Creating intelligent environments to monitor and manipulate physical activity and sedentary behavior in public health and clinical settings

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.

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Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior: Independent or Interrelated Public Health Issues?

Kinesiology Review ◽

10.1123/kr.2018-0067 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 1-3

Author(s):

Debra J. Rose

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Sedentary Behavior ◽

Health Issues

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A Structured and Flexible Language for Physical Activity Assessment and Characterization

Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1155/2013/420916 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Pedro Silva ◽

Maria Teresa Andrade ◽

Pedro Carvalho ◽

Jorge Mota

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Sedentary Behavior ◽

Activity Patterns ◽

Public Health Research ◽

Cognitive Limitations ◽

Public Health Professionals ◽

Activity Assessment ◽

Base Language ◽

Flexible Base

Developing more accurate assessments of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) is an important public health research priority. Assessing PA and SB is challenging in all segments of the population, but it is especially difficult in children due to cognitive limitations and more sporadic and intermittent activity patterns. Moreover, they are influenced by several factors including temporal-spatial constraints and social conditions. To accurately assess PA and SB, it is essential to clearly define methods for describing all these factors. The goal of this paper is to potentiate advances in the field by proposing a base ontology for characterizing physical activity, sedentary behavior, and the context in which it occurs. The ontology would establish a flexible base language to facilitate standardized descriptions of these behaviors for researchers and public health professionals.

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Assessment of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in Preschool-Age Children: Priorities for Research

Pediatric Exercise Science ◽

10.1123/pes.13.2.113 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 113-126 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Janet E. Fulton ◽

Charlene R. Burgeson ◽

Geraldine R. Perry ◽

Bettylou Sherry ◽

Deborah A. Galuska ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Sedentary Behavior ◽

Expert Panel ◽

Research Priorities ◽

Public Health Research ◽

Preschool Age ◽

Current State ◽

Preschool Age Children ◽

Public Health Functions

An expert panel workshop had two specific aims: (a) to review the current state of knowledge of existing methods for assessing physical activity and sedentary behavior in order to determine their reliability, validity, feasibility, strengths, and limitations and (b) to set research priorities and recommendations to enable the use of reliable and valid instruments for assessing physical activity and sedentary behavior within the context of three public health functions for children ages 2–5 years. Experts presented four major recommendations for research priorities at the conclusion of the 2-day workshop. The need to develop valid methods for measuring physical activity and sedentary behavior was considered the necessary first step to accomplish meaningful physical activity surveillance, public health research, and intervention research for children ages 2–5 years.

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Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Clustering: Segmentation to Optimize Active Lifestyles

Journal of Physical Activity and Health ◽

10.1123/jpah.2015-0307 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 13 (9) ◽

pp. 921-928 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Stephen Zwolinsky ◽

James McKenna ◽

Andy Pringle ◽

Paul Widdop ◽

Claire Griffiths ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Sedentary Behavior ◽

Hierarchical Cluster ◽

Optimal Number ◽

Multiple Deprivation ◽

Highly Active ◽

Active Lifestyles ◽

Univariate Analyses ◽

Indices Of Multiple Deprivation

Background:Increasingly the health impacts of physical inactivity are being distinguished from those of sedentary behavior. Nevertheless, deleterious health prognoses occur when these behaviors combine, making it a Public Health priority to establish the numbers and salient identifying factors of people who live with this injurious combination.Methods:Using an observational between-subjects design, a nonprobability sample of 22,836 participants provided data on total daily activity. A 2-step hierarchical cluster analysis identified the optimal number of clusters and the subset of distinguishing variables. Univariate analyses assessed significant cluster differences.Results:High levels of sitting clustered with low physical activity. The Ambulatory & Active cluster (n = 6254) sat for 2.5 to 5 h·d−1 and were highly active. They were significantly younger, included a greater proportion of males and reported low Indices of Multiple Deprivation compared with other clusters. Conversely, the Sedentary & Low Active cluster (n = 6286) achieved ≤60 MET·min·wk−1 of physical activity and sat for ≥8 h·d−1. They were the oldest cluster, housed the largest proportion of females and reported moderate Indices of Multiple Deprivation.Conclusions:Public Health systems may benefit from developing policy and interventions that do more to limit sedentary behavior and encourage light intensity activity in its place.

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Global Public Health Guidelines on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior for People Living With Chronic Conditions: A Call to Action

Journal of Physical Activity and Health ◽

10.1123/jpah.2020-0525 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Paddy C. Dempsey ◽

Christine M. Friedenreich ◽

Michael F. Leitzmann ◽

Matthew P. Buman ◽

Estelle Lambert ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

World Health Organization ◽

Sedentary Behavior ◽

Chronic Conditions ◽

Premature Mortality ◽

World Health ◽

Global Public Health ◽

The World ◽

Health Organization

Background: In 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) released global guidelines on physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior, for the first time providing population-based recommendations for people living with selected chronic conditions. This article briefly presents the guidelines, related processes and evidence, and, importantly, considers how they may be used to support research, practice, and policy. Methods: A brief overview of the scope, agreed methods, selected chronic conditions (adults living with cancer, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and human immunodeficiency virus), and appraisal of systematic review evidence on PA/sedentary behavior is provided. Methods were consistent with World Health Organization protocols for developing guidelines. Results: Moderate to high certainty evidence (varying by chronic condition and outcome examined) supported that PA can reduce the risk of disease progression or premature mortality and improve physical function and quality of life in adults living with chronic conditions. Direct evidence on sedentary behavior was lacking; however, evidence extrapolated from adult populations was considered applicable, safe, and likely beneficial (low certainty due to indirectness). Conclusions: Clinical and public health professionals and policy makers should promote the World Health Organization 2020 global guidelines and develop and implement services and programs to increase PA and limit sedentary behavior in adults living with chronic conditions.

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