Impact of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity on change in renal function in patients after acute myocardial infarction.

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is associated with a decline in renal function. This study aimed to investigate the impact of engaging in moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) for more than 30 min per day on changes in renal function during the first 3 months after AMI onset. A prospective, observational study was conducted, enrolling 87 patients (75 men; average age, 65.2 ± 12.5 years) who had experienced AMI. The cystatin C-based estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFRcys) was collected at and 3 months after discharge. Daily MVPA was measured using triaxial accelerometers at a threshold of 3.0 Metabolic equivalent of the task for 3 months. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were applied to evaluate the longitudinal association between the number of days per week of MVPA for 30 min or more and within-patient changes in eGFRcys. The patients were categorized into three groups based on their MVPA engagement days: 0 days (n = 20), 1-2 days (n = 14), and 3-7 days (n = 53) groups. After adjusting for potential confounding variables, GEE analysis revealed that the eGFRcys slope over 3 months was significantly higher in the 3-7 days group than in 0 days group (B = 2.9, (95% confidence interval: 1.5-4.2), p < 0.001). Similar results were obtained when MVPA time thresholds were set to 40 and 60 min. These findings suggest a significant positive effect of engaging in MVPA for 30 min or more for 3-7 days per week in the improvement of renal function after AMI onset.

Comparing Cadence vs. Machine Learning Based Physical Activity Intensity Classifications: Variations in the Associations of Physical Activity With Mortality.

Step cadence-based and machine-learning (ML) methods have been used to classify physical activity (PA) intensity in health-related research. This study examined the association of intensity-specific PA duration with all-cause (ACM) and CVD mortality using the cadence-based and ML methods in 68 561 UK Biobank participants wearing wrist-worn accelerometers. The two-stage-ML method categorized activity type and then intensity. The one-level-cadence-method (1LC) derived intensity-specific duration using all detected steps (including standing utilitarian steps) and cadence thresholds of ≥100 steps/min (moderate intensity) and ≥130 steps/min (vigorous intensity). The two-level-cadence-method (2LC) detected ambulatory steps (i.e., walking and running) and then applied the same cadence thresholds. The 2LC exhibited the most pronounced association at the lower end of duration spectrum. For example, the 2LC showed the smallest minimum moderate-to-vigorous-PA (MVPA) duration (amount associated with 50% of optimal risk reduction) with similar corresponding ACM hazard ratio (HR) to other methods (2LC: 2.8 min/day [95% CI: 2.6, 2.8], HR: 0.83 [95% CI: 0.78, 0.88]; 1LC, 11.1[10.8, 11.4], 0.80 [0.76, 0.85]; ML, 14.9 [14.6, 15.2], 0.82 [0.76, 0.87]). The ML elicited the greatest mortality risk reduction. For example, the medians and corresponding HR in VPA-ACM association: 2LC, 2.0 min/day [95% CI: 2.0, 2.0], HR, 0.69 [95% CI: 0.61, 0.79]; 1LC, 6.9 [6.9, 7.0], 0.68 [0.60, 0.77]; ML, 3.2 [3.2, 3.2], 0.53 [0.44, 0.64]. After standardizing durations, the ML exhibited the most pronounced associations. For example, the standardized minimum durations in MPA-CVD mortality association were: 2LC, -0.77; 1LC, -0.85; ML, -0.94; with corresponding HR of 0.82 [0.72, 0.92], 0.79 [0.69, 0.90], and 0.77 [0.69, 0.85], respectively. The 2LC exhibited the most pronounced association with all-cause and CVD mortality at the lower end of the duration spectrum. The ML method provided the most pronounced association with all-cause and CVD mortality, thus might be appropriate for estimating health benefits of moderate and vigorous intensity PA in observational studies.

Physical Activity Levels During School Recess in a Nationally Representative Sample of 10- to 11-Year-Olds.

