Psycho-social and environmental correlates of location-specific physical activity among 9- and 15- year-old Norwegian boys and girls: the European Youth Heart Study

OBJECTIVE: Little is known about the existence of independent location- or context specific forms of physical activity. This study sought to identify location-specific forms of physical activity in a sample of 9 and 15 years-olds Norwegian boys and girls, and examined their associations to psycho-social and environmental factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 9 and 15-year-olds (N = 760; 379 boys and 381 girls) was conducted in which participants responded to a computer-based questionnaire (PEACH) tapping potentially location specific forms of physical activity as well as psycho-social and environmental correlates. RESULTS: Exploratory factor analysis indicated that the nine and fifteen year-olds self-reported their physical activity as located in three separate and specific contexts: a) school commuting, b) informal games play at school and c) organized sport, structured exercise and games play in leisure time. Dependent of location, psycho-social and environmental correlates explained between 15 and 55 percent of the variance in physical activity. The impact of peer support, enjoyment and perceived competence in physical activity generalized across the three locations. Enjoyment of physical education classes, parental support and teacher support, in contrast, confined to particular location-specific forms of physical activity. Generally, behavioural beliefs and environmental factors represented marginal correlates of all location-specific forms of activity. CONCLUSION: Young peoples' physical activity was identified as taking place in multiply genuine locations, and the psychosocial correlates of their physical activity seem to some extent to be location specific. Results may inform intervention efforts suggesting that targeting specific sets of psycho-social factors may prove efficient across physical activity locations, gender and age groups. Others, in contrast may prove effective in facilitating location specific physical activity, in which age may come to moderate the efficiency of intervention efforts

Association between physical activity and cognition in Mexican and Korean older adults

Introduction: As the world's population ages, the prevalence of cognitive impairment associated with age in- creases. This increase is particularly pronounced in Asia and South-America. The objective of this study was to investigate separately the longitudinal association of physical activity and cognitive function in; older adults in Mexico and South Korea. Materials and Methods: This is a secondary analysis of two surveys, The Mexican Health and aging Study (MHAS) (n = 5853) and Korean Longitudinal Study of aging (KLoSA) (n = 5188), designed to study the aging process of older adults living in Mexico and South Korea. Participants older than 50 years were selected from rural and urban areas achieving a representative sample. Physical activity was assessed using self-report. Cognition was assessed using Cross-Cultural Cognitive Examination (CCCE) and Minimental state examination (MMSE) in Mexico and South Korea respectively. Here we investigate the longitudinal association between physical activity and cognition during 3 years for MHAS and 4 years for KLoSA using multiple linear regression analyses. Results: The prevalence of physical activity was 40.68 % in MHAS and 35.57 % in KLoSA. In the adjusted longitudinal multivariate analysis, an independent association was found between physical activity and MMSE score OR 0.0866 (CI 0.0266-0.1467 p-value 0.0047) in the Korean older adults, while there was no significant association in MHAS. Conclusions: Physical activity could have a protective effect on the cognitive decline associated with aging in the Korean population.publishedVersio

Accelerometer-determined physical activity and self-reported health in a population of older adults (65-85 years): A cross-sectional study

Background: The link between physical activity (PA) and prevention of disease, maintenance of independence, and improved quality of life in older adults is supported by strong evidence. However, there is a lack of data on population levels in this regard, where PA level has been measured objectively. The main aims were therefore to assess the level of accelerometer-determined PA and to examine its associations with self-reported health in a population of Norwegian older adults (65-85 years). Methods. This was a part of a national multicenter study. Participants for the initial study were randomly selected from the national population registry, and the current study included those of the initial sample aged 65-85 years. The ActiGraph GT1M accelerometer was used to measure PA for seven consecutive days. A questionnaire was used to register self-reported health. Univariate analysis of variance with Bonferroni adjustments were used for comparisons between multiple groups. Results: A total of 560 participants had valid activity registrations. Mean age (SD) was 71.8 (5.6) years for women (n = 282) and 71.7 (5.2) years for men (n = 278). Overall PA level (cpm) differed considerably between the age groups where the oldest (80-85 y) displayed a 50% lower activity level compared to the youngest (65-70 y). No sex differences were observed in overall PA within each age group. Significantly more men spent time being sedentary (65-69 and 70-74 years) and achieved more minutes of moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) (75-79 years) compared to women. Significantly more women (except for the oldest), spent more minutes of low-intensity PA compared to men. PA differed across levels of self-reported health and a 51% higher overall PA level was registered in those, with "very good health" compared to those with "poor/very poor health". Conclusion: Norwegian older adults PA levels differed by age. Overall, the elderly spent 66% of their time being sedentary and only 3% in MVPA. Twenty one percent of the participants fulfilled the current Norwegian PA recommendations. Overall PA levels were associated with self-reported health

