Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Health in Aging Women: A Health-Promotion Perspective

2002 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 396-412 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jo-Ann V. Sawatzky ◽  
Barbara J. Naimark

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between physical activity and other determinants of cardiovascular health in aging women from a health-promotion perspective. Participants (N= 206) completed a cardiovascular health-promotion profile, and various physical measures were recorded. The findings suggest that physically active aging women, especially those who exercise regularly or vigorously, have healthier cardiovascular profiles than do their less active counterparts. They were more likely to be members of a health and fitness facility, to be younger, and have higher socioeconomic status. Their diets were healthier, and their perception of their health status was more positive. Physical measures of cardiovascular health also decreased with increased levels of activity (p< .05). These findings validate physical activity promotion as an effective strategy to ameliorate the cardiovascular health profile of aging women. The study also lends support for population-based cardiovascular health-promotion strategies.

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 563-571 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Antonio Florindo ◽  
Emanuel Péricles Salvador ◽  
Rodrigo Siqueira Reis

Background:The environment has a great influence on people’s lifestyles and their capacity to choose healthy habits. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between perceived environment and physical activity among adults living in the city of São Paulo, Brazil.Methods:This was a cross-sectional population-based study conducted with 890 people age 18 years or over. Physical activity was measured through the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ; long version) and perceived environment was evaluated using the Neighborhood Walkability Scale (NEWS) adapted. Poisson’s regression was used for statistical analyses and prevalence ratios were calculated. The outcome variable was the attainment of at least 150 minutes per week of physical activities. The independent variables consisted of perceived environment variables and control variables (sex, age, schooling, time living in the home, and number of cars per household).Results:The perceived environment variables that explained physical activity were: receiving invitations from friends for activities (P = .012), low environmental pollution scores (p trend = 0.030) and high general safety scores (P-trend = 0.039).Conclusions:These results suggest that physical activity promotion in regions like this should be envisaged as a complex phenomenon and investments in public safety, prevention and combating of environmental pollution and social support networks are needed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-19
Author(s):  
Nepha Musonda ◽  
◽  
Micah Mutuna Simpamba ◽  

Background:Physiotherapists are better placed to spearhead health promoting activities by encouraging health enhancing lifestyles as part of their practice. This study reviews health promotion practices of Physiotherapists in African countries in order to identify gaps and make recommendations to improve the health promotion practices. Methods:This narrative review was developed from a literature review of previous studies on health promotion practices among physiotherapists in Africa, which were published in English from the years 2010-2020, retrieved from Google Scholar and PubMed. Only articles that focused on health promotion, physical activity, practices, Physiotherapy and Africa were included.Results:Nine (9) studies met the inclusion criteria for this review. Five (5) studies were from Nigeria while one study each from Rwanda, South Africa, Ghana and Ethiopia. Most studies reviewed used quantitative cross-sectional surveys. The focus of these studies were mainly exploring Physiotherapists’ knowledge, attitude and practices towards health promotion and physical activity promotion. Others looked at Physiotherapy practices with regards to counseling, risk factor assessment and interventions as well as perceived barriers and educational needs. Conclusion: It is evident that there is little research done on health promotion practices among Physiotherapists in African countries. There is need to conduct more studies in this area in order to identify the challenges and improve the health promotion practices among Physiotherapy practitioners in the region.


2011 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 277-283
Author(s):  
Naomi Ellis ◽  
Christopher Gidlow ◽  
Rachel Davey

Background. To maximize often limited resources for health promotion interventions, it is critical to identify and consult with the target population to inform program design and implementation. Objective. To highlight the value of scoping (identifying any barriers or limitations within a target population group) in the initial social marketing phase of targeting physical activity interventions for positive mental health. Method. Semistructured focus groups were undertaken in 2 segmented population groups: Study 1—adults (aged between 20 and 50 years) from a deprived community; Study 2—older adults (50+ years of age) attending physical activity groups. Discussions centered on health, mental health, physical activity, and methods of promotion. Results. Five focus groups were conducted, 2 in study 1 (n = 17; age 38.1 ± 10.8 years) and 3 in study 2 (n = 25; age 68.1 ± 5.6 years). Themes and perspectives were consistent within each case study, but differed between them, indicating that basic segmentation during recruitment (by age, area of residence, and physical activity participation) had identified 2 distinct audience segments. Differences between groups in perceived benefits of physical activity, preferred intervention type, and appropriate terminology provided valuable insight to inform physical activity promotion. Conclusion. Focus groups offer a simple and feasible means of scoping to begin to identify and understand population segments for targeting of health promotion efforts.


2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 153-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guy Faulkner ◽  
Lira Yun ◽  
Mark S. Tremblay ◽  
John C. Spence

ParticipACTION is the Canadian physical activity communications and social marketing organization first launched in the fall of 1971 and then ceased operations in 2001. ParticipACTION was relaunched in 2007. Framed as a public health natural experiment, evidence was collected from a population-based survey of knowledge, awareness, understanding of physical activity, and physical activity levels among Canadians (individual level), and key informant surveys and interviews examining capacity, readiness and advocacy for physical activity promotion among physical activity organizations (organizational level). The purpose of this paper is to first provide an overview of some of the major initiatives undertaken by the ‘new’ ParticipACTION that may have contributed to any changes at these individual or organizational levels. Second, the paper sets the stage for the three empirical papers in this special series reporting follow-up results.


Retos ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 393-399
Author(s):  
Michelle Marambio Miranda ◽  
Tamara Núñez Fernández ◽  
Jaime Ramírez Guajardo ◽  
Pablo Ramírez Eyraud ◽  
Ximena Alejandra Palma Leal ◽  
...  

