scholarly journals Truckies' Nutrition and Physical Activity: A Cross-sectional Survey in Queensland, Australia

Author(s):  
Marguerite C. Sendall ◽  
Laura K. McCosker ◽  
Rahma Ahmed ◽  
Phil Crane

Truck drivers are at increased risk of diet- and physical activity-related chronic diseases. Despite this, there is a paucity of data about Australian truck drivers' diet and physical activity behaviors. A multiple choice and short response survey was distributed to truck drivers attending an Australian Truck Show. The survey asked about self-reported health, source of health information, number of serves of fruit, vegetables, unhealthy food, and sugary drink consumed per day, and frequency of moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity per week. The survey was completed by 231 truck drivers—almost all were male, with a mean age of 46 (range 20 to 71) years. Over 85% of survey respondents worked more than 9 hrs per day. Nearly 75% acknowledged the need to make changes to improve their health. Half consumed fewer serves of fruit and 88% consumed fewer serves of vegetables than national recommendations. Over 63% consumed at least one serve of unhealthy foods per day, and 65% drank at least one can of sugary drink per day. Most (80%) undertook less than moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity levels provided in national recommendations. Of concern, almost 90% of drivers had above the recommended body mass index—approximately 60% were obese. This is almost double the proportion found in the general population. These findings highlight the importance of health promotion to help drivers make better choices about their health behaviors, which are often underpinned by the limitations of their work environment. Health promotion in transport industry workplaces should be an important topic for future research.

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian R. MacIntosh ◽  
Juan M. Murias ◽  
Daniel A. Keir ◽  
Jamie M. Weir

A variety of health benefits associated with physical activity depends upon the frequency, intensity, duration, and type of exercise. Intensity of exercise is the most elusive of these elements and yet has important implications for the health benefits and particularly cardiovascular outcomes elicited by regular physical activity. Authorities recommend that we obtain 150min of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) each week. The current descriptions of moderate to vigorous intensity are not sufficient, and we wish to enhance understanding of MVPA by recognition of important boundaries that define these intensities. There are two key thresholds identified in incremental tests: ventilatory and lactate thresholds 1 and 2, which reflect boundaries related to individualized disturbance to homeostasis that are appropriate for prescribing exercise. VT2 and LT2 correspond with critical power/speed and respiratory compensation point. Moderate intensity physical activity approaches VT1 and LT1 and vigorous intensity physical activity is between the two thresholds (1 and 2). The common practice of prescribing exercise at a fixed metabolic rate (# of METs) or percentage of maximal heart rate or of maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2max) does not acknowledge the individual variability of these metabolic boundaries. As training adaptations occur, these boundaries will change in absolute and relative terms. Reassessment is necessary to maintain regular exercise in the moderate to vigorous intensity domains. Future research should consider using these metabolic boundaries for exercise prescription, so we will gain a better understanding of the specific physical activity induced health benefits.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Magdalena J. Konopka ◽  
Sebastian Köhler ◽  
Coen D. A. Stehouwer ◽  
Nicolaas C. Schaper ◽  
Ronald M. A. Henry ◽  
...  

