Older Black Women’s Experiences Initiating and Maintaining Physical Activity: Implications for Theory and Practice

2013 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 348-366 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna E. Price ◽  
Beau Greer ◽  
Ash Tucker
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Black Women ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Health Benefits ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Perceived Need ◽  
Comparison Methods ◽  
Over Time

Using a semistructured discussion guide, the authors conducted 15 interviews with physically active older Black women living in the eastern U.S. to examine what contributed to their physical activity initiation and maintenance. They used thematic analysis to organize content and constant-comparison methods to compare themes between participants. Participants initiated physical activity when a cue to action, such as weight gain or a medical issue, triggered a perceived need to exercise. When participants initiated physical activity, they experienced immediate unexpected benefits such as improved energy. They reported continuing activity because of these initial benefits. After continued physical activity over time, participants experienced the health benefits they originally hoped to achieve. Most participants also mentioned continuing physical activity because it is “me time.” All participants reported needing to modify their physical activity routine at some point. Having a regular, yet adaptable, routine and planning skills helped participants maintain physical activity. These findings contribute to the refinement of theory and might be useful for professionals promoting physical activity among older Black women.

scholarly journals Regional, demographic and national influences on attitudes and beliefs with regard to physical activity, body weight and health in a nationally representative sample in the European Union

1999 ◽  
Vol 2 (1a) ◽  
pp. 87-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony Kafatos ◽  
Yannis Manios ◽  
Irini Markatji ◽  
Ismene Giachetti ◽  
Maria Daniel Vaz de Almeida ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Representative Sample ◽  
Health Benefits ◽  
Attitudes And Beliefs ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Beliefs And Attitudes ◽  
The Eu

AbstractIntroductionAlthough the benefits of physical activity regarding body-weight gain and health in general are now widely accepted, physical activity levels remain low among citizens in the western world. This could be attributed to certain attitudes and beliefs about physical activity. Identifying and understanding these parameters would be the first step in an attempt to increase the levels of physical activity in populations generally characterized as having a sedentary lifestyle.ObjectiveThe aim of the present study was to identify the attitudes and beliefs regarding physical activity, body weight and health in a nationally representative sample in the EU and in particular to explore the demographic and national (cultural) influences on attitudes towards physical activity.DesignIn each member state of the EU, approximately 1000 adults aged 15 years and over, were selected to complete an interviewer-assisted face-to-face questionnaire. Overall, a sample of 15 239 individuals in the EU participated in the study. Subject selection was quota-controlled to ensure samples in each country were nationally representative.ResultsOn a European level wide variations were observed regarding the levels, beliefs and attitudes towards physical activity. More positive beliefs were observed among Finns, while less positive beliefs were observed among southern Europeans. A similar pattern was observed for attitudes, with the Portuguese having the highest percentage feeling that they do not need to be more physically active than they already are. However, most southern Europeans felt that a campaign would encourage them to become more active than they already are. On a demographic level, the youngest, more educated and most physically active subjects had more positive attitudes and beliefs towards physical activity and the health benefits derived from it; while for the overweight, beliefs and attitudes toward physical activity were related primarily to the benefits related to weight control.ConclusionsLower levels of physical activity, an unwillingness to become active among non-participants and confusion regarding the weight gain benefits and general health benefits of exercise were reported more frequently among southern Europeans and older and less educated subjects. The Finns scored highest in all these parameters, possibly due to the programmes implemented and the beliefs and behaviour changes observed in this country during the last few years. The actions taken in Finland and their benefits could be employed appropriately in the other European states.

scholarly journals Shifting Motivations: Young Women’s Reflections on Physical Activity Over Time and Across Contexts

2010 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 547-567 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maureen O'Dougherty ◽  
Mindy S. Kurzer ◽  
Kathryn H. Schmitz
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Body Image ◽  
Exercise Intervention ◽  
Self Determination Theory ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Societal Values ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Social Motivations ◽  
Sedentary Women ◽  
Over Time

This research analyzes motivations expressed by young, healthy, sedentary women before and after an exercise intervention. Young women (aged 18-30, n = 39) participated in focus groups or interviews during a 4-month exercise intervention. Afterward, 22 of these women and 20 controls completed physical activity diaries for 6 months and were interviewed. For the majority of women ( n = 24), obligation to the study prevailed as the motivator during the intervention. Some ( n = 15) became physically active for their own benefit. Afterward, exercisers and controls said they were physically active to feel better and/or healthy ( n = 20), for body image and/ or weight loss ( n = 20), or both. Women expressed motivations for physical activity in ways that resonated with self-determination theory. Their commentaries expand on theory to include experiencing multiple motivations simultaneously and motivations shifting over time and in differing contexts. Social motivations were compelling, both those associated with societal values (research, health) and cultural trends (body image).