PURPOSE: School recess provides a valuable opportunity for children's daily moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA). This study aimed to quantify MVPA during school recess in a representative sample of Scottish children and examine whether recess MVPA varied by gender, socioeconomic status, season, urban/rural residency, and recess length. METHOD: Five-day accelerometry MVPA data were analyzed from 773 children (53.9% girls, 46.1% boys, 10- to 11-y-olds) from 471 schools. Binary logistic regression explored associations between meeting/not meeting the recommendation to spend 40% of recess time in MVPA and the aforementioned risk factors. Descriptive recess data were also analyzed. RESULTS: Participants spent an average of 3.2 minutes (SD 2.1) in MVPA during recess. Girls engaged in 2.5 minutes (SD 1.7) of MVPA compared with 4.0 minutes (SD 2.2) for boys. Only 6% of children met the recess MVPA recommendation. The odds of girls (odds ratio 0.09; 95% confidence interval, 0.04-0.25) meeting the recommendation was lower (P < .001) compared with boys. No statistically significant differences were observed in meeting the recommendation for the other risk factors. CONCLUSION: Levels of MVPA during school recess are very low in Scottish children, and interventions aimed at increasing MVPA during recess are needed.

Does Attraction Toward Physical Activity Predict Physical Activity Behavior in Older Adults?

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Few studies have investigated associations between the motivational outcome based on physical activity (PA) affective experiences (i.e., attraction vs. antipathy toward PA) and behavior. This study investigated cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between attraction (vs. antipathy) toward PA and device-based PA in older adults. METHODS: Older adults (n = 139; 71% female, Mage = 70.5) completed assessments of attraction (vs. antipathy) toward PA and 14 days of device-based accelerometry at Times 1 and 2. RESULTS: Greater attraction toward PA at Time 1 was associated with greater steps (ß = 5.31, p < .01) and moderate to vigorous intensity PA (ß = 3.08, p < .05) at Time 1. Greater attraction toward PA at Time 1 was not significantly associated with steps or moderate to vigorous intensity PA at Time 2. CONCLUSION: Greater emphasis on resultant motivation from PA affective experiences may be useful in promoting PA in older adults. Significance/Implications: In spite of mixed findings in the present study, there is strong evidence that positive affective responses during a single bout of PA play an important role in predicting future engagement. Yet, affective experiences during PA can be individualistic and often influenced by contextual factors. Interventions designed to increase PA should focus on factors that may create positive affective experiences for participants.

Trends in insufficient physical activity among adults in China 2010-18: a population-based study.

BACKGROUND: The global prevalence of insufficient physical activity (PA) was reported to be 27.5% in 2016, and there were stable levels of insufficient PA worldwide between 2001 and 2016. The global target of a 10% reduction in insufficient PA by 2025 will not be met if the trends remain. The relevant data for trends in China were still scarce. This study aimed to determine nationwide temporal trends in insufficient PA among adults in China from 2010 to 2018. METHODS: 645 903 adults aged 18 years or older were randomly selected from four nationally representative cross-sectional surveys of the China Chronic Disease and Risk Factor Surveillance conducted in 2010, 2013, 2015, and 2018. PA was measured using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. Temporal changes in insufficient PA prevalence and participation of domain-specific moderate- to vigorous-intensity PA (MVPA) were analyzed using logistic regression. RESULTS: From 2010 to 2018, the age-adjusted prevalence of insufficient PA in China increased from 17.9% (95% confidence interval 16.3% to 19.5%) in 2010 to 22.3% (20.9% to 23.8%) in 2018 (P for trend < 0.001). By age group, with a significant increase in insufficient PA in adults aged 18-34 years (P for trend < 0.001), which rose more rapidly than in adults aged ≥ 35 years (P for interaction < 0.001). Insufficient PA has increased significantly among adults engaged in agriculture-related work, non-manual work, and other manual work (all P for trend < 0.05). And among the occupational groups, those engaged in agriculture-related work had the fastest increase (P for interaction = 0.01). The percentage of adults participating in work-related MVPA decreased from 79.6% (77.8% to 81.5%) to 66.8% (64.9% to 68.7%) along with a decrease in time spent on work-related MVPA, while percentages of adults participating in recreation-related MVPA increased from 14.2% (12.5% to 15.9%) to 17.2% (16.0% to 18.4%) (all P for trend < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Among Chinese adults, an increasing trend was found in insufficient PA from 2010 to 2018, with more than one-fifth of adults failing to achieve the recommendation of adequate PA. More targeted PA promotion strategies should be developed to improve population health.

