National Study on the Physical Activity Level as a Means of Preserving Health

Abstract Among the factors acting as a burden to health, physical inactivity ranks fourth as a risk factor for all-cause mortality and sixth among the risk factor for loss of disability in adjusted life years. Unhealthy diets and physical inactivity are key risk factors for the major noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer and diabetes. It were investigated a sample of 1106 Romanian subjects, aged 18 and over. 53% of the questioned population is informed regarding the benefits of daily physical activities, but only 35% of Romanians declare that they find it easy to apply what they know about maintaining health. Their main sources of information are: television (56%) and Internet (17%). 49% perform appropriate physical activity; walking (51%) and household activities (32%) are the main physical activities performed by Romanians, while sports are performed by few of those interviewed (running – 12%, fitness – 7%, cycling – 6%, football – 6%, gymnastics – 4%, while all the other did not score over 2%). Half of respondents practice physical activities rarely or not at all, and the main reasons for the sedentary behaviour are the lack of time (42%), lack of money (16%) or convenience (15%). Nearly half of Romanians are sedentary. Although the level of information regarding the benefits of physical activities is satisfactory, the degree of putting this information into practice is very small; the population is not sufficiently aware of the necessity to perform physical activities, in spite of the fact that the effects of a sedentary lifestyle are evident.

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The importance of diversified physical activities in early childhood for later fundamental movement skills and physical activity level: a seven-year longitudinal study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-243804/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Paulina S. Melby ◽

Peter Elsborg ◽

Glen Nielsen ◽

Rodrigo A. Lima ◽

Peter Bentsen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Structural Equation Models ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Physical Activities ◽

School Intervention ◽

Activity Level ◽

Life Course Perspective ◽

Movement Skills ◽

Fundamental Movement Skills ◽

Daily Physical Activities

Abstract Background: Research indicates that childhood fundamental movement skills (FMS) can predict physical activity (PA) later in life and it has been argued that frequently engaging in a wide diversity of physical activities will eventually improve children’s FMS. However, no longitudinal or experimental studies have confirmed this hypothesis. The aims of this study are to investigate the longitudinal associations between diversified physical activities at age six and later FMS and PA (age nine and 13). Furthermore, we explore to what extent the longitudinal association between diversified physical activity and PA is mediated by FMS.Methods: Longitudinal data from the Copenhagen School Intervention Studywere used for this analysis, where 704 participated (69% response rate). Diversified physical activity (self-reported), FMS (The Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder battery of postural stability and locomotor skills) and PA (accelerometer) were assessed in the children at age six, age nine and age 13. A total of 991 participated in at least one of the measure years. Two structural equation models were constructed, with diversified physical activity at age six and FMS and PA at age nine as predictors of PA and FMS at age 13. Results: The data from both models demonstrated good model fit. Diversified physical activity at six years of age was significantly associated with physical activity and FMS at age 13, when adjusting for sex, age, intervention, weight, height, and previous levels of PA and FMS. Diversified physical activity at age six was also positively associated with PA and FMS at age nine, which were, in turn, positively related to PA at age 13 but to a lesser degree than diversified PA at age six. The association between diversified physical activity at age six and PA at age 13 was not mediated by FMS at age nine. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that diversified physical activity at age six is important for the development of FMS and PA in adolescence. Increasing the diversity of children’s daily physical activities, not only the amount and intensity, seems important for future PA behavior and thereby health promotion in a life course perspective.

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Exploring the importance of diversified physical activities in early childhood for later motor competence and physical activity level: a seven-year longitudinal study

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-11343-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Paulina S. Melby ◽

Peter Elsborg ◽

Glen Nielsen ◽

Rodrigo A. Lima ◽

Peter Bentsen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Structural Equation Models ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Physical Activities ◽

