Changes in Physical Activity Mirror Changes in Sedentary Time, Particularly Screen Time

This study evaluated the effect of two home-based exercise interventions (one culturally adapted and one standard) on changes in social cognitive theory (SCT) variables, physical activity (PA), and sedentary time (ST), and determined the association between changes in SCT variables and changes in PA and ST in Hispanic breast cancer survivors. Project VIVA! was a 16-week randomized controlled pilot study to test the effectiveness and feasibility of a culturally adapted exercise intervention for Mexican American and Puerto Rican breast cancer survivors in Houston, Texas and San Juan, Puerto Rico, respectively. Women (N = 89) completed questionnaires on SCT variables, PA, and ST and were then randomized to a 16-week culturally adapted exercise program, a non-culturally adapted standard exercise intervention or a wait-list control group. Multiple regression models were used to determine associations between changes in SCT variables and changes in PA and ST. Participants were in their late 50s (58.5 ± 9.2years) and obese (31.0 ± 6.5kg/m2 ). Women reported doing roughly 34.5min/day of PA and spending over 11h/day in sedentary activities. Across groups, women reported significant increases in exercise self-efficacy and moderate-intensity, vigorous-intensity, and total PA from baseline to follow-up (p < 0.05). Increased social support from family was associated with increases in vigorous-intensity PA. Increases in social modeling were associated with increases in moderate-intensity and total PA and with decreases in ST from baseline to follow-up (p < 0.05). Hispanic cancer survivors benefit from PA interventions that focus on increasing social support from family and friends and social modeling. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

BackgroundIn the context of healthy ageing, it is necessary to identify opportunities to implement health interventions in order to develop an active lifestyle with sufficient physical activity and limited sedentary time in middle-aged and older adults. The transition to retirement is such an opportunity, as individuals tend to establish new routines at the start of retirement. Before health interventions can be developed, the psychological, social and physical environmental determinants of physical activity and sedentary behaviors during early retirement should be identified, ideally with longitudinal studies. The aim of this paper was first to examine whether psychological, social and physical environmental factors at the start of retirement predict longitudinal changes in physical activity and sedentary behaviors during the first years of retirement. Second, moderating effects of gender and educational levels were examined.MethodsThis longitudinal study was conducted in Flanders, Belgium. In total, 180 recently retired (>1 month, <2 years at baseline) adults completed a postal questionnaire twice (in 2012–2013 and two years later in 2014–2015). The validated questionnaire assessed socio-demographic information, physical activity, sedentary behaviors, and psychological, social and physical environmental characteristics. Multiple moderated hierarchic regression analyses were conducted in SPSS 22.0.ResultsHigher perceived residential density (p < 0.001) and lower aesthetics (p = 0.08) predicted an increase in active transportation (adjusted R2 = 0.18). Higher baseline self-efficacy was associated with an increase in leisure-time physical activity (p = 0.001, adjusted R2 = 0.13). A more positive perception of old age (p = 0.04) and perceiving less street connectivity (p = 0.001) were associated with an increase in screen time (adjusted R2 = 0.06). Finally, higher baseline levels of modeling from friends (p = 0.06) and lower perceived land use mix access (p = 0.09) predicted an increase in car use (adjusted R2 = 0.06). A few moderating effects, mainly of educational level, were found.DiscussionWalkability characteristics (perceived residential density) and self-efficacy at the start of retirement are the most important predictors of longitudinal changes in active transportation and leisure-time physical activity. Few moderating effects were found, so health interventions at the start of retirement focusing on self-efficacy and specific walkability characteristics could be effective to increase physical activity in recently retired adults. No firm conclusions can be drawn on the importance of the examined predictors to explain change in car use and screen time, possibly other factors like the home environment, or automatic processes and habit strength are more important to explain sedentary behaviors.