Joint associations of physical activity and sedentary time with body mass index: A prospective study of mortality risk.

Device-measured physical activity and sedentary time are suggested to be more important determinants of all-cause mortality compared to body mass index (BMI) in mainly older adults. However, the joint associations of physical activity and sedentary time with BMI in relation to mortality risk in relatively healthy middle-aged individuals are unclear. We followed 770 adults (56% women, mean age 55.6 years) from a population-based cohort study for up to 15.3 years. BMI categories were combined with tertiles of total, light, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and sedentary time. Cox proportional hazards models estimated hazard ratios (HR) of all-cause mortality with 95% confidence intervals (CI). High total and light intensity physical activity and low sedentary time were associated with a lower risk of mortality in normal weight individuals compared with low active overweight/obese; HR: 0.35 (CI: 0.14, 0.86), HR: 0.33 (CI: 0.12, 0.89), and HR: 0.34 (CI: 0.13, 0.92). Among overweight/obese individuals, those who were medium active in light physical activity had a lower mortality risk, HR: 0.36 (CI: 0.15, 0.83), compared with low active. Medium sedentary individuals had a lower risk, HR: 0.43 (CI: 0.20, 0.94) compared with those who were most sedentary. Associations among the most active or least sedentary tertiles were similar irrespective of BMI category. In conclusion, higher physical activity and lower sedentary time were associated with lower mortality risk irrespective of BMI. Physical activity should be promoted and prescribed to individuals with low physical activity levels irrespective of weight status.

Parent-adolescent agreement in reported moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

PURPOSE: To describe the agreement between parent- and adolescent- reports of adolescent moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) and to determine sociodemographic factors associated with MVPA reporting differences during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: We analyzed data collected in May 2020 from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (ABCD, N = 4841), a U.S. prospective cohort study. We quantified past weekly adolescent MVPA levels as reported by the parent and adolescent (referent). Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) and Bland-Altman plots were used to examine the degree of agreement between parent- and adolescent- reports. RESULTS: When quantifying adolescent MVPA during the same recall period, median (p25, p75) MVPA (h∙wk.- 1) was 2.17 (0.00, 6.00) as reported by adolescents and 1.52 (0.29, 4.75) by parents with a mean difference of 4.89. Statistically significant differences in reports of MVPA were found in households with income > $75,000: on average, adolescents reported higher MVPA levels than their parents. Bland-Altman plots illustrated that, among adolescents reporting no or little MVPA, there was higher parent-adolescent agreement. However, among adolescents reporting high levels of MVPA, there was less agreement between the parent- and adolescent- reports. CONCLUSIONS: Despite more time spent together at home during the pandemic, there was generally low agreement between parent- and adolescent- reports of adolescent MVPA. Future research could examine parent-adolescent agreement of MVPA within the context of device-based measures (e.g., accelerometers), determine reasons for differences in parent-adolescent reporting of MVPA, and inform interventions for improved parental involvement and monitoring of MVPA.

Results from the Japan 2022 report card on physical activity for children and youth.

