COVID-19 and home confinement: data on physical activity

In March 14th 2020, the Spanish Government declared the “State of Emergency” due to the pandemic caused by the COVID-19 and all the population was forced to “shelter-at-home” for two weeks. Citizens had less than 24 hours to prepare for the selfquarantine. The goal of the present was to assess Spanish citizens’ physical activity practice at the end of the first week of the home quarantine. A total of 1858 Spanish citizens, 674 males and 1184 females (M = 40.18, SD = 15.84 years) agreed to participate. The study is descriptive in nature, based on an on-line questionnaire conducted seven days after the mandatory shelter-at-home health order issued by the Spanish Government. It included The International Physical Activity Questionnaire, Anthropometric parameters, Sociometric and COVID-19 information. Global results showed that the vast majority of the confined population was below the World Health Organization recommendations on Vigorous Physical Activity, Moderate Physical Activity or a combination. Physical activity practice was dependent on personal factors such as gender, age or weight, but also on contextual factors such as living with a dependent person or the type of house (square meters, having a balcony or a backyard). Insufficient physical activity has been considered a prominent risk factor for non-communicable diseases, mental health and, consequently, quality of life. Mandatory shelter-at home orders like the ones issued due to COVID-19 could be repeated in the future. National authorities should consider the findings from the present study to prevent citizens from putting their health at jeopardy while in confinement.

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How to be physically active while social distancing? You need to exercise!

Revista de Educação Física / Journal of Physical Education ◽

10.37310/ref.v90i2.2766 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 90 (2) ◽

pp. 157-162

Author(s):

Leonardo Gomes de Oliveira Luz ◽

Marcos de Sá Rego Fortes ◽

Geraldo de Albuquerque Maranhão Neto

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Physical Exercise ◽

Activity Level ◽

World Health ◽

Moderate Physical Activity ◽

Physically Active ◽

Social Distancing ◽

Insufficient Physical Activity ◽

Health Organization ◽

The Impact

Introduction: A coronavirus epidemic began in November 2019 (COVID-19) in the Chinese city of Wuhan. However, the current scenario shows the coexistence of other pandemics, the insufficient physical activity level and obesity, the effect of this combination tends to enhance the complications attributed to coronavirus infection. In this scenario, among other strategies to combat COVID-19, social distancing, and active lifestyle compatible with a healthy immune function are recommended. Objective: The aim of this study was to analyse the impact of COVID-19 pandemic over the populational habitual physical activity and recommend the inclusion of a physical exercise routine in your daily life. Conclusion: Moderate physical activity is indicated in order to meet the recent recommendations of the World Health Organization and to optimize the immune response. Therefore, the daily physical exercise should be included, especially at home in longer periods of social distancing.

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Physical Activity Patterns in India Stratified by Zones, Age, Region, BMI and Implications for COVID-19: A Nationwide Study

Annals of Neurosciences ◽

10.1177/0972753121998507 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 097275312199850

Author(s):

