scholarly journals A Cross-Sectional Study Rating the Perceived Impact and Reach of the Ministry of Health and Wellness Initiatives to Curb Physical Inactivity in Jamaica

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 09-15
Author(s):  
Van Der Rowe

Like other countries, Jamaica in the last 2 decades has seen an increase in physical inactivity, which has significantly increased the number of people living with chronic lifestyle diseases on the island. It can be argued that increased industrialization has resulted in several ecological concerns, such as violence that may deter people from engaging in physical exercise, pollution and polluted air, lack of parks, walkways, and sports/recreational amenities. Despite the causes of physical inactivity, there is a global mobilization by the World Health Organization (WHO) and individual countries to reduce physical inactivity levels by at least 15% by 2030. The COVID-19 pandemic has surely put a dent in the physical activity (PA) targets. Many countries initiated restrictive measures (lockdowns, curfews, and social distancing) to try and contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus. For countries such as Jamaica, combating physical inactivity seems to require strategies, interventions, motivation, and the promotion of physical activity (PA) culture from all stakeholders (integrated approach) to meet the WHO’s goals and standards by 2030. The purpose of this research was to assess the perceived impact and reach of Jamaica’s Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) initiatives to promote PA, impact weight loss, and lifestyle while trying to reduce sedentary behaviors in Jamaica. A standardized questionnaire was used in a single cross-sectional design that surveyed 843 Jamaicans using Google Forms. Participants ages 12-71 years old were surveyed using a hybrid sample strategy that used convenience and snowballs sampling techniques. The results of the study indicated that there was a 35% participation rate in the MOHW initiatives, with only 14.3% of the participants believed that the initiatives were impacting their weight loss and lifestyle. Additionally, 51.6% of the participants did not believe the initiatives caused them to participate more in PA; on average, the initiatives by the MOHW were rated at 50% effective. The initiatives are not very effective in reaching most of the population, which is not achieving the goal of enhancing healthy lifestyle practices and reducing physical inactivity. These implications may potentially see an increase in Jamaica’s physical inactivity levels and chronic lifestyle diseases if these initiatives are not intensified to reach the majority of the population.

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Mohammad Hadianfard ◽  
Hassan Mozaffari-Khosravi ◽  
Majid Karandish ◽  
Maryam Azhdari

Abstract Background The growing number of adolescents who are overweight or obese (OW / OB) is a public concern. The present study was aimed to evaluate physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviors (SB) (screen time (ST) and homework time (HT)) among Yazd OW/OB adolescents. Methods This cross-sectional study was performed among 510 students aged 12-16 in Yazd, Iran. The general information, PA, and SB (ST and HT) were collected by interview based on the WHO standard questionnaire. Anthropometric data were assessed by precise instruments. Daily energy intake (Energy) was obtained from a 7-day food record. Nutritionist 4 software (version I) was run to estimate the energy. Results There was a high prevalence of SB > 2h/day (97.6), ST > 2h/day (70.3%), overweight or obesity (40%), abdominal obesity (36.9%), physical inactivity (29.8%) among the students. The younger age (p = 0.014), energy (p < 0.001), no access to the yard (p < 0.001), family size ≤ 2 (p = 0.023), passive transportation, (p = 0.001), the highest school days’ HT (p = 0.033) and SB (p = 0.021), and the highest weekends’ HT among the students were the risk factors for OW/OB. The highest PA level was associated with a lower risk of OW/OB (p < 0.001). The findings were not the same in both sexes. Compared to the normal weight students, OW / OB spent more time on school days and weekdays for ST (P <0.001), HT (P <0.001, P = 0.005) and SB (P <0.001), respectively. OW/OB students showed a higher weekends’ ST (p < 0.001) and lower HT (p = 0.048) than normal-weight students. Conclusion The prevalence of SB, ST, OW/OB, and physical inactivity were common. The school days and weekends’ HT, the school days’ SB and HT, age, energy, PA, and access to the yard, family size, and passive transportation were related to the greater chances of OW/OB students. Given that the expansion of online education and self-isolation in a new situation with COVID-19, it seems we will meet the worrying results.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Elżbieta Biernat ◽  
Monika Piątkowska

