Assessing ethical behavior and self-control in elite ultimate championships: a cross-sectional study using the spirit of the game scoring system.

Introduction: Implementing a self-refereeing system presents a unique challenge in sports education, particularly in academic and training settings where officiated sports prevail. However, Ultimate Frisbee stands out by entrusting players with both athlete and referee roles, introducing distinctive ethical complexities. This manuscript is intended to evaluate ethical behavior and self-control within the Spirit of the Game (SOTG) scoring system in Elite Ultimate. To address these, Ultimate employs the (SOTG) scoring system, integral since the sport's inception in the late 1980s. SOTG aims to enhance and evaluate athletes' ethical conduct. This study evaluates SOTG's effectiveness in elite-level Ultimate, analyzing variations across divisions and age groups in three high-level tournaments. Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, data were collected from five international Ultimate tournaments in 2022. Teams spanned diverse age groups (under 17 to over 50) and divisions (women's, mixed, open). Post-match, teams assessed opponents' SOTG in five domains: Rules knowledge, fouls, fairness, attitude/self-control, and communication. Ratings used a 5-point Likert scale ("poor" to "excellent"). An overall SOTG score was calculated by aggregating domain scores. Results: Our study consistently revealed high SOTG scores, reflecting strong sportsmanship. "Positive attitude and self-control" consistently ranked highest, while "Knowledge and use of the rules" scored lowest. Divisional differences in SOTG were statistically insignificant. Notably, WMUCC2022 (participants aged 30+) had significantly higher SOTG scores, possibly indicating age-related self-control improvement or evolving sport culture. Lower rules knowledge scores may stem from linguistic translation challenges. Conclusion: Self-refereeing promotes ethical behavior across divisions and age groups. SOTG underscores sportsmanship's importance and aligns with International Olympic Committee (IOC) and with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3, 4, 5 and 16 fostering a fairer, healthier, and more peaceful world.

HEXACO personality factors as predictors of physical activity, resting heart rate, body mass index, and healthy lifestyle behaviors.

BACKGROUND: Personality traits are known factors that may influence levels of physical activity and other healthy lifestyle measures and behaviors that ultimately lead to health problems later in life. Participants And Procedure: The aim of this study was to examine the association between personality traits (HEXACO) and levels of physical activity and resting heart rate (RHR) - measured using Fitbits, BMI, and a self-reported whole-person healthy lifestyle score for N = 2580 college students. Data were collected and analyzed for students enrolled in a University Success type course from August 2017 to May 2021. The relationships between HEXACO personality traits and various physical activity and healthy lifestyle behaviors were analyzed by building several multiple regression models using R version 4.0.2. Results: In general, students who are extraverted were more physically active and students who are more open to experience had a higher RHR, even when controlling for gender. Females and males however had different profiles as to how personality influenced physical activity and other health-related measures. Male extraverts with high negative emotionality scores tend to be more physically active, whereas females tend to be more physically active when they were high in extroversion and conscientiousness, and low in openness to experience. BMI values were higher for female participants with high honesty-humility and low agreeableness and conscientiousness scores. Females also had a lower RHR for high honesty-humility and emotionality and low conscientiousness scores. CONCLUSIONS: Personality can influence levels of physical activity, RHR, and BMI. This is especially true of women. Being aware of one's personality and the relationship of personality traits to levels of physical activity and other measures of leading a healthy lifestyle can be beneficial in determining strategies to improve long-term health outcomes.

Mechanisms and benefits of cardiac rehabilitation in individuals with stroke: emerging role of its impact on improving cardiovascular and neurovascular health.

