Journal of Physical Activity & Health

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to examine the acute effects of intermittent physical activity (2-min bouts of varying intensities) on psychological mood and enjoyment in elementary school-age children and to examine the effect of weight status on these psychological outcomes. METHODS: A total of 39 children (healthy weight, n = 26; overweight/obese, n = 13) completed 4 experimental conditions in random order, which consisted of 8 hours of sitting interrupted with 20 two-minute low--, moderate-, or high-intensity activity breaks or 20 two-minute screen-time breaks...

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to measure the level of physical activity (PA) of the users of an urban park before and after the installation of 2 fitness zones (FZs) and to assess the impact of that intervention on the users' level of PA. METHODS: The System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities method was applied in the urban plaza Liber Seregni in Montevideo (Uruguay): 14 different areas were mapped and then recategorized as fitness (for PAs, including sports), green, and paved zones...

OBJECTIVE: This report summarizes the first study (to the best of our knowledge) of the association between emotional intelligence (EI) and physical activity (PA) levels in a sample of generally healthy adults. METHODS: An online snowball sample of 110 generally healthy adults took part in this study and filled out measures of EI, PA, and background variables. RESULTS: Analysis of structural equating modeling supported a path of positive association between EI and PA ranging from ...

BACKGROUND: This study explores changes in the leisure-time physical activities of Canadian adults over time. METHODS: Using representative panel data from the National Population Health Survey, multilevel analyses of 13,933 respondents aged 18 and older were performed to assess both overall and individual leisure-time physical activity trajectories from 1994 to 2011 and the extent to which these trajectories differ by sex and age groups. RESULTS: With the exception of those aged 65 and older, there is evidence that as Canadians age their overall levels of physical activity increase over time...

BACKGROUND: This investigation sought to determine how accelerometer wear (1) biased estimates of sedentary behavior (SB) and physical activity (PA), (2) affected misclassifications for meeting the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, and (3) impacted the results of regression models examining the association between moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and a clinically relevant health outcome. METHODS: A total of 100 participants [age: 20.6 (7...

BACKGROUND: Studies have demonstrated beneficial effects of exercise on cardiovascular disease biomarkers for healthy individuals; however, a comprehensive review regarding the effect of exercise on cardiovascular disease biomarkers in at-risk populations is lacking. METHODS: A literature search was performed to identify studies meeting the following criteria: randomized controlled study, participants with pathology/activity limitations, biomarker outcome (total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, C-reactive protein, insulin, triglycerides, or glucose), and exercise intervention...

BACKGROUND: Temperament activity level can serve as a proxy for nondeliberate activity and an important part of overall energy expenditure. However, little is known about any association between temperament activity level and children's levels of moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity. We examined whether temperament activity level in young children is associated with moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity later in childhood and midadolescence. We also assessed if parenting behaviors moderate any association...

BACKGROUND: This study was aimed (1) to compare the level of physical activity (PA) between working and nonworking hours and (2) to compare the level of PA during working hours of nurse clinical practitioners (NCPs) with that of nurse managers (NMs). METHODS: This cross-sectional survey was conducted at a Thai university hospital from October 2015 to March 2016. All randomly selected participants wore an activity tracker on their hip for 5 days, except during bathing and sleeping periods, to record step counts and time points...

BACKGROUND: Sedentary behavior is associated with increased risk of poor outcomes in breast cancer survivors, but underlying mechanisms are not well understood. This pilot study explored associations between different aspects of sedentary behaviors (sitting, prolonged sitting, sit-to-stand transitions, and standing) and breast cancer risk-related biomarkers in breast cancer survivors (n = 30). METHODS: Sedentary behavior variables were objectively measured with thigh-worn activPALs...

BACKGROUND: The distribution of adolescent moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) across multiple contexts is unclear. This study examined indoor and outdoor leisure time in terms of being structured or unstructured and explored relationships with total daily MVPA. METHODS: Between September 2012 and January 2014, 70 participants (aged 11-13 y) from 4 schools in Edinburgh wore an accelerometer and global positioning system receiver over 7 days, reporting structured physical activity using a diary...

