Nuances between sedentary behavior and physical inactivity: cardiometabolic effects and cardiovascular risk

Psychometric evaluation of the pictorial scale of perceived movement skill competence in Chinese children: An item response theory analysis

AIM

This study aimed to investigate the psychometric characteristics of the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Movement Skill Competence (PMSC) in Chinese children, utilizing the principles of item response theory (IRT).

METHODS

A total of 284 children (147 boys), aged 4-10 years (Mage = 7.39, SD = 2.18), from four schools were recruited for testing, adhering to the principle of random sampling. The Rasch model was applied to evaluate the rating scale validity, local independence, scale dimensionality, person and item fit statistics, and differential item functioning (DIF).

RESULTS

(1) The rating scale validity was confirmed by the monotonically increasing trend in both average item difficulty measures and Andrich thresholds. (2) However, the observation that standardized residual correlations for all items remained below 0.3 unequivocally confirmed the presence of local independence among the variables. (3) The scale's dimensions were substantiated, with Rasch measures explaining 40.6% of total variance, exceeding the 40% threshold. Additionally, the first contrast had an eigenvalue of 1.8 and explained 8.80% of the variance, both exceeding the minimum 3:1 ratio. Consequently, the unidimensionality assumption of the item was supported. (4) Person and item fit statistics indicated requisite reliability and separation, with all achieving suitable infit and outfit measures, and point-biserial correlations exceeding 0.55. (5) Regarding gender DIF, it was observed that the majority of items did not exhibit statistically significant gender DIF effects (p > 0.05) except item 8 (Bounce a ball, t = -2.74, p < 0.01, DIF = -0.51).

CONCLUSION

Rasch analysis revealed that the instrument exhibited strong scale validity among Chinese children, adhering to the Rasch model's unidimensionality and local independence principles, with robust person and item reliability and separation. All items demonstrated a good fit. Additionally, the significant gender difference in item 8 (Bounce a ball) warrants further consideration. In conclusion, PMSC is suitable for assessing the PMSC of Chinese children.

Assessing the impact of physical activity on reducing depressive symptoms: a rapid review

CONTEXT

The prevalence of depression among teenagers is a significant issue worldwide, which calls for a thorough investigation of non-drug treatments. This expedited evaluation examines 24 specifically chosen studies to clarify the correlation between physical activity depression symptoms in teenagers, undertaken following PRISMA principles.

METHODS

A wide range of research methods, including longitudinal studies, surveys, and cross-sectional analyses, were used in different nations to understand the intricate relationship between physical activity, sedentary behaviours, and depression symptoms. The data-gathering methods included standardised questionnaires, accelerometer measurements, and self-report instruments.

FINDINGS

The review highlights the crucial significance of engaging in physical activity to alleviate depression symptoms. Improved self-esteem consistently acts as a crucial intermediary between participation in physical activity and decreased rates of depression. Engaging in physical activity is a safeguard, particularly for individuals with restricted access to physical activity. In contrast, a sedentary lifestyle greatly increases the probability of developing moderate to severe symptoms of depression. Gender differences are apparent, with females being disproportionately impacted by depression. There are strong connections between engaging in physical activity and reducing symptoms of depression, which can be observed in various situations, such as participating in team sports or engaging in leisure activities.

CONCLUSION

This study provides insight into the potential of physical activity as a non-pharmacological approach to address adolescent depression. This highlights the significant impact of physical activity, which has important implications for public health programs aimed at improving the mental well-being of adolescents by promoting physical activity. It is crucial to do additional research that considers gender-specific variations and various physical activity circumstances to enhance our comprehension of this important matter.

Lifestyle, meal times, and sleep patterns changes in higher education professors during COVID-19: Association with non-communicable chronic diseases

BACKGROUND

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, educational institutions had to swiftly adapt and transition to remote teaching in order to maintain academic activities. However, these changes presented a number of challenges for professors, which could have negative effects on their health.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the association between changes in dietary and sleep habits, physical activity level, and sedentary behavior with the development of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among Brazilian higher education professors during the pandemic period.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional and retrospective study conducted using an online form. Generalized linear models, adjusted for age, sex, and body mass index, were used to verify the difference between pre-pandemic and pandemic periods. Logistic regression models were used to predict the odds ratio (OR) for the development of NCDs according to physical activity time, sedentary behavior time, dietary and sleep patterns.

RESULTS

A total of 936 professors residing across Brazil participated in the survey. The duration of sedentary behavior increased, sleep duration slightly decreased, and meal times shifted to earlier during the pandemic. A total of 22.9%of the participants reported the diagnosis of some NCDs during this period. Physical activity practice was associated with a lower risk of diseases during the pandemic, regardless of the intensity performed. On the other hand, late eating habits and excessive food consumption during the pandemic were associated with a higher risk.

CONCLUSION

The results provide data that can help in the development of public policies that promote health actions to minimize the consequences associated with the pandemic period.

