scholarly journals Influence of Urban Green Space and Facility Accessibility on Exercise and Healthy Diet in Hong Kong

Author(s):  
Yuen ◽  
Chang ◽  
Wong ◽  
Wong ◽  
Siu ◽  
...  

Background A cross-sectional study using a convenience sampling method was conducted to understand how green space and accessibility of common public open spaces in compact urban areas affect physical activity and healthy diets of residents. Methods A total of 554 residents completed a structured questionnaire on quality of life, physical activity level and healthy eating practice. Particularly, categories of physical activity and durations were obtained by using the short form Chinese International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-C), then the Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET)-minutes/week was calculated using the formulae (walking minutes × walking days × 3.3) + (moderate-intensity activity minutes × moderate days × 4.0) + (vigorous-intensity activity minutes × vigorous-intensity days × 8.0). The percentage of green space was calculated based on a spatial buffer with a 500 m radius from participants’ geocoded addresses using a SPOT (‘Satellite Pour l'Observation de la Terre’ in French) satellite image-derived vegetation dataset. Parks, promenade and sports facilities were examples of open spaces. Results The sampled population who lived with green space averaged 10.11% ± 7.95% (ranged 1.56–32.90%), with the majority (90%) performing physical activities at medium and high levels. MET-minutes/week was significantly associated (Pearson r = 0.092; p < 0.05) with the green space percentage. Relatively active residents commonly used open spaces within the district for performing exercise, in particular, parks and promenades were mostly used by older residents, while sports facilities by the younger groups at age 25–44 and <25 years. Conclusions Current findings suggested promotion of exercise could be achieved by the design or redesign of built environment to include more parks accessible to the residents with the increase of vegetation.

Author(s):  
Seok Tyug Tan ◽  
Chin Xuan Tan ◽  
Seok Shin Tan

The temporary closure of learning institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically reduced the physical activity of students across all ages. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of physical inactivity and the patterns of physical activity among university students in confinement. This cross-sectional study involved 147 Malaysian students and 107 Indonesian students. Body weight before the pandemic and during the pandemic was self-reported by the respondents, and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF) was used to assess the physical activity and sedentary behavior of the respondents. The findings revealed that 79.6% of Malaysians and 77.6% of Indonesians were physically active during the confinement. There was no significant difference (p < 0.05) in the duration devoted to vigorous-intensity activity (MMalaysian = 0.00 MET minutes/week and MIndonesian = 480.00 MET minutes/week) and moderate-intensity activity (MMalaysian = 0.00 MET minutes/week and MIndonesian = 0.00 MET minutes/week) among the studied population. During the pandemic, Malaysian students (M = 1386.00 MET minutes/week) devoted a significantly higher duration to walking (M = 1386.00 MET minutes/week) and sedentary behavior (9.16 ± 4.47 h/day) than Indonesian students (M = 990.00 MET minutes/week and sedentary behavior = 7.85 ± 4.27 h/day). Overall, no significant difference was noted in the total physical activity of Malaysian and Indonesian students during the pandemic (MMalaysian = 2826.00 MET minutes/week and MIndonesian = 1782.00 MET minutes/week). Findings from Spearman’s rank correlation test suggested that there was a weak inverse correlation between the duration engaged in vigorous-intensity activity and weight change among the Malaysian students (rs = −0.199, p = 0.016), after adjusting for gender and age. Overall, the closure of learning institutions and exercise facilities has further prevented individuals from complying with the WHO recommendation of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity during the period of home confinement.


