic health benefits and help in disease prevention in risk populations.

Effects of reduced sedentary time on resting, exercise and post-exercise blood pressure in inactive adults with metabolic syndrome - a six-month exploratory RCT.

Evidence on the long-term effects of reducing sedentary behaviour (SB) on blood pressure (BP) is scarce. Therefore, we performed a sub-analysis of the BP effects of a six-month intervention that aimed at reducing SB by 1 h/day and replacing it with non-exercise activities. Sixty-four physically inactive and sedentary adults with metabolic syndrome (58% female, 58 [SD 7] years, BP 143/88 [16/9] mmHg, SB 10 [1] h/day) were randomised into intervention (INT, n = 33) and control (CON, n = 31) groups. Resting BP and BP at each stage during and after a graded maximal bicycle ergometer test were measured before and after the intervention. SB, standing, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and light physical activity (LPA) were measured in six-second intervals at baseline and during the whole six-month intervention using hip-worn accelerometers. The analyses were adjusted for BP medication status. The intervention resulted in a 40 min/day reduction in SB and concomitant 20 min/day increase in MVPA. Resting systolic BP was lower in the CON group before and after the intervention. No group x time interactions were observed in resting BP or BP during exercise at submaximal or maximal intensities, or during recovery. The changes in LPA and MVPA were inversely correlated with the changes in BP during light-to-moderate intensity exercise. An intervention that resulted in a 40 min/day reduction in SB for six months was not sufficient at influencing BP at rest, during or after exercise in adults with metabolic syndrome. However, successfully increasing LPA or MVPA might lower BP during light-to-moderate-intensity activities.

Predicting Adolescents' Physical Activity Intentions: Testing an Integrated Social Cognition Model.

BACKGROUND: Few adolescents meet guideline levels of physical activity associated with good health, highlighting the need for intervention. Interventions promoting adolescents' physical activity should be guided by research applying behavioral theory to identify potentially modifiable correlates and associated processes. We applied an integrated social cognition model to identify theory-based constructs and processes that relate to physical activity intentions in a secondary analysis of two samples of Finnish adolescents using a correlational design. METHOD: Participants in the first sample (n = 455) completed self-report measures of social cognition constructs from theory of planned behavior, habit, self-discipline, and past and current physical activities. Participants in the second sample (n = 3878) completed identical measures plus measures of socio-structural and socio-environmental factors. Participants from the first sample also wore accelerometers for 1 week. Hypothesized model effects were tested using variance-based structural equation modeling in data from the first sample and subsequently confirmed in a pre-registered analysis of data from the second sample. RESULTS: Across both samples, habit, attitude, perceived behavioral control, and self-reported past behavior were associated with physical activity intention. Effects of self-reported past physical activity on intention were partially mediated by social cognition constructs. Effects of accelerometer-based physical activity were small by comparison. Effects of socio-structural and socio-environmental factors on intention in the second sample were partially mediated by the social cognition constructs. CONCLUSION: Results corroborate beliefs and habit as consistent correlates of adolescents' physical activity intentions and provide preliminary evidence that social cognition constructs account for effects of socio-structural and socio-environmental factors on intentions.

Sports-related factors predicting maintained participation and dropout in organized sports in emerging adulthood: A four-year follow-up study.

This study explored sports-related factors predicting organized sports participation in emerging adulthood. In the Finnish Health Promoting Sports Club (FHPSC) study, 354 sports club participants aged 15 at baseline reported their main sport, onset age, training volume, current competitive level, and future competitive orientation and participated in the follow-up study at age 19. There were differences in the proportions of maintainers and dropouts in a few sports: football (maintainers 58.6%), and among females, skating (maintainers 60.7%), and swimming (dropouts 80.0%). A binary logistic regression analysis showed that those who had started their main sport by school age (females OR 3.05/95% CI 1.34, 6.98; males OR 3.97/95% CI 1.48, 10.64) and had competed at national top level plus had aimed at success at the adult level competitions in future (females OR 3.42/95% CI 1.16, 10.09; males OR 3.58/95% CI 1.12, 11.41; among females, also had competed at national top level plus had aimed at success at junior level competitions [OR 3.42/95% CI 1.20, 9.78]) were more likely maintainers than dropouts. Early onset in the main sport and competitiveness were related to maintained sports participation while the opposites were related to dropouts in the current organized sports system.

