Changes over time in mental well-being, fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity in a community-based lifestyle intervention: a before and after study

BackgroundPoor mental well-being is a major issue for young people and is likely to have long-term negative consequences. The contribution of nutrition is underexplored. We, therefore, investigated the association between dietary choices and mental well-being among schoolchildren.MethodsData from 7570 secondary school and 1253 primary school children in the Norfolk Children and Young People Health and Well-being Survey, open to all Norfolk schools during October 2017, were analysed. Multivariable linear regression was used to measure the association between nutritional factors and mental well-being assessed by the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale for secondary school pupils, or the Stirling Children’s Well-being Scale for primary school pupils. We adjusted all analyses for important covariates including demographic, health variables, living/home situation and adverse experience variables.ResultsIn secondary school analyses, a strong association between nutritional variables and well-being scores was apparent. Higher combined fruit and vegetable consumption was significantly associated with higher well-being: well-being scores were 3.73 (95% CI 2.94 to 4.53) units higher in those consuming five or more fruits and vegetables (p<0.001; n=1905) compared with none (n=739). The type of breakfast or lunch consumed was also associated with significant differences in well-being score. Compared with children consuming a conventional type of breakfast (n=5288), those not eating any breakfast had mean well-being scores 2.73 (95% CI 2.11 to 3.35) units lower (p<0.001; n=1129) and those consuming only an energy drink had well-being scores 3.14 (95% CI 1.20 to 5.09) units lower (p=0.002; n=91). Likewise, children not eating any lunch had well-being scores 2.95 (95% CI 2.22 to 3.68) units lower (p<0.001; 860) than those consuming a packed lunch (n=3744). In primary school analyses, the type of breakfast or lunch was associated with significant differences in well-being scores in a similar way to those seen in secondary school data, although no significant association with fruit and vegetable intake was evident.ConclusionThese findings suggest that public health strategies to optimise the mental well-being of children should include promotion of good nutrition.

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Fit “N” Cool Kids: The Effects of Character Modeling and Goal Setting on Children’s Physical Activity and Fruit and Vegetable Consumption

Clinical Medicine Insights Pediatrics ◽

10.1177/1179556518784296 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

pp. 117955651878429 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jessyka N Larson ◽

Timothy A Brusseau ◽

Heidi Wengreen ◽

Stuart J Fairclough ◽

Maria M Newton ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Goal Setting ◽

Vegetable Consumption ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

Fruit And Vegetable Consumption ◽

Control Group ◽

Fruit And Vegetable ◽

Children’S Physical Activity ◽

Over Time

Efforts to decrease the risk of overweight and obesity should focus on children’s physical activity (PA) and fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption. Within school-based interventions, there is insufficient evidence on the effectiveness of the use of character modeling and goal setting to determine changes in step counts, MVPA, and FV consumption. Study participants were 187 students in grades 4 and 5 from 2 Title 1 elementary schools in the Southwest United States. The intervention was a quasi-experimental character modeling and goal setting program. New Lifestyles NL-1000 activity monitors were used to assess number of steps taken and MVPA by the participants. Fruit and vegetable consumption was measured by direct observation. School day steps, MVPA, and FV consumption were recorded at baseline, intervention, and during a 10-week follow-up. There were not differences between groups at baseline. Steps and MVPA were statistically significantly ( P < .05; Δ = ~2500 steps and ~5 minutes of MVPA) greater in the intervention compared with the control group over time. Fruit and vegetable consumption was not significantly ( P = .308) greater in the intervention compared with the control group over time. Students in the intervention school were significantly more active than students in the control school during the intervention phase and at follow-up. The findings reported here would suggest that character modeling and goal setting can increase PA among elementary aged children but did not increase FV consumption.

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The effect a of community-based social marketing campaign on recruitment and retention of low-income groups into physical activity programmes - a controlled before-and-after study

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/1471-2458-12-836 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Janet Withall ◽

Russell Jago ◽

Kenneth R Fox

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Social Marketing ◽

Low Income ◽

Community Based ◽

Marketing Campaign ◽

Social Marketing Campaign ◽

Income Groups ◽

Before And After ◽

Low Income Groups ◽

Before And After Study

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Equity concerns in the context of a serious illness: Changes over time, associations with relationship quality and well-being, and moderator effects.

