Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
John J. Reilly, Salome Aubert, Javier Brazo-Sayavera, Yang Liu, Jonathan Y. Cagas, Mark S. Tremblay
Summary: The global decline in habitual physical activity levels among children and adolescents has negative impacts on health and sustainable development. However, public health surveillance and attention to physical activity levels among children are limited globally. This article proposes improvements in global public health surveillance of physical activity in children and provides empirical examples of how improved surveillance can lead to public health initiatives.
BULLETIN OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
David Melero-Canas, Vicente Morales-Banos, David Manzano-Sanchez, Dani Navarro-Ardoy, Alfonso Valero-Valenzuela
Summary: This study found that an educational hybrid physical education program can significantly improve physical fitness, body composition, and sedentary behavior in adolescents, highlighting the importance of intervention in promoting cardiovascular fitness, agility, speed, and reducing sedentary time.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Glen E. Duncan, Ally Avery, Jennifer L. M. Thorson, Eric E. Nilsson, Daniel Beck, Michael K. Skinner
Summary: An epigenome-wide association study on monozygotic twins revealed that physical activity can promote systemic epigenetic alterations and impact metabolic risk factors. The study analyzed differences in body mass index, physical activity levels, and neighborhood walkability between twin pairs and identified DNA methylation alterations associated with reduced metabolic parameters. The study also identified genes related to vigorous physical activity, metabolic risk factors, and sex.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Vicka Versele, Lara Stas, Dirk Aerenhouts, Tom Deliens, Christophe Matthys, Leonardo Gucciardo, Roland Devlieger, Peter Clarys, Annick Bogaerts
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the changes in diet, physical activity, and sedentary behavior during pregnancy and after childbirth in first-time parents, as well as the association with changes in BMI. The results showed that women had decreased fruit intake, increased alcohol intake, increased light-intensity physical activity, and decreased sedentary behavior from pregnancy to 6 months postpartum. Decreased fruit intake between 6 weeks and 6 months postpartum was associated with increased BMI. Men did not show significant dietary changes, but had increased light-intensity physical activity and decreased moderate-to-vigorous physical activity at 6 months postpartum. Paternal increases in avoidance food group intake were associated with increased BMI between baseline and 6 weeks postpartum. No associations were found between changes in BMI and changes in physical activity and sedentary behavior.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Sport Sciences
Simone J. J. M. Verswijveren, Jo Salmon, Robin M. Daly, Lauren Arundell, Ester Cerin, David W. Dunstan, Kylie D. Hesketh, Paul A. Della Gatta, Nicola D. Ridgers
Summary: This study found that replacing sedentary time with moderate or vigorous-intensity physical activity may benefit children's cardiometabolic health, especially in children with healthy weight and overweight.
JOURNAL OF SPORTS SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
N. Z. M. Saat, Siti Aishah Hanawi, Nor M. F. Farah, Hazlenah Hanafiah, Anis Afiqah Zuha
Summary: Housewives play a crucial role in their families' and communities' quality of life, but they commonly experience musculoskeletal disorders due to housework and lack of physical activity. This study found a high incidence of musculoskeletal problems in the lower back, knees, ankles, and feet among low-income women in Kuala Lumpur. Additionally, the majority of housewives engaged in little physical activity.
