scholarly journals How do we improve adolescent diet and physical activity in India and sub-Saharan Africa? Findings from the Transforming Adolescent Lives through Nutrition (TALENT) consortium

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
ME Barker ◽  
P Hardy-Johnson ◽  
S Weller ◽  
A Haileamalak ◽  
L Jarju ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Nutritional Status ◽  
Peer Group ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Easy Access ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Adolescent Diet ◽  
Diet And Physical Activity

Abstract Objective: Adolescent diet, physical activity and nutritional status are generally known to be sub-optimal. This is an introduction to a special issue of papers devoted to exploring factors affecting diet and physical activity in adolescents, including food insecure and vulnerable groups. Setting Eight settings including urban, peri-urban and rural across sites from five different low- and middle-income countries. Design: Focus groups with adolescents and caregivers carried out by trained researchers. Results: Our results show that adolescents, even in poor settings, know about healthy diet and lifestyles. They want to have energy, feel happy, look good and live longer, but their desire for autonomy, a need to ‘belong’ in their peer group, plus vulnerability to marketing exploiting their aspirations, leads them to make unhealthy choices. They describe significant gender, culture and context-specific barriers. For example, urban adolescents had easy access to energy dense, unhealthy foods bought outside the home, whereas junk foods were only beginning to permeate rural sites. Among adolescents in Indian sites, pressure to excel in exams meant that academic studies were squeezing out physical activity time. Conclusions: Interventions to improve adolescents’ diets and physical activity levels must therefore address structural and environmental issues and influences in their homes and schools, since it is clear that their food and activity choices are the product of an interacting complex of factors. In the next phase of work, the Transforming Adolescent Lives through Nutrition consortium will employ groups of adolescents, caregivers and local stakeholders in each site to develop interventions to improve adolescent nutritional status.

scholarly journals ‘I should be disease free, healthy and be happy in whatever I do’: a cross-country analysis of drivers of adolescent diet and physical activity in different low- and middle-income contexts

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susie Weller ◽  
Polly Hardy-Johnson ◽  
Sofia Strommer ◽  
Caroline Fall ◽  
Ulka Banavali ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Economic Transition ◽  
Cultural Influences ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Adolescent Diet ◽  
Diet And Physical Activity ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Abstract Objective: To explore perceptions of how context shapes adolescent diet and physical activity in eight low- and middle-income (LMIC) sites at different stages of societal and economic transition. Design: Novel qualitative secondary analysis of eight data sets generated as part of the international Transforming Adolescent Lives through Nutrition (TALENT) collaboration. Setting: Diverse sites in India and Sub-Saharan Africa. Participants: Fifty-two focus group discussions with 491 participants (303 adolescents aged 10–17 years; 188 caregivers). Results: Analysis of pooled qualitative data identified three themes: (1) transitions in generational nutrition education and knowledge; (2) transition in caregiver–adolescent power balance and (3) the implications of societal and economic transition for diet and physical activity. Adolescents in urban and peri-urban areas could readily access ‘junk’ food. Diets in rural settings were determined by tradition, seasonality and affordability. Physical activity was inhibited by site-specific factors including lack of space and crime in urban settings, and the prioritisation of academic performance. Gender influenced physical activity across all sites, with girls afforded fewer opportunities. Conclusions: Interventions to improve adolescent diet and physical activity in LMIC need to be complex, context-specific and responsive to transitions at the individual, economic and societal levels. Moreover, solutions need to acknowledge gender inequalities in different contexts, as well as structural and cultural influences on diet and physical activity in resource-limited settings. Programmes need to be effective in engaging and reconciling adolescents’ and caregivers’ perspectives. Consequently, there is a need for action at both the community-household level and also through policy.

scholarly journals Gender differences in nutritional status, diet and physical activity among adolescents in eight countries in sub‐Saharan Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Marie Darling ◽  
Bruno Sunguya ◽  
Abbas Ismail ◽  
Abubakar Manu ◽  
Chelsey Canavan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Gender Differences ◽  
Nutritional Status ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Diet And Physical Activity ◽  
Sub Saharan

scholarly journals The effects of social distancing and self-isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic on adults diagnosed with asthma: A qualitative study