2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 231-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vera AE Baadjou ◽  
Jeanine AMCF Verbunt ◽  
Marjon DF van Eijsden-Besseling ◽  
Stephanie MD Huysmans ◽  
Rob JEM Smeets

OBJECTIVE: Musicians are often compared to athletes because of the physical exertion required to play music. The aim of this study was to explore the physical activity level of music students and to study its relationship with musculoskeletal complaints. A second goal was to assess associations between physical activity and pain, quality of life, and disability. METHODS: This cross-sectional study among third- and fourth-year music students used an electronic survey including measures for physical activity (SQUASH—Short Questionnaire to Assess Health-enhancing physical activity), musculoskeletal complaints (DMQ—Dutch Musculoskeletal Questionnaire), disability (DASH—Disability Arm, Shoulder, Hand questionnaire) and quality of life (Short Form-12). Students were classified as compliers or non-compliers with moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity recommendations. Statistical analysis was done using (non)parametric tests (t-test, Pearson chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U-test) and correlational testing. RESULTS: Participants were 132 students, 63.6% female, with a median age of 23 yrs (range 21.3–25.0). 67% reported musculoskeletal complaints in the past 7 days. Their median physical activity level was 6,390 MET-min/wk, and 62% and 10% of the students accomplished recommendations for moderate-intensity and vigorous-intensity physical activity levels, respectively. No significant differences were found in prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints between students who met moderate- or vigorous-intensity physical activity recommendations and students who did not. Physical activity level was not associated with musculoskeletal complaints (r=0.12, p=0.26). Higher pain intensity was associated with a lower quality of life (r=–0.53 p<0.01) and higher disability (r=0.43, p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Music students are mainly involved in light- to moderate-intensity physical activities and rarely in vigorous-intensity activities. No correlation was found between physical activity level in the past months and musculoskeletal complaints in music students.


Author(s):  
Wasantha Jayawardene ◽  
Lesa Huber ◽  
Jimmy McDonnell ◽  
Laurel Curran ◽  
Sarah Larson ◽  
...  

Dog-walkers are more likely to achieve moderate-intensity physical activity. Linking the use of activity trackers with dog-walking may be beneficial both in terms of improving the targeted behavior and increasing the likelihood of sustained use. This manuscript aims to describe the protocol of a pilot study which intends to examine the effects of simultaneous use of activity trackers by humans and their dogs on the physical activity level of humans and dogs. This study uses nonprobability sampling of dog owners of age 25–65 (N = 80) and involves four parallel groups in an observational randomized controlled trial with a 2 × 2 factorial design, based on use of dog or human activity trackers for eight weeks. Each group consists of dog-human duos, in which both, either or none are wearing an activity tracker for eight weeks. At baseline and end, all human subjects wear ActiGraph accelerometers that quantify physical activity for one week. Commercial activity trackers are used for tracking human and dog activity remotely. Additional measures for humans are body composition and self-reported physical activity. Dog owners also report dog’s weight and physical activity using a questionnaire. A factorial analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) is used to compare physical activity across the four groups from baseline to week-10.


Author(s):  
Tom Deliens ◽  
Vickà Versele ◽  
Jasper Jehin ◽  
Eva D’Hondt ◽  
Yanni Verhavert ◽  
...  

This study validated the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and the Context-specific Sedentary Behavior Questionnaire (CSBQ) against accelerometry among parents-to-be. Sex-differences in potential misreporting of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) were also investigated. Self-reported total PA (TPA), light-intensity PA (LPA), moderate-intensity PA (MPA), vigorous-intensity PA (VPA), moderate-to-vigorous-intensity PA (MVPA), and SB of 91 parents-to-be (41 men and 50 women) were compared with Actigraph data according to sex. Furthermore, the extent of misreporting was compared between sexes. Strong correlations for TPA and weak-to-moderate correlations for LPA, MPA, VPA, MVPA, and SB were observed. Participants underestimated TPA by 1068 min/week (=17.8 h/week; −50%), LPA by 1593 min/week (=26.6 h/week; −83%), and SB by 428 min/week (=7.1 h/week; −11%) and overestimated MPA by 384 min/week (=6.4 h/week; +176%) and MVPA by 525 min/week (=8.8 h/week; +224%). Males overreported VPA more than females in absolute minutes per week (238 min/week, i.e., 4.0 h/week vs. 62 min/week, i.e., 1.0 h/week), whereas, in relative terms, the opposite (+850% vs. +1033%) was true. The IPAQ and CSBQ can be used with caution to estimate TPA and SB among parents-to-be considering a strong correlation but low agreement for TPA and a weak-to-moderate correlation but acceptable agreement for SB. We disadvise using these self-reports to estimate PA on the distinct intensity levels.


