Biomedical subjects

Neville Owen

Publications and source records attributed to Neville Owen.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

Measurement and prediction of energy expenditure in males during household and garden tasks.

Participation in at least 30 min of moderate intensity activity on most days is assumed to confer health benefits. This study accordingly determined whether the more vigorous household and garden tasks (sweeping, window cleaning, vacuuming and lawn mowing) are performed by middle-aged men at a moderate intensity of 3-6 metabolic equivalents (METs) in the laboratory and at home. Measured energy expenditure during self-perceived moderate-paced walking was used as a marker of exercise intensity. Energy expenditure was also predicted via indirect methods. Thirty-six males [ X (SD): 40.0 (3.3) years; 179.5 (6.9) cm; 83.4 (14.0) kg] were measured for resting metabolic rate (RMR) and oxygen consumption ( VO(2)) during the five activities using the Douglas bag method. Heart rate, respiratory frequency, CSA (Computer Science Applications) movement counts, Borg scale ratings of perceived exertion and Quetelet's index were also recorded as potential predictors of exercise intensity. Except for vacuuming in the laboratory, which was not significantly different from 3.0 METs ( P=0.98), the MET means in the laboratory and home were all significantly greater than 3.0 ( P</=0.006). The sweeping and vacuuming MET means were significantly higher ( P<0.001) at home than in the laboratory, whereas the converse applied for window cleaning and lawn mowing. Measured RMR was significantly lower ( P<0.001) than the 1-MET constant. Estimating METs by fitting random intercept regression models to the data resulted in standard deviations for the "leave-one-out" prediction errors (predicted-measured) of 0.4 and 0.5 METs for the laboratory and home equations, respectively. While the means indicate that all the activities were performed at a moderate intensity, there was great inter-individual variability in energy expenditure. The laboratory and home-based equations predicted with correct classification rates of 89% and 88%, respectively, whether energy expenditure was <3.0 or >/=3.0 METs.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2003

Overweight and obesity in Australia: the 1999-2000 Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study (AusDiab).

OBJECTIVE: To measure the prevalence of obesity in Australian adults and to examine the associations of obesity with socioeconomic and lifestyle factors. DESIGN: AusDiab, a cross-sectional study conducted between May 1999 and December 2000, involved participants from 42 randomly selected districts throughout Australia. PARTICIPANTS: Of 20,347 eligible people aged > or = 25 years who completed a household interview, 11,247 attended the physical examination at local survey sites (response rate, 55%). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Overweight and obesity defined by body mass index (BMI; kg/m(2)) and waist circumference (cm); sociodemographic factors (including smoking, physical activity and television viewing time). RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight and obesity (BMI > or = 25.0 kg/m(2); waist circumference > 80.0 cm [women] or > or = 94.0 cm [men]) in both sexes was almost 60%, defined by either BMI or waist circumference. The prevalence of obesity was 2.5 times higher than in 1980. Using waist circumference, the prevalence of obesity was higher in women than men (34.1% v 26.8%; P < 0.01). Lower educational status, higher television viewing time and lower physical activity time were each strongly associated with obesity, with television viewing time showing a stronger relationship than physical activity time. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of obesity in Australia has more than doubled in the past 20 years. Strong positive associations between obesity and each of television viewing time and lower physical activity time confirm the influence of sedentary lifestyles on obesity, and underline the potential benefits of reducing sedentary behaviour, as well as increasing physical activity, to curb the obesity epidemic.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Print versus website physical activity programs: a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Mediated physical activity interventions can reach large numbers of people at low cost. Programs delivered through the mail that target the stage of motivational readiness have been shown to increase activity. Communication technology (websites and e-mail) might provide a means for delivering similar programs. METHODS: Randomized trial conducted between August and October 2001. Participants included staff at an Australian university (n=655; mean age=43, standard deviation, 10 years). Participants were randomized to either an 8-week, stage-targeted print program (Print) or 8-week, stage-targeted website (Web) program. The main outcome was change in self-reported physical activity. RESULTS: There was no significant increase in total reported physical activity within or between groups when analyzed by intention to treat (F [1,653]=0.41, p=0.52). There was a significant increase in total physical activity reported by the Print participants who were inactive at baseline (t [1,173]=-2.21, p=0.04), and a significant decrease in the average time spent sitting on a weekday in the Web group (t [1,326]=2.2, p=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: There were no differences between the Print and Web program effects on reported physical activity. The Print group demonstrated slightly larger effects and a higher level of recognition of program materials.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Physical activity and sedentary behavior: a population-based study of barriers, enjoyment, and preference.

