Persistence of physical activity in middle age: a nonlinear dynamic panel approach

This narrative review aims to illustrate the potential benefits of regular physical activity in the prevention and treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) by drawing upon recent studies that highlight the importance of lifestyle changes. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the topic, a literature search was conducted using various databases and keywords related to physical activity, polycystic ovary syndrome, weight control management, quality of life, obesity, and insulin resistance. The search was limited to peer-reviewed articles published in English between 1995 and 2024. Animal model studies were excluded. The inclusion criteria for this review were that the studies examined the association between weight control management and overall healthy aging, were published in peer-reviewed journals, and were written in English. In total, 49 studies were selected for inclusion. It seems that there is growing evidence that regular physical activity could be a promising approach not only for the prevention but also for the management of PCOS. Existing literature suggests that participation in regular physical activity may potentially alleviate some of the physiological and psychological symptoms associated with PCOS. In light of the substantial evidence pointing to the advantages of physical activity, it seems reasonable to suggest that women with PCOS might benefit from considering the potential benefits of incorporating regular physical activity and an active lifestyle into their treatment plan for this syndrome. It would be beneficial for future research to continue investigating the long-term effects of various types of physical activity on polycystic ovary syndrome and the underlying mechanisms of these benefits.

In this paper we develop a general class of dynamic brand choice models, called Lightning Bolt (LB) models, which are consistent with the theory of random utility maximization of consumer choice behavior. The underlying random utility process is Markov, and the inter-temporal evolution of the (utility-maximizing) brand choice process is also Markov. The models permit parsimonious parameterizations of the random utility process in brand choices with the resulting switching probabilities being functionally related to explanatory variables. The model allows for structural state dependence (feedback), habit persistence (inertia), and unobserved heterogeneity. The theoretical development shows that several well known stochastic brand choice models can be deduced from random utility maximization theory. From a managerial perspective, the usefulness of the proposed model stems from its ability to separate out the effects of habits, state dependence and heterogeneity. Strong state dependence effects imply incentives for inducing trial of a brand (e.g., product sampling). In contrast with state dependence, a strong habit persistence effect may be indicative of buyer behavior where inducement of trial of a different brand may not be sufficient to maintain a (sustained) defection of the consumer from the habitually purchased brand to the trial brand. Failure to distinguish between these two effects has important implications. For example, a model that only accounts for state dependence effects would, in the presence of only habit persistence, incorrectly attribute it to state dependence. Based on this the manager could decide to embark on an expensive sampling program that might prove ineffective due to the absence of state dependence. It is also important to distinguish between the effects of unobserved heterogeneity and state dependence. In the absence of true state dependence, failing to account for unobservable variations across households (such as differences in price sensitivities), results in the temporally persistent unobservable elements showing up as state dependence in the model. Hence, a manager may incorrectly opt for sampling as the appropriate marketing action, whereas, a couponing or price promotion strategy should have been preferred. We estimate the model parameters using the AC Nielsen household scanner panel data set on catsup purchases. Further, we investigate empirical techniques for overcoming the “initial conditions” problem that affects many dynamic models of brand choice. Through simulation analysis using the estimated parameters, we show that the calculated profitability of a promotion must take into account the multi-period impact due to state dependence. Further, we demonstrate how ignoring heterogeneity can result in spurious state dependence, thereby making marketing tactics such as product sampling appear far more attractive than they actually are. Specifically, the model that accounts only for habit persistence and state dependence effects predicts a share increase of 2.4% points through sampling for one of the brands in the empirical analysis. Once the effects of unobserved heterogeneity are accounted for, however, this number drops precipitously to 0.3%. While even this low number might fulfill the objectives of the brand manager, it ensures that expectations are not eight times that number. It is important to note that this paper is a first attempt at analyzing the three fundamental dimensions of dynamic brand choice behavior. Our formulation represents a “reduced form” approach as opposed to a “structural” approach. Other limitations of the model include our focus on time-invariant choice sets. Extensions of the model to situations where choice sets vary over time are possible, but are difficult. Another limitation is the dependence on multivariate extreme value distributions. An alternative would be to use multivariate normal distributions, i.e., a probit-like structure which has certain useful properties. A comparison of the two approaches would be useful. Empirical extensions of the model to allow for higher-order processes and nested logit type model structures could also be fruitful. Explicitly incorporating variety-seeking behavior in the model would further enrich the theoretical framework proposed in this paper.

