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Biomedical subjects

Gregory W Heath

Publications and source records attributed to Gregory W Heath.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Self-reported injury and physical activity levels: United States 2000 to 2002.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study is to compare national estimates of the incidence of self-reported all-cause and activity-specific injuries in adults with differing leisure-time physical activity levels. METHODS: Data were analyzed from the 2000 to 2002 National Health Interview Survey. Leisure-time physical activity levels were categorized as active, insufficiently active, and inactive. RESULTS: Age-adjusted incidences of all-cause injury did not differ by leisure-time physical activity level (active, 89.3/1000; 95% confidence interval [CI], 81.8-96.8; insufficiently active, 81.6/1000; 95% CI, 73.1-90.1; and inactive, 86.3/1000; 95% CI, 78.6-93.9). Active respondents (29.4/1000; 95% CI, 25.2-33.6) had a greater incidence of injury related to sport and leisure-time activities than inactive respondents (15.2/1000; 95% CI, 12.1-18.3), whereas inactive respondents (71.1/1000; 95% CI, 63.9-78.2) had a greater incidence of injury related to nonsport and non-leisure-time activities than active respondents (59.9/1000; 95% CI, 53.6-66.2). Results were unchanged after multivariate control for confounding factors. CONCLUSIONS: Although the incidence of sport and leisure-time injuries is associated with participation in leisure-time physical activity, no association was observed between leisure-time physical activity and overall injuries.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Prevalence of physical activity levels by ethnicity among adults in Hawaii, BRFSS 2001.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have examined the differences in physical activity levels between subgroups of Asian or Pacific Islanders living in the United States. This study compared levels of physical activity for three subgroups of Asian or Pacific Islanders residing in Hawaii. METHODS: Data on Native Hawaiian/Part Native Hawaiian (N=585), Filipino (N=548), Japanese (N=871), and White (N=1728) adults were obtained from the Hawaii 2001 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), which contained more detailed questions on ethnicity than are collected by most states. Six physical activity categories were compared: inactive, insufficient (some activity but less than recommended activity), moderate activity (> or = 30 minutes of moderate activity > or = 5 days a week), vigorous activity (> or = 20 minutes of vigorous activity > or = 3 days a week), recommended activity (meeting either moderate or vigorous activity requirements), and a recently suggested target of > or = 60 minutes of moderate activity 7 days a week or > or = 20 minutes of vigorous activity > or = 4 days a week. RESULTS: Among Asians or Pacific Islanders, Native Hawaiians/Part Native Hawaiians were most active (38.9% moderate and 23.9% vigorous), followed by Japanese (32.1%, 20.4%) and Filipinos (31.8%, 18.6%). Whites were more active than any of these three subgroups (47.2%, 35.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Differences in physical activity levels between subgroups of Asians or Pacific Islanders in Hawaii suggests that aggregated data for all subgroups obscures important information about disparities in activity levels. State efforts to reduce disparities in activity levels should take into account differences between Asian or Pacific Islander subgroups.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Associations between physical activity dose and health-related quality of life.

PURPOSE: Although the beneficial effects of participation in regular physical activity (PA) are widely accepted, dose-response relationships between PA and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) remain unclear. METHODS: We examined relationships between frequency, duration, and intensity of PA and HRQOL among 175,850 adults using data from the 2001 BRFSS. Logistic regression was used to obtain odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) adjusted for age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, smoking status, and body mass index. RESULTS: The age-standardized prevalence (standard error) of 14 or more unhealthy (physical or mental) days during the previous 30 d was 28.4% (0.50) among physically inactive adults, 16.7% (0.27) among those with insufficient levels of PA, and 14.7% (0.22) among adults who met recommended levels. Overall, participation in no moderate PA (OR: 2.02; 95% CI: 1.85-2.21) was associated with an increased likelihood of having 14 or more unhealthy days. Also for moderate PA, participation every day of the week (5-6 d x wk as referent) (OR: 1.35; 1.26-1.46) was associated with an increased likelihood of 14 or more unhealthy days, as was participation for periods < 20 min (OR: 1.43; 95% CI: 1.30-1.58) or > or = 90 min (OR: 1.22; 95% CI: 1.14-1.31) per day (30-59 min x d as referent). Similar associations were observed for participation in vigorous PA. CONCLUSION: Persons achieving recommended levels of PA were more likely to report fewer unhealthy days compared with inactive and insufficiently active persons; however, participation in daily moderate or vigorous PA and participation in very short (< 20 min x d) or extended ( > or = 90 min x d) periods of PA was associated with poorer HRQOL. Further research examining the relationship between the dose of PA and HRQOL as well as other health outcomes is needed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Associations between recommended levels of physical activity and health-related quality of life. Findings from the 2001 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey.

