Influence of parental physical activity on offspring’s nutritional status: an intergenerational study in the 1993 Pelotas birth cohort

Objective: To investigate the influence of parental physical activity on offspring’s nutritional status in the 1993 Pelotas (Brazil) birth cohort. Design: Birth cohort study. Setting: The main outcomes were overweight and obesity status of children. The main exposure was parental physical activity over time, measured during the 11-, 15-, and 18-years of age follow-ups. The exposure was operationalized as cumulative, and the most recent measure before the birth of child. We adjusted Poisson regression models with robust variance to evaluate crude and adjusted associations between parental physical activity and offspring’s nutritional status. All analyses were stratified according to the sex of the parent. Participants: A total of 874 members from the 1993 Pelotas (Brazil) birth cohort followed-up at 22-years of age with their first-born child were analysed. Results: Children were, on average, 3.1 years old. Crude analyses showed that the mother’s cumulative physical activity measure had an indirect association with the prevalence of children’s obesity. The most recent maternal physical activity measure before the birth of the child was associated with 41% lower prevalence of obesity in children, even after adjustment for confounders. Conclusions: The most recent maternal physical activity measure was indirectly associated with the prevalence of obesity of children. No associations were found for fathers, reinforcing the hypothesis of a biological effect of maternal physical activity on offspring’s nutritional status.

On the Way to the Marathon—Motivation for Participating in Mass Running Events Among Children and Adolescents: Results of the Poznan Half Marathon Pilot Study

The market for mass sports events geared towards adults is already saturated, while more new initiatives are exclusively targeting children and adolescents. Mass sports events for amateur athletes can be a great way to encourage young people to exercise regularly, such as in cases where physical education classes do not fully play this role. A lot of research has already been conducted on the subject of adult motivation for participating in amateur sports events, i.e., marathons, ultramarathons, duathlons or triathlons. However, the research niche is children and adolescents’ motivation. The aim of this study is to recognize motivation among children aged 12 for participating in children’s running events in Poland. The study was conducted via a diagnostic survey using the Motives for Physical Activity Measure–Revised (MPAM-R) scale to determine what motivation is most important for young athletes and whether there are any differences in terms of gender. The highest values were obtained by motivation related to fun and enjoyment during sporting events, while the lowest values were obtained by motivation related to social affiliation. Aspects associated with good fun should be promoted during activities related to the marketing of sporting events for young people. This article contains the results obtained from the Poznan Half Marathon pilot study and recommendations for future lines of research. Such results will allow us to understand the motivation behind modern young amateur athletes and to better manage mass sports events that target children and adolescents.

Motivation for different physical activities: a comparison among sports, exercises and body/movement practices

Despite the well-known benefits for health, low levels of physical activity (PA) remain a public health issue. Research on motives for engaging in different PA shows differences in motives for Sports and Exercises. However, few studies addressed motives using more categories of PA. In this research, we investigated motives for four categories of PA (Individual Sports, Collective Sports, Exercises, and Body/Movement Practices), and possible effects of sex and age among 1,420 physically active individuals. Respondents answered the Motivation for Physical Activity Measure Revised. Intrinsic motives were higher for Sports, while Exercisers were motivated more extrinsically. Body/Movement Practices, although being composed of several activities defined by previous studies as Exercises, showed a motivational pattern closer to Sports. Fitness/Health motivation increased with age, while Appearance motivation decreased. Regarding sex, women reported higher Interest/Enjoyment than men. Our results can have implications for physical activities promotion, especially considering more categories than Sports/Exercises in the context of different motives.

An Optimal Self-Report Physical Activity Measure for Older Adults: Does Physical Function Matter?

The authors compared two self-report measures of physical activity, the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) and the Community Healthy Activities Model Program for Seniors (CHAMPS), against the device-derived SenseWear Armband (SWA), to identify a recommended self-report tool to measure physical activity in older adults across physical function levels. A total of 65 community-dwelling older adults completed the PASE, CHAMPS, and seven full days of SWA wear. The authors measured physical function using the modified short physical performance battery (SPPB) and a usual-paced 6-m walk. Age- and sex-adjusted Spearman correlations showed that CHAMPS and SWA were correlated in higher functioning participants (SPPB: ρ = .33, p = .03; gait speed: ρ = .40, p = .006) and also correlated in lower functioning participants for SPPB (ρ = .70, p = .003) only. PASE and SWA were not significantly correlated across physical function. When an objective measure of physical activity is not practical, the CHAMPS questionnaire appears to capture physical activity for older adults across physical function levels.

How Do Neighbourhood Definitions Influence the Associations between Built Environment and Physical Activity?