Diets high in fruits and vegetables and participation in regular physical activity are associated with a lower risk for several chronic diseases and conditions. The present study analyzed the combined prevalence of these two activities by race/ethnicity and gender among adults in California and among adults in California at or below 130% of the federal poverty level (FPL), using self-reported data from the 2005 and 2006 California Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). Findings for California were similar to findings for the nation, showing gender and racial/ethnic differences for each of these variables, singly and in combination. Also, low-income men had a significantly lower prevalence of goal-level fruit and vegetable consumption than did low-income women. Although some demographic disparities are evident among Californians, the prevalence of achievement of two key healthy lifestyle behaviors concurrently remains quite low. These results emphasize the need for promoting diets high in fruits and vegetables and regular physical activity among all Californians.

BackgroundLife satisfaction among residents of institutions is becoming an important issue in a rapidly aging population. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the links between life satisfaction and health-related behaviors amongst functionally independent elderly people who prefer institutional living in İstanbul, Turkey.MethodsThe socio-demographic characteristics, health-related behaviors, leisure-time activities and fall histories of 133 residents of an institution in Istanbul were assessed by a structured questionnaire during face-to-face interviews. A validated life-satisfaction index questionnaire (LSI-A) was completed.ResultsThe mean age of the study group was 73.9 ± 8.0 (range 60–90 years). Within the group, 22.6% had never married and 14.3% had university degrees. The majority (71.4%) were in the low income bracket. The overall mean LSI-A score was 20.3 ± 5.9. Participants who declared moderate/high income levels had a significantly higher mean LSI-A score than those in the low-income bracket (p = 0.009). Multivariate analysis of the data suggested that leisure-time activities and participation in regular physical activities are significant predictors of LSI-A scores (R2: 0.112; p = 0.005 and p = 0.02, respectively).ConclusionThe findings imply that regular physical activity and leisure-time activities are significantly related to life satisfaction among residents in institutions. Participation in physical activity and leisure-time activity programs may help to improve the life satisfaction of elderly people living in institutions.

IntroductionSexual functioning is an essential aspect of human existence. Sexual dysfunctions are prevalent and negatively affect the quality of life in the general population. Little attention has been paid to the sexual function of health workers.ObjectivesThe aim of our work was to evaluate sexual dysfunction among Tunisian doctors and to determine associated underlying factors.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted online, from January to March 2024, via a pre-established questionnaire. Tunisian doctors, who had finished their medical studies, working in the public or private sector and who agreed to anonymously respond to the questionnaire were included. Sociodemographic, economic, clinical data and those related to the medical profession were collected. Sexual function was evaluated with the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX).ResultsA total of 80 individuals had fully responded to the questionnaire. The mean age of participants was 36.81 ± 7.49 years and 68,7 % (n=55) of them were male. Ninety five percent (n=76) were married and 77.5 % (n=62) had children. The mean working hours per week was 34.32 ± 5.32. A regular physical activity was practiced by 35 % (n=28) of individuals. The mean monthly income was 3592.5 ± 596 Tunisian Dinars. The results of the ASEX showed that 23,8 % (n=19) of participants, 23,6 % (n=13) of male participants and 24 % of female (n=6) participants had sexual dysfunction. Ten per cent of individuals (n=8) have previously consulted a sexologist. Longer working hours, lower monthly income, less physical exercise were significantly associated with increased risk for sexual dysfunction.ConclusionsSexual dysfunctions seem to be common among Tunisian doctors. Knowledge about their sexual functioning is important to promote their physical and mental health and to improve the care delivered.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

This study analyzes TV program content for viewers with respect to the following three properties: primary utility (intrinsic value by genre, cast, and so on), macro externality, such as the effect of others' past behavior (audience ratings), and state dependence, or the viewer's past actions that determine whether to watch the program. Focusing on the effects of macro externality and state-dependence on viewer behavior, the authors construct a hierarchical Bayesian model and derive an individual utility function. Applying their method to the choice of TV programs in Japan, they estimate the effects of macro externality and state dependence on an individual's viewing behavior, and illustrate the distribution of these effects. The authors find that macro externality has a strong overall effect on the total number of viewers and the state-dependence effect has a slightly positive effect. Moreover, comparing the attributes revealed that male viewers tend to show a lower effect of ratings and higher state dependence than females. They find that the older the viewers are, the higher the effect of state dependence. Further, using utility function data obtained by our estimation, they conduct a simulation to measure the dynamic effects of macro externality and state dependence.