scholarly journals Examining If Changes in the Type of School-Based Intramural Programs Affect Youth Physical Activity over Time: A Natural Experiment Evaluation

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 2752
Author(s):  
Kathleen E. Burns ◽  
Ashok Chaurasia ◽  
Valerie Carson ◽  
Scott T. Leatherdale
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
School Environment ◽  
Sport Participation ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
School Based ◽  
Level Data ◽  
Youth Physical Activity ◽  
Mixed Regression ◽  
Over Time

(1) School-based physical activity programs such as intramurals provide youth with inclusive opportunities to be physically active, yet we know little about how types of intramurals (e.g., team and individual sports) may contribute to youth MVPA. This research aims to evaluate how real-world changes in types of intramurals available in schools impact youth physical activity over time. (2) This study used three years of longitudinal school- and student-level data from Ontario schools participating in year 5 (2016–2017), year 6 (2017–2018) and year 7 (2018–2019) of the COMPASS study. Data on types of intramural programs from 55 schools were obtained, baseline demographic characteristics were measured and data on physical activity and sport participation were collected on a sample of 4417 students. Hierarchical linear mixed regression models were used to estimate how changes in the type of intramurals associate with youth MVPA over time. (3) Regardless of participation, adding individual and team intramurals was significantly and positively associated with female MVPA in Y6. (4) The indirect, but positive relationship between adding individual and team intramurals and female MVPA may be explained by other characteristics of the school environment that are conducive to female MVPA.

scholarly journals Physical activity and 4-year changes in body weight in 52,498 non-obese people: The Lifelines Cohort

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oyuntugs Byambasukh ◽  
Petra Vinke ◽  
Daan Kromhout ◽  
Gerjan Navis ◽  
Eva Corpeleijn
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Muscle Mass ◽  
Body Weight Gain ◽  
Average Weight ◽  
Obese People ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Younger Men ◽  
Average Weight Gain

Abstract Objectives: We investigated associations between daily-life physical activity (PA) and prospective weight gain in non-obese people. We also examined whether these associations were independent of other lifestyle factors and changes in muscle mass and whether they were age-dependent and changed over a person’s life course. Methods: The data were extracted from the Lifelines cohort study (N=52,498; 43.5% men) and excluded obese individuals (BMI>30kg/m 2 ). We used the validated SQUASH questionnaire to estimate moderate-to-vigorous (MVPA; MET≥4), moderate (MPA; MET between 4 and 6.5) and vigorous PA (VPA; MET≥6.5) within non-occupational (commuting and leisure) and occupational domains. Body weight was objectively measured and changes were standardized to a 4-year period. Separate analyses, adjusted for age, educational level, diet, smoking, alcohol consumption and changes in creatinine excretion (a marker of muscle mass), were performed for men and women. Results: The average weight gain was +0.45±0.03 kg in women. Relative to each reference groups (No-MVPA, No-MPA and No-VPA), non-occupational MVPA (Beta (95%CI): -0.34 kg (-0.56;-0.13)), MPA (-0.32 kg (-0.54;-0.10)) and VPA (-0.30 kg (-0.43;-0.18)) were associated with less gain in body weight in women after adjusting for potential confounders, described above. These associations were dose-dependent when physically active individuals were divided in tertiles. Beta-coefficients (95%CI) for the lowest, middle, and highest MVPA tertiles relative to the ‘No-MVPA’ were, respectively, -0.24 (-0.47;-0.02), -0.31 (-0.53;-0.08), and -0.38 (-0.61;-0.16) kg. The average weight gain in men was +0.13±0.03 kg, and only non-occupational VPA was associated with less body weight gain. Beta-coefficients (95%CI) for the VPA tertiles relative to the ‘No-VPA’ group were, respectively, -0.25 (-0.42;-0.09), -0.19 (-0.38;-0.01) and -0.20 (-0.38;-0.02) kg. However, after adjusting for potential confounders, the association was no longer significant in men. The potential benefits of non-occupational PA were age-stratified and mainly observed in younger adults (men: <35 years; women: <55 years). Moreover, occupational MVPA was not associated with favourable changes in body weight in males and females. Conclusion: Higher non-occupational MVPA, MPA, and VPA were associated with less weight gain in women <55 years. In younger men (<35 years), only non-occupational VPA was associated with less weight gain.

