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Physical activity and older adults: a review of health benefits and the effectiveness of interventions.

The purpose of this multidisciplinary review paper is to critically review evidence from descriptive, efficacy and effectiveness studies concerned with physical activity and older people. Both levels of fitness (aerobic power, strength, flexibility and functional capability) and measures of physical activity involvement decline with age, and the extent to which this is due to a biological ageing processes or disuse (physical inactivity) is critically examined. The review will consider the evidence for a causal relationship between sedentary behaviour/physical activity programmes and cardiovascular, musculoskeletal and psycho-social health, independent living and health-related quality of life into old age. The review also considers the effectiveness of different physical activity interventions for older people and issues relating to cost-effectiveness. The implications for future policy in terms of research, health care services, and education and training are briefly discussed.

Aged↗

The test-retest reliability of habitual incidental physical activity.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the test-retest reliability of items measuring habitual incidental physical activity, incidental physical activity behaviour and sedentary behaviours. METHODS: Eighty-four subjects aged 18-65 years were interviewed from randomly selected households within metropolitan and rural Western Australia. Subjects were administered the interview on two separate occasions 10 days apart. Subjects were asked about habitual incidental physical activity (i.e. bouts performed for 10 minutes or less) performed during the week and on weekends. RESULTS: Intraclass correlations performed for items measuring incidental physical activity were generally found to be low to moderate. The frequency of incidental physical activity was more reliably recalled than the average duration spent on short trips (ICC 0.582 to 0.872 compared with 273 to 0.551). Kappa coefficients for habitual incidental physical activity behaviour items were observed to have moderate-to-high (0.478 to 0.939) agreement between administrations. Sedentary behaviours overall showed high test-retest reliability (ICC 0.646 to 0.925). CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate that adults can reliably recall the frequency, but not the duration, of habitual incidental physical activity. Thus, the frequency measured by these items could be used to determine the effectiveness of current Australian physical activity guidelines and possibly identify shifts in incidental physical activity behaviour over time. IMPLICATIONS: Measurement of physical activity in all domains including incidental physical activity is required to determine the effectiveness of current guidelines and implemented health promotion interventions.

Adolescent↗

Tracking of risk factors for coronary heart disease from adolescence to young adulthood with special emphasis on physical activity and fitness. A longitudinal study.

Physical activity (PA), fitness and selected coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors were studied in 2 Danish adolescent cohorts; changes in PA and fitness from the age of 16-18 years were measured in a subgroup of high school children; changes in lifestyle, fitness level and coronary heart disease risk factors were measured from late adolescence to young adult hood in a random sample of subjects attending school at baseline. Risk factors and physical fitness tracked from adolescence to young adulthood. The proportion of subjects in the upper quintile of risk still being in the upper quintile 8 years later was 2-3 times the expected in most risk factors. No relationship was found between physical activity and coronary heart disease risk factors in the adolescent population, and only a weak, but highly significant, relationship was found between VO2max and blood pressure in the large cohort of 17 year olds. These weak relationships could result from a relatively high fitness level and a small variation in fitness level in the young Danish population. Because of a great statistical power in the group of subjects at the same age from population 2, it was possible to analyze the relationship between blood pressure and fitness further. Lower blood pressure was found with higher fitness level, but only VO2max, and not physical activity, related to blood pressure, and the relationship became weaker with higher fitness level. In the adult male population, the variations in both VO2max and risk factors were much larger and a great number of the men had become sedentary. Inactive lifestyle was associated with low educational level, and the decrease in fitness and increase in coronary heart disease risk factor levels were more distinct in the former trade and vocational students than in the 'gymnasium' students. In the 17-year-old cohort, lower blood pressure was found with higher VO2max until a level of 53 and 45 ml.min-1.kg-1 in boys and girls, respectively, but above these levels no relationship was found between VO2max and blood pressure.

Adolescent↗

Health situation and related social conditions among 66-year-old Finnish men.

The aims of the study were to reveal the extent of physical activity, nutritional habits, smoking and alcohol consumption and the relation of these to previous occupation among recently retired men. The number of men belonging to various health risk groups was estimated on the basis of the results. About 10% had inadequate nutritional habits as judged from their food expenses and number of daily hot meals and about 20% practised physical exercise in the way which is considered necessary for the improvement of cardiovascular performance and maximal oxygen uptake. Only a small minority had been requested to undertake physical exercise. About 18% lived alone. The problems were more pronounced among the men retired from manual occupations compared with men whose main occupation had been of a sedentary nature. The results indicate that a considerable proportion of elderly men would need more advice and more adequate services in order to improve their daily living habits. Any such measures should preferably be started before retirement as the living habits adopted during the earlier periods of life seem to remain unchanged in old age. The results are based on an interview study carried out among 137 66-year-old men representing about 90% of the men of that age group living in Jyväskylä, a town of 60000 inhabitants in Central Finland.

