scholarly journals Physical activity, mental health, and weight gain in a longitudinal observational cohort of nonobese young adults

Obesity ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (9) ◽  
pp. 1969-1975 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda E. Staiano ◽  
Arwen M. Marker ◽  
Corby K. Martin ◽  
Peter T. Katzmarzyk
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Observational Cohort

scholarly journals Physical activity and mental well-being under COVID-19 lockdown: a cross-sectional multination study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Costas I. Karageorghis ◽  
Jonathan M. Bird ◽  
Jasmin C. Hutchinson ◽  
Mark Hamer ◽  
Yvonne N. Delevoye-Turrell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Sedentary Behavior ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Electronic Device ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Steps Per Day ◽  
Western Nations

Abstract Background COVID-19 lockdowns have reduced opportunities for physical activity (PA) and encouraged more sedentary lifestyles. A concomitant of sedentariness is compromised mental health. We investigated the effects of COVID-19 lockdown on PA, sedentary behavior, and mental health across four Western nations (USA, UK, France, and Australia). Methods An online survey was administered in the second quarter of 2020 (N = 2541). We measured planned and unplanned dimensions of PA using the Brunel Lifestyle Physical Activity Questionnaire and mental health using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire. Steps per day were recorded only from participants who used an electronic device for this purpose, and sedentary behavior was reported in hours per day (sitting and screen time). Results In the USA and Australia samples, there was a significant decline in planned PA from pre- to during lockdown. Among young adults, Australians exhibited the lowest planned PA scores, while in middle-aged groups, the UK recorded the highest. Young adults exhibited the largest reduction in unplanned PA. Across nations, there was a reduction of ~ 2000 steps per day. Large increases in sedentary behavior emerged during lockdown, which were most acute in young adults. Lockdown was associated with a decline in mental health that was more pronounced in women. Conclusions The findings illustrate the deleterious effects of lockdown on PA, sedentary behavior, and mental health across four Western nations. Australian young and lower middle-aged adults appeared to fare particularly badly in terms of planned PA. The reduction in steps per day is equivalent to the non-expenditure of ~ 100 kcal. Declines in mental health show how harmful lockdowns can be for women in particular.

scholarly journals Regular Moderate- to Vigorous-Intensity Physical Activity Rather Than Walking Is Associated with Enhanced Cognitive Functions and Mental Health in Young Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 614 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takumi Nakagawa ◽  
Ibuki Koan ◽  
Chong Chen ◽  
Toshio Matsubara ◽  
Kosuke Hagiwara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Cognitive Functions ◽  
Moderate Intensity ◽  
Health Measures ◽  
Intensity Physical Activity ◽  
Vigorous Intensity ◽  
Dose Dependent ◽  
The Brain

The beneficial effect of physical activity (PA) on the brain has been well established. Both acute and regular PA can boost a range of cognitive functions and enhance mood and mental health. Notably, the effect of acute PA on the brain and cognitive functions is generally found to be dose-dependent, in terms of both the amount and intensity of the exercise episode. In contrast, in the case of regular PA, the literature has primarily focused on the amount of exercise, and limited studies have assessed the influence of the exercise intensity. Since PA in higher intensity causes more extensive, more powerful, and longer-lasting neurobiological changes, it may prove more beneficial to cognitive functions and mental health. In the present study, we set out to test this hypothesis by employing a battery of questionnaires and laboratory tests with a sample of young adults. We found that more frequent vigorous- and moderate-intensity PA rather than walking (considered low to moderate intensity) was associated with better cognitive and mental health measures. Meanwhile, compared with no moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) at all, as few as 1~2 days per week (lasting at least 10 min each time) of MVPA was associated with a variety of benefits, particularly related to coping with challenging situations. In light of the neurobiological literature, the present study speaks to the value of moderate- to vigorous- rather than low-intensity PA in enhancing cognitive functions and mental health.

scholarly journals Relationships Between Young Men’s Health-Related Behaviour, Psychological Distress, Physical Education and Sports Experience