Elective Cardiac Procedure Patients Have Low Preoperative Cardiorespiratory Fitness.

Preoperative cardiorespiratory fitness may influence the recovery after cardiac procedure. The aim of this study was to investigate the cardiorespiratory fitness of patients scheduled for elective cardiac procedures, using a six-minute walk test, and compare the results with a population-based sample of Finnish adults. Patients (n=234) awaiting percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary angiography, coronary artery bypass grafting, aortic valve replacement or mitral valve surgery performed the six-minute walk test. VO2max was calculated based on the walk test. The patients were compared to a population-based sample of 60-69-year-old Finnish adults from the FinFit2017 study. The mean six-minute walk test distances (meters) and VO2max (ml/kg/min) of the patient groups were: 452±73 and 24.3±6.9 (coronary artery bypass grafting), 499±84 and 27.6±7.2 (aortic valve replacement), 496±85 and 27.4±7.3 (mitral valve surgery), and 519±90 and 27.3±6.9 (percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary angiography). The population-based sample had significantly greater walk test distance (623±81) and VO2max (31.7±6.1) than the four patient groups (all p-values<0.001). All patient groups had lower cardiorespiratory fitness than the reference population of 60-69-year-old Finnish adults. Particularly the coronary artery bypass grafting group had a low cardiorespiratory fitness, and therefore might be prone to complications and challenging rehabilitation after the operation.

Accelerometer-measured physical activity and sedentary behavior in nonagenarians: Associations with self-reported physical activity, anthropometric, sociodemographic, health and cognitive characteristics.

BACKGROUND: Research on device-based physical activity in the oldest-old adults is scarce. We examined accelerometer-measured physical activity and sedentary behavior in nonagenarians. We also investigated how the accelerometer characteristics associate with nonagenarians' self-reported physical activity, anthropometric, sociodemographic, health and cognitive characteristics. METHODS: Nonagenarians from a population-based cohort study (N = 38, mean age 91.2) used accelerometers during the waking hours for seven days. They also participated in a health survey and cognitive telephone interview. The Wald test and Pearson and polyserial correlations were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: The participants' average day consisted of 2931 steps, 11 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and 13.6 hours of sedentary time. Physical activity bouts less than 3 minutes per day and sedentary time bouts of 20-60 minutes per day were the most common. No sex differences were found. Many accelerometer-measured and self-reported physical activity characteristics correlated positively (correlations ≥0.34, p-values <0.05). The low levels of many accelerometer-measured physical activity characteristics associated with low education (correlations ≥0.25, p-values <0.05), dizziness (correlations ≤-0.42, p-values <0.01) and fear of falling (correlations ≤-0.45, p-values <0.01). Fear of falling was also associated with accelerometer-measured sedentary behavior characteristics (correlations -0.42 or ≥0.43). CONCLUSIONS: Nonagenarians were mostly sedentary and low in physical activity, but individual variability existed. Accelerometer-measured and self-reported physical activity had a good consistency. Education, dizziness and fear of falling were consistently related to accelerometer-measured characteristics in nonagenarians.

TWINGEN - protocol for an observational clinical biobank recall and biomarker study to identify individuals with high risk of Alzheimer's disease.

Introduction: A better understanding of the earliest stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD) could expedite the development or administration of treatments. Large population biobanks hold the promise to identify individuals at an elevated risk of AD and related dementias based on health registry information. Here, we establish the protocol for an observational clinical recall and biomarker study called TWINGEN with the aim to identify individuals at high risk of AD by assessing cognition, health and AD-related biomarkers. Suitable candidates were identified and invited to participate in the new study among Finnish biobank donors according to TWINGEN study criteria. Methods and analysis: A multi-center study (n=800) to obtain blood-based biomarkers, telephone-administered and web-based memory and cognitive parameters, questionnaire information on lifestyle, health and psychological factors, and accelerometer data for measures of physical activity, sedentary behavior and sleep. A sub-cohort are being asked to participate in an in-person neuropsychological assessment (n=200) and wear an Oura ring (n=50). All participants in the TWINGEN study have genome-wide genotyping data and up to 48 years of follow-up data from the population-based older Finnish Twin Cohort (FTC) study of the University of Helsinki. TWINGEN data will be transferred to Finnish Institute of Health and Welfare (THL) biobank and we aim to further to transfer it to the FinnGen study where it will be combined with health registry data for prediction of AD. Ethics and dissemination: This recall study consists of FTC/THL/FinnGen participants whose data were acquired in accordance with the Finnish Biobank Act. The recruitment protocols followed the biobank protocols approved by Finnish Medicines Agency. The TWINGEN study plan was approved by the Ethics Committee of Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa (number 16831/2022). THL Biobank approved the research plan with the permission no: THLBB2022_83.

