Association between the type of physical activity and metabolic syndrome in middle-aged and older adult residents of a semi-mountainous area in Japan

BACKGROUND@#Physical activity is reported to prevent metabolic syndrome. However, it is unclear whether exercise or daily physical activity is more beneficial for residents of semi-mountainous areas. This study aimed to identify whether daily physical activity is more beneficial than exercise for the prevention of metabolic syndrome among middle-aged and older residents in semi-mountainous areas.@*METHODS@#We analyzed secondary data of 636 people who underwent a specific health checkup in a semi-mountainous area of Japan. Physical activity was classified into four types: inactivity (I-type; without exercise and without daily physical activity), only exercise (E-type; with exercise and without daily physical activity), only daily physical activity (D-type; without exercise and with daily physical activity), and full physical activity type (F-type; with exercise and with daily physical activity). We compared the means of risk factors for metabolic syndrome by these four types, followed by logistic regression analysis, to identify whether and to what extent the D-type was less likely to have metabolic syndrome than the E-type.@*RESULTS@#The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 28.5% (men 45.7%, women 15.8%). The proportions of men with exercise and daily physical activity were 38.7% and 52.8%, respectively. For women, the proportions were 33.0% and 47.1%, respectively. In women, the D-type had the significantly lowest BMI, smallest waist circumference, highest HDL-C, and lowest prevalence of metabolic syndrome of the four types; the same was not observed in men. Additionally, D-type activity was more strongly associated with a reduced risk of metabolic syndrome than E-type activity in women (adjusted odds ratio 0.24; 95% confidence interval 0.06-0.85, P = 0.028).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Compared to middle-aged and older women residents with exercise in a semi-mountainous area of Japan, those with daily physical activity may effectively prevent metabolic syndrome.

Circadian rhythms and exercise/physical activity / 体力科学

Circadian rhythms have been shown to regulate several physiological functions including body temperature, sleep/wake cycle, physical activity, and cognition. These functions are controlled by circadian clock genes, and the circadian clock system in the body is classified into two clocks which are the central clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus and peripheral clocks in peripheral tissues such as the liver and skeletal muscle. Therefore, many researchers are conducting basic and applied research on the relationship between circadian rhythm in peripheral tissues and physiological functions including sports performance and effects of acute exercise and exercise training. On the other hand, it has been shown that abnormal circadian rhythms and disturbance of circadian rhythms can lead to the development of several diseases such as diabetes, cancer, sarcopenia, depression, and dementia. Thus, it is also important to regulate individual circadian rhythm by considering for timing of exercise and daily physical activity. Exercise and physical activity are found to have an influence on circadian rhythms regulation (Chrono-exercise) and accumulate evidences between timing of exercise and health outcomes. This review aims to introduce evidence for chrono-exercise and suggests the importance for considering the timing of exercise and physical activity.

A preliminary report on physical activity patterns among children aged 8–14 years to predict risk of cardiovascular diseases in Malwa region of Punjab

Objective To determine the pattern of physical activity specific to age and gender among young Indian school going girls and boys aged 8-14 years. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Private and government sponsored schools in Patiala and Mansa District of Punjab, India. Participants: Two hundred thirty four school going girls and boys aged 8–14 years. Methodology A structured questionnaire recorded the various forms of daily physical activity, sedentary activity as well as physical activity level of all the participants. The energy expenditure was also calculated using the standard metabolic equivalent index. Results There is a significant difference between mean weights of participants belonging to different physical activity levels (p < .04). In comparison to boys, the girl participants have significant lower values of physical activity duration as well as total metabolic equivalent expenditure (p < .05). The total duration of moderate/vigorous physical activity declined in both girls and boys as the age increased. Conclusion Physical activity among children in Northern regions of India is on decline as their age increases especially among girls. It is important to determine physical activity duration in early age groups and motivate children for daily physical activity.