Human and animal studies have demonstrated the mechanisms and benefits of aerobic exercise for both cardiovascular and neurovascular health. Aerobic exercise induces neuroplasticity and neurophysiologic reorganization of brain networks, improves cerebral blood flow, and increases whole-body VO2peak (peak oxygen consumption). The effectiveness of a structured cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program is well established and a vital part of the continuum of care for people with cardiovascular disease. Individuals post stroke exhibit decreased cardiovascular capacity which impacts their neurologic recovery and extends disability. Stroke survivors share the same risk factors as patients with cardiac disease and can therefore benefit significantly from a comprehensive CR program in addition to neurorehabilitation to address their cardiovascular health. The inclusion of individuals with stroke into a CR program, with appropriate adaptations, can significantly improve their cardiovascular health, promote functional recovery, and reduce future cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events thereby reducing the economic burden of stroke.

Loneliness predicts decreased physical activity in widowed but not married or unmarried individuals.

Background: Physical activity is associated with improved health and function in older adults, yet most older adults are sedentary. Loneliness is associated with decreased physical activity at the cross-section, but longitudinal studies are scarce. We examined longitudinal associations between loneliness and physical activity-and whether they were modified by marital status and network size (the number of children, relatives, and friends a person interacts with at least once a month). Methods: We analyzed data from 1,931 older adults without dementia at baseline from the Rush Memory and Aging Project with a mean follow-up of 4.8 years (mean age 79.6 ± 7.7, 74.9% women). Loneliness was assessed using the de Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale. Physical activity was assessed as the frequency with which participants engaged in five categories of activities (e.g., walking, gardening, calisthenics, bicycling, and swimming). Linear mixed effects models examined associations between baseline loneliness and change in physical activity over time after adjusting for demographics, depressive symptoms, global cognition, disability, network size, marital status, social support, and social and cognitive activities. We assessed for effect modification by marital status and network size. Results: Associations between loneliness and physical activity differed by marital status. In widowed individuals, baseline loneliness was associated with a 0.06 h/week greater decrease in physical activity per year compared to those who were not lonely (p = 0.005, CI -0.1, 0.02)-which equaled a 150% decrease in physical activity per year. Loneliness did not predict a statistically significant decrease in physical activity in married or unmarried individuals. Discussion: Loneliness is associated with decreased physical activity in widowed older adults and should be considered in the design of interventions to prevent or slow the decline in physical activity and promote healthy aging.

Pre-school-based behaviour change intervention to increase physical activity levels amongst young children: a feasibility cluster randomised controlled trial.

Background: A significant rise in childhood obesity worldwide over the past three decades highlights the urgent need for early interventions, especially in preschools as key settings for child development. This study aimed to assess the feasibility and fidelity of a randomised controlled trial of "I'm an Active Hero" (IAAH), a theory- and evidence-based multi-component behaviour change intervention targeting physical activity and sedentary behaviour amongst preschool-aged children. Methods: Two preschools in Taif city, Saudi Arabia were randomly assigned to either the intervention (n = 3 classrooms) or the usual curriculum control group (n = 3 classrooms). The intervention ran for 10 weeks from February to April 2023 and consisted of teacher-led physical activity and sedentary behaviour sessions in preschools, with an additional interactive home component. Primary outcome measures included intervention fidelity, recruitment rates, attrition rates, and compliance with trial procedures. Secondary outcomes included body mass index (BMI), objectively measured physical activity, and sedentary time via the ActiGraph GT3X accelerometer. Outcomes were measured at baseline and at 10 weeks in both study arms. Results: The preschool intervention component had high fidelity (93.3%), but the home component fidelity was lower (74%). A cluster-level recruitment rate of 12% (13/112 centres) was attained, whilst the individual-level recruitment rate stood at 36% (52/143 children, mean age of 4.16 years; 23 girls). Attrition was 10%. Compliance varied with 90% for BMI, 71% for accelerometery, and 45% for questionnaires. The intervention group showed small decreases in BMI, slight increases in physical activity, and decreases in sedentary time at follow-up compared to the control group. Parents, facilitators, and assistant teachers considered the intervention to be feasible and beneficial. Conclusion: The IAAH intervention was feasible to implement in Saudi Arabian preschools. Facilitators showed high fidelity in delivering it. However, preliminary data did not demonstrate effectiveness. A more comprehensive evaluation across a broader population is warranted. The intervention could be revised to optimise recruitment, compliance, and fidelity of the home-based component. Successful elements from this pilot should be retained whilst adaptations to implementation are made to strengthen key areas.Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05754359.

