Journal of physical activity & health最新文献

Background: Only 10% of US children participate in active commuting (walking and bicycling) to school (ACS). Parental concerns related to traffic are a primary barrier to ACS, yet no studies have assessed these concerns together with neighborhood traffic safety-related features. This study examined the associations between traffic safety-related features in neighborhoods and ACS among school-age children in Austin, Texas.

Methods: This cross-sectional analysis utilized pre-COVID-19 baseline data (2019-2020) of parent-child dyads enrolled in the Safe TRavel Environment Evaluation in Texas Schools study. ACS, traffic safety-related features in the neighborhood (sidewalk availability, safe road crossings, traffic safety, traffic speed, and safety at intersections and crossings), and child- and family-level covariates were reported by parents. Geographic Information Systems methods were used to construct neighborhood traffic safety-related variables (bike lane coverage, sidewalk coverage, traffic volume, high-speed streets, major roads, pedestrian beacons, and traffic/pedestrian signals) and neighborhood-level covariates within an 800-m straight-line Euclidean buffer from children's home to school. Multivariable logistic regression was used to test the association between traffic safety-related features and ACS adjusted for neighborhood-, child-, and family-level covariates.

Results: Among parent-child dyads with complete data (N = 187) from 22 schools, bike lane coverage was directly associated with ACS (AOR = 2.61; 95% CI, 1.44-4.90). Compared with low bicycle lane coverage (below the median, <0.35), high bike lane coverage was significantly associated with 2.49 times the odds of ACS (95% CI, 1.23-5.23).

Conclusions: These findings support the need to increase the availability of bicycle infrastructure near schools as a possible strategy to enhance ACS participation.

Background: The purposeful design of environments built for meaningful physical activity experiences is underexplored. Development policies and regulations often overlook community involvement in active landscape design for enhanced physical activity engagement. This article addresses this gap by presenting findings from "MoveScape"-an academic-industry collaboration using participatory methods to explore the quality and meaningfulness of physical activity experiences to inform active landscape design that support physical literacy and community well-being.

Methods: Based at a new housing development in the East of England, 4 focus group workshops (N = 26, 33-68 y, 73% male) employed elements of appreciative inquiry, and invited local residents to explore meaningful physical activity, physical literacy, and neighborhood perceptions. Participants shared and envisioned physical activity experiences around their community. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to code and categorize data.

Results: Eight themes were developed; (1) "safety and security"; (2) "sense of belonging"; (3) "attractive, eco-friendly, and aesthetically pleasing spaces"; (4) "inclusive, diverse and accessible spaces"; (5) "sustainable and durable spaces"; (6) "health considerations"; (7) "social interactions"; and (8) "valued spending."

Conclusion: Key recommendations for active landscape design, include prioritizing safety and security through better lighting and well-maintained environments, fostering a sense of belonging by designing inclusive, multigenerational spaces that encourage social interaction, and ensuring accessibility for diverse needs. Sustainable and aesthetically pleasing landscapes support long-term engagement. Key recommendations relate to embedding community voice and participatory methods in the active landscape design process to enhance meaningful physical activity through community investment, cultural identity, and long-term usability.

Background: Exposure to traumatic events can lead to adverse health outcomes, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and chronic pain. Physical activity can help alleviate many negative health concerns associated with trauma; however, exercise instructors and social service providers often lack the necessary training to support and improve access to physical activity for individuals who have experienced trauma. This study aimed to test the feasibility, acceptability, and potential effectiveness of newly developed training modules, designed to improve knowledge and confidence to apply Trauma and Violence-Informed Care within physical activity settings.

Methods: Participants were invited to take part in 6 co-designed online trauma- and violence- informed physical activity (TVIPA) training modules. Baseline and postintervention data were analyzed using a chi-square test of independence, assessing changes in participants' confidence of TVIPA knowledge and application. Participants were also invited to take part in a qualitative interview, 6 months post completing the training to examine how they applied the training.

Results: In total, 205 participants completed a baseline survey and 155 completed the postintervention assessment. A significant increase in participants' confidence in knowledge and application was observed. Data from 17 semistructured interviews indicated that the training delivery mode, content, and duration were feasible and well-accepted. Service providers reported making changes to their practice, including using more inclusive language, considering reasons for missed classes, and making changes to the physical space to improve safety.