The associations of physical activity and sedentary behavior with barriers, enjoyment, and preferences were examined in a population-based mail survey of 1,332 adults. Respondents reporting high enjoyment and preference for physical activity were more likely to report high levels of activity. Those reporting cost, the weather, and personal barriers to physical activity were less likely to be physically active. Preference for sedentary behavior was associated with the decreased likelihood of being physically active, and the weather a barrier to physical activity was associated with the increased likelihood of sedentary behavior. These constructs can be used to examine individual and environmental influences on physical activity and sedentary behavior in specific populations and could inform the development of targeted interventions.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

The effectiveness of personalized smoking cessation strategies for callers to a Quitline service.

AIM: To assess the effectiveness of a program of computer-generated tailored advice for callers to a telephone helpline, and to assess whether it enhanced a series of callback telephone counselling sessions in aiding smoking cessation. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial comparing: (1) untailored self-help materials; (2) computer-generated tailored advice only, and (3) computer-generated tailored advice plus callback telephone counselling. Assessment surveys were conducted at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months. SETTING: Victoria, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1578 smokers who called the Quitline service and agreed to participate. MEASUREMENTS: Smoking status at follow-up; duration of cessation, if quit; use of nicotine replacement therapy; and extent of participation in the callback service. FINDINGS: At the 3-month follow-up, significantly more (chi2(2) = 16.9; P < 0.001) participants in the computer-generated tailored advice plus telephone counselling condition were not smoking (21%) than in either the computer-generated advice only (12%) or the control condition (12%). Proportions reporting not smoking at the 12-month follow-up were 26%, 23% and 22%, respectively (NS) for point prevalence, and for 9 months sustained abstinence; 8.2, 6.0, and 5.0 (NS). In the telephone counselling group, those receiving callbacks were more likely than those who did not to have sustained abstinence at 12 months (10.2 compared with 4.0, P < 0.05). Logistic regression on 3-month data showed significant independent effects on cessation of telephone counselling and use of NRT, but not of computer-generated tailored advice. CONCLUSION: Computer-generated tailored advice did not enhance telephone counselling, nor have any independent effect on cessation. This may be due to poor timing of the computer-generated tailored advice and poor integration of the two modes of advice.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Male involvement in family planning in rural Vietnam: an application of the Transtheoretical Model.

Various studies have shown that family planning adoption is likely to be more effective for women when men are actively involved. Male involvement in family planning is an instance of behavior change. The Transtheoretical Model of behavior change was used to examine men's involvement in general contraception and intrauterine device (IUD) use by their wives. The study tested whether the constructs of the model, decisional balance and self-efficacy, are sensitive to differences in stages of change. Reliable scales to test decisional balance and self-efficacy were developed. The study was carried out in rural Vietnam with 201 eligible participants. The staging algorithm identified that 25.8% of men were in the precontemplation stage, 10.5% of men were in the contemplation/preparation stages and 63.7% of men were in the action/maintenance stages. Disadvantages of IUD use for men in precontemplation were significantly higher than those in the action/maintenance stages, while the reverse was true for self-efficacy for convincing their wives to use an IUD. Interventions that are targeted to stage of change, that seek to reduce cons and that increase self-efficacy have the potential to influence male involvement in IUD adoption by their wives.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Evaluation of an internet-based physical activity intervention: a preliminary investigation.

