RESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: Associations between the perceived social and physical environment and self-reported moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and screen time (ST) were examined among adolescents in four European countries. METHODS: Representative samples were surveyed with standardised methodologies. Associations between environmental variables and meeting MVPA recommendations and tertiles of ST were tested in gender-specific logistic regression models. Moderation by country and country-specific relationships were also examined. RESULTS: The most consistent findings across countries were found for the significant associations between neighbourhood social environment and MVPA in both boys and girls. Significant associations with the physical environment varied more between countries and by gender. The most consistent negative associations with ST were found for the social environmental variable of having parental rules for spending time outside the home. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings provided evidence for the generalisability of the associations between environmental correlates and MVPA across four European countries. The findings show clear differences in correlates for MVPA and ST. Further research is needed to better understand the unique aspects of the social and physical environment which explain each of the two behaviours.
Asunto(s)
Ambiente , Ejercicio Físico , Características de la Residencia/estadística & datos numéricos , Tiempo de Pantalla , Medio Social , Adolescente , Factores de Edad , Niño , Estudios Transversales , Europa (Continente) , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Autoinforme , Factores SexualesRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: To effectively promote physical activIty, researchers and policy makers have advocated for greater use of environmental approaches, such as the construction of community paths and trails. However, research on the use of these facilities is limited. METHODS: In this cross-sectional community study, we examined associations between self-reported and objective physical environmental variables and use of the Minuteman Bikeway (Arlington, MA) in a random sample of 413 adults. Sociodemographic and perceived environmental variables were measured with a mail survey during September 1998. Geographic information system (GIS) data were used to geocode survey respondents' homes and create three objective environmental variables: distance to the Bikeway, steep hill barrier, and a busy street barrier. RESULTS: In logistic models, age and female gender showed statistically significant inverse associations with Bikeway use over the previous 4-week period. Increases in self-reported (OR = 0.65) and GIS distance (OR = 0.57) were associated with decreased likelihood of Bikeway use. Absence of self-reported busy street (OR = 2.01) and GIS steep hill barriers (OR = 1.84) were associated with Bikeway use. CONCLUSIONS: Environmental barriers such as travel distance and hilly terrain should be considered when planning community trails. A better understanding of such factors may lead to more effective promotion of trail use.
Asunto(s)
Ciclismo , Ejercicio Físico , Arquitectura y Construcción de Instituciones de Salud , Promoción de la Salud/métodos , Adulto , Anciano , Actitud , Estudios Transversales , Femenino , Humanos , Funciones de Verosimilitud , Modelos Logísticos , Masculino , Massachusetts , Persona de Mediana Edad , Análisis MultivarianteRESUMEN
This prospective study evaluated regular physical activity and self-reported physician-diagnosed osteoarthritis of the knee and/or hip joints among 16,961 people, ages 20-87, examined at the Cooper Clinic between 1970 and 1995. Among those aged 50 years and older, osteoarthritis incidence was higher among women (7.0 per 1000 person-years) than among men (4.9 per 1000 person-years, P = 0.001), while among those under 50 years of age, osteoarthritis incidence was similar between men (2.6) and women (2.7). High levels of physical activity (running 20 or more miles per week) were associated with osteoarthritis among men under age 50 after controlling for body mass index, smoking, and use of alcohol or caffeine (hazard ratio = 2.4, 95% CI: 1.5, 3.9), while no relationship was suggested among women or older men. These findings support the conclusion that high levels of physical activity may be a risk factor for symptomatic osteoarthritis among men under age 50.
Asunto(s)
Ejercicio Físico , Osteoartritis de la Cadera/epidemiología , Osteoartritis de la Cadera/etiología , Osteoartritis de la Rodilla/epidemiología , Osteoartritis de la Rodilla/etiología , Adulto , Distribución por Edad , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Índice de Masa Corporal , Femenino , Humanos , Incidencia , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Osteoartritis de la Cadera/diagnóstico , Osteoartritis de la Rodilla/diagnóstico , Modelos de Riesgos Proporcionales , Estudios Prospectivos , Factores de Riesgo , Carrera , Distribución por Sexo , Fumar/efectos adversos , South Carolina/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
The belief that significant others (referents) felt the subjects should exercise (normative beliefs) was the strongest in subjects in the maintenance stage and weakest for subjects in the inactive stage. This pattern occurred in all the referent groups and for both male and female subjects. Women's normative beliefs were stronger than men's for all the stages and referent groups. For men, motivation to comply with referents was strongest in the maintenance stage and weakest in the inactive stage. This pattern was not as clearly visible in female subjects. Inactive women had higher motivation to comply then did men for all conditions and referent groups, but this motivation was most pronounced in the inactive stage.
Asunto(s)
Ejercicio Físico/psicología , Identidad de Género , Facilitación Social , Adulto , Estudios Transversales , Femenino , Conocimientos, Actitudes y Práctica en Salud , Promoción de la Salud , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Conformidad Social , South CarolinaRESUMEN
VO2max and the ventilatory threshold (Tvent) were measured during cycle ergometry (CE) and treadmill running (TR) in a group of 10 highly trained male triathletes. Tvent was indicated as the VO2 at which the ventilatory equivalent for oxygen increased without a marked rise in the ventilatory equivalent for carbon dioxide. Triathletes achieved a significantly higher VO2max for TR (75.4 +/- 7.3 ml.kg-1.min-1) than for CE (70.3 +/- 6.0 ml.kg-1.min-1). Mean CE VO2max was 93.2% of the TR value. Average VO2max values for CE and TR compared favorably with values reported for elite single-sport athletes and were greater than those previously reported for other male triathletes. CE Tvent occurred at 3.37 +/- 0.32 l.min-1 or 66.8 +/- 3.7% of CE VO2max, while TR Tvent was detected at 3.87 +/- 0.33 l.min-1 or 71.9 +/- 6.6% of TR VO2max. The VO2 (l.min-1) at which Tvent occurred for TR was significantly higher than for CE (P less than 0.001). Although the VO2 values at TR Tvent expressed as a percentage of VO2max were consistently higher than for CE, the difference between the means did not reach statistical significance (P greater than 0.05). The average Tvent for CE (as %VO2max) was nearly identical to Tvent values reported in the literature for competitive male cyclists, whereas TR Tvent was lower than recently reported values for elite distance runners and marathoners. We speculate that triathlon training results in general (cross-training) adaptations which enhance maximal oxygen uptake values, whereas anaerobic threshold adaptations occur primarily in the specific muscle groups utilized in training.