Feasibility of Fit24, a Digital Diabetes Prevention Program for Hispanic Adolescents: Qualitative Evaluation Study.

BACKGROUND: Digital health interventions are promising for reaching and engaging high-risk youth in disease prevention opportunities; however, few digital prevention interventions have been developed for Hispanic youth, limiting our knowledge of these strategies among this population. OBJECTIVE: This study qualitatively assessed the feasibility and acceptability of Fit24, a 12-week goal-setting intervention that uses a Fitbit watch (Fitbit Inc) and theoretically grounded SMS text messages to promote physical activity and sleep among Hispanic adolescents (aged between 14 and 16 years) with obesity. METHODS: After completing the intervention, a subsample of youth (N=15) participated in an in-depth interview. We categorized the themes into dimensions based on participant perspectives using the Practical, Robust Implementation, and Sustainability Model (PRISM) framework. RESULTS: Participants shared positive perceptions of wearing the Fitbit and receiving SMS text messages. Youth were highly engaged in monitoring their behaviors and perceived increased activity and sleep. Almost all youth organically received social support from a peer or family member and suggested the use of a group chat or team challenge for integrating peers into future interventions. However, most youth also expressed the need to take personal responsibility for the change in their behavior. Barriers that impacted the feasibility of the study included the skin-irritating material on the Fitbit watch band and environmental barriers (eg, lack of resources and school schedules), that limited participation in activity suggestions. Additionally, sync issues with the Fitbit limited the transmission of data, leading to inaccurate feedback. CONCLUSIONS: Fit24 is a promising approach for engaging Hispanic youth in a diabetes prevention program. Strategies are needed to address technical issues with the Fitbit and environmental issues such as message timing. While integrating peer social support may be desired by some, peer support strategies should be mindful of youth's desire to foster personal motivation for behavior change. Findings from this study will inform future diabetes prevention trials of Fit24 and other digital health interventions for high-risk pediatric populations.

Usability and Utility of a Mobile App to Deliver Health-Related Content to an Older Adult Population: Pilot Noncontrolled Quasi-Experimental Study.

BACKGROUND: Digital patient-centered interventions may be important tools for improving and promoting social interaction, health, and well-being among older adults. In this regard, we developed a mobile app called DigiAdherence for an older adult population, which consisted of easy-to-access short videos and messages, to improve health-related knowledge among them and prevent common health conditions, such as falls, polypharmacy, treatment adherence, nutritional problems, and physical inactivity. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the usability and utility of the DigiAdherence app among Portuguese older adults 65 years or older. METHODS: In this pilot noncontrolled quasi-experimental study, older adults who were patients at the primary health care center in Portimão, Portugal, and owned a smartphone or tablet were recruited. Participants were assessed at baseline, given access to the DigiAdherence app for 1 month, and assessed again immediately after 30 days (first assessment) and 60 days after stopping the use of the app (second assessment). App usability and utility (primary outcomes) were analyzed in the first follow-up assessment using a structured questionnaire with 8 items. In the second follow-up assessment, our focus was on knowledge acquired through the app. Secondary outcomes such as treatment adherence and health-related quality of life were also assessed. RESULTS: The study included 26 older adults. Most participants rated the different functionalities of the app positively and perceived the app as useful, attractive, and user-friendly (median score of 6 on a 7-point Likert scale). In addition, after follow-up, participants reported having a sense of security and greater knowledge in preventing falls (16/24, 67%) and managing therapies and polypharmacy (16/26, 62%). CONCLUSIONS: The DigiAdherence mobile app was useful and highly accepted by older adults, who developed more confidence regarding health-related knowledge. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): RR2-10.2196/29675.

