Aerobic, Strengthening, and Balance Activities Performed by Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Little is known about whether older adults meet the recommended physical activity (PA) guidelines, including aerobic, strength, and balance components. Given this gap, we examined self-report PA data from 1,352 older adult participants of the Adult Changes in Thought (ACT) study. We classified participants as meeting some components, meeting the full guidelines, or being insufficiently active. Multinomial regression was used to identify factors associated with meeting PA guidelines. Despite performing 9.5 hours of weekly PA, only 11% met the full guidelines, 13% met the aerobic, and 26% met the balance or strength recommendations. Increasing age and body mass index, needing assistance with instrumental daily activities, heart disease, and low income were associated with decreased odds of meeting PA guidelines. Older adults primarily perform aerobic PA and lower intensity PA with fewer participating in strength and balance activities. Interventions targeting strength, balance, and higher intensity PA should be developed.

Using a Socio-Environmental Approach to Explore the Determinants for Meeting the Recommended Physical Activity among Adults at Risk of Diabetes in Rural Indonesia

Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (PA) is recommended to mitigate the risk of diabetes. This study explored the PA of adults at risk for diabetes in rural Indonesia and determined the requirements for meeting the recommended PA level. In total, 842 adults were screened using a diabetes risk test in a rural health centre; among them, 342 were at risk of diabetes. The level of PA was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, whereas the associated factors underlying the three domains –individual, support, and environment—were determined by the Influences on Physical Activity Instrument. The data analysis included a three-step multiple linear regression (MLR) and logistic regression (LR). Overall, 40.6% of the participants met the recommended PA. According to the MLR analysis, among males, individuals who gave PA a higher priority and had enough time to perform PA were predicted to have a higher activity energy expenditure (MET-minutes per week). According to the LR analysis, men were more likely to meet the recommended PA, and people who gave PA a lower priority and had less access to space for PA were less likely to meet the recommended PA level. Strategies for promoting PA in rural Indonesia include focusing on women, people who prioritize PA less, and those who have less time and space in which to be physically active.

Do health care physician need to risk their own lives? Time to change our own attitude towards recommended physical activity

Background Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death around the world,South Asian population are at higher risk of atherosclerotic coronary artery diseases (CAD) comparatively. There is a recommended physical activity level to prevent atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Health care professionals especially doctors are main advisors to prescribe the exercise protocols among general population. Hence we conducted a survey among doctors of Pakistan to identify their physical activity as well as their knowledge and attitude toward recommended physical activity. Methodology An online questionnaire was shared with doctors of various specialties working in private and public healthcare system of the Pakistan. It consisted of consent for participation,followed by information regarding demographic profile, preexisting co-morbid conditions, opinion regarding importance of physical activity to prevent ASCVD (5 point scale), perceived physical activity level (4 point scale), knowledge regarding ACC recommended physical activity level for primary prevention of ASCVD, lifestyle, and barriers in following recommended physical activity level. Collected data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 21.0, participants were categorized into two groups as “cardiologists” and “non-cardiologists” and results were compared between the two groups. Results A total of 159 doctors participated in the survey, out of whom 97 (61%) were cardiologist and remaining 62 (39%) were affiliated with other specialties. Male participants (72.3%) were predominant and mean age was 30.44±23.16 years. More than 60% (61.6%) of the participants were free of preexisting co-morbid condition, most common ASCVD risk factor was positive family history (26.4%) followed by smoking (7.5%) and hypertension (6.3%). According to BMI, 21.4% (34) were obese and 40.3% (64) were overweight. A total of 74.8% (119) of the participants claimed to know about ACC recommended physical activity level but 65.5% (78) were actually aware of recommended 150 min of moderate-intensity or 75 min of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity level. According to the lifestyle activities only 26.4% (42) of the participants were found to follow the ACC recommended physical activity level per week, this proportion was same between cardiologists and non-cardiologists, 25.8% vs. 27.4% respectively. Lack of time from daily routine (71.7%) was found to be most commonly stated reason for physical in activeness followed by overburden/over stress at workplace (33.3%) and lack of resources (14.5%). Conclusion Knowledge and adherence to the ACC recommended physical actively level was poor among both cardiologists and non-cardiologists even after considering it important for the primary prevention of ASCVD. Majority of doctors were overweight and obese.Lake of time and resources and over stressed work life of doctors are the key barriers in following recommended physical activity level. FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

