scholarly journals Health Literacy and Physical Activity: A Systematic Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (12) ◽  
pp. 1259-1274
Author(s):  
Alessandra Buja ◽  
Andrea Rabensteiner ◽  
Milena Sperotto ◽  
Giulia Grotto ◽  
Chiara Bertoncello ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Observational Studies ◽  
Intervention Studies ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Current Data ◽  
Noncommunicable Diseases ◽  
Significant Positive Association ◽  
Health Promotion Interventions

Background: The importance of health literacy (HL) in health promotion is increasingly clear and acknowledged globally, especially when addressing noncommunicable diseases. This paper aimed to collect and summarize all current data from observational studies generating evidence of the association between HL and physical activity (PA) and to analyze intervention studies on the promotion of PA to ascertain whether HL moderates the efficacy of such intervention. Methods: A comprehensive systematic literature search of observational studies investigating the association between HL and PA was performed. Intervention studies on the promotion of PA that also measured the HL levels of participants and its effect on the outcome of the intervention were also identified. Results: Of the 22 studies included in this review, 18 found a significant positive association between high HL and high levels of PA. The only intervention study among them indicated that HL was not a significant moderator of the intervention’s effectiveness. Conclusion: HL can enable individuals to make deliberate choices about their PA and thus contribute to preventing many chronic noncommunicable diseases. That said, low levels of HL do not seem to influence the efficacy of health promotion interventions.

scholarly journals Association between health literacy and dietary intake of sugar, fat and salt: a systematic review

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Alessandra Buja ◽  
Giulia Grotto ◽  
Laura Montecchio ◽  
Elisa De Battisti ◽  
Milena Sperotto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Dietary Intake ◽  
Observational Studies ◽  
Intervention Studies ◽  
Current Data ◽  
Fat Intake ◽  
Sugar Intake ◽  
Healthy Nutrition ◽  
The One ◽  
Health Promotion Interventions

Abstract Objectives: To collect and summarise all current data from observational studies, generating evidence of the association between health literacy (HL) and the dietary intake of sugar, salt and fat, to analyse intervention studies on the promotion of an appropriate dietary intake of the above-mentioned nutrients and to ascertain whether HL moderates the efficacy of such intervention. Design: A systematic literature search of analytical observational studies on the association between HL and dietary intake of sugar, salt and fat was performed in Medline and Scopus databases. Intervention studies on the promotion of healthy nutrition that concerned the intake of sugar, salt and fat were also assessed. Results: Of the eight observational studies included in this review, five investigated dietary intake of sugar, one focused on salt, one assessed sugar and salt and one analysed the fat intake. The results of the five studies assessing sugar were mixed: three found an association between low levels of HL and a high sugar intake, one found this association only for boys and two found no evidence of any association. The two studies assessing salt and the one assessing fat found no evidence of any association with HL. One intervention study on the sugar intake concluded that HL was not a significant moderator of the intervention’s effectiveness. Conclusion: No evidence of any association between HL and salt and fat intake emerged, while for sugar, the results are mixed. More work is needed to better understand the moderating effects of HL on the outcomes of health promotion interventions.

scholarly journals Physical Activity and Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet among Spanish Employees in a Health-Promotion Program before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Sanitas-Healthy Cities Challenge

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 2735
Author(s):  
Evelia Franco ◽  
Jesús Urosa ◽  
Rubén Barakat ◽  
Ignacio Refoyo
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Health Promotion Program ◽  
Noncommunicable Diseases ◽  
Healthy Cities ◽  
Sedentary Behaviors ◽  
Promotion Program ◽  
The Mediterranean

Physical activity and a healthy diet are key factors for avoiding major noncommunicable diseases. The aim of the present study was to analyze how physical activity (PA) and adherence to the Mediterranean diet among employees participating in the Healthy Cities program have been affected during confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The sample was composed of 297 employees from 40 leading companies based in Spain, who participated in the 5th edition of the Sanitas “Healthy Cities” challenge. The participants (148 women and 149 men), aged between 24 and 63 years old (M = 42.76; SD = 7.79) completed the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and the PREDIMED (Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea) questionnaire to measure adherence to the Mediterranean diet before and during the pandemic. Pearson χ2 tests revealed that workers were more likely to show sedentary behaviors during the pandemic than before (83.5% vs. 66.7%). Additionally, they were more likely to reach high levels of PA (51.2% vs. 64%), and Wilcoxon tests revealed that energy expenditure measured in Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET) was higher during the pandemic (4199.03 METs) than before (3735.32 METs), due to an increase in moderate PA. Lastly, a higher adherence to a Mediterranean diet during the pandemic (76.4%) than before (54.5%) was reported. The findings of this investigation suggest a positive effect of working from home for employees involved in a health-promotion program, and highlight the relevance of this kind of action among this population.