Background/Objective: The 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympic was held in 2021, although postponed due to the spread of COVID-19. This event might have an impact on physical activity (PA) of children and adolescents, but the national data on PA during the pandemic were not available. Therefore, the goal of the 2022 Japan Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth (The 2022 Japan Report Card) is to assess and track levels of health behaviors related to PA, and health outcomes in Japanese children and adolescents, and environments and government strategy for PA just before the pandemic. Methods: The 2022 Japan Report Card consists of health behaviors and outcomes (8 indicators), and influences on health behaviors (4 indicators). Nationally representative data were used to score the indicators. Results: The key five health behaviors and outcomes (Overall PA: B-; Organized Sport: B-; Active Transportation: A-; Physical fitness: B, Weight status: A) were favorable. Sedentary Behavior and Sleep received C- and D- grades, respectively. Active Play could not be graded (INC). In the influences domain, Family and Peers was graded as C-, while School (B+), Community and Environment (B), and Government (B) were favorable. Conclusions: The 2022 Japan Report Card shows that Japanese children and adolescents had favorable levels of overall PA, active transportation to and from school, and weight status, and there was a generally favorable environment for PA and health, though sedentary behavior and sleep were unfavorable. Future nationally representative surveys on active play are needed.

The Use of Digital Platforms for Adults' and Adolescents' Physical Activity During the COVID-19 Pandemic (Our Life at Home): Survey Study.

BACKGROUND: Government responses to managing the COVID-19 pandemic may have impacted the way individuals were able to engage in physical activity. Digital platforms are a promising way to support physical activity levels and may have provided an alternative for people to maintain their activity while at home. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine associations between the use of digital platforms and adherence to the physical activity guidelines among Australian adults and adolescents during the COVID-19 stay-at-home restrictions in April and May 2020. METHODS: A national online survey was distributed in May 2020. Participants included 1188 adults (mean age 37.4 years, SD 15.1; 980/1188, 82.5% female) and 963 adolescents (mean age 16.2 years, SD 1.2; 685/963, 71.1% female). Participants reported demographic characteristics, use of digital platforms for physical activity over the previous month, and adherence to moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) and muscle-strengthening exercise (MSE) guidelines. Multilevel logistic regression models examined differences in guideline adherence between those who used digital platforms (ie, users) to support their physical activity compared to those who did not (ie, nonusers). RESULTS: Digital platforms include streaming services for exercise (eg, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook); subscriber fitness programs, via an app or online (eg, Centr and MyFitnessPal); facilitated online live or recorded classes, via platforms such as Zoom (eg, dance, sport training, and fitness class); sport- or activity-specific apps designed by sporting organizations for participants to keep up their skills (eg, TeamBuildr); active electronic games (eg, Xbox Kinect); and/or online or digital training or racing platforms (eg, Zwift, FullGaz, and Rouvy). Overall, 39.5% (469/1188) of adults and 26.5% (255/963) of adolescents reported using digital platforms for physical activity. Among adults, MVPA (odds ratio [OR] 2.0, 95% CI 1.5-2.7), MSE (OR 3.3, 95% CI 2.5-4.5), and combined (OR 2.7, 95% CI 2.0-3.8) guideline adherence were higher among digital platform users relative to nonusers. Adolescents' MVPA (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.3-4.3), MSE (OR 3.1, 95% CI 2.1-4.4), and combined (OR 4.3, 95% CI 2.1-9.0) guideline adherence were also higher among users of digital platforms relative to nonusers. CONCLUSIONS: Digital platform users were more likely than nonusers to meet MVPA and MSE guidelines during the COVID-19 stay-at-home restrictions in April and May 2020. Digital platforms may play a critical role in helping to support physical activity engagement when access to facilities or opportunities for physical activity outside the home are restricted.

Physical activity is positively associated with college students' positive affect regardless of stressful life events during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The study was designed to determine associations between physical activity (PA) and affect before and during COVID-19 stay-at-home orders and how change in PA predicted change in affect during this time. Before and during COVID-19 stay-at-home orders, college students (n = 107) completed assessments of PA, positive and negative affect, sleep quality, food insecurity, and stressful life events (during stay-at-home order only). Total minutes of PA was positively associated with positive affect before (B = 0.01, p < 0.01) and during (B = 0.01, p = 0.01) COVID-19 stay-at-home orders. Change in minutes of PA was positively associated with change in positive affect (B = 0.01, p = 0.01). Associations between PA and positive affect were not moderated by stressful life events. PA only predicted negative affect before COVID-19 stay-at-home orders (B = -0.003, p = 0.04). PA appears to enhance positive affect during a global pandemic. Findings have implications for PA as a tool for maintaining or enhancing mental health during a time of trauma and uncertainty.

Inequalities in participation and time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity: a pooled analysis of the cross-sectional health surveys for England 2008, 2012, and 2016.

BACKGROUND: Evidence is unclear on whether inequalities in average levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) reflect differences in participation, differences in the amount of time spent active, or both. Using self-reported data from 24,882 adults (Health Survey for England 2008, 2012, 2016), we examined gender-specific inequalities in these separate aspects for total and domain-specific MVPA. METHODS: Hurdle models accommodate continuous data with excess zeros and positive skewness. Such models were used to assess differences between income groups in three aspects: (1) the probability of doing any MVPA, (2) the average hours/week spent in MVPA, and (3) the average hours/week spent in MVPA conditional on participation (MVPA-active). Inequalities were summarised on the absolute scale using average marginal effects (AMEs) after confounder adjustment. RESULTS: Inequalities were robust to adjustment in each aspect for total MVPA and for sports/exercise. Differences between adults in high-income versus low-income households in sports/exercise MVPA were 2.2 h/week among men (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.6, 2.8) and 1.7 h/week among women (95% CI: 1.3, 2.1); differences in sports/exercise MVPA-active were 1.3 h/week (95% CI: 0.4, 2.1) and 1.0 h/week (95% CI: 0.5, 1.6) for men and women, respectively. Heterogeneity in associations was evident for the other domains. For example, adults in high-income versus low-income households were more likely to do any walking (men: 13.0% (95% CI: 10.3, 15.8%); women: 10.2% (95% CI: 7.6, 12.8%)). Among all adults (including those who did no walking), the average hours/week spent walking showed no difference by income. Among those who did any walking, adults in high-income versus low-income households walked on average 1 h/week less (men: - 0.9 h/week (95% CI: - 1.7, - 0.2); women: - 1.0 h/week (95% CI: - 1.7, - 0.2)). CONCLUSIONS: Participation and the amount of time that adults spend in MVPA typically favours those in high-income households. Monitoring inequalities in MVPA requires assessing different aspects of the distribution within each domain. Reducing inequalities in sports/exercise requires policy actions and interventions to move adults in low-income households from inactivity to activity, and to enable those already active to do more. Measures to promote walking should focus efforts on reducing the sizeable income gap in the propensity to do any walking.

Prevalence and correlates of adherence to movement guidelines among urban and rural children in Mozambique: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Insufficient physical activity, short sleep duration, and excessive recreational screen time are increasing globally. Currently, there are little to no data describing prevalences and correlates of movement behaviours among children in low-middle-income countries. The few available reports do not include both urban and rural respondents, despite the large proportion of rural populations in low-middle-income countries. We compared the prevalence of meeting 24-h movement guidelines and examined correlates of meeting the guidelines in a sample of urban and rural Mozambican schoolchildren. METHODS: This is cross-sectional study of 9-11 year-old children (n = 683) recruited from 10 urban and 7 rural schools in Mozambique. Moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) and sleep duration were measured by waist-worn Actigraph GT3X+ accelerometers. Accelerometers were worn 24 h/day for up to 8 days. Recreational screen time was self-reported. Potential correlates of meeting 24-h movement guidelines were directly measured or obtained from validated items of context-adapted questionnaires. Multilevel multivariable logit models were used to determine the correlates of movement behaviours. Meeting 24-h movement guidelines was defined as ≥60 min/day of MVPA, ≤2 h/day of recreational screen time, and between 9 and 11 h/night of sleep. RESULTS: More rural (17.7%) than urban (3.6%) children met all three 24-h movement guidelines. Mean MVPA was lower (82.9 ± 29.5 min/day) among urban than rural children (96.7 ± 31.8 min/day). Rural children had longer sleep duration (8.9 ± 0.7 h/night) and shorter recreational screen time (2.7 ± 1.9 h/day) than their urban counterparts (8.7 ± 0.9 h/night and 5.0 ± 2.3 h/day respectively). Parental education (OR: 0.37; CI: 0.16-0.87), school location (OR: 0.21; CI: 0.09-0.52), and outdoor time (OR: 0.67; CI: 0.53-0.85) were significant correlates of meeting all three 24-h movement guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence and correlates of meeting movement guidelines differed between urban and rural schoolchildren in Mozambique. On average, both groups had higher daily MVPA minutes, shorter sleep duration, and higher recreational screen time than the 24-h movement guidelines recommend. These findings (e.g., higher than recommended mean daily MVPA minutes) differ from those from high-income countries and highlight the need to sample from both urban and rural areas.

