scholarly journals Characteristics of Adopters of an Online Social Networking Physical Activity Mobile Phone App: Cluster Analysis (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilea Sanders ◽  
Camille E Short ◽  
Svetlana Bogomolova ◽  
Tyman Stanford ◽  
Ronald Plotnikoff ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND To date, many online health behavior programs developed by researchers have not been translated at scale. To inform translational efforts, health researchers must work with marketing experts to design cost-effective marketing campaigns. It is important to understand the characteristics of end users of a given health promotion program and identify key market segments. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to describe the characteristics of the adopters of Active Team, a gamified online social networking physical activity app, and identify potential market segments to inform future research translation efforts. METHODS Participants (N=545) were Australian adults aged 18 to 65 years who responded to general advertisements to join a randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluating the Active Team app. At baseline they provided demographic (age, sex, education, marital status, body mass index, location of residence, and country of birth), behavioral (sleep, assessed by the Pittsburgh Quality Sleep Index) and physical activity (assessed by the Active Australia Survey), psychographic information (health and well-being, assessed by the PERMA [Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, Achievement] Profile; depression, anxiety and stress, assessed by the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale [DASS-21]; and quality of life, assessed by the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey [SF-12]). Descriptive analyses and a k-medoids cluster analysis were performed using the software R 3.3.0 (The R Foundation) to identify key characteristics of the sample. RESULTS Cluster analyses revealed four clusters: (1) younger inactive women with poor well-being (218/545), characterized by a higher score on the DASS-21, low mental component summary score on the SF-12, and relatively young age; (2) older, active women (153/545), characterized by a lower score on DASS-21, a higher overall score on the SF-12, and relatively older age; (3) young, active but stressed men (58/545) with a higher score on DASS-21 and higher activity levels; and (4) older, low active and obese men (30/545), characterized by a high body mass index and lower activity levels. CONCLUSIONS Understanding the characteristics of population segments attracted to a health promotion program will guide the development of cost-effective research translation campaigns. CLINICALTRIAL Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry ACTRN12617000113358; https://www.anzctr.org .au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=371463 INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPOR RR2-10.1186/s12889-017-4882-7

Author(s):  
Shikha Dwivedi ◽  
Rupali Sengupta

Introduction: Regular physical activity in childhood and adolescence is important for promoting lifelong health and well-being and preventing various health conditions. The 2008, Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommended that children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years should have 60 minutes (1 hour) or more of moderate and vigorous intensity physical activity each day. Unfortunately, many children and adolescents do not meet the recommendations set forth by the guidelines. Aim: To study the physical activity levels and its impact on body mass index (BMI). Methodology: 420 subjects were selected by purposive random sampling method from 5 schools of Mumbai. Physical activity levels of the samples were assessed through the physical activity questionnaire and the height and weight of all the samples were taken to calculate the BMI. Results: It was observed that 39.5% performed sedentary activities for on an average of 0-1 hr/week. Similarly, 74.2% subjects performed moderate to high intensity activities for an average of 0-1 hr/week. Maximum % of subjects (48%) spent 1-2hr/week in performing sedentary activities whereas, when compared to moderate to high intensity activities maximum % of subjects performed only for 0-1 hr/week. Only 116 subjects met the daily requirements of moderate to high intensity physical activity. A total of 33.2% of samples were observed to be under the three categories of wasting (mild, moderate and severe respectively) as per WHO standards.


BMJ Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (9) ◽  
pp. e016966 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Thomas ◽  
Louise Fazakarley ◽  
Peter W Thomas ◽  
Sarah Collyer ◽  
Sarah Brenton ◽  
...  

ObjectivesWhile the health and well-being benefits of physical activity are recognised, people with multiple sclerosis (MS) often face greater barriers than the general population. The Nintendo Wii potentially offers a fun, convenient way of overcoming some of these. The aim was to test the feasibility of conducting a definitive trial of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of Mii-vitaliSe; a home-based, physiotherapist-supported Nintendo Wii intervention.DesignA single-centre wait-list randomised controlled study.SettingMS service in secondary care.ParticipantsAmbulatory, relatively inactive people with clinically confirmed MS.InterventionThirty participants were randomised to receive Mii-vitaliSe either immediately (for 12 months) or after a 6-month wait (for 6 months). Mii-vitaliSe consisted of two supervised Nintendo Wii familiarisation sessions in the hospital followed by home use (Wii Sports, Sports Resort and Fit Plus software) with physiotherapist support and personalised resources.OutcomesIncluded self-reported physical activity levels, quality of life, mood, self-efficacy, fatigue and assessments of balance, gait, mobility and hand dexterity at baseline, 6 and 12 months. Interviews (n=25) explored participants’ experiences and, at study end, the two Mii-vitaliSe facilitators’ experiences of intervention delivery (main qualitative findings reported separately).ResultsMean (SD) age was 49.3 (8.7) years, 90% female, with 47% diagnosed with MS <6 years ago and 60% new to active gaming. The recruitment rate was 31% (95% CI 20% to 44%). Outcome data were available for 29 (97%) at 6 months and 28 (93%) at 12 months. No serious adverse events were reported during the study. Qualitative data indicated that Mii-vitaliSe was well-received. Mean Wii use across both groups over the initial 6-month intervention period was twice a week for 27 min/day. Mean cost of delivering Mii-vitaliSe was £684 per person.DiscussionMii-vitaliSe appears acceptable and a future trial feasible and warranted. These findings will inform its design.Trial registrationISRCTN49286846


Author(s):  
OJS Admin

Nutrition has fundamental role in the well-being of any individual. The intake of proper diet along with any kind of regular activity is essential for obtaining good health.


