Lack of Association between the Reasons for and Time Spent Doing Physical Activity

Motivations and barriers towards optimal physical activity level: A community-based assessment of 28 EU countries

Regular physical activity (PA) is one of the most important determinants of a healthy lifestyle and improved physical and mental well-being. Despite the health benefits of regular PA, the studies show low levels of PA among European adolescents and adults. An increase in physical inactivity has been associated with different personal and environmental factors. This study aimed to investigate positive motivation and barriers to community-based PA. Face-to-face interviews were conducted to collect data on PA, positive motivation and barriers to PA, demographic, and socioeconomic factors. Moderate and vigorous levels of PA were assessed. Regression analysis was applied to estimate the associations for positive and negative reasons for meeting PA recommendations. Data were available for 28,031 adults with a mean age of 48.3 (SD = 18.8) and 51.8% women. Significant variations in individual characteristics were seen between different types of communities. The percentage of participants who reported achieving recommended levels of PA was the lowest in rural areas (44.3%). Regression models showed that most motivational factors had a strong positive association with meeting PA recommendations. We observed the effects of interactions between making acquaintances, having fun and the type of community on meeting PA recommendations. The effects of interactions between the type of community and barriers to PA such as price, risk of injury, disability / illness, and a lack of motivation on PA recommendations were observed. In conclusion, the motivational factors and barriers to PA are associated with the physical environment, and community-based programs and policies for encouraging PA participation are needed.

Effect of High-Intensity Strength and Endurance Training in the Form of Small Circuits on Changes in Lipid Levels in Men Aged 35–40 Years

Background: Blood lipid profiles consist of total cholesterol (TC) and its fractions, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL), and triglycerides (TG). For several decades, studies have examined the effects of various factors on lipid status and its association with the risk of developing arteriosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. The beneficial effects of increased physical activity on cardiovascular health have been demonstrated by appropriate modulation of lipid profiles. For individuals with low physical activity, the literature recommends engaging in various forms of training that can improve physical fitness and resting lipid status. The aim of the study was to examine whether a specific original training program improves lipid profiles to the levels recommended for the male population. Methods: The study involved two equal (n = 15) groups of men (experimental and control groups, aged 35–40 years). The experimental group performed 60-min training sessions for 8 weeks (3 times a week) including a set of strength and endurance exercises. Before and after the training program, blood was drawn from both groups for serum determination of TC, HDL, LDL non-HDL, and TG, and a battery of four field physical performance tests was administered. Results: Statistically significant decreases (TC by 19.3%, TG by 23.7%, LDL by 15%), a non-significant decrease (10% for non-HDL), and no change for HDL were found in the experimental group. Control group showed a statistically significant decrease, by 7.4% for TC. The results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed training in improving health indices. Conclusions: The 8-week training program met the health-related fitness paradigm recommended for physical activity in men aged 35–40 years. After the completion of the program, all the participants expressed their satisfaction from participating in a health-promoting experiment.

Can Narrative Advertisement and eWOM Influence Generation Z Purchase Intentions?

Digital platforms have made Generation Z able to listen to the story from both sides, i.e., the brand’s promotional messages, and the consumers’ experiences. To capture an audience’s attention on endless entertainment and informational platforms, narrative advertisement is deployed to trigger emotions and feelings. As digital communities continue to grow, both brands and consumers are using narrative advertising to share their opinions. Hence, the purpose of this research was to investigate how the upcoming generation of consumers will be affected by the two information sources, i.e., the brands via narrative advertising, and peer consumers through electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM). Furthermore, the mediated role of persuasion knowledge was examined among the constructs. Theoretical foundations were empirically tested using quantitative research analysis. The data was collected from a sample of 304 Generation Z respondents from Pakistan. Structural equation modeling (SEM) using AMOS 22.0 was executed to determine cause and effect relationships. This study offers new evidence regarding the effective mobilization of eWOM and narrative advertising in the context of Generation Z. The results indicate narrative advertising to have strong effects on Generation Z purchase intentions as compared to eWOM.