Alterations in Synaptic Connectivity and Synaptic Transmission in Alzheimer's Disease with High Physical Activity.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegeneration disease. Physical activity is one of the most promising modifiable lifestyles that can be effective in slowing down the progression of AD at an early stage. Objective: Explore the molecular processes impaired in AD that were conversely preserved and enhanced by physical activity. Methods: Integrated transcriptomic analyses were performed in datasets that contain AD patients and elders with different degrees of physical activity. The changes of the hub genes were validated through analyzing another two datasets. The expression of the hub genes was further detected in the hippocampus and cortexes of APP/PS1 transgenic mice with or without physical activity by Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Results: Cross-comparison highlighted 195 DEGs displaying opposed regulation patterns between AD and high physical activity (HPA). The common DEGs were predominantly involved in synaptic vesicle recycling and synaptic transmission, largely downregulated in AD patients but upregulated in the elders with HPA. Two key modules and four hub genes that were related to synaptic vesicle turnover were obtained from the PPI network. The expression of these hub genes (SYT1, SYT4, SH3GL2, and AP2M1) was significantly decreased in AD transgenic mice and was reversed by HPA training. Conclusions: HPA may reverse AD pathology by upregulating a range of synaptic vesicle transport related proteins which might improve the efficiency of synaptic vesicle turnover and facilitate inter-neuronal information transfer. The study provides novel insights into the mechanisms underlining the protective effects of HPA on AD.

Association between physical activity and functional movement screening among university students in an adaptive physical course.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity (PA) holds profound implications for the holistic development of college students. However, students with chronic diseases or physical disabilities experience significantly limited PA during adaptive sports. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the relationship between physical activity and Functional Movement Screening (FMS) among university students who participate in the adaptive physical course. METHODS: 36 university students (from the adaptive physical course) completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Long Form (IPAQ-L). Body measurements and FMS were assessed. Correlation analysis and t-tests were used to determine relationships and differences between various indicators. A two-way analysis of variance was used to investigate potential variations in FMS scores based on gender and weight status. RESULTS: The results show that gender, PA, and BMI significantly influence FMS scores in students participating in adaptive physical courses. FMS score is significantly negatively correlated with BMI and significantly positively correlated with PA. The FMS score for males, as well as the scores for Trunk Stability Push-Up and Rotary Stability, are significantly higher than those for females. CONCLUSION: University students in adaptive physical courses can benefit from increased PA and FMS scores. Improving functional movement and enhancing physical activity are crucial for promoting overall health in this population.

Greater changes in self-reported activity level are associated with decreased quality of life in patients following an anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between change in physical activity level, as defined as the change from pre-to post-operative Tegner Activity Scale, and quality of life (QOL) after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), before patients are cleared for return to sport. PARTICIPANTS: 1198 participants (42.9% male; 18.7 ± 3.6 years; 7.1 ± 3.7 months post-ACLR). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Surveys included Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score QOL (KOOS-QOL) subscale and Tegner Activity Scale. KOOS-QOL score ≥62.5 is considered as meeting a previously established patient acceptable symptom state. RESULTS: The acceptable KOOS-QOL group reported a significantly smaller decrease in activity level from pre-injury to time of data collection (median: 2.00, IQR: 2.00) than the unacceptable KOOS-QOL group (median: 3.00, IQR: 3.00). Across the full cohort, for every one-point larger decrease in Tegner score from pre-to post-ACLR, there is a 52% increase in the odds of having an unacceptable KOOS-QOL score. For adolescents, the odds increase to 60% while the odds for adults were lower at 39%. CONCLUSIONS: Following ACLR, greater decreases in physical activity level are associated with poorer QOL for both adolescents and adults at short-term follow-up, and this effect is larger amongst adolescents.

