Chapter 2: Physical Activity Epidemiology

in what nations is the epidemic of inactivity a problem?

in virtually all of the more economically developed nations

what are the strengths of self-report measures of PA?

the most widely used method to measure PA

relatively little time needed

minimal financial investment needed

what are the limitations of self-report measures of PA?

self-reports of PA can be influences by intentional and unintentional biases

what are the strengths of wearable measures of PA?

mechanical and electronic devices such as smartphones, HR monitors, pedometers, accelerometers, and GPS units

provide direct measure of intensity and duration, and indirect measures of energy expenditure

less susceptible to biases

what are the limitations of wearable measures of PA?

can be expensive, complex, and unreliable

what are the two types of observation of PA?

direct: viewing exercise behavior

indirect: viewing a recorded behavibor

what are the limitations of observation of PA?

potential for people to change their behavior because they are being observed

what are the 5 “W”s of exercise looked at by PA epi?

who exercises (or does not)

where do they exercise

when do they exercise

why do they exercise

what do they do when they exercise

what percentage of adults are considered insufficiently active?

35-55%

many adults who do some activity are not active enough for health benefits

some indication of small increases in the proportion of adults who are sufficiently active, compared with 20 years ago

what are the PA trends in children and adolescents?

activity levels decrease in a linear relationship over the lifespan

there is a significant decline in activity between childhood and adolescence, and adolescence (youth) and adulthood

highly active children will not necessarily become physically active adults

what are the trends between the two genders and PA?

boys and men are more physically active than girls and women

men tend to engage in more vigorous-intensity activity as well as more muscular strength and endurance activities than women

what are the trends with race, ethnicity and PA among US adults?

relatively low levels of PA participation across racial and ethnic groups in the US

45% of hispanic adults

55% of white adults

43% of african american adults

meet the US PA guidelines for aerobic activity

what are the trends with race, ethnicity, and PA among adolescents in the US?

21% of native americans

19% of whites

17% of african americans

16% of asians

16% of hispanics

meet the US PA guidelines for physical activity

what are the trends with income level and PA?

the relationship between PA and income level is typically reported as positive and linear, but there are some differences

USA: higher income level = higher participation levels

Britain: no (drastic) difference across income levels

Canada/Australia: a modest positive relationship

what are the trends among education level and PA?

USA: higher education = greater leisure-time physical activity participation

Australia: higher education = less high intensity PA of all types but more low intensity PA of all types

what is the misconception concerning special populations and PA?

people with a disability or chronic disease are insufficiently healthy to participate in exercise

what is the result of the misconception regarding special populations and PA?

these populations are far less active than the general population and are at increased risk for secondary physical and psychological health problems

what were the findings on PA participation among UNF students?

57% of the sample was insufficiently active

in every racial group reported, more students were insufficiently active than students who met the PA guidelines

men and white students reported significantly more weekly minutes (min/wk) of PA than women and students of color, respectively

there were no significant differences in min/wk of PA between ethnic groups

what is the definition of sedentary behavior?

any waking behavior with

an energy expenditure of </- 1.5 METs and performed while in a sitting, reclining, or lying posture

(not all seated behaviors are sedentary - ex: using a wheelchair, playing the cello)

what are the global trends with sedentary behavior?

over the lifespan, there is a gradual increase in time spent on sedentary behaviors

there is a gradual increase in sedentary behaviors from childhood to adolescence

what are the consequences of sedentary behavior?

people who are active outlive those who are inactive

morbidity (disease) rates can be directly and positively impacted by the adoption of a physically active lifestyle

increase in sedentary behavior (independent of PA) increased risk of

all cause mortality, CVD mortality, cancer mortality, CVD incidence, cancer incidence, T2D incidence