2018 ◽  
Vol 52 (6) ◽  
pp. 639-665 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Groshong ◽  
Sonja A. Wilhelm Stanis ◽  
Andrew T. Kaczynski ◽  
J. Aaron Hipp

Parks benefit communities by supporting the physical, mental, and social health of their residents. This is especially important in urban areas, where parks provide essential access to green space, and especially among low-income populations who may lack alternative venues for outdoor recreation. However, although urban parks may ostensibly be accessible, their use can be influenced by factors including perceptions and realities of safety. This qualitative study explored the issue of safety as it relates to park use and park-based physical activity from six focus groups with 41 total participants in urban Kansas City, Missouri. As a facilitator to safety, participants described social interactions and structural environment factors. Safety constraints emerged along five main themes: violence, concerning behavior, lack of maintenance, lack of lighting, and traffic/busy roads. This study adds to the literature establishing safety as a complex and multidimensional factor influencing park usage and physical activity.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Micaela Porta ◽  
Giuseppina Pilloni ◽  
Roberta Pili ◽  
Carlo Casula ◽  
Mauro Murgia ◽  
...  

Background. Although physical activity (PA) is known to be beneficial in improving motor symptoms of people with Parkinson’s disease (pwPD), little is known about the relationship between gait patterns and features of PA performed during daily life. Objective. To verify the existence of possible relationships between spatiotemporal and kinematic parameters of gait and amount/intensity of PA, both instrumentally assessed. Methods. Eighteen individuals affected by PD (10F and 8M, age 68.0 ± 10.8 years, 1.5 ≤ Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) < 3) were required to wear a triaxial accelerometer 24 h/day for 3 consecutive months. They also underwent a 3D computerized gait analysis at the beginning and end of the PA assessment period. The number of daily steps and PA intensity were calculated on the whole day, and the period from 6:00 to 24:00 was grouped into 3 time slots, using 3 different cut-point sets previously validated in the case of both pwPD and healthy older adults. 3D gait analysis provided spatiotemporal and kinematic parameters of gait, including summary indexes of quality (Gait Profile Score (GPS) and Gait Variable Score (GVS)). Results. The analysis of hourly trends of PA revealed the existence of two peaks located in the morning (approximately at 10) and in the early evening (between 18 and 19). However, during the morning time slot (06:00–12:00), pwPD performed significantly higher amounts of steps (4313 vs. 3437 in the 12:00–18:00 time slot, p<0.001, and vs. 2889 in the 18:00–24:00 time slot, p=0.021) and of moderate-to-vigorous PA (43.2% vs. 36.3% in the 12:00–18:00 time slot, p=0.002, and vs. 31.4% in the 18:00–24:00 time slot, p=0.049). The correlation analysis shows that several PA intensity parameters are significantly associated with swing-phase duration (rho = −0.675 for sedentary intensity, rho = 0.717 for moderate-to-vigorous intensity, p<0.001), cadence (rho = 0.509 for sedentary intensity, rho = −0.575 for moderate-to-vigorous intensity, p<0.05), and overall gait pattern quality as expressed by GPS (rho = −0.498 to −0.606 for moderate intensity, p<0.05) and GVS of knee flexion-extension (rho = −0.536 for moderate intensity, p<0.05). Conclusions. Long-term monitoring of PA integrated by the quantitative assessment of spatiotemporal and kinematic parameters of gait may represent a useful tool in supporting a better-targeted prescription of PA and rehabilitative treatments in pwPD.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. ID20
Author(s):  
Shahid Alam ◽  
Sardar Bakht Khan ◽  
Qamar Wahid Khattak ◽  
Syed Zain Ul Abidin ◽  
Salman Farooqi ◽  
...  

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.