Introducción: La Educación Física escolar y extraescolar es una oportunidad para promover estilos de vida activos en escolares, propiciando un desarrollo saludable y prevención de enfermedades asociadas a la inactividad física. Objetivo: comparar los niveles de actividad física dentro y fuera de la escuela, en una muestra representativa de niños escolares participantes de un programa de promoción de actividad física. Métodos: un total de 318 niños y niñas (7 a 14 años) participaron de este estudio. Los participantes voluntariamente completaron el cuestionario PAQ-C, para determinar la actividad física realizada en los últimos 7 días. Se analizaron las variables mediante comparación de varianzas y las medias a través de la prueba T-student, del software SPSS V20. Resultados: La actividad física por sexo, presentó valores de medias similares, exceptuando la realizada en las tardes, en donde las mujeres realizaron mayor actividad física (p=0,006). Además, los días sábados, los niños realizaron más actividad física que las niñas (p=0,001). En cuanto a las preferencias de actividades, el baile es la principal opción en niñas y el fútbol la principal en niños (p=0,000). Se logró establecer una contribución de las clases de Educación Física en conjunto con las sesiones de las escuelas deportivas integrales en relación a la práctica total, siendo la media 4,2 entrando en la categoría: alto nivel de actividad física. Conclusión: La clase de Educación Física junto a las sesiones de las escuelas deportivas contribuye positivamente a la actividad física total.Abstract. Introduction: School and extracurricular physical education is an opportunity to promote active lifestyle in schoolchildren, fostering healthy growth and prevention of diseases associated with physical inactivity. Objective: to compare physical activity levels inside and out of the school context, in a representative sample of school children participating in a physical activity promotion program. Methods: a total of 318 boys and girls (7 to 14 years old) participated in this study. The participants voluntarily completed the PAQ-C questionnaire to determine their physical activity in the last 7 days. The variables were analyzed by means of comparison of variances and means through the T-student test on the SPSS V20 software. Results: By gender, physical activity presented values similar levels, except for that performed in the afternoons, where girls were more physically active (p= .006). In addition, on Saturdays, boys performed more physical activity than girls (p = .001). Regarding activity preferences, dance activities are preferred by girls whilst boys preferred soccer (p = .000). A contribution of physical education classes in combination with the sessions from comprehensive sports academies was detected regarding total practice, the average being 4.2, meaning that the category was “high level of physical activity”. Conclusion: physical education classes along with sessions from sports academies contributes positively to the total physical activity.


Author(s):  
Anna Chalkley ◽  
Lauren Sherar

Physical activity is beneficial to children’s health and well-being. Evidence suggests that physical activity declines with age from childhood through adolescence and into adulthood, with boys being more active than girls at all ages. Physical activity participation in childhood is affected by the social support and role modelling provided by family, peers, friends, and teachers. Marginalized groups are disadvantaged in terms of access to opportunities to be physically active. From a population perspective, the greatest gains in public health will be achieved by helping those who are most inactive to become moderately active. Physical activity promotion efforts for children have predominantly focused on school-based programmes, but multisectoral approaches are needed with transformative and enlightened public policy regarding many facets of children’s lives such as school curricula, active travel, safe play areas, and enhanced sports opportunities for all.


2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 1577-1589 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanna Popp ◽  
Johannes Carl ◽  
Eva Grüne ◽  
Jana Semrau ◽  
Peter Gelius ◽  
...  

Abstract Apprentices in many sectors are exposed to increased health risks and show low levels of physical activity (PA). Environmental and policy approaches seem to be promising tools for PA promotion as they can positively influence the context in which PA occurs. This article reports results from a German research project (2015–2018) that developed and implemented measures for PA promotion in the field of vocational education (VE). A participatory approach—cooperative planning (COP)—involving researchers as well as stakeholders from policy and practice was used in two VE settings—nursing care and automotive mechatronics. We assessed the extent to which new capacities for PA promotion were created by conducting semi-structured interviews with stakeholders from both sectors (n = 12) and one group interview with nursing students (n = 4). Transcripts were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Findings show that new capacities were created mainly in the form of resources and opportunities and that several measures for PA promotion (e.g. a regular lesson on the issue of PA and health and a tutoring system) were successfully integrated into VE routines. However, establishing new organizational goals and obligations appeared to be challenging. Moreover, the article presents influencing factors, such as the participation of the main actors that strongly supported the process of capacity building within their organization. We conclude that COP seems promising in creating new capacities for PA promotion in the field of VE, and therefore has the potential to promote a physically active lifestyle among apprentices.


2007 ◽  
Vol 125 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcos Ausenka Ribeiro ◽  
Milton de Arruda Martins ◽  
Celso Ricardo Fernandes Carvalho

The regular practice of physical activity at appropriate levels ensures various benefits for the individual over the short, medium and long terms. It is therefore important in health promotion. On the other hand, sedentary behavior has reached alarming levels among the general population, which qualifies it as a serious health problem of endemic proportions. The present review describes public health problems consequent to sedentary behavior and the importance of physician counseling for change their patients’ beha-vior and making them more physically active on a regular basis. Models and behavioral theories are presented to facilitate physicians’ understan-ding of how to approach patients during clinical practice. We also describe programs conducted in many countries based on physician counseling for reducing sedentary behavior, and we present many tools used to quantify and qualify patients’ attitudes towards becoming more physically active. Through understanding the barriers faced by patients, we suggest methodologies that will enable physicians to use physical activity promotion appropriately. We hope that this will provide support for physicians in conducting physical activity counseling, as a means for improving the health of the population.


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