A lifestyle physical activity intervention for women in alcohol treatment: A pilot randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Compared to men, women with alcohol use disorder (AUD) are more likely to drink to manage stress and negative affect. Given women's risk for poor drinking outcomes, it is critical to develop and test interventions that target these affective factors. Physical activity improves negative affect and has emerged as a promising adjunct to AUD treatment and, thus, may be especially valuable for women. METHODS: Fifty women with AUD (49.9 ±â€¯12.0 years of age) participated in either a 12-week telephone-delivered lifestyle physical activity plus Fitbit (LPA + Fitbit) or a health education contact (HEC) control intervention following a partial hospital addictions treatment program. The study examined changes in drinking behaviors, mental health outcomes, and physical activity engagement post-intervention using both conventional test statistics and standard effect sizes. RESULTS: Higher rates of continuous abstinence during the 12-week period were observed in the LPA + Fitbit condition (55.6 %) than in the HEC condition (33.6 %); odds ratio = 2.97. However, among women who drank any alcohol during the 12-weeks, slightly higher rates of heavy drinking and drinks/day were observed among women in the LPA + Fitbit condition. Significant differences for improved mental health outcomes (including depression, anxiety, negative affect, positive affect, perceived stress, and behavioral activation) and increased self-reported physical activity were consistently observed among participants in the LPA + Fitbit condition, relative to HEC. CONCLUSIONS: The LPA + Fitbit program had a positive impact on alcohol abstinence, mental health, and physical activity in adult women receiving treatment for AUD. Future research should continue to investigate the optimal implementation strategies, duration, and intensity of LPA interventions in the context of a fully-powered RCT.

Physical activity attenuates the excess mortality risk from prolonged sitting time among adults with osteoporosis or osteopenia.

PURPOSE: Osteoporosis is a common generalized skeletal disorder characterized by compromised bone strength predisposing a person to an increased risk of fracture. This study aims to crystallize associations of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour with the survival of adults with osteoporosis or osteopenia. METHODS: A total of 3103 participants aged 50 years or older from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were included in the study. All participants were diagnosed with osteopenia or osteoporosis. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to assess the association of PA and sedentary behaviour with overall mortality, cancer-related mortality, and cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related mortality. RESULTS: During 21349 person-years of follow-up, 675 deaths were documented. Highly active participants had a lower risk of all-cause (hazard ratios [HR] = 0.61; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.42-0.87; P for trend = 0.004), cancer-specific (HR = 0.64; 95%CI, 0.35-1.17; P for trend = 0.132), CVD-specific (HR = 0.75; 95%CI, 0.45-1.25; P for trend = 0.452), and other (HR, 0.51; 95%CI, 0.29-0.88; P for trend = 0.005) mortality than inactive participants. And sitting time was not associated with mortality among physically active participants; while among those who were insufficiently active or inactive, longer sitting time was associated with increased risks of all-cause (HR per 1-h increase = 1.05; 95% CI, 1.01-1.09), cancer-specific (HR per 1 h increase = 0.98; 95% CI, 0.90-1.07), CVD-specific (HR per 1-h increase = 1.11; 95% CI = 1.04-1.18), and other (HR per 1-h increase = 1.05; 95% CI, 0.98-1.13) mortality in a dose-response manner. CONCLUSIONS: PA can attenuate the excess mortality risk from prolonged sitting for individuals with osteoporosis and/or osteopenia. The combination of prolonged sedentary behaviour with inactive (participants without any PA during a week) PA was associated with an increased risk of mortality. The all-cause mortality risk of individuals who engage in less than 150 min/wk PA and sit more than 8 h/d is 2.02 (95% CI, 1.37-2.99) times higher than that of individuals who engage in more than 150 min/wk PA and sit less than 4 h/d.

A systematic review on the associations between the built environment and adult's physical activity in global tropical and subtropical climate regions.