Retos ◽  
2016 ◽  
pp. 271-274
Author(s):  
Manuela Costa ◽  
Tânia Oliveira ◽  
Jorge Mota ◽  
Maria Paula Santos ◽  
José Carlos Ribeiro

Objective: The objective of this study was twofold. First, analyze physical activity (PA) levels during physical education (PE) with different durations (45 and 90 minutes) according to student’s obesity status. Secondly, we examine the relative contribution of 45 and 90 minutes PE (45PE and 90PE) for the compliance of the daily PA recommendations according to the body mass index (BMI). Methods: Four public schools were analyzed. The sample comprised 472 youngsters (266 girls) aged between 10 and 18 years old. PA was assessed using an Actigraph accelerometer. The participants were categorized as non-overweight (NOW) and overweight/obese (OW) according to the sex-adjusted BMI. Results: The proportion of Moderate and Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA) was lower than the 50% recommended by guidelines regardless the PE duration. Our data showed that only 26% of NOW and 13% of OW in the 45PE achieved the recommended levels while 17% of NOW and 11% of OW achieved the recommendation in 90PE. Overall, the 90PE had a higher absolute contribution for daily MVPA recommendations compliance than 45PE. Conclusion: During PE classes youngsters spent a reduced amount of time in MVPA, independently of their weight status.Resumen. Objetivo: Este estudio tiene un doble objetivo. En primero lugar, analizar los niveles de la actividad física durante la educación física con diferentes duraciones (45 y 90 minutos) de acuerdo con el estado de la obesidad de los alumnos. En segundo lugar, se analiza la contribución relativa de 45 y 90 minutos de la educación física para el cumplimiento de las recomendaciones diarias de actividad física según el índice de masa grasa. Métodos: cuatro escuelas públicas fueran analizadas. La muestra fue de 472 jóvenes (266 chicas) con edades entre los 10 y 18 años. La actividad física fue medida utilizando un acelerómetro Actigraph. Los participantes fueran clasificados como sin sobrepeso y con sobrepeso/obesidad de acuerdo con el índice de masa grasa ajustado al género. Resultados: La proporción de la actividad física moderada y vigorosa fue inferior al 50% recomendado por las recomendaciones independiente de la duración de la clase de educación física. Nuestros datos muestran que solo unos 26% de los niños sin sobrepeso y unos 13% de niñoss con sobrepeso/obesidad llegaron al los niveles recomendados en las clases de 45 min, mientras el 17% de los jóvenes sin sobrepeso y el 11% con sobrepeso/obesidad han logrado las recomendaciones en las clases de 90 min. En general, las clases de 90 min tienen una mayor contribución para cumplimiento de las recomendaciones diarias de actividad física moderada a vigorosa do que las clases de 45 min. Conclusión: Durante las clases de educación física los jóvenes tuvieran una cantidad reducida de tiempo en actividad física moderada a vigorosa, independiente de su estado de peso.


Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 1258
Author(s):  
Kalyana Chakravarthy Bairapareddy ◽  
Mariam Mhd Salem Kamcheh ◽  
Ranim Jihad Itani ◽  
Mirna Mohamed ◽  
Heba Ayman Eid Abdellatif Zahran ◽  
...  

Background: Sedentary behaviour and physical inactivity along with body mass are identified as critical determinants of vascular health along with body mass in young adults. However, the relationship between potential physical health and anthropometric variables with high blood Eid pressure remain unexplored in young adults from the United Arab Emirates region. Methodology: We administered a cross-sectional study in young adults assessing their self-reported physical activity levels, anthropometric variables (body mass index and waist circumference) and ambulatory blood pressure. The associations among potential physical health, anthropometric variables and high blood pressure were analysed through logistic regression after necessary transformation. Results: Of 354 participants (176 males, 178 females), we found 17.79% (n = 63) had higher mean arterial pressure. Males (n = 40; 22.73%) had higher risk of hypertension than females (n = 12.92%). Weekly physical activity levels (β = −0.001; p = 0.002), age (β = −0.168; p = 0.005) and gender (β = −0.709; p = 0.028) were found to be more strongly associated with hypertension risk than the body mass index (β = 0.093; p = 0.075), waist circumference (β = 0.013; p = 0.588) and the weekly sitting time (β = 0.000; p = 0.319) of the individuals. Conclusions: Lower physical activity was associated with hypertension risk compared to other modifiable risk factors such as waist circumference, body mass index and sedentary time in college-going young adults. Public health measures should continue to emphasise optimisation of weekly physical activity levels to mitigate vascular health risks at educational institution levels.


