ABSTRACT
Purpose: To examine changes in physical activity (PA) during a behavioral weight-loss intervention and determine baseline factors associated with PA goal achievement. Methods: Overweight/obese community-dwelling adults with valid PA accelerometer data (N=116; mean age 51.7 years; 89% female; 83% non-Hispanic White) were recruited into a single-arm prospective cohort study examining the effects of a 12-month intervention that included 24 in-person group sessions, weight-loss, calorie, fat gram, and PA goals, self-monitoring, and feedback. Minutes of moderate-to-vigorous (MV) PA and steps were measured using a waist-worn accelerometer (ActiGraph GT3x) at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. Achievement of the 150 minute/week MVPA goal was examined using total minutes and bout minutes (i.e., counting only PA occurring in bouts ≥10 minutes in length). Change in PA was analyzed using non-parametric tests for multiple comparisons. Associations of factors with meeting the PA goal were modeled using binary logistic regression. Results: At 6 months, there were increases from baseline in MVPA (median [p25, p75]: 5.3 [-0.9, 17.6] minutes/day) and steps (863 [-145, 2790] steps/day), both p<0.001. At 12 months, improvements were attenuated (MVPA: 2.4 [-2.0, 11.4] minutes/day, p=0.047; steps: 374[-570, 1804] p=0.14). At 6 months, 33.6% of individuals met the PA goal (using total or bout minutes). At 12 months, the percent meeting the goal using total MVPA [31%] differed from bout MVPA [22.4%]. Male gender (OR=4.14, p=0.027) and an autumn program start (versus winter; OR=3.39, p=0.011) were associated with greater odds of goal achievement at 6 months. Conclusions: The intervention increased PA goal achievement at 6 and 12 months with many making clinically meaningful improvements. Our results suggest female participants may require extra support toward improving PA levels.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Emerging cross-sectional reports find that the COVID-19 pandemic and related social restrictions negatively affect lifestyle behaviours and mental health in general populations. AIMS: To study the longitudinal impact of COVID-19 on work practices, lifestyle and well-being among desk workers during shelter-at-home restrictions. METHODS: We added follow-up after completion of a clinical trial among desk workers to longitudinally measure sedentary behaviour, physical activity, sleep, diet, mood, quality of life and work-related health using validated questionnaires and surveys. We compared outcomes assessed before and during COVID-19 shelter-at-home restrictions. We assessed whether changes in outcomes differed by remote working status (always, changed to or never remote) using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). RESULTS: Participants (N = 112; 69% female; mean (SD) age = 45.4 (12.3) years; follow-up = 13.5 (6.8) months) had substantial changes to work practices, including 72% changing to remote work. Deleterious changes from before to during shelter-at-home included: 1.3 (3.5)-h increase in non-workday sedentary behaviour; 0.7 (2.8)-point worsening of sleep quality; 8.5 (21.2)-point increase in mood disturbance; reductions in five of eight quality of life subscales; 0.5 (1.1)-point decrease in work-related health (P < 0.05). Other outcomes, including diet, physical activity and workday sedentary behaviour, remained stable (P ≥ 0.05). Workers who were remote before and during the pandemic had greater increases in non-workday sedentary behaviour and stress, with greater declines in physical functioning. Wake time was delayed overall by 41 (61) min, and more so in workers who changed to remote. CONCLUSIONS: Employers should consider supporting healthy lifestyle and well-being among desk workers during pandemic-related social restrictions, regardless of remote working status.