Purpose. The aim of the study was to evaluate general physical activity (PA) level on the basis of leisure time and transportation physical activity (LTPA and TPA), assess the percentage of persons not meeting PA recommendations by the World Health Organisation (WHO), and evaluate the relationship between selected sociodemographic factors and physical inactivity. Methods. The paper is based on data ( n = 7,347 ) retrieved from five large-scale surveys (2014-2018) used to collect information on the PA of Polish society. In order to meet the aim of the paper, we selected a sample of 2,023 Poles aged ≥ 60 years old. In each wave, the Polish long version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire was used. Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to investigate the differences between the types and volume of PA and sociodemographic variables. Relationships between physical inactivity and analysed variables were evaluated using log-linear analysis. To capture relationships between physical inactivity and a set of explanatory variables, a predictive model was built. Results. The total average energy expenditure amounted to 1879.5 ± 2352.5 MET-min/week, including LTPA ( 938.5 ± 1491.9 MET-min/week) and TPA ( 944.8 ± 1322.4 MET-min/week). Over the course of the last two years of the study, the average value of MET-min/week increased significantly ( p < 0.05 ); however, prohealth WHO norms are not met by nearly 40% of Poles. Sex determines the volume of LTPA and TPA ( p < 0.05 ) but does not determine the inactivity of seniors. Place of residence and education differentiate participation in LTPA and TPA. The lower the education level and the smaller the place of residence, the greater the inactivity. Conclusions. The target for future interventions should be people aged 60+ living in villages and small towns (especially those with primary education). It is necessary to undertake educational and motivational programmes promoting PA. It is essential to develop detailed recommendations and to create a friendly and supportive environment.


2017 ◽  
Vol 135 (4) ◽  
pp. 339-346
Author(s):  
Maiara Martinighi ◽  
Edina Mariko Koga da Silva

ABSTRACT CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Brazil has the fifth largest population of obese individuals in the world. Women’s magazines publish a large number of diet plans, and therefore the objective of this study was to assess the quality of these plans. DESIGN: Cross-sectional descriptive study. METHODS: We included the Brazilian women’s magazines of highest circulation published between January and June 2014 that advertised diets for weight loss on their covers. We extracted the quantities of macro and micronutrients from each of these diet plans and compared these quantities with the World Health Organization nutritional guidelines for adult women. We also checked the total energy quantities of these plans, and any recommendations about water intake and physical activity. RESULTS: We identified 136 potentially eligible magazine issues; 41 were excluded and 95 issues of 6 different magazines were included in the study. We found that 83.1 % of the plans had carbohydrate and fiber levels below the recommendations. On the other hand, the protein and saturated fatty acid levels were above the recommendations in 97.8% and 95.7% of the plans, respectively; 75.7% of the diets had inadequate calcium levels and 70.5% had low iron levels. Only 30 plans specified the total daily quantity of dietary energy and in 53.3% of these, the information was inconsistent with our estimates; 20% of the plans had no recommendations on daily water intake and 37.5% did not give recommendations regarding physical activity practices. CONCLUSION: The diet plans for weight loss featured in Brazilian women’s magazines are of low quality.


2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 654-662 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Jaime Miranda ◽  
Rodrigo M. Carrillo-Larco ◽  
Robert H Gilman ◽  
Jose L. Avilez ◽  
Liam Smeeth ◽  
...  