Researchers investigating relationships between the neighbourhood environment and health first need to decide on the spatial extent of the neighbourhood they are interested in. This decision is an important and ongoing methodological challenge since different methods of defining and delineating neighbourhood boundaries can produce different results. This paper explores this issue in the context of a New Zealand-based study of the relationship between the built environment and multiple measures of physical activity. Geographic information systems were used to measure three built environment attributes—dwelling density, street connectivity, and neighbourhood destination accessibility—using seven different neighbourhood definitions (three administrative unit boundaries, and 500, 800, 1000- and 1500-m road network buffers). The associations between the three built environment measures and five measures of physical activity (mean accelerometer counts per hour, percentage time in moderate–vigorous physical activity, self-reported walking for transport, self-reported walking for recreation and self-reported walking for all purposes) were modelled for each neighbourhood definition. The combination of the choice of neighbourhood definition, built environment measure, and physical activity measure determined whether evidence of an association was detected or not. Results demonstrated that, while there was no single ideal neighbourhood definition, the built environment was most consistently associated with a range of physical activity measures when the 800-m and 1000-m road network buffers were used. For the street connectivity and destination accessibility measures, associations with physical activity were less likely to be detected at smaller scales (less than 800 m). In line with some previous research, this study demonstrated that the choice of neighbourhood definition can influence whether or not an association between the built environment and adults’ physical activity is detected or not. This study additionally highlighted the importance of the choice of built environment attribute and physical activity measures. While we identified the 800-m and 1000-m road network buffers as the neighbourhood definitions most consistently associated with a range of physical activity measures, it is important that researchers carefully consider the most appropriate type of neighbourhood definition and scale for the particular aim and participants, especially at smaller scales.

Laisvalaikiu besimankštinančių asmenų maisto papildų, mažinančių kūno masę, vartojimas: susijusių veiksnių analizė

Maisto papildų, mažinančių kūno masę, vartojimas gali būti žalingas sveikatai dėl abejotino kai kurių preparatų veiksmingumo ir saugumo. Nepaisant to, nuo 7 iki 33% amerikiečių yra bent kartą gyvenime vartoję šiuos preparatus. Jų vartojimo paplitimas besimankštinančių populiacijose nežinomas, nors yra studijų, nurodančių, kad kas antras sportuotojas vartoja maisto papildus. Tyrimų, nagrinėjančių šių maisto papildų vartojimo paplitimą, yra nepakanka-mai, dar mažiau jų atlikta analizuojant šių preparatų vartojimo ryšius su mankštinimosi motyvacijos, tikslų ir nerimo dėl socialinio išvaizdos priėmimo veiksniais. Tyrimo tikslas — nustatyti sveikatingumo centruose besimankštinančių asmenų maisto papildų, mažinančių kūno masę vartojimo paplitimą ir atlikti susijusių veiksnių analizę. Tyrimas buvo atliekamas 11 šalies sveikatingumo centrų, taikant anketavimo metodą. Išanalizuoti 217 tiriamųjų (iš jų — 66 moterys) duomenys, amžiaus vidurkis — 29,02 ± 9,9 m. Anketą sudarė demografi nių, su mankštinimusi ir kūno masę mažinančių maisto papildų (MP) vartojimu susijusių klausimų blokas. Mankštinimosi motyvai buvo nustatomi remiantis klausimynu (angl. Motives for Physical Activity Measure — Revised, MPAM — R) (Frederick, Ryan, 1993). Nerimas dėl socialinio išvaizdos priėmimo (NSIP) buvo nustatytas Nerimo dėl socialinio išvaizdos priėmimo skale (angl. Social Physique Anxiety Scale) (Hart et al., 1989).Iš visos tiriamosios imties MP per pastaruosius du mėnesius vartojo 16,3% respondentų, daugiau moterų negu vyrų (p = 0,01). Išoriniai mankštinimosi motyvai nebuvo susiję su dažnesniu maisto papildų vartojimu. Logistinė regresinė analizė atskleidė, kad kontroliuojant lyties efektą NSIP ir mankštinimosi dėl riebalų mažinimo tikslas buvo susiję su dažnesniu maisto papildų vartojimu (p < 0,05).Besimankštinantys asmenys kūno masę kontroliuoja sveikatai žalingu būdu, todėl būtina stiprinti jo prevenciją ma-žinant besimankštinančių asmenų nerimą dėl socialinio išvaizdos priėmimo ir mankštinimosi dėl riebalų mažinimo motyvų sureikšminimą. Rezultatų negalima apibendrinti dėl mažos tiriamųjų imties, reikalingi tolesni tyrimai.Raktažodžiai: maisto papildai, mankštinimosi motyvai, nerimas dėl socialinio išvaizdos priėmimo.