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e524332011-036 ◽

2004 ◽

Author(s):

R. Kuijer

Keyword(s):

Relationship Quality ◽

Well Being ◽

Serious Illness ◽

Moderator Effects ◽

Changes Over Time ◽

Over Time

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Lettuce Be Happy: The Effects of Fruit and Vegetable Consumption on Subjective Well-Being in the UK

SSRN Electronic Journal ◽

10.2139/ssrn.3211798 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Neel Ocean ◽

Peter Howley ◽

Jonathan Ensor

Keyword(s):

Vegetable Consumption ◽

Well Being ◽

Fruit And Vegetable Consumption ◽

Subjective Well Being ◽

Fruit And Vegetable ◽

The Uk

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UK Fiscal Squeezes over a Century

10.1093/oso/9780198779612.003.0002 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Christopher Hood ◽

Rozana Himaz

Keyword(s):

Data Sources ◽

Fiscal Consolidation ◽

Financial Outcomes ◽

Financial Conditions ◽

Deficit Reduction ◽

Before And After ◽

The Uk ◽

Changes Over Time ◽

Spending Cuts ◽

Over Time

This chapter draws on historical statistics reporting financial outcomes for spending, taxation, debt, and deficit for the UK over a century to (a) identify quantitatively and compare the main fiscal squeeze episodes (i.e. major revenue increases, spending cuts, or both) in terms of type (soft squeezes and hard squeezes, spending squeezes, and revenue squeezes), depth, and length; (b) compare these periods of austerity against measures of fiscal consolidation in terms of deficit reduction; and (c) identify economic and financial conditions before and after the various squeezes. It explores the extent to which the identification of squeeze episodes and their classification is sensitive to which thresholds are set and what data sources are used. The chapter identifies major changes over time that emerge from this analysis over the changing depth and types of squeeze.

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Compassion toward others and self-compassion predict mental and physical well-being: a 5-year longitudinal study of 1090 community-dwelling adults across the lifespan

Translational Psychiatry ◽

10.1038/s41398-021-01491-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ellen E. Lee ◽

Tushara Govind ◽

Marina Ramsey ◽

Tsung Chin Wu ◽

Rebecca Daly ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Longitudinal Study ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Rating Scales ◽

Well Being ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Linear Regression Models ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Adult Lifespan ◽

Mental Well Being ◽

Over Time

AbstractThere is growing interest in the role of compassion in promoting health and well-being, with cross-sectional data showing an inverse correlation with loneliness. This is the first longitudinal study examining both compassion toward others (CTO) and compassion toward self (CTS) as predictors of mental and physical health outcomes including loneliness, across adult lifespan. We followed 552 women and 538 men in San Diego County for up to 7.5 (mean 4.8 and SD 2.2) years, using validated rating scales for CTO, CTS, and loneliness. Linear mixed-effects models were employed to examine age- and sex-related trajectories of CTO and CTS over time. Linear regression models were used to evaluate baseline and longitudinal relationships of CTO and CTS with mental well-being, physical well-being, and loneliness. CTS and CTO were weakly intercorrelated. Women had higher baseline CTO than men. While CTO was stable over time and across the lifespan, CTS scores had an inverse U-shaped relationship with age, peaking around age 77. There were significant baseline × slope interactions of both CTO and CTS predicting improvements in physical well-being in adults <60 years old. Increases in CTO and CTS predicted improvements in mental well-being. Higher baseline CTO and CTS as well as increases in CTO and CTS scores predicted lower loneliness scores at follow-up. Thus, CTO and CTS were associated with better mental well-being and loneliness across the adult lifespan, and physical well-being in younger adults, and are promising targets for interventions to improve health outcomes.

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Feasibility and Effectiveness of a Motion Tracking-Based Online Fitness Program for Office Workers

Healthcare ◽

10.3390/healthcare9050584 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (5) ◽

pp. 584

Author(s):

Sun-Young Joo ◽

Chang-Bae Lee ◽

Na-Young Joo ◽

Chung-Reen Kim

Keyword(s):

