Participation in recreational physical activity: Why do socioeconomic groups differ?

This qualitative study explored how influences on recreational physical activity (RPA) were patterned by socioeconomic position. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 10 males and 10 females in three socioeconomic groups (N = 60). Influences salient across all groups included previous opportunities, physical health, social assistance, safety, environmental aesthetics and urban design, physical and health benefits, and barriers of self-consciousness, low skill, and weather/time of year. Influences more salient to the high socioeconomic group included social benefits, achieving a balanced lifestyle, and the barrier of an unpredictable lifestyle. Influences more salient to the high and mid socioeconomic groups included efficacy, perceived need, activity demands, affiliation, emotional benefits, and the barrier of competing demands. Influences more salient to the low socioeconomic group included poor health and barriers of inconvenient access and low personal functioning. Data suggest that efforts to increase RPA in the population should include both general and socioeconomically targeted strategies.

The Association Between Physical Activity, Productivity, and Health Care Utilization Among Employees in Brazil

Objective: To document the relationship between physical activity, absenteeism, presenteeism, health care utilization, and morbidity among Brazilian automotive workers. Methods: Eligible employees (N = 620) completed a questionnaire. Univariate correlations, multivariate logistic regression, and Pearson`s product-moment correlation coefficient were used. Results: Work absenteeism was associated with physical activity at work (OPA) (odds ratio, [OR] = 1.63, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.31 to 2.02) and leisure physical activity time excluding sport (OR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.58 to 1.00). Health care utilization was associated with OPA (OR = 1.25, 95% CI = 0.99 to 1.58) and leisure physical activity time excluding sport (OR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.57 to 1.02). Presenteeism showed an indirect relationship with OPA (r = 0.099, P = 0.014). Referred morbidity was associated with OPA (OR = 1.3, 95% CI = 1.06 to 1.61) and sports during leisure time (OR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.54 to 0.82). Conclusions: Physical activity components seem to have differential relationships to the studied outcomes. Associations measured indicate negative impacts of OPA on absenteeism, health care utilization, and morbidity, although overall physical activity did not show these relationships.

Promotion de l'activité physique chez les aînés: enjeux et stratégies spécifiques. [Promotion of exercise in older people: issues and strategies].

Regular physical activity is among the most effective interventions to prevent or delay functional decline and disability, even in older persons. Despite relatively strong scientific evidence supporting these benefits, the majority of older persons remain mostly sedentary. For these persons, concerns about injury or fear of negative consequences on their chronic diseases are among the most powerful barriers to participation in regular physical activity. Promotion of physical activity among older persons has therefore become one of the five main themes of the health promotion project "Via", a project that aims at promoting good practice in prevention and health promotion directed toward older adults in Switzerland. This paper summarizes the main recommendations issued from this national project supported by the Swiss Health Promotion Foundation.

Friday Facts, February 5, 2010, Vol. 49

Bureau of Nutrition and Health Promotion part of the Iowa Department of Public Health produces of weekly newsletter about the Iowa WIC Program for the State of Iowa citizen.

Friday Facts, February 12, 2010, Vol. 50

Bureau of Nutrition and Health Promotion part of the Iowa Department of Public Health produces of weekly newsletter about the Iowa WIC Program for the State of Iowa citizen.

Friday Facts, February 19, 2010, Vol. 51

Bureau of Nutrition and Health Promotion part of the Iowa Department of Public Health produces of weekly newsletter about the Iowa WIC Program for the State of Iowa citizen.

Friday Facts, February 4, 2011, Vol. 87

Bureau of Nutrition and Health Promotion part of the Iowa Department of Public Health produces of weekly newsletter about the Iowa WIC Program for the State of Iowa citizen.

Friday Facts, February 11, 2011, Vol. 88

Bureau of Nutrition and Health Promotion part of the Iowa Department of Public Health produces of weekly newsletter about the Iowa WIC Program for the State of Iowa citizen.

Friday Facts, February 18, 2011, Vol. 89

Bureau of Nutrition and Health Promotion part of the Iowa Department of Public Health produces of weekly newsletter about the Iowa WIC Program for the State of Iowa citizen.

Friday Facts, February 25, 2011, Vol. 90

Bureau of Nutrition and Health Promotion part of the Iowa Department of Public Health produces of weekly newsletter about the Iowa WIC Program for the State of Iowa citizen.

Friday Facts, February 3, 2012, Vol. 129

Bureau of Nutrition and Health Promotion part of the Iowa Department of Public Health produces of weekly newsletter about the Iowa WIC Program for the State of Iowa citizen.

Friday Facts, February 10, 2012, Vol. 130

Bureau of Nutrition and Health Promotion part of the Iowa Department of Public Health produces of weekly newsletter about the Iowa WIC Program for the State of Iowa citizen.

Friday Facts, February 17, 2012, Vol. 131

Bureau of Nutrition and Health Promotion part of the Iowa Department of Public Health produces of weekly newsletter about the Iowa WIC Program for the State of Iowa citizen.

Friday Facts, February 24, 2012, Vol. 132

Bureau of Nutrition and Health Promotion part of the Iowa Department of Public Health produces of weekly newsletter about the Iowa WIC Program for the State of Iowa citizen.

Friday Facts, February 1, 2013, Vol. 167

Bureau of Nutrition and Health Promotion part of the Iowa Department of Public Health produces of weekly newsletter about the Iowa WIC Program for the State of Iowa citizen.