Advancing the science of sedentary behavior measurement

Hypertension risk pathways in urban built environment: the case of Yuhui District, Bengbu City, China

Introduction

The rapid development of urbanization has brought about changes in residents' living environment and behavior, leading to health challenges such as hypertension. An improvement in the built-up environment in the community could contribute to the construction of a healthy city, promote the active life of the residents, and prevent and relieve hypertension. However, there is little research on the relationship between the built environment of the community and hypertension. This cross-sectional study aims to evaluate the relationship between communities' built environment, health behavior, and hypertension grade of residents in Yuhui District of Bengbu City.

Methods

This study is based on data from the 2022 Health Survey of Residents in 21 communities. To investigate the impact of the community's built environment on residents' hypertension and the underlying mechanisms, regression and structural equation modeling were employed.

Results and discussion

The results show that the built environment of urban communities has a significant impact on the residents' hypertension. The presence of high densities of supermarkets, convenience stores, parks and plazas, but low densities of clinics and hospitals, has been identified as a significant risk factor for the development of high blood pressure among the residents. Nevertheless, the adoption of healthy behaviors, including regular walking, physical activity, and a diet rich in fruit and vegetables, can play an important role in reducing the risk of hypertension. The findings of this study show that enhancements to the built environment in urban neighborhoods could contribute to a reduction in the prevalence of hypertension among residents. Furthermore, the implementation of efficacious health interventions in urban settings would facilitate the alteration of residents' health behaviors and enhance their overall health status.

The impact of a change in work posture from seated to stand-up on work-related musculoskeletal disorders among sewing-machine operators

BACKGROUND

Work-related postural change could lead to improved musculoskeletal health.

METHOD(S)

In a quantitative, retrospective, longitudinal study, data of work-related musculoskeletal disorders of 123 sewing-machine operators were captured for 4.5 years, and analysed using Poisson regression.

RESULTS

Stand-up work posture (SUWP) reduced the incidence for spinal disorders (SD) to 0.29 fold the incidence for sitting work posture (SWP) (P < 0.001). Morbid obesity had significantly increased (P = 0.04) incidence of upper limb disorders (ULD), 3.35 times that of normal body mass index (BMI) (regardless of work posture). SUWP was associated with increased IRR (1.49) for lower limb disorders (LLD). LLDs were associated with obesity (overweight (IRR = 2.58; P = 0.08), obese (IRR = 2.45; P = 0.09), and morbidly obese (IRR = 6.24; P = 0.001)).

CONCLUSIONS

The protective benefit of the SUWP was statistically significant for SD incidence. Owing to high mean BMI, SUWP had a negative impact on the incidence of LLDs for the first 2 months.

Pain rather than self-reported sedentary time explains variation in perceived health and activity limitation in persons with rheumatoid arthritis: a cross sectional study in Sweden

To investigate (1) the amount of self-reported time spent sedentary among a large cohort of persons with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and (2) the contribution of sedentary time to explain perceived health and activity limitation in RA beyond that of previously known correlates. This cross-sectional study used data from a postal questionnaire and the Swedish Rheumatology Quality registers (SRQ). The International Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to assess sedentary time (sitting) and moderate, vigorous and walking activity (MVPA). Sociodemographics, pain, fatigue, fear-avoidance beliefs, anxiety/depression, disease duration, MVPA and sedentary time were included in multiple regression models with perceived health (Visual Analogue Scale 0-100) and activity limitation (Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire) as dependent variables.

RESULTS

In all 3152 (59%) of 5391 persons identified as eligible from the SRQ, responded to the questionnaire. 2819 individuals with complete data on all study variables were analysed. Mean time (SD) spent sedentary was 257 (213) minutes per day. Sedentary time did not contribute significantly to explain perceived health and only minimally to explain activity limitation. Instead, variation was mainly explained by pain; for perceived health (Beta = 0.780, p < 0.001) and for activity limitation (Beta = 0.445, p < 0.001).The results indicate a non-significant role of sedentary time and a need for increased focus on pain in the management of RA. Future studies should use prospective designs and objective assessment methods to further investigate the associations between sedentary time and health outcomes in persons with RA.

Screen Time, Other Sedentary Behaviours, and Obesity Risk in Adults: A Review of Reviews

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The aim of this paper is to assess the association between sedentary behaviours, including screen time, and risk of obesity in adults. A review of 10 systematic reviews was undertaken.

RECENT FINDINGS

Available evidence is generally not supportive of associations between sedentary behaviour and obesity in adults. Most studies that found significant associations indicated mostly small effect sizes. Somewhat more consistent associations were shown for screen time (mainly TV viewing), among older adults, and for pre-adult sedentary behaviour to increase the risk of obesity in adulthood. Some evidence also exists for breaks in sedentary time to be associated with a more favourable BMI, and for use of a car to be associated with greater risk of obesity. There is limited evidence for an association between sedentary behaviour in adulthood and obesity and any association that exists does not seem to be causal. Future research is required investigating potentially positive effects for frequent breaks from sitting, less car use, and an uncoupling of TV viewing and dietary intake.