School Intervention ◽

Activity Level ◽

Life Course Perspective ◽

Motor Competence ◽

Daily Physical Activities

Abstract Background Research indicates that childhood motor competence (MC) can predict physical activity (PA) levels later in life and it has been argued that frequently engaging in a wide diversity of physical activities will eventually improve children’s MC. However, no longitudinal or experimental studies have confirmed this theoretical rationale. The aims of this study are to explore the longitudinal associations between diversified physical activities at age six and later MC and PA (time spent in moderate-to-vigorous PA) (age nine and 13). Furthermore, we explore to what extent the longitudinal association between diversified physical activity and PA is mediated by MC. Methods Longitudinal data from the Copenhagen School Intervention Study were used for this analysis, where 704 participated (69% response rate). Diversified physical activity (self-reported), MC (The Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder battery of postural stability and locomotor skills) and PA (accelerometer) were assessed in the children at age six, age nine and age 13. A total of 654 participated in at least two of the measures and, therefore, were included in the analysis. Two structural equation models were constructed, with diversified physical activity at age six and MC and PA at age nine as predictors of PA and MC at age 13. Results The data from both models demonstrated good model fit. Diversified physical activity at 6 years of age was significantly associated with physical activity and MC at age 13, when adjusting for sex, age, intervention, weight, height, and previous levels of PA and MC. Diversified physical activity at age six was also positively associated with PA and MC at age nine, which were, in turn, positively related to PA at age 13 but to a lesser degree than diversified PA at age six. The association between diversified physical activity at age six and PA at age 13 was not mediated by MC at age nine. Conclusions The results of this study indicate that diversified physical activity at age six is important for the development of MC and PA in adolescence. Increasing the diversity of children’s daily physical activities, not only the amount and intensity, seems important for future PA behavior and thereby health promotion in a life course perspective.

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Relation of body composition to daily physical activity in free-living Japanese adult women

British Journal Of Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s0007114511001358 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 106 (7) ◽

pp. 1117-1127 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Jonghoon Park ◽

Kazuko Ishikawa-Takata ◽

Shigeho Tanaka ◽

Yuki Hikihara ◽

Kazunori Ohkawara ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Vigorous Physical Activity ◽

Physical Activities ◽

Activity Level ◽

Fat Free Mass ◽

Adult Women ◽

Japanese Adult ◽

Free Living ◽

Daily Physical Activities ◽

The Relationship

The objective of the present study was to investigate the relationship between the indices of body size such as BMI, fat-free mass index (FFMI, FFM/height2), fat mass index (FMI, FM/height2), and body fat percentage (%BF), and physical activities assessed by the doubly-labelled water (DLW) method and an accelerometer in free-living Japanese adult women. We conducted a cross-sectional study in 100 female subjects ranging in age from 31 to 69 years. Subjects were classified in quartiles of BMI, FFMI, FMI and %BF. Daily walking steps and the duration of light to vigorous physical activity were simultaneously assessed by an accelerometer for the same period as the DLW experiment. Only physical activity-related energy expenditure (PAEE)/FFM and PAEE/body weight (BW) decreased in the highest quartile of BMI. Physical activity level, PAEE/FFM and PAEE/BW decreased in the highest quartile of FMI and %BF, whereas they were not different among quartiles of FFMI. Daily walking steps and the duration of moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activities decreased or tended to decrease in the highest quartile of FMI and %BF, but did not differ among quartiles of FFMI and BMI. These results clearly showed that Japanese adult women with higher fat deposition obviously had a low level of physical activities assessed by both the DLW method and accelerometry, but those with larger BMI had lower PAEE/FFM and PAEE/BW only. Our data suggest that the relationship between obesity and daily physical activities should be discussed using not only BMI but also FMI or %BF.

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Physical inactivity as a determinant of the physical activity level in the elderly

International Journal of Obesity ◽

10.1038/sj.ijo.0801644 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 25 (7) ◽

pp. 935-939 ◽

Cited By ~ 65

Author(s):

EP Meijer ◽

AHC Goris ◽

L Wouters ◽

KR Westerterp

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Physical Activity Level ◽

Physical Inactivity ◽

The Elderly ◽

Activity Level

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The active grandparent hypothesis: Physical activity and the evolution of extended human healthspans and lifespans

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ◽

10.1073/pnas.2107621118 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 118 (50) ◽

pp. e2107621118

Author(s):