Conclusions: The online training was feasible, acceptable, and associated with improved confidence in applying TVIPA.

Background: Finding new ways to support physical activity participation after cancer is an important challenge. This research aimed to develop a walking and running program that could support people living with and beyond cancer to participate in fun run-style events.

Methods: Mixed methods research that followed guidance for developing complex interventions was conducted in 2 phases. Phase 1 included a review of published evidence, stakeholder consultation, and co-design workshops, which were used to develop an initial program protocol. Phase 2 included iterative piloting of the program, via delivery of it prior to 3 separately sponsored fun runs, to test and refine the protocol.

Results: In Phase 1, 38 reviews, identified via systematic search, 15 stakeholders, including potential program referrers, managers or sponsors, and 8 co-design participants, including people with lived experience of cancer, and program delivery staff contributed to the initial protocol development. Protocol elements generated, included selection of location and delivery staff, tailoring of physical activity content, use of inclusive language, and strategies to support social connection. In Phase 2, 17 participants with lived experience of cancer participated in the program during iterative piloting. Protocol modifications, included expansion of the program goals beyond fun run participation, as well as the development of remote support strategies to facilitate continued engagement and further opportunities for physical activity prescription.

Conclusions: Utilizing an iterative methodological approach and being open to protocol change allowed us to address the preferences of diverse stakeholders and to optimize the practical program aspects prior to larger scale trials.

Background: Different commuting modes may contribute to overall physical activity. Additionally, the choice of commuting modes is shaped by the built environment, including transportation infrastructure which reflects the needs of the population at specific locations and times of the week. This study examines the differences in daily step counts according to commuting mode and population density, focusing on within-week variations.

Methods: We analyzed step count data collected from the smartphones of 938,568 individuals across Japan on a typical weekday and a weekend day with minimal precipitation. Personal characteristics, including commuting mode, were obtained from a questionnaire. Population density was employed as a proxy for the built environment.

Results: We found that the estimated step counts on the weekend day were generally lower than those on the weekday across all groups defined by commuting mode and population density, with the difference between the 2 days being more pronounced among public transport users than among motor vehicle users, especially in low-density areas. Despite smaller disparities among those using different commuting modes on the weekend day, the overall pattern remained consistent with the weekday, with rail and pedestrian commuters having the highest step counts and motor vehicle users the lowest.

Conclusions: These findings further support the need to address step count disparities by promoting modal shifts from motor vehicles to rail and walking. Furthermore, this study highlights the value of integrating comprehensive data sources in the ongoing assessment of population health and in guiding effective public health policies.

Background: The prevalence of childhood obesity has increased globally, posing a significant public health concern owing to its impact on chronic illnesses, warranting effective mitigation strategies. Studies highlight a negative correlation between a higher body mass index and both executive function and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). This study aimed to assess the effects of a contemporary dance program on executive function, BDNF levels, and cardiovascular fitness in children with obesity.

Methods: Overall, 35 children with obesity aged 9-12 years were randomly divided into a dance (n = 17) or control (n = 18) group. Each participant underwent 60-minute moderate-intensity training sessions 3 times weekly for 10 weeks. Before and after training, 3-mL blood samples were collected to measure BDNF levels, and peak oxygen consumption evaluations were conducted. Furthermore, executive function was assessed using the digit span test to evaluate working memory and gauge cognitive changes.

Results: BDNF levels positively correlated with VO2peak (r = .356). Contemporary dance training significantly elevated BDNF levels (P = .005) and VO2peak in the dance group compared with those in the control group (P = .004). The program markedly improved working memory, as evidenced by enhanced test scores (P = .022).

Conclusions: This study highlighted the potential benefits of dance programs for children with obesity, emphasizing improved BDNF levels, cardiorespiratory fitness, and working memory. Although evidence supports the cognitive and physical benefits of dancing, further research is warranted to optimize protocols and evaluate how dancing compares with other physical activity types regarding enhancing cognitive function.

