The effect of 2 walking programs on aerobic fitness, body composition, and physical activity in sedentary office employees

Rationale for participation in university worksite wellness programs

Objective: To understand the wellness needs of university employees to design more effective and inclusive worksite wellness programs (WWP) for health promotion. Methods: Cross-sectional assessment of university employees' wellness needs (online survey, n = 639). Results: Employees were most interested in physical activity (PA), nutrition, and lifestyle WWP. Principal barriers to participation were time, scheduling, location, motivation, and confidentiality concerns. Significant correlations exist between having a diagnosed health condition and the likelihood of participating in related programs. 67.1% of past participation was predicted by (1) health status today versus last year, (2) use of university recreational facilities, (3) gender, (4) general health status, (5) PA in the past month, (6) faculty/staff, and (7) age. Conclusions: Our findings contribute to building a road map of how-to better design university WWP based on understanding participation predictors, barriers/facilitators, and the influence of health status/conditions on topics of interest/participation. Tailoring WWP to meet employees' needs may increase reach, engagement and promote a health culture.

A Cross-Sectional Study on Self-Perceived Health and Physical Activity Level in the Spanish Population

One-third of the Spanish population over 15 years of age did not achieve a reasonable amount of physical activity (PA) before the COVID-19 pandemic. We aim to analyse the associations between the PA level (PAL) and self-perceived health (SPH) in the Spanish population aged 15−69 years during the pre-pandemic period. A cross-sectional study was conducted using the Spanish National Health Survey 2017 (ENSE 2017) data, with 17,777 participants. We carried out a descriptive analysis, analysed intergroup differences with non-parametric statistical tests, and calculated the Odds Ratio (OR) and Relative Risk (RR) of having a negative SPH according to PAL. In addition, correlations between PAL and SPH were studied, finding associations between them (p < 0.001). Thus, performing moderate and intense PA was related to better SPH than just walking or inactive. Weak and moderate correlations were found between PAL and SPH (p < 0.001). We also found high ORs and RRs of negative SPH as PAL decreased. Moderate and intense PA were related to positive SPH, while the risk of negative perception in inactive people was higher.

Defining Continuous Walking Events in Free-Living Environments: Mind the Gap

In free-living environments, continuous walking can be challenging to achieve without encountering interruptions, making it difficult to define a continuous walking event. While limited research has been conducted to define a continuous walking event that accounts for interruptions, no method has considered the intensity change caused by these interruptions, which is crucial for achieving the associated health outcomes. A sample of 24 staff members at the University of Salford were recruited. The participants wore an accelerometer-based device (activPAL™) for seven days continuously and completed an activity diary, to explore a novel methodological approach of combining short interruptions of time between walking events based on an average walking cadence. The definition of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) used was a minimum walking cadence of either 76, 100, or 109 steps/min. The average daily time spent in MVPA increased from 75.2 ± 32.6 min to 86.5 ± 37.4 min using the 76 steps/min, 48.3 ± 29.5 min to 53.0 ± 33.3 min using the 100 steps/min threshold, and 31.4 ± 20.5 min to 33.9 ± 22.6 min using the 109 steps/min threshold; the difference before grouping and after grouping was statistically significant (p < 0.001). This novel method will enable future analyses of the associations between continuous walking and health-related outcomes.

Effects of Long-Term Regular Continuous and Intermittent Walking on Oxidative Stress, Metabolic Profile, Heart Rate Variability, and Blood Pressure in Older Adults with Hypertension

It is documented that regular exercise is beneficial for improving the antioxidant system, metabolic system, cardiac autonomic function, and blood pressure in those with hypertension. In this regard, low-intensity exercise is recommended for older adults, particularly those with chronic diseases. This study aimed to compare the effects of long-term regular continuous walking with intermittent walking on oxidative stress, metabolic profile, heart rate variability, and blood pressure in older adults with hypertension. Forty-three participants with hypertension aged 60–80 years were randomly divided into the continuous or intermittent walking (CON or INT) groups. Participants in the CON group walked for 30 min, 3 days/week for 12 weeks. Participants in the INT group split 30 min walking into 3 identical sessions punctuated by a 1 min rest after each session, 3 days/week for 12 weeks. Antioxidant and oxidative stress markers, metabolic markers, heart rate variability, and blood pressure were evaluated before and after the exercise program. Glutathione (GSH), GSH to GSH disulfide (GSSG) ratio, and total GSH increased significantly, and GSSG and malondialdehyde decreased significantly in both groups ( $p<0.05$ ) without significant differences between groups. Triglycerides, ratio of total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and atherosclerogenic index were significantly lower in the CON group than those in the INT group ( $p<0.05$ ). The standard deviation of the NN intervals and root mean square of the successive differences were significantly higher, and low-frequency power was significantly lower in the INT group than that in the CON group ( $p<0.05$ ). No significant changes in blood pressure were noted in both groups, and nor were there any significant differences between groups. Long-term regular continuous and intermittent walking may comparably increase antioxidants, reduce oxidative stress, and be beneficial for improving important blood pressure-related outcomes, including metabolic profile or cardiac autonomic function in older adults with hypertension.