Article
Pediatrics
Travis Loux, Morgan Matusik, Asja Hamzic
Summary: This study assesses the trends in physical activity and body mass index among U.S. adolescents between 1999 and 2019. The findings suggest that physical activity consistently decreases with age, while the age trends in obesity have reversed in recent years. Additionally, female and Asian adolescents report lower levels of physical activity but lower obesity rates compared to their male and non-Asian counterparts.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Peng Jia, Lei Zhang, Wanqi Yu, Bin Yu, Meijing Liu, Dong Zhang, Shujuan Yang
Summary: This study in China using a large sample size from COINLICS found that during the COVID-19 lockdown, the average BMI of Chinese youths significantly increased, along with an increase in the prevalence of overweight/obesity and obesity. Additionally, a decrease in physical activity, an increase in sedentary time, screen time, and sleeping time were observed among youths during the lockdown.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBESITY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Brenda Gamboa-Loira, Mariano E. Cebrian, Lizbeth Lopez-Carrillo
Summary: This study confirmed the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and inorganic arsenic (iAs) metabolism parameters, as well as provided new evidence on the association between physical activity and iAs metabolism. These associations were independent of the effect of BMI.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Sahbanathul Missiriya Jalal, Mini Rani Mary Beth, Hawraa Jassim Mohammad Al-Hassan, Nuriya Mousa Jafar Alshealah
Summary: This prospective cohort study aimed to determine the significant changes in body mass index (BMI), physical activity, and lifestyle of students before and during COVID-19 lockdown. Results showed that during the lockdown, students had significant changes in weight, physical activity, dietary habits, and stress levels.
JOURNAL OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY HEALTHCARE
(2021)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Caicui Ding, Jing Fan, Fan Yuan, Ganyu Feng, Weiyan Gong, Chao Song, Yanning Ma, Zheng Chen, Ailing Liu
Summary: The study found that multiple lifestyle behaviors including PA, SB, sleep, and diet are associated with childhood adiposity. Children who meet multiple guidelines on these behaviors have a lower risk of obesity.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tian Ci Lu, Cai Xia Wang, Bao Le Tao, Hao Ran Sui, Jun Yan
Summary: The study found that physical activity level is not a direct predictor of prosocial behavior in college students, with self-perception playing a mediating role. This contributes to a better understanding of the relationship between physical activity and prosocial behavior in college students.
Article
Pediatrics
Marco Cossio-Bolanos, Ruben Vidal-Espinoza, Camilo Urra Albornoz, Jose Fuentes-Lopez, Lucila Sanchez-Macedo, Cynthia Lee Andruske, Jose Sulla-Torres, Rossana Gomez Campos
Summary: This study examined the relationship between BMI and PI with three physical fitness tests in students living at moderate altitudes in Peru. The results showed that the relationship between BMI and PI with the physical tests reflected parabolic curves. PI could be a useful tool for analyzing and predicting physical fitness for adolescents living at a moderate altitude.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
K. Janeckova, Z. Hamrik, M. Matusova, P. Badura
Summary: The study found that adolescents participating in lifestyle sport activities showed higher levels of physical activity (MVPA and out-of-school VPA), as did those involved in organized sports. However, there were no significant associations between sedentary behavior and lifestyle activities.
Article
Sport Sciences
Jakob Tarp, Morten W. Fagerland, Knut Eirik Dalene, Jostein Steene Johannessen, Bjorge H. Hansen, Barbara J. Jefferis, Peter H. Whincup, Keith M. Diaz, Steven Hooker, Virginia J. Howard, Ariel Chernofsky, Martin G. Larson, Nicole L. Spartano, Ramachandran S. Vasan, Ing-Mari Dohrn, Maria Hagstromer, Charlotte Edwardson, Thomas Yates, Eric J. Shiroma, Paddy C. Dempsey, Katrien Wijndaele, Sigmund A. Anderssen, I-Min Lee, Ulf Ekelund
Summary: The study revealed that higher levels of physical activity were associated with lower risk of mortality regardless of weight status. For normal weight and overweight individuals, higher levels of total and intensity-specific physical activity were related to lower mortality risk, while for those who were obese, only total physical activity was inversely associated with mortality risk.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF SPORTS MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Pediatrics
Amanda Watson, Dorothea Dumuid, Carol Maher, Francois Fraysse, Chelsea Mauch, Grant R. Tomkinson, Ty Ferguson, Tim Olds
Summary: This study examines the associations between parenting style and various outcomes in children. The results show that Disengaged parenting is detrimental to children's activity patterns and health, while Permissive parenting is beneficial for activity patterns. No significant associations were found for parenting style and academic achievement, body composition, or fitness.
