The Impact of COVID-19 on Physical Activity Behavior and Well-Being of Canadians

A global pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) resulted in restrictions to daily living for Canadians, including social distancing and closure of city and provincial recreation facilities, national parks and playgrounds. The objective of this study was to assess how these preemptive measures impacted physical activity behaviour and well-being of Canadians. An online survey was utilized to measure participant physical activity behavior, nature exposure, well-being and anxiety levels. Results indicate that while 40.5% of inactive individuals became less active, only 22.4% of active individuals became less active. Comparatively, 33% of inactive individuals became more active while 40.3% of active individuals became more active. There were significant differences in well-being outcomes in the inactive population between those who were more active, the same or less active (p < 0.001) but this was not seen in the active population. Inactive participants who spent more time engaged in outdoor physical activity had lower anxiety than those who spent less time in outdoor physical activity. Public health measures differentially affected Canadians who were active and inactive and physical activity was strongly associated with well-being outcomes in inactive individuals. This suggests that health promoting measures directed towards inactive individuals may be essential to improving well-being

The Association between Acculturation and Dietary Patterns of South Asian Immigrants

Dietary acculturation, specifically the adoption of western dietary habits, may result in adverse health effects such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. Therefore, it is necessary to explore the role of acculturation in dietary patterns as well as awareness and knowledge of healthy nutrition among South Asian immigrants. This is an especially important population to target as South Asians have higher prevalence rates of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, which may be magnified with immigration. The current investigation is a sub-study of the Multi-Cultural Community Health Assessment Trial (M-CHAT). There were 207 participants of South Asian origin included in the initial study, 129 were born outside of Canada and had immigrated after the age of 18. The length of residence in Canada was used as a marker for acculturation. A questionnaire addressing perceived changes in dietary patterns, food preparation, and nutrition knowledge and awareness since immigration was used to assess dietary practices. The association between length of residence and variables related to perceived changes in dietary patterns was explored with Spearman correlation and significant associations were subsequently analyzed with ordinal logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, education and body mass index. South Asian immigrants in Canada reported a variety of positive dietary practices, including an increased consumption of fruits and vegetables and an improvement in food preparation (including an increase in grilling and a decrease in deep frying when cooking). However, there was a reported increase in the consumption of convenience foods, sugar-sweetened beverages, red meat and in dining out. South Asian immigrants in Canada reported a variety of positive dietary practices including an improvement in food preparation. Future health promotion strategies should encourage cultural sensitivity in efforts to reduce the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverage, convenience foods and to encourage eating at home rather than dining out

Ordinal regression results of the association between acculturation and dietary items after adjustment for age, sex, education and body mass index.

<p>All analyses were adjusted for age, sex, education and BMI.</p

Percentage of participants reporting an improvement in food variables of interest indicative of positive changes since immigration (only variables with greater than 50% reported).

<p>Percentage of participants reporting an improvement in food variables of interest indicative of positive changes since immigration (only variables with greater than 50% reported).</p

Socio-demographic characteristics of South Asian participants across length of residence.

a<p>Mean ± SD.</p>b<p>n (%).</p

Percentage of participants reporting changes in food items and preparation since immigration (only variables with greater than 30% reported).

<p>Open bars represent negative dietary changes.</p

Significant associations between length of residence and food variables of interest.

<p>Significant associations between length of residence and food variables of interest.</p

The association between "hypertriglyceridemic waist" and sub-clinical atherosclerosis in a multiethnic population: a cross-sectional study

