Fine Detection of Human Motion During Activities of Daily Living as a Clinical Indicator for the Detection and Early Treatment of Chronic Diseases: The E-Mob Project

Methods to measure physical activity and sedentary behaviors typically quantify the amount of time devoted to these activities. Among patients with chronic diseases, these methods can provide interesting behavioral information, but generally do not capture detailed body motion and fine movement behaviors. Fine detection of motion may provide additional information about functional decline that is of clinical interest in chronic diseases. This perspective paper highlights the need for more developed and sophisticated tools to better identify and track the decomposition, structuration, and sequencing of the daily movements of humans. The primary goal is to provide a reliable and useful clinical diagnostic and predictive indicator of the stage and evolution of chronic diseases, in order to prevent related comorbidities and complications among patients.

Effects of Movement Behaviors on Overall Health and Appetite Control: Current Evidence and Perspectives in Children and Adolescents

Purpose of Review To present the definitions and recommendations for movement behaviors in children and adolescents, including physical activity (PA), sedentary behaviors (SB), and sleep, and to provide an overview regarding their impact on health and obesity outcomes from childhood to adulthood, as well as interactions with appetite control. Recent Findings PA represents a variable proportion of daily energy expenditure and one can be active with high SB or vice versa. Studies have described movements across the whole day on a continuum from sleep to SB to varying intensities of PA. More PA, less SB (e.g., less screen time) and longer sleep are positively associated with indicators of physical health (e.g., lower BMI, adiposity, cardiometabolic risk) and cognitive development (e.g., motor skills, academic achievement). However, less than 10% of children currently meet recommendations for all three movement behaviors. Movement behaviors, adiposity, and related cardiometabolic diseases in childhood track into adolescence and adulthood. Furthermore, low PA/high SB profiles are associated with increased energy intake. Recent studies investigating energy balance regulation showed that desirable movement behavior profiles are associated with better appetite control and improved eating habits. Summary Early identification of behavioral phenotypes and a comprehensive approach addressing all key behaviors that directly affect energy balance will allow for individual strategies to prevent or treat obesity and its comorbidities. Investigating exercise as a potential “corrector” of impaired appetite control offers a promising weight management approach.

Living through the COVID-19 Pandemic: Impact and Lessons on Dietary Behavior and Physical Well-Being

The aim of this review is to highlight the spectrum on which human behavior has been affected by blanket restriction measures and on a wider scale, the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the human behaviors that have been impacted by the COVID-19 lockdown are dietary behavior and nutrition, food options and food delivery usage, physical activity and sedentary behaviors. This is important in planning effective public health strategies with minimal detriment to all subsets of society as well as improving the distribution of government aid to populations that are more severely affected. Our main purpose is to present the literature from a rapidly growing pool of scientific research to hopefully enable a better and more comprehensive understanding of the effects of this pandemic and the lessons learnt from the accompanying restrictions, as well as policy recommendations that can be made in national pandemic responses in the future.

CVD risk from prolonged occupational sitting attenuated by additional physical activity – Evidence from a prospective cohort of 481,688 Asian adults

