scholarly journals A healthy diet and physical activity are important to promote healthy ageing among older Chinese people

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (12) ◽  
pp. 6061-6081 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zeyun Feng ◽  
Jane Murray Cramm ◽  
Anna Petra Nieboer

Objective To examine the associations between multiple health behaviours and health outcomes among older Chinese adults. Methods Data from the World Health Organization’s Study on global AGEing and adult health Wave 1 (2007–2010), collected among the older Chinese population, were included in this study. Smoking, diet, and physical activity were analysed by linear regression for any associations with depressive symptoms, quality of life (QoL), cognitive function, and physical function. Results A total of 13 367 participants aged >49 years were included in the analyses. After controlling for key socioeconomic factors, healthy diet was significantly associated with higher QoL (β = 0.099) and better cognitive function (β = 0.023). Physical activity was significantly associated with fewer depressive symptoms (β = –0.020), higher QoL (β = 0.086), better cognitive function (β = 0.072), and better physical function (β = –0.155 [higher scores = poorer physical function]). No relationship was found between smoking and any health-related outcome included in this study. Conclusion This study demonstrates the importance of healthy diet and physical activity for health outcomes in the older Chinese population.

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 167-168
Author(s):  
Ying-Yu Chao ◽  
Jin Young Seo ◽  
Mei-Lan Chen ◽  
Peijia Zha

Abstract Purpose: Chinese Americans represent the largest Asian ethnic subgroup in the United States. Depression is the most common mental health problem among older adults. However, we have a limited understanding of depressive symptoms among older Chinese immigrants. The study aimed to examine the potential factors associated with depressive symptoms among older Chinese immigrants in U.S. Methods: We recruited participants from psychiatric clinics who sought professional help in New York City. Inclusion criteria were Chinese immigrants from Asian countries 50 years or older; able to speak and understand either Mandarin or Cantonese; and had a diagnosis with major depressive disorder. Depressive symptoms were measured with Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology; cognitive function was measured with Montreal cognitive assessment; sleep quality was measured with Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and physical activity was measured with International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression were performed. Results: Participants were ninety-nine Chinese older immigrants (mean age: 60.69 ± 7.62 years). Participants who had more children (p < .05), poor health status (p < .01), poor quality of life (p < .01), less social support (p < .01), and need help with activities of daily living (p < .05) had more depressive symptoms. Cognitive function, sleep quality, and physical activity were significantly associated with depressive symptoms. Conclusions & Implications: Poor cognitive function, poor sleep quality, and less physical activity were associated with depressive symptoms. Our results provide knowledge for developing culturally tailored self-management interventions for older Chinese immigrants with depressive disorder in managed care settings.


2015 ◽  
Vol 47 ◽  
pp. 334
Author(s):  
Rachel L. Ondrejko ◽  
Ian D. Connors ◽  
John D. Kipp ◽  
Maggie E. Maier ◽  
Kelsey M. Freson ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 1986 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zan Gao ◽  
Jung Eun Lee ◽  
Daniel J. McDonough ◽  
Callie Albers

The December 2019 COVID-19 outbreak in China has led to worldwide quarantine, as recommended by local governments and the World Health Organization. Particularly affected are older adults (i.e., those aged ≥ 65 years) who are at elevated risk for various adverse health outcomes, including declines in motor ability and physical activity (PA) participation, increased obesity, impaired cognition, and various psychological disorders. Thus, given the secular increases in the older adult population, novel and effective intervention strategies are necessary to improve physical activity behaviors and health in this population. Virtual reality (VR)-integrated exercise is a promising intervention strategy, which has been utilized in healthcare fields like stroke rehabilitation and psychotherapy. Therefore, the purpose of this editorial is to synthesize recent research examining the efficacy and effectiveness of VR exercise in the promotion of favorable health outcomes among the older adults. Results indicate the application of VR exercise to facilitate improved physical outcomes (e.g., enhanced motor ability, reduced obesity), cognition and psychological outcomes. VR exercise has also been observed to be an effective intervention strategy for fall prevention in this population. Future research should employ more rigorous research designs to allow for a more robust quantitative synthesis of the effect of VR exercise on the preceding outcomes to elucidate which type(s) of VR-based PA interventions are most effective in promoting improved health outcomes among older adults. Findings from this study will better inform the development of technology-savvy PA programs for wellness promotion in older adults who practice social distancing and exercise from home under the unprecedented global health crisis.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. e046035
Author(s):  
Suparee Boonmanunt ◽  
Oraluck Pattanaprateep ◽  
Boonsong Ongphiphadhanakul ◽  
Gareth McKay ◽  
John Attia ◽  
...  