Longer leisure walking time is associated with positive self-rated health among adults and older adults: a Brazilian nationwide study

Background

To verify the association between weekly leisure walking time and positive self-rated health in the Brazilian adult and elderly population.

Methods

This cross-sectional study used information collected in 2019 across all regions of Brazil. This study included 25,785 people aged ≥ 18 years (mean = 51.6; standard deviation = 18.0) from all capitals of the Brazilian states who reported practicing walking as physical activity during leisure time. Self-rated health was the dependent variable (positive or negative). The leisure walking time/week was the main exposure and it was categorized in “150 minutes/week”, “150–299 minutes/week” and “≥ 300 minutes/week”. We used binary logistic regression to estimate odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) that was adjusted for relevant covariates.

Results

We found that individuals who reported leisure walking for a period from 150 to 299 minutes/week and those who reported walking for a period ≥ 300 minutes/week were respectively 28% (OR = 1.28. 95% CI [1.10–1.48]) and 52% (OR = 1.52. 95% CI [1.27–1.82]) more likely of perceiving their health positively compared to those who reported walking for a period < 150 minutes/week. Individuals who reported leisure walking time <150 minutes/week had 72.3% (95% CI [70.4–74.1]) probability of perceiving their health positively. Individuals who reported leisure walking time from 150 to 299 minutes/week had 76.6% (95% CI [75.0 –78.3) probability of perceiving their health positively. On the other hand, individuals who reported leisure walking time ≥ 300 minutes/week had 79.2% probability (95% CI [77.1–81.4]) of perceiving their health positively.

Conclusion

Longer leisure walking time was associated with positive self-rated health among adults and older adults in Brazil.

Effects of Accumulated Short Bouts of Exercise on Weight and Obesity Indices in Adults: A Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVE

To compile and quantify the effectiveness of accumulated short-bout exercise interventions on reducing the obesity indices in adults using meta-analysis.

DATA SOURCE

PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and SportDiscus.

STUDY INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION CRITERIA

(1) Description of a short-bout exercise trial (<30 minutes); (2) obesity indices must be measured pre- and postintervention; and (3) only adults and published in English.

DATA EXTRACTION

Two independent reviewers extracted data and assessed the quality of the studies included. Of 3257 articles retrieved, 18 studies met the inclusion criteria. Based on the Downs and Black checklist, the methodological quality of the included studies was fairly robust.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Pooled effect sizes (ESs) were calculated using a random effects model.

RESULTS

Average intervention length was approximately 16 weeks (ranged from 4 to 72 weeks). All weighted mean ES values for each obesity index measure were non-negative, ranging from small to large (ES = 0.33-0.96) in magnitude. Weighted mean ES for body mass (BM; n = 18; ES = 0.51, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.22-0.80), body mass index (BMI; n = 13; ES = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.24-0.97), waist circumference (n = 9; ES = 0.44, 95% CI = 0.15-0.73), body fat percentage (BF%; n = 8; ES = 0.33, 95% CI = 0.09-0.58), skinfold (n = 7; ES = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.39 -1.53), and fat mass (FM; n = 6; ES = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.21-0.90) were statistically significant. Moderator effects of intervention length (weeks) were observed for BM (Q_between [Cochran's Q: a measure of heterogeneity between studies] = 6.83, P < .05); BMI (Q_between = 13.93, P < .05); and FM (Q_between = 10.41, P < .05). Intervention length >10 weeks was more effective than shorter (≤10) intervention period for reducing BM, BMI, and FM.

CONCLUSION

Accumulated short bouts of exercise have a beneficial effect on reducing the obesity indices among adults. The current study can help health researchers and practitioners in designing their intervention programs, which can be applied within schools, clinics, and communities.