This study examined the effects of regular physical leisure activities on the health-related quality of life (SF-36) of the elderly. For this purpose, pre-post data on health physical fitness factors, body composition factors, and health-related quality of life were compared and analyzed. The subjects of this study were 60 elderly persons who participated in the customized exercise class at the health center in Gyeonggi-do, and 23 elderly people who did not participate in the program. The regular group physical activity program was conducted three times a week for 15 weeks. The data analysis was conducted by analyzing the difference of pre-post test between the experimental group and the control group, and analyzing the difference between the experimental group and the control group. First, the results of the analysis showed that there was a significant decrease in the experimental group in both the body composition and physical fitness among the elderly, but there was no significant decrease in the control group. The experimental group showed significant differences in total score and sub-factors (PF), general health (GH), vitality (VT), mental health (MH), pain (BP), and health change (HC). On the other hand. And the control group showed a decrease in both the total score and sub-factors of health-related quality of life. The results of this study suggest that the elderly who do not have physical activity, the lower their musculoskeletal and cardiovascular functions, and it may have influenced negative on the quality of life related to health. Therefore, regular physical activity is expected to have a positive effect on the quality of life by improving the physical strength and body composition among the elderly. The results of this study suggest the development and activation of programs and service related to leisure activities for the elderly persons.

Wash your hands. Cover your mouth when you cough. Do not spread germs. We have all heard these hygiene mantras growing up, but we must admit that compliance has not always been perfect. With the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic raising mounting alarm, fear has persuaded unprecedented adherence to hygiene principles globally, as we try to stop the spread of this novel virus. What motivates a change in behaviour? What motivates someone to stop a bad habit and adopt a good one? Can clinicians aid in this motivation? Chung et al. [1] performed a cross-sectional study evaluating health behaviours including physical activity, diet, body mass index, alcohol consumption, and smoking status, as well as health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with bladder cancer at different treatment stages. In their study sample, most of the patients with bladder cancer were overweight or obese, did not adhere to healthy diet recommendations, were unwilling to change their eating habits, and did not meet guidelines for weekly physical activity. However, patients who had adopted healthy behaviours reported a better HRQoL and more healthy behaviours correlated with a better HRQoL. No difference was found when comparing the health behaviours of patients with non-muscle vs muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) or comparing patients at different stages of treatment. This implies that patients’ health behaviour does not change despite bladder cancer diagnosis and treatment; however, pre-diagnosis data were unavailable for comparison. Interestingly, the large majority of the patients with bladder cancer were non-smokers (81%), despite most (71%) reporting a prior history of smoking. What led to a change in smoking status when it appears that no other health behaviour changed with diagnosis and treatment of bladder cancer? Gallus et al. [2] surveyed 3075 ex-smokers in Italy to answer the question: why do smokers quit? The most frequently reported reason for smoking cessation (43.2%) was a current health problem. Smoking has been linked to the development of numerous medical conditions and is a well-established risk factor for bladder cancer. Thus, a new diagnosis of bladder cancer undoubtedly serves as a strong motivator for smoking cessation. The benefits of a healthy diet and regular physical activity on one’s health are less defined. Furthermore, the definitions of a ‘healthy’ diet and ‘regular’ physical activity are variable, making counselling about these behaviours confusing and difficult. Dolor et al. [3] found that physicians feel inadequately trained to provide diet counselling to patients as compared to smoking cessation counselling. Additionally, physicians agreed that counselling regarding weight loss, diet, and physical activity requires too much time compared to smoking cessation counselling. These discrepancies may help explain why physicians were more likely to discuss smoking cessation with patients compared to weight loss, diet, and physical activity in a study by Nawaz et al. [4]. At our own institution, we have found that HRQoL significantly declines in patients with bladder cancer after diagnosis relative to controls, with more pronounced decrements seen in patients with MIBC [5]. Patients with bladder cancer are a vulnerable population who face many medical and personal challenges. As clinicians, we should equip these patients with the proper tools to succeed during bladder cancer treatment, including counselling regarding healthy behaviours. Inviting the help of specialists, such as nutritionists and physical therapists, to discuss the importance of diet and exercise early during treatment may be advantageous for patients and more likely to motivate patients to adopt these healthy behaviours. Furthermore, given the paucity of data linking the health behaviours of patients with bladder cancer to HRQoL, studies such as this one [1] could provide much-needed evidence to persuade patients regarding the positive impact that healthy behaviour can have on their HRQoL. If we can successfully motivate patients with bladder cancer to adopt healthy behaviours, then their HRQoL will likely improve. Angela B. Smith is supported by a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) and Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN) grant. Angela B. Smith is an advisor for Urogen, Photocure, and Merck.

