Journal of Physical Activity & Health

BACKGROUND: Assessment of park characteristics that may support physical activity (PA) can guide the design of more activity-supportive parks. Direct-observation measures are seldom used due to time and resource restraints. METHODS: The authors developed shortened versions of the original Environmental Assessment of Public Recreation Spaces (EAPRS) tool and tested their construct validity by comparing scores from 40 parks in San Diego, CA to observe park use and PA...

BACKGROUND: Facebook has over 1.8 billion users and offers unique opportunities for health intervention delivery due to its popularity, flexibility, high engagement, and social connectedness. METHODS: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of the Mums Step It Up (MSIU) Facebook app, a team-based, 50-day physical activity intervention for postpartum women. A total of 120 postpartum women were recruited and randomly allocated to 1 of 3 conditions: MSIU (n = 41), pedometer only (n = 39), and control (n = 40)...

BACKGROUND: Older adults spend 30% of their day in light-intensity physical activity (LPA). This study was designed to determine if increasing the proportion of time spent in LPA would affect glucose control. METHODS: Older adults (N = 9) completed four 3-hour treatment conditions consisting of a seated control and 3 randomized conditions: (1) 20% time spent in continuous LPA, 80% seated; (2) 40% time spent in continuous LPA, 60% seated; and (3) 60% time spent in continuous LPA, 40% seated...

BACKGROUND: Research suggests that accumulating moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in longer continuous bouts may have beneficial effects on metabolic syndrome risk factors. The objective of this study was to examine the independent associations of MVPA bout patterns on metabolic syndrome risk factors among a nationally representative sample of youth. METHODS: Results are based on 3165 children and adolescents (6-18 y old) from the 2003-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey...

BACKGROUND: Social network-driven approaches have promise for promoting physical activity in community settings. Yet, there have been few direct investigations of such interventions. This study tested the effectiveness of a social network-driven, group-based walking intervention in a medically underserved community. METHODS: This study used a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design with 3 measurement time points to examine the effectiveness of Sumter County on the Move! in communities in Sumter County, SC...

BACKGROUND: Despite recommendation and confirmed physical activity benefits, participation in active transportation to school (ATS) has continued to decline. This study's purpose was to create and test a model of ATS that is directly explained by the constructs of parent attitude, the physical environment, and social capital controlling for age and gender. METHODS: Participants were parents (N = 248) of children at 6 elementary and 2 middle schools in 1 district in the Southwestern United States...

BACKGROUND: Perceived movement competence is important in the relationship between actual competence and physical activity (PA). This study examines the accuracy of children's perceptions and investigates the relationship between perceived competence (PC) and PA. METHODS: Data collected were part of Project Spraoi, a PA and nutrition-based intervention. Participants (N = 419) were senior infant/first class (n = 202, mean age: 6.5 [0.6] y) and fourth/fifth class (n = 217, mean age: 10...

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the impact of sedentary and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) bouts on cardiometabolic health. The aim was to examine how the accumulation of bouts of sedentary time and MVPA associates to cardiometabolic health in children independently of total sedentary and MVPA time. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study with 123 boys (10-13 y), sedentary and MVPA bouts were determined using 7-day accelerometry. Each bout was compared with cardiometabolic risk factors and with the risk score that was calculated using standardized values of body mass index, waist circumference, homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance, triglycerides, and total cholesterol/high-density cholesterol ratio...

BACKGROUND: Aquatic exercise (AE) is a method for exercise and rehabilitation to enhance function for various clients. OBJECTIVES: Investigate the effects of head-out AE interventions on the physiological and psychological outcomes of healthy postmenopausal women of age 50-70 years. SEARCH STRATEGIES: Databases searched included Scopus, ScienceDirect, ResearchGate, PubMed/MEDLINE, PEDro, CINAHL, The Cochrane Library, Nursing & Allied Health Collection: Comprehensive, JSTOR, and OTSeeker...

BACKGROUND: Theory-based telephone counseling exercise (TCE) interventions can increase aerobic exercise behavior in cancer survivors. Few studies, however, assess intervention effects on social cognitive variables. Here, the authors examined changes in social cognitive variables from a TCE intervention based on the multi-process action control framework in hematologic cancer survivors. METHODS: A total of 51 hematologic cancer survivors were randomized to weekly TCE (n = 26) or self-directed exercise (n = 25) for 12 weeks...

