Enhancing Performance and Health Outcomes with Optimal Exercise and Nutrition Programming

Exercise and nutrition, when used as a mode to improve health outcomes is well-researched and accepted by researchers and clinicians, alike. Numerous health organizations have developed general recommendations such as physical activity and exercise to inform the public how to improve health outcomes. More often than not, these guidelines are vague and do not suggest how to achieve optimal health via exercise and nutrition. These guidelines also fail to consider physiological and psychological variability for patients and individuals aiming to follow such guidelines. For example, current recommendations include exercise intensities based on low, moderate, and vigorous activity and many people may not understand the physiological cost of such exercise intensities. Presently, accessible consumer-grade technology allows for accurate measurements of relative heart rate, exercise time, distance, and estimated caloric expenditure which is presumed easy for any person to understand. Therefore, creating guidelines that target specific and measurable variables, such as relative heart rate may be more advantageous for individualized health optimization.

Accelerometer-Measured, Habitual Physical Activity and Circulating Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: One of the mechanisms suggested to link physical activity (PA) to favorable brain health is through stimulation of neural growth factors such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Acute bouts of PA stimulate circulating BDNF levels. Objective: In this investigation, we assessed whether habitual, accelerometer-measured PA levels were related to circulating BDNF levels in a middle-aged cohort. Methods: In the Framingham Heart Study Third Generation cohort, 1,769 participants provided reliable accelerometry data and were not missing BDNF measurement and platelet counts. In a cross-sectional analysis, using multivariable regression, we related PA measures to serum BDNF levels, adjusting for age, sex, smoking status, platelet count, depression status, and accelerometer wear time. Results: Our study participants (mean age 47±9 years, 50.8% women) spent an average of 22.3 mins/day moderate-to-vigorous (MV)PA. Most PA variables (steps, MVPA, light activity, and sedentary time) were not related to BDNF levels (p > 0.05). We observed a non-linear trend, where 15–50 mins/week vigorous activity was associated with lower BDNF compared to those with 0 min vigorous activity (β= –0.049±0.024, p = 0.05), but with no significant associations at lower or higher vigorous activity levels. In smokers, MVPA was also associated with lower BDNF levels (β= –0.216±0.079, p = 0.01). Conclusion: Our study reveals that circulating BDNF is not chronically elevated in individuals with higher levels of habitual PA in middle-aged adults from the community and may even be chronically suppressed with higher PA in subgroups, including current smokers. These results do not contradict previous studies demonstrating that circulating BDNF rises acutely after PA.

Level of Physical Activity at Lebanese Universities’ Students of Both Genders: A Comparative Study

Background: Examining students’ levels of physical activity is important because these students will be the future leaders of their communities. Objectives: The aim of this study was to generate primary information and describe the lifestyle behavior patterns considering physical activity prevalence among gender-related Lebanese college students. Methods: The study involved 600 students (346 Men, 254 Women with mean age 23.5 ± 3.96). The participants’ levels of physical activity was examined by utilizing the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). The over-all level of physical activity including the four-lifestyle fields: work, transportation, home and gardening, and leisure-time, was presented as metabolic equivalent-min per week (MET-min/week). Results: Findings indicated 22% of students with high physical activity level, 61% and 17 % with moderate and low levels respectively. Based on activity Intensity, 47% (n= 282) of students were engaged in vigorous activity, while 45.2% (n= 271) were engaged in moderate activity, and 68.3% (n=410) were engaged in walking activities. Average time spent sitting for the whole sample was 6.23 daily hours. The level of weekly total physical activity expressed in metabolic equivalent represented 2970.5 MET/min/week in males and 2719.5 MET/min/week in females. Conclusion: In general, Lebanese universities students were equally active, with trivial supremacy for males. Lebanese university students met the (WHO) recommendations for physical activity (>150 min/week of moderate activity or > 75 min/week of vigorous activity or an equivalent combination of both activities). Physical Activity must be developed by the provision of physical activity classes in the university curriculum and extracurricular activities.