BACKGROUND: Physical inactivity is a major public health concern, exacerbated in countries with a (sub)tropical climate. The built environment can facilitate physical activity; however, current evidence is mainly from North American and European countries with activity-friendly climate conditions. This study explored associations between built environment features and physical activity in global tropical or subtropical dry or desert climate regions. METHODS: A systematic review of four major databases (Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and SportDISCUS) was performed. To be included, studies had to investigate associations between perceived or objective built environment characteristics and adult's physical activity and had to be conducted in a location with (sub)tropical climate. Each investigated association was reported as one case and results were synthesized based upon perceived and objectively assessed environment characteristics as well as Western and non-Western countries. Study quality was evaluated using a tool designed for assessing studies on built environment and physical activity. RESULTS: Eighty-four articles from 50 studies in 13 countries with a total of 2546 built environment-physical activity associations were included. Design (connectivity, walking/cycling infrastructure), desirability (aesthetics, safety), and destination accessibility were the built environment characteristics most frequently associated with physical activity across the domains active transport, recreational physical activity, total walking and cycling, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, particularly if multiple attributes were present at the same time. Very few studies assessed built environment attributes specifically relevant to physical activity in (sub)tropical climates. Most studies were conducted in Western countries, with results being largely comparable with non-Western countries. Findings were largely generalizable across gender and age groups. Results from natural experiments indicated that relocating to an activity-friendly neighborhood impacted sub-groups differently. CONCLUSIONS: Built environment attributes, including destination accessibility, connectivity, walking and cycling infrastructure, safety, and aesthetics, are positively associated with physical activity in locations with (sub)tropical climate. However, few studies focus on built environment attributes specifically relevant in a hot climate, such as shade or indoor recreation options. Further, there is limited evidence from non-Western countries, where most of the urban population lives in (sub)tropical climates. Policy makers should focus on implementing activity-friendly environment attributes to create sustainable and climate-resilient cities.

Longitudinal study of changes in greenness exposure, physical activity and sedentary behavior in the ORISCAV-LUX cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Greenness exposure has been associated with many health benefits, for example through the pathway of providing opportunities for physical activity (PA). Beside the limited body of longitudinal research, most studies overlook to what extent different types of greenness exposures may be associated with varying levels of PA and sedentary behavior (SB). In this study, we investigated associations of greenness characterized by density, diversity and vegetation type with self-reported PA and SB over a 9-year period, using data from the ORISCAV-LUX study (2007-2017, n = 628). METHODS: The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) short form was used to collect PA and SB outcomes. PA was expressed as MET-minutes/week and log-transformed, and SB was expressed as sitting time in minutes/day. Geographic Information Systems (ArcGIS Pro, ArcMap) were used to collect the following exposure variables: Tree Cover Density (TCD), Soil-adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI), and Green Land Use Mix (GLUM). The exposure variables were derived from publicly available sources using remote sensing and cartographic resources. Greenness exposure was calculated within 1000m street network buffers around participants' exact residential address. RESULTS: Using Random Effects Within-Between (REWB) models, we found evidence of negative within-individual associations of TCD with PA (ß = - 2.60, 95% CI - 4.75; - 0.44), and negative between-individual associations of GLUM and PA (ß = - 2.02, 95% CI - 3.73; - 0.32). There was no evidence for significant associations between greenness exposure and SB. Significant interaction effects by sex were present for the associations between TCD and both PA and SB. Neighborhood socioeconomic status (NSES) did not modify the effect of greenness exposure on PA and SB in the 1000 m buffer. DISCUSSION: Our results showed that the relationship between greenness exposure and PA depended on the type of greenness measure used, which stresses the need for the use of more diverse and complementary greenness measures in future research. Tree vegetation and greenness diversity, and changes therein, appeared to relate to PA, with distinct effects among men and women. Replication studies are needed to confirm the relevance of using different greenness measures to understand its' different associations with PA and SB.