scholarly journals Prevalence of sufficient MVPA among Thai adults: pooled panel data analysis from Thailand’s surveillance on physical activity 2012–2019

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Piyawat Katewongsa ◽  
Chutima Yousomboon ◽  
Narumol Haemathulin ◽  
Niramon Rasri ◽  
Dyah Anantalia Widyastari
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Panel Data ◽  
Panel Data Analysis ◽  
Work Force ◽  
Pooled Analysis ◽  
Recreational Physical Activity ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Background The role of data in informing decision makers in formulating policy to improve population health is undeniably important. During the past few years, the Thai government has undertaken continuous health promotion campaigns and programs. Nevertheless, evidence of how physical activity (PA) has improved is lacking. This study aims to present PA prevalence and trends from nationally-representative surveillance data collected during 2012–2019. Methods This study employed 8 rounds of Thailand’s Surveillance on Physical Activity (SPA) survey from 2012 to 2019 as a pooled analysis from two-panel data (SPA2012–2016 and SPA2017–2019). Multistage random sampling was applied to select Thai adults aged 18 or over to produce a nationally-representative dataset, by considering the place of residence (urban or rural), gender, and single year of age. Face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire were conducted in 5 regions, 13 provinces, and 36 villages to follow up 5648 individuals in Panel 1 (SPA2012–2016) and 6074 persons in Panel 2 (SPA2017–2019). Results The prevalence (%) of Thai adults who met WHO recommendations on sufficient PA tended to increase over time, from 66.6 (CI 65–68) in SPA2012 to 70.1 (CI 69–71), 69.5 (CI 68–71), 73.1 (CI 72–74), 70.6 (CI 69–72), 73.0 (CI 72–74), 75.6 (CI 74–77), and 74.3 (73–75) in SPA2013–2019, respectively. Thai females are less physically active than males, and the prevalence of sufficient moderate and vigorous PA (MVPA) was highest among middle-aged adults (35–64 years), and lowest among older adults (65+ years). Work-related PA dominated the cumulative minutes of MVPA per week, followed by recreational PA. Conclusion The prevalence of sufficient MVPA has fluctuated over time with a tendency to increase in the most recent years. Work-related is the most common modes of PA among Thai adults, implying further improvement in recreational physical activity is required. Workplace intervention should also be the focus in improving PA of Thai adults by encouraging their work force to engage in more occupational PA.

Perceived Barriers to Physical Activity among Adult Lesbians

2008 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 68-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle R. Brittain ◽  
Nancy C. Gyurcsik ◽  
Mary McElroy
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Health Benefits ◽  
Perceived Barriers ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Moderate Physical Activity ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Web Based ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Specific Barriers

Despite the health benefits derived from regular participation in moderate physical activity, the majority of adult lesbians are not physically active. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between moderate physical activity and the perceived presence and extent of limitation of 30 general and 10 lesbian-specific barriers. The participants were 516 self-identified adult lesbians who completed a web-based survey. Compared to physically active participants, participants who were insufficiently active reported more general barriers and a significantly higher extent of limitation of general and lesbian-specific barriers overall. Insufficiently active participants also differed in the perceived presence of one of the five most frequently experienced barriers and in the extent of limitation of three of those five barriers. The study’s findings suggest that the impact of barriers may be alleviated through the use of appropriately tailored strategies to help lesbians cope with them. Future research should further examine whether lesbians experience additional population-specific barriers.

scholarly journals Assessment of Physical Activity Patterns in Adolescent Patients with Anorexia Nervosa and Their Effect on Weight Gain

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 727 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miriam Kemmer ◽  
Christoph U. Correll ◽  
Tobias Hofmann ◽  
Andreas Stengel ◽  
Julia Grosser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Anorexia Nervosa ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Inpatient Treatment ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Metabolic Equivalent ◽  
High Level ◽  
Over Time