Vivek Podder ◽

Raghuram Nagarathna ◽

Akshay Anand ◽

Patil S. Suchitra ◽

Amit Kumar Singh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

World Health Organization ◽

Rural Areas ◽

World Health ◽

Noncommunicable Diseases ◽

Home Work ◽

The World ◽

Health Organization ◽

Physically Inactive ◽

At Home

Rationale: India has a high prevalence of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), which can be lowered by regular physical activity. To understand this association, recent population data is required which is representative of all the states and union territories of the country. Objective: We aimed to investigate the patterns of physical activity in India, stratified by zones, body mass index (BMI), urban, rural areas, and gender. Method: We present the analysis of physical activity status from the data collected during the phase 1 of a pan-India study. This ( Niyantrita Madhumeha Bharata 2017) was a multicenter pan-India cluster sampled trial with dual objectives. A survey to identify all individuals at a high risk for diabetes, using a validated instrument called the Indian Diabetes Risk Score (IDRS), was followed by a two-armed randomized yoga-based lifestyle intervention for the primary prevention of diabetes. The physical activity was scored as per IDRS (vigorous exercise or strenuous at work = 0, moderate exercise at home/work = 10, mild exercise at home/work = 20, no exercise = 30). This was done in a selected cluster using a mobile application. A weighted prevalence was calculated based on the nonresponse rate and design weight. Results: We analyzed the data from 2,33,805 individuals; the mean age was 41.4 years (SD 13.4). Of these, 50.6% were females and 49.4% were males; 45.8% were from rural areas and 54% from urban areas. The BMI was 24.7 ± 4.6 kg/m 2 . Briefly, 20% were physically inactive and 57% of the people were either inactive or mildly active. 21.2% of females were found physically inactive, whereas 19.2% of males were inactive. Individuals living in urban localities were proportionately more inactive (21.7% vs. 18.8%) or mildly active (38.9% vs. 34.8%) than the rural people. Individuals from the central (29.6%) and south zones (28.6%) of the country were also relatively inactive, in contrast to those from the northwest zone (14.2%). The known diabetics were found to be physically inactive (28.3% vs. 19.8%) when compared with those unaware of their diabetic status. Conclusion: 20% and 37% of the population in India are not active or mildly active, respectively, and thus 57% of the surveyed population do not meet the physical activity regimen recommended by the World Health Organization. This puts a large Indian population at risk of developing various NCDs, which are being increasingly reported to be vulnerable to COVID-19 infections. India needs to adopt the four strategic objectives recommended by the World Health Organization for reducing the prevalence of physical inactivity.

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Prevalence of and factors associated with insufficient physical activity among adolescents: evidence from a nationwide survey in Bangladesh

Journal of Biosocial Science ◽

10.1017/s0021932021000316 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-14

Author(s):

Md Mokbul Hossain ◽

Fahmida Akter ◽

Abu Abdullah Mohammad Hanif ◽

Md Showkat Ali Khan ◽

Abu Ahmed Shamim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Risk Factors ◽

World Health Organization ◽

Adolescent Girls ◽

World Health ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Adolescent Girls And Boys ◽

The World ◽

Insufficient Physical Activity ◽

Health Organization

Abstract The World Health Organization set a target of a 15% relative reduction in the prevalence of insufficient physical activity (IPA) by 2025 among adolescents and adults globally. In Bangladesh, there are no national estimates of the prevalence of IPA among adolescents. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of and risk factors associated with IPA among adolescent girls and boys. Data for 4865 adolescent girls and 4907 adolescent boys, collected as a part of a National Nutrition Surveillance in 2018–19, were analysed for this study. A modified version of the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) was used to collect physical activity data. The World Health Organization recommended cut-off points were used to estimate the prevalence of IPA. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with IPA. Prevalences of IPA among adolescent girls and boys were 50.3% and 29.0%, respectively, and the prevalence was significantly higher among early adolescents (10–14 years) than late adolescents (15–19 years) among both boys and girls. The IPA prevalence was highest among adolescents living in non-slum urban areas (girls: 77.7%; boys: 64.1%). For both boys and girls, younger age, non-slum urban residence, higher paternal education and increased television viewing time were significantly associated with IPA. Additionally, residing in slums was significantly associated with IPA only among the boys. Higher maternal education was associated with IPA only among the girls. This study identified several modifiable risk factors associated with IPA among adolescent boys and girls in Bangladesh. These factors should be addressed through comprehensive public health interventions to promote physical activity among adolescent girls and boys.

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Questionnaire-Based Prevalence of Physical Activity Level on Adults According to Different International Guidelines: Impact on Surveillance and Policies

Journal of Physical Activity and Health ◽

10.1123/jpah.2018-0601 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (11) ◽

pp. 1014-1021

Author(s):

