Challenging Weight Loss: The Effectiveness of a 12 Week Weight Loss Challenge on Weight Loss, Physical Activity and Motivation

The objective of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a 12 week weight loss intervention in a commercial fitness centre on body mass index (BMI), moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and behavioural regulations consistent with Organismic Integration Theory (OIT, Deci & Ryan, 2002). The intervention group received weekly coaching sessions and bi-weekly seminars designed to increase MVPA and improve dietary intake. The results of the mixed model analyses of variance showed a significant within-subjects main effect for BMI (F = 3.57, p = .04). Changes in MVPA were not observed over time or between conditions. Changes in behavioural regulations congruent with OIT (Deci & Ryan, 2002) favoured the intervention condition. Study results indicate that 12 week weight loss challenges in commercial fitness centres may be effective to support the internalization process of exercise behavioural regulations but ineffective at producing sustainable weight loss or behavioural changes.

Physical Activity and the Entanglement of Meaning Making for Females

This research takes a phenomenological approach through narratives to investigate the meanings females attribute to their experiences with physical activity. Nine females across the age ranges of 10-80 were asked to share three meaningful physical activity stories. These experiences could be positive or negative in nature as long as they were reflective of a meaningful experience for the participant. The aim of the research was to explore the types of physical activity experiences that females find meaningful. The results indicate that participants perceived the following to be meaningful within their experience: social support, benefits to personal health and well-being, recognition and acknowledgment, empowerment, body control, early positive experience and identity formation. Participants’ stories offered an enlightened understanding of the meanings active females associate with physical activity across their lifespans that perhaps can assist in formulating and developing strategies to encourage and promote involvement in physical activity.

A Life without Gluten: Dietary Adherence, Physical Activity and Motives

The purpose of this study was to look at individuals living on a gluten-free diet (GFD), their dietary adherence, PA levels and the reasons why they engage in these lifestyle behaviours consistent with Organismic Integration Theory (Deci & Ryan, 2002). Participants (N = 202; Mage = 42.35 years, SDage = 12.43 years) completed a series of online questionnaires. GFD adherence (74.7%) across the previous week was consistent with existing literature (Dowd et al., 2013), but participant physical activity scores were higher than reported normative values (p = .00; Wilson et al., 2010). Specific motives predicted gluten-free dietary adherence (i.e., integrated and identified regulations) and PA (i.e., intrinsic and identified regulations; p < .05). Findings may be used by health professionals to inform behavioural interventions consistent with OIT (Deci & Ryan, 2002).

Investigating Environmental Determinants of Diet, Physical Activity, and Overweight among Adults in Sao Paulo, Brazil

There is worldwide recognition that the burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and obesity-related health problems is rapidly increasing in low- and middle-income countries. Environmental determinants of obesity are likely to differ between countries, particularly in those undergoing rapid socioeconomic and nutrition transitions such as Brazil. This study aims to describe some built environment and local food environment variables and to explore their association with the overweight rate and diet and physical activity area-level aggregated indicators of adults living in the city of Sao Paulo, the largest city in Brazil. This formative study includes an ecological analysis of environmental factors associated with overweight across 31 submunicipalities of the city of Sao Paulo using statistical and spatial analyses. Average prevalence of overweight was 41.69% (95% confidence interval 38.74, 44.64), ranging from 27.14% to 60.75% across the submunicipalities. There was a wide geographical variation of both individual diet and physical activity, and indicators of food and built environments, favoring wealthier areas. After controlling for area socioeconomic status, there was a positive correlation between regular fruits and vegetables (FV) intake and density of FV specialized food markets (r = 0.497; p < 0.001), but no relationship between fast-food restaurant density and overweight prevalence was found. A negative association between overweight prevalence and density of parks and public sport facilities was seen (r = -0.527; p < 0.05). Understanding the relationship between local neighborhood environments and increasing rates of poor diet, physical activity, and obesity is essential in countries undergoing rapid economic and urban development, such as Brazil, in order to provide insights for policies to reduce increasing rates of NCDs and food access and health inequalities.