How does a school-based intervention impact students' social cognitions on reducing sedentary behavior over 14 months?

Despite sedentary behavior being ubiquitous in students and detrimental to health, interventions specifically targeting it are mostly restricted to leisure time screen time reduction. With six weekly sessions alongside a poster campaign and an additional teacher intervention, the Let's Move It trial delivered environmental and psychological strategies to increase physical activity (PA) and reduce sedentary behavior (SB) in vocational schools, an understudied environment for behavioral interventions. Participants in the intervention arm considerably reduced sedentary time post-intervention. To investigate how social cognitions about restricting SB, as defined by the Reasoned Action Approach, change in intervention and control arms, self-reported data on social cognitions was collected as part of a cluster-randomized controlled trial from 1166 students (59% female, mage = 18.7 years, range: 16-49) in six vocational schools before, post-intervention, and 14 months post-baseline. Data were analyzed using mixed between-within repeated measures ANOVA. We found greater improvements in intention (F(1, 833) = 9.69; η2p = 0.01; p = .018) and descriptive norms (F(1, 831) = 13.25; η2p = 0.016; p < .001) in the intervention than control arm, but these effects depended on the included control variables. Generally, intervention effects leveled off from post-intervention to follow-up. The Let's Move It intervention for SB reduction showed modest, short-lived effects on social cognitions, indicating that changes in behavior are likely due to other factors like changes to the classroom environment. Optimally, SB reduction interventions should not only change behavior but produce robust changes in conscious intentions to restrict one's sitting, so that positive effects generalize to other contexts.

Psychosocial and health behavioural characteristics of longitudinal physical activity patterns: a cohort study from adolescence to young adulthood.

BACKGROUND: The decline in physical activity (PA) during adolescence is well-established. However, while some subgroups of adolescents follow the general pattern of decreased activity, others increase or maintain high or low activity. The correlates and determinants of different PA patterns may vary, offering valuable information for targeted health promotion. This study aimed to examine how psychosocial factors, health behaviours, and PA domains are associated with longitudinal PA patterns from adolescence to young adulthood. METHODS: This prospective study encompassed 254 participants measured at mean ages 15 and 19. Device-measured moderate-to-vigorous PA was grouped into five patterns (activity maintainers, inactivity maintainers, decreasers from moderate to low PA, decreasers from high to moderate PA, increasers) via a data-driven method, K-Means for longitudinal data. Multinomial logistic regression was used to analyse the associations between health behaviours, psychosocial factors, PA domains, and different PA patterns. RESULTS: A lack of sports club participation characterised inactivity maintainers throughout adolescence. Difficulties in communicating with one's father at age 15 were associated with higher odds of belonging to inactivity maintainers and to decreasers from moderate to low PA. Lower fruit and vegetable consumption at age 19 was also related to increased odds of belonging to the groups of inactivity maintainers and decreasers from moderate to low PA. Smoking at age 19 was associated with being a decreaser from moderate to low PA. CONCLUSIONS: Diverse factors characterise longitudinal PA patterns over the transition to young adulthood. Sports club participation contributes to maintained PA. Moreover, a father-adolescent relationship that supports open communication may be one determinant for sustained PA during adolescence. A healthier diet and non-smoking as a young adult are associated with more favourable PA development.

What Can One Minute of the Day Tell about Physical Activity?

High cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) allows individuals to perform daily activities and operate at a higher intensity level. This study investigates the connection between the CRF and peak intensity of physical activity (PA) in absolute and relative terms. A total of 3587 participants (1447 men, 51.9 ± 13.0 years; 2140 women, 50.0 ± 13.0 years) provided substantial accelerometer wear time, and their CRF was estimated via the 6 min walking test. Participants were divided into CRF thirds by age group and sex. Daily one-minute peak intensities were captured in both absolute terms and relative to individual CRF levels. In absolute terms, the highest CRF third had the highest intensity value for men (6.4 ± 1.7 MET; 5.9 ± 1.4 MET; 5.3 ± 1.0 MET) and for women (6.4 ± 1.6 MET; 5.9 ± 1.3 MET; 5.4 ± 1.1 MET). In relative terms, the highest CRF third utilized the least aerobic capacity for men (49 ± 14%; 51 ± 13%; 56 ± 14%) and for women (52 ± 13%; 54 ± 12%; 62 ± 15%). One minute of daily activity offers valuable insights into an individual's CRF and the effort demanded during PA. Fitter individuals can sustain higher PA intensity levels in absolute terms, whereas individuals with lower CRF utilize a greater fraction of their aerobic capacity. Consequently, heightened CRF not only allows for enhanced intensity levels but also safeguards against strenuous PA during daily routines.

Is health promotion in sports clubs associated with adolescent participants' fruit and vegetable consumption?

BACKGROUND: Although sports clubs' potential for health promotion is acknowledged, research on whether they promote healthy eating is limited. We aimed to evaluate Finnish youth sports clubs' health promotion orientation, as well as associations between sports clubs' health promotion orientation, coaches' nutritional discussions and sports club participants' (SPs') fruit and/or vegetable consumption. METHODS: The cross-sectional study included 554 SPs aged 14-16 years, 275 club officials and 311 coaches. Participants replied to questionnaires about sports clubs' health promotion and their own health behaviours, including dietary habits. Health promotion orientation was estimated using a Health Promoting Sports Club (HPSC) index (range 0-22) and nutritional discussions and fruit and/or vegetable consumption as frequencies. A mixed-effects multivariable logistic regression was used to analyse the associations. RESULTS: Most sports clubs (69%) had a high health promotion orientation, but the variation between the clubs was wide (HPSC index range 5-21). SPs' daily fruit and/or vegetable consumption was associated with female gender [odds ratio (OR) 3.48, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.23-5.42, P < 0.001], better self-rated health (OR 3.26, 95% CI 1.13-9.41, P = 0.03), higher average school grades (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.04-2.67, P = 0.03), and SPs' responses that their coach had often discussed nutrition (OR 2.11, 95% CI 1.41-3.14, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Although sports clubs' orientation towards health promotion was mostly high, it seems not to be enough to promote healthy eating among adolescent participants. Instead, coaches' nutritional discussions were associated with adolescents' fruit and/or vegetable consumption.

The effects of a 6-month intervention aimed to reduce sedentary time on skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity: a randomized controlled trial.

Sedentary behavior (SB) and physical inactivity associate with impaired insulin sensitivity. We investigated whether an intervention aimed at a 1-h reduction in daily SB during 6 mo would improve insulin sensitivity in the weight-bearing thigh muscles. Forty-four sedentary inactive adults [mean age 58 (SD 7) yr; 43% men] with metabolic syndrome were randomized into intervention and control groups. The individualized behavioral intervention was supported by an interactive accelerometer and a mobile application. SB, measured with hip-worn accelerometers in 6-s intervals throughout the 6-mo intervention, decreased by 51 (95% CI 22-80) min/day and physical activity (PA) increased by 37 (95% CI 18-55) min/day in the intervention group with nonsignificant changes in these outcomes in the control group. Insulin sensitivity in the whole body and in the quadriceps femoris and hamstring muscles, measured with hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp combined with [18F]fluoro-deoxy-glucose PET, did not significantly change during the intervention in either group. However, the changes in hamstring and whole body insulin sensitivity correlated inversely with the change in SB and positively with the changes in moderate-to-vigorous PA and daily steps. In conclusion, these results suggest that the more the participants were able to reduce their SB, the more their individual insulin sensitivity increased in the whole body and in the hamstring muscles but not in quadriceps femoris. However, according to our primary randomized controlled trial results, this kind of behavioral interventions targeted to reduce sedentariness may not be effective in increasing skeletal muscle and whole body insulin sensitivity in people with metabolic syndrome at the population level.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Aiming to reduce daily SB by 1 h/day had no impact on skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity in the weight-bearing thigh muscles. However, successfully reducing SB may increase insulin sensitivity in the postural hamstring muscles. This emphasizes the importance of both reducing SB and increasing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity to improve insulin sensitivity in functionally different muscles of the body and thus induce a more comprehensive change in insulin sensitivity in the whole body.