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (120) ◽  
pp. 13-21
Author(s):  
Jovita Ambrutytė ◽  
Brigita Miežienė ◽  
Arūnas Emeljanovas ◽  
Vida Janina Česnaitienė ◽  
Daiva Vizbaraitė ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Physical Education ◽  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Young People ◽  
High Psychological Distress ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Physically Inactive

Background. Negative health-related behaviours among young adults are common worldwide. Most of young males are physically inactive, have poor diets, drink a lot of alcohol or smoke, and such behavior causes physical and mental health disorders (Aubert et al., 2018). Nowadays more mental health problems are diagnosed among young people than a decade. Researchers are trying to determine the causes of harmful behaviour in adults, but the impact of previous physical education on further health-related behaviours in adults has not been studied. Methods. Physical activity, alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking was evaluated according to the 2008 US Department of Defense Survey of Health Related Behaviours (Bray et al., 2009). Adherence to a healthy eating pattern was evaluated using the Mediterranean diet adherence screener (MEDAS). Psychological distress was assessed using the six-item Kessler scale (Kessler et al., 2003). Results. Nearly half of young adults were physically inactive, ate poorly, had harmful habits, one of ten had high psychological distress. Two thirds of the respondents participated in sports in childhood, 61% of young people liked the physical education lessons, 44% of them attended every PE lesson. Lower distress was significantly associated with better nutrition, higher physical activity, lower alcohol consumption, and smoking. Also, significant associations were found between higher alcohol consumption and more frequent smoking. Higher incomes, younger age, better perception and attendance of PE classes in the past, active lifestyle in childhood and adulthood are the predictive factors of more favourable health-related behaviours and better mental health. Conclusions. Harmful health-related behaviours are prevalent among young adults, one of tenth has high psychological distress. Although the majority of young adults were active in childhood, the percentage of active adults decreases significantly. More favourable health-related behaviours are related to less distress. Better economic status, better PE experiences in childhood, sports activities in adulthood lead to better health-related behaviours and less distress. Keywords: young adults, health-related behaviours, mental health, physical education.

Nutrition, lifestyle factors, and mental health in adolescents and young adults living in Austria

2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 377-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Walther ◽  
Ulrike Aldrian ◽  
Hans Peter Stüger ◽  
Ingrid Kiefer ◽  
Cem Ekmekcioglu
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Young People ◽  
Fast Food ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Lifestyle Factors ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Adolescents And Young Adults ◽  
Positive Effects

Abstract Background: Due to an alarming trend of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents, along with the sparse data on dietary habits and lifestyle factors, the present study aims to analyze the current nutritional behavior as well as the lifestyle and mental health of adolescents and young adults living in Austria. Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 500 respondents (aged between 14 and 24 years) completed an anonymous questionnaire on nutrition behavior, mental health, and lifestyle factors by Internet survey. Results: Only 50% of the participants ate breakfast daily and 10% did not eat breakfast at all. About 47% of the respondents consumed milk and milk products daily. Furthermore, only 31% ate fruit and 21% ate vegetables at least once a day, and 46% ate fish seldom or never. Nearly 28% of young people liked to eat fast food twice or thrice a week and more, with males more often replacing a meal with a fast food product (36%) than females (21%). About 46% of the respondents engaged in physical activity only once a week (or more rarely). A fifth of our respondents (23%) spent more than 2 h a day using various social networks, with Facebook being the most popular social network among the respondents. Around 27% claimed to be smokers, with more female (33%) than male (20%) smoker. In terms of sleeping habits, 19% slept <6 h a day. Regarding well-being, 44% were more likely to feel stressed, 35% stated that they were tense, and 43% felt tired and listless. Eating together, physical activity, and sleep patterns showed positive effects on well-being, whereas higher consumption of fast food/snacks/soft drinks and alcoholic drinks/energy drinks was associated with relatively lower well-being. Conclusions: Unhealthy eating habits, suboptimal physical activity, and smoking are still prominent in a sample of Austrian adolescents and young people. In addition, stress and tiredness are also relevant problems in this collective.

