Association between 24-h movement guidelines and cardiometabolic health in Chilean adults

Associations of 24-hour movement guidelines adherence with fruit and vegetable intake in university students

Background

Unhealthy eating habits, such as low vegetable and fruit intake, are associated with many health problems. 24-h movement behaviors have been reported to be positively associated with numerous health-related outcomes. Despite the importance of these two modifiable lifestyle behaviors in building healthy habits in university students, there is a paucity of relevant research in this population. Therefore, this study aims to examine the correlation between compliance with 24-h movement guideline (24-h MG) and intake of fruits and vegetables (IFV) in Chinese university students.

Methods

This study investigated the relationship between the compliance with 24-h MG and IFV in 1,793 Chinese university students using a convenience sampling method online. Physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) were assessed by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form, while sleep was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. The Chinese version of the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II was used to measure IFV. Generalized linear models were applied to examine the correlation between compliance with the 24-h MG and eating habits.

Results

The proportion of participants who routinely consumed vegetables and fruits was 24.6% and 43.1%, respectively, while the proportion of meeting the three 24-h MG and a combination of any two guidelines was 27.8% and 40.1%, respectively. Meeting all three guidelines was associated with a greater IFV intake compared to not meeting either guideline. Meeting all three guidelines (OR = 2.42 [1.63, 3.58]) and the combination of moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) and sleep (OR = 2.06 [1.37, 3.10]) were positively associated with the frequency of vegetable consumption (p < 0.05). As well, meeting all three guidelines (OR = 2.06 [1.37, 3.10]), the combination of MVPA and sleep (OR = 1.72 [1.04, 2.84]), and sleep only (OR = 1.88 [1.21, 2.92]) were positively associated with fruits consumption (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Almost a third of the university students met the three 24-h MG, and compliance with all three guidelines was associated with a higher frequency of IFV. Furthermore, meeting the sleep guideline alone or in conjunction with the PA, and meeting the entire 24-h MG was associated with greater consumption of fruits.

Study protocol and rationale of "the UP project": evaluating the effectiveness of active breaks on health indicators in desk-based workers

Background

Excessive sedentary time has been negatively associated with several health outcomes, and physical activity alone does not seem to fully counteract these consequences. This panorama emphasizes the essential of sedentary time interruption programs. "The Up Project" seeks to assess the effectiveness of two interventions, one incorporating active breaks led by a professional and the other utilizing a computer application (self-led), of both equivalent duration and intensity. These interventions will be compared with a control group to evaluate their impact on physical activity levels, sedentary time, stress perception, occupational pain, and cardiometabolic risk factors among office workers.

Methods

This quasi-experimental study includes 60 desk-based workers from universities and educational institutes in Valparaiso, Chile, assigned to three groups: (a) booster breaks led by professionals, (b) computer prompts that are unled, and (c) a control group. The intervention protocol for both experimental groups will last 12 weeks (only weekdays). The following measurements will be performed at baseline and post-intervention: cardiometabolic risk based on body composition (fat mass, fat-free mass, and bone mass evaluated by DXA), waist circumference, blood pressure, resting heart rate, and handgrip strength. Physical activity and sedentary time will be self-reported and device-based assessed using accelerometry. Questionnaires will be used to determine the perception of stress and occupational pain.

Discussion

Governments worldwide are addressing health issues associated with sedentary behavior, particularly concerning individuals highly exposed to it, such as desk-based workers. Despite implementing certain strategies, there remains a noticeable gap in comprehensive research comparing diverse protocols. For instance, studies that contrast the outcomes of interventions led by professionals with those prompted by computers are scarce. This ongoing project is expected to contribute to evidence-based interventions targeting reduced perceived stress levels and enhancing desk-based employees' mental and physical well-being. The implications of these findings could have the capacity to lay the groundwork for future public health initiatives and government-funded programs.

Associations of meeting 24-h movement guidelines and metabolic syndrome in Korean adults during the COVID-19 pandemic

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to investigate the association between adherence to 24-h movement guidelines and metabolic syndrome (MetS) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

STUDY DESIGN

Repeated cross-sectional design.

METHODS

We selected 10,882 adults (2019: n = 5710; 2020: n = 5172) aged ≥20 years from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Domain-specific physical activity and sedentary behavior were assessed using a global physical activity questionnaire. We also measured the typical sleep duration (h/day) on weekdays and weekends. MetS was defined as the presence of more than three risk factors.

RESULTS

During the COVID-19 pandemic, transportation-related physical activity decreased, while the prevalence of abdominal obesity (+3.3 %) and low HDL-C levels (+3.1 %) increased significantly. An elevated risk of MetS was observed in the lower aerobic (odds ratio [OR], 1.28; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-1.58; P = 0.019) and muscular exercise (OR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.04-1.66; P = 0.023) groups and in the high sedentary behavior (OR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.00-1.51; P = 0.049) during the pandemic. Sensitivity analysis stratified by sex showed similar patterns with more pronounced changes in MetS components in males. The models also showed significant associations between aerobic physical activity, strength exercises, and sedentary behavior with MetS in males and females.