The Effectiveness of an Annual Nationally Delivered Workplace Step Count Challenge on Changing Step Counts: Findings from Four Years of Delivery

Paths for All’s 8-week online Workplace Step Count Challenge (SCC) is a flagship program of Scotland’s National Walking Strategy. The aim of this study was to examine changes in step counts throughout the duration of the SCC, across four years of delivery. Participants were those who registered for the 2015–2018 SCCs, and reported demographic data at registration. Participants self-reported their device-measured step count for each day of the SCC. Following data screening, mean daily steps for each week were calculated. Linear mixed models (R nlme procedure), controlling for the within subject nature of the step count measure, were used to explore changes in steps over time. Gender and age group (<45 years; ≥45 years) were entered into a subsequent model. Separate models were created for each year of the SCC and for all years combined. Participants (n = 10,183) were predominantly women (76.8%), aged <45 (54.6%) and ≥45 years. In general, steps increased each week compared to week 1 (p < 0.001), with a significant increase evident at all but seven of 28 data points. Across the four years of SCC, the increase in steps at week 8 compared to week 1 ranged from 506 to 1223 steps per day, making a substantial contribution to the recommended physical activity levels for health. There was no consistent age or gender effect. The findings provide support for the continued investment in such workplace interventions.

Correction to: Questionnaire choice affects the prevalence of recommended physical activity: an online survey comparing four measuring instruments within the same sample

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.

Questionnaire choice affects the prevalence of recommended physical activity: an online survey comparing four measuring instruments within the same sample

Background Since prevalence estimates of recommended physical activity (PA) considerably vary between different surveys, prevalence might be crucially affected by the choice of measuring instrument. The aim of the present study is to compare the results of four PA questionnaires regarding the current moderate- and vigorous-intensity aerobic PA (MVPA) recommendations of the World Health Organization. Methods Within an online survey, participants answered the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults (DEGS), the European Health Interview Survey PA Questionnaire (EHIS), the Eurobarometer (EURO), and a single-item measure (SIM). Weekly volume of MVPA was compared via a Friedman test and the prevalence of participants achieving the WHO’s MVPA recommendation via Cochran’s Q. Agreement between all questionnaire pairs was evaluated via Kappa statistics. Results One hundred seventy-six participants were included in the analyses (70.5% female, mean age: 33.1 years (SD=12.2)). Between the four questionnaires, the weekly volume of MVPA statistically significant differed (SIM: MED=90.0 (MIN=0.0, MAX=210.0), DEGS: MED=120.0 (MIN=0.0, MAX=420.0), EHIS: MED=24.0 (MIN=0.0, MAX=1395.0), EURO: MED=51.0 (MIN=0.0, MAX=2430.0), p<.001, all pairwise comparisons p<.01), as well as the prevalence of participants achieving the MVPA recommendations (SIM 31.3% (95% CI 24.5–38.7), DEGS 43.2% (95% CI 35.8–50.8), EHIS 67.0% (95% CI 59.6–73.9), EURO 87.5% (95% CI 81.7–92.0), p<.001), except between SIM and DEGS (p=.067). Agreement was weak between all questionnaire pairs (all κ< 0.60). Conclusions Questionnaire choice crucially affects the resulting MVPA data and hence the prevalence of achieving recommended PA levels within the same sample. Therefore, for PA surveillance, standardised survey and analysis methods and efforts to harmonise monitoring systems are needed, since whether recommended levels of PA are achieved should not be determined by the choice of one measuring instrument or another.

Community-Dwelling Older Adults and Physical Activity Recommendations: Patterns of Aerobic, Strengthening, and Balance Activities

Though it is known that most older adults do not meet the recommended physical activity (PA) guidelines, little is known regarding their participation in balance activities or the full guidelines. Therefore, we sought to describe PA patterns among 1,352 community-dwelling older adult participants of the Adult Changes in Thought study, a longitudinal cohort study exploring dementia-related risk factors. We used a modified version of the Community Healthy Activities Model Program for Seniors questionnaire to explore PA performed and classify participants as meeting or not meeting the full guidelines or any component of the guidelines. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with meeting PA guidelines. Despite performing 10 hr of weekly PA, only 11% of participants met the full guidelines. Older age, greater body mass index, needing assistance with instrumental daily activities, and heart disease were associated with decreased odds of meeting PA guidelines. These results can guide interventions that address PA among older adults.