A blended face-to-face and eHealth lifestyle intervention on physical activity, diet, and health outcomes in Hong Kong community-dwelling older adults: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Aging individuals are vulnerable to various Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs). Different behaviors are closely related to a decreased risk of suffering from NCDs: sufficient Physical Activity (PA) (e.g., at least 150 mins Moderate-to-vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA) per week) and a healthy daily diet (e.g., at least five portions of Fruit and Vegetable Intake (FVI), 5-6 taels (189.0-226.8 g) Meat, Fish, Egg and Alternatives (MFEA)). Traditional face-to-face interventions were effective in behavior change. However, it was revealed to be resource-intensive and limited transfer due to poor self-regulation skills outside of face-to-face sessions. Thus, eHealth could be a supplement for older adults outside traditional face-to-face settings. The blended approach combining these two interventions might optimize the intervention effects on lifestyle behavior initiation and maintenance, but little research can be found among Hong Kong older adults. Therefore, the study aims to test a blended intervention to promote PA, diet, and health outcomes among Hong Kong community-dwelling older adults. Methods: This study will adopt a 10-week three-arm randomized controlled trial. The blended group will receive weekly (1) two 60-min face-to-face sessions with one for PA and one for diet, and (2) two web-based sessions with one for PA and one for diet. The face-to-face group will receive the same intervention content as the face-to-face sessions in the blended group. The control condition will receive a biweekly telephone call. The outcomes will include MVPA (minutes/week), FVI (portions/day), MFEA consumption (taels/day), social-cognitive factors (self-efficacy, planning, social support, action control), physical health outcomes (clinical indicators, senior physical fitness), mental health outcomes (depression, loneliness) and health-related quality of life. Data collection will be implemented at the pre-test, post-test, and 3-month follow-up test. Discussion: This is the first study evaluating a blended intervention promoting multiple health behaviors among Hong Kong community-dwelling older adults. If the effect of the blended intervention is superior to the traditional face-to-face group and the control group, it will enrich lifestyle intervention approaches and can be applied to older adults, helping them obtain health benefits. Furthermore, a better understanding of mechanisms will also have implications for theory-building. Clinical trial registration: https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN32329348, ISRCTN32329348.

Association between meeting 24-h movement guidelines and health in children and adolescents aged 5-17 years: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Twenty-four-hour movement behaviors have significant implications for physical and mental health throughout one's lifespan. Consistent with movement behaviors, several countries have formulated and published 24-h movement guidelines. This review summarized the studies related to 24-h movement guidelines among children and adolescents from six databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, and SPORTDiscus). In a total of 61 studies that discussed compliance with 24-h movement guidelines, the overall adherence rate was very low (7.1%), with boys exceeding girls, children surpassing adolescents, and regional differences. A total of 39 studies examined the associations between 24-h movement guidelines and health indicators. Findings indicated that meeting all three guidelines was favorably associated with adiposity, cardiometabolic health, mental and social health, physical fitness, health-related quality of life, academic achievement, cognitive development, perceived health, dietary patterns, and myopia. Future research should utilize longitudinal and experimental designs to enhance our understanding of the associations between 24-h movement guidelines and health indicators, thereby aiding the formulation and refinement of such guidelines. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, CRD42023481230.

Optimizing the physical activity intervention for older adults with mild cognitive impairment: a factorial randomized trial.

Background: Physical activity (PA) intervention is one of the most effective interventions to promote cognitive function of older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). However, the level of PA remains low. Based on the two core interventions (X-CircuiT and health education), this study aimed to examine the effect of three implementation strategies (viz., role modeling, goal-setting, and reminding) on the PA level among older adults with MCI using the multiphase optimization strategy (MOST). Methods: Participants were randomized into one of eight conditions in a factorial design involving three factors with two levels: (i) role modeling (on vs. off); (ii) goal-setting (on vs. off); and (iii) reminding (on vs. off). The primary outcome was PA level at 12 weeks. The secondary outcomes were cognitive function, self-efficacy, and cost-effectiveness at 12 weeks. The intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis was performed as the main analysis and the per-protocol (PP) analysis as the sensitivity analysis. Results: A total of 107 participants were included and randomly assigned into three groups, each receiving different implementation strategies. The results of the multivariate regression analysis showed that the three implementation strategies, namely, reminding (B = 0.31, p < 0.01), role modeling (B = 0.21, p < 0.01), and goal-setting (B = 0.19, p < 0.01), could significantly improve PA level. Specifically, it was found that role modeling (B = 0.68, p = 0.03) could significantly improve cognitive function. There were no significant interactions among the three implementation strategies. Role modeling was the most cost-effective strategy, costing 93.41 RMB for one unit of PA. Conclusions: Role modeling was likely to be the best implementation strategy. The value-based and cost-effective PA intervention package could include the core intervention (X-CircuiT and health education) and implementation strategy (role modeling). Clinical Trial Registration: https://www.chictr.org.cn, The study was retrospectively registered on 30 June 2022 (ChiCTR2200061693).