scholarly journals Objective Estimates of Physical Activity and Sedentary Time among Young Adults

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica L. Unick ◽  
Wei Lang ◽  
Deborah F. Tate ◽  
Dale S. Bond ◽  
Mark A. Espeland ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Subjective Assessment ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Absolute Difference ◽  
Weight Gain Prevention ◽  
Sedentary Behaviors ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Factors Associated

Background. This study examines factors associated with physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviors (SB) in young adults (18–35 years) and compares objective and subjective assessment measures of PA and SB.Methods. 595 young adults (27.7±4.4years;25.5±2.6 kg/m2) enrolled in the Study of Novel Approaches to Weight Gain Prevention (SNAP) trial. Hours/day spent in SB (<1.5 METs) and minutes/week spent in bout-related moderate-to-vigorous intensity PA (MVPA; ≥3 METs and ≥10 min) were assessed using self-report and objective measures. Demographic factors associated with SB and MVPA were also explored (i.e., age, gender, BMI, ethnicity, work and relationship status, and number of children).Results. Objective MVPA (263±246 min/wk) was greater than self-report estimates (208±198 min/wk;p<0.001) and differed by156±198 min/wk at the individual level (i.e., the absolute difference). Females, overweight participants, African Americans, and those with children participated in the least amount of MVPA. Objective estimates of SB (9.1±1.8 hr/day; 64.5% of wear time) were lower than subjective estimates (10.1±3.5 hr/day;p<0.001), differing by2.6±2.5 hr/day for each participant.Conclusion. Young adults interested in weight gain prevention engage in both high levels of MVPA and SB, with participants self-reporting fewer MVPA minutes and more SB compared to objective estimates. This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01183689).

scholarly journals Weight gain in Chinese youth during a 4-month COVID-19 lockdown: a retrospective observational study

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. e052451
Author(s):  
Yaoshan Dun ◽  
Jeffrey W. Ripley-Gonzalez ◽  
Nanjiang Zhou ◽  
Baiyang You ◽  
Qiuxia Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Weight Change ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Sedentary Time ◽  
Chinese Youth ◽  
Related Stress ◽  
Time Changes

ObjectivesTo observe the weight change in Chinese youth during a 4-month COVID-19 lockdown, and the association between weight change and mental health, physical activity and sedentary time changes, and dietary habits.DesignA retrospective observational study.SettingsTwo universities located in Zhejiang and Hunan provinces, China.ParticipantsThis study enrolled 12 889 college students whose body weight was measured before the lockdown (1 December 2019–20 January 2020) at the two universities, and reported their weight measured at home or community after the end of the lockdown (1–23 May 2020) via an online follow-up questionnaire.Primary and secondary outcome measuresThe primary outcome was the weight change in Chinese youth during a 4-month lockdown resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The secondary outcomes were the relationships of weight change to COVID-19-related stress, depression, anxiety, physical activity and sedentary time changes, and dietary habits.ResultsParticipants’ ages ranged from 17 to 27 years (M=19, SD=1) with 80.2% identified as female. The average absolute and relative changes in body weight were 2.6 (95% CI 2.0 to 3.2)) kg and 4.2% (95% CI 4.0% to 4.3%) for men, and 2.1 (1.9 to 2.4) kg and 4.2% (95% CI 3.9% to 4.4%) for women. An increase in overweight and obese individuals according to Asian cut-off points as a demographic percentage by 4.5% and 2.7% and 4.8% and 3.4% in men and women, respectively (P<0.001), was observed. Weight gain was significantly associated with increased sedentary time and an increase in COVID-19-related stress and depression score.ConclusionThe present study’s results suggest that the risk of weight gain in Chinese youth during the lockdown increased and that strategies to decrease sedentary time and improve mental health may be warranted to mitigate weight gain during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

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