The relation between daily physical activity and response inhibition control in older adults : An event-related potential study using a Go/NoGo task / 体力科学

We investigated the relationship between daily physical activity level and response inhibition control aspect of cognitive function in older adults using event-related potentials. Twenty-eight Japanese older adults (70.6 ± 3.8 years) participated in the present study. Daily physical activity (PA) was measured using an accelerometer, including step count and the intensity of PA. Participants were divided on the basis of their step count into “Higher PA group” (more than 10,000 steps/day, n = 14) and “Lower PA group”(less than 10,000 steps/day, n = 14). Cognitive function was evaluated by performance, NoGo-N2, and NoGo-P3 while they performed a Go/NoGo task. The results indicated that the Higher PA group exhibited shorter reaction time on Go trials, relative to the Lower PA group. NoGo-P3 amplitude was larger in the Higher PA group compared to the Lower PA group, but NoGo-P3 latency did not differ between groups. PA was positively correlated with NoGo-P3 amplitude. NoGo-N2 component was not related to PA. Thus, PA was more sensitive to monitoring of the outcome of response inhibition rather than pre-motor inhibition in Go/NoGo task. These findings suggest that daily PA is associated with preservation of age-related declines in response inhibition control.

Relationship between Blood Pressure and Objectively Determined Daily Physical Activities in Chinese Adults / 中国康复理论与实践

@#Objective To investigate the relationship between objectively determined daily physical activities and blood pressure levels in Chinese adults. Methods 125 individuals who participated in routine physical examinations of health were investigated, include systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, pulse pressure, and daily walking steps determined by pedometer. Results The daily walking steps correlated negatively with systolic pressure（Male r=－0.613, P＜0.01; Female r=－0.430, P＜0.01） and diastolic pressure (male r=－0.686, P＜0.01; female r=－0.388,P＜0.01). Daily walking steps of normotensive, pre-hypertensive, and hypertensive groups were (18249±6066) step/d, (10395±3788) step/d, (6232±3967) step/d for males, and (12564±6927) step/d, (11458±5084) step/d, (6153±3569) step/d for females respectively （P＜0.05）. Conclusion The daily physical activity determined by walking steps correlated negatively with blood pressure in Chinese adults. Hypertensives often live in low active or sedentary lifestyle. Active lifestyle （≥10000 step/d） may help keep normal blood pressure for Chinese adults.

Relationship between Objectively Determined Daily Physical Activities and Obesity Indices in Adults / 中国康复理论与实践

@# Objective To investigate the relationship between daily physical activities determined by walking-steps and the obesity indices including body weight，Body Mass Index (BMI)，waist and hip circumference and their ratio in adults. Methods 125 individuals who participated in routine physical examinations of health were measured with body weight, BMI, waist and hip circumference/ratio, daily physical activities determined by walking steps. Results For males, daily physical activities correlated negatively with body weight （r=-0.397，P＜0.01）, BMI （r=-0.499，P＜0.01）, waist circumference （r=-0.490, P＜0.01） and the ratio of waist vs. hip circumference （r=-0.478，P＜0.01）, whereas body weight（r=-0.342，P＜0.01）, BMI （r=-0.249，P＜0.05）, and hip circumference （r=-0.303，P＜0.05） for females. Daily walking-steps were significantly different among the groups of normal weight (11491±6100) steps/d, overweight (9314±5722) steps/d, and obesity (6141±2985) steps/d (P＜0.01). Conclusion Daily physical activities determined by walking steps correlated significantly with obesity indices.

EFFECTS OF CHANGE IN DAILY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY DURING AN EXERCISE INTERVENTION ON VITAL AGE AND PHYSICAL FITNESS AGE / 体力科学