The fitness industry has exploded over the last few years as youths have more leisure time at their disposal, more so looking at the various benefits of being fit. If you look at the pages of the newspapers, they entice you with advertisement to ‘slim down in two weeks’, ‘reduce your weight in one week’, etc. When you see people visit such places, it is an attempt to improve their level of fitness for one reason or the other. Modern technology has greatly affected the youths in taking part in active physical activities, e.g. television, automobile, motor bikes, gas cookers, iron, video games, etc. This paper focuses on youth and physical activities, how their physical activities have been influenced by a myriad of interacting biological, psychological, social and environmental factors, and the benefits that could be derived from active participation in regular physical activities. There is therefore, a conclusion that parents should encourage their offspring to engage in physical activities from youth as this will sustain them in adulthood.

It is a challenge for physiotherapists and fitness instructors to promote adherence to regular physical activity/exercise in people with physical disabilities. Although there has been emerging awareness of this in recent years, this topic remains relatively underexplored. The literature has shown that multiple factors affect the initiation and maintenance of participation in regular physical activity in this population, and relevant behavioural strategies are useful in this regard. The main theme of the present review is to provide frontline exercise professionals a wide picture for understanding participation in and adherence to physical activity for people with physical disabilities. The objectives are as follows: (1) to explore the need for regular physical activity/exercise for people with physical disability; (2) to sum up the correlates between people with disabilities and physical activity participation, as well as physical activity adherence; (3) to review strategies for increasing physical activity participation and adherence in people with disabilities; and (4) to point out the practical difficulties and implications from the reviewed papers concerning the improvement of physical activity/exercise participation and adherence.

‘Snacktivity™’ to increase physical activity: Time to try something different?

Physical activity (PA) participation has been shown to be helpful in improving physical and mental well-being among cancer survivors. The purpose of this chapter is to review the literature on the determinants of physical activity motivation and behavior among cancer survivors. Using theories of behavior change, researchers have sought to identify the correlates of motivation that predict the participation in regular physical activity in observational studies, while intervention studies have focused on manipulating those factors to support the initiation of physical activity. The majority of this work has been conducted with breast cancer survivors, and there is an interest in expanding this work to survivors of others cancers (e.g., prostate, lung, and colorectal cancer). Results suggest that constructs from the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), Transtheoretical Model (TTM), and Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) are associated with greater motivation for physical activity, and some of these constructs have been used in interventions to promote physical activity adoption. There is scope for understanding the determinants of physical activity adoption in various cancer survivor populations. Much more needs to done to identify the determinants of maintenance of physical activity.

A case-control study to investigate the relation between low and moderate levels of physical activity and osteoarthritis of the knee using data collected as part of the Allied Dunbar National...

Overall cardiovascular function at rest in most healthy elderly individuals is adequate to meet the body’s need for pressure and flow. The resting heart rate and heart size are essentially not different in younger vs. older adults, but heart wall thickness increases modestly, due largely to an increase in myocyte size [1]. Atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis progressively decrease the tissue oxygen supply, cell constituents to change with aging, as a consequence, most biological functions show a progressive, age-related deterioration [2]. Aging is a complex process involving many variables: genetics, lifestyle factors, and chronic diseases that interact with one another, greatly influencing the manner in which the individual ages. Participation in regular physical activity both aerobic and resistive exercises elicits a number of favorable responses that contribute to healthy aging. Much has been learned recently regarding the adaptability of various biological systems as well as the ways that regular exercise can influence them. The functional capacity of the cardiopulmonary system, as assessed by VO2max, declines with advancing age in trained and untrained individuals (Figs. 8.1 and 8.2). This reduction results in a decrease in physiological functional capacity that would contribute to a loss of independence, increased incidence of disability, and reduced quality of life with age. The primary aging process, itself genetically associated, occurs both independently of lifestyle and in the absence of disease [3]. Accordingly, one may expect maximal cardiac output to decrease with aging irrespective of lifestyle because of genetic factors (Fig. 8.3). Reduced (a-v)O 2 at maximal effort is the second factor associated with decrease with aging of VO2max [4].

Physical inactivity and aging are functional disability factors for older individuals, causing loss of balance and increasing the risk of falls. The purpose of this study was to compare the balance of physically independent older individuals, both participants and non-participants in a regular exercise program. Fifty six physically independent older participants were divided into G1ACTIVE = 28 individuals who participate in a regular exercise program and G2SEDENTARY = 28 individuals who did not participate in any physical exercise program. All participants underwent an eyes-open during one-leg balance test on a force platform. The postural oscillation parameters included center of pressure (COP); sway mean velocity and frequency of COP oscillations. G2 SEDENTARY showed higher postural instability than G1ACTIVE. Significant differences were observed for the main balance parameters. The results of this study support the concept that participation in regular physical activity is beneficial for postural balance of older individuals.