scholarly journals Regular Leisure-Time Physical Activity is Effective in Boosting Neurotrophic Factors and Alleviating Menopause Symptoms

Author(s):  
Boram Kim ◽  
Sunghwun Kang

Background: The study investigated the effects of regular leisure-time physical activity on the parameters of cognitive function (plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF), and cathepsin B) and menopausal symptoms (the climacterium, depression, and cognitive impairment) in obese middle-aged women. Methods: All subjects were middle-aged and obese women (n = 52, % body fat > 30%). The participants were divided into premenopausal (PRM) (n = 18, age = 47.56 ± 6.11 years) and postmenopausal (POM) (n = 34, age = 57.79 ± 5.68 years) groups. The participants completed a survey questionnaire related to depression and the climacterium, as well as cognitive tests. Physical activity was performed for 12 weeks. Blood samples from the forearm vein were analyzed after 12 h of fasting. Blood levels of BDNF, NGF, and cathepsin B were analyzed using an R&D kit. Results: Regular leisure-time physical activity had a positive effect on reducing the percentage of body fat in premenopausal and postmenopausal obese women. In addition, the results of the questionnaire showed that regular exercise had a positive effect on body composition caused by lifestyle change and enhanced psychological stability. The BDNF concentration was significantly lower in postmenopausal than in premenopausal obese women. In addition, regular physical activity significantly increased the cathepsin B and NGF levels in postmenopausal obese women. Conclusions: Continuous leisure-time physical activity improved body composition and neurotrophic factors and alleviated menopausal symptoms in obese Korean women.

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 796-815 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juha Kokkonen ◽  
Sami Yli-Piipari ◽  
Marja Kokkonen ◽  
John Quay

This study investigated the effectiveness of a creative physical education (CPE) intervention on students’ perceptions of motivational climate in physical education (PE), leisure-time physical activity (PA) motivation, and overall PA. A sample of 382 fourth to sixth grade students ( Mage= 10.87[.93]) from two elementary schools were assigned to the CPE intervention ( n = 196; Mage= 10.84[.95]) and control ‘PE-as-usual’ ( n = 186; Mage= 10.90[.90]) groups. Students’ perceived task- and ego-supportive climate in PE, leisure-time PA motivation, and overall PA were measured before and after the one-year intervention. Analyses of covariance and path analyses were implemented to test the effectiveness of the intervention. The intervention had a positive effect on students’ perceptions of task-supportive climate in PE ( p < .001) and a negative effect on ego-supportive climate ( p < .001). Students’ perceptions of task-supportive climate had a positive effect on their leisure-time PA motivation ( p < .001), which, in turn, had a positive effect on their overall PA ( p < .001). The results suggest that CPE-based PE may increase students’ perceptions of task-supportive climate in PE, which predicts their later leisure-time PA motivation outside the school context and overall PA.


Author(s):  
Nils Abel Aars ◽  
Bjarne K. Jacobsen ◽  
Bente Morseth ◽  
Nina Emaus ◽  
Sameline Grimsgaard

Abstract Background It is not clear how physical activity affects body composition in adolescents. Physical activity levels are often reduced during this period, and the relative proportion of body fat mass and lean mass undergo natural changes in growing adolescents. We aimed to examine whether self-reported physical activity in leisure time at baseline or change in activity during follow-up affect changes in four measures of body composition; body mass index (kg/m2), waist circumference, fat mass index (fat mass in kg/m2) and lean mass index (lean mass in kg/m2). Methods We used data from the Tromsø Study Fit Futures, which invited all first year students in upper secondary high school in two municipalities in northern Norway in 2010–2011. They were reexamined in 2012–2013. Longitudinal data was available for 292 boys and 354 girls. We used multiple linear regression analyses to assess whether self-reported level of physical activity in leisure time at baseline predicted changes in body composition, and analysis of covariance to assess the effects of change in level of activity during follow-up on change in body composition. All analyses were performed sex-specific, and a p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results There were no associations between self-reported leisure time physical activity in the first year of upper secondary high school and changes in any of the considered measure of body composition after 2 years of follow up, with the exception of waist circumference in boys (p = 0.05). In boys, change in fat mass index differed significantly between groups of activity change (p < 0.01), with boys adopting activity or remaining physically active having less increase in fat mass index than the consistently inactive. In girls, change in lean mass index differed significantly between groups of activity change (p = 0.04), with girls adopting physical activity having the highest increase. Conclusions Self-reported leisure time physical activity does not predict changes in body composition in adolescents after 2 years of follow up. Change in the level of physical activity is associated with change in fat mass index in boys and lean mass index in girls.