Background:Physical inactivity and sedentary behaviors have been linked with impaired health outcomes. Establishing the physical inactivity profiles of a given population is needed to establish program targets and to contribute to international monitoring efforts. We report the prevalence of, and explore sociodemographical and built environment factors associated with physical inactivity in 4 resource-limited settings in Peru: rural Puno, urban Puno, Pampas de San Juan de Miraflores (urban), and Tumbes (semiurban).Methods:Cross-sectional analysis of the CRONICAS Cohort Study’s baseline assessment. Outcomes of interest were physical inactivity of leisure time (<600 MET-min/week) and transport-related physical activity (not reporting walking or cycling trips) domains of the IPAQ, as well as watching TV, as a proxy of sedentarism (≥2 hours per day). Exposures included demographic factors and perceptions about neighborhood’s safety. Associations were explored using Poisson regression models with robust standard errors. Prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) are presented.Results:Data from 3593 individuals were included: 48.5% males, mean age 55.1 (SD: 12.7) years. Physical inactivity was present at rates of 93.7% (95% CI 93.0%–94.5%) and 9.3% (95% CI 8.3%–10.2%) within the leisure time and transport domains, respectively. In addition, 41.7% (95% CI 40.1%–43.3%) of participants reported watching TV for more than 2 hours per day. Rates varied according to study settings (P < .001). In multivariable analysis, being from rural settings was associated with 3% higher prevalence of leisure time physical inactivity relative to highly urban Lima. The pattern was different for transport-related physical inactivity: both Puno sites had around 75% to 50% lower prevalence of physical inactivity. Too much traffic was associated with higher levels of transport-related physical inactivity (PR = 1.24; 95% CI 1.01–1.54).Conclusions:Our study showed high levels of inactivity and marked contrasting patterns by rural/urban sites. These findings highlight the need to generate synergies to expand nationwide physical activity surveillance systems.


2021 ◽  
Vol 319 ◽  
pp. 01022
Author(s):  
Hamid El Oirdi ◽  
Amina Bouziani ◽  
Aziz El Oirdi ◽  
Jaouad Mostyafi ◽  
Abdeslam Hamrani ◽  
...  

In Morocco, noncommunicable diseases were responsible for 80% of all deaths in 2016. These risk factors are closely related to diet and physical activity. Therefore, this study aims to determine the prevalence of physical activity, sedentary behaviors and eating habits among a sample of Moroccan adolescents aged 14 to 19 years.This is a cross-sectional study involving a sample of 669 (285 boys and 384 girls) recruited during the year 2019 in the Province of Sidi Kacem-Morocco. Data on sedentary behaviors, physical activity and eating habits were collected using a validated questionnaire. Overall, 38% of Moroccan adolescents did not meet the recommended duration of one hour of moderate-intensity physical activity, boys are generally more active than girls (p<0.00), and 36% of adolescents reported watching TV for more than 2 hours/day and 42% used a computer for a similar period. Girls are more sedentary than boys (p=0.005). For eating habits, there were significantly more boys than girls who met the recommended scores for healthier foods, but there were significantly more girls than boys who exceeded the score of three days of intake per week for unhealthiest foods. The prevalence of sedentary behavior, physical inactivity and unhealthy eating habits appear to be moderately high, but physical and nutritional education programs are needed to promote an active living and a healthy eating.


2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Trude ◽  
Gabriela Vedovato ◽  
Yeeli Mui ◽  
Maria Oliveira ◽  
Paula Martins

We aimed to assess the association between individual, socioeconomic, and environmental variables and sedentary behavior and physical inactivity (PI) among urban Brazilian women of varying economic status in Santos. Through a cross-sectional design in a home-based study, we interviewed 538 women with children under 10 years. We assessed PI through two different indices: the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and the physical activity time/week as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Sedentary behavior was assessed by sitting-time (>360min/week). Using adjusted logistic regression, walking and driving remained significantly correlated to IPAQ’s score (OR 0.24 95% CI 0.11; 0.50; OR 1.87 95% IC 1.25; 2.81) and to WHO’s guideline (OR 0.20 95% CI 0.08; 0.48; OR 1.77 95% CI 1.16; 2.70). Sedentary behavior was associated with having housekeeper in the household (OR 2.14 95% IC 1.31; 3.50) and perceiving as a barrier for physical activity not having money (OR 0.29 95% CI 0.12; 0.65). Physical inactivity and sedentary behavior were associated with individual, psychosocial and environmental perceptions factors among women with children. Therefore, environmental and policy interventions with multilevel approach may be considered in urban areas to promote health and to prevent obesity among maternal-infant group.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1641
Author(s):  
Lien T. K. Nguyen ◽  
Binh N. Do ◽  
Dinh N. Vu ◽  
Khue M. Pham ◽  
Manh-Tan Vu ◽  
...  