Article
Sport Sciences
Justin J. Lang, Kai Zhang, Cesar Agostinis-Sobrinho, Lars Bo Andersen, Laura Basterfield, Daniel Berglind, Dylan O. Blain, Cristina Cadenas-Sanchez, Christine Cameron, Valerie Carson, Rachel C. Colley, Tamas Csanyi, Avery D. Faigenbaum, Antonio Garcia-Hermoso, Thayse Natacha Q. F. Gomes, Aidan Gribbon, Ian Janssen, Gregor Jurak, Monika Kaj, Tetsuhiro Kidokoro, Kirstin N. Lane, Yang Liu, Marie Lof, David R. Lubans, Costan G. Magnussen, Taru Manyanga, Ryan McGrath, Jorge Mota, Tim Olds, Vincent O. Onywera, Francisco B. Ortega, Adewale L. Oyeyemi, Stephanie A. Prince, Robinson Ramirez-Velez, Karen C. Roberts, Lukas Rubin, Jennifer Servais, Diego Augusto Santos Silva, Danilo R. Silva, Jordan J. Smith, Yi Song, Gareth Stratton, Brian W. Timmons, Grant R. Tomkinson, Mark S. Tremblay, Stephen H. S. Wong, Brooklyn J. Fraser
Summary: This study used the Delphi method to identify the top 10 international priorities for research and surveillance on physical fitness among children and adolescents. The priorities include conducting longitudinal studies, using fitness surveillance for decision making, and implementing regular international fitness surveys. These priorities provide guidance for future collaborations and research efforts.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Kate M. Gunn, Gemma Skaczkowski, James Dollman, Andrew D. Vincent, Susan Brumby, Camille E. Short, Deborah Turnbull
Summary: ifarmwell is an effective and usable intervention that helps farmers reduce their levels of distress and improve their mental wellbeing by improving their psychological flexibility, ability to focus on the present and accept things beyond their control, as well as by reducing the extent to which they believe unhelpful thoughts.
JOURNAL OF AGROMEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Rachel G. Curtis, Ivanka Prichard, Georgia Gosse, Anna Stankevicius, Carol A. Maher
Summary: This study developed an audit tool to assess Instagram fitspiration accounts and found that many accounts contained sexualisation, objectification, or promotion of unhealthy and unrealistic body shapes. The tool could be used by Instagram users to avoid potentially harmful or unhealthy content.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Cally Jennings, Ben Singh, Helen Oni, Anna Mazzacano, Carol Maher
Summary: Lengthy waiting times for mental health services can lead to worsening mental health and increased risk of suicidality. However, individuals waiting for services also expressed interest in alternative support options, particularly lifestyle interventions.
Review
Sport Sciences
Ben Singh, Timothy Olds, Rachel Curtis, Dorothea Dumuid, Rosa Virgara, Amanda Watson, Kimberley Szeto, Edward O'Connor, Ty Ferguson, Emily Eglitis, Aaron Miatke, Catherine E. M. Simpson, Carol Maher
Summary: This umbrella review examined the effects of physical activity on symptoms of depression, anxiety, and psychological distress in adult populations. The findings showed that physical activity had medium effects on improving these symptoms and could be beneficial for various populations, including healthy adults, individuals with mental health disorders, and those with chronic diseases. Higher intensity physical activity was associated with greater improvements in symptoms.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF SPORTS MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Ty Ferguson, Rachel Curtis, Francois Fraysse, Timothy Olds, Dorothea Dumuid, Wendy Brown, Adrian Esterman, Carol Maher
Summary: This study found that weather plays a potentially important role in the allocation of time for sleep, sedentary behavior, and physical activity. Extreme weather conditions can negatively impact outdoor exercise and active transport, as well as affect the comfort of sleeping environments. These findings highlight the potential importance of considering weather conditions in promoting healthy movement behaviors.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BEHAVIORAL NUTRITION AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Ty Ferguson, Rachel Curtis, Francois Fraysse, Timothy Olds, Dorothea Dumuid, Wendy Brown, Adrian Esterman, Carol Maher
Summary: This study found that during vacations, adults increased their sleep time and decreased sedentary behavior, while also increasing light physical activity and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. After the vacation, sleep remained elevated, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity returned to pre-vacation levels, and light physical activity and sedentary behavior over-corrected. The largest changes were seen for rest and outdoor vacations, with the smallest changes for short vacations.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BEHAVIORAL NUTRITION AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
(2023)
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Ben Singh, Timothy Olds, Jacinta Brinsley, Dot Dumuid, Rosa Virgara, Lisa Matricciani, Amanda Watson, Kimberley Szeto, Emily Eglitis, Aaron Miatke, Catherine E. M. Simpson, Corneel Vandelanotte, Carol Maher
Summary: Chatbot interventions have been found to be effective in increasing physical activity, fruit and vegetable consumption, sleep duration, and sleep quality.