The relationship between attitude toward physical activity and weight gain in children and young adolescence.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between attitudes toward physical activity and weight gain among children and young adolescents with an additional focus on the impact of gender on these attitudes. Methods: Employing a descriptive survey method, data were systematically gathered via purposive sampling from 11 specific cities in Türkiye, ensuring representation from all seven regions. A total of 3,138 students, aged between 9 and 14 years, participated in this study, with a distribution of 46% girls and 54% boys. To assess the attitudes of children and young adolescents toward physical activity, the Youth Physical Activity Attitude Scale was utilized. Height and body weight measurements were taken to determine the body mass index of participants. SPSS 26.0 software facilitated the statistical analyses, including Pearson correlation analysis to explore relationships between variables. Multivariate Analysis of Variance was employed to evaluate the impact of age, BMI, and gender on attitudes toward physical activity. Results: Participants classified as normal weight exhibited a more positive attitude towards physical activity compared to their obese and overweight counterparts. Moreover, a significant gender difference emerged, with boys demonstrating significantly higher positive attitudes toward physical activity than girls. However, no significant difference was observed in negative attitudes based on gender. The study also revealed that an escalation in negative attitudes towards physical activity correlated with students being categorized as underweight, overweight, or obese, as opposed to having a normal weight status. Additionally, a statistically significant divergence in both positive and negative attitudes towards physical activity was found based on age. Specifically, the results indicated that students aged 9 and 14 exhibited lower levels of positive attitude when contrasted with their counterparts of different age groups. Conversely, in the domain of negative attitudes, students at the age of 9 scored higher than their peers in other age categories. Discussion: Attitudes towards physical activity can serve as a convenient indicator and guide for assessing the effectiveness of various practices or interventions aimed at promoting physical activity, with recognition of the significant gender difference in positive attitudes among children and young adolescents.

Predicting perceived quality of life through social trust, physical activity, and sense of happiness in Iran: Moderating role of gender.

Background and Aims: In Iran, few studies have addressed the moderating effect of gender on determinants of quality of life. This study aimed to determine the effect of social trust, physical activity, and sense of happiness on the perceived quality of life, considering the moderating role of gender. Methods: This was a population-based cross-sectional study. The statistical population were men and women aged 16 years and above in five western provinces of Iran. The final sample size was estimated to be 1268 people calculated through the correlation coefficient estimation formula, and finally 1185 questionnaires received. Data were analyzed using SPSS and AMOS software. Results: The mean score of quality of life among women was significantly higher than that of men (p < 0.001). The direct standardized coefficient showed that the sense of happiness (ß = 0.40), social trust (ß = 0.20), and physical activity (ß = 0.12) had a significant effect on the perceived quality of life (p < 0.001). Also, gender had a moderating role in the relationship between sense of happiness and perceived quality of life (z-score = 3.246, p < 0.001). Totally, 21% of the changes in perceived quality of life were explained by three main variables. The main variables were stronger explanatory factors in men (R = 0.26) than in women (R = 0.17). Conclusions: The final model showed that sense of happiness had the most direct effect on the perceived quality of life, moderated by gender. Considering that the quality of life among men was lower than that among women and the direct effect of happiness on quality of life was more among men than that among women, it is suggested that gender-based health promotion interventions with an emphasis on men be carried out to strengthen the sources of happiness to improve quality of life.