Is sedentary behaviour unhealthy and if so, does reducing it improve this?

PURPOSE

To provide a qualitative synthesis of the available literature on the role of sedentary behavior in health.

AIMS

We sought to determine if (i) being sedentary 'causes' health problems and (ii) interventions to reduce sedentary behavior improve health status.

METHODS

PubMed and Google Scholar databases were utilized. Manuscripts published from 2001 to 2015 using specific keyword combinations (eg sedentary behavior, physical activity, sitting, intervention) were included and qualitatively reviewed.

RESULTS

Data is suggestive of an association of sedentary behavior and negative health indicators. The association between sedentary behavior and mortality is stronger. There is some limited evidence suggesting short-term health benefit to reducing sedentary behavior.

DISCUSSION

Evidence linking sedentary behavior to negative health outcomes is incomplete and often largely associational in nature thus not allowing for causal inference. In addition, interventional literature frequently fails to measure health outcomes, relying instead on the erroneous endpoint of changing sedentary behavior alone.

CONCLUSION

Taken as a whole the literature is suggestive that there may be value in reducing sedentary behavior to have modest impact on health. However, the magnitude of the benefit appears minor and must be considered before making largescale and potentially costly clinical and public health recommendations.

Development of the System for Observing Student Movement in Academic Routines and Transitions (SOSMART)

National attention on whole-of-school approaches to decrease children's sedentary behavior and increase physical activity includes movement integration (MI) in classrooms. The purpose of this study was to describe instrument development, reliability, and validity of the System for Observing Student Movement in Academic Routines and Transitions (SOSMART), designed to assess MI in elementary classrooms. An a priori conceptual framework was developed based on existing literature. The framework was expanded/refined using videos from elementary classrooms and a Delphi survey. The survey, sent to 85 experts, yielded a 38% response rate. The final system includes 11 MI variables (three categories of teacher variables, two categories of student variables) and uses a 20-second continuous interval recording format. Reliability and validity data were collected in 12 classrooms across four elementary schools. Instrument reliability was tested using interval-by-interval percentage agreement for each category. Construct validity was tested by estimating multilevel random effects logistic regression models comparing student accelerometer derived activity with the presence/absence of each MI variable. Intraobserver reliability resulted in 97.5% agreement and exceeded 80% on all variables. Construct validity was supported for 8 out of 11 MI variables. SOSMART can provide valid, reliable, and objective data about MI in elementary schools.

Top 10 research questions related to assessing physical activity and its contexts using systematic observation

Numerous methods are available to assess physical activity (PA) but systematic observation (SO) excels in being able to provide contextually rich data on the setting in which the activity occurs. As SO is particularly useful for determining how activity is influenced by the immediate physical and social environments, its use is becoming more popular. Observation tools have the advantages of flexibility, high internal validity, low inference, and low participant burden, while their disadvantages include the need for careful observer training and recalibration, inaccessibility to certain environments, and potential participant reactivity. There is a need for both scientists and practitioners to have additional information on observation techniques and systems relative to making environmental and policy decisions about PA, and in this article, we describe concepts and identify questions related to using SO in researching PA behavior. We present 10 general questions in 3 sections, including those related to: (a) ensuring data accuracy through the selection of the most appropriate methodological protocols; (b) investigating PA in school settings, including physical education, recess, and other programs; and (c) investigating PA in community settings (e.g., parks, recreation centers, youth and adult sport programs) and homes.

Reliability and Validity of 2 Self-Report Measures to Assess Sedentary Behavior in Older Adults

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of 2 currently available physical activity surveys for assessing time spent in sedentary behavior (SB) in older adults.

METHODS

Fifty-eight adults (≥65 years) completed the Yale Physical Activity Survey for Older Adults (YPAS) and Community Health Activities Model Program for Seniors (CHAMPS) before and after a 10-day period during which they wore an ActiGraph accelerometer (ACC). Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) examined test-retest reliability. Overall percent agreement and a kappa statistic examined YPAS validity. Lin's concordance correlation, Pearson correlation, and Bland-Altman analysis examined CHAMPS validity.

RESULTS

Both surveys had moderate test-retest reliability (ICC: YPAS = 0.59 (P < .001), CHAMPS = 0.64 (P < .001)) and significantly underestimated SB time. Agreement between YPAS and ACC was low (κ = -0.0003); however, there was a linear increase (P < .01) in ACC-derived SB time across YPAS response categories. There was poor agreement between ACC-derived SB and CHAMPS (Lin's r = .005; 95% CI, -0.010 to 0.020), and no linear trend across CHAMPS quartiles (P = .53).

CONCLUSIONS

Neither of the surveys should be used as the sole measure of SB in a study; though the YPAS has the ability to rank individuals, providing it with some merit for use in correlational SB research.