Edgard Melo Keene von Koenig Soares ◽

Guilherme E. Molina ◽

Daniel Saint Martin ◽

João Luís A. E. Sadat P. Leitão ◽

Keila E. Fontana ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

World Health Organization ◽

Vigorous Physical Activity ◽

Demographic Data ◽

Activity Level ◽

World Health ◽

Prevalence Estimates ◽

Health Organization ◽

State 1 ◽

Weekly Frequency

Background: The World Health Organization recommends 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (PA) throughout the week. However, the weekly frequency of PA and how to combine moderate and vigorous PA to define who reaches the recommended PA are controversial. PA level might be highly different based on the recommendation and/or the criteria employed. Methods: Demographic data and PA level evaluated by International Physical Activity Questionnaire from 3 random and representative samples from 1 state, 1 city, and 1 local organization in Brazil were analyzed (n = 2961). Nine criteria from different recommendations were used to define PA level. Prevalence estimates and 95% confidence intervals of sufficient PA were calculated for each criterion and compared with the referent (World Health Organization guideline). Total agreement, sensitivity, and specificity were also calculated with 95% confidence interval. Results: When a weekly frequency of PA was required, the prevalence of sufficient PA decreased by 11% (P < .05). For all criteria, doubling the vigorous PA minutes was similar to simply adding them to moderate PA. These findings are consistent regardless of sex, age, and educational level. Conclusion: Prevalence estimates and agreement between different PA recommendations were significantly affected when a minimum frequency was required but did not change when vigorous PA minutes were doubled.

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El desafío como estrategia para la promoción de actividad física en universitarios (Challenge as a strategy to promote physical activity in university students)

Retos ◽

10.47197/retos.v0i39.78228 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 58-64

Author(s):

Carlos Peñarrubia-Lozano ◽

Lucía Romero-Roso ◽

María Olóriz-Nivela ◽

Manuel Lizalde-Gil

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Nursery School ◽

Vigorous Physical Activity ◽

Adult Population ◽

School Education ◽

World Health ◽

Calidad De Vida ◽

Faculty Of Education ◽

Health Organization ◽

Educación Primaria

Resumen. La práctica regular de actividad física es uno de los elementos que determinan la calidad de vida de las personas. En este sentido, la Organización Mundial de la Salud define como parámetros mínimos para población adulta entre 18 y 64 años la realización de 150 minutos semanales de actividad física aeróbica moderada, 75 minutos de actividad física vigorosa o una combinación equivalente de ambas. En este estudio se ha analizado la influencia que la metodología por desafío presenta en la consecución de dichas recomendaciones. Para ello, han participado 80 estudiantes (13 hombres y 67 mujeres) de los grados universitarios de Magisterio en Educación Primaria (52) y en Educación Infantil (28) de la Facultad de Educación (Universidad de Zaragoza), con una media de edad de 21.5±.83 años. Fueron distribuidos aleatoriamente en tres grupos experimentales: grupo uno, con medidas tradicionales de promoción de actividad física; grupo dos, disponiendo de aplicaciones para dispositivos móviles; grupo tres, utilizando pulseras de actividad física. Se utilizó el cuestionario IPAQ para comprobar la cantidad de actividad física realizada. De forma específica se empleó el cuestionario AMPEF para valorar las razones de aumento del ejercicio físico. Los resultados muestran una mejora en el número de estudiantes que cumple con las recomendaciones saludables después de siete semanas. El factor desafío aparece como una razón destacable en los tres grupos experimentales. Los grupos dos y tres destacan la inmediatez de la información facilitada por las herramientas TIC, que permite un mayor control y seguimiento de los retos de práctica planteados. Abstract. Regular practice of physical activity is one of the elements that determine people’s quality of life. In this respect, the World Health Organization defines 150 minutes per week of moderate aerobic physical activity, 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity, or an equivalent combination of both, as minimum parameters for the adult population aged between 18 and 64 years old. In this study we analyzed the influence that a challenge methodology has on the achievement of these recommendations. To this end, 80 students (13 men and 67 women) from the university degrees in Teaching in Primary School Education (52) and Nursery School Education (28) of the Faculty of Education (University of Zaragoza), with an average age of 21.5±.83 years old, participated in the study. They were randomly distributed into three experimental groups: group one, with traditional measures to promote physical activity; group two, using applications for mobile devices; group three, using physical activity bracelets. The IPAQ questionnaire was used to collect data on the amount of physical activity performed. Specifically, reasons for increased physical exercise were collected using the AMPEF questionnaire. The results showed an improvement in the number of students fulfilling the healthy recommendations after seven weeks. The challenge factor appears as a remarkable reason in the three experimental groups. Groups two and three highlighted the immediacy of the information provided by the ICT tools, which allows greater control and monitoring of the exercise challenges posed.