(1) Background: Altered physical activity (PA) affects weight recovery in anorexia nervosa (AN) patients. The study aimed to objectively characterize PA patterns and their effect on weight trajectory in adolescent AN patients. (2) Methods: PA was assessed in 47 patients on admission to inpatient treatment, in n = 25 of these patients again 4 weeks after discharge (follow-up, FU), as well as in 20 adolescent healthy controls using the Sense Wear™ armband. The following PA categories were defined by metabolic equivalent (MET) ranges: sedentary behavior (SB), light (LPA), moderate (MPA), vigorous (VPA), and high-level PA (HLPA= MPA + VPA). (3) Results: LPA on admission was significantly higher in AN patients than in controls (103 vs. 55 min/d, p < 0.001), and LPA in AN decreased over time to 90 min/d (p = 0.006). Patients with higher admission LPA (n = 12) still had elevated LPA at FU (p = 0.003). High admission LPA was associated with a higher inpatient BMI percentage gain (ΔBMI%; 18.2% ± 10.0% vs. 12.0% ± 9.7%, p = 0.037) but with a loss of ΔBMI% at FU (−2.3% ± 3.6% vs. 0.8% ± 3.6%, p = 0.045). HLPA at baseline was associated with a lower inpatient ΔBMI% (p = 0.045). (4) Conclusion: Elevated LPA in AN patients decreased after inpatient treatment, and PA patterns had an impact on weight trajectory.

scholarly journals Health Benefits of Physical Activity: A Strengths-Based Approach

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 2044 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darren E. R. Warburton ◽  
Shannon S. D. Bredin
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Health Benefits ◽  
Health And Wellness ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Great Opportunity ◽  
Wellness Promotion ◽  
Exercise Participation ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Specific Volumes

Our special series on Cardiac Rehabilitation outlined the importance of routine physical activity and/or exercise participation in the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease and many other chronic medical conditions. The evidence is overwhelming, demonstrating that nearly everyone can benefit from becoming more physically active. This messaging has been widely disseminated at regional, national, and international levels. Often, this messaging highlights a physical inactivity crisis and the health perils of not engaging in sufficient amounts of physical activity. This deficits-based messaging often includes generic threshold-based recommendations stating that health benefits can only be accrued with specific volumes or intensities of physical activity. In this Editorial, we argue that the current generic and deficits-based messaging misses a great opportunity to focus on the positive and to facilitate hope and real change at the individual, community, and population levels. We advocate a strengths-based approach to health and wellness promotion that focuses on the innate strengths of individuals, families, and communities to enable self-empowerment and self-determination related to health and wellness. By taking a strengths-based approach, we can build hope, promoting the positive aspects of routine physical activity and exercise participation and providing a greater opportunity to enhance health and wellbeing for everyone.

scholarly journals A qualitative exploration of potential determinants of accelerated summer weight gain among school-age children: perspectives from parents

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsay A. Tanskey ◽  
Jeanne P. Goldberg ◽  
Kenneth Chui ◽  
Aviva Must ◽  
Catherine M. Wright ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
The United States ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
School Age Children ◽  
Daily Routine ◽  
School Age ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
School Year

Abstract Background There is growing evidence that school children in the United States gain weight more rapidly during the summer than the school year, but few studies have explored the causes of this phenomenon. The goal of this study was to qualitatively explore potential determinants of accelerated summer weight gain by interviewing parents of school-age children. Methods Key informant interviews were conducted with parents of third and fourth grade students enrolled in a school-based physical activity intervention in three peri-urban communities in Eastern Massachusetts. A structured interview guide was developed to assess school year and summertime differences in child diet, physical activity, daily routine, and family rules. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were coded and major themes were identified using thematic analysis. Results Summer activities varied substantially by family. Many parents characterized summer as a time with less structure and more relaxed rules, particularly around bedtime and screen use. Parents perceived their child to be more physically active in the summer and reported few barriers to summertime physical activity. Parents reported increases in both positive (increased consumption of fruits and vegetables) and negative (increased consumption of “sweets” and “junk foods”) dietary behaviors. They highlighted several stressors unique to summer, such as the high cost of camps and the need to coordinate childcare and manage children’s time. Conclusions Parents perceived their children to be more physically active in the summer and consume more fruits and vegetables than during the school year. However, they also perceived children to consume more energy-dense, nutrient poor foods, engage in more screen time, and have later bedtimes during the summer. These behaviors are important targets for summertime obesity prevention interventions. Large-scale quantitative studies are needed to determine whether these parent perceptions reflect meaningful risk factors for accelerated summer weight gain.

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