Motion Tracking ◽

Short Form ◽

Handgrip Strength ◽

Exercise Program ◽

Well Being ◽

Balance Test ◽

Fitness Program ◽

Before And After ◽

Mental Well Being ◽

Digital Healthcare

The development of technology-based home fitness has emerged from the booming digital healthcare market and recent demands for at-home fitness and health equipment due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Digital healthcare company Alyce Healthcare recently developed Weelo, which is a web-based online fitness program. Weelo recommends an exercise protocol through machine-learning-enabled recognition of the user’s motion and provides visual and auditory feedback. We evaluated whether Weelo improves physical and mental well-being to assess its capabilities and effectiveness. Thirty-two participants performed a total of 20 exercise sessions following the Weelo guide on a laptop. The participants were evaluated using a before and after exercise program, body composition, handgrip strength, six-minute walk test, modified star excursion balance test, short form 36, fatigue severity scale, Beck depression index, and a satisfaction survey. Overall, there was a significant improvement in muscle strength, endurance, and balance ability, as well as an improved quality of life and significant reduction in fatigue and depression. Participants showed high motivation to continue following the Weelo exercise program. In conclusion, utilizing Weelo improved physical and mental well-being and is considered to be an individual-use indoor exercise program that serves as an alternative to traditional face-to-face exercise.

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Oral rehydration therapies in Senegal, Mali, and Sierra Leone: a spatial analysis of changes over time and implications for policy

BMC Medicine ◽

10.1186/s12916-020-01857-7 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Kirsten E. Wiens ◽

Lauren E. Schaeffer ◽

Samba O. Sow ◽

Babacar Ndoye ◽

Carrie Jo Cain ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sierra Leone ◽

Healthcare Access ◽

Scale Up ◽

National Policy ◽

Geostatistical Model ◽

Oral Rehydration ◽

Severe Diarrhea ◽

Before And After ◽

Changes Over Time ◽

Over Time

Abstract Background Oral rehydration solution (ORS) is a simple intervention that can prevent childhood deaths from severe diarrhea and dehydration. In a previous study, we mapped the use of ORS treatment subnationally and found that ORS coverage increased over time, while the use of home-made alternatives or recommended home fluids (RHF) decreased, in many countries. These patterns were particularly striking within Senegal, Mali, and Sierra Leone. It was unclear, however, whether ORS replaced RHF in these locations or if children were left untreated, and if these patterns were associated with health policy changes. Methods We used a Bayesian geostatistical model and data from household surveys to map the percentage of children with diarrhea that received (1) any ORS, (2) only RHF, or (3) no oral rehydration treatment between 2000 and 2018. This approach allowed examination of whether RHF was replaced with ORS before and after interventions, policies, and external events that may have impacted healthcare access. Results We found that RHF was replaced with ORS in most Sierra Leone districts, except those most impacted by the Ebola outbreak. In addition, RHF was replaced in northern but not in southern Mali, and RHF was not replaced anywhere in Senegal. In Senegal, there was no statistical evidence that a national policy promoting ORS use was associated with increases in coverage. In Sierra Leone, ORS coverage increased following a national policy change that abolished health costs for children. Conclusions Children in parts of Mali and Senegal have been left behind during ORS scale-up. Improved messaging on effective diarrhea treatment and/or increased ORS access such as through reducing treatment costs may be needed to prevent child deaths in these areas.

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Promoting Stair Climbing as an Exercise Routine among Healthy Older Adults Attending a Community-Based Physical Activity Program

Sports ◽

10.3390/sports7010023 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 23 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Nobuko Hongu ◽

Mieko Shimada ◽

Rieko Miyake ◽

Yusuke Nakajima ◽

Ichirou Nakajima ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Muscle Strength ◽

Daily Living ◽

Stair Climbing ◽

Community Based ◽

Healthy Older Adults ◽

Exercise Routine ◽

Before And After ◽

Leg Muscle

Stair climbing provides a feasible opportunity for increasing physical activity (PA) in daily living. The purpose of this study was to examine the daily walking and stair-climbing steps among healthy older adults (age: 74.0 ± 4.9 years; Body Mass Index (BMI): 22.3 ± 2.5 kg/m2). Participants (34 females and 15 males) attended a weekly 6-month community-based PA program. During the entire program period, daily walking and stair-climbing steps were recorded using a pedometer (Omron, HJA-403C, Kyoto, Japan). Before and after the 6-month program, height, body weight and leg muscle strength were assessed. After the 6-month program, the mean walking and stair-climbing steps in both women and men increased significantly (p ≤ 0.01). Daily stair-climbing steps increased about 36 steps in women and 47 steps in men. At the end of 6 months, only male participants had significant correlation between the number of stair steps and leg muscle strength (r = 0.428, p = 0.037). This study reported that healthy older adults attending the community-based PA program had regular stair-climbing steps during daily living. Promoting stair climbing as an exercise routine was feasible to increase their walking and stair-climbing steps.

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