Journal of Physical Activity & Health

BACKGROUND: Late-life depression and anxiety among older adults is an important public health concern. This study examined the effect of a DVD-delivered exercise intervention on the secondary outcomes of depression and anxiety in older adults and the extent to which physical self-worth mediated the relationship between leisure-time physical activity and depression and anxiety. METHODS: Older adults (N = 307) were randomized to a 6-month flexibility, toning, and balance DVD (FlexToBa™, FTB) or healthy aging DVD control...

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease is common and brings significant health burden. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between physical activity and kidney function. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study set in the Nanjing Community Cardiovascular Risk Survey, using random cluster sampling. Questionnaires were completed, wherever possible, through face-to-face interviews. Data on age, sex, body mass index, weekly physical activity, and kidney function were collected...

BACKGROUND: Nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neural factor (BDNF) are important for brain function and detectable in the blood. This study explored the longitudinal associations of physical activity and body fat with serum NGF and BDNF in children. METHODS: Two waves of measurements were performed 2 years apart in 8- to 11-year-old children, including physical activity using the ActiGraph model 7164, body composition by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and serum NGF and BDNF determined by multiplex immunoassay...

BACKGROUND: Public parks are an important resource for the promotion of physical activity (PA). This is the first study in Colombia and the fourth in Latin America to describe the characteristics of park users and their levels of PA using objective measures. METHODS: A systematic observation assessed sex, age, and the level of PA of users of 10 parks in an intermediate-size city in Colombia, classified in low (5 parks) and high (5 parks) socioeconomic status (SES)...

BACKGROUND: Classroom-based physical activity (CBPA) breaks are a cost-effective strategy to promote physical activity (PA) at school. Despite teachers' critical roles in sustained implementation of CBPA breaks, few studies examined the association of teacher-level factors with student PA levels, and none focused on rural schools. METHODS: We monitored children's PA levels over 4 consecutive school days at 6 rural Oregon elementary schools with Walk4Life pedometers...

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the effect of increased physical activity on annual medical expenditures among people with disability, as well as people without disability. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study with linked national survey data from 2004 to 2013 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey and from 2002 to 2012 National Health Interview Study. We investigated the effect of physical activity on the annual medical expenditures in 2013 US dollars, among people with and without disability who were 18- to 64-year-old adults...

BACKGROUND: Water-based resistance training (WRT) has been indicated to promote strength gains in elderly population. However, no study has compared different training strategies to identify the most efficient one. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of 3 WRT strategies on the strength and functional capacity of older women. METHODS: In total, 36 women were randomly allocated to training groups: simple set of 30 seconds [1 × 30s; 66.41 (1.36) y; n = 12], multiple sets of 10 seconds [3 × 10s; 66...

BACKGROUND: Physically active learning that combines physical activity with core curriculum areas is emerging in school-based health interventions. This study investigates the effectiveness of learning an important numeracy skill of times tables (TT) while concurrently engaging in aerobic activity compared with a seated classroom approach. METHODS: Grade-4 primary school students were randomly allocated to physical activity (P) or classroom (C) groups and received the alternate condition in the following term...

BACKGROUND: Concurrent use of accelerometers and global positioning system (GPS) data can be used to quantify physical activity (PA) occurring on trails. This study examined associations of trail use with PA and sedentary behavior (SB) and quantified on trail PA using a combination of accelerometer and GPS data. METHODS: Adults (N = 142) wore accelerometer and GPS units for 1-4 days. Trail use was defined as a minimum of 2 consecutive minutes occurring on a trail, based on GPS data...

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to provide an isotemporal substitution model to predict how changes in physical behavior may affect the cardiovascular parameters (CVPs) of older adults. METHODS: Participants wore a thigh-mounted accelerometer for 7 days. Phenotype of the carotid, brachial, and popliteal artery was conducted using ultrasound. Isotemporal substitution was used to simulate the degree to which replacing 1 hour of physical behavior with another would affect CVP...