BACKGROUND: Dropout from organized youth sport has significant adverse health implications. Enjoyment and behavioral intentions have consistently been linked with participation and dropout; however, few studies have investigated these links using a prospective design. This study explored whether enjoyment and intentions to continue predicted dropout behavior at 1-year follow-up. METHODS: Questionnaires were completed by 327 regular sport participants (mean age = 13...

BACKGROUND: Physical inactivity and excess adiposity are thought to be detrimental to physical and cognitive health. However, implications of these interrelated health factors are rarely examined together, consequently, little is known regarding the concomitant contribution of physical activity and adiposity to cognition. METHODS: Bivariate correlations and hierarchical linear regressions were conducted among a sample of adults between 25-45 years (N= 65). Attentional inhibition was assessed using an Eriksen Flanker task...

BACKGROUND: Physical activity has been found to alleviate mental health problems and could be beneficial for at-risk populations, such as transgender people. This study had three aims. First, to explore the amount of physical activity that treatment seeking transgender people engage in, and to compare this to matched cisgender people. Second, to determine whether there was a difference in physical activity depending on cross-sex hormone use. Third, to determine factors which predict physical activity among treatment seeking transgender people...

BACKGROUND: Physical activity has many benefits for young children's health and overall development, but few studies have investigated how early care and education (ECE) centers allot time for physical activity, along with measured individual physical activity levels for indoor/outdoor activities during a typical day. METHODS: Fifty ECE centers in central North Carolina participated in four full-day observations, and 559 children 3-5 years old within centers wore accelerometers assessing physical activity during observation days...

BACKGROUND: To describe overall physical activity prevalence measured by the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ), as well as inequalities in leisure-time physical activity among Brazilian adults (15+ years) Methods: Data from the Brazilian Survey on Medicine Access, Utilization and Rational Use of Medicines were analyzed. The study was carried out between September 2013 and January 2014. Physical activity was measured through GPAQ and classified according to the recommendations of the World Health Organization...

BACKGROUND: Apply a more novel approach to systematically examine (1) associations of clustered cardio-metabolic risk and cardio-metabolic risk factors, and (2) theoretical substitution of sedentary time with either sleep, light physical activity (LPA) or moderate-and-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and substituting LPA with MVPA. METHODS: Physical activity and sleep were objectively measured in 410 Flemish adults (55.5[±9.6] years, 64% men) with a SenseWear Pro 3 Armband...

BACKGROUND: Inclement weather and home environment can act as barriers to physical activity. However, it is unclear if they reduce the activity of persons participating in activity-promoting programs. METHODS: Data from a 6-month workplace financial incentives program were used to establish the association between meteorologic (temperature, rain, snow, and wind) and geographic factors (urban/rural home location and home distance from work) and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA)...

BACKGROUND: Regular physical activity (PA) is increasingly recognised as important in the care of patients with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) but there is a dearth of evidence regarding physical activity levels (PAL) or how these are accrued in those with CF. METHODS: Physical activity was measured by a hip-worn accelerometer for seven consecutive days by eighteen children (10 boys; 12.4 ± 2.8 years) with mild to moderate CF and eighteen age- and sex-matched controls (10 boys; 12...

BACKGROUND: Skeletal muscle strength and engagement in muscle strengthening activities are each inversely associated with all-cause mortality, however less is known on their relationship with cancer-specific mortality. METHODS: Data from the 1999-2002 NHANES were used assessing 2,773 individuals ≥50 years. Individuals were dichotomized at the 75(th) percentile for knee extensor strength, and engagement in muscle strengthening activities was acquired through self-report with ≥2 sessions per week were classified as meeting guidelines...

BACKGROUND: Abdominal circumference (AC) is superior to body mass index (BMI) as a measure of risk for various health outcomes. Our objective was to compare AC and BMI as predictors of lower extremity overuse injury (LEOI) risk. METHODS: Retrospective review of electronic medical records of 79,868 United States Air Force personnel over a 7-year period (2005-2011) for incidence of new LEOI. Subjects were stratified by BMI and AC. Injury risk for BMI/AC subgroups was calculated using Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards regression...