Abstract Background This study examined the associations between accelerometer-derived sedentary time (ST), lower intensity physical activity (LPA), higher intensity physical activity (HPA) and the incidence of depressive symptoms over 4 years of follow-up. Methods We included 2082 participants from The Maastricht Study (mean ± s.d. age 60.1 ± 8.0 years; 51.2% men) without depressive symptoms at baseline. ST, LPA and HPA were measured with the ActivPAL3 activity monitor. Depressive symptoms were measured annually over 4 years of follow-up with the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Cox regression analysis was performed to examine the associations between ST, LPA, HPA and incident depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 ⩾ 10). Analyses were adjusted for total waking time per day, age, sex, education level, type 2 diabetes mellitus, body mass index, total energy intake, smoking status and alcohol use. Results During 7812.81 person-years of follow-up, 203 (9.8%) participants developed incident depressive symptoms. No significant associations [Hazard Ratio (95% confidence interval)] were found between sex-specific tertiles of ST (lowest v. highest tertile) [1.13 (0.76–1.66], or HPA (highest v. lowest tertile) [1.14 (0.78–1.69)] and incident depressive symptoms. LPA (highest v. lowest tertile) was statistically significantly associated with incident depressive symptoms in women [1.98 (1.19–3.29)], but not in men (p-interaction <0.01). Conclusions We did not observe an association between ST or HPA and incident depressive symptoms. Lower levels of daily LPA were associated with an increased risk of incident depressive symptoms in women. Future research is needed to investigate accelerometer-derived measured physical activity and ST with incident depressive symptoms, preferably stratified by sex.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Su Hyun Park ◽  
Jiali Yao ◽  
Clare Whitton ◽  
Xin Hui Chua ◽  
Suresh Rama Chandran ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Frequent and large fluctuations in blood glucose concentration during the day may increase risk of type 2 diabetes. It remains unclear how diet and physical activity affect glycemic variability in real-world conditions in persons without diabetes. OBJECTIVE We examined metabolic and lifestyle determinants (diet, physical activity, and sleep) of blood glucose levels over a seven-day period in people at high risk for diabetes METHODS Twenty-eight participants with a mean age of 46.0 (SD 9.9) years and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 27.5 (SD 1.8) kg/m2 underwent a mixed meal tolerance test to assess glucose homeostasis at baseline. Subsequently, they wore an accelerometer to assess movement behaviors, recorded their dietary intakes through a mobile phone application, and wore a flash glucose monitoring device that measured glucose levels every 15 min for seven days. Generalized estimating equation models were used to assess the associations of metabolic and lifestyle risk factors with daily mean glucose levels (mmol/L), the coefficient of variation (CV%) of glucose levels, and time-in-range (3.0 to 7.8 mmol/L, %). RESULTS A higher BMI (β = 0.12 per kg/m2; P = 0.01), body fat (β = 0.03 per kg; P = 0.01), and selected markers of hyperglycemia and insulin resistance from the meal tolerance test were associated with higher mean glucose levels during the seven days. Moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (β = -1.77 per hr./d, P = 0.008) and polyunsaturated fat intake (β = -2.23 per 5 energy %, P < 0.001) were independently associated with less variation in glucose levels (CV%). Higher protein (β = 0.90, P = 0.007) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (β = 3.21, P = 0.02) intakes were associated with more time-in-range. In contrast, higher carbohydrates intake was associated with less time-in-range (β = -0.59, P = 0.04). Sleep, sedentary behavior, or light intensity physical activity were not independently associated with glucose measures. CONCLUSIONS Body fatness was associated with higher mean glucose levels, and moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity was associated with less glycemic variability throughout a week. Diets with higher protein and polyunsaturated fat, and lower carbohydrates were associated with more time in normal glucose range. Physical activity and dietary composition can substantially influence glucose variation in people at high risk of diabetes.


2021 ◽  
pp. bjsports-2021-104231
Author(s):  
Jason M Nagata ◽  
Eric Vittinghoff ◽  
Kelley Pettee Gabriel ◽  
Andrea K Garber ◽  
Andrew E Moran ◽  
...  