Impact of replacing sedentary behaviour with other movement behaviours on depression and anxiety symptoms: a prospective cohort study in the UK Biobank

Background Sedentary behaviour is potentially a modifiable risk factor for depression and anxiety disorders, but findings have been inconsistent. To assess the associations of sedentary behaviour with depression and anxiety symptoms and estimate the impact of replacing daily time spent in sedentary behaviours with sleep, light, or moderate to vigorous physical activity, using compositional data analysis methods. Methods We conducted a prospective cohort study in 60,235 UK Biobank participants (mean age: 56; 56% female). Exposure was baseline daily movement behaviours (accelerometer-assessed sedentary behaviour and physical activity, and self-reported total sleep). Outcomes were depression and anxiety symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Generalised Anxiety Disorders-7) at follow-up. Results Replacing 60 min of sedentary behaviour with light activity, moderate-to-vigorous activity, and sleep was associated with lower depression symptom scores by 1.3% (95% CI, 0.4–2.1%), 12.5% (95% CI, 11.4–13.5%), and 7.6% (95% CI, 6.9–8.4%), and lower odds of possible depression by 0.95 (95% CI, 0.94–0.96), 0.75 (95% CI, 0.74–0.76), and 0.90 (95% CI, 0.90–0.91) at follow-up. Replacing 60 min of sedentary behaviour with moderate-to-vigorous activity and sleep was associated with lower anxiety symptom scores by 6.6% (95% CI, 5.5–7.6%) and 4.5% (95% CI, 3.7–5.2%), and lower odds of meeting the threshold for a possible anxiety disorder by 0.90 (95% CI, 0.89–0.90) and 0.97 (95%CI, 0.96–0.97) at follow-up. However, replacing 60 min of sedentary behaviour with light activity was associated with higher anxiety symptom scores by 4.5% (95% CI, 3.7–5.3%) and higher odds of a possible anxiety disorder by 1.07 (95% CI, 1.06–1.08). Conclusions Sedentary behaviour is a risk factor for increased depression and anxiety symptoms in adults. Replacing sedentary behaviour with moderate-to-vigorous activity may reduce mental health risks, but more work is necessary to clarify the role of light activity.

Vigorous Activity and Perceived Stress in Overweight or Obese Female Students

Objectives To examine the relationship between reported vigorous aerobic exercise and perceived stress scores (PSS) among female college students with overweight or obesity. Methods Cross-sectional data were collected between 2012–2020 from the College Health and Nutrition Assessment Survey, an ongoing study at a public northeastern university. Measured height and weight by trained technicians were used to calculate BMI (kg/m2) and categorize students as overweight/obese (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2). Students completed Cohen's 10-item Perceived Stress Scale and self-reported vigorous physical activity (days/past week) via online (Qualtrics) questionnaire. Mean differences between activity groups were examined via ANCOVA; age, major and taking anxiety medication served as covariates. Results A total of n = 622 female students with a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 were included for analyses. Participants had a mean age of 18.8 ± 0.4 years and BMI of 28.1 ± 0.1 kg/m2. Most (95.1%) participants were white, and first year students made up the largest group (55.4%) of participants. Almost 1 in 5 students (17.8%) reported no days of vigorous activity, 15.3% reported one day, 12.8% reported 2 days, and 54% reported 3 or more days of vigorous activity. PSS scores were negatively related to # of vigorous activity days (P < 0.001). Those who reported no days of vigorous activity had higher perceived stress scores than those who participated in 2 days or 3 or more days of vigorous activity (19.7 ± 0.6 vs. 17.0 ± 0.7 and 16.3 ± 0.4, respectively, P < 0.01). Conclusions Findings suggest engaging in increasing days of vigorous activity is related to lower perceived stress in female college students with overweight or obesity. These findings support the inclusion of physical activity recommendations to broadly support the health and wellness of university students. Funding Sources The New Hampshire Agriculture Experiment Station and the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Hatch Project.

ARE THERE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MALE AND FEMALE BADMINTON ATHLETES IN SLEEP, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND SEDENTARY TIME?