Aged↗

Effects of aging and exercise on insulin action in rat adipocytes are correlated with changes in fat cell volume.

The effects of exercise on insulin action were evaluated in epididymal adipocytes from 9-mo and 26-mo-old rats. Exercised animals were given voluntary access to running wheels at 6 mo of age. Comparisons were made among these animals, freely eating sedentary rats, and sedentary animals maintained at body weights comparable to those of the runners. When expressed as percentage changes, the responses to insulin, in terms of stimulation of both [U-14C]glucose oxidation and 14C-labeled lipid accumulation, were largest in fat cells from the runners, followed by the paired-weight adipocytes, and the cells from the freely eating sedentary animals. However, the absolute changes in the rates of glucose oxidation and 14C-labeled lipid synthesis produced by insulin were comparable among the different groups. Basal rates of oxidation and 14C-labeled lipid accumulation were directly correlated with average cell size, independent of the treatment group, whereas the percentage increases in these processes produced by insulin were inversely correlated with cell size. Little, if any, effect of age or exercise was observed that could not be attributed to the average fat cell volume.

Adipose Tissue↗

Physical activity and colon cancer: confounding or interaction?

PURPOSE: Although physical activity has been consistently inversely associated with colon cancer incidence, the association of physical activity with other diet and lifestyle factors that may influence this association is less well understood. Confounding and effect modification are examined to better understand the physical activity and colon cancer association. METHODS: Based on hypothesized biological mechanisms whereby physical activity may alter risk of colon cancer, we evaluated confounding and effect modification using data collected as part of a case-control study of colon cancer (N = 1993 cases and 2410 controls). We examined associations between total energy intake, fiber, calcium, fruit and vegetables, red meat, whole grains as well as dietary patterns along with cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, BMI, and use of aspirin and/or NSAIDs and physical activity. RESULTS: No confounding was observed for the physical activity and colon cancer association. However, differences in effects of diet and lifestyle factors were identified depending on level of physical activity. Most striking were statistically significant interactions between physical activity and high-risk dietary pattern and vegetable intake, in that the relative importance of diet was dependent on level of physical activity. The predictive model of colon cancer risk was improved by using an interaction term for physical activity and other variables, including BMI, cigarette smoking, energy intake, dietary fiber, dietary calcium, glycemic index, lutein, folate, vegetable intake, and high-risk diet rather than using models that included these variables as independent predictors with physical activity. In populations where activity levels are high, the estimate of risk associated with high vegetable intake was 0.9 (95% CI 0.6-1.3), whereas in more sedentary populations the estimate of risk associated with high vegetable intake was 0.6 (95% CI 0.5-0.9). CONCLUSIONS: Physical activity plays an important role in the etiology of colon cancer. Its significance is seen by its consistent association as an independent predictor of colon cancer as well as by its impact on the odds ratios associated with other factors. Given these observations, it is most probable that physical activity operates through multiple biological mechanisms that influence the carcinogenic process.

Adult↗

Combined risk assessment of physical activity and dietary habits on the development of colorectal cancer. A hospital-based case-control study in Poland.

The purpose of the study was to assess the importance of physical activity performed both in occupational settings and in leisure time on the risk of colorectal cancer, considering the possible confounding effects of dietary habits. The hospital-based case-control study was carried out in Poland. In total, 180 incident cases of colorectal cancer were recruited. An equal number of controls, individually matched by gender and age, were chosen from patients with no history of cancer. A food frequency questionnaire combined with quantity of foods eaten was used to assess the usual dietary pattern for 148 food items. The average physical load of the interviewed patients before the occurrence of disease was ascertained by self-assessment. The degree to which patients' recreational time was sedentary was measured by the number of hours spent watching TV. The adjusted risk of colorectal cancer was reduced by half in those active in leisure time (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.24-0.84). The effect of occupational physical activity was of about the same order of magnitude in terms of risk reduction (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.29-1.29) and both activities combined acted as independent protective factors. The protective effect of healthy nutrition appeared to be independent from that attributed to physical effort.

Case-Control Studies↗

The importance of environmental exposures to physical, mental and social well-being.

"Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity" states the WHO. However, the current focus in this important area seems to be on reducing diseases, while less attention is paid on aspects how to increase the well-being of populations. This paper reviews three examples where well-being has drawn attention of the public and policy makers, and compares the policies of two wealthy countries. The first example is noise. Noise can reduce sleep quality and cause physiological, mental, and social effects. In Switzerland, noise receives a lot of attention by the public. Swiss laws are extensive, e.g., they prohibit trucks and planes from traveling at night. In the USA, there is little public attention and no national strategy against environmental noise. The second example is aesthetics and recreation. Many humans seek contact with the beauty of nature. The USA and Switzerland have similar strategies for achieving clear waters, while the protection of scenic views is approached very differently. Lifestyle is the last example. In the USA, the desire for individual freedom is a leading cause for suburban sprawl, a car-dependent sedentary lifestyle resulting in obesity, asthma and loss of community spirit. In Switzerland, a strict land use planning seeks to balance individual and public interests and stresses public transportation, which seems to be a more promising approach. Paying attention to aspects of well-being while developing political strategies might be a promising model to tackle environmental problems. Successful strategies employed so far seem to include the public, local authorities, politicians and scientists in this process, which might have been a key for their success.

Environment↗

[Sports correlate with positive living habits. Results from the population survey the Swiss MONICA project].

Exercise is associated with positive health habits: Findings from the populations survey of the Swiss MONICA-project. Relatively little is known on population-wide relations of habitual exercise to relevant health factors such as diet, cigarette smoking and overweight. Data from a population-based sample of approximately 800 men and women each, aged 25-64, collected in western Switzerland as a part of an international WHO-project, were used to examine cross-sectionally the interrelationships between different lifestyle factors. Men and women training regularly (i.e. greater than or equal to 2 times/wk) exhibited consistently and highly significantly more favourable health habits, regarding diet (i.e. trimming visible fat, higher intake of fruits, salad and vegetables, yogurt and cottage cheese), nonsmoking, and weight control. Men and women with at least some regular physical activity during leisure-time had in turn more favourable health habits than their sedentary counterparts. In both sexes, educational level was directly related to exercise and a healthy diet, and inversely related to smoking and relative weight. Regularly training men and women also had a significantly improved lipid profile compared to inactive ones. It is concluded from this study that leisure-time physical activity and exercise are related to a positive health behaviour including diet, nonsmoking and efficient weight control. This may suggest that exercise should possibly be integrated into any population-wide attempts and efforts to promote health to enhance primary prevention.

Adult↗

Influence of maternal stress on successful participation in a physical activity intervention: the IMPACT Project.

Few studies have examined the impact of motherhood on successful participation in physical activity (PA) interventions. The current study focused on mothers in the Increasing Motivation for Physical Activity or IMPACT study, which aimed to promote PA in sedentary, low-income, ethnically diverse women (74% Latina). The aim of this study was to determine whether certain maternal variables (e.g., number of children, number and intensity of maternal stressors) influenced successful participation in an 8-week, class-based, PA intervention. PA consisted of accumulating 30 minutes or more of moderate-intensity activities (e.g., walking) five or more days a week. Sixty-eight mothers (average age = 32 years) were assessed at baseline and 10 weeks. Paired comparison t-tests demonstrated a significant increase in PA-related energy expenditure from baseline to 10 weeks (p < 0.05). Furthermore, this increase in PA was significantly associated with a decrease in the number of maternal stressors reported over this time period (p < 0.01). Simultaneous regression analyses indicated that (1) having a higher number of maternal stressors at baseline was associated with lower class attendance (p <or= 0.05) and (2) rating these maternal stressors (e.g., unable to control children's behavior) as being more stressful at baseline was associated with lower levels of PA at 10 weeks (p <or= 0.01), independent of the number of children at home. These results suggest that the number and intensity of perceived maternal stressors may negatively impact attempts to become more physically active. Interventions should address such stressors.

Adult↗

Physicians' attitudes towards prevention: importance of intervention-specific barriers and physicians' health habits.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have explored physicians' attitudes towards prevention and barriers to the delivery of preventive health interventions. However, the relative importance of these previously identified barriers, both in general terms and in the context of a number of specific preventive interventions, has not been identified. Certain barriers may only pertain to a subset of preventive interventions. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine the relative importance of identified barriers to preventive interventions and to explore the association between physicians' characteristics and their attitudes towards prevention. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 496 of the 686 (72.3% response rate) generalist physicians from three Swiss cantons through a questionnaire asking physicians to rate the general importance of eight preventive health strategies and the relative importance of seven commonly cited barriers in relation to each specific preventive health strategy. RESULTS: The proportion of physicians rating each preventive intervention as being important varied from 76% for colorectal cancer screening to 100% for blood pressure control. Lack of time and lack of patient interest were generally considered to be important barriers by 41% and 44% of physicians, respectively, but the importance of these two barriers tended to be specifically higher for counselling-based interventions. Lack of training was most notably a barrier to counselling about alcohol and nutrition. Four characteristics of physicians predicted negative attitudes toward alcohol and smoking counselling: consumption of more than three alcoholic drinks per day [odds ratio (OR) = 8.4], sedentary lifestyle (OR = 3.4), lack of national certification (OR = 2.2) and lack of awareness of their own blood pressure (OR = 2.0). CONCLUSIONS: The relative importance of specific barriers varies across preventive interventions. This points to a need for tailored practice interventions targeting the specific barriers that impede a given preventive service. The negative influence of physicians' own health behaviours indicates a need for associated population-based interventions that reduce the prevalence of high-risk behaviours in the population as a whole.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