5-Year Changes in Afterschool Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior

The COVID-19 lockdown has been associated with physical inactivity. We prospectively evaluated changes in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary time (ST) among 1565 cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients using validated questionnaires at 5 weeks after lockdown initiation (i.e., baseline, April 2020) and at every 4 subsequent weeks, until July 2020. Multivariate mixed model analyses were performed to identify whether age, sex, CVD-subtype, lockdown adherence and mental health factors impacted changes in physical (in)activity. Patients were 67 (interquartile range: 60–73) years and primarily diagnosed with coronary artery disease. Time spent in MVPA was 143 min/day (95% confidence interval (CI) 137; 148) at baseline. Female sex, heart-failure, fear of COVID-19 infection and limited possibilities for physical activity were independently associated with lower levels of MVPA across time. After adjusting for confounders, overall MVPA did not change. ST was 567 (95% CI 555; 578) min/day at baseline. Lack of social contact, limited possibilities for physical activity and younger age were independently associated with higher levels of ST. After adjusting for confounders, ST progressively increased following 8 (Δ+19.7 (95% CI 0.4; 39.0)) and 12 weeks (Δ+25.2 (95% CI 5.4; 47.1) min/day) of lockdown. Despite a phased relaxation of the lockdown, CVD patients progressively increased ST and reported no change in MVPA. This highlights the need to target physical inactivity during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

Physical activity (PA) declines, while sedentariness increases, in the transition from childhood to adolescence. Factors to prevent such changes need to be identified. External structures for PA decrease with age, and individual characteristics play a more significant role. Prior research has indicated that well-regulated individuals with high perceived athletic competence (PAC) have more PA and less sedentariness. However, whether improvement in these characteristics predicts increased PA and reduced sedentariness in the longer term is unknown and, thus, the aim of the present inquiry. We also test potential age and sex differences. A sample from two Norwegian birth cohorts (analytical sample: n = 858, 51.8% girls) was biennially assessed from age 6 to 18. Accelerometry was used to measure PA and sedentary time. Executive functions (teacher report), effortful control/conscientiousness (parent and self-report), and PAC (self-report) constituted the predictors. A random intercept cross-lagged panel model was applied, which adjusts for unobserved time-invariant confounding effects. Increased conscientiousness predicted increased levels of PA from age 6 to 18 but was unrelated to later changes in sedentary time. Individuals who gained PAC also increased their PA and spent less time on sedentary activities. Changes in executive functions were unrelated to future changes in PA and sedentary time. No age or sex differences were found. Increased conscientiousness and PAC predicted increased PA from childhood to late adolescence. PAC predicted reduced sedentary time. Enhancing conscientiousness and PAC may benefit interventions to promote PA in youth. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

The aims of this study were to investigate whether physical activity (PA) and sedentary time (ST) in 9- and 15-year-olds differed between 2005-2006 and 2011-2012 (secular change), and to investigate changes in PA and ST from age 9 to 15 (longitudinal change). In 2005-2006, we invited nationally representative samples of Norwegian 9- (n=1470) and 15-year-olds (n=1348) to participate. In 2011-2012, we invited a new nationally representative sample of 9-year-olds (n=1945), whereas 15-year-olds (n=1759) were invited to participate either based on previous participation in 2005-2006 or from a random sample of schools. We assessed PA and ST objectively using accelerometers. In 2011-2012, both 9- and 15-year-olds spent more time sedentary (≥35.7min/d, P<.001) and less time in light PA (≥35.2min/d, P<.001) compared to their peers in 2005-2006. Nine-year-old girls also spent less time in moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) (4.2min/d, P=.041). In both age groups, the proportion accumulating an average of 60min/d of MVPA did not differ between the two cohorts. From age 9 to 15, girls and boys decreased their time spent in LPA (≥106.7min/d, P<.001) and in MVPA (≥20.8min/d, P<.001). During the same period, ST increased by a mean of >2h/d (P<.011). We observed an adverse secular change in PA from 2005-2006 to 2011-2012 among 9- and 15-year-olds, and a large decline in PA in the participants followed longitudinally from age 9 to 15years.