BACKGROUND: Although the benefits of regular physical activity on morbidity and mortality are established, relationships between recommended levels of physical activity and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) have not been described. The authors examined whether recommended levels of physical activity were associated with better HRQOL and perceived health status. METHODS: Using data from 175,850 adults who participated in the 2001 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey, the authors examined the independent relationship between recommended levels of moderate or vigorous physical activity and four measures of HRQOL developed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Multivariate logistic regression was used to obtain odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, sex, education, smoking status, and body mass index. RESULTS: The proportion of adults reporting 14 or more unhealthy days (physical or mental) was significantly lower among those who attained recommended levels of physical activity than physically inactive adults for all age, racial/ethnic, and sex groups. After multivariate adjustment, the relative odds of 14 or more unhealthy days (physical or mental) in those with the recommended level of activity compared to physically inactive adults was 0.67 (95% CI: 0.60, 0.74) for adults aged 18-44 years, 0.40 (95% CI: 0.36, 0.45) for adults aged 45-64 years, and 0.41 (95% CI: 0.36, 0.46) for adults aged 65 years or older. The results persist even among adults with a chronic condition such as arthritis. CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight the need for health programs to increase participation in regular physical activity.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2003

Leisure-time physical activity patterns among US adults with asthma.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the physical activity patterns among US adults who have asthma. METHODS: Using data for 165,123 respondents of the 2000 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, we examined leisure-time physical activity. RESULTS: After adjusting for age, about 30% of participants with current asthma (12,489 participants), 24% with former asthma (4,892 participants), and 27% who never had asthma (147,742 participants) were considered to be inactive (p < 0.001). After adjusting for age, the estimated energy expenditure from leisure-time physical activity was 206 kilocalories (kcal) per week lower among respondents with current asthma than among respondents with former asthma (p < 0.001) and 91 kcal/week lower than respondents who had never had asthma (p < 0.001). About 27% of participants with current asthma, 28% of participants with former asthma, and 28% of participants who had never had asthma were participating in recommended levels of physical activity. Walking was the most frequently reported activity for all three groups (respondents with current asthma, 39%; respondents with former asthma, 39%; and respondents who had never had asthma, 38%. Participants with asthma were less likely to engage in running (p < 0.001), basketball (p = 0.001), golf (p < 0.001), and weightlifting (p = 0.001) but were more likely to use an exercise bicycle (p = 0.035) than were participants without asthma. CONCLUSIONS: Like most US adults, the majority of those with asthma were not meeting the current recommendations for physical activity.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

The effectiveness of interventions to increase physical activity. A systematic review.

The Guide to Community Preventive Service's methods for systematic reviews were used to evaluate the effectiveness of various approaches to increasing physical activity: informational, behavioral and social, and environmental and policy approaches. Changes in physical activity behavior and aerobic capacity were used to assess effectiveness. Two informational interventions ("point-of-decision" prompts to encourage stair use and community-wide campaigns) were effective, as were three behavioral and social interventions (school-based physical education, social support in community settings, and individually-adapted health behavior change) and one environmental and policy intervention (creation of or enhanced access to places for physical activity combined with informational outreach activities). Additional information about applicability, other effects, and barriers to implementation are provided for these interventions. Evidence is insufficient to assess a number of interventions: classroom-based health education focused on information provision, and family-based social support (because of inconsistent findings); mass media campaigns and college-based health education and physical education (because of an insufficient number of studies); and classroom-based health education focused on reducing television viewing and video game playing (because of insufficient evidence of an increase in physical activity). These recommendations should serve the needs of researchers, planners, and other public health decision makers.

Evidence-Based Medicine↗