<b>Purpose</b>：The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of change in daily physical activity during an exercise intervention on health status and physical fitness.<b>Methods</b>：Participants were 22 obese middle-aged men (BMI : 29.1±2.8 kg/m², 54.1±11.4 yr). They performed 90-min exercise sessions on a regular basis 3 days per week for 3 months. Physical activity (total energy expenditure, TEE ; activity energy expenditure, AEE ; and step counts) was measured using an accelerometer. Daily physical activity was defined as that which was performed outside of the exercise class. A 3-day food record was used to estimate energy intake. <b>Results</b>：Body weight decreased (-3.0±2.5 kg, <i>P</i>＜0.05). Vital age (VA), an index of comprehensive health status, and physical fitness age (PFA), an index of comprehensive physical fitness, significantly improved (VA : -8.7±5.5 yr, PFA : -8.5±5.1 yr, <i>P</i>＜0.05). Energy intake remained unchanged during the intervention (＋63.7±546.1 kcal/d). Daily physical activity increased (TEE : ＋83.0±130.1 kcal/d, AEE : ＋76.9±103.3 kcal/d, step counts : ＋1789±2819 steps/d, <i>P</i>＜0.05). Change in daily physical activity was correlated with change in VA (AEE : r＝-0.52, step counts : r＝-0.46, <i>P</i>＜0.05), while change in daily physical activity did not correlate with change in PFA. <b>Conclusion</b>：These results suggest that changes in daily physical activity during an exercise intervention are associated with improved health status.

EFFECT OF PHYSICL ACTIVITY ON SYSTOLIC BLOOD PRESSURE IN ELDERLY HUMANS / 体力科学

Arterial compliance progressively decreases with aging. This aging-induced reduction of arterial compliance causes an increase of systolic blood pressure (SBP), whereas regular exercise increases arterial compliance. We hypothesized that an increase in daily physical activity (DPA) produces a beneficial effect on systemic arterial compliance (SAC ; an index of central arterial compliance) and this phenomenon could decrease SBP in the elderly. We investigated the relationship among DPA, SAC, SBP, diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and some other risk factors for cardiovascular and/or cerebrovascular events (total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and HOMA-R) cross-sectionally in 127 elderly persons (42 male, 85 female : aged 74±4 years) . The DPA was estimated by expended calories using an accelerometer. The SAC was calculated from a finger pulse pressure waveform recorded by using PORTAPRES ; and stroke volume obtained from the same pressure waveform based on the volume-clump method. The analyses demonstrated that SBP was directly and decreasingly affected by SAC, and that DPA had an increasing effect on SAC. Furthermore, SBP was directly and increasingly affected by DBP, and DBP was directly and decreasingly affected by both SAC and DPA. Therefore, it is considered that DPA may have suppressive effects on the rise of SBP through the indirect effects of changing SAC and DBP. These findings suggest that an increase in DPA could improve the age-induced reduction of arterial compliance and rise of SBP in elderly humans.

Effects of Daily Physical Activity on Serum Lipid Levels / 日本農村医学会雑誌

The effect of daily physical activity on the serum lipid level was examined. This study consisted of two parts, an epidemiological study and a laboratory study.<BR>In the epidemiological study, we investigated the relationship between serum lipids and energy expenditure in young adults females. Significant correlations were found between energy expenditure/body weight and the levels of serum HDL-cholesterol and serum triglyceride, and atherogenic index.<BR>In the laboratory study, we examined the effects of exercise on the serum lipid level. Groups of subjects took part in the programs of physical activity of two different intensities for 6 weeks, and their serum lipid levels before and after these programs were compared. Exercise regimens of increasing intensity caused a significant mean increase in the serum HDL-cholesterol level. However, these regimens did not cause any significant change in serum total cholesterol and serum triglyceride values.<BR>These results suggest that doing even light exercise on a regular basis is effective in producing an optimum serum lipid pattern in young adult females.

Effects of changing daily exercise habit on body composition and maximal exercise test. One-year follow-up study of healthy males and males with mild hypertension / 体力科学