1994 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
pp. 647-652 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Toth ◽  
A. W. Gardner ◽  
P. A. Ades ◽  
E. T. Poehlman

We examined the contribution of variations in body composition and leisure time physical activity to the age-related decline in peak oxygen consumption (VO2) in men and women. Healthy males 17–80 yr old (n = 378) and females 18–81 yr old (n = 224) were characterized for peak VO2 from a treadmill test to exhaustion, fat-free mass and fat mass by underwater weighing, and leisure time physical activity. Peak VO2 showed a greater absolute decline (P < 0.05) with age in males (r = -0.70, slope = -0.034 l.min-1.yr-1; P < 0.01) than in females (r = -0.78, slope = -0.028 l.min-1.yr-1; P < 0.01). After statistically controlling for differences in fat-free mass and fat mass, the decline in peak VO2 was diminished in both sexes, although a greater rate of decline persisted in males (r = -0.47, slope = -0.016 l.min-1.yr-1; P < 0.01) than in females (r = -0.39, slope = -0.009 l.min-1.yr-1; P < 0.01). We found that the addition of leisure time physical activity (independent of body composition) to the regression model further attenuated the rate of decline in males (r = -0.40, slope = -0.013 l.min-1.yr-1; P < 0.01) but did not alter the age-related decline in peak VO2 in females (r = -0.39, slope = -0.009 l.min-1.yr-1; P < 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 655-662 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly Mattran ◽  
Lanay M. Mudd ◽  
Rebecca A. Rudey ◽  
Jeannette S.C. Kelly

Background:Leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) during pregnancy has maternal benefits, but effects on offspring have not often been considered. This study aimed to determine associations among trimester-specific LTPA during pregnancy and toddler size.Methods:Women (n = 300) were recruited while pregnant in 2006. At follow-up (2008), women reported demographics; recalled type, duration, and frequency of trimester-specific LTPA (MET·min/wk); and rated their toddler’s current LTPA level (more, same, or less than others their age). A subset (n = 23) volunteered to have maternal and toddler height, weight, and body fat measured. Maternal body mass index (BMI) and toddler weight-for-height z-scores (WHZ) were calculated.Results:Median toddler WHZ was 0.6 (range −0.5 to 2.9). In Spearman correlations, third trimester LTPA was marginally associated with lower toddler weight (rs = −0.39, P = .06) and WHZ (rs = −0.40, P = .06), but no other measures of maternal LTPA and toddler body size were related. Birth weight z-score was positively associated with toddler weight (rs = 0.51, P = .01) but negatively associated with percent body fat (rs= −0.46, P = .03). Measures of maternal size were unassociated with toddler size.Conclusions:These results provide preliminary support for LTPA during late pregnancy to have a lasting effect on offspring size.


2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 867-873 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ansku Holstila ◽  
Ossi Rahkonen ◽  
Eero Lahelma ◽  
Jouni Lahti

Background:The association between changes in physical activity and sickness absence is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to examine the association between changes in leisure-time physical activity and long-term sickness absence due to any cause and musculoskeletal and mental causes.Methods:We measured physical activity at baseline in 2000–2002 (response rate 67%) and at follow-up in 2007 (response rate 83%) among middle-aged employees of the City of Helsinki, Finland. The survey data were linked to the Finnish Social Insurance Institute’s register data on sickness benefit periods > 9 days, including diagnoses (ICD-10; International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th revision) (mean follow-up 2.3 years). We used a negative binomial model to calculate rate ratios. The analyses included 4010 respondents (81% women).Results:Those who were persistently vigorously active and those whose physical activity level changed from low to moderate or vigorous, from moderate to vigorous, or from vigorous to moderate were at lower risk for sickness absence than were the persistently low-activity group. For sickness absence due to musculoskeletal causes, vigorous activity showed stronger associations, whereas mental causes showed no such associations.Conclusions:To reduce sickness absence due to both musculoskeletal and mental causes, middle-aged and aging employees should be encouraged to engage in physical activity.


2009 ◽  
pp. 091123192713014-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eszter Völgyi ◽  
Arja Lyytikäinen ◽  
Frances A Tylavsky ◽  
Patrick HF Nicholson ◽  
Harri Suominen ◽  
...  

2006 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jarmo J. Malmberg ◽  
Seppo I. Miilunpalo ◽  
Matti E. Pasanen ◽  
Ilkka M. Vuori ◽  
Pekka Oja

The authors investigated the associations of the amount, frequency and intensity, and type of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) with the risk of self-reported difficulty in walking (WD) and stair climbing (SCD) over 16 years in a population-based cohort age 40–64 years at the onset of the study. Their results indicated that the risk for SCD was highest among men and women with a low amount of weekly LTPA. The risk was high also among women with weekly light LTPA compared with women with weekly vigorous LTPA. The risk for WD was highest among men who engaged in fitness activity once a week compared with men who engaged in fitness activity at least three times a week. A low amount of weekly LTPA, light LTPA twice or more a week, and LTPA for keeping fit and healthy less than three times a week are associated with future risk of mobility difficulties among middle-aged and older adults.


2000 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 226-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nobuo Iwai ◽  
Nobuo Yoshiike ◽  
Shigeyuki Saitoh ◽  
Takayuki Nose ◽  
Toshio Kushiro ◽  
...  

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