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.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olaoluwa Samson Agbaje ◽  
Prince Iheanachor Christian Umoke ◽  
Charity Chika Attama ◽  
Fabian Chibunine Ugwueze ◽  
Benedicta Ndidi Agu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Physical inactivity (PA) is a modifiable risk factor for many chronic illnesses. Studies on physical activity in adolescent populationshave reported associations between PA and demographic and psychosocial factors. However, there is a limited evidence on PA level and associated factors among adolescents in south-east Nigeria. Thus, the study examined adolescents’ PA level and its demographic and psychosocial correlates among school-going adolescents in Obollo-Afor Education Zone, Enugu State, South-East Nigeria.Methods: A total of 365 randomly selected adolescents aged 12-19 years in Obollo-Afor, Enugu State, south-East Nigeria participated in the study. The Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ-A), the Physical Self-Description Questionnaire-Short Form (PSDQ-S), the Social Support and Peer Norms Scales for Physical Activity (SSPNS)were used to measure PA level, physical self-concept, social support and peer norms for PA.Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent samples t -test, fixed effects ANOVA, and multiple linear regression.Results: The mean age of the participants was 15.76 ± 1.78 years for boys and 15.65 ± 1.83 years for girls. One-third (33.3%) had low PA level, more than half of the participants had moderate PA level(58.1%) whilevery few (8.5%) had high PA level. School-going adolescents had high mean physical self-concept(16.6 ± 40), social support(2.48 ± 1.04) and peer norms(2.19 ± 1.049). Adolescents’ PA level was positively related to self-concept ( r = .06, p > 0.05), social support ( r = .26, p < 0.01), peer norms ( r = .27, p < 0.01). Social support (beta = .22, p < .001), peer norms received for PA (beta = .23, p < .003), and class of study (beta = -.047, p < 0.05) were significantly associated with PA level among adolescents.Conclusions: One third of school-going adolescents had low level of PA, and low proportion had high level of PA. Also, Social support, peer norms received for PA and class of study were significantly associated with PA among adolescents. Future studies are needed to design interventions that promote PA among adolescents in Nigeria.


Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 141 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fan Ye ◽  
Li Zhou ◽  
Joseph Yeboah ◽  
Peter H Brubaker ◽  
Alain G Bertoni

Introduction: Heart failure (HF) is a growing public health problem which is the leading cause of hospitalization. About half of people who develop HF die within 5 years of diagnosis. Recent evidence suggests that physical inactivity may be an important risk for HF. However, the importance of physical activity in the prevention and treatment have not been adequately recognized. Self-reported physical activity can provide insights into the impact of lifestyle behaviors on mortality. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between physical activity and HF in a nationally representative sample of United States (US) adults. Methods: The 2007-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data collection cycles were used for this analysis. Participants aged 65 and older with HF were defined as those who answered “yes” to the question: “Has a doctor or other health professional ever told you that you had congestive HF?” Frequency and duration of self-reported moderate-intensity (“Days moderate recreational activities” and “Minutes moderate recreational activities”) and vigorous-intensity Days vigorous recreational activities” and “Minutes vigorous recreational activities”) physical activity were collected through questionnaires as well in all data cycles. We used 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans Older Adults, which recommended that most older adults (age≥65 years) participate in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity per week as our cut-off points for calculating moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Results: Between 2007-2008 and 2015-2016, the percentage of US adults ≥65 years with HF increased from 2.76% to 3.69% (p=0.04). Although a similar percentage of participants who met the criteria of at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week was noted in both groups from 2007 to 2016 (on average, HF: 56.9% vs. HF-free: 56.7%, respectively, p>0.05), more HF-free participants reported at least 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity recreational activities per week compared to HF participants in each calendar year (82.8% vs. 66.7%, 85.0% vs. 70.0%, 83.5% vs. 55.0%, 87.0% vs.75%, 85.2% vs. 63.6%, respectively, p<0.01). Additionally, among those who reported activities, older adults with HF were less than 20 times as likely to report moderate or vigorous recreational activities compared to those without HF. Conclusions: Our findings illustrate lower self-reported physical recreational activities, especially vigorous activities, in older participants who report a diagnosis of HF and more participants without HF report vigorous-intensity recreational activities. Future study should focus on understanding the physical limitations of HF patients, which is paramount in developing cardiac rehabilitation strategies to improve their function capacity.


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