BackgroundFor the first time, the 2020 WHO guidelines on physical activity recommend reducing sedentary behaviors due to their health consequences. Less is known on the effect of prolonged occupational sitting, especially in the context of low physical activity engagement.This study aims at quantifying cardiovascular risk associated with prolonged occupational sitting and determining the additional amount of physical activity that may be needed to attenuate it.MethodsA cohort comprising 481,688 participants in a health surveillance program in Taiwan was followed between 1996 and 2017, collecting data on occupational sitting time, leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) habits, lifestyle, and metabolic parameters. The all-cause and expanded cardiovascular disease (CVD + diabetes mellitus + kidney disease) mortality associated with three occupational sitting volumes (mostly sitting, alternating sitting and non-sitting, mostly non-sitting) was analyzed applying multivariate Cox regression models to calculate the hazard ratios (HRs) for all participants and by subgroups, including five levels of LTPA. Deaths in the first two years of follow-up were excluded to avoid reverse causality.ResultsThe study recorded 26,257 deaths during a mean follow-up period of 12.85 years. Individuals mostly sitting at work had a higher mortality risk than those mostly non-sitting, both from all causes (HR: 1.16, 95% CI: 1.11-1.20) and from expanded CVD (HR:1.46, 95% CI:1.35-1.58), after adjusting for gender, age, education, smoking, drinking, and body mass index. Individuals alternating sitting and non-sitting at work did not experience increased risk for all-cause mortality, compared to individuals mostly non-sitting at work (HR: 1.01, 95% CI: 0.97-1.05), but did experience higher risk of deaths due to expanded CVD (HR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.04-1.23). Individuals engaged in low (15-29 min/day) or no (<15 min/day) LTPA, who mostly sit at work, would need to increase their LTPA by 15 and 30 minutes respectively to reduce their risk of mortality to that of similarly inactive individuals who mostly do not sit at work.ConclusionsAs part of modern lifestyles, prolonged occupational sitting is considered normal and has not received due attention, even though its deleterious effect has been largely proved. Alternating sitting and non-sitting at work, as well as an extra 15 to 30 min/day of LTPA, can attenuate the harms of prolonged occupational sitting. Thus, emphasizing the associated harms and suggesting workplace system changes could help the society to de-normalize this common behavior, similarly to the process of de-normalizing smoking.

Anthropometric Measurements, Sociodemographics, and Lifestyle Behaviors among Saudi Adolescents Living in Riyadh Relative to Sex and Activity Energy Expenditure: Findings from the Arab Teens Lifestyle Study 2 (ATLS-2)

The aim of the study was to examine the anthropometric measurements, sociodemographics, and lifestyle behaviors among Saudi adolescents relative to sex and physical activity (PA). A random cross-sectional survey conducted on Saudi adolescents from secondary schools in Riyadh, using a multistage stratified cluster sampling technique. Measurements included demographics, weight, height, waist circumference, PA, sedentary behaviors (SB), sleep duration, and dietary habits using a validated questionnaire. A total of 1262 adolescents (16.4 ± 0.95 years; 52.4% males) were studied. Overweight/obesity was more than 40%. Physical inactivity among adolescents was 53%, which indicates some improvement over the past years, especially among females. More than 80% of adolescents had over three hours/day of screen time, with no significant sex differences. Insufficient sleep was highly prevalent with gender differences. A large proportion of the participants did not consume daily breakfast (65.7%), vegetables (73.2%), fruits (84.2%), or milk/dairy products (62.4%), whereas significant proportions of the adolescents consumed sugar-sweetened drinks, fast food, French fries/potato chips, cake/donuts, and chocolates/candy on at least three days or more per week. It was concluded that non-daily intake of breakfast and vegetables was significantly associated with lower PA. The updated information can aid in effectively planning and implementing promotional programs toward improving the lifestyle behaviors of Saudi adolescent.

The Association Between Sedentary Screen Time, Non-screen-based Sedentary Time, and Overweight in Chinese Preschool Children: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: Less is known about the effects of the different domains of sedentary behaviors on healthy weight in young children. This cross-sectional study examined the association between sedentary screen time (SST), non-screen-based sedentary time (NSST), and overweight (and obesity) in Chinese preschoolers.Methods: Data were collected from the Physical Activity and Health in Tianjin Chinese Children study (PATH-CC), involving healthy children 3–6 years old and their families. Children's overweight status was classified according to the international (IOTF) childhood BMI cut-offs. SST and NSST were reported in minutes/day by parents using the leisure-time sedentary behaviors questionnaire. Logistic regression models adjusted by sex, age, socioeconomic status, outdoor play, and sleep duration were used.Results: In a total of 971 children (55.4% boys), 11.8% were overweight. Generally, children spent 1 h/day in SST and 1 h/day in NSST. Multiple models showed that children who spent more time in SST were more likely to be overweight [OR and 95% CI: 1.22 (1.03–1.45)]. No correlation between time spent on NSST and children with overweight was found (P &gt; 0.05).Conclusions: This study indicated that children who spent more time in SST were more likely to be overweight, but a null correlation between NSST and overweight was found. Longitudinal studies designed to identify associations between exposures to screen media and changes in metabolic parameters during a child's early years are needed.