Besimankštinančių asmenų demografinių veiksnių ir mankštinimosi motyvų sąsajos su valgymo sutrikimų rizika

Atlikta daugybė tyrimų, atskleidžiančių, kad valgymo sutrikimai labiau paplitę tarp profesionaliai sportuojančių (ypač kultivuojančių estetines sporto šakas) negu bendroje populiacijoje. Naujausi tyrimai atskleidžia, kad asmenys, besimankštinantys sveikatingumo centruose, dažniau kenčia nuo valgymo sutrikimų nei kitur sportuojantys. Nemažai tyrimų atlikta tiriant vaikų, jaunimo ir studentų mankštinimosi motyvacijos, valgymo sutrikimų rizikos ryšius, tačiau mažiau žinoma, kaip demografi niai bei mankštinimosi veiksniai gali būti susiję su besimankštinančių suaugusių asmenų, ypač vyrų, valgymo sutrikimų rizika.Šio tyrimo tikslas — nustatyti, kaip demografi niai (lytis, amžius, išsilavinimas) ir mankštinimosi (motyvacija, stažas) veiksniai susiję su besimankštinančių asmenų valgymo sutrikimų rizika.Tyrimo imtis ir organizavimas. Tyrimas buvo atliekamas 2008 metų pavasarį keliuose Kauno sveikatingumo centruose, taikant apklausos raštu metodą. Iš viso buvo analizuoti 239 tiriamųjų duomenys, iš jų — 81 vyras (amžiaus vidurkis (SD) 30,8 ± 8,9 m.). Tyrimo instrumentas. Anketą sudarė demografi nių klausimų blokas. Valgymo sutrikimų rizika nustatyta taikant Po-žiūrio į valgymą testą (Eating Attitude Test-26, Garner, 1982). Mankštinimosi motyvacija buvo nustatoma remiantis apsisprendimo teorijos pagrindu sukurtu klausimynu (angl. Motives for Physical Activity Measure-Revised; MPAM-R) (Frederick, Ryan, 1993). Rezultatai. Bendras šios imties tiriamųjų valgymo sutrikimų rizikos balų vidurkis buvo 7,67 ± 8 balo. Į valgymo sutri-kimų rizikos grupę (surinko 20 ir daugiau balų) pakliuvo 21 (9,1%) tiriamasis, iš jų — 7 (8,64%) vyrai ir 14 (8,86%) moterų. Logistinė regresinė analizė atskleidė, kad mankštinimasis dėl išvaizdos (p < 0,05), ilgesnis mankštinimosi stažas (p > 0,05) ir mankštinimosi dažnis buvo susiję su didesne valgymo sutrikimų rizika (p > 0,05). Išvados. Valgymo sutrikimų rizika yra paplitęs reiškinys tarp besimankštinančių asmenų. Moteriška lytis, amžius ir aukštesnis išsilavinimas nėra reikšmingai susiję su sveikatingumo centruose besimankštinančių asmenų valgymo su-trikimų rizika. Mankštinimasis dėl išvaizdos gerinimo motyvo yra svarbiausias valgymo sutrikimus prognozuojantis veiksnys (p < 0,05). Tyrimas pagrindžia prevencinių programų bei vidinės motyvacijos stiprinimo būtinybę sveika-tingumo centruose ir atskleidžia šių programų reikalingumą vyrams.Raktažodžiai: valgymo sutrikimai, fizinis aktyvumas, mankštinimosi motyvacija.

Understanding the Motives of Undertaking Physical Activity with Different Levels of Intensity among Adolescents: Results of the INDARES Study

Background. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the motives for undertaking physical activity (PA) and the intensity of PA in Polish adolescents. Methods. The study included 1,231 students, 515 boys (age 16.2 ± 0.7 years) and 716 girls (age 16.3 ± 0.6 years). The participants were recruited from secondary schools in 20 conurbations throughout Poland. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Long Form and the Motives for Physical Activity Measure-Revised were used. Results. In boys, all motives predicted a 10.4% variance in vigorous intensity of PA (F(5, 509) = 11.822, p < .001). Higher scores on competence and appearance motives for PA were found to be predictors of higher level of vigorous intensity of PA. In girls, all motives explained a 7.4% variance in vigorous intensity of PA (F(5, 710) = 11.292, p < .001). Higher scores on competence and appearance motives for PA were found to be predictors of higher level of vigorous intensity of PA. Conclusions. This study shows that competence and appearance related motives for PA are important motivations for Polish adolescent girls and boys in undertaking vigorous intensity PA.