Intro to Physical Activity

public health

the art and science of preventing disease, promoting health, and prolonging life through organized efforts of society (SUSTAINING HEALTH)

physical activity

any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that require energy expenditure

physical fitness

The individual has attained physical activity characteristics that permit an acceptable performance of given physical task

medical model of health

absence of disease

nonmedical model of health

a state of complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity

sedentary behavior

defined by sitting or reclining posture AND low energy expenditure (<1.5 METS) during WAKING hours

dimensions of physical activity

Frequency

Intensity

Time

Type

energy expenditure for sedentary behavior

• 3.5 oxygen uptake ml/kg/min

• <1.5 MET

energy expenditure for light activity

• 4 - 10.5 oxygen uptake ml/kg/min

• 1.5 - 3 METs

energy expenditure for moderate/vigorous physical activity

• 10.5+ oxygen uptake ml/kg/min

• 3+ METs

objective measurement

directly assessing something without taking into account perception/opinion

subjective measurement

measuring what people say about their physical/sedentary behavior

accelerometer

electric component that tracks movement

goal of accelerometer

to measure locomotor activity based off of oscillations in a person’s center of gravity

problems with accelerometers

• difficulty tracking stationary activity

• does not always account for different loads

• some models are not waterproof

IPAQ

international physical activity questionnaire

how is the short IPAQ form structured?

measures walking, moderate, vigorous, and total activity

IPAQ score formula

Contact x Minutes x Days

categories for IPAQ

• low

• moderate

• high

moderate category criteria

• 3+ vigorous days of 20 min

• 5+ vigorous days and/or walking 30 min a day

• minimum score of 600 METs/week

vigorous category criteria

• 3+ days with total activity of at least 1500 METs / week

• 7+ days with combination of walking, moderate, or vigorous activity with 3000 METs a week

what makes self reