The Gray Matters App Targeting Health Behaviors Associated with Alzheimer’s Risk: Improvements in Intrinsic Motivation and Impact on Diet Quality and Physical Activity

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (8) ◽  
pp. 893-899
Author(s):  
Alex Schiwal ◽  
E. B. Fauth ◽  
H. Wengreen ◽  
M. Norton
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Health Behaviors ◽  
Intrinsic Motivation ◽  
Diet Quality ◽  
Gray Matters

scholarly journals Associations among Physical Activity, Diet, and Obesity Measures Change during Adolescence

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janne H. Maier ◽  
Ronald Barry
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Body Composition ◽  
Health Behaviors ◽  
Diet Quality ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Health Study ◽  
Blood Institute ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Juvenile Obesity ◽  
Positive Correlations

Background. Obesity in youth is highly prevalent. Physical activity and diet are influential in obesity development. However, there is a knowledge gap regarding links between activity and diet quality and their combined influence on obesity during adolescence.Objectives. We used five years of data from 2379 adolescent girls in the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute Growth and Health Study to evaluate the association between physical activity and diet quality during adolescence and to assess both as correlates of obesity.Design. Diet, activity, and body composition measures were evaluated pairwise for correlation. A canonical correlation analysis was used to evaluate relationships within and between variable groups. All statistics were examined for trends over time.Results. We found positive correlations between physical activity and diet quality that became stronger with age. Additionally we discovered an age-related decrease in association between obesity correlates and body composition.Conclusion. These results suggest that while health behaviors, like diet and activity, become more closely linked during growth, obesity becomes less influenced by health behaviors and other factors. This should motivate focus on juvenile obesity prevention capitalizing on the pliable framework for establishing healthy diet and physical activity patterns while impact on body composition is greatest.

scholarly journals Facets of Impulsivity in Relation to Diet Quality and Physical Activity in Adolescence

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 613
Author(s):  
Kathryn E. Smith ◽  
Jason M. Lavender ◽  
Adam M. Leventhal ◽  
Tyler B. Mason
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Los Angeles ◽  
Health Behaviors ◽  
Diet Quality ◽  
Sensation Seeking ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Negative Urgency ◽  
Unhealthy Diet

Although the construct of impulsivity has generally been found to be associated with obesity and health behaviors in adults, research among adolescents is more limited and studies have yet to elucidate which facets of impulsivity may be most salient with regard to different eating and physical activity behaviors. Therefore, the present cross-sectional study assessed facets of impulsivity, measured by the UPPS-P questionnaire, in relation to health behaviors among adolescents. A sample of 2797 high school students from Los Angeles, California completed self-report measures during the ninth grade. The UPPS-P subscales (i.e., (lack of) premeditation, sensation seeking, (lack of) perseverance, negative urgency, positive urgency) were examined as predictors of unhealthy diet quality (i.e., frequency of consumption of high-fat foods and sweet food and drinks, measured by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Quick Food Scan) and frequency of vigorous physical activity (measured by the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System). Greater sensation seeking, positive urgency, and negative urgency was associated with greater unhealthy diet quality (ps < 0.001). Greater negative urgency and lack of perseverance was associated with less frequent vigorous physical activity, whereas greater sensation seeking, lack of premeditation, and positive urgency was associated with more frequent vigorous physical activity (ps < 0.05). While negative urgency (i.e., impulsivity in the context of negative emotions) was consistently associated with poor health behaviors, other facets of impulsivity may potentiate vigorous physical activity in youth. Together these findings underscore the importance of considering the multidimensional nature of impulsivity in relation to adolescents’ health behaviors and highlight areas for future longitudinal research.

scholarly journals An Overview on the Associations between Health Behaviors and Brain Health in Children and Adolescents with Special Reference to Diet Quality

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 953 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sehrish Naveed ◽  
Timo Lakka ◽  
Eero A. Haapala
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Academic Achievement ◽  
Academic Performance ◽  
Health Behaviors ◽  
Special Reference ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Diet Quality ◽  
Fast Food ◽  
Synergistic Effects ◽  
Cardiometabolic Health

Unhealthy diet has been associated with overweight, obesity, increased cardiometabolic risk, and recently, to impaired cognition and academic performance. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the associations between health behaviors and cognition and academic achievement in children and adolescents under 18 years of age with a special reference to diet quality. Dietary patterns with a low consumption of fish, fruits, and vegetables, and high in fast food, sausages, and soft drinks have been linked to poor cognition and academic achievement. The studies on the associations between the high intake of saturated fat and red meat and low intake of fiber and high-fiber grain products with cognition are limited. The available evidence and physiological mechanisms suggest that diet may have direct, indirect, and synergistic effects on brain and cognition with physical activity, sedentary behaviors, cardiometabolic health, and sleep, but the associations have been modest. Therefore, integrating a healthy diet, physically active lifestyle, and adequate sleep may provide optimal circumstances for brain development and learning. We conclude that most of the existing literature is contained in cross-sectional studies, which therefore highlights the need for longitudinal and intervention studies on the effects of diet, physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep on cognition and academic performance.

scholarly journals Socioeconomic differences in incident metabolic syndrome in adults: the mediation of health behaviors

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
L A Hoveling ◽  
A C Liefbroer ◽  
U Bültmann ◽  
N Smidt
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Metabolic Syndrome ◽  
Health Behaviors ◽  
Diet Quality ◽  
Alcohol Drinking ◽  
Minor Role ◽  
Occupational Prestige ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
A Minor

Abstract Introduction The incidence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) strongly varies by socioeconomic status (SES). Health behaviors could be one of the mechanisms explaining the SES-MetS relationship, but little is known about their mediating role. This study aims to longitudinally asses the association between SES measures, education, income and occupational prestige, and incident MetS and whether the associations are mediated by health behaviors, including physical activity, smoking, alcohol drinking and diet quality. Methods A subsample of the adult Lifelines Cohort Study, including 85,910 participants without MetS at baseline was used. MetS was measured at the second assessment (follow-up time 3.8 years) defined according to the NCEP-ATPIII criteria. Direct associations between SES, health behaviors and incident MetS were estimated using multivariable logistic regression analyses. The mediating percentages of health behaviors explaining the associations between SES and incident MetS were estimated using the Karlson-Holm-Breen method. Analyses were independent of age, sex, the other SES measures and follow-up time. Results Education (OR 0.92, 99% CI: 0.91-0.94) and occupational prestige (OR 0.94, 99% CI: 0.91-0.97) were inversely associated with MetS. Income was not associated with MetS. Health behaviors explained only partly (13.8%) the association between education and MetS, with smoking as the strongest mediating factor (8.6%). Health behaviors played a minor role (2.7%) in explaining occupational MetS differences, with physical activity as the strongest suppressing factor (-10.4%). Conclusions Individuals with more years of education or a higher occupational prestige showed a decreased risk of developing MetS. This was mainly because of non-smoking, less often excessive alcohol drinking and a higher diet quality; however, they were more often physically inactive. Key messages Education and occupational prestige are inversely associated with MetS incidence. Health behaviors explain a small part of the SES – MetS incidence pathway, with smoking as the largest contributor.

scholarly journals The Importance of Psychosocial Aspects in the Formation of New Healthy Lifestyle Habits in Adult Women: A Qualitative Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (120) ◽  
pp. 45-55
Author(s):  
Gabrielė Palevičiūtė ◽  
Sandrija Čapkauskienė ◽  
Brigita Miežienė
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Health Behaviors ◽  
Intrinsic Motivation ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Extrinsic Motivation ◽  
Healthy Lifestyle ◽  
Psychosocial Aspects ◽  
Adult Women ◽  
Nutritional Habits

Background. Healthy lifestyle is one of the main health determinants. Chronic diseases can be prevented by adopting health-related behavior and developing it into habits. Scientific literature suggests that psychosocial factors are part of people’s lives as they also affect health and health behaviors and it is important to understand them. Methods. Primary data collection method was face-to-face interview based on previous research. The main data was collected with self-reported diaries. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze the data. Data was gathered on psychosocial factors and habits of adult women. There were eight participants in the study. Results. The following psychosocial aspects related to health behaviors were encoded in the results: self-efficacy, intrinsic motivation, social support, distress and extrinsic motivation. The following emotions were encoded: joy, surprise, sadness, anger and fear. Women had similar psychosocial aspects and emotions towards new physical activity and nutritional habits. Conclusions. The findings indicated that self-efficacy was a dominant psychosocial aspect in the formation of physical activity habits. Together with intrinsic motivation, which manifested mostly after performing their chosen physical activity behavior, self-efficacy was restored in cases that women felt down about themselves. Social support and extrinsic motivation also suggested positive effect on habit formation. Emotion of joy was observed both before and after physical activity. Sadness and anger appeared when a daily task was not accomplished. Fear was not a widespread emotion among women who developed physical activity habits. Self-efficacy and intrinsic motivation were not important in nutritional habits formation. Social support was as important as extrinsic motivation for women to pursue their chosen habits. Joy was the dominant emotion for women with nutritional habits. One example of surprise was given. Sadness occurred because of unaccomplished tasks. Anger led to not performing nutritional habits. Keywords: psychosocial aspects, emotions, habits formation, adult women.

Health Behaviors at the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-61
Author(s):  
Raven H. Weaver ◽  
Alexandra Jackson ◽  
Jane Lanigan ◽  
Thomas G. Power ◽  
Alana Anderson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Health Behavior ◽  
Health Behaviors ◽  
Protective Factors ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Diet Quality ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Modifiable Factors

Objectives: We examined perceived behavior change since implementation of physical distancing restrictions and identified modifiable (self-rated health, resilience, depressive symptoms, social support and subjective wellbeing) and non-modifiable (demographics) risk/protective factors. Methods: A representative US sample (N = 362) completed an online survey about potential risk/protective factors and health behaviors prior to the pandemic and after implemented/recommended restrictions. We assessed change in perceived health behaviors prior to and following introduction of COVID-19. We conducted hierarchical linear regression to explore and identify risk/protective factors related to physical activity, diet quality, and social isolation. Results: There have been substantial decreases in physical activity and increases in sedentary behavior and social isolation, but no changes in diet quality since COVID-19. We identified modifiable and non-modifiable factors associated with each health behavior. Conclusions: Negative effects indicate the need for universal intervention to promote health behaviors. Inequalities in health behaviors among vulnerable populations may be exacerbated since COVID-19, suggesting need for targeted invention. Social support may be a mechanism to promote health behaviors. We suggest scaling out effective health behavior interventions with the same intensity in which physical distancing recommendations were implemented.

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