2021 ◽  
pp. 135910532110127
Author(s):  
Leanne Tyson ◽  
Wendy Hardeman ◽  
Gareth Stratton ◽  
Andrew M Wilson ◽  
Joanna Semlyen
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Lifestyle Changes ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Window Of Opportunity ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Online Focus Groups ◽  
Physical Activity Levels

This study aimed to explore how social distancing and self-isolation measures, aimed at protecting vulnerable groups from COVID-19, affected the wellbeing and physical activity levels among adults diagnosed with asthma. Twenty-seven participants took part across four online focus groups. Transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis. Participants reported becoming more health conscious due to being labelled as vulnerable. Their relationship with the severity of their asthma was altered and they reported making positive changes to increase their physical activity levels. Findings suggest there is a window of opportunity to engage with people diagnosed with asthma to promote beneficial lifestyle changes and self-management.

scholarly journals Perceptions, Facilitators And Barriers of Physical Activity Among People Living With HIV: A Qualitative Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brenda Kitilya ◽  
Erica Sanga ◽  
George PrayGod ◽  
Robert Peck ◽  
Bazil B Kavishe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Gender Stereotypes ◽  
Ecological Model ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Facilitators And Barriers ◽  
Living With Hiv

Abstract BackgroundPeople Living with HIV (PLWH) have low levels of physical activity. Understanding of perceptions, facilitators and barriers of physical activity in this population is of importance for future perspectives in developing contextual based intervention to improve physical activity in PLWH. MethodThis study explored perceptions, facilitators and barriers of physical activity in PLWH using sixteen in-depth interviews and three focus group discussions conducted in Mwanza, Tanzania. The interviews and discussions were audio recorded, transcribed and translated into English. Transcripts were coded and analysed deductively using thematic content analysis. The themes were interpreted and presented using the social ecological model. ResultsForty-three PLWH age 23-61 years old participated in this study. The findings showed that, PLWH perceived physical activity was beneficial to their health and that their perceptions and practices were rooted within the existing gender stereotypes and roles in the community. In addition to that, house-chores and income generating activities were perceived as sufficient physical activity to achieve adequate levels of physical activity. As facilitators, social support and interactions from family and friends were appraised positively as motivating factors of physical activity in this population. Indeed, at individual to community/environmental levels, PLWH reported barriers of physical activity were lack of time, money, and availability of facilities, as well as lack of social groups participating in physical activity in the communities and inadequate information on physical activity from health care providers at ART clinics. HIV disease was not reported as a main barrier of physical activity but rather stipulated from family members as a reason not to support physical activity in PLWH. ConclusionThe findings demonstrated differing perceptions, facilitators and barriers of physical activity among PLWH. Interventions addressing physical activity awareness, gender stereotypes and roles relating to physical activity performances from individual to community level, building supportive environment and infrastructures are needed to elevate physical activity levels in PLWH particularly in low and -middle income countries.

scholarly journals Adolescent diet and physical activity in the context of economic, social and nutrition transition in rural Maharashtra, India: a qualitative study

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Kejal Joshi-Reddy ◽  
Veena Kamble ◽  
Pooja Kunte ◽  
Polly Hardy-Johnson ◽  
Caroline HD Fall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Digital Media ◽  
Parental Influence ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Nutrition Transition ◽  
Dietary Behaviour ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Adolescent Diet ◽  
Diet And Physical Activity