Health in Madeira: a comprehensive study of aging, body composition, physical activity and functional fitness

Physical Activity (PA) and functional fitness (FF) are predictors of a healthy and independent lifestyle in older adults. The purpose of this study was: (1) to construct reference values for FF; (2) to describe sex- and age-related changes in FF, balance, gait, PA, body composition, and bone health/strength; and (3) to determine their variation and co-variation with respect to PA. This cross-sectional study included 401 males and 401 females aged 60-79 years old. FF was assessed using the Senior Fitness test and balance by the Fullerton Advance Balance scale (FAB). Gait parameters: gait velocity (GV), stride length (SL), cadence and gait stability ratio (GSR) were measured. Femoral strength index (FSI) and bone mineral density (BMD) of the total body, lumbar spine, hip region and total lean tissue mass (TLTM) and total fat mass (TFM) were determined by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry-DXA. PA was assessed during face-to-face interviews using the Baecke questionnaire. Demographic and health history information were obtained by structured telephone interview. In both sexes, a significant main effect for age-group was found for FF parameters, balance scores, gait performances, TLTM and hip, LS and total BMD and FSI. Likewise there were significant main effects for age-group for total PA in women and sports related PA in men. Men scored significantly better than women in FF (except in upper- and lower-body flexibility), balance, GV, SL, GSR and had higher BMD and TLTM compared with women. Active subjects scored better in FF, balance, and gait than their average and non-active peers. PA and FF exerted only a minor influence in the differentiation of BMD and FSI among the elderly while constitutive factors like age, height, body mass, TLTM and TFM entered as the most significant contributors. This study gives scientific support to public policies at the community level, targeted to increase PA, FF and TLTM, thereby contributing to improved quality of life in older adults.

Effects of Chronic Physical Activity and of Ultrasound Treatment on Bone Consolidation

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of ultrasound treatment and physical exercise on the velocity of bone consolidation and resistance to deformation. We performed osteotomy in the upper third of the right tibia of rats. Physical training consisted of swimming 1 h per day with a load of 5% b.w. for 30 days. Therapy with medium-intensity ultrasound was applied daily on the damaged area. Wistar rats were divided into the following groups: osteotomized sedentary animals with no ultrasound treatment (1.OSnUS), osteotomized trained animals with no ultrasound treatment (2.OTnUS), osteotomized sedentary animals with ultrasound treatment (3.OSwUS). and osteotomized trained animals with ultrasound treatment (4.OTwUS). The animals were sacrificed for the following analyses: muscle glycogen, serum alkaline phosphatase at the 5th, 10th, 20th, and 30th days, test of maximum resistance to flexion, rupture flexion and mean tibial rigidity at the 30th day. Muscle glycogen was increased at the 20th day: alkaline phosphatase was elevated at the 5th and 20th days in groups 3.OSwUS and 4.OTwUS. and decreased at the 10th day. Groups1.OSnUS and 2.OTnUS did not show significant variations. In the mechanical resistance tests, we noted that ultrasound therapy and the association of physical activity used in the present study showed significant differences in bone resistance and bone rigidity after 30 days of treatment. These facts suggest that ultrasound or physical activity, or their combination may accelerate the process of bone tissue repair.

Independent and Combined Effects of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior on Blood Pressure in Adolescents: Gender Differences in Two Cross-Sectional Studies

Objectives: To examine the independent and combined association of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) on both systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in adolescents from two observational studies. Methods: Participants from two cross-sectional studies, one conducted in Europe (n = 3,308; HELENA study) and the other in Brazil (n = 991; BRACAH study), were selected by complex sampling. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (outcomes), PA and SB, both independently and combined, and potential confounders were analyzed. Associations were examined by multilevel linear regression. Results: Performing the recommended amount of PA (≥60 min/d) attenuated the effect of SB on DBP in BRACAH study girls and in boys from both studies. In contrast, PA did not attenuate the effects of SB on the SBP of girls in the HELENA study. The combination of less than recommended levels of PA with 2-4 h/d of sedentary behavior was found to be associated with increased SBP in boys from both studies. Conclusions: Meeting current PA recommendations could mediate the association between SB and DBP in both sexes. In boys, the joint effect of low levels of PA and excessive sedentary activity increases SBP levels. Longitudinal studies are required to confirm these findings. © 2013 de Moraes et al.