The Internet has the potential for delivering innovative, interactive physical activity (PA) interventions to large numbers of people. This study was designed to test the efficacy of an Internet intervention that consisted of a Web site plus 12 weekly e-mail tip sheets, compared with a waiting list control group. The Internet intervention was theory based and emphasized clear, graphical presentation of PA information. Sixty-five (30 intervention and 35 control) sedentary adult employees of several large hospitals (9 men and 56 women) were randomly assigned to 1 of the 2 study arms. Of the 65 participants, 57 completed the 1-month follow-up, and 52 completed the 3-month follow-up. At both 1 and 3 months, those in the intervention group were significantly more likely to have progressed in stage of motivational readiness for PA than participants in the control group: 1 month, c2(1, N =52) =4.05, p <.05; 3 months, c2(1, N =52) =6.45, p <.01. We hypothesized that at 1 and 3 months, the intervention group would exhibit significant increases relative to the control group on the number of minutes of moderate activity. At the 1-month assessment, the intervention group did exhibit significant increases, relative to the control group in moderate minutes, F(1, 54) =5.79, p <.05; however, at the 3-month assessment this difference was no longer significant. In addition, secondary analyses were conducted to examine total number of minutes of walking reported. At 1 month, the intervention group did exhibit significant increases, relative to the control group, in walking minutes, F(1, 54) =12.1, p <.001. At the 3-month assessment, amount of time spent in walking activity continued to be significantly higher for the intervention group compared with the control group, F(1, 48) =5.2, p <.05. These findings show that a theoretically based PA Web site and weekly e-mail tip sheets can have a short-term impact on PA motivation and behavior both at 1 and 3 months. As Internet access increases, and as bandwidth and other technical attributes of this medium improve, Web site delivered health behavior interventions will become increasingly useful in public health promotion.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Population-based randomized controlled trial of a stage-targeted physical activity intervention.

BACKGROUND: Intervention trials with self-selected participants have shown that mailed stage-targeted print materials can increase participation in physical activity in the short term. We examined the effects of a mailed stage-targeted print intervention designed to promote physical activity, in a random sample of adults living in a regional city. METHOD: Participants (n = 462, 40-60 years of age) were randomly allocated to an intervention (n = 227) or control group (n = 235). Measures included validated 2-week physical activity recall and stage of motivational readiness for physical activity. The intervention consisted of a single mailing of a letter and full-color stage-targeted booklets (specific to precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, and action/maintenance) 1 week postbaseline. Follow-up interviews were conducted at 2 and 6 months postbaseline. RESULTS: After 2 months, participants in the intervention group were significantly more likely to meet the current American College of Sports Medicine/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendation for sufficient physical activity than those in the control group (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 2.40; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.44-3.99). After 6 months, intervention participants who reported receiving and reading the intervention materials were significantly more likely to be meeting the sufficient physical activity criterion compared with the control group (adjusted OR = 2.03; 95% CI = 1.16-3.56). CONCLUSIONS: The stage-targeted print intervention was effective in promoting short-term increases in physical activity and was most effective for participants who recognized and used the materials. This low-cost, generalizable intervention has demonstrated potential as a practical population-based physical activity promotion strategy. Further research is required before widespread dissemination would be justified, as additional strategies may be required to ensure sustained change.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Environmental factors associated with adults' participation in physical activity: a review.

BACKGROUND: Promoting physical activity is a public health priority, and changes in the environmental contexts of adults' activity choices are believed to be crucial. However, of the factors associated with physical activity, environmental influences are among the least understood. METHOD: Using journal scans and computerized literature database searches, we identified 19 quantitative studies that assessed the relationships with physical activity behavior of perceived and objectively determined physical environment attributes. Findings were categorized into those examining five categories: accessibility of facilities, opportunities for activity, weather, safety, and aesthetic attributes. RESULTS: Accessibility, opportunities, and aesthetic attributes had significant associations with physical activity. Weather and safety showed less-strong relationships. Where studies pooled different categories to create composite variables, the associations were less likely to be statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Physical environment factors have consistent associations with physical activity behavior. Further development of ecologic and environmental models, together with behavior-specific and context-specific measurement strategies, should help in further understanding of these associations. Prospective studies are required to identify possible causal relationships.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Toward a better understanding of the influences on physical activity: the role of determinants, correlates, causal variables, mediators, moderators, and confounders.