Do fluctuations in positive affective and physical feeling states predict physical activity and sedentary time?

OBJECTIVES: Higher levels of positive affect and feelings of energy and vitality are associated with greater physical activity (PA) and lower sedentary time (ST). However, whether fluctuations in these feelings contribute to the regulation of these behaviors is unclear. This study examined the extent to which within-person variability in positive affect and feeling energetic predicted participants' overall levels of PA and ST. DESIGN: This analysis combined data from four ecological momentary assessment (EMA) studies (agerange: 8-73 years) with ambulatory monitoring via waist-worn accelerometry (N=661). METHODS: Positive affect and energy were assessed through EMA several times per day across 4-7 days. Accelerometer data was used to create the following behavioral outcomes: (1) meeting MVPA guidelines (children: 60 minutes/day, adults: 30 minutes/day) and (2) minutes of ST per hour of accelerometer wear. A two-stage analytic approach was used to test the study aim. In the first stage, Mixed-Effects Location Scale Modeling decomposed mean levels and variability in positive affect and energy. In the second stage, a linear or logistic regression (depending on whether the outcome was continuous or dichotomous, respectively) was tested to investigate associations between subject-level mean and variability in EMA ratings and the behavioral outcome. RESULTS: Greater subject-level variability but not subject-level mean of feeling energetic was associated with lower odds of meeting MVPA guidelines (ß=-0.43, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Fluctuations in physical feeling states may deplete self-regulatory resources involved in planning and implementing PA behavior. Alternatively, being more physically active may stabilize one's perceived energy levels.

Associations of Accelerometer-Measured and Self-Reported Sedentary Time With Leukocyte Telomere Length in Older Women.

Few studies have assessed the association of sedentary time with leukocyte telomere length (LTL). In a cross-sectional study conducted in 2012-2013, we examined associations of accelerometer-measured and self-reported sedentary time with LTL in a sample of 1,481 older white and African-American women from the Women's Health Initiative and determined whether associations varied by level of moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA). The association between sedentary time and LTL was evaluated using multiple linear regression models. Women were aged 79.2 (standard deviation, 6.7) years, on average. Self-reported sedentary time was not associated with LTL. In a model adjusting for demographic characteristics, lifestyle behaviors, and health-related factors, among women at or below the median level of accelerometer-measured MVPA, those in the highest quartile of accelerometer-measured sedentary time had significantly shorter LTL than those in the lowest quartile, with an average difference of 170 base pairs (95% confidence interval: 4, 340). Accelerometer-measured sedentary time was not associated with LTL in women above the median level of MVPA. Findings suggest that, on the basis of accelerometer measurements, higher sedentary time may be associated with shorter LTL among less physically active women.

Parental characteristic patterns associated with maintaining healthy physical activity behavior during childhood and adolescence.

BACKGROUND: Parental characteristics that influence child physical activity (PA) behavior often co-occur. An analytic approach that considers these co-occurring patterns can help researchers better understand the overall context of parental influence. The study aims were to: (1) identify diverse patterns of the relationships among parental characteristics, (2) examine the influence of these parental patterns on child sport participation and moderate-to vigorous-intensity PA (MVPA) trajectories during childhood and adolescence, and (3) examine whether family support mediates the influence of the parental patterns on child sport participation and MVPA trajectories. METHODS: We used data from 408 Iowa Bone Development Study cohort families (97% Caucasians; 65 % mothers with a 4-year college degree). From ages 5 to 19 years, the cohort participated in seven accelerometry assessments, reported sports participation every 6 months, and reported perceived family support for PA at age 15. Parents reported family income, education level, and regular PA participation in high school and adulthood. Structural equation modeling was conducted to identify the latent classes represented among these parental characteristics. Sex-adjusted multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to predict sports participation trajectories and MVPA trajectories by latent class and family support. RESULTS: Three parent latent classes were identified: higher family socioeconomic status (SES) and regular PA in both high school and adulthood by both the father and mother (Group 1); lower family SES and regular PA in high school by the father (Group 2); and lower family SES and no regular PA in high school by the father (Group 3). Sex-adjusted ORs of the "drop-out from sports participation" pattern for the children in Groups 1 and 2, compared to Group 3, were 0.38 (95% CI = 0.20, 0.72) and 0.51 (95% CI = 0.26, 1.00), respectively. Sex-adjusted ORs of the "decreasing from moderate MVPA" pattern for the children in Groups 1 and 2, compared to Group 3, were 0.29 (95% CI = 0.11, 0.75) and 1.16 (95% CI = 0.40, 3.37), respectively. Adding family support to the logistic regression model only slightly changed the ORs. CONCLUSIONS: The findings from this study suggest that among lower SES families, the father's role may be important to promote youth to sustain sports participation.

The association of socioeconomic status with sedentary behaviour and moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity among children with intellectual disability.

Background: While socioeconomic status (SES) has been shown to be an important determinant of sedentary behaviour (SB) and moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) in typically developing children, similar data on those with intellectual disability (ID) are lacking. This study explored the association of SES with SB and MVPA among Chinese children with ID. Method: Data were collected from 275 children aged 7-16 with mild to severe ID. Children's Leisure Activities Study Survey assessed SB and MVPA for a week. SES was assessed using the six indicators. Multiple linear regression was used to analyse the associations of SES variables with SB and MVPA on schooldays and on weekends. Results: Parental education level was positively associated with SB on weekends, and MVPA on schooldays and weekends; family's combined annual income was positively associated MVPA on schooldays and weekends; parental occupation was positively associated with SB on schooldays and weekends; Family Affluence Scale was positively associated with SB on schooldays (all p < 0.05). Conclusion: SES plays a significant role in influencing SB and MVPA in children with ID. Results suggest that interventions should focus on increasing MVPA for children with lower SES, while families with higher SES should limit their children's SB.

Combined effects of sleep and objectively-measured daily physical activity on arterial stiffness in middle-aged and older adults.

Although sleep quality and physical activity (PA) may influence on arterial stiffness, the combined effects of these two factors on arterial stiffness remain unknown. A total of 103 healthy middle-aged and older men and women (aged 50-83 years) with no history of cardiovascular disease and depression were included in this study. Arterial stiffness was measured using carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), brachial-ankle PWV (baPWV), and femoral-ankle PWV (faPWV). Poor sleepers were defined as those with a Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score of >5.5. Using an accelerometer for seven consecutive days, low levels of PA were defined as low moderate-to-vigorous-intensity PA (MVPA) <19.0 min/day and low step counts <7100 steps/day, respectively. Poor sleepers with low PA levels, as determined by MVPA and daily steps, showed higher cfPWV, but not faPWV or baPWV, in middle-aged and older adults. Furthermore, in the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) analyses adjusted for age, obesity, dyslipidemia, and sedentary behavior, the cfPWV result remained significant. Our study revealed that the coexistence of poor sleep quality and decreased PA (low MVPA or daily steps) might increase central arterial stiffness in middle-aged and older adults. Therefore, adequate sleep (good and sufficient sleep quality) and regular PA, especially at appropriate levels of MVPA (i.e., at least of 7100 steps/day), should be encouraged to decrease central arterial stiffness in middle-aged and older adults.

