scholarly journals Sensory Profile of Adults with Reduced Food Intake and the Potential Roles of Nutrition and Physical Activity Interventions

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1120-1125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie-Eve Mathieu ◽  
Ryan E R Reid ◽  
Neil A King

ABSTRACT The sensory profile, referring to sight, smell, taste, hearing, and touch, plays an essential role in optimizing the habitual intake of energy and macronutrients. However, specific populations, such as older adults, are known to have impaired energy intake. In this paper, the relevance of sensory impairments in this older population is described, and the extent to which nutritional and physical activity interventions can modulate these sensory responses when food intake is insufficient is explored. With aging, all senses deteriorate, and in most cases, such deteriorations diminish the nutritional response. The only exception is sight, for which both positive and negative impacts on nutritional response have been reported. From a prevention perspective, nutritional interventions have been understudied, and to date, only hearing is known to be positively affected by a good nutritional profile. In comparison, physical activity has been more frequently studied in this context, and is linked to an improved preservation of 4 senses. Regarding treatment, very few studies have directly targeted sensory training, and the focus of research has tended to be on nutrition and physical activity intervention. Sensory training, and nutritional and physical activity treatments all have beneficial effects on the senses. In the future, researchers should focus on exploring gaps in the literature specifically concerning prevention, treatment, and sensory response to understand how to improve the efficacy of current approaches. In order to maintain sensory acuity and recover from sensory impairment, the current state of knowledge supports the importance of improving nutritional habits as well as physical activity early on in life. A combined approach, linking a detailed lifestyle profile with the assessment of numerous senses and one or more interventional approaches (nutrition, physical activity, sensory training, etc.), would be required to identify effective strategies to improve the nutritional state of older individuals.

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aymen El Masri ◽  
Gregory S. Kolt ◽  
Emma S. George

Abstract Background Despite being one of the largest migrant groups in Australia, few physical activity interventions exist for Arab-Australians. The primary aim of this study was to test the feasibility and acceptability of a 12-week culturally tailored physical activity intervention for Arab-Australian women. Methods This study used a single-group pretest–posttest design, and was informed by extensive formative research and consultation involving the Arab-Australian community. Participants were insufficiently active Arab-Australian women aged 35–64 with no current illness or injury that would limit physical activity participation. The intervention comprised 6 face-to-face physical activity and education sessions over 12 weeks. The intervention was conducted at 2 separate intervention sites in Western Sydney, Australia. Feasibility outcomes included recruitment, session attendance, and retention. The acceptability of the intervention was assessed through a process evaluation questionnaire completed post-intervention. Accelerometers and the short-form International Physical Activity Questionnaire were used to measure physical activity at baseline and post-intervention. Descriptive statistics were used for feasibility and acceptability outcomes, and changes in physical activity were examined using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Results Of the 53 women who were contacted or expressed interest, 22 were eligible and enrolled in the study. Participants were primarily recruited through direct contact by Arab-Australian community workers and by word-of-mouth. Average session attendance was 63% and the retention rate post-intervention was 68%. The culturally-related intervention components, such as the appropriateness of content, and women-only setting, were rated highly favourably (4.33 to 4.87/5). General intervention elements, such as the face-to-face delivery, knowledge and approachability of facilitators, and session structure, were also rated favourably (4.33 to 4.93/5), and the lowest scored item was the intervention session frequency (3.2/5). There were no statistically significant changes in physical activity post-intervention. Conclusions The findings from this study highlighted factors related to recruitment and delivery that need to be considered when developing physical activity interventions for Arab-Australian women. Further research is required using a larger sample and a randomised controlled trial design to examine the longer-term impact on physical activity, and to also examine ways of increasing intervention engagement and retention among Arab-Australian women. Trial Registration: ANZCTR, ACTRN12618001392257. Registered 20 August 2018, https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=375636.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kendall Sharp ◽  
Charles South ◽  
Cherise Chin Fatt ◽  
Madhukar Trivedi ◽  
Chad Rethorst

Depressive disorders are associated with high disease burden and high rates of medical comorbidities. Exercise interventions have been shown to reduce depressive symptoms and help improve physical health outcomes in persons with depression. However, the interventions used in studies demonstrating exercise as an efficacious treatment for depression are unlikely to be adopted into clinical practice due to the significant resources (personnel, facilities, equipment) required to deliver these interventions. This suggests the need for more efficient interventions for increasing physical activity in persons with depression. Two pilot studies were conducted to determine the feasibility of a multi-component physical activity intervention in persons with depression. Components of the intervention included group educational sessions about increasing physical activity, a Fitbit, and access to on-site exer-cise facility. The results from these pilot studies show significant decreases in depressive symptoms post intervention (PA: t(13)= 3.51, p = .004; BC: t(13) = 3.05, p = .009). 100% of participants in the PA pilot and 85.7% of participants in the BC pilot responded that they benefited overall from the study. These results indicate that implementing a multi-component physical activity intervention is feasible and can reduce depressive symptoms and other psychosocial outcomes. Limitations and future directions for physical activity interventions are discussed.


