Physical activity monitoring in Europe. The European Physical Activity Surveillance System (EUPASS) approach and indicator testing.

OBJECTIVES: The main objective of this paper is to describe the approach and specific findings of the European Physical Activity Surveillance System (EUPASS) research project. In particular, the analysis presented aims at testing the reliability, comparability and predictive power of different sets of physical activity (PA) indicators. DESIGN: First, a panel study based on computer-aided telephone interview (CATI) was designed to report PA data of a representative, selected group of about 100 persons per country at three points in time. Second, a CATI time series survey was carried out with the goal of realising about 100 interviews per month over six consecutive months. SETTING: The project was carried out in eight European countries to support the development of the European Union's (EU) Health Monitoring Programme. SUBJECTS: Random population samples (subjects aged 18 years and older) were drawn from each participating country. RESULTS: While many PA indicators used in EU countries to date as well as the psychosocial and environmental measures tested in the present study had acceptable to good reliability coefficients, the test-retest reliability scores of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) version tested (the short (last 7 days) telephone interview IPAQ; IPAQ-S7T) were rather low. The comparability between extant national PA items and the IPAQ-S7T was low for all countries. The strongest predictors of perceived health were the psychosocial and environmental PA indicators. CONCLUSIONS: According to the results of the present study, more research is needed to further investigate and improve the quality of the IPAQ. In addition, the specific predictive power of the tested psychosocial and environmental PA indicators on perceived health should be of particular interest for designing health surveillance activities in the future.

Reasons for not exercising and exercise intentions: a study of middle-aged sedentary adults.

The aims of this study were to assess why people do not participate in exercise and physical activity, and what might lead them to become active. More specifically, we focused on the hindrances to entering the phase of transition from a sedentary to a more active lifestyle by analysing the reasons 265 middle-aged Belgian adults gave for their inactivity. Their justifications were examined in relation to the conditions which they say would be needed for them to become more involved in regular physical activity. Factor analysis revealed that the reasons for inactivity referred to the adults' self-concept, to cognitive cost-benefit based processes and to negative emotions associated with exercise. The conditions reported to be necessary to begin exercising referred to a perceived decrease in health and to the appropriateness of the exercise offered. Discriminant analysis showed that 'never-exercisers' differed from 'ex-exercisers', and that within the subgroup of 'ex-exercisers' the long-term drop-outs differed from the recent drop-outs. Cluster analysis revealed three types of sedentary adults: the unconcerned, the opposed and the approachable.

The accident-prone and overuse-prone profiles of the young athlete.

A 1 year prospective study was done to develop an accident-prone and overuse-prone profile of young athletes. A group of 185 freshman physical education students (118 males; 67 females of the same age (18.3 +/- 0.5 years) trained under the same conditions and were exposed to similar extrinsic risk factors. Using a descriptive statistical technique, an analysis of correspondence, the complex interrelation between the criterium variables (acute injuries and overuse injuries) and the predictor variables (intrinsic risk factors; physical characteristics--anthropometric data, physical fitness parameters, flexibility aspects and malalignment of the lower extremities; and psychological factors--16 personality traits) was estimated for males and females separately. Although dynamic strength seems to be an important risk factor in acute injuries, sports accidents must be seen in relation to psychological factors. However, the overuse-prone profile is mainly based on physical traits: a combination of muscle weakness, ligamentous laxity, and muscle tightness predisposes to stress injuries. In addition, these overuse effects are intensified by large body weight and length, a high explosive strength, and malalignment of the lower limbs. Nevertheless, it has to be kept in mind that psychosomatic factors play a role in how one experiences these overuse phenomena.

[Physical activity and sports as health promoting behavior in middle age]. / Lichaamsbeweging en sportbeoefening als gezondheidsbevorderend gedrag op middelbare leeftijd.

In any preventive health care program for middle aged adults and elderly people, the promotion of physical fitness activities has become an item of priority. However, the increased awareness of the importance of being physically fit is in contrast with the limited number of adults actually involved in physical fitness activities. This study focuses on the reasons for in-activity as well as on the perceived motivation to participate in a fitness program. Health was found, as expected, to be the most important motive to start participation in a physical fitness program. Even most of the non-active adults believed that for health reasons they should exercise regularly. Reasons for inactivity included fatigue and lack of energy, lack of time (other things are more important and enjoyable), inadequate facilities, experiencing no health difficulties which would indicate the need for exercise, the implications for their lifestyle and fear of potential health hazards associated with physical fitness activities. Adherence to habitual physical activity was motivated by social support and socializing opportunities and the experience of relaxation, recreation and relief of tension. The discrepancy between knowing about health and fitness and really participating in a fitness program is interpreted in terms of cognitive processes, behaviour modification and changing health life-styles.