Author(s):  
Mark Hargreaves

Since ancient times, the health benefits of regular physical activity/exercise have been recognised and the classic studies of Morris and Paffenbarger provided the epidemiological evidence in support of such an association. Cardiorespiratory fitness, often measured by maximal oxygen uptake, and habitual physical activity levels are inversely related to mortality. Thus, studies exploring the biological bases of the health benefits of exercise have largely focused on the cardiovascular system and skeletal muscle (mass and metabolism), although there is increasing evidence that multiple tissues and organ systems are influenced by regular exercise. Communication between contracting skeletal muscle and multiple organs has been implicated in exercise benefits, as indeed has other inter-organ "cross-talk". The application of molecular biology techniques and 'omics' approaches to questions in exercise biology has opened new lines of investigation to better understand the beneficial effects of exercise and, in so doing, inform the optimisation of exercise regimens and the identification of novel therapeutic strategies to enhance health and well-being.


Author(s):  
Stefano Palermi ◽  
Olimpia Iacono ◽  
Felice Sirico ◽  
Michele Modestino ◽  
Carlo Ruosi ◽  
...  

Abstract Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a widespread condition, representing a challenging disease to manage. Exercise is being increasingly recommended as part of the therapeutic regimen for DM but the management of different forms of physical activity is difficult for individuals with diabetes, trainers, and physicians. Regular exercise can improve health and well-being, helping individuals to achieve their target lipid profile, body composition, cardio-respiratory fitness, and glycemic goals. People with diabetes tend to be as inactive as the general population, with a large percentage of individuals not achieving the minimum amount of recommended physical activity levels. Indeed, several barriers to exercise exist for persons with diabetes, including sports eligibility, multi-modality management of diabetic athletes, and inadequate knowledge about adequate type and intensity of exercise. The aim of the present review is to provide the current understanding of mechanisms, recommendations, and beneficial effects of different modalities of exercise for the treatment of DM.


Author(s):  
Aisling McGrath ◽  
Niamh Murphy ◽  
Noel Richardson

Summary COVID-19 disproportionately affects males especially those who are older and more socio-economically disadvantaged. This study assessed wellbeing outcomes among men’s shed members (Shedders) in Ireland at baseline (T1), 3 (T2), 6 (T3) and 12 months (T4) in response to a 10-week health promotion program ‘Sheds for Life’ (SFL). Two cohorts participated in SFL commencing in March and September 2019. This study compares the T3 findings from one cohort carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic [COVID cohort (n = 185)] with T3 findings from a comparator cohort [pre-COVID cohort (n = 195)], completed pre-COVID-19. Questionnaires assessing wellbeing [life satisfaction, mental health, loneliness, physical activity (PA), self-rated health and other lifestyle measures] were analyzed in both cohorts T1, T2 and T3. Self-rated Health and life satisfaction decreased in the COVID cohort at T3 (p &lt; 0.001), while loneliness scores increased (p &lt; 0.0005). Higher loneliness scores were correlated with lower health ratings, life satisfaction and PA during COVID-19 (p &lt; 0.001). Days PA decreased in the COVID cluster at T3 from T2 (p &lt; 0.01) with those in urban areas reporting lower activity levels than rural areas (p &lt; 0.05). Those sufficiently active at baseline managed to maintain PA during COVID-19 while those not meeting guidelines were more likely to report decreases (p &lt; 0.001). Shedders experiencing COVID-19 restrictions are at an increased risk of poorer wellbeing and increased levels of loneliness. Support and guidance are needed to safely encourage this cohort back into men’s sheds, settings that protect against loneliness and positively promote health and wellbeing. Lay summary The COVID-19 pandemic will have wide-reaching implications on wellbeing, particularly on those who are older and more vulnerable. Evidence also suggests that COVID-19 disproportionately affects males. This study aimed to understand the impact that COVID-19 has had on men in the setting of Men’s Sheds in Ireland. Two cohorts of men who were participating in a 10-week health and wellbeing program (Sheds for Life) at different stages were followed over time. At 6 months follow-up the first Cohort had not experienced COVID-19 whereas the second cohort was actively experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic. We measured wellbeing using questionnaires, comparing both groups of men for differences. We found that the men who were experiencing COVID-19 had lower self-rated health, physical activity and life satisfaction as well as higher rates of loneliness, with those who were more lonely reporting lower wellbeing scores. We also found that men in rural areas were more physically active during COVID-19 and that those were not active were more likely to become more inactive during COVID-19. This study suggests that support and guidance is needed to safely encourage this cohort back into Men’s Sheds, settings that protect against loneliness and positively promote health and wellbeing.


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