The complex pattern of the effects of prolonged frequent exercise on appetite control, and implications for obesity

Determinants of Engagement in Leisure-Time Physical Activity and Club Sports among University Students: A Large-Scale Study

Various socio-demographic, environmental, and lifestyle-related factors have been reported to be associated with physical activity (PA) habits. However, there exist insufficient data comparing different forms of engagement in PA, sports, and exercise. This study aimed to investigate potential factors associated with the engagement in leisure-time PA (LPA) and club sports (CSs) in a large sample of college/university students. This Austria-wide study followed a cross-sectional design with a final sample of 4508 participants (mean age: 24.9 years; 65.9% female) from 52 Austrian colleges/universities. A standardized survey was used to collect data on demographics, anthropometric characteristics, and a wide range of health-related lifestyle factors, including patterns of PA and underlying motivations for PA engagement as well as details of dietary habits, sleep routines, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Descriptive statistics, chi-squared, logistic regression, and MANCOVA were used for data analysis. Across the entire sample, 85.7% of participants reported regular participation in LPA, including 22.5% who were active members of sports clubs. Of the 36 potential motives listed in the questionnaire, "maintaining physical health", "feeling good", and "refreshing the mind" were the most commonly reported factors motivating students to engage in either LPA or CSs. Ten socio-demographic, dietary, or lifestyle factors were identified as predictors of CSs participation (p < 0.01), whereas only two variables (specifically sleep-related factors) were identified as predictors of LPA participation (p < 0.001). These findings emphasize the importance of considering the type of PA and sport participation and the associated determinants when designing tailored strategies to promote an active lifestyle.

Evaluation of the efficacy of a light ration adapted to cold weather during a 20-day expedition in Greenland

INTRODUCTION

Limiting body mass loss during military expeditions/training in the cold by providing rations containing easy-to-use, highly palatable, and familiar foods is feasible, but the bulk/weight is too high to be realistically used in a military context. We carried out an analysis of lighter rations adapted to cold weather (1,011 g, 15.7 MJ/3750 kcal) during a 20-day expedition in Greenland.

METHODS

Ten French soldiers daily reported all foods and beverages consumed, the reasons they did not consume certain foods, the palatability of each consumed food, the timing of intake, and the sensation of hunger using a diary.

RESULTS

Although energy intake increased in the 3rd week (vs 1st week; p = 0.015), it was insufficient to prevent the loss of body mass (-4.2 ± 1.9 kg, p = 0.002). More extensive analyses showed that 1) energy intake increased only during dinner (p = 0.024) and that hunger levels continued to increase before dinner (p = 0.029), 2) palatability increased during the 3rd week (vs 1st week) especially for savory day foods (p< 0.001), and 3) lack of hunger and lack of appeal (33 % each) were the main reasons for not consuming certain items.

CONCLUSION

Soldiers placed in total autonomy during a 20-day expedition in the cold and provided rations that were slightly undersized but adapted for cold conditions, surprisingly, remained picky, leading to large losses of body mass. Our results suggest a margin for improvement to stimulate spontaneous food intake. For example, more energy-dense and savory foods during the day and the replacement of certain disliked items.