Exercise participation and self-rated health: do common genes explain the association?

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether there is an association between exercise participation and self-rated health and whether this association can be explained by common genes and/or common environmental influences. In a sample of 5,140 Dutch adult twins and their non-twin siblings from 2,831 families, exercise participation (sedentaries, light or moderate, vigorous exercisers) and self-rated health were assessed by survey. To investigate the etiology of the association, bivariate genetic models using structural equation modeling were applied to the data. The correlation between exercise participation and self-rated health is significant but modest (r = 0.20). Exercise participation and self-rated health are both heritable (around 50% of the variance of both phenotypes is explained by genetic factors). The genetic factors influencing exercise participation and self-rated health partially overlap (r = 0.36) and this overlap fully explains their phenotypic correlation. We conclude that the association between exercise and self-rated health can be explained by genes predisposing to both exercise participation and self-rated health. These genes may directly influence both phenotypes (pleiotropy). Alternatively, genes that affect exercise or self-rated health may indirectly influence the other phenotype through a causal relationship. We propose that identification of the genes that cause differences in exercise behavior will help resolve the issue of causality.

Adolescent↗

Physical activity interventions targeting older adults. A critical review and recommendations.

BACKGROUND: Although many of the chronic conditions plaguing older populations are preventable through appropriate lifestyle interventions such as regular physical activity, persons in this age group represent the most sedentary segment of the adult population. The purpose of the current paper was to provide a critical selected review of the scientific literature focusing on interventions to promote physical activity among older adults. METHODS: Comprehensive computerized searches of the recent English language literature aimed at physical activity intervention in adults aged 50 years and older, supplemented with visual scans of several journal on aging, were undertaken. Articles were considered to be relevant for the current review if they were community-based, employed a randomized design or a quasi-experimental design with an appropriate comparison group, and included information on intervention participation rates, pre- and post-intervention physical activity levels, and/or pre/post changes in relevant physical performance measures. RESULTS: Twenty-nine studies were identified that fit the stated criteria. Among the strengths of the studies reviewed were reasonable physical activity participation rates and relatively long study durations. Among the weaknesses of the literature reviewed were the relative lack of specific behavioral or program-based strategies aimed at promoting physical activity participation, as well as the dearth of studies aimed at replication, generalizability of interventions to important subgroups, implementation, and cost-effectiveness evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: Recommendations for future scientific endeavors targeting older adults are discussed.

Age Factors↗

[Effect of variable phases of tide cycle on reproduction of Laomedea flexuosa (Hydroidea, Thecaphora].

Colonial hydroid Laomedea flexuosa inhabits the narrow belt of low littoral zone in the White Sea. What is a reason of so limited habitat? The authors studied the time of planulae release and its behavior during free swimming stages and settlement of larvae in nature and under laboratory conditions. Three methods were used to registrate the tidal dependent dynamic of planulae release: 1) plankton collecting bags around Fucus inflatus kelp with mature hydroids colonies; 2) active stirring kelps with hydroids in container with water, which is an old way to stimulate planulae release; 3) direct account of the mature planulae into gonangia. The dynamic of intensity of L. flexuosa planulae release was investigated according 3-4 phases of tidal cycle. All data were statistically tested. For L. flexuosa a moment of general larvae release was found in phase with the period of low water. This correlation could explain strict limitation in occurrence of L. flexuosa only in the lower part of intertidal zone. Laboratory experiments show that planulae release is stimulated by littoral drainage, and renewal of water movement during the beginning of tide. The decrease in time of planulae settlement is an affective way for marine sedentary species to stay in a narrow zone of optimal habitat.