ABSTRACT Introduction: High-performance athletes often undergo periods of exhaustive training and insufficient recovery, which can lead to decreased performance, but it is not clear whether there are any differences between the sexes in the level of habitual physical activity, sedentary time or sleep quantity and quality in young highly trained badminton athletes. Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the habitual physical activity (PA), sedentary time and sleep quantity and quality of highly trained young male and female badminton athletes and non-athletes. Methods: Twenty-seven young badminton athletes and twenty-one non-athletes (control group) were recruited. Sleep duration and quality (total time in bed, total sleep time, wake after sleep onset, sleep efficiency and latency), total counts, vigorous activity time and sedentary time were measured using a tri-axial accelerometer. Results: Male athletes spent less sedentary time (p=0.028), more time in vigorous activity (p=0.016) and had higher total counts (p<0.001) than the male control group. There were no significant differences in sedentary time (p=0.702) or vigorous activity time (p=0.205) between the female athletes and non-athletes, but the female athletes accumulated higher total counts than the female control group (p=0.003). There were no significant differences between the sexes or groups for time in bed, total sleep time, sleep efficiency, wake after sleep onset and latency (p> 0.05). Conclusion: Among males but not females, young highly trained badminton athletes had less sedentary time and more time in vigorous activity than the non-athletes, however, there were no significant differences between the sexes or groups in sleep quantity and quality. Level of evidence III; Case-control study .

Abstract P158: Work-related Exertion And Standing/walking Are Associated With Leisure-time Physical Activity In Latinos

Introduction: Latinos engage in higher levels of occupational physical activity, yet lower levels of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), than other racial/ethnic groups. Limited research has examined specific work-based activities that contribute to lower LTPA among Latinos. The purpose of our study was to examine associations between frequency of work-related exertion and standing/walking with LTPA among Latinos. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that higher frequency of work-related exertion and standing/walking would be associated with lower levels of LTPA among Latinos. Methods: We used cross-sectional 2015 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data on employed Latinos ≥18 years of age (n=3,305). We examined two types of work-based activities: frequency of exertion and frequency of standing/walking. Frequency of exertion was assessed based on reported frequency of engaging in repeated lifting, pulling, pushing, or bending at work. Frequency of standing/walking was assessed based on frequency with which their work involved standing or walking around. Responses to work-based activity items were on a Likert scale (0=never, 1=seldom, 2= sometimes, 3=often, 4=always). LTPA was measured based on minutes of moderate-to-vigorous LTPA aerobic physical activity per week, which were categorized into none (0 min/week), some LTPA (>0 min/week of activity but less than recommendation), and meeting the LTPA guideline (≥150 min of moderate-vigorous activity or ≥75 min of vigorous activity or 150 min of moderate activity/week). Multinomial logistic regression models that accounted for the complex survey design of NHIS were used to estimate the associations between frequency of work-related exertion and standing/walking with LTPA. All models were adjusted for age, sex, education, shift work, and acculturation proxies (nativity, years living in the US). Results: In adjusted models, compared with those who reported never engaging in exertion at work, individuals reporting always exerting themselves at work were significantly less likely to meet the LTPA guideline (Odds Ratio [OR]: 0.68, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 0.50-0.94). In addition, compared with those that reported never standing/walking at work, only those who reported that their job seldom involved standing/walking at work were significantly less likely to meet the LTPA guideline (OR: 0.52, 95% CI: 0.30-0.92). Conclusions: In conclusion, these findings suggest that work-related physical activities may contribute to LTPA levels among Latinos, and associations vary based on the type of physical activities performed at work. Future physical activity promotion efforts among Latinos should consider the role of worksite policies to promote wellness.

Validity of a Novel Research-Grade Physical Activity and Sleep Monitor for Continuous Remote Patient Monitoring

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Remote Patient Monitoring technologies are highly important for clinicians and researchers. These connected-health technologies enable monitoring of patients and facilitate remote clinical trial research while reducing the potential for the spread of the novel coronavirus. There is a growing requirement for monitoring of the full 24 h spectrum of behaviours with a single research-grade sensor. This research describes a free-living and supervised protocol comparison study of the Verisense inertial measurement unit to assess physical activity and sleep parameters and compares it with the Actiwatch 2 actigraph. Fifteen adults (11 males, 23.4 ± 3.4 years and 4 females, 29 ± 12.6 years) wore both monitors for 2 consecutive days and nights in the free-living study while twelve adults (11 males, 23.4 ± 3.4 years and 1 female, 22 ± 0 years) wore both monitors for the duration of a gym-based supervised protocol study. Agreement of physical activity epoch-by-epoch data with activity classification of sedentary, light and moderate-to-vigorous activity and sleep metrics were evaluated using Spearman’s rank-order correlation coefficients and Bland–Altman plots. For all activity, Verisense showed high agreement for both free-living and supervised protocol of r = 0.85 and r = 0.78, respectively. For physical activity classification, Verisense showed high agreement of sedentary activity of r = 0.72 for free-living but low agreement of r = 0.36 for supervised protocol; low agreement of light activity of r = 0.42 for free-living and negligible agreement of r = −0.04 for supervised protocol; and moderate agreement of moderate-to-vigorous activity of r = 0.52 for free-living with low agreement of r = 0.49 for supervised protocol. For sleep metrics, Verisense showed moderate agreement for sleep time and total sleep time of r = 0.66 and 0.54, respectively, but demonstrated high agreement for determination of wake time of r = 0.83. Overall, our results showed moderate-high agreement of Verisense with Actiwatch 2 for assessing epoch-by-epoch physical activity and sleep, but a lack of agreement for activity classifications. Future validation work of Verisense for activity cut-point potentially holds promise for 24 h continuous remote patient monitoring.