BACKGROUND: For research on physical activity interventions to progress systematically, the mechanisms of action must be studied. In doing so, the research methods and their associated concepts and terminology become more complex. It is particularly important to clearly distinguish among determinants, correlates, mediators, moderators, and confounder variables used in physical activity research. This article examines the factors that are correlated with and that may have a causal relationship to physical activity. METHODS AND RESULTS: We propose that the term "correlate" be used, instead of "determinant," to describe statistical associations or correlations between measured variables and physical activity. Studies of the correlates of physical activity are reviewed. The findings of these studies can help to critique existing theories of health behavior change and can provide hypotheses to be tested in intervention studies from which it is possible to draw causal inferences. Mediator, moderator, and confounder variables can act to influence measured changes in physical activity. Intervening causal variables that are necessary to complete a cause-effect pathway between an intervention and physical activity are termed "mediators." The relationship between an intervention and physical activity behaviors may vary for different groups; the strata by which they vary are levels of "moderators" of the relationship. Other factors may distort or affect the observed relationships between program exposure and physical activity, and are known as "confounders." CONCLUSIONS: Consistent use of terms and additional research on mediators and moderators of intervention effects will improve our ability to understand and influence physical activity.

Behavioral Sciences↗

PubMed2002

Determining energy expenditure during some household and garden tasks.

PURPOSE: This study: a) calculated the reproducibility (intraclass correlation coefficient, ICC) and precision (technical error of measurement, TEM) for VO2 during moderate paced walking, self-paced sweeping, window cleaning, vacuuming and lawn mowing; b) determined which of the five activities rated >or= 3.0 when exercise intensity was calculated in METs (1 MET or metabolic equivalent = VO2 of 3.5 mL.kg-1.min-1) and multiples of the measured resting metabolic rate (RMR); and c) expanded the limited database on energy expenditure during household and garden activities. METHODS: Twelve men and 12 women (mean +/- SD: 39.3 +/- 3.4 yr; 171.6 +/- 9.6 cm; 81.0 +/- 15.5 kg) were measured for RMR and VO2 during the five activities on two separate days via indirect calorimetry by using the Douglas bag method. RESULTS: The interday ICCs and TEMs for the five activities ranged from 0.81 to 0.97 and from 2.1 to 7.0%, respectively. The means were significantly (P < 0.001) above 3.0 for moderate paced walking (range = 3.3-8.7), sweeping (2.9-6.7), window cleaning (3.0-6.0), vacuuming (2.6-4.4), and lawn mowing (4.9-7.5) when VO2 was divided by measured RMR, but one and five subjects scored below 3.0 for sweeping and vacuuming, respectively. Division of exercise VO2 by the convention of 3.5 mL O2.kg-1.min-1 significantly decreased (P < 0.001) each mean, and lawn mowing (5.0 METs) was the only activity where all subjects scored above 3.0 METs (P < 0.001; 3.8-6.4); nevertheless, the means for walking (3.7 METs), sweeping (3.2 METs), and window cleaning (3.6 METs) were also in the moderate intensity category of 3-6 METs. CONCLUSIONS: These data: a) emphasize that the VO2 during self-paced moderate intensity walking and self-paced household and garden activities can be measured with reproducibility and precision, b) demonstrate that expressing energy expenditure in conventional METs yields lower values than when it is presented as a multiple of measured RMR, c) suggest that all activities except vacuuming are performed at moderate intensity when energy expenditure is expressed in conventional METs, and d) highlight the biological variability in energy expenditure when different people perform the same task.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2002

Correlates of adults' participation in physical activity: review and update.