Evaluating a Self-Determination Model of Physical Activity and Exercise in People With Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain

2021 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 248-262
Author(s):  
Jia Rung Wu ◽  
Jessica Brooks ◽  
Fong Chan ◽  
Kanako Iwanaga ◽  
Nicole Ditchman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Musculoskeletal Pain ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Autonomous Motivation ◽  
Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Physical Activity And Exercise ◽  
Health Promotion Interventions

BackgroundResearch evidence supports the assertion that healthy employees are happier and more productive. Employers prefer to hire healthy workers to reduce absenteeism. Rehabilitation counselors have started to explore health promotion interventions to help individuals with chronic health conditions and disability improve their physical and mental health as a strategy to increase their employment opportunities.PurposeThe present study evaluated a self-determination theory (SDT) model of physical activity and exercise in a sample of 218 individuals with chronic musculoskeletal pain using structural equation modeling.ResultsThe SDT model fit the data well, accounting for 54% of the variance in physical activity and exercise. Relatedness was significantly associated with autonomous motivation for physical activity and exercise. Autonomous motivation was associated with competency. Competency was associated with physical activity and exercise. Autonomous motivation and competency mediated relatedness and physical activity and exercise.ImplicationsThis study contributes to an emerging body of theory-informed health promotion literature and identifies the specific pathways that will increase the motivation to engage in physical activity and exercise. Findings can be used to design and validate theory-driven health promotion interventions as an employment strategy for people with chronic musculoskeletal pain receiving vocational rehabilitation services.

scholarly journals Health Literacy, Socio-Economic Determinants, and Healthy Behaviours: Results from a Large Representative Sample of Tuscany Region, Italy

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (23) ◽  
pp. 12432
Author(s):  
Patrizio Zanobini ◽  
Chiara Lorini ◽  
Vieri Lastrucci ◽  
Valentina Minardi ◽  
Valentina Possenti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Strong Predictor ◽  
Social Determinant ◽  
Noncommunicable Diseases ◽  
Behavioral Risk ◽  
Financial Status ◽  
Low Education ◽  
Foreign Nationality

Background: Health Literacy (HL) is one of the main determinants of health and is crucial for the prevention of noncommunicable diseases, by influencing key health-related behaviours. The aim of the present study was to assess the role of HL and sociodemographic factors in predicting the adoption of two healthy behaviours—physical activity and fruits and vegetables consumption. Methods: This study was conducted on the Tuscan population subsample of the Italian Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System in 2017–2018. HL was assessed using the Italian version of the six-item European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire (HLS-EU-Q6). Results: About 40% of the 7157 interviewees reported an inadequate or problematic HL level. Female sex, poor financial status, foreign nationality, and low education were associated with a problematic HL level, while an inadequate HL level was associated with being 50–69 years old, low education level, foreign nationality, poor financial status and unemployment or inactive status. Inadequate HL level was a strong predictor of both eating less than three portions of fruits/vegetables per day and not engaging in sufficient PA during leisure times. Conclusions: Our findings showed that an inadequate level of HL could negatively affect physical activity and diet, independently from the other sociodemographic conditions, confirming the role of HL as a relevant social determinant of health.

Associations Between Physical Activity Enjoyment and Age-Related Decline in Physical Activity in Children—Results From a Longitudinal Within-Person Study

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Petra Haas ◽  
Chih-Hsiang Yang ◽  
Genevieve F. Dunton
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Physical Activities ◽  
Dynamic Factor ◽  
Multilevel Analyses ◽  
Affective Factors ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Health Promotion Interventions ◽  
Activity Enjoyment

Physical activity declines from childhood to adolescence. Affective factors may partially account for this decline. The present study investigated whether within-person changes in children’s enjoyment of physical activity are associated with the age-related decline in physical activity. Children (N = 169, 54% female, 56% Hispanic; 8–12 years old at enrollment) took part in a longitudinal study with six assessment waves across 3 years. At each wave, enjoyment of physical activity was reported, and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was measured with an accelerometer across seven consecutive days. MVPA and enjoyment of physical activity both declined across waves. Multilevel analyses revealed that within-person changes in enjoyment moderated the effects of age on within-person changes in MVPA. Enjoyment appeared to be a dynamic factor that buffered against the age-related decline in physical activity in youth. These findings call for health promotion interventions that encourage enjoyable physical activities.

scholarly journals Two-year longitudinal health-related fitness, anthropometry and body composition status amongst adolescents in Tlokwe Municipality: The PAHL Study

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Oluwatoyi O. Toriola ◽  
Makama A. Monyeki ◽  
Abel L. Toriola
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Body Composition ◽  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Physical Activity Intervention ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Endurance Running ◽  
Significant Positive Association ◽  
Negatively Associated ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Health Related Fitness

