Weight bias internalization: Relationships with mental health, physical activity, and sedentary behavior.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Levy ◽  
Alex Nguyen ◽  
Lisa Kakinami ◽  
Angela S. Alberga
Author(s):  
Ji-Su Kim ◽  
Ju-Pil Choe ◽  
Jeong-Hui Park ◽  
Eunhye Yoo ◽  
Jung-Min Lee

The current study is to examine the differences in physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior (SB), and mental health (i.e., stress, depression, and suicidal behaviors) between early menopausal women and age-matched general middle-aged women. Among 1348 participants in South Korea, 674 participants who experienced menopause before the age of 45 were defined as the early menopausal group, and 674 women who experienced menopause from 45 years to 55 years were classified as the general group by matching age based on early menopausal women. PA, SB, and mental health were evaluated by using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ). An independent t-test was used to compare the associations of PA, SB, and mental health between the two groups. To demonstrate the predictors of early menopause, variables in the study were analyzed by multinomial logistic regression. The main findings were that moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and light PA (LPA) had significant differences between the two groups, but SB had no significant differences. In mental health, only perceived stress had significant differences in this study. The moderate level of stress in the early menopausal group was twice as high as that of the general group, and the severe level of stress was even 2.6 times higher than the general group. PA plays an essential role in mitigating the causes of mortality and the risk of various chronic diseases and improving quality of life; thus, the main findings of this study could be important to provide insights on the corresponding impact between early menopausal women and PA to encourage their healthy lifestyle. Further longitudinal studies are needed to examine the mechanisms underlying the effects of PA, SB, and mental health on early menopausal women.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Costas I. Karageorghis ◽  
Jonathan M. Bird ◽  
Jasmin C. Hutchinson ◽  
Mark Hamer ◽  
Yvonne N. Delevoye-Turrell ◽  
...  

Abstract Background COVID-19 lockdowns have reduced opportunities for physical activity (PA) and encouraged more sedentary lifestyles. A concomitant of sedentariness is compromised mental health. We investigated the effects of COVID-19 lockdown on PA, sedentary behavior, and mental health across four Western nations (USA, UK, France, and Australia). Methods An online survey was administered in the second quarter of 2020 (N = 2541). We measured planned and unplanned dimensions of PA using the Brunel Lifestyle Physical Activity Questionnaire and mental health using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire. Steps per day were recorded only from participants who used an electronic device for this purpose, and sedentary behavior was reported in hours per day (sitting and screen time). Results In the USA and Australia samples, there was a significant decline in planned PA from pre- to during lockdown. Among young adults, Australians exhibited the lowest planned PA scores, while in middle-aged groups, the UK recorded the highest. Young adults exhibited the largest reduction in unplanned PA. Across nations, there was a reduction of ~ 2000 steps per day. Large increases in sedentary behavior emerged during lockdown, which were most acute in young adults. Lockdown was associated with a decline in mental health that was more pronounced in women. Conclusions The findings illustrate the deleterious effects of lockdown on PA, sedentary behavior, and mental health across four Western nations. Australian young and lower middle-aged adults appeared to fare particularly badly in terms of planned PA. The reduction in steps per day is equivalent to the non-expenditure of ~ 100 kcal. Declines in mental health show how harmful lockdowns can be for women in particular.


Author(s):  
Jacob Meyer ◽  
Cillian McDowell ◽  
Jeni Lansing ◽  
Cassandra Brower ◽  
Lee Smith ◽  
...  

The COVID-19 pandemic altered many facets of life. We aimed to evaluate the impact of COVID-19-related public health guidelines on physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior, mental health, and their interrelations. Cross-sectional data were collected from 3052 US adults 3–8 April 2020 (from all 50 states). Participants self-reported pre- and post-COVID-19 levels of moderate and vigorous PA, sitting, and screen time. Currently-followed public health guidelines, stress, loneliness, positive mental health (PMH), social connectedness, and depressive and anxiety symptoms were self-reported. Participants were grouped by meeting US PA guidelines, reporting ≥8 h/day of sitting, or ≥8 h/day of screen time, pre- and post-COVID-19. Overall, 62% of participants were female, with age ranging from 18–24 (16.6% of sample) to 75+ (9.3%). Self-reported PA was lower post-COVID among participants reporting being previously active (mean change: −32.3% [95% CI: −36.3%, −28.1%]) but largely unchanged among previously inactive participants (+2.3% [−3.5%, +8.1%]). No longer meeting PA guidelines and increased screen time were associated with worse depression, loneliness, stress, and PMH (p < 0.001). Self-isolation/quarantine was associated with higher depressive and anxiety symptoms compared to social distancing (p < 0.001). Maintaining and enhancing physical activity participation and limiting screen time increases during abrupt societal changes may mitigate the mental health consequences.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yessica Abigail Tronco Hernández ◽  
Fabio Parente ◽  
Mark A Faghy ◽  
Clare M P Roscoe ◽  
Frances A Maratos

