Physical Activity and the Development of Substance Use Disorders: Current Knowledge and Future Directions

Physical activity and exercise are positive health behaviors that have been shown to reduce the risk of physical and psychological diseases. There is a strong rationale that physical activity could be a protective factor against the development of substance use disorders (SUDs), which include some of the most common mental health conditions such as tobacco and alcohol use disorder. This review examined the epidemiological literature to describe the associations of physical activity and substance use across the lifespan. The findings indicated that physical activity is positively associated with current and future alcohol use but negatively associated with tobacco and other drug use, with the strongest support originating from adolescent and young adult samples. Considerably less data exist on physical activity and other drug use in later life. Limitations in previous studies, such as the indeterminate measurement of physical activity and absence of clinical substance use disorder endpoints, should be addressed in future investigations to provide clarity regarding the strength and directions of these relationships among different substances and populations

Intervening to reduce sedentary behavior in older adults – pilot results

Background: Older adults spend most of their day in sedentary behavior (SB) (i.e., prolonged sitting), increasing risk for negative health outcomes, functional loss, and diminished ability for activities of daily living. The purpose of this study was to develop and pilot test an intervention designed to reduce SB in older adults that could be translated to communities. Methods: Two pilot studies implementing a 4-week SB intervention were conducted. SB,physical function, and health-related quality of life were measured via self-report and objective measures. Participants (N=21) completed assessments pre- and post-intervention (studies 1 and 2) and at follow-up (4-weeks post-intervention; study 2). Due to the pilot nature of this research, data were analyzed with Cohen’s d effect sizes to examine the magnitude of change in outcomes following the intervention. Results: Results for study 1 indicated moderate (d=0.53) decreases in accelerometry-obtained total SB and increases (d=0.52) in light intensity physical activity post-intervention. In study 2,there was a moderate decrease (d=0.57) in SB evident at follow-up. On average SB decreased by approximately 60 min/d in both studies. Also, there were moderate-to-large improvements in vitality (d=0.74; study 1) and gait speed (d=1.15; study 2) following the intervention. Further,the intervention was found to be feasible for staff to implement in the community. Conclusion: These pilot results informed the design of an ongoing federally funded randomized controlled trial with a larger sample of older adults from underserved communities. Effective,feasible, and readily-accessible interventions have potential to improve the health and function of older adults

Effects of core strengthening exercise on colon transit time in young adult women

Background/objective: This study investigated the effects of core strengthening exercise (CSE) on colon transit time (CTT) in young adult women. Methods: Eighty women (mean age 23 years) were enrolled and randomly assigned to participate in a 12-week, instructor-led group CSE program (CSE group [CSEG]; n = 40) or to maintain usual daily activities (control group [CG]; n = 40). 27 participants in the CSEG and 21 participants in the CG completed the study. The CSE program consisted of 60-min sessions, two days a week, for 12 weeks. CTT was measured using a multiple marker technique with a radio-opaque marker. Data were analyzed with a 2-way, repeated measures ANCOVA. Results: After the 12-week intervention, The CSEG showed significant improvements in trunk flexor power (P = 0.031), peak torque (P = 0.032), and endurance (P = 0.011). The CSEG also showed improvements in the sit-up (P < 0.001) and side-step (P = 0.043) tests compared to the CG. While there was not a significant group difference between the CSEG and CG, left CTT (P = 0.021) and total CTT (P = 0.006) decreased significantly within the CSEG group only. Conclusion: The 12-week CSE program increased abdominal strength but did not improve CTT compared to the control group. This study also provides preliminary data that CSE may reduce left CTT and total CTT, but additional clinical trials are needed

Higher adherence to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH Diet) is associated with lower greenhouse gases and land use from protein foods