Aim: To evaluate a two-year longitudinal development of health-related fitness, anthropometry and body composition status amongst adolescents in Tlokwe Municipality, Potchefstroom, South Africa.Setting: A total of 283 high-school learners (111 boys and 172 girls) of ages 14 and 15 years who were part of the ongoing Physical Activity and Health Longitudinal Study (PAHLS) participated in the study. For the purpose of the present study, data collected for 2011 and 2012 for anthropometric, body composition and health-related physical fitness were used.Results: Body mass index (BMI) classification of boys and girls for 2011 and 2012 showed that 24.3% of them were underweight compared with 21% in 2012. In 2011, 50% of boys and girls had normal bodyweight compared with 52% in 2012, whilst 25.5% of the total group of participants were overweight compared with 27% in 2012. Both boys and girls showed significant increases of 5.9% in body fat (BF) and 3.2 kg in body weight over two years’ measurements, respectively. Regarding health-related fitness (i.e BAH), boys showed an increase of 14.8 seconds whilst girls gained 9.6 seconds. Significant decreases were found for sit-ups in both boys and girls. A significant VO2max increase of 2.9 mL/kg/min. was found in boys over the time period. A non-significant decrease of -0.5 mL/kg/min. was observed in girls. Regression coefficients showed that changes in BMI were inversely associated with those in health-related physical fitness. The changes in percentage BF were negatively associated with standing broad jump (SBJ), bent arm hang (BAH) and VO2 max in both boys and girls. A low significant positive association was found between changes in waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and SBJ in both genders, whilst inverse low associations were found between WHtR and BAH in girls and for VO2max in both genders.Conclusion: Changes in BMI, %BF and WHtR were negatively associated with strength and running performances in the participating children. The relative increase in overweight, especially in girls, negatively affected their endurance running and static strength performances. The health implications of the observed findings are discussed and recommendations offered for physical activity intervention in school physical education (PE) programmes.

The Impact of Health Promotion Interventions on Telomere Length: A Systematic Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 633-647
Author(s):  
Shan Qiao ◽  
Yanping Jiang ◽  
Xiaoming Li
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Weight Loss ◽  
Telomere Length ◽  
Intervention Studies ◽  
Data Extraction ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Health Promotion Intervention ◽  
Exclusion Criteria ◽  
Telomere Shortening ◽  
Health Promotion Interventions

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of health promotion interventions in delaying telomere shortening (a biomarker for aging). Data Source: PubMed, PsychINFO, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library databases. Study Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria: Inclusion criteria: (1) empirical studies involving human subjects; (2) health promotion intervention studies including both randomized control trials (RCTs) and non-RCTs.; (3) measured telomere length as an intervention outcome; and (4) were written in English. Exclusion criteria: (1) observational studies without any health promotion intervention practices and (2) did not report intervention effects. Data Extraction: Data extraction was performed by two reviewers following the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis guidelines. Data Synthesis: Substantial heterogeneity in intervention type and study design in the included studies precluded a meta-analysis. We conducted a narrative synthesis instead. Results: Thirty studies were included in the review, of which 16 were RCTs. One-third of the included studies reported significant intervention impacts in delaying telomere shortening, with relatively consistent significant results emerged from weight-loss interventions and interventions involving multiple lifestyle modification components (eg, diet and exercise). Most of supplement intervention studies observed null effects in telomere length. Conclusions: Weight-loss and comprehensive lifestyle intervention strategies show encouraging impacts in delaying telomere shortening. More rigorous studies targeting populations at different age stages through life span are needed.

The Influence of Physical Activity on Cardiometabolic Biomarkers in Youths: A Review

2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernard Gutin ◽  
Scott Owens
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Observational Studies ◽  
Intervention Studies ◽  
Physical Activity Intervention ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Organ Damage ◽  
Preventive Interventions ◽  
Active Lifestyle ◽  
Physically Active

The purposes of this article were to (1): review recent studies of relations between physical activity and cardiometabolic biomarkers of youths (2); highlight areas in which additional research is needed; and (3) make recommendations for preventive interventions. Observational studies show that youths who engage in high amounts of moderate-vigorous physical activity display a more favorable cardiometabolic biomarker profile than youths who engage in lesser amounts of moderate-vigorous physical activity. Intervention studies in obese youths show that favorable changes in biomarkers are produced by moderate-vigorous physical activity doses of 150–180 min/week. However, for nonobese youths, intervention studies suggest that such doses are not effective; higher moderate-vigorous physical activity doses of approximately 300 min/week seem necessary. Continuing a physically active lifestyle from childhood into the adult years will enable people to maintain less end-organ damage and lower rates of morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

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