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Levels of domain-specific physical activity at work, in the household, for travel and for leisure among 327 789 adults from 104 countries

British Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1136/bjsports-2020-102601 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 54 (24) ◽

pp. 1488-1497 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Tessa Strain ◽

Katrien Wijndaele ◽

Leandro Garcia ◽

Melanie Cowan ◽

Regina Guthold ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Low Income ◽

Vigorous Physical Activity ◽

Age Groups ◽

World Health ◽

Low Income Countries ◽

Domain Specific ◽

Country Level ◽

Household Travel ◽

Health Organization

ObjectiveTo compare the country-level absolute and relative contributions of physical activity at work and in the household, for travel, and during leisure-time to total moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA).MethodsWe used data collected between 2002 and 2019 from 327 789 participants across 104 countries and territories (n=24 low, n=34 lower-middle, n=30 upper-middle, n=16 high-income) from all six World Health Organization (WHO) regions. We calculated mean min/week of work/household, travel and leisure MVPA and compared their relative contributions to total MVPA using Global Physical Activity Questionnaire data. We compared patterns by country, sex and age group (25–44 and 45–64 years).ResultsMean MVPA in work/household, travel and leisure domains across the 104 countries was 950 (IQR 618–1198), 327 (190–405) and 104 (51–131) min/week, respectively. Corresponding relative contributions to total MVPA were 52% (IQR 44%–63%), 36% (25%–45%) and 12% (4%–15%), respectively. Work/household was the highest contributor in 80 countries; travel in 23; leisure in just one. In both absolute and relative terms, low-income countries tended to show higher work/household (1233 min/week, 57%) and lower leisure MVPA levels (72 min/week, 4%). Travel MVPA duration was higher in low-income countries but there was no obvious pattern in the relative contributions. Women tended to have relatively less work/household and more travel MVPA; age groups were generally similar.ConclusionIn the largest domain-specific physical activity study to date, we found considerable country-level variation in how MVPA is accumulated. Such information is essential to inform national and global policy and future investments to provide opportunities to be active, accounting for country context.

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Physical Activity of Children with Physical Disabilities: Associations with Environmental and Behavioral Variables at Home and School

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16081394 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (8) ◽

pp. 1394 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Cindy Sit ◽

Ru Li ◽

Thomas L. McKenzie ◽

Ester Cerin ◽

Stephen Wong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Evaluation System ◽

Physical Disabilities ◽

Vigorous Physical Activity ◽

Personal Factors ◽

Special Schools ◽

School Settings ◽

Behavioral Variables ◽

Home And School ◽

At Home

The purpose of this study was to examine the physical activity (PA) of children with physical disabilities (PD) and its associated environmental and behavioral factors at home and at school. One hundred and forty-seven Hong Kong children (mean age = 13.5 ± 2.5 years) with PD from three special schools participated. We used BEACHES (Behaviors of Eating and Activity for Children’s Health: Evaluation System) to assess their PA and associated variables at home (before dinner) and during four school settings (before classes, recess, lunch breaks, after classes) on four school days. Overall, the children were typically inactive and spent little time in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), range = 6.3% to 17.0% across settings. At home, children were more active when fathers were present (p < 0.001). At school, prompts to be active contributed to their MVPA% before classes (p < 0.01) and during recess and lunch breaks (both p < 0.001). The presence of a child’s mother was positively associated with MVPA% before classes (p < 0.001) and the presence of other children was associated with MVPA% during recess and lunch breaks (both p < 0.05). With children with PD accruing small amounts of MVPA in both home and school settings, multifaceted interventions reflecting both contextual and personal factors should be considered in order to increase the health-enhancing PA of this population.

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Physical Activity Participation During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Journal of Health, Sports, and Kinesiology - JOHSK ◽

10.47544/johsk.2020.1.1.32 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 32-34

Author(s):

Taemin Ha ◽

Brian Dauenhauer

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Vigorous Physical Activity ◽