The effects of changing daily exercise habit on body fat, serum lipids and symptom-limited maximal exercise test (treadmill by Balke protocol) were evaluated in healthy males and males with mild hypertension (MHT) aged 30 to 59 yr during a period of one year. The subjects were selected from males who underwent physical examination. The results were as follows :<BR>A. HEALTHY MALES<BR>Study 1 : Subjects who exercised regularly (3 times or more/week) showed higher exercise tolerance and HDL cholesterol (HDLC) and less body fat. Compared to inactive subjects (sports 0-2 times/week), exercise tolerance was higher in the group who tried to walk as much as possible in their every day life.<BR>Study 2 : Inactive subjects without a family history of HT were classified by percentage body fat into three groups (H, M and L) . The obese group showed lower exercise tolerance, higher total cholesterol (TC) and lower HDLC. Heart rate (HR) and systolic blood pressure (BPs) at the same load during the exercise test were higher in the obese group.<BR>Study 3 : Revisited subjects who did not change their dietary habit for one year were selected from the average group of study 2. The subjects who increased their daily physical activity showed reduced body weight and body fat, increased exercise tolerance and HDLC, and lower HR and BPs under the same work load.<BR>B. MALES WITH MILD HYPERTENSION<BR>Study 4 : A similar study was conducted in inactive men with MHT (diastolic BP 90-104 mmHg), non-drug therapy at the first visit and no change in dietary habit for one year. Subjects who increased their daily activity for one year showed reduced body weight and body fat, and both resting BPs and BPd fell by 7 mmHg. HR and BPs decreased under the same work load.<BR>These results suggest that an increase in daily physical activity improves physical fitness, reduces blood pressure and decreases body fat in previously healthy males and in males with MHT.

Relationship between daily physical activity and physical fitness in female junior college students / 体力科学

The relationship between daily physical activity and physical fitness in female college students was investigated. Sixteen female college students who regularly took exercise two or three days per week were selected for the active group. Seventeen female college students who seldom took exercise and had not taken part in any kinds of sports activities while at high school were selected for the inactive group. Physical fitness tests and incremental loading maximal cycling exercise tests were undertaken by all subjects. Gas expired during the cycling exercise was collected in a Douglas bag, and ventilation, oxygen uptake and respiratory quotient were measured for each exercise load and in the last few minutes of the exercise test. Electrocardiographic data were also obtained during the test. Heart rate during daily activities in each subject was recorded continuously throughout the day using a heart rate recorder. Daily energy expenditure was estimated from the continuous recordings of heart rate using the linear relationship between heart rate and oxygen consumption obtained in the maximum incremental exercise test. Mean number of strides taken by each subject during da ily activities was also obtained using a pedometer for one week.<BR>The results can be summarized as follows.<BR>1) Maximal oxygen uptake and total score in the physical fitness test averaged 37.8 m<I>l</I>/ kg/min and 27.8 points, and 30.1 m<I>l</I>/kg/min and 22.5 points for the active and inactive group, respectively. The inter-group differences in these parameters were significant.<BR>2) The mean values of daily energy expenditure and strides taken during daily activity were about 2400 kcal/day and 14000 strides/day, and 1800 kcal/day and 7000 strides/day for the active and inactive group, respectively. The differences between the groups for these two values were also significant.<BR>3) The difference in daily energy expenditure between the two groups was 580 kcal and the difference in total strides per day was 7000 strides.<BR>4) These results indicate that both daily physical activity and physical fitness in the inactive group were lower than those in the active group. Furthermore, it was proved that the level of physical fitness in female college students is closely related to their daily physical activity.

Analysis of physical activities for severely physically and mentally handicapped persons by means of heart rate during a 24-hour period / 体力科学

Daily physical activities for 12 severely physically and mentally handicapped persons were investigated using heart rates during a 24-hr period. The recorded heart rates were processed statistically and analyzed. The standard deviation and skewness for the severely handicapped persons with low ambulatory ability were significantly greater than those for the most severely handicapped persons without ambulatory ability. These properties confirmed that physical activities of daily living were extremely different for the two groups. The severely handicapped persons with low ambulatory ability had higher heart rates of about 10% relating to active physical activities. It was suggested that the active physical activities of daily living could contribute to the improvement of physical work capacity if these activities were more prolonged in duration. On the other hand, such higher heart rates were not observed in the case of most severely handicapped persons and extremely low function in their cardiorespiratory system was suspected. It became impor. tant to apply physical training to the most severely handicapped persons even though light work was performed passively.