Daniel E. Lieberman ◽

Timothy M. Kistner ◽

Daniel Richard ◽

I-Min Lee ◽

Aaron L. Baggish

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Physical Inactivity ◽

Disease Risk ◽

Energy Allocation ◽

Noncommunicable Diseases ◽

The Novel ◽

Physically Active ◽

Proximate Mechanisms ◽

Aging Populations ◽

Selection For

The proximate mechanisms by which physical activity (PA) slows senescence and decreases morbidity and mortality have been extensively documented. However, we lack an ultimate, evolutionary explanation for why lifelong PA, particularly during middle and older age, promotes health. As the growing worldwide epidemic of physical inactivity accelerates the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases among aging populations, integrating evolutionary and biomedical perspectives can foster new insights into how and why lifelong PA helps preserve health and extend lifespans. Building on previous life-history research, we assess the evidence that humans were selected not just to live several decades after they cease reproducing but also to be moderately physically active during those postreproductive years. We next review the longstanding hypothesis that PA promotes health by allocating energy away from potentially harmful overinvestments in fat storage and reproductive tissues and propose the novel hypothesis that PA also stimulates energy allocation toward repair and maintenance processes. We hypothesize that selection in humans for lifelong PA, including during postreproductive years to provision offspring, promoted selection for both energy allocation pathways which synergistically slow senescence and reduce vulnerability to many forms of chronic diseases. As a result, extended human healthspans and lifespans are both a cause and an effect of habitual PA, helping explain why lack of lifelong PA in humans can increase disease risk and reduce longevity.

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Tracking of Maternal Physical Activity and Sport Participation over 11 Years: Findings from the Czech ELSPAC Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph19020705 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 19 (2) ◽

pp. 705

Author(s):

Mario Kasović ◽

Lovro Štefan ◽

Pavel Piler ◽

Martin Zvonar

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Risk Factor ◽

Strength Training ◽

Generalized Estimating Equations ◽

Physical Inactivity ◽

Sport Participation ◽

Team Sports ◽

Racket Sports ◽

Structured Questionnaire

Purpose: Tracking of physical activity (PA) and sport participation (SP) during motherhood is poorly understood. The purpose of the study was to analyze the extent of tracking of maternal PA and SP. Methods: In this investigation, data were collected from the Czech ELSPAC study subsample of 4811 and 2609 women measured postnatally (1991–1992) and after 11 years of follow-up (2002–2003), respectively. The structured questionnaire was used to assess the participation and average weekly time spent in PA, and the frequency of engaging in different sports (running, cycling, strength training, racket sports, swimming, and team sports). Tracking was calculated using generalized estimating equations (GEE) with beta coefficients (β), odds ratios (ORs), and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Results: Moderately high tracking coefficients were observed for cycling (β = 0.69, 95% 0.67–0.72), strength training (β = 0.59, 95% 0.56–0.63), and weekly time spent in PA (β = 0.53, 95% 0.38–0.66); meanwhile, moderate tracking coefficients were generated for swimming (β = 0.48, 95% 0.44–0.52), team sports (β = 0.44, 95% 0.39–0.48), racket sports (β = 0.44, 95% 0.39–0.48), and running (β = 0.35, 95% 0.30–0.40). Mothers who did not participate in PA at baseline were 81% more likely not to participate in it at follow-up (OR = 1.81, 95% CI 1.53–2.13). Conclusion: Cycling- and strength-related activities and weekly PA were tracked moderately-to-moderately high during motherhood. Moreover, the strong tracking of physical inactivity indicates that the detection of this risk factor before pregnancy should be advocated.

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Level aktifitas fisik dan faktor risiko penyakit kardiovaskuler pada karyawan kantor di universitas

Jurnal Keolahragaan ◽

10.21831/jk.v8i2.32541 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Febriani Fajar Ekawati ◽