Background: Emergence of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic impacted the population’s health behaviors. The influence of local shutdowns and regulations on physical activity and sedentary behaviors in college-aged students is not well understood. Purpose: This study aimed to investigate changes in physical activity and sedentary time as well as barriers and facilitators to leisure-time physical activity among college aged students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We recruited undergraduate and graduate students attending the University of Iowa during the COVID-19 pandemic in May 2020. Physical activity and sedentary time were estimated a week before shutdown (before), a week during May 2020 (early), and the first week of September 2020 (later) using the Activity Questionnaire for Adults and Adolescents (AQuAA). Barriers and facilitators to physical activity during the pandemic were assessed in May and September using 14 statements that participants ranked on a four-point Likert scale. Participants also responded to six open-ended questions in May examining other influences the pandemic had on physical activity and sedentary behaviors not addressed in prior surveys. Significant differences in AQuAA categories between all three time points were assessed by a Friedman test and by Wilcoxon signed rank test between two time points. Significant differences between mean scores of barriers and facilitators were assessed by Wilcoxon signed rank tests. All open-ended questions were content analyzed and coded into themes and assessed for frequency. Results: Student respondents (n=230) were mostly female (82%) with a median age of 21 ± 5 years. Median weekly MVPA minutes significantly decreased (7891±7340 vs. 5550±6410 P&lt;.001) and sedentary time significantly increased (1330±1570 vs. 2415±1770 P&lt;.001) early in the COVID-19 pandemic. Median weekly MVPA minutes did not significantly differ between early and a later assessment during the COVID-19 pandemic, but total sedentary time significantly decreased (2415±1770 vs. 1767±1652 P=.002). The most commonly cited barrier to physical activity during the pandemic was schoolwork (47.71%). The most commonly cited facilitators to physical activity during the pandemic were social support (21.5%), having more time (19.6%), and technology (11.5%). Conclusion: COVID-19 related regulations are associated with reduced physical activity and increased sedentary behaviors of college age students. Local regulations and shutdowns may have introduced new barriers to physical activity. Therefore, it may prove critical to create interventions that target these unique barriers to promote physical activity in this population following the pandemic and to help inform public health initiative targeting these behaviors in future pandemics or crises.

In recent years, there has been a migration toward the use of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in determining glycemic control. This study aimed to quantify the associations between changes in body weight, sedentary time, and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) time with HbA1c levels for a 3-yr period among adults at high risk of type 2 diabetes. This study reports baseline and 3-yr follow-up data from the Walking Away from Type 2 Diabetes study. ActiGraph GT3X accelerometers captured sedentary time and MVPA. Linear regression examined the independent associations of changes in sedentary time, MVPA, and body weight with HbA1c between baseline and 3-yr follow-up. The sample composed of 489 participants (mean age = 64.2 ± 7.3 yr, body mass index = 31.7 ± 5.1, 63.4% male) with valid baseline and follow-up accelerometer, body weight, and HbA1c data. After adjustment for known confounders, an increase in MVPA time (per 30 min·d) was associated with a decrease in HbA1c percentage (β = -0.11 [-0.18 to -0.05], P = 0.001), and an increase in body weight (per 6 kg) was associated with an increase in HbA1c percentage (β = 0.08 [0.04-0.12], P < 0.001). The presence of dysglycemia at baseline (HbA1c ≥ 6.0%) strengthened these associations (P < 0.001 for interactions). Change in sedentary time was not significantly associated with change in HbA1c after adjustment for change in MVPA time. Increases in MVPA and body weight were associated with a reduction and increase in HbA1c, respectively, particularly in those with dysglycemia. Quantifying the effect that health behavior changes have on HbA1c can be used to inform prevention programs.

Physical activity and healthy eating are key to managing overweight/obesity but may not induce adequate improvements in biomarkers of health. Characterizing the effect of behavioral interventions on cardiometabolic and inflammatory biomarkers could help guide a personalized approach to lifestyle change; however, little is known about the relationship between lifestyle changes and biomarkers in youth with overweight/obesity. We sought to determine how cardiometabolic and inflammatory biomarkers change in metabolically healthy youth with overweight/obesity in response to a 1-yr-long physical activity and healthy eating lifestyle intervention. Fifty children (8.7 ± 1.1 yr, 52% male) provided complete data on physical activity, dietary intake, body composition, blood pressure, and fasting biomarkers (insulin, glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, adiponectin, resistin, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor α). A series of t-tests were conducted to assess change over time, with a series of ordinary least squares regressions conducted to examine the association between change in markers responsive to the intervention and changes in macronutrient intake and physical activity, controlling for sex and change in percent body fat. Significant health-enhancing changes were seen over 1 yr in moderate and vigorous physical activity, percent body fat, macronutrient intake, insulin, and inflammatory markers, whereas sedentary time and resistin increased and light physical activity decreased. When change in biomarkers was regressed on behavior changes and change in percent body fat, changes in carbohydrate intake and body fat predicted change in insulin, change in fat intake predicted change in adiponectin, and change in carbohydrate intake predicted interleukin-6 in fully adjusted models. A lifestyle intervention over 1 yr was effective in producing positive changes in moderate and vigorous physical activity, macronutrient intake, insulin, and inflammatory markers, but these changes were not associated with changes in physical activity. Macronutrient changes were modestly associated with changes in insulin, resistin, and interleukin-6.