ObjectivesTo determine the association between moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) trajectories (course over age and time) through the adult life course and onset of metabolic disease (diabetes and dyslipidaemia).MethodsWe analysed prospective community-based cohort data of 5115 participants in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study, who were black and white men and women aged 18–30 years at baseline (1985–1986) at four urban sites, collected through 30 years of follow-up. Individualised MVPA trajectories were developed for each participant using linear mixed models.ResultsLower estimated MVPA score at age 18 was associated with a 12% (95% CI 6% to 18%) higher odds of incident diabetes, a 4% (95% CI 1% to 7%) higher odds of incident low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and a 6% (95% CI 2% to 11%) higher odds of incident high triglycerides. Each additional annual 1-unit reduction in the MVPA score was associated with a 6% (95% CI 4% to 9%) higher annual odds of diabetes incidence and a 4% (95% CI 2% to 6%) higher annual odds of high triglyceride incidence. Analysing various MVPA trajectory groups, participants who were in the most active group at age 18 (over 300 min/week), but with sharp declines in midlife, had higher odds of high low-density lipoprotein and low HDL incidence, compared with those in the most active group at age 18 with subsequent gains.ConclusionGiven recent trends in declining MVPA across the life course and associated metabolic disease risk, young adulthood is an important time period for interventions to increase and begin the maintenance of MVPA.


Author(s):  
Bethany Barone Gibbs ◽  
Melissa A. Jones ◽  
John M. Jakicic ◽  
Arun Jeyabalan ◽  
Kara M. Whitaker ◽  
...  

Background: Though moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity is recommended, limited research exists on sedentary behavior (SED) during pregnancy. Methods: The authors conducted a prospective cohort study to describe objectively measured patterns of SED and activity during each trimester of pregnancy. Women wore thigh- (activPAL3) and waist-mounted (ActiGraph GT3X) activity monitors. SED and activity were compared across trimesters using likelihood ratio tests and described using group-based trajectories. Exploratory analyses associated SED and activity trajectories with adverse pregnancy outcomes and excessive gestational weight gain. Results: Pregnant women (n = 105; mean [SD] age = 31 [5] y; prepregnancy body mass index = 26.2 [6.6] kg/m2) had mean SED of 9.7, 9.5, and 9.5 hours per day (P = .062) across trimesters, respectively. Some activities differed across trimesters: standing (increased, P = .01), stepping (highest in second trimester, P = .04), steps per day (highest in second trimester, P = .008), and moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (decreased, P < .001). Prolonged SED (bouts ≥ 30 min) and bouted moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (≥10 min) were stable (P > .05). In exploratory analyses, higher SED and lower standing, stepping, and steps per day trajectories were associated with increased odds of adverse pregnancy outcomes (P < .05). No trajectories were associated with excessive gestational weight gain. Conclusions: Pregnant women exhibited stable SED of nearly 10 hours per day across pregnancy. Future research evaluating SED across pregnancy and adverse pregnancy outcome risk is warranted.


2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 447-459 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tehzeeb Zulfiqar ◽  
Christopher J Nolan ◽  
Cathy Banwell ◽  
Rosemary Young ◽  
Lynelle Boisseau ◽  
...  

Children of mothers affected by gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are at higher risk of long-term cardio-metabolic diseases. We explore the diet and physical activity knowledge and practices of Australian-born and overseas-born mothers with GDM history, for their three- to four-year-old children following antenatal health promotion education at a tertiary hospital. We conducted face-to-face, semi-structured interviews with 8 Australian-born and 15 overseas-born mothers with a history of GDM. Findings indicated that mothers of both groups were unaware of the increased health risks of their GDM for their children and could not recall receiving specific dietary or physical activity advice aimed at future child health. Their understanding of the diet and physical activity recommendations was inconsistent. Mothers of both groups expressed concern about the lack of reiteration of child health promotion messages following childbirth, particularly at postnatal follow-up visits. Diet and physical activity of the children of overseas-born mothers were adversely affected by inadequate maternal understanding of the recommendations due to language barriers, and child weight, healthy eating, and physical activity patterns derived from their home countries. We recommend enhanced health education for women with GDM on the future child health risks and their reduction by healthy lifestyle choices. This needs to be culturally relevant and reiterated after pregnancy.