Background: "Hypertriglyceridemic waist" (HTGW) phenotype, an inexpensive early screening tool for detection of individuals at risk for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease was found to be associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in various patient populations such as those with diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, and those infected with human immunodeficiency virus. However, less is known regarding an association between HTGW and subclinical atherosclerosis in the apparently healthy, multiethnic population. Therefore, the aim of the study was to explore the association between HTGW and sub-clinical atherosclerosis in an apparently healthy, multiethnic population; and to investigate whether the effect of HTGW on sub-clinical atherosclerosis persists over and above the traditional atherosclerosis risk factors. Methods We studied 809 individuals of Aboriginal, Chinese, European and South Asian origin who were assessed for indices of sub-clinical atherosclerosis (intima-media thickness (IMT), total area and presence of carotid plaques), socio-demographic and lifestyle characteristics, anthropometrics, lipids, glucose, blood pressure, and family history of cardiovascular disease. Results We found that, compared to individuals without HTGW and after adjusting for age, ethnicity, smoking, and physical activity; men and women with HTGW had a significantly higher: IMT (men: B (95%CI = 0.084 (0.037, 1.133), p < 0.001; women: B (95%CI) = 0.041 (0.006, 0.077), p = 0.020); and total area (men: B (95%CI = 0.202 (0.058, 0.366), p = 0.005; women: B (95%CI) = 0.115 (0.006, 0.235), p = 0.037). The association between HTGW waist and presence of plaques was significant for men (OR (95%CI) = 1.904 (1.040, 3.486), p = 0.037 vs. men without HTGW), but not for women (p = 0.284). Once analyses were adjusted for additional, traditional risk factors for atherosclerosis, the effect of HTGW on sub-clinical atherosclerosis was no longer significant. Conclusions In conclusion, HTGW may serve as an early marker of subclinical atherosclerosis in men and women, irrespective of ethnicity. However, once individuals are assessed for all traditional risk factors for atherosclerosis, the additional assessment for HTGW is not warranted.Medicine, Department ofMedicine, Faculty ofNon UBCReviewedFacult

The effect of obesity on the association between liver fat and carotid atherosclerosis in a multi-ethnic cohort

Objective: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is the most common liver disorder in Western society, increasing in parallel with obesity and the metabolic syndrome. Evidence suggests that there is an independent relationship between liver fat (LF) and atherosclerosis, however it is unknown if this applies to low risk populations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between LF and measures of sub-clinical carotid atherosclerosis in men and women of Aboriginal, Chinese, European, and South Asian origin.Methods and results: Healthy men and women were assessed for LF (computed tomography scan) and atherosclerosis (carotid ultrasound) in addition to cardiovascular risk factors, demographics, and body composition. Liver Hounsfield units (HU) values were negatively correlated with age, BMI, waist circumference (WC), percent body fat, carotid intima media thickness total plaque area, and total area. LF was significantly associated with carotid IMT and total area after adjustment for sex, age, ethnicity, education, income and smoking status. However after adjusting for BMI and WC, LF was no longer significantly associated with atherosclerosis.Conclusion: Increased LF may be associated with atherosclerosis, however, after adjustment for body composition, LF was not significantly associated with sub-clinical atherosclerosis. BMI and WC are useful anthropometric measures for the evaluation of CVD risk independent of LF. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Association between exercise-induced change in body composition and change in cardio-metabolic risk factors in post-menopausal South Asian women

The South Asian (SA) population suffers from a high prevalence of type 2 Diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD). A unique obesity phenotype of elevated visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is associated with CVD risk among SA. Exercise-induced reduction in VAT and body fat is an effective mechanism to improve cardio-metabolic risk factors but this has not been shown in SA. Whether exercise-induced changes in measurements such as waist circumference (WC) are independently related to changes in cardio-metabolic risk factors in SA is unknown. Multi-slice computed tomography scanning was used to assess VAT, cardio-metabolic risk factors through a fasting blood sample and body fat using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Forty- nine post-menopausal South Asian women who participated in two 12-week aerobic exercise programs were included. Bivariate correlations were used to assess associations between change in cardio-metabolic risk factors and change in body composition. Regression analyses were conducted with change in glucose, insulin and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) as dependent variables and change in body composition as independent variables of interest. There were significant associations between changes in fasting insulin, glucose and HOMA-IR with change in VAT. The association between change in VAT and these cardio-metabolic risk factors was independent of change in other body composition variables of interest. South Asian women should be encouraged to engage in aerobic activity to reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes and CVD, and physicians should be aware of improvements in glucose regulation with exercise training not observed through reductions in WC.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author