Changes in physical activity and sedentary behavior associated with an exercise intervention in depressed adults

Introduction: LAMAs reduce the severity of daily symptoms such as dyspnoea. The potential impact of LAMAs on the physical activity (PA), sedentary time (ST) and sleep of people living with COPD is unclear. Aim: To determine changes in PA, ST and sleep after starting LAMA therapy versus usual care. Methods: Patients with moderate-severe COPD were recruited and randomised to 6 weeks of LAMA or Usual Care (UC) (or PR). SenseWear-derived steps, ST (≤1.5METs), light PA (>1.5 Results: Data from 33 patients in the LAMA group and 14 in Control group (70% male, age 67±8 years, 51% GOLD II) were analysed. No changes in PA, ST or SD were observed for either group (Fig 1). LAMA group experienced no change in NDSB whilst controls increased NDSB (LAMA: 1.2±1.4 versus 1.1±1.5 NDSB and UC: 0.7±0.9 versus 1.8±1.7 NDSB; interaction p=0.018) with no other changes in sleep outcomes. Conclusion: A six-week LAMA intervention reduced the NDSB but did not change time spent in 24-hour physical behaviours or other sleep quality outcomes.

BackgroundA high sedentary time is associated with increased mortality risk. Previous studies indicate that replacement of sedentary time with light- and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity attenuates the risk for adverse outcomes and improves cardiovascular risk factors. Patients with cardiovascular disease are more sedentary compared to the general population, while daily time spent sedentary remains high following contemporary cardiac rehabilitation programmes. This clinical trial investigated the effectiveness of a sedentary behaviour intervention as a personalised secondary prevention strategy (SIT LESS) on changes in sedentary time among patients with coronary artery disease participating in cardiac rehabilitation.MethodsPatients were randomised to usual care (n = 104) or SIT LESS (n = 108). Both groups received a comprehensive 12-week centre-based cardiac rehabilitation programme with face-to-face consultations and supervised exercise sessions, whereas SIT LESS participants additionally received a 12-week, nurse-delivered, hybrid behaviour change intervention in combination with a pocket-worn activity tracker connected to a smartphone application to continuously monitor sedentary time. Primary outcome was the change in device-based sedentary time between pre- to post-rehabilitation. Changes in sedentary time characteristics (prevalence of prolonged sedentary bouts and proportion of patients with sedentary time ≥ 9.5 h/day); time spent in light-intensity and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity; step count; quality of life; competencies for self-management; and cardiovascular risk score were assessed as secondary outcomes.ResultsPatients (77% male) were 63 ± 10 years and primarily diagnosed with myocardial infarction (78%). Sedentary time decreased in SIT LESS (− 1.6 [− 2.1 to − 1.1] hours/day) and controls (− 1.2 [ ─1.7 to − 0.8]), but between group differences did not reach statistical significance (─0.4 [─1.0 to 0.3]) hours/day). The post-rehabilitation proportion of patients with a sedentary time above the upper limit of normal (≥ 9.5 h/day) was significantly lower in SIT LESS versus controls (48% versus 72%, baseline-adjusted odds-ratio 0.4 (0.2–0.8)). No differences were observed in the other predefined secondary outcomes.ConclusionsAmong patients with coronary artery disease participating in cardiac rehabilitation, SIT LESS did not induce significantly greater reductions in sedentary time compared to controls, but delivery was feasible and a reduced odds of a sedentary time ≥ 9.5 h/day was observed.Trial registrationNetherlands Trial Register: NL9263.Graphical Outcomes of the SIT LESS trial: changes in device-based sedentary time from pre-to post-cardiac rehabilitation (control group) and cardiac rehabilitation + SIT LESS (intervention group). SIT LESS reduced the odds of patients having a sedentary time >9.5 hours/day (upper limit of normal), although the absolute decrease in sedentary time did not significantly differ from controls. SIT LESS appears to be feasible, acceptable and potentially beneficial, but a larger cluster randomised trial is warranted to provide a more accurate estimate of its effects on sedentary time and clinical outcomes. CR: cardiac rehabilitation.