Animals↗

Spatial learning is delayed and brain-derived neurotrophic factor mRNA expression inhibited by administration of MK-801 in rats.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is involved in activity-dependent plasticity and interacts with the neurotransmitter glutamate. Glutamate N-methl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor activation increases BDNF expression, while BDNF facilitates NMDA activity, with both involved in spatial learning. Administration of the NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801 can impair this leaning. The interaction between NMDA and BDNF in learning is examined in this study. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats received either i.p. MK-801 or saline and were trained to locate a submerged water maze platform. Sedentary and activity yoked groups were included for biochemical comparisons. Control rats quickly learned the platform location while MK-801-treated rats learned at a significantly slower rate (P < 0.0001). In situ hybridization for hippocampal BDNF mRNA indicated significant increases in the yoked and learning groups. However, MK-801 attenuated the BDNF mRNA increase in the learning and activity-yoked conditions (P < 0.05). Administration of MK-801 to the sedentary group did not alter baseline mRNA levels. These data suggest that BDNF expression is important for NMDA-dependent learning and memory. Interestingly, learning still occurs across trials independent of the NMDA and BDNF interaction. Increases in BDNF and NMDA activity may be significant components in learning and memory, and modulation of these systems may be beneficial for developing strategies to improve cognitive function.

Animals↗

[Junk food revolution or the cola colonization].

In ancient times, the main problem was to get food. Nowadays the difficulty is to decide for or against some foodstuff. In industrialized countries, this abundance led to the fact that people eat differently from what they should. Traditional populations were subject to periods of feast and famine. Those with a metabolism which stored energy with high energetic efficiency had a survival advantage. This is called the 'thrifty' genotype hypothesis. With the secured supply of calories, coupled with a sedentary lifestyle, the thrifty genotype becomes disadvantageous, causing obesity. Industrialization or 'cola-colonization' also leads to a dramatic increase in obesity and non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus in developing countries. The spread of fast food restaurants all over the world has changed modern nutrition fundamentally. Influence begins early in childhood. Advertising concentrates on the selling of image over substance. However, fast food contains high levels of fat, especially trans fatty acids. Higher consumption of trans fatty acids was associated with a higher incidence of and mortality from coronary heart disease.

Adult↗

Socioeconomic, psychosocial, behavioural, and psychological determinants of BMI among young women: differing patterns for underweight and overweight/obesity.

OBJECTIVES: Underweight, overweight, and obese women aged 18-34 years were compared with normal weight women of the corresponding age according to socioeconomic, psychosocial, health behaviour, self reported global and psychological health, and locus of control characteristics. METHODS: The 2000 public health survey in Scania is a cross-sectional study. A total 13,715 persons aged 18-80 years, of which 1967 were females of 18-34 years of age, were included in this study. They answered a postal questionnaire, which represents 59% of the random sample. A logistic regression model adjusted for age was used to investigate the association between socioeconomic, psychosocial, health behaviour, self reported global and psychological health, locus of control, and the BMI categories. RESULTS: A 17.5% proportion of the women, aged 18-34 years, were underweight (BMI < 20.0), 18.4% were overweight, and 7.0% obese. The prevalence of underweight according to the BMI < 18.5 definition was 5.8% among women aged 18-34 years. Women who were underweight had significantly higher odds ratios for overtime work, being students, low emotional support, and poor self reported global as well as poor psychological health than normal weight women. Women who were overweight/obese were unemployed, had low education, low social participation, low emotional and instrumental support, were daily smokers, had a sedentary lifestyle, had poor self reported global health, and had lack of internal locus of control compared with normal weight women. CONCLUSIONS: Underweight women are more likely to have poorer psychological health than normal weight women. In contrast, overweight and obese women are more likely to have poor health related behaviours and lack of internal locus of control compared with normal weight women. These differing patterns suggest both different etiology and different preventive strategies to deal with the health risks of people who are underweight as opposed to those who are overweight/obese.

Adolescent↗

Voluntary exercise, food intake, and plasma metabolites in streptozotocin-diabetic Syrian hamsters.

Diabetes mellitus was induced in Syrian hamsters by treatment with streptozotocin. The efficacy of and survival from this treatment are compared across several drug regimens, and in exercising versus sedentary hamsters. Stable diabetes, with plasma glucose levels typically below 400 mg/dl, is accompanied by a decrease of approximately 50% in voluntary wheel running in a 14L:10D cycle. Wheel running in diabetics is, however, almost completely abolished in continuous light. The diabetic hamsters are hyperphagic on chow, eating about 60% more than controls, exclusively by increasing the size of individual meals. Their intake is normalized on a high fat diet. The high fat diet greatly exacerbates the extant ketonemia in diabetics, and produces hypertriglyceridemia. Exercise has no apparent effect on plasma metabolic fuels of diabetic hamsters.

Animals↗