NPJ DIGITAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Tim Olds, Dorothea Dumuid, Emily Eglitis, Rebecca Golley, Francois Fraysse, Aaron Miatke, Grant R. Tomkinson, Amanda Watson, Mason Munzberg, Carol Maher
Summary: The study found that during the summer holiday period, children experience greater increases in fatness and declines in fitness, with children who live with low-SES families and are overweight being more affected. This highlights the need for targeted interventions during this period to address these negative health trends.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Ben Singh, Timothy Olds, Rachel Curtis, Ty Ferguson, Lisa Matricciani, Wendy J. Brown, Dorothea Dumuid, Adrian Esterman, Carol Maher
Summary: This study aimed to examine the weight management strategies used by Australian adults, their socio-demographic characteristics, and their association with 12-month weight change. The results showed that most participants used at least one weight management strategy, with exercise/physical activity being the most common. Being physically active was associated with greater weight loss, while accepting current bodyweight was linked to a lower likelihood of using weight management strategies. The use of supplements and fasting were associated with poorer mental health and quality of life outcomes.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
C. Thogersen-Ntoumani, M. Kritz, A. Grunseit, J. Chau, M. Ahmadi, A. Holtermann, A. Koster, C. Tudor-Locke, N. Johnson, C. Sherrington, S. Paudel, C. Maher, E. Stamatakis
Summary: This study examined the barriers and enablers of Vigorous Intermittent Lifestyle Physical Activity (VILPA) among physically inactive adults. The barriers include physical limitations, perceptions of aging, need for knowledge, environmental constraints, perceptions of effort and energy, and fear. The enablers include convenience, reframing physical activity as purposeful movement, use of prompts and reminders, normalization of taking the active option, gamification, sense of achievement, health improvements, identity fit, and changing from effortful deliberation to habitual action.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BEHAVIORAL NUTRITION AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Katrina Wilhite, Borja del Pozo Cruz, Michael Noetel, Chris Lonsdale, Nicola D. Ridgers, Carol Maher, Emma Bradshaw, Taren Sanders
Summary: The study found that socioeconomic position influences the domains in which youth accumulate their movements, with those from lower socioeconomic positions more likely to spend more time on recreational screen activities and less time on education-based sedentary behaviors.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BEHAVIORAL NUTRITION AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Timothy Olds, Ben Singh, Aaron Miatke, Emily Eglitis, Carol Maher, Dorothea Dumuid
Summary: This study evaluated the association between children's time use and socioeconomic status (SES) in Australia. The findings showed significant differences in time use among different SES categories, with children from the highest SES having more school-related time, passive transport, and self-care, and less screen time, sleep, and domestic/social activities compared to those from the lowest SES.
JOURNAL OF ADOLESCENT HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Rachel G. Curtis, Michelle Crisp, Simone Licari, Rosa Virgara, Catherine E. M. Simpson, Carol A. Maher
Summary: This study evaluated the uptake of a population-level children's sports subsidy scheme in Australia. It found that around 40% of Australian children do not participate in sport due to cost barriers, especially for those from low socioeconomic backgrounds. The study also identified sociodemographic differences in uptake, with younger, female, low SES children from major cities being the least likely to claim the sports voucher.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY & HEALTH
(2023)
