Limited Improvements in Health Behaviors Suggest Need to Review Approaches to Health Promotion: A Repeated, Cross-Sectional Study

2020 ◽  
pp. 155982762090937
Author(s):  
Craig M. Becker ◽  
Kerry Sewell ◽  
Hui Bian ◽  
Joseph G. L. Lee

Purpose. To broadly assess changes in key health behaviors (physical activity, fruit and vegetable consumption, smoking, and alcohol consumption) and one outcome (body mass index) between 2001-2006 and 2011-2016. Design. Repeated cross-sectional study. Setting. The United States of America. Participants. Noninstitutionalized adults age 24 to 39 participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Analysis. We used 2-sample t tests and χ2 tests to compare differences in health behaviors between the 2 time periods. Results. Data revealed a downward trend in both moderate and vigorous physical activity (P = .00), and fruit and vegetable consumption decreased (P = .003). Cigarette smoking decreased (P = .04), and there was no substantive change in heavy drinking between the 2 time periods. Body mass index was higher in the later time period (P = .00). Conclusion. Despite sustained funding efforts, we found little evidence that health behaviors improved between the 2 time periods. Indeed, many health behaviors have remained the same or worsened over time. These findings suggest the need to reflect on the appropriateness of the health promotion approaches being used.

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 72-78
Author(s):  
Herman Yosef Limpat Wihastyoko ◽  
Dorothea R. Kusumaningrat ◽  
Ellenora R. Mustikaningrat ◽  
Gisella S. Wruhastanti ◽  
Edith S. Rinhastyanti

COVID-19 pandemic has become the major problem over the world since 2019. This spreading has affected every section in Indonesia. Therefore, social distancing and restriction have been the primary solution this far. However, this policy trigger high sedentary behavior and could affect Body Mass Index (BMI) profile. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between Work From Home (WFH) frequency and BMI profile during COVID-19 based on physical activity. A total of 205 participants aged 18 and over who were students, private and government employees were participated in a cross-sectional study. Participants were given a questionnaire through google form online and completed the questions about duration of WFH, BMI status, and physical activity. All of the variables were analyzed. Participants engaged in this study were 40% students, 33% private employees, 27% government employees. The majority of the population had overweight BMI status (39.2%). Furthermore, most participants were doing light physical activity (74.5%). About 46.1 % of the participants rarely doing WFH (1-2 days). On the other side, a population with overweight BMI status were often doing WFH. Based on the research about the effect of pandemic on BMI profile, it can be concluded that the BMI status of the majority of respondents is overweight, and most of the respondent’s physical activity are rare. The amount of WFH frequencies can affect BMI status profile.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vilelmine Carayanni ◽  
Elpis Vlachopadopoulou ◽  
Dimitra Koutsouki ◽  
Gregory C. Bogdanis ◽  
Theodora Psaltopoulou ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The aim of the present study was to examine the influence of body mass index category, as well as of demographic and socioeconomic factors on the participation in organized physical activity (OPA) of schoolchildren attending primary and secondary school in Greece. Furthermore, to compare the difference between the two levels. Methods This is a cross-sectional study conducted on a representative elementary and secondary school cohort, derived using stratification and probability proportional to size (PPS) methodology. The final sample included 18,264 subjects, aged 6 to 15 years. Parents of all students and students of secondary schools fulfilled validated questionnaires evaluating socioeconomic status, and participation to OPA. International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) cut offs were used to classify the children. Univariate and multivariate logistic models examined factors associated with OPA. All analyses were stratified by school level. Results Sport participation was not reported in 37.7 and 54.4% of primary and secondary schoolchildren respectively. Having BMI within normal range, being male, having parents participating in an organized activity and a high socio-economic status seem to encourage participation in OPA in both school levels. Conclusions Children with normal BMI are more likely to participate in OPA. Parents as role model as well as higher socioeconomic status of the family emerge as important influencers. Participation in OPA declines as students enter secondary school. Interventions focusing on increasing physical education and activity into school daily program should be tailored to the specific needs of different weight categories and can possibly eliminate the impact of SES inequalities.


2006 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 315-326 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Mullie ◽  
P. Clarys ◽  
D. De Ridder ◽  
P. Deriemaeker ◽  
N. Duvigneaud ◽  
...  

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Karly Geller ◽  
Jessica Maureen Harris ◽  
Jennifer A. Moore

Objective. The purpose of this study was to examine if environmental accessibility to healthy resources was associated with college students’ corresponding health behaviors and body mass index (BMI). This study looked at college students’ proximity and distance to environmental influence, such as fitness centers and fast food restaurants in relation to their physical activity (PA), fruit and vegetable consumption (FVC), and BMI. Methods. A sample of 156 college students from a mid-western university completed the cross-sectional survey on proximity to campus-related environmental resources. Student addresses were used to calculate accessibility to healthy environmental resources, including proximity to the university recreational facility and local grocery store. Physical activity was calculated into metabolic equivalents (METs) and dietary behavior included measures of daily fruit and vegetable consumption and weekly fast food meals. Analysis. Linear regression was used to estimate differences in participants’ multiple health behavior and BMI based on proximity to certain environmental resources.Results. Of the 156 students who participated in the current study, 79% were female and 87% were White, Non-Hispanic, with a mean age of 20.13±1.91. No associations between behaviors and BMI were detected. Proximity to the campus recreational facility significantly predicted lower BMI (p=0.01); and distance to the community grocery store was associated with increased BMI (p=0.01). Conclusion. Findings suggested associations between proximity to environmental resources and participants’ BMI; however, this influence occurred outside the measured health behaviors. Longitudinal examinations are needed to determine the potential impact of resource proximity on changes in participants’ health behavior and BMI overtime. 


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