IntroductionObesity and being overweight are major risk factors for metabolic syndrome and non-communicable diseases. Despite the recommendation that a healthy diet and physical activity can reduce the severity of these diseases, many fail to adhere to these measures. From a behavioural economic perspective, adherence to such measures can be encouraged through financial incentives. However, additional related behavioural economic approaches may improve the effectiveness of an incentive programme. As such, we have developed a protocol for a systematic review and network meta-analysis to summarise the current evidence from financial incentive programmes with and without behavioural economic insights for promoting healthy diet and physical activity.Methods and analysisPrevious systematic reviews, meta-analyses and individual studies were identified from Medline and Scopus in June 2020 and will be updated until December 2020. Individual studies will be selected and data extracted by two reviewers. Disagreement will be resolved by consensus or adjudicated by a third reviewer. A descriptive analysis will summarise the effectiveness of behavioural economic incentive programmes for promoting healthy diet and physical activity. Moreover, individual studies will be pooled using network meta-analyses where possible. I2 statistics and Cochran’s Q test will be used to assess heterogeneity. Risk of bias and publication bias, if appropriate, will be evaluated, as well as the overall strength of the evidence.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval for a systematic review and meta-analysis is not required. The findings will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42020198024.


2017 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 251-264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanne H. Lease ◽  
Christina L. Ingram ◽  
Emily L. Brown

The negative effects of stress and burnout on mental and physical health are widely known, as are the beneficial effects of physical activity. While the organizational literature emphasizes the value of meaningful work for employers and employees alike, the stress-buffering role of meaningful work in combination with physical activity is not known. The present study examined the (a) mediating role of burnout in the relationships between perceived stress and health risk behaviors (i.e., poor diet, tobacco use, and alcohol use) and depressive symptoms and (b) moderating roles of meaningful work and physical activity on the relationships between perceived stress and health outcomes. Participants were 229 employed adults. Perceived stress predicted physical health risk behaviors and depressive symptoms, but the direct and indirect negative effects of stress were stronger when meaningful work scores were lower. Findings offer support for the development of interventions that include enhancing work meaningfulness.


Author(s):  
Meng Ding ◽  
Ningxin Jia ◽  
Yanan Zhou ◽  
Bin Li

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the dose–response relationships of different dimensions of physical activity (intensity, time, frequency, capacity, and metabolic equivalent) with daily physical function (DPF) and cognitive function (CF) in Chinese adults with hypertension. Methods: The 6216 hypertensive patients included in this study were from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), which was conducted in 2015. Physical activity (PA) was divided into vigorous PA (VPA), moderate PA (MPA), and light PA (LPA). Linear regression models and binary logistic regression models were established to assess the associations with indicators. Results: Patients with VPA have a lower probability of impaired DPF; however, patients with VPA had lower CF scores. Patients with nearly all the aspects of MPA have lower rates of impaired DPF and higher CF scores (p < 0.05). Patients with LPA have a lower probability of impaired DPF and higher CF scores. In addition, patients with between 1800 and 2999 MET-minutes per week had the lowest rates of impaired DPF (OR = 0.10, 95% CI 0.02, 0.39) and the highest CF scores (β = 3.28, 95% CI 2.25, 4.31). Conclusions: This study found that patients with hypertension with moderate-intensity physical activity (nearly all aspects) and LPA had better DPF and CF. The best daily physical function and CF was with METs of 1800–2999 min per week. However, VPA should be recommended with caution in Chinese adults with hypertension.


2013 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Weichselbaum ◽  
B. Hooper ◽  
J. Buttriss ◽  
C. Theobald ◽  
V. Sgarabottolo ◽  
...  

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