World Health ◽

Moderate Intensity ◽

Sedentary Behaviors ◽

Unhealthy Lifestyle ◽

Increased Risk ◽

The World ◽

Health Organization ◽

Health Enhancing Physical Activity

Physical activity is a significant factor in enhancing quality of life due to its various physical and mental benefits. According to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2010), the recommended amount of physical activity for adults (>17 years old) is a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity every week, while the recommended amount for children and adolescents (5-17 years old) is at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily. However, when coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic on March 11th, 2020 (WHO, 2020a), people around the world had to adapt to new lifestyles involving shelter-in-place and social distancing orders. This phenomenon has disrupted the ability to reach the recommended amount of physical activity for people of all ages (Carvalho & Gois, 2020). The sedentary behaviors adopted during this unprecedented time could, for many people, give rise to an unhealthy lifestyle, which by extension may lead to an increased risk of coronavirus. The purpose of this paper is to review the issue and discuss ways to participate in health-enhancing physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Relationship between Physical Activity, Oxidative Stress, and Total Plasma Antioxidant Capacity in Spanish Children from the GENOBOX Study

Antioxidants ◽

10.3390/antiox10020320 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 320

Author(s):

Francisco Jesús Llorente-Cantarero ◽

Francisco Javier Aguilar-Gómez ◽

Rosaura Leis ◽

Gloria Bueno ◽

Azahara I. Rupérez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Antioxidant Capacity ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Vigorous Physical Activity ◽

Redox Homeostasis ◽

World Health ◽

Plasma Antioxidant Capacity ◽

High Concentrations ◽

Health Organization

The World Health Organization has recommended performing at least 60 min a day of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and reducing sedentarism in children and adolescents to offer significant health benefits and mitigate health risks. Physical fitness and sports practice seem to improve oxidative stress (OS) status during childhood. However, to our knowledge, there are no data regarding the influence of objectively-measured physical activity (PA) and sedentarism on OS status in children and adolescents. The present study aimed to evaluate the influence of moderate and vigorous PA and sedentarism on OS and plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in a selected Spanish population of 216 children and adolescents from the GENOBOX study. PA (light, moderate, and vigorous) and sedentarism (i.e., sedentary time (ST)) were measured by accelerometry. A Physical Activity-Sedentarism Score (PASS) was developed integrating moderate and vigorous PA and ST levels. Urinary 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and isoprostane F2α (F2-IsoPs), as markers of OS, were determined by ELISA; and TAC was estimated by colorimetry using an antioxidant kit. A higher PASS was associated with lower plasma TAC and urinary 8-OHdG and F2-IsoPs, showing a better redox profile. Reduced OS markers (8-OHdG and F2-IsoPs) in children with higher PASS may diminish the need of maintaining high concentrations of antioxidants in plasma during rest to achieve redox homeostasis.

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Comparability of ActivPAL-Based Estimates of Meeting Physical Activity Guidelines for Preschool Children

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16245146 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (24) ◽

pp. 5146

Author(s):

Wendy Yajun Huang ◽

Eun-Young Lee

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Preschool Children ◽

Vigorous Physical Activity ◽

Daily Basis ◽

World Health ◽

Physical Activity Guidelines ◽

Cut Points ◽

Step Rate ◽

Health Organization ◽

Further Development

The activPAL (PAL Technologies, Glasgow, UK) has been increasingly used on children to assess sedentary time and physical activity (PA). However, there is no consensus on how it can estimate PA at different intensities. This study compared three commonly used, activPAL-based classifications of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) (daily steps, acceleration counts, and step rate) in determining compliance with the World Health Organization (WHO)’s PA guidelines for preschool children on a daily basis. One hundred and fourteen preschool children aged 3–6 years wore an activPALTM for 24 h over 7 consecutive days and provided valid data for a total of 548 days. MVPA was calculated based on published cut-points of counts (MVPA-counts) and step rate (MVPA-step rate). Compliance with standard PA guidelines (≥180 min/day of PA including ≥60 min/day of MVPA) was determined based on three criteria: ≥11,500 steps/day, a threshold of 1418 acceleration counts/15 s, and 25 steps/15 s for MVPA. Applying cut-points of daily steps and acceleration counts provided the same estimates of compliance with the WHO PA guidelines (20%), while the estimated compliance based on the step rate was lower (7.7%). There was a moderate agreement between the daily steps- (or counts-) derived and step rate-derived compliances (κ = 0.41; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.31, 0.51). The amount of MVPA derived from counts (1.95 ± 0.72 h/day) was significantly higher than that from step rates (0.47 ± 0.31 h/day). The activPAL may be useful for surveillance studies to estimate total PA in preschool children. Further development of the activPAL algorithms based on either counts or step rate is warranted before it can be used to accurately estimate MVPA in this age group.

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