Combatting Sedentary Behaviors by Delivering Remote Physical Exercise in Children and Adolescents with Obesity in the COVID-19 Era: A Narrative Review

The coexistence of childhood obesity (or its risk) and COVID-19 pandemic put children and adolescents in greater risk to develop respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. In fact, the restrictions introduced to limit the spread of the virus had detrimental effects on various lifestyle components, especially in young population. This resulted in augmented levels of physical inactivity and sedentary behaviors and a reduced time spent in play outdoors or sport practices. Contrariwise, the increased use of technology led clinicians, teachers, and trainers to maintain relations with obese children/adolescents so as to reduce sedentary behaviors and the associated health risks. This narrative review aims to describe the role of Telehealth and Tele-exercise as useful tools in the management of pediatric obesity during COVID-19 pandemic. Telehealth and Tele-exercise were effective in promoting self-monitoring and behavioral changes, including adherence to exercise training programs in children and adolescents. Moreover, tele-exercise platforms such as applications or exergames allowed flexible scheduling, limiting the infection risks.

Investigation of Obesity, Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors of Individuals with and Without Autism Spectrum Disorder during the Covid-19 Pandemic Process

Adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may be at higher risk compared to their typically developing peers. In this study, it was aimed to compare individuals with and without autism spectrum disorder affected by the Covid-19 pandemic process with their peers in terms of obesity, physical activity and sedentary behaviors. Methods: 64 individuals with ASD and 78 healthy individuals were included in the study. An online questionnaire consisting of sociodemographic data, BMI, physical activity and sedentary behavior habits was applied to the participants. Results: Adolescents with autism spectrum disorders were found to be less physically active and more likely to be overweight and obese compared to their typically developing peers (0.001***). BMI (kg/m2) increased compared to before Covid-19. Sedentary behavior increased during quarantine (0.001***). Participation in physical activity decreased in individuals with autism spectrum disorder. As a result: shows the need for targeted programs to reduce unhealthy weight status and support physical activity opportunities for adolescents with autism spectrum disorders.Keywords: Autism Spectrum Disorder, COVID-19, Obesity, physical activity, Sedentary Behaviors

Sedentary Behavior, Sleep Quality, and Subjective Memory Function in Middle-Aged Adults

While there is evidence that prolonged sedentary behaviors (SB) are associated with poor memory performance, less is known about the effect of SB on subjective memory. Poor subjective memory could be an early symptom of mild cognitive impairment or dementia. Besides SB, sleep quality has been identified as an essential component of cognitive health. Yet little is known about the effects of different types of SB on sleep quality and how such effects could, in turn, affect middle-aged adults’ subjective memory. The sample included 306 adults ranging in age from 40 to 60 (M = 44.42) from Amazon MTurk. Mediation analysis with PROCESS (Hayes, 2013) was used to examine the mediational path, controlling for demographic variables. Exploratory factor analysis categorized 10 different sedentary activities into Common Engaging SB (e.g., sitting in cars), High Engaging/Leisure SB (e.g., doing hobbies when sitting), and Less Engaging/Passive SB (e.g., watching TV). Common Engaging SB included a variety of behaviors, including transportation, reading, talking on the phone, and socializing. Common Engaging SB had a significant direct effect on sleep quality (B = 0.19, p &lt; .001) and frequency of forgetting (B = -1.61, p &lt; .001), and sleep quality had a significant direct effect on frequency of forgetting (B = -1.90, p &lt; .001). Sleep quality mediated the association between Common Engaging SB and frequency of forgetting (indirect effect = -0.05, 95% bootstrap CI = -0.09, -0.02). Reducing sitting time, particularly Common Engaging SB, could be a useful strategy to improve subjective memory functioning.