BACKGROUND Lockdowns imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted the living and working habits of millions of people, with potentially important implications for their physical, mental, and social well-being. OBJECTIVE The primary objective of this study was to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on remote workers who were not directly affected by COVID-19. METHODS This was a correlational cross-sectional study (with an additional qualitative component) of 184 remote workers surveyed during the first COVID-19 lockdown in the United Kingdom. Standard measures of mental health (Kessler-6 Distress Scale), productivity (Brief Instrument to Assess Workers’ Productivity During a Working Day), and physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire) were used, and respondents were further surveyed on changes to their dietary, exercise, smoking, drinking, and socialization habits to produce a well-being change index. RESULTS The results revealed associations between sedentary behavior and poorer mental health (<i>τ</i><sub>b</sub>=0.14) and between poorer mental health and low work productivity (<i>τ</i><sub>b</sub>=–0.39). However, both positive and negative lifestyle changes were reported; a self-reported increase in well-being (with respect to diet, exercise, smoking, alcohol consumption, and socialization) since the start of the pandemic was associated with both better mental health (<i>τ</i><sub>b</sub>=–0.14) and better work productivity (<i>τ</i><sub>b</sub>=0.14). Of note, among respondents without a mental health diagnosis (137/184, 74.4%), we observed rates of moderate (76/137, 55.5%) and severe (17/137, 12.4%) psychological distress, which were markedly higher than those reported in large prepandemic studies; moreover, 70.1% (129/184) of our respondents reported more sedentary behavior, 41% (69/168) increased their alcohol consumption, and 38.6% (71/184) increased their overall food intake. However, 46% (75/163), 44.8% (39/87) and 51.8% (57/110) of respondents reported spending more time walking and engaging in more moderate and vigorous exercise, respectively. Qualitative analysis revealed many positive adaptations to lockdowns (eg, decreased commuting expenses, flexibility) but also a number of structural obstacles to remote working (eg, lack of support and high expectations from employers, childcare duties). CONCLUSIONS These findings may be of practical importance for policy makers and employers in a world in which work involves long-term remote or hybrid employment arrangements; strategies to promote more sustainable remote working are discussed.


Author(s):  
Gabriel Zieff ◽  
Lauren C Bates ◽  
Zachary Y Kerr ◽  
Justin B Moore ◽  
Erik D Hanson ◽  
...  

Abstract Sedentary behavior is associated with poor physical and mental health. Targeting sedentary behavior is a simple strategy that may help counter physical and mental health concerns associated with COVID-19-related social restrictions. Of course, traditional strategies such as achieving optimal exercise and physical activity levels are also important and should be recommended. However, even under normal circumstances, the difficulty in promoting lasting exercise habits at multiple levels (e.g. individual, environment, policy) are well documented, and chances of maintaining or improving these factors is now even lower. Thus, relative to other lifestyle behaviors – sedentary behavior may be more amenable to change. Moreover, reducing sedentary behavior may be less susceptible to influence from factors associated with health disparities such as age, race, and socio-economic status compared to exercise or physical activity. Sedentary behavior is a feasible health strategy that should be targeted during COVID-19.


2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saengryeol Park ◽  
Cecilie Thøgersen-Ntoumani ◽  
Nikos Ntoumanis ◽  
Andreas Stenling ◽  
Sally A.M. Fenton ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paquito Bernard ◽  
Romain Ahmed Jérôme ◽  
Isabelle Doré ◽  
Catherine Sabiston

This commentary suggest that the evidence of optimal physical activity doses for better mental health should be interpreted with caution because sedentary behavior interplays with mental health.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document