BACKGROUND: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey physical activity questionnaire (PAQ) is used to estimate activity energy expenditure (AEE) and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Bias and variance in estimates of AEE and MVPA from the PAQ have not been described, nor the impact of measurement error when utilizing the PAQ to predict biomarkers and categorize individuals. METHODS: The PAQ was administered to 385 adults to estimate AEE (AEE:PAQ) and MVPA (MVPA:PAQ), while simultaneously measuring AEE with doubly labeled water (DLW; AEE:DLW) and MVPA with an accelerometer (MVPA:A)...

BACKGROUND: Social relationships are among the strongest predictors of health. The extent to which one is embedded in social networks, also referred to as social integration, has been associated with physical activity in short-term longitudinal and cross-sectional studies. How changes in social integration impact physical activity over longer periods of time is not well understood. METHODS: Longitudinal data from 5 waves of the Americans' Changing Lives study were used (wave 1: n = 3617; wave 5: n = 1427)...

BACKGROUND: Extensive research demonstrates the benefits of fitness on children's health and academic performance. Although decreases in health-related fitness may increase school absenteeism, multiple years of prospective, child-level data are needed to examine whether fitness changes predict subsequent chronic absenteeism status. METHODS: Six cohorts of New York City public school students were followed from grades 5-8 (2006/2007-2012/2013; N = 349,381). A longitudinal 3-level logistic generalized linear mixed model with random intercepts was used to test the association of individual children's changes in fitness and 1-year lagged chronic absenteeism...

BACKGROUND: It is reported that 81% of adolescents are insufficiently active. Schools play a pivotal role in promoting physical activity (PA) and reducing sedentary behavior (SB). The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate classroom-based PA and SB interventions in adolescents. METHODS: A search strategy was developed using the Population Intervention Comparison Outcome Study (PICOS) design framework. Articles were screened using strict inclusion criteria...

BACKGROUND: Physical activity confers many health benefits to older adults, and adopting activity into daily life routines may lead to better uptake. The purpose of this study was to test the effect of a lifestyle intervention to increase daily physical activity in older women through utilitarian walking and use of public transportation. METHODS: In total, 25 inactive women with mean age (SD) of 64.1 (4.6) years participated in this pilot randomized controlled trial [intervention (n = 13) and control (n = 12)]...

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to employ high-frequency accelerometry to explore parent-child physical activity (PA) relationships across a free-living sample. METHODS: We recorded 7 days of wrist-mounted accelerometry data from 168 dyads of elementary-aged children and their parents. Using a custom MATLAB program (Natick, MA), we summed child and parent accelerations over 1 and 60 seconds, respectively, and applied published cut points to determine the amount of time spent in moderate-vigorous PA (MVPA)...

BACKGROUND: Although the active transportation (AT) indicator received an F grade on the 2016 US Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth, this AT assessment excluded public transportation. An objective of the Built Environment and Active Play Study was to assess youth AT, including public transportation, among Washington, DC area children in relation to parental perceptions of neighborhood built environment (BE) variables. METHODS: Questionnaires were mailed to 2000 parents of children aged 7-12 years...

BACKGROUND: Neighborhood and psychosocial variables are related to physical activity (PA), yet interactions between these factors in predicting PA are infrequently studied. METHODS: This analysis examines the independent associations and interactions between self-reported neighborhood and psychosocial variables in relation to moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) among adults from a US panel sample. RESULTS: In adjusted models, neighborhood social capital was positively associated with meeting MVPA guidelines...

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the patterns of physical activity (PA) and screen time among children and adolescents attended by the Brazilian National Health System. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the city of Bauru, São Paulo, Brazil. The sample was composed of 270 children and adolescents attending 5 basic health care units. PA and screen time were assessed through a questionnaire. Economic status, sex, and body composition variables were used as covariates...

PURPOSE: To analyze the relationship between engagement in sports in early life and bone variables among adults of both sexes. METHODS: The sample was composed of 225 men and women. Demographic data were collected, and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to assess bone mineral density, bone mineral content, and lean soft tissue. Sports participation in early life was assessed by an interview including childhood and adolescence. Consumption of tobacco and alcohol was also assessed by interview and the habitual physical activity level by a pedometer...