2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheri J. Hartman ◽  
Shira I. Dunsiger ◽  
Dori W. Pekmezi ◽  
Brooke Barbera ◽  
Charles J. Neighbors ◽  
...  

High rates of obesity in Latinas highlight the need to determine if physical activity interventions are equally effective across the body mass index (BMI) range. Thus, this study assessed how BMI impacts success of Spanish-speaking Latinas in a culturally and linguistically adapted theory-based physical activity intervention (). Longitudinal regression models tested the relationship between baseline BMI and outcomes. Overall, a trend for a negative association was found between baseline BMI and self-reported physical activity and theoretical constructs targeted by the intervention over time. For example, someone with a 25 kg/m2BMI would report, on average, 27.5 more minutes/week of activity compared to someone with a 30 kg/m2BMI at followup. Furthermore, higher baseline BMI was significantly associated with lower self-efficacy, behavioral and cognitive processes of change, and family social support over time. These findings suggest that participants with higher BMI may need additional intervention to promote physical activity.


2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (9) ◽  
pp. 671-678 ◽  
Author(s):  
Munira Abdulwasi ◽  
Meena Bhardwaj ◽  
Yuka Nakamura ◽  
Maha Zawi ◽  
Jennifer Price ◽  
...  

Background: This descriptive qualitative study informed by an ecological framework explored factors influencing South Asian Muslim women’s decisions to participate in a mosque-based physical activity intervention.Methods: Individual, face-to-face, semistructured interviews were conducted in English, Hindi, or Urdu with 12 South Asian Muslim women at their home or mosque in Ontario, Canada. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and managed, sorted, and analyzed for themes through a process of descriptive analysis.Results: The participants described as follows: (1) intrapersonal facilitators, which included their feelings, beliefs, and motivations to continue with this intervention; (2) interpersonal facilitators detailing the support that they had received from others during the intervention; and (3) environmental facilitators, which highlighted convenience and access to physical activity opportunities in a local community setting.Conclusion: This intervention displayed how South Asian Muslim women were motivated to continue with the mosque-based physical activity intervention due to interpersonal, intrapersonal, and environmental facilitators. The findings can be used to increase further understanding of how mosques may provide culturally and religiously sensitive contexts for physical activity interventions for South Asian Muslim women.


2007 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 201-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neera Chaudhary ◽  
Nancy Kreiger

A systematic review was conducted of community-based nutrition and physical activity strategies for chronic disease prevention targeting low-income populations. A computer search of the relevant published literature from 1996 to 2004 was done using Medline, EMBASE, ERIC, CINAHL, PubMed, and HealthSTAR databases. The primary objective was to develop an inventory of intervention strategies. The interventions ranged in approach from traditional group sessions taught by allied health professionals, peer-led workshops, one-on-one counselling print material, and home-based telephone and mail interventions to multimedia strategies and experiential activities such as food demonstrations and group exercise. The results suggest that nutrition and physical activity interventions aimed at low-income audiences tend to be delivered in an interactive visual format, to be culturally appropriate, to be administered in accessible primary care settings, and to provide incentives.


2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 108-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer B Scally ◽  
Rhiannon Lord

Children with a visual impairment are less active than their sighted peers. Yet, they are born with the potential to match their sighted peers’ motor skill competency and levels of physical fitness. Environmental barriers are one of the main causes of inequities. This article provides insight on these issues, drawing upon a physical activity intervention called ‘First Steps’, a British Blind Sport initiative that aimed to get more children with a visual impairment more active. Physical activity packs were delivered to 53 children, aged 5–15 years, with a visual impairment. Of these participants, 62% had additional impairments or medical conditions. A mixed-methods approach was used to gather participants’ experiences of physical activity prior to receiving this pack and canvas opinion on how the pack changed their activity levels. The findings revealed inequitable experiences of physical activity. The First Steps pack made considerable progress in developing children’s physical activity levels. Participants’ motor skills, social interactions, and confidence improved. Organisations working with this population might look to adopt a similar concept. Recommendations for those wishing to do so are provided.


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