Abstract Objective: To explore the perceptions of adolescents and their caregivers on drivers of diet and physical activity in rural India in the context of ongoing economic, social and nutrition transition. Design: A qualitative study comprising eight focus group discussions (FGD) on factors affecting eating and physical activity patterns, perceptions of health and decision-making on food preparation. Setting: Villages approximately 40–60 km from the city of Pune in the state of Maharashtra, India. Participants: Two FGD with adolescents aged 10–12 years (n 20), two with 15- to 17- year-olds (n 18) and four with their mothers (n 38). Results: Dietary behaviour and physical activity of adolescents were perceived to be influenced by individual and interpersonal factors including adolescent autonomy, parental influence and negotiations between adolescents and caregivers. The home food environment, street food availability, household food security and exposure to television and digital media were described as influencing behaviour. The lack of facilities and infrastructure was regarded as barriers to physical activity as were insufficient resources for public transport, safe routes for walking and need for cycles, particularly for girls. It was suggested that schools take a lead role in providing healthy foods and that governments invest in facilities for physical activity. Conclusions: In this transitioning environment, that is representative of many parts of India and other Lower Middle Income Countries (LMIC), people perceive a need for interventions to improve adolescent diet and physical activity. Caregivers clearly felt that they had a stake in adolescent health, and so we would recommend the involvement of both adolescents and caregivers in intervention design.

scholarly journals Sociodemographic Associations of Physical Activity in People of Working Age

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. 2134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Puciato
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Sports Medicine ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Sample Selection ◽  
Binary Logistic Regression ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Working Age ◽  
The Unemployed

The aim of this study was to identify relationships between the physical activity and sociodemographic status of respondents aged 18–64 years. The research was conducted in 2014 and 2015 in Wrocław, Poland. The study group comprised 4460 people. The sample selection was random and stratified. The research tool was the International Physical Activity Questionnaire—Short Form. Levels of physical activity declared by respondents were compared with the recommendations of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). Data on respondents’ sociodemographic status was also obtained. The Mann–Whitney U test for samples, Kruskal–Wallis test by ranks, and total and binary logistic regression were used in statistical analysis. Among the respondents, the ACSM health recommendations were met by 43.7% in total (43.2% women and 44.3% men). All analyzed sociodemographic variables differentiated respondents’ physical activity. The youngest respondents were found to be the most physically active. Wrocław residents with a secondary education declared the highest level of physical activity. Among the respondents, manual workers revealed the highest, and the unemployed the lowest odds of meeting the ACSM standards of health-related physical activity. The level of physical activity of unmarried respondents was higher than that of married respondents. The highest percentage of respondents (50.9% women and 54.2% men) with sufficient physical activity levels was found among people living alone. Measures aimed at reducing hypokinesia should be addressed primarily in vulnerable groups, i.e., the unemployed and oldest men.

scholarly journals Exploring influences on adolescent diet and physical activity in rural Gambia, West Africa: food insecurity, culture and the natural environment

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Ramatoulie E Janha ◽  
Polly Hardy-Johnson ◽  
Sarah H Kehoe ◽  
Michael B Mendy ◽  
Isatou Camara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
West Africa ◽  
Digital Media ◽  
Dental Health ◽  
Local Environment ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Adolescent Diet ◽  
Diet And Physical Activity ◽  
Adolescent Engagement ◽  
Social And Cultural Factors

Abstract Objective: To explore, from the perspectives of adolescents and caregivers, and using qualitative methods, influences on adolescent diet and physical activity in rural Gambia. Design: Six focus group discussions (FGD) with adolescents and caregivers were conducted. Thematic analysis was employed across the data set. Setting: Rural region of The Gambia, West Africa. Participants: Participants were selected using purposive sampling. Four FGD, conducted with forty adolescents, comprised: girls aged 10–12 years; boys aged 10–12 years; girls aged 15–17 years, boys aged 15–17 years. Twenty caregivers also participated in two FGD (mothers and fathers). Results: All participants expressed an understanding of the association between salt and hypertension, sugary foods and diabetes, and dental health. Adolescents and caregivers suggested that adolescent nutrition and health were shaped by economic, social and cultural factors and the local environment. Adolescent diet was thought to be influenced by: affordability, seasonality and the receipt of remittances; gender norms, including differences in opportunities afforded to girls, and mother-led decision-making; cultural ceremonies and school holidays. Adolescent physical activity included walking or cycling to school, playing football and farming. Participants felt adolescent engagement in physical activity was influenced by gender, seasonality, cultural ceremonies and, to some extent, the availability of digital media. Conclusions: These novel insights into local understanding should be considered when formulating future interventions. Interventions need to address these interrelated factors, including misconceptions regarding diet and physical activity that may be harmful to health.

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