Safe Removal of a Centipede From the Ear By Using an Innovative Practicable Method: A Case Report

Arthropods may become lodged inside the ear and cause considerable emotional and physical trauma. Cases of centipedes being lodged in the external auditory canal have rarely been reported. In this article, we present the case of woman who had a centipede lodged inside her right external auditory canal. Removal using a topical local anesthetic can lead to vigorous activity of the centipede, which can cause harm to the patient and clinicians. Therefore, we developed and successfully applied a practicable method that involved using a modified plastic bottle for safe centipede removal. In conclusion, centipedes can express distinct and threatening behavior, and clinicians should pay attention to the activity of the lodged centipede and possibly use the proposed method to safely remove it.

Capacidades físicas y su relación con la actividad física y composición corporal en adultos (Physical capacities and their relationship with physical activity and body composition in adults)

La práctica regular de actividad física sugiere un aumento de la condición física y una mejora de la composición corporal; sin embargo, a pesar de que las personas cumplen con las directrices propuestas no logran obtener buenos indicadores de condición física los cuales brindan más información acerca de la salud. Objetivo: Analizar la relación entre las capacidades físicas de fuerza prensil, potencia en piernas, consumo máximo de oxígeno, actividad física con la composición corporal en adultos. Metodología: Estudio descriptivo correlacional de corte transversal, se evaluaron 100 adultos, se valoró fuerza prensil con dinamometría, potencia en piernas con tres tipos de saltos, VO2máx, la actividad física por cuestionario IPAQ y la composición corporal con bioimpedancia eléctrica. Resultados: Los varones poseen valores mayores de capacidades físicas, masa magra y actividad física realizada con mayor intensidad en comparación con las mujeres; los resultados muestran una estrecha relación entre la práctica de actividad física realizada con intensidades moderadas y altas en relación a las capacidades físicas de fuerza prensil y potencia en piernas en aquellas personas sin peso bajo u obesidad; Además, en todas éstas, mediante el análisis Post Hoc, se encontró que las diferencias se presentan entre la actividad baja en comparación con la vigorosa y en la moderada con respecto a la vigorosa. Conclusiones: Personas con normo y sobrepeso muestran mejores capacidades físicas, así como valores elevados de actividad física, mientras que altos índices de grasa corporal total y un IMC elevado son un factor determinante para el desarrollo de las mismas. Abstract: The regular practice of physical activity suggests an increase in physical condition and an improvement in body composition, despite the fact that people comply with the proposed guidelines, they are unable to obtain good indicators of physical fitness, which provide more information about the Health. Objective: To analyze the relationship between physical capacities of grip strength, leg power, maximum oxygen consumption, physical activity and body composition in adults. Methodology: Cross-sectional correlational descriptive study, 100 adults were evaluated, grip strength was assessed with dynamometry, leg power with three types of jumps, VO2max, physical activity by IPAQ questionnaire and body composition with electrical bioimpedance. Results: Men have higher values ​​of physical capacities, lean mass and physical activity carried out with greater intensity compared to women; The results show a close relationship between the practice of physical activity carried out with moderate and high intensities in relation to the physical capacities of grip strength and power in the legs in those without underweight or obesity; In addition, in all of these, by means of Post Hoc analysis, it was found that the differences are presented between low activity compared to vigorous activity and moderate activity compared to vigorous activity. Conclusions: Normal and overweight people show better physical capacities as well as high levels of physical activity, while high levels of total body fat and a high BMI are a determining factor for their development.