Waist circumference thresholds and cardiorespiratory fitness

Purpose This study's purpose was to examine whether established risk categories of waist circumference (WC)—normal, high risk, and very high health risk—reflected significant differences in cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and physical activity (PA) level. Methods CRF was directly measured as maximal oxygen uptake during a progressive graded treadmill test to exhaustion in 722 individuals (349 women) aged 20–85 years. WC was measured between the lower rib and the iliac crest. Objectively measured PA was assessed using an accelerometer. Results Men in the normal risk group (WC  102 cm). Corresponding numbers for women within normal (WC  88 cm) were 25% and 18% (p <0.05). There was a high negative correlation between CRF and WC in men (r = −0.68), and a moderate correlation for women (r = −0.49; p <0.001). For each cm increase in WC, CRF was reduced by 0.48 and 0.27 mL/kg/min in men and women, respectively (p <0.001). Conclusion The recommended WC thresholds for abdominal obesity reflected significant differences in CRF for both men and women, and could serve as a useful instrument for estimating health-related differences in CRF.publishedVersio

Cross sectional analysis of the association between mode of school transportation and physical fitness in children and adolescents

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the associations between body composition, cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness in relation to travel mode to school in children and adolescents. METHOD: Children and adolescents from 40 elementary schools and 23 high schools representing all regions in Norway were invited to participate in the study. Anthropometry, cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness were tested at the school location. Questionnaires were used in order to register mode of transport to school, age, gender and levels of leisure time physical activity. RESULTS: A total of 1694 (i.e. 60% of all invited participants) children and adolescents at a mean age of 9.6 and 15.6 respectively (SD = 0.4 for both groups) were analyzed for associations with physical fitness variables. Males cycling to school had lower sum of skin folds than adolescents walking to school. Higher cardiorespiratory fitness in adolescents and male cyclists compared to walkers and passive commuters were observed. Among children, cycling and walking to school, higher isometric muscle endurance in the back extensors compared to passive commuters was observed. CONCLUSION: Based on this national representative cross-sectional examination of randomly selected children and adolescents there is evidence that active commuting, especially cycling, is associated with a favourable body composition and better cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness as compared to passive commuting

Physical activity and academic achievement among Norwegian adolescents: Findings from a longitudinal study

Regular physical activity (PA) has been associated with academic achievement, but the evidence is mainly based on cross-sectional research and self-reported measures of PA. The purpose of the current study was to explore the longitudinal relationship between objectively measured PA and academic achievement among a cohort of adolescents in Norway between 2016 and 2018. As a secondary aim, an indirect relationship via waist circumference (WC) and sleep duration was assessed. Data from 599 adolescents (54.4% female, mean age at baseline ± SD 13.3 ± 0.3 years) were collected annually during their three years at lower secondary school. PA was measured objectively using accelerometry. Academic achievement was assessed using grade point average (GPA) from school records. Linear regression analysis was performed to explore associations between longitudinal changes in measures of PA (Total PA and moderate-to-vigorous PA [MVPA]) and academic achievement directly or via mediators. Results showed no significant associations between Total PA or MVPA and academic achievement, either in the main analyses or through mediation of WC and sleep duration. The results contribute to a growing evidence base of studies showing no association between objectively measured PA and academic achievement among adolescents.publishedVersio

Dietary macronutrients and food consumption as determinants of long-term weight change in adult populations : a systematic literature review