Background: Comorbidity is common and causes poor stroke outcomes. We aimed to examine the modifying impacts of physical activity (PA) and diet quality on the association between comorbidity and disability in stroke patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 951 stable stroke patients in Vietnam from December 2019 to December 2020. The survey questionnaires were administered to assess patients’ characteristics, clinical parameters (e.g., Charlson Comorbidity Index items), health-related behaviors (e.g., PA using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire- short version), health literacy, diet quality (using the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Quality (DASH-Q) questionnaire), and disability (using the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule II (WHODAS II)). Linear regression models were used to analyze the associations and interactions. Results: The proportion of comorbidity was 49.9% (475/951). The scores of DASH-Q and WHODAS II were 29.2 ± 11.8, 32.3 ± 13.5, respectively. Patients with comorbidity had a higher score of disability (regression coefficient, B, 8.24; 95% confidence interval, 95%CI, 6.66, 9.83; p < 0.001) as compared with those without comorbidity. Patients with comorbidity and higher tertiles of PA (B, −4.65 to −5.48; p < 0.05), and a higher DASH-Q score (B, −0.32; p < 0.001) had a lower disability score, as compared with those without comorbidity and the lowest tertile of PA, and the lowest score of DASH-Q, respectively. Conclusions: Physical activity and diet quality significantly modified the negative impact of comorbidity on disability in stroke patients. Strategic approaches are required to promote physical activity and healthy diet which further improve stroke rehabilitation outcomes.


2006 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 365-380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew E. Springer ◽  
Deanna M. Hoelscher ◽  
Steven H. Kelder

Background:Geographic differences in the prevalence of physical activity (PA) have been found among adults in the US; similar studies have not been conducted among adolescents.Methods:Using nationally representative cross-sectional data from the CDC’s 2003 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, we estimated the prevalence of PA and sedentary behaviors by metropolitan status and geographic region.Results:The prevalence of PA was lowest and prevalence of sedentary behavior highest for urban students. Students from the South reported the lowest prevalence of PA and the highest prevalence of TV watching, while students from the West generally reported the highest PA prevalence and lowest sedentary behavior prevalence. Prevalence differences ranged from < 1.0% to > 15%, with most differences falling between 5% and 10%.Conclusions:Findings mirror regional variations previously observed in adult PA. We need to understand factors that contribute to lower PA in youth living in the South and in urban settings.


Author(s):  
Sergio Pulido Sánchez ◽  
Damián Iglesias Gallego

Interest in analyzing physically active behaviors during school recesses has grown in recent years as the school environment has consolidated (recess, physical education classes, lunch-time, before and after school) as a crucial space to bring these levels towards those recommended through intervention programs and improvements in the school environment. Unfortunately, in most of these studies, children do not achieve the 60 min a day of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) recommended by the World Health Organization. The aim of this systematic review is to analyze the cross-sectional, longitudinal, and intervention studies objectively measured with accelerometers that have emerged in recent years to determine the amount of MVPA of children at recess. This systematic review followed the PRISMA guidelines. The extraction process for the studies included in this systematic review yielded a total of 43 articles. The studies were classified according to the methodological nature of the research: cross-sectional (n = 34), longitudinal (n = 3) and quasi-experimental (n = 6). The results of the studies confirm that during the recess period younger children are physically more active than older ones and that in general, boys are more physically active than girls. In addition, the data show that the school contributes to more than 40% of the total MVPA. The intervention programs led to an increase in MVPA of up to 5%. Providing schools with equipment and facilities shows that intervention programs are beneficial for raising children’s levels of physical activity.


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