Performance of Different Accelerometry-Based Metrics to Estimate Oxygen Consumption during Track and Treadmill Locomotion over a Wide Intensity Range.

Accelerometer data can be used to estimate incident oxygen consumption (VO2) during physical activity. Relationships between the accelerometer metrics and VO2 are typically determined using specific walking or running protocols on a track or treadmill. In this study, we compared the predictive performance of three different metrics based on the mean amplitude deviation (MAD) of the raw three-dimensional acceleration signal during maximal tests performed on a track or treadmill. A total of 53 healthy adult volunteers participated in the study, 29 performed the track test and 24 the treadmill test. During the tests, the data were collected using hip-worn triaxial accelerometers and metabolic gas analyzers. Data from both tests were pooled for primary statistical analysis. For typical walking speeds at VO2 less than 25 mL/kg/min, accelerometer metrics accounted for 71-86% of the variation in VO2. For typical running speeds starting from VO2 of 25 mL/kg/min up to over 60 mL/kg/min, 32-69% of the variation in VO2 could be explained, while the test type had an independent effect on the results, except for the conventional MAD metrics. The MAD metric is the best predictor of VO2 during walking, but the poorest during running. Depending on the intensity of locomotion, the choice of proper accelerometer metrics and test type may affect the validity of the prediction of incident VO2.

Longitudinal physical activity patterns and the development of cardiometabolic risk factors during adolescence.

PURPOSE: To examine the associations between longitudinal physical activity (PA) patterns and the development of cardiometabolic risk factors from adolescence to young adulthood. METHODS: This cohort study encompassed 250 participants recruited from sports clubs and schools, and examined at mean age 15 and 19. Device-measured moderate-to-vigorous PA was grouped into five patterns (via a data-driven method, using inactivity maintainers as a reference). The outcomes were: glucose, insulin, homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), total cholesterol, HDL and LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, and body mass index (BMI). Linear growth curve models were applied with adjustment for sex, age, fruit/vegetable consumption, cigarette/snuff use, and change in the device wear-time. RESULTS: Insulin and BMI increased among decreasers from moderate to low PA (ß for insulin 0.23, 95% CI 0.03-0.46; ß for BMI 0.90; CI 0.02-1.78). The concentration of HDL cholesterol decreased (ß -0.18, CI -0.31 to -0.05) and that of glucose increased (ß 0.18, CI 0.02-0.35) among decreasers from high to moderate PA. By contrast, among increasers, blood pressure declined (systolic ß -6.43, CI -12.16 to -0.70; diastolic ß -6.72, CI -11.03 to -2.41). CONCLUSIONS: Already during the transition to young adulthood, changes in PA are associated with changes in cardiometabolic risk factors. Favorable blood pressure changes were found among PA increasers. Unfavorable changes in BMI, insulin, glucose, and HDL cholesterol were found in groups with decreasing PA. The changes were dependent on the baseline PA and the magnitude of the PA decline.

Intrarater Reliability and Analysis of Learning Effects in the Y Balance Test.

While the general reliability of the Y balance test has been previously found to be excellent, earlier reviews highlighted a need for a more consistent methodology between studies. The purpose of this test-retest intrarater reliability study was to assess the intrarater reliability of the YBT using different methodologies regarding normalisation for leg length, number of repetitions, and score calculation. Sixteen healthy adult novice recreational runners aged 18-55 years, both women and men, were reviewed in a laboratory environment. Mean calculated scores, intraclass correlation coefficient, standard error of measurement, and minimal detectable change were calculated and analysed between different leg length normalisation and score calculation methods. The number of repetitions needed to reach a plateauing of results was analysed from the mean proportion of maximal reach per successful repetition. The intrarater reliability of the YBT was found to be good to excellent, and it was not affected by the method of score calculation or leg length measurement. The test results plateaued after the sixth successful repetition. Based on this study, it is suggested to use anterior superior iliac spine-medial malleolus length for leg length normalisation because this method was proposed in the original YBT protocol. At least seven successful repetitions should be performed to reach a result plateau. The average of the best three repetitions should be used to mitigate possible outliers and account for the learning effects seen in this study.