CONCLUSIONS

Although sedentary behavior and sleep time remained unchanged, a significant decrease in transportation-related physical activity was observed during the pandemic. Moreover, our findings revealed that aerobic physical activity, strength exercise, and sedentary time during the pandemic were associated with an increased MetS risk. These results highlight the importance of promoting physical activity, particularly during periods of social restriction, to mitigate the pandemic's negative effects on metabolic health.

Prevalence and association of compliance with the Canadian 24-hour movement guidelines with sociodemographic aspects in Brazilian adults: a cross-sectional epidemiological study

BACKGROUND

The physical inactivity is a global health concern, so that recommendations on sufficient physical activity levels are elaborated worldwide, such as in Brazil. However, the Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines were first in the world to consider time-specific recommendations for physical activity, sedentary behavior and sleep, which is still not developed for Latin-American population. The present study aimed to verify the adherence to Canadian 24-hour guidelines in a Brazilian inner city and to analyze its association with sociodemographic aspects.

METHODS

A cross-sectional epidemiological study, with a sample composed by 250 adults (140 women), with a median age of 41.0 years. Objective measures of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary behavior were collected by accelerometry. Sleep duration and sociodemographic aspects (ethnicity, gender, age, educational attainment and socioeconomic level) were obtained through a face-to-face questionnaire. Canadian 24-hour guidelines considered ≥ 150 min/week of MVPA, <8 h/day of sedentary behavior and daily sleep time between 7 and 9 h, being analyzed separately and in combination. Poisson regression with robust variance estimator was used to analyze the prevalence ratio (PR) of meeting the 24-hour guidelines according to the categories of sociodemographic variables, being performed by the software IBM SPSS version 25.0.

RESULTS

The complete 24-hour guidelines were met only by 24.4% of sample (n = 61). Sedentary behavior was the most met guideline (88%), followed by MVPA (56.8%) and sleep (53.2%), without significant difference according to sex. When compared to elderly participants, those participants in younger groups (18-39 years and 40-59 years) were more likely to meet MVPA guideline (PR = 2.51 [95%CI = 1.47; 4.28] and PR = 2.60 [95%CI = 1.52; 4.45], respectively), as well as the combination of MVPA and sedentary behavior (PR = 1.98 [95%CI = 1.13; 3.44] and PR = 2.17 [95%CI = 1.25; 3.79], respectively) and MVPA with the sleep guideline (PR = 2.39 [95%CI = 1.09; 5.27] only for 18-39 years group). Men were more likely to meet MVPA guideline than women (PR = 1.29 [95%CI = 1.04; 1.59]).

CONCLUSION

Younger aged and male adults were more likely to meet the Canadian 24-hour guidelines in a small Brazilian city. However, further studies with larger and representative samples of sociodemographic stratum are still needed.

Combined association of physical activity and sitting time with cardiometabolic risk factors in Chilean adults

In this study we examined the combined association of physical activity and sitting time with cardiometabolic risk factors in adults in Chile. This is a cross-sectional study based on 3201 adults aged from 18 to 98 years from the Chilean National Health Survey (2016-2017) who responded to the GPAQ questionnaire. Participants were considered inactive if spent < 600 METs-min/wk^-1 in physical activity. High sitting time was defined as ≥ 8 h/day. We classified participants into the following 4 groups: active and low sitting time; active and high sitting time; inactive and low sitting time; inactive and high sitting time. The cardiometabolic risk factors considered were metabolic syndrome, body mass index, waist circumference, total cholesterol, and triglycerides. Multivariable logistic regression models were performed. Overall, 16.1% were classified as inactive and high sitting time. Compared to active participants with low sitting time, both inactive participants with low (OR: 1.51; 95% CI 1.10, 1.92) and high sitting time (1.66; 1.10, 2.22) had higher body mass index. Similar results were found for high waist circumference: inactive participants with low (1.57; 1.14, 2.00) and high sitting time (1.84; 1.25, 2.43). We found no combined association of physical activity and sitting time with metabolic syndrome, total cholesterol, and triglycerides. These findings may be useful to inform programs focused on obesity prevention in Chile.

Toward an Integrated Consideration of 24 h Movement Guidelines and Nutritional Recommendations

While physical activity, sleep and sedentary behaviors are almost always considered independently, they should be considered as integrated human behaviors. The 24 h Movement approach proposes a concomitant consideration of these behaviors to promote overall health. Not only do these behaviors impact energy expenditure, but they have also been shown to separately impact energy intake, which should be further explored when considering the entire integration of these movement behaviors under the 24 h movement approach. After an evaluation of the prevalence of meeting the 24 h Movement and dietary recommendations, this review summarizes the available evidence (using English publications indexed in PubMed/MEDLINE) regarding the association between the 24 h Movement Guidelines and eating habits. Altogether, the results clearly show the beneficial impact of promoting the 24 h guidelines simultaneously, highlighting that the higher the number of respected movement recommendations, the better eating behaviors in both children and adults. Importantly, our results point out the importance of emphasizing the need to reach sedentary guidelines for better eating habits. Movement and dietary behaviors appear closely related, and giving recommendations on one might impact the other. Combining the 24 h Movement with dietary Guidelines might be more efficient than promoting them separately in public health strategies.