BackgroundAlthough inadequate sleep increases the risk of obesity in children, the mechanisms remain unclear. The aims of this study were to assess how sleep loss influenced dietary intake in children while accounting for corresponding changes in sedentary time and physical activity; and to investigate how changes in time use related to dietary intake.MethodsA randomized crossover trial in 105 healthy children (8–12 years) with normal sleep (~ 8–11 h/night) compared sleep extension (asked to turn lights off one hour earlier than usual for one week) and sleep restriction (turn lights off one hour later) conditions, separated by a washout week. 24-h time-use behaviors (sleep, wake after sleep onset, physical activity, sedentary time) were assessed using waist-worn actigraphy and dietary intake using two multiple-pass diet recalls during each intervention week. Longitudinal compositional analysis was undertaken with mixed effects regression models using isometric log ratios of time use variables as exposures and dietary variables as outcomes, and participant as a random effect.ResultsEighty three children (10.2 years, 53% female, 62% healthy weight) had 47.9 (SD 30.1) minutes less sleep during the restriction week but were also awake for 8.5 (21.4) minutes less at night. They spent this extra time awake in the day being more sedentary (+ 31 min) and more active (+ 21 min light physical activity, + 4 min MVPA). After adjusting for all changes in 24-h time use, losing 48 min of sleep was associated with consuming significantly more energy (262 kJ, 95% CI:55,470), all of which was from non-core foods (314 kJ; 43, 638). Increases in sedentary time were related to increased energy intake from non-core foods (177 kJ; 25, 329) whereas increases in MVPA were associated with higher intake from core foods (72 kJ; 7,136). Changes in diet were greater in female participants.ConclusionLoss of sleep was associated with increased energy intake, especially of non-core foods, independent of changes in sedentary time and physical activity. Interventions focusing on improving sleep may be beneficial for improving dietary intake and weight status in children.Trial RegistrationAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ANZCTR ACTRN12618001671257, Registered 10th Oct 2018, https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=367587&isReview=true

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak has led to imposed movement restrictions and lockdowns to curb the spread of COVID-19 cases in the community. These lockdowns had greatly changed people’s daily lives, including physical activity and sedentary behaviour. The aim of this scoping review was to establish available evidence linked to physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour (SB) among adults in the Asia region during the COVID-19 outbreak. This scoping review was conducted using Arksey &amp; O’Malley’s protocol with 132 studies included after full-text screening. Changes in PA were reported in 122 studies and SB in 50 studies. Most studies reported a reduction in the total level of PA and a hike in sedentary and screen time. This decrement in PA and increment in SB was related to poor mental health, body weight increase and complications in COVID-19 patients, while participants who maintained or improved their PA reported better health outcomes.

Objective: To understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on college students’ movement behaviors. Participants: College students attending a large Midwestern university during the pandemic. Methods: The Activity Questionnaire for Adults and Adolescents estimated physical activity and sedentary time before, early, and later in the pandemic. Barriers and facilitators to physical activity were assessed at early and later timepoints. Open-ended questions examined additional impacts. Results: Comparing before vs. early/later pandemic assessments, respondents (n = 230, 82% female, 21 ± 5 years) reported a significant decrease in physical activity metabolic equivalent (MET)-minutes/week (7891 ± 7340 vs. 5550 ± 6410/5953 ± 5180) and a significant increase in sedentary MET-minutes/week (1330 ± 1570 vs. 2415 ± 1770/1767 ± 1652). The top barrier was schoolwork (47.7%). The top facilitator was social support (21.5%). Responses to open-ended questions indicated that most individuals reported sitting more during the pandemic, with variation in physical activity patterns. Conclusions: Adverse changes in physical activity and sedentary behavior observed early in the pandemic were sustained.