BACKGROUND: There is no research on the association of television (TV) watching with atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS: From 1987 to 1989, the authors obtained information on the frequency of TV watching in 14,458 participants, aged 45-64 years, without a history of AF. The authors used the Cox proportional hazards model to estimate hazard ratios and their 95% confidence intervals of AF according to the frequency of TV watching ("never or seldom," "sometimes," "often," or "very often")...

BACKGROUND: Older age groups are less likely than their younger counterparts to be regularly active and women are even less active. Ecological models suggest that multiple levels of influence with each level influencing the next level impacts physical activity behaviors. METHODS: Hierarchical multiple regressions were used to determine factors within and across the ecological model that predicted both total physical activity and walking for recreation. FINDINGS: The overall predictors of total physical activity were different than those of walking for recreation, with the exception of dog ownership and perceived barriers...

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BACKGROUND: Previous research findings from Project Active Teen demonstrated the effectiveness of high school conceptual physical education (CPE) in promoting active lifestyles. METHOD: This study followed Project Active Teen participants 20 years after graduation from high school and 24 years after taking a CPE class. Physical activity behaviors were assessed using the same procedures as previous Project Active Teen studies. Activity patterns were compared with patterns while in high school and shortly after high school graduation...

BACKGROUND: To examine the associations and differences between gender and weight classification for physical activity (PA) and individual, social, and parental factors. METHODS: Data from wave 2 of the "Growing up in Ireland" national study were used, resulting in a sample of 7525 13-year-old adolescents. Information on factors affecting adolescents' social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development was collected. RESULTS: Overweight (OW) adolescents were more likely to exercise and restrict food for weight loss and less likely to perform moderate to vigorous PA than normal weight adolescents...

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the daily physical activity (PA) levels of people employed in different occupational categories. METHODS: Nine ActiGraph accelerometer-derived daily PA variables are presented and ranked for adults (N = 1465, 20-60 y) working in the 22 occupational categories assessed by NHANES 2005-2006. A composite score was generated for each occupational category by summing the rankings of 3 accelerometer-derived daily PA variables known to have strong associations with health outcomes (total activity counts [TAC], moderate to vigorous PA minutes per week in modified 10-minute bouts [MVPA 10], and percentage of time spent in sedentary activity [SB%])...

BACKGROUND: Engaging in physical activity (PA) can bring many benefits to individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) and understanding the best interventions to promote PA is essential. The objective of this study was to systematically review the literature to check the effectiveness of interventions aimed at increasing the PA level in SCI individuals. METHODS: The bibliographic search was performed in the PubMed, LILACS, Web of Science, and SPORTDiscus databases, including randomized controlled trials involving humans, in which PA level was the primary or secondary outcome, and with samples composed entirely or partially of individuals with SCI...

BACKGROUND: This study compares results of physical activity report cards from 9 countries with low to medium human development indices, participating in the Global Matrix 3.0 initiative. METHODS: Country-specific report cards were informed by relevant data and government policy documents, reporting on 10 core indicators of physical activity for children and youth. Data were synthesized by report card working groups following a harmonized process. Grade assignments for each indicator utilized a standard grading rubric...

BACKGROUND: Physical activity is a strong predictor of sustaining weight loss. Yet physical activity has been challenging to maintain. Adolescent bariatric surgery is increasing, and there is typically an initial 6-month period when improving health behaviors such as physical activity are addressed by a clinic-based team. However, there is minimal understanding of how to target psychosocial factors relevant for behavioral changes. METHODS: A group of 15 adolescent candidates for bariatric surgery (mean age = 15...

BACKGROUND: To examine the associations between school-age children's sedentary behavior, screen time, and 3 physical activity attributes: muscular strength, cardiorespiratory endurance (CRE), and fundamental movement skills. METHODS: Cross-sectional survey of 2734 children in years 2 and 4 and 3671 adolescents in years 6, 8, and 10. Total sitting time, 6 screen time behaviors, and physical activity were measured by self-report. Muscular strength was assessed by standing broad jump; CRE by 20-m shuttle run test; and fundamental movement skills by process-oriented checklists...