Circulation ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 137 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua R Sparks ◽  
Xuewen F Wang

Background: Glucose concentrations in a fasted and during a glucose challenged state rely on different mechanisms for regulation. In a fasted state, hepatic regulation of glucose is important; while in a glucose challenged state, muscle glucose disposal becomes more important. Evidence suggests that physical activity of moderate or higher intensities can increase muscle glucose disposal during an insulin-stimulated state, but has less effect on hepatic insulin sensitivity. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between glucose concentrations (fasting and after an oral glucose ingestion) and minutes of physical activity at moderate- and vigorous-intensity in a large population. Methods: The sample included 2,807 adults (47.4% male and 52.6% female) aged 18-80 years who participated in the National Health and Nutritional Examination Surveys (NHANES) from 2013-2014 and who did not take any diabetic medications. Minutes being physically active at moderate- and vigorous-intensities during work, and recreationally, were collected using the Physical Activity Questionnaire, which was based on the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. Moderate-intensity physical activity was defined as any activity that caused a small increase in breathing or heart rate, while vigorous-intensity physical activity was defined as large increases in breathing or heart rate. Both intensities had to be performed for a minimum of 10 continuous minutes. Plasma glucose concentrations at fasting and 2 hours after consumption of a drink containing 75g glucose (2-hour glucose) were determined. Pearson product correlations were performed for analysis. Results: The population had 141±133 (mean±SD) minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity during work and 63±56 minutes recreationally, as well as 174±156 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity during work and 77±56 minutes recreationally. Minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity performed during work was associated with 2-hour plasma glucose concentrations (r=0.15; p=0.045); this association was not affected after adjusting for age, race, and sex (p=0.049), but was no longer significant after BMI was also adjusted (p=0.059). Recreational or total minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity, and moderate-intensity physical activity was not associated with 2-hour glucose (p>0.20). Additionally, none of the physical activity minutes was associated with fasting glucose (p>0.27). Conclusion: Self-reported vigorous-intensity physical activity during work was positively associated with 2-hour glucose, but not fasting glucose. The results are surprising. Further studies with objective physical activity measures are needed to examine the associations with fasting and 2-hour glucose.


2016 ◽  
pp. 889-907
Author(s):  
Sandul Yasobant

Health promotion and the maintenance of the quality of life are realized recently. Advancement in technologies offer new possibilities for both the promotion of positive health behaviors that were unimaginable even a decade ago. Though promoting physical activity has been proven an important component of health promotion by many researchers, still a lot of efforts on how to improve physical activity being provided by group of researchers. Technology such as pedometers, accelerometers, and heart rate monitors have been used to promote physical activity for years. Newer technologies such as global positioning system (GPS), geographic information systems (GIS), interactive video games, and persuasive technology, Internet-based physical activity interventions have been used recently to promote and change exercise behavior. This chapter seeks to provide a complete insight of technologies used to changing health behaviors especially physical health promotion and will take a forward to analyses all the issues while using these technologies and future research directions.


2019 ◽  
Vol 78 (5) ◽  
pp. 545-556 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camilla A McHugh ◽  
Lindsey Anderson ◽  
Jenny Lloyd ◽  
Stuart Logan ◽  
Katrina Wyatt

Objective: This paper uses a qualitative approach to explore the factors that influence diet and physical activity choices of 11–13-year-olds with a particular focus on the impact of the school environment. Design: Qualitative focus groups. Setting: Three purposively sampled secondary schools in Devon, UK. Method: A total of 53 students, aged 11–13, took part in six focus groups. Thematic, framework analysis was used to analyse the data. Result: Four overarching themes emerged: (1) health now and in the future; (2) the role of others; (3) provision, temptation and addiction; and (4) boundaries, strategies and support. Participants demonstrated good knowledge of what constitutes a healthy lifestyle and its importance for future health, although it was not necessarily seen as a priority at this stage of life. Key influences on their choices were their peers and family, although participants also identified that the school environment influences the food choices they make while there. Conclusion: In this study, 11–13-year-olds identified that schools could do more to support them to make healthier food choices. However, future research needs to understand the constraints schools face in terms of food provision in order to highlight possible opportunities for intervention.


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