Introduction: The average American diet is high in red and processed meats which increases one's risk for chronic diseases and requires more land and water to produce and yields greater greenhouse gases (GHG) compared to other protein foods. Reduction of red and processed meat intake, such as seen with the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH diet), could benefit human and environmental health. Objective: The objective of this study is to predict the environmental sustainability of the DASH diet by evaluating the GHG, land use, and water withdrawals from protein foods within the self-selected diets of people who were encouraged to follow the DASH diet. Methods: Dietary data was collected from 380 Midwesterners aged 35-70 years old with hypertension using the Automated Self-Administered 24-Hour (ASA 24) Recall System. DASH diet adherence was measured using a nutrient-based DASH score. GHG, land use, and water withdrawals were obtained using Carnegie Mellon University's Economic Input-Output Life Cycle Assessment (eiolca.net) using the Purchaser model (cradle-to-consumer). Multiple linear regressions were used to view associations between individual DASH nutrient scores and environmental impacts of total, animal, and plant protein foods. Results: Diets that met DASH diet guidelines, as indicated by higher individual DASH nutrient scores, were associated with less GHG and land use from total and animal protein foods but more GHG and land use from plant-protein foods, with a few exceptions. The pattern was not clear for water withdrawals. Diets with the greatest adherence had around 25–50% lower GHG and land use from total protein foods than diets with the lowest adherence. Changes may be due to decreased consumption of total and animal protein foods, selection of animal protein foods with lower environmental impacts, and increased consumption of plant protein foods. Conclusion: Adhering to the DASH diet can promote the consumption of less environmentally demanding protein foods resulting in lower GHG and land use from protein foods. However, claims regarding the sustainability of the entire dietary pattern cannot be determined based off the current study. Regardless, it is evident that environmental impacts should be considered alongside health impacts when selecting, promoting, or recommending a dietary pattern.This article is published as Kling, Nicole R., Kurt A. Rosentrater, Duck-chul Lee, Angelique G. Brellenthin, and Lorraine Lanningham-Foster. "Higher adherence to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH Diet) is associated with lower greenhouse gases and land use from protein foods." Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems 7 (2023): 1145272. DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2023.1145272. Copyright 2023 Kling, Rosentrater, Lee , Brellenthin and Lanningham-Foster. Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). Posted with permission

Endocannabinoid and psychological responses to acute resistance exercise in trained and untrained adults.

IntroductionThis study examined the effects of acute resistance exercise on circulating endocannabinoid (eCB) and mood responses in trained and untrained healthy adults.MethodsThirty-two healthy adults (22.1 ± 2.9 years) were recruited from trained (reporting resistance exercise at least twice per week for ≥ previous three months) and untrained (performing no resistance exercise for ≥ previous three months) groups. Participants (13 male, 19 female) completed three sets of resistance exercise (16 repetitions at 50% 1-repetition max, 12 repetitions at 70% 1-repetition max, 8 repetitions at 80% 1-repetition max). Resistance machines targeted the legs, chest, back, and abdominal muscles. Mood states, affect, and circulating eCB concentrations were evaluated before and after resistance exercise.ResultsThere were significant decreases in AEA, PEA, and OEA levels following acute resistance exercise (p ConclusionThese results indicate that acute resistance exercise may reduce eCB and related lipid concentrations, which is opposite to the increase in lipids typically observed with acute aerobic exercise. Furthermore, psychological improvements occur after resistance exercise regardless of decreases in eCBs, supporting the notion that psychological changes with exercise likely occur through a wide variety of biological and environmental mechanisms

Association of Muscular Strength and Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes

Objective: To examine the association between muscular strength and incident type 2 diabetes, independent of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF).Patients and Methods: A total of 4681 adults aged 20 to 100 years who had no type 2 diabetes at baseline were included in the current prospective cohort study. Participants underwent muscular strength tests and maximal treadmill exercise tests between January 1, 1981, and December 31, 2006. Muscular strength was measured by leg and bench press and categorized as age group- and sex-specific thirds (lower, middle, and upper) of the combined strength score. Type 2 diabetes was defined on the basis of fasting plasma glucose levels, insulin therapy, or physician diagnoses.Results: During a mean follow-up of 8.3 years, 229 of the 4681 patients (4.9%) had development of type 2 diabetes. Participants with the middle level of muscular strength had a 32% lower risk of development of type 2 diabetes (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% confidence interval, 0.49-0.94; P=.02) compared with those with the lower level of muscular strength after adjusting for potential confounders, including estimated CRF. However, no significant association between the upper level of muscular strength and incident type 2 diabetes was observed.Conclusion: A moderate level of muscular strength is associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, independent of estimated CRF. More studies on the dose-response relationship between muscular strength and type 2 diabetes are needed

Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for diverticulitis according to cardiorespiratory fitness and body mass index.

Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for diverticulitis according to cardiorespiratory fitness and body mass index.</p

Baseline characteristics by cardiorespiratory fitness and body mass index categories.

Baseline characteristics by cardiorespiratory fitness and body mass index categories.</p