Effects of Moderate-to-Vigorous Acute Exercise on Conscious Perception and Visual Awareness.

Background: the effect of acute exercise on cognition covers almost all stages of information processing, but few studies have focused on visual awareness. Reports on the appearance of faint speed-changes in the perception of stimuli were used as an index for visual awareness. Visual awareness was assessed after exercise or rest. Aside from the detection of speed-changes, speed-change discrimination was added as an index of perception. Results: the results showed that reports on the appearance of faint speed-changes were affected by acute aerobic exercise. The d' index was higher after exercise. The hit rate for speed-change detection was marginally significantly higher after exercise than after the sedentary test condition. Analysis of the results obtained for the discrimination task showed that discrimination speed was boosted only when subjects were aware of the speed-change. Importantly, neither false alarm rate nor response bias was affected by exercise. Conclusions: acute moderate- to vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise improved subjects' awareness of speed changes. In addition, there was a perceptual advantage due to exercise.

Moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity levels of children with intellectual disability during physical education classes.

Background: Physical education (PE) class is an excellent way to improve moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA). Increasing number of research has explored the children's PA based on movement during PE classes, but data for children with intellectual disability (ID) is still lacking. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the current status of MVPA levels of children with ID during PE classes in China, as well as differences of MVPA levels according to gender and grade. Methods: Accelerometers were used to record MVPA levels of fifty-three children with severe ID from 9 to 16 years of age (mean age: 12.60 ± 1.66 years) during standard PE classes. Results: The mean time spent in MVPA during PE classes was 8.00 ± 2.10 min, meaning only 22.88% of PE class time was spent in MVPA. As grade levels progresses, time spent in MVPA during PE classes tended to decrease; the fourth-grade children tended to spend more time in MVPA during PE classes compared with the fifth-grade and the sixth-grade (9.15 vs. 7.61 vs. 7.25 min, all p < 0.05). Boys spend significantly more time in MVPA during PE classes than girls; both in the entire sample (9.20 vs. 5.70 min) as well as in each grade (9.76 vs. 6.09 min, 9.35 vs. 5.68 min, 8.31 vs. 5.59 min, all p < 0.05). Conclusion: Findings from this study indicate that the proportion of PE class spent in the MVPA of children with ID was lower than the 50% recommended by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and U.K. Association for Physical Education (AfPE). And the amount of MVPA participation varied by the grade and gender as well as by the activity performed. Therefore, in order to help children with ID achieve MVPA goals, educators need to reevaluate the PE curriculum as well as take due consideration of grade and gender when devising new content.

Association of life-space with light-intensity and moderate to vigorous-intensity physical activity in older adults using daycare rehabilitation facilities.

BACKGROUND: The use of assistive devices and the presence of caregivers in the living space of older people using daycare rehabilitation facilities may increase their physical activity. However, the exact relationship between these factors and physical activity has not been well established. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to examine whether assistive devices and caregivers were life-space factors associated with light-intensity physical activity (LPA) and moderate to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) among daycare rehabilitation facility users. METHODS: Forty-seven daycare rehabilitation facility users were recruited (mean age: 76.5 ± 8.6 years; men: 16; women: 31). LPA and MVPA were measured using accelerometers and averaged over 7 days. Life-space assessment (LSA) and the Geriatric Depression Scale score were assessed. The LSA includes composite life-space, maximal life-space (LS-M), life-space using equipment (LS-E), and independent life-space. Grip strength and maximum gait speed were measured two times, and the best results were used. RESULTS: Multiple regression analysis showed that LPA was significantly associated with sex (ß = 0.773), grip strength (ß = 0.434), and LS-M (ß = 0.325), whereas MVPA was significantly associated with age (ß = -0.421) and LS-E (ß = 0.455). CONCLUSION: A close association was found between LS-M and LS-E and the intensity of physical activity in older people who used daycare rehabilitation facilities.