Peer reviewe

Device-measured physical activity and cardiovascular disease risk in adolescent childhood cancer survivors. A physical activity in childhood cancer survivors (PACCS) study

Objectives: We aimed to compare cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in childhood cancer survivors (CCS) with age- and sex-stratified reference material and examine the association between physical activity (PA) intensities and CVD risk factors in CCS. Materials and methods: Within the cross-sectional, multicenter Physical Activity in Childhood Cancer Survivors (PACCS) study, we collected data on CVD risk factors [VO2-peak (mL⋅kg-1⋅min-1), body mass index (BMI, kg/m2), systolic blood pressure (SBP, mmHg), and total-cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol (Total/HDL)] among CCS aged 9-18 years. CVD risk factors were compared to references with immediate t-tests. We transformed CVD risk factors into z-scores based on international references and generated an individual CVD risk score: [inverse ZVO2-peak + Z BMI + Z SBP + Z Total/HDL )/4]. Multivariable mixed linear regression models were used to analyze the associations between device-measured PA intensities and CVD risk factors. Results: We included 157 CCS aged on average 13.4 years at inclusion and 8.2 years from diagnosis. Male CCS had lower VO2-peak compared to references (45.4 vs. 49.4 mL⋅kg-1⋅min-1, P = 0.001), higher diastolic BP (67 vs. 63 mmHg, P < 0.001), lower HDL (1.35 vs. 1.44 mmol/L, P = 0.012), as well as a tendency to higher CVD risk score (z-score=0.14 vs. 0.00, P = .075). Female CCS' CVD risk factors were comparable to references. Vigorous-intensity PA (VPA) was associated with CVD risk factors. A 10-min increase in VPA was associated with higher VO2-peak (β = 4.9, 95% CI, 2.1-7.7), lower Total/HDL (β = -0.3, 95% CI, -0.6 to -0.1) and a lower CVD risk score (β = -0.4, 95% CI, -0.6 to -0.2). Conclusion: Male adolescent CCS had less favorable values of CVD risk factors compared to references. VPA in adolescent CCS is associated with clinically meaningful favorable values of CVD risk factors. Keywords: accelerometry; cardiometabolic risk; cardiovascular disease risk; childhood cancer survivors; physical activity

The longitudinal association between objectively measured physical activity and mental health among Norwegian adolescents

Background: Mental health among young people in many countries, including Norway, seems to be deteriorating. Physical activity (PA) has been positively associated with mental health. However, methodological issues related to study design and measurement of PA and mental health outcomes currently limits our understanding of the relationship. The purpose of the present study is to explore the prospective relationship between objectively measured PA and mental health outcomes. More specifically, volume (total PA), intensity (moderate-to-vigorous PA [MVPA]) and sedentary behaviour (SED) were explored in relation to mental health problems (MHP) and mental wellbeing (MWB). Methods: Data from 599 adolescents (54.4% female, mean age at baseline ±SD 13.3 ± 0.3 years) were collected annually during their 3 years (T1, T2 and T3) at lower secondary school. PA was measured using accelerometry. MWB was measured using the ‘Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale’ and MHP by the ‘Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire’. Multiple linear regression was performed to explore relationships between changes in PA/SED (between T1-T3) and MWB/MHP (at T3). The term ‘movement categories’ was used to refer to components on the movement continuum and includes volume (total PA), intensity (MVPA) and SED. Results: Among boys, any increase in SED was positively associated with MWB (β = 0.05, 95% CI: 0.01 to 0.10), whereas a small positive association between an increase in total PA (volume) and MWB was found among girls (β = 1.13, 95% CI: 0.05 to 2.21). There were no associations between changes in any movement categories [total PA (volume), MVPA, SED] and score on MHP at T3, neither for girls nor boys. Conclusion: This study provided no clear evidence of any association between change in volume or intensity of PA and MHP among an overall healthy adolescent study sample. There was, however, evidence of a relationship between increased SED and MWB among boys and increased volume of PA and MWB among girls. The relationship between movement categories and mental health may depend on the measurement used to assess both PA/SED and variables of mental health. Future research would be strengthened by researchers clarifying what construct of mental health is being used and measured.publishedVersio