Tri Winarti Rahayu ◽

Hendrig Joko Prasetyo

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Blood Pressure ◽

Cardiovascular Risk ◽

Cardiovascular Risk Factors ◽

Pearson Correlation ◽

Activity Level ◽

Noncommunicable Diseases ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

University Employees

Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) merupakan salah satu penyebab kematian utama di dunia. Kurangnya aktivitas fisik dapat meningkatkan risiko penyakit ini. Meskipun telah banyak penelitian yang menyelidiki tentang hubungan aktivitas fisik dan faktor risiko penyakit kardiovaskuler, hanya terdapat beberapa penelitian di Indonesia yang menelaah tentang peran aktivitas fisik dalam perkembangan penyakit kardiovaskuler. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendeskripsikan tentang tingkat aktivitas fisik dan menyelidiki hubungannya dengan faktor risiko penyakit kardiovaskuler pada karyawan kantor di lingkungan Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS). Penelitian ini menggunakan desain penelitian potong lintang, dengan jumlah sampel sebanyak 44 orang. Data level aktivitas fisik diperoleh dari International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Sedangkan faktor-faktor risiko penyakit kardiovaskuler (gula darah, kolesterol, tekanan darah, lingkar pinggang, dan IMT) diukur dengan menggunakan alat ukur yang sesuai. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa level aktivitas fisik karyawan berkategori Rendah sebesar 6.82%, Sedang sebesar 72.73%, dan Tinggi sebesar 20.45%. Berdasarkan uji Pearson Correlation, tekanan darah baik sistolik dan diastolik mempunyai hubungan yang signifikan dengan level aktivitas fisik. Tidak ada hubungan yang signifikan antara level aktivitas fisik dengan faktor risiko lainnya dalam penelitian ini. Secara umum penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa level aktivitas fisik karyawan di lingkungan UNS adalah berkategori sedang, dan tekanan darah mempunyai hubungan yang signifikan dengan aktivitas fisik. Physical activity level and cardiovascular risk factors among university employees AbstractNoncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) are one of the leading deaths in the world. Insufficiency of physical activity (PA) escalate the risk of NCDs. Although the reports of the studies investigating the relationship between PA and cardiovascular risk factors are abundance, only a few studies in Indonesia examined the role of PA in the development of cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to describe the level of PA and investigate the relationships between PA and cardiovascular risk factors among UNS employees. This was a cross sectional study with a sample of 44 university employees. PA level was assessed using IPAQ. Meanwhile cardiovascular risk factors such as plasma glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure, waist circumference, and BMI were measured using an appropriate tool for each measure. The results revealed that participants with low level of PA (6.82%), moderate category (72.73%), and high category (20.45%). Pearson Correlation analysis showed blood pressure both systolic and diastolic had a significant association with PA level. There was no a significant association between PA level and others cardiovascular risk factors in this research. Generally, this study exhibited the level of PA among UNS employees in the moderate category, and blood pressure had a significant association with PA.

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Level of physical activity in undergraduate students in Peshawar, Pakistan

Asian Journal of Health Sciences ◽

10.15419/ajhs.v7i1.481 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. ID20

Author(s):

Shahid Alam ◽

Sardar Bakht Khan ◽

Qamar Wahid Khattak ◽

Syed Zain Ul Abidin ◽

Salman Farooqi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Undergraduate Students ◽

Physical Inactivity ◽

Short Form ◽

Demographic Data ◽

Activity Level ◽

P Value ◽

Moderate Physical Activity ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The University

Background: Physical activity is one of the leading health indicators, considered an essential factor in the population's health and quality of life promotion. Physical inactivity is the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality. Physical inactivity has been linked with chronic disease and obesity in most populations. This study aims to compare the prevalence of physical activity and overweight/obesity among students of the university. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from March to September 2019 on undergraduate students from different departments of Peshawar University. A sample of 377 (male n = 243, female n = 134) was taken through convenience sampling. Those individuals who were physically disabled and not willing to participate were excluded from the study. Those meeting the inclusion criteria were given the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ short form). Demographic data included age, weight, and height was self-stated by the participants. The levels of physical activity in each of three domains (leisure, transport, and domestic) were calculated and presented as metabolic equivalent (M.E.T.) hour per week in the form of means, percentage, and frequency in different physical activity domains. Results: The overall sample showed that 13.70% of participants were inactive, 27.76% showed a low level of physical activity, 41.29% showed moderate physical activity level, and 17.24% showed a high level of physical activity. A total of 90.98% of participants were involved in leisure physical activities, 93.10% presented transport-related physical activity, and 74.80% were involved in domestic-related physical activity. Average time spent during sitting was found to be 53.32 hrs/week and 7.61 hrs/ day, with females being more involved in sitting activities as compared to males. A significant difference was found between B.M.I. and sitting domain (p-value 0.002) with a Pearson value of -0.12 showing a negative correlation. Conclusion: The B.M.I. and Physical Activity are found negatively associated with each other. Male students were more physically active than females as females spend their majority of time sitting. It is concluded that students are moderately active, while a minimal percent of students are highly active. There were a few numbers of respondents too who were physically inactive, which shows that there is still unawareness of physical activity on the university level.