Background: Physical activity and leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) are crucial for maintaining overall health particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. In this study, we aimed to identify the sociodemographic, environmental, and lifestyle factors associated with LTPA in a lower-middle-income country after the lockdown.

Method: We used secondary data from the Bolivian EH2021 National Survey with an expansion factor (N = 6,498,630) to calculate crude and adjusted Odds Ratios for performing LTPA and performing LTPA more than once a week.

Results: Performing LTPA was positively associated with being male, younger, living with fewer people, having a higher income and educational level, and performing physical activity for transportation and daily activities. Performing LTPA more than once a week was associated with sex, age, occupation, marital status, household income, and other sociodemographic and lifestyle-related variables. Environmental factors, such as neighborhood safety, usage of private paid infrastructure, green areas, and house spaces were significantly associated with LTPA performance.

Conclusions: Specific sociodemographic, lifestyle and environmental factors are associated with LTPA performance among the Bolivian population; monitoring and intervention with groups at higher risk of sedentarism based on these socioenvironmental and behavioral factors are encouraged. Our study has important implications for addressing the lack of evidence for underrepresented low- and middle-income countries and highlighting social inequalities that hinder LTPA during crisis times from an integral perspective to enhance prevention and health promotion programs based on physical activity and LTPA.

Background: Our aim was to determine adult's trajectories of meeting 150 minutes per week of physical activity (PA) and assess associations between environmental features (and changes in these) with trajectory membership.

Methods: We used data from the How Areas in Brisbane Influence HealTh and AcTivity (HABITAT) cohort study, Australia. Data on PA were assessed in 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, and 2016 among individuals aged 45-60 years. At each survey, data on length of bike paths, area of parks, residential density, street connectivity, land use mix, and number of street lights were measured. PA trajectories were determined using group-based trajectory modeling. Group differences were analyzed based on median and interquartile range (IQR) of environmental features and associations were assessed through multinomial logistic regression.

Results: We identified 4 trajectories of meeting PA guidelines: low (14.4%), decreasing (13.7%), increasing (30.4%), and high (41.5%). Median (IQR) values of environmental features were very similar among trajectory groups (P > .05) with relatively little change between initial (2007) and final (2016) timepoints. Associations with trajectory membership were observed for bike path length among participants in the mid-tertile of the low trajectory group compared with the high trajectory (odds ratio [OR] = 0.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.36-0.84); and for street connectivity in the low (OR = 0.67; 95% CI, 0.51-0.87), and increasing trajectory groups (OR = 0.76; 95% CI, 0.61-0.94).

Conclusion: In the context of this "livable city," environmental features did not thoroughly predict patterns of PA among mid-age adults. Environmental predictors of PA deserve further attention, especially in low-income and middle-income countries, as active friendly environments have important connotations for various types of PA.

Background: Physical activity research is pivotal in shaping policies and interventions that promote health. However, disparities in research contributions across authors and institutions can impact the equity and representation of evidence-based practices.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the dispersion of authors and institutions publishing research on physical activity and health within countries.

Methods: A global bibliometric analysis was conducted, including articles on physical activity and health published between 1950 and 2019. Countries with 10 or more publications were analyzed. Data on authors' names and institutions were extracted, and the Gini coefficient, a measure of inequality, was calculated using the "Descogini" command in Stata. Gini coefficients were generated for authors in 94 countries and for institutions in 98 countries.

Results: The Gini coefficient for authors ranged from 0.03 in Cuba, Bangladesh, and Lebanon (low concentration) to 0.59 in Belgium and 0.65 in Portugal (high concentration). For institutions, the lowest coefficient was 0.08 in Guatemala, and the highest was 0.84 in Belgium and Portugal. Regions such as the Americas, Europe, and the Western Pacific exhibited higher average Gini coefficients for authors and institutions. Similarly, high-income and upper middle-income countries showed greater research concentration than low-income and lower middle-income nations.

Conclusion: To promote a more equitable and impactful global research landscape, it is crucial to invest strategically in developing and multiplying high-quality research groups across regions. Supporting emerging centers of excellence will foster innovation, capacity building, and more inclusive scientific production. Future research should further explore these factors to guide effective policies and investments.