Genetic liability to sedentary behavior in relation to myocardial infarction and heart failure: A mendelian randomization study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Observational studies have indicated that sedentary behavior is associated with myocardial infarction (MI), heart failure (HF), and atrial fibrillation (AF). Nevertheless, whether these associations are causal remain controversial, due to confounding factors (e.g., physical activity) and reverse causality.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Instrumental variables were obtained from the largest genome-wide association studies of sedentary behavior (408,815 individuals) to date. We obtained summary statistics of MI from the CARDIoGRAMplusC4D consortium (171,875 individuals), HF from the HERMES Consortium (977,323 individuals), and AF from the Atrial Fibrillation Consortium (588,190 individuals). The inverse-variance weighted method was applied to obtain Mendelian randomization (MR) estimates, and other statistical methods were conducted in the sensitivity analyses. The main analyses were repeated using data from the FinnGen study. Multivariable MR analysis and mediation analysis were performed to evaluate the role of physical activity and other confounders. Genetically determined television watching was associated with MI (odds ratio [OR], 1.38; 95% CI, 1.19-1.59; p = 1.9 × 10^-5) and HF (OR, 1.23; 95%CI, 1.09-1.38; p = 7.0 × 10^-4) but not AF. The main results kept robust in most sensitivity analyses. The effect of sedentary behavior on MI and HF was partly mediated by body mass index (BMI). No consistent evidence was found for the causal effect of computer use and driving on MI, HF, or AF.

CONCLUSIONS

Genetic liability to prolonged television watching is associated with higher risks of MI and HF. Interventions for reducing television watching time, such as public education and awareness campaigns, should be further investigated.

Echocardiographic Assessment of Left Ventricular Function 10 Years after the Ultra-Endurance Running Event Eco-Trail de Paris® 2011

Background: Regular and moderate physical activity is beneficial for physical and mental health, resulting in an increase in life expectancy for both sexes. From a cardiovascular point of view, although the benefits of regular moderate physical exercise have been established, the long-term effects of repeated ultra-endurance running events are still unknown. Hypothesis: The aim of our study is to evaluate the 10-year evolution of the parameters of the left ventricular systolic and diastolic functions of amateur subjects regularly practising ultra-endurance running events using resting echocardiography. Study design: Cross-sectional study. Level of evidence: Level 3—non-randomized controlled cohort/follow-up study. Methods: The 66 participants who participated in the 2011 edition of the Eco-Trail de Paris® were contacted by e-mail. Demographic data, sports practice, and the results of an echocardiography scan carried out during the year 2021 evaluating left ventricular systolic and diastolic function variables were collected. Echographic variables from 2011 and 2021 were compared using the paired Student’s t-test. Results: Forty-six (70%) participants responded positively. Twenty (30%) participants could not be reached and were not analysed. Of the 46 respondents, 42 (91%) provided data from a trans-thoracic cardiac ultrasound performed in 2021. Over the past 10 years, the participants reported having completed an average of 4 ± 2 ultra-trails per year. No significant differences were observed between left ventricular diastolic and systolic echocardiographic parameters between the years 2011 and 2021. Conclusions: Among amateur participants, long-distance running is not associated with an alteration in the echocardiographic parameters of resting left ventricular systolic and diastolic function after 10 years of practice. Clinical relevance: Long-term long-distance running practice is not associated with left ventricular cardiac function alteration. These results suggest a potential adaptation role of the cardiovascular system to regular and moderate long-distance running practice.

Status of Sedentary Time and Physical Activity of Rural Residents: A Cross-Sectional Population-Based Study in Eastern China

Background

The urbanization process may affect the lifestyle of rural residents in China. Limited information exists on the extent of sedentarism and physical activity (PA) level of rural residents in middle-income countries. This is the first survey on sedentary time (ST) and PA among rural residents in eastern China.

Methods

This cross-sectional observational study randomly samples rural adults from Zhejiang Province in eastern China (n = 1,320). Participants' ST and PA levels were determined from the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form through face-to-face interviews, and the influencing factors of PA levels were assessed through multi-class logistic regression analysis.

Results

The findings showed that the daily ST of the participants ranged from 30 to 660 min, with a median of 240 min (P25, P75:120, 240 min), and 54.6% of participants were sedentary for 240 min or above. The daily ST in men, people aged 18 to 44 years, people with bachelors' degree and above, people working for government agencies or institutions, people with unmarried status, and people with an average income of &lt; 2,000 Yuan was longer than that of other respective groups (p &lt; 0.01). In contrast, the daily ST of people with hypertension or with patients with osteoporosis or osteopenia was less than that of normal people (p &lt; 0.01). Additionally, 69.4% of participants generally had a low level of PA (LPA). Compared with those living in northern Zhejiang, people living in southern Zhejiang who were aged 18–44 years, had bachelor's degree or above, were farmers, and had household incomes below 10,000 Yuan per month were more likely to engage in LPA compared to people &gt; 60 years, with high school or technical education levels or with junior college degrees, working in government agencies and institutions, and with household income above 10,000 Yuan per month (p &lt; 0.05). Furthermore, there was no correlation between ST and PA levels.

Conclusion

Most rural residents in the Zhejiang Province of eastern China had longer daily ST and a LPA. This was predominant in men, young people, highly educated people, unmarried people, and middle to high-income people. Health education programs should be targeted toward specific population groups to decrease the ST and increase PA.