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Morphological characteristics and motor skills of young students with different levels of engagement in physical activities (Características morfológicas y habilidades motrices de estudiantes jóvenes con diferentes niveles de participación en actividad

Retos ◽

10.47197/retos.v0i33.51812 ◽

2017 ◽

pp. 58-62

Author(s):

Maja Batez ◽

Branko Krsmanović ◽

Milena Mikalački ◽

Nebojša Čokorilo ◽

Marijana Simić ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Motor Skills ◽

Physical Activity Level ◽

Morphological Characteristics ◽

Research Problem ◽

Physical Activities ◽

The Body ◽

Activity Level ◽

Los Grupos ◽

Shuttle Run

The overall orientation of the research problem is focused on the physical activity level of the participants from the aspect of different intensities of motor engagement and their impact on morphological characteristics and motor skills with an intention of determining whether there are statistically significant differences between groups. In a sample of 103 students, aged between 18 and 20 years (18.9 ± 0.4), the female students were divided into three subsamples according to the level of physical activity: highly active, active and inactive. The study which was conducted had a transversal character. The data obtained in the survey were analysed using the univariate (ANOVA) and multivariate (MANOVA) statistical methods. The motor skills mere monitored by the use of the Eurofit Test Battery (wide-angle seated forward bend, standing long jump, pull-up endurance, 10 x 5m shuttle run and endurance shuttle run- beep test). The following morphological characteristics were considered: height, weight, body mass index, percentage of muscular mass and fat mass, as well as waist circumference. The obtained results indicate the existence of statistically significant differences between the % body muscle mass´ groups (p < 0.05) and motor skills parameters (sit and reach, p<0.01; standing broad jump, bent arm hang, 10x5m shuttlerun, beep test, p<0.001) of participants according to physical activity level. In conclusion, participants with a high level of physical activities have higher average values than the participants with light level of physical activities when considering the variables for assessing pliability, strength and agility.Resumen. La orientación general del problema de investigación se centra en el nivel de actividad física de las participantes desde el aspecto de diferentes intensidades de compromiso motor y su impacto en las características morfológicas y habilidades motrices con la intención de determinar si existen diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los grupos. En una muestra de 103 alumnas, con edades comprendidas entre los 18 y 20 años (18,9 ± 0,4), las estudiantes fueron divididas en tres grupos de acuerdo con el nivel de actividad física de cada uno: muy activas, activas e inactivas. El estudio llevado a cabo tuvo un carácter transversal. Los datos obtenidos mediante cuestionarios fueron analizados utilizando un análisis de la varianza (ANOVA) y un análisis multivariante de la varianza (MANOVA). Las habilidades fueron controladas mediante la batería Eurofit y para las características morfológicas, se midió la altura, peso, índice de masa corporal, porcentaje de masa muscular, masa grasa y la circunferencia de la cintura. Los resultados obtenidos indican la existencia de diferencias entre los grupos estudiados respecto al % de masa muscular (p <0.05) y las habilidades motrices (flexibilidad-inclinación hacia adelante, p<0.01; salto de longitud a pie, fuerza resistencia mediante flexión de brazos, 10 x 5 m carrera de ida y vuelta y Beep Test, p<0.001) de los participantes según el nivel de actividad física. En conclusión, las participantes con alto nivel de actividad física tienen mayores valores de habilidad motriz que las participantes que el resto en función de las variables flexibilidad, capacidad aeróbica, fuerza y agilidad.

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Sex Differences in Body Mass Index, Mediterranean Diet Adherence, and Physical Activity Level among Italian Adolescents

Health Behavior and Policy Review ◽

10.14485/hbpr.7.6.8 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (6) ◽

pp. 596-603

Author(s):

Francesca Mastorci ◽

◽

Cristina Doveri ◽

Gabriele Trivellini ◽

Anselmo Casu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Risk Factor ◽

Mediterranean Diet ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

Activity Level ◽

Unhealthy Lifestyle ◽

Lifestyle Habits ◽

Female Population ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Italian Adolescents

Objective: Unhealthy lifestyle habits during adolescence are linked to a higher risk of chronic degenerative disease during adulthood. The aim of this study was to assess the lifestyle habits among Italian adolescents, considering the potential influence of sex. Methods: Data were collected from 1707 eligible students. Demographic, dietary, and lifestyle data were collected, by using KIDMED and PAQ-C instruments. Results: The overall population had a medium adherence to a Mediterranean diet (58%, KIDMED score: 2.11 ± 0.64). There was no statistically significant difference in adherence by sex. We found boys to be more physically active than girls (p < .001). Considering ponderal index status, boys had turned out to be more overweight and obese respectively (13% and 4% respect to 10% and 2% in female population, p < .05, respectively), due to the presence of only one risk factor (medium or low both in diet and in physical activity score). Conclusions: Our results showed that our population stands at average levels both for its adherence to the Mediterranean diet and for physical activity, with males having a higher percentage of overweight and obesity. Importantly, in contrast to girls, boys have a higher risk of obesity, also in the presence of a single risk factor.

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