Adiposity and age explain most of the association between physical activity and fitness in physically active men

[EN] BACKGROUND: To determine if there is an association between physical activity assessed by the short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: One hundred and eighty-two young males (age range: 20-55 years) completed the short form of the IPAQ to assess physical activity. Body composition (dual-energy X-Ray absorptiometry), muscular fitness (static and dynamic muscle force and power, vertical jump height, running speed [30 m sprint], anaerobic capacity [300 m running test]) and cardiorespiratory fitness (estimated VO(2)max: 20 m shuttle run test) were also determined in all subjects. Activity-related energy expenditure of moderate and vigorous intensity (EEPA(moderate) and EEPA(vigorous), respectively) was inversely associated with indices of adiposity (r = -0.21 to -0.37, P<0.05). Cardiorespiratory fitness (VO(2)max) was positively associated with LogEEPA(moderate) (r = 0.26, P<0.05) and LogEEPA(vigorous) (r = 0.27). However, no association between VO(2)max with LogEEPA(moderate), LogEPPA(vigorous) and LogEEPA(total) was observed after adjusting for the percentage of body fat. Multiple stepwise regression analysis to predict VO(2)max from LogEEPA(walking), LogEEPA(moderate), LogEEPA(vigorous), LogEEPA(total), age and percentage of body fat (%fat) showed that the %fat alone explained 62% of the variance in VO(2)max and that the age added another 10%, while the other variables did not add predictive value to the model [VO(2)max = 129.6-(25.1x Log %fat) - (34.0x Log age); SEE: 4.3 ml.kg(-1). min(-1); R(2) = 0.72 (P<0.05)]. No positive association between muscular fitness-related variables and physical activity was observed, even after adjusting for body fat or body fat and age. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Adiposity and age are the strongest predictors of VO(2)max in healthy men. The energy expended in moderate and vigorous physical activities is inversely associated with adiposity. Muscular fitness does not appear to be associated with physical activity as assessed by the IPAQ.

Domains of physical activity and all-cause mortality: systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of cohort studies

Background The dose–response relation between physical activity and all-cause mortality is not well defined at present. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the association with all-cause mortality of different domains of physical activity and of defined increases in physical activity and energy expenditure. Methods MEDLINE, Embase and the Cochrane Library were searched up to September 2010 for cohort studies examining all-cause mortality across different domains and levels of physical activity in adult general populations. We estimated combined risk ratios (RRs) associated with defined increments and recommended levels, using random-effects meta-analysis and dose–response meta-regression models. Results Data from 80 studies with 1 338 143 participants (118 121 deaths) were included. Combined RRs comparing highest with lowest activity levels were 0.65 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.60–0.71] for total activity, 0.74 (95% CI 0.70–0.77) for leisure activity, 0.64 (95% CI 0.55–0.75) for activities of daily living and 0.83 (95% CI 0.71–0.97) for occupational activity. RRs per 1-h increment per week were 0.91 (95% CI 0.87–0.94) for vigorous exercise and 0.96 (95% CI 0.93–0.98) for moderate-intensity activities of daily living. RRs corresponding to 150 and 300 min/week of moderate to vigorous activity were 0.86 (95% CI 0.80–0.92) and 0.74 (95% CI 0.65–0.85), respectively. Mortality reductions were more pronounced in women. Conclusion Higher levels of total and domain-specific physical activity were associated with reduced all-cause mortality. Risk reduction per unit of time increase was largest for vigorous exercise. Moderate-intensity activities of daily living were to a lesser extent beneficial in reducing mortality.