Factors associated with the implementation of physical activity among National Institute of Technology students during school closure due to COVID-19 / 体力科学

We examined the characteristics of students with high levels of physical activity during school closure due to the coronavirus pandemic and the factors related to performing physical activity. A total of 404 students, enrolled in Hachinohe National College of Technology, participated in the study. After data cleaning and processing, 345 responses were analyzed. Online classes were held between April 20 and June 5, 2020. A questionnaire was used to survey the lifestyle of students during this period. Additionally, a physical activity survey was conducted in the second week of June 2020, when face-to-face classes resumed. Among students who liked exercising, vigorous physical activity (VPA), moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and total physical activity in both male and female students and moderate physical activity in male students were significantly higher than that of students who disliked exercising. However, among students who were not afraid of coronavirus, only the VPA of females students was significantly higher than that of students who were afraid. The odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were obtained by logistic regression analysis with the high MVPA group (MVPA ≥ 420 min/week) as the dependent variable and participants’ characteristics as independent variables. We found an association between high MVPA and belonging to an exercise club (OR: 1.85, CI: 1.06–3.22, p=0.030), liking exercise (OR: 4.14, CI: 1.83–9.38, p=0.001), frequently going out (OR: 3.24, CI: 1.74–6.03, p<0.001), and number of factors preventing people from going out (OR: 1.96, CI: 1.05–3.63, p=0.033).

Different amounts of moderate to vigorous physical activity and change in glycemic variability in adolescents with type 1 diabetes: is there dose-response relationship?

ABSTRACT Objective To identify the level of physical activity and glycemic variability of adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus and to compare glycemic variability on days with different amounts of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Subjects and methods A sample of 34 subjects aged 10 to 15 years, 18 (52.94%) female; age: 13.04 ± 1.94; HbA1c: 9.76 ± 1.51. Physical activity was measured by wGT3X accelerometer. The glucose data were obtained using continuous glucose monitoring, and the following glycemic variability measures were calculated: standard deviation (SD), low blood glucose index (LBGI), high blood glucose index (HBGI), mean amplitude of glycemic excursions (MAGE), glycemic risk assessment in diabetes equation (GRADE) and coefficient of variation (CV). The most and least active days (the days with greater and lesser time dedicated to physical activities of moderate to vigorous intensity, respectively) were identified. In addition, based on the whole period of accelerometer use, daily means of time spent in MVPA were identified among participants, who were then divided into three groups: up to 100 minutes; from 101 to 200 minutes and above 201 minutes. Then, the measures of glycemic variability were compared among the most and least active days and among the groups too. Results The amount of MVPA was significantly different between the days evaluated (237.49 ± 93.29 vs. 125.21 ± 58.10 minutes), but glycemic variability measures did not present a significant difference. Conclusion Despite the significant differences in the amount of MVPA between the two days evaluated, the glycemic variability did not change significantly. Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2020;64(3):312-8

School-based physical activity intervention in 11-13-year-olds: study protocol for cluster randomized controlled trial

Background:Targeted strategies to enhance regular physical activity appear to be promising to promote health and well-being of adolescents.This article reports the design of a cluster randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a school-based physical activity programme on the rate and duration of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, sitting time including screen time, andhealth-related physical fitness parameters among 11-13 year-old adolescents.Methods:This is a cluster randomized controlled trial conducted in 360 adolescents fromgovernment schools in the Colombo Municipal Council area, Sri Lanka. An individual school wasconsidered as a unit of randomization and the 12 selected schools were randomly assigned to one of twogroups: control (sixschools) and intervention groups (sixschools). The intervention group follows aphysical activity programme for 30 minutes on threeschool days per week, for threeconsecutive months in addition to the standard practice. The primary outcomes are moderate-to-vigorous physical activity rate and duration and sitting time including screen time. Secondary outcomes are the health-related physical fitness parameters: cardiovascular fitness, muscle fitness and flexibility, and body composition. All the outcomes are measured at baseline and three-months following the intervention.Discussion:The outcomes of this study will be an evidence-based intervention programme with the potential to be incorporated into the national education system thus promoting health and well-being of adolescents in Sri Lanka. Trial Registration: Registered at the Sri Lanka Clinical Trials Registry (SLCTR/2018/028).

Accelerometer-Measured Physical Activity and its Relationship with Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist Circumference (WC) Measurements: A Cross-Sectional Study on Malaysian Adults

Introduction: Physical activity has been shown to be beneficial for the prevention of obesity and non-communicable diseases. Our contemporary way of life that is technology dependent has significantly reduced physical activity. This study aimed to determine accelerometer-measured physical activity (moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA)) among adults in high and low walkability neighbourhoods in Penang and Kota Bharu, Malaysia. Methods: Participants (n=490) were sampled using multistage sampling method from neighbourhoods with varied levels of walkability using Geographical Information System (GIS). Physical activity was measured objectively using Actigraph GT3X+ accelerometers, worn by the participants on their waists for a period of 5 to 7 days. Results: The participants had a mean of 13.5 min/day of MVPA. Total MVPA was significantly higher among participants in high walkability neighbourhoods (19.7 min/day vs. 9.1 min/ day). Results from t-test showed that the time spent on MVPA per day was significantly lower among participants residing in low walkability neighbourhoods. The final model of the MIXED model statistical tests showed that total MVPA was significantly associated with BMI, but not with WC measurements, after adjusting for covariates. Conclusion: Most of the participants had very low MVPA and did not achieve the current physical activity recommendations, implying that Malaysian adults residing in these two cities were not physically active to achieve health benefits. Results are suggestive of the importance of the walkability concept in neighbourhoods in encouraging physical activity and healthy body weight among Malaysians.