PURPOSE: To review and update the evidence relating to the personal, social, and environmental factors associated with physical activity (PA) in adults. METHODS: Systematic review of the peer-reviewed literature to identify papers published between 1998 and 2000 with PA (and including exercise and exercise adherence). Qualitative reports or case studies were not included. RESULTS: Thirty-eight new studies were located. Most confirmed the existence of factors already known to be correlates of PA. Changes in status were noted in relation to the influence of marital status, obesity, smoking, lack of time, past exercise behavior, and eight environmental variables. New studies were located which focused on previously understudied population groups such as minorities, middle and older aged adults, and the disabled. CONCLUSION: The newly reported studies tend to take a broader "ecological" approach to understanding the correlates of PA and are more focused on environmental factors. There remains a need to better understand environmental influences and the factors that influence different types of PA. As most of the work in this field still relies on cross-sectional studies, longitudinal and intervention studies will be required if causal relationships are to be inferred.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

High-intensity resistance training improves glycemic control in older patients with type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of high-intensity progressive resistance training combined with moderate weight loss on glycemic control and body composition in older patients with type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Sedentary, overweight men and women with type 2 diabetes, aged 60-80 years (n = 36), were randomized to high-intensity progressive resistance training plus moderate weight loss (RT & WL group) or moderate weight loss plus a control program (WL group). Clinical and laboratory measurements were assessed at 0, 3, and 6 months. RESULTS: HbA(1c) fell significantly more in RT & WL than WL at 3 months (0.6 +/- 0.7 vs. 0.07 +/- 0.8%, P < 0.05) and 6 months (1.2 +/- 1.0 vs. 0.4 +/- 0.8%, P < 0.05). Similar reductions in body weight (RT & WL 2.5 +/- 2.9 vs. WL 3.1 +/- 2.1 kg) and fat mass (RT & WL 2.4 +/- 2.7 vs. WL 2.7 +/- 2.5 kg) were observed after 6 months. In contrast, lean body mass (LBM) increased in the RT & WL group (0.5 +/- 1.1 kg) and decreased in the WL group (0.4 +/- 1.0) after 6 months (P < 0.05). There were no between-group differences for fasting glucose, insulin, serum lipids and lipoproteins, or resting blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: High-intensity progressive resistance training, in combination with moderate weight loss, was effective in improving glycemic control in older patients with type 2 diabetes. Additional benefits of improved muscular strength and LBM identify high-intensity resistance training as a feasible and effective component in the management program for older patients with type 2 diabetes.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Checklist of Health Promotion Environments at Worksites (CHEW): development and measurement characteristics.

PURPOSE: Health promotion policy frameworks, recent theorizing, and research all emphasize understanding and mobilizing environmental influences to change particular health-related behaviors in specific settings. The workplace is a key environmental setting. The Checklist of Health Promotion Environments at Worksites (CHEW) was designed as a direct observation instrument to assess characteristics of worksite environments that are known to influence health-related behaviors. METHODS: The CHEW is a 112-item checklist of workplace environmental features hypothesized to be associated, both positively and negatively, with physical activity, healthy eating, alcohol consumption, and smoking. The three environmental domains assessed are (1) physical characteristics of the worksite, (2) features of the information environment, and (3) characteristics of the immediate neighborhood around the workplace. The conceptual rationale and development studies for the CHEW are described, and data from observational studies of 20 worksites are reported. RESULTS: The data on CHEW-derived environmental attributes showed generally good reliability and identified meaningful sets of variables that plausibly may influence health-related behaviors. With the exception of one information environment attribute, intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from 0.80 to 1.00. Descriptive statistics on selected physical and information environment characteristics indicated that vending machines, showers, bulletin boards, and signs prohibiting smoking were common across worksites. Bicycle racks, visible stairways, and signs related to alcohol consumption, nutrition, and health promotion were relatively uncommon. CONCLUSIONS: These findings illustrate the types of data on environmental attributes that can be derived, their relevance for program planning, and how they can characterize variability across worksites. The CHEW is a promising observational measure that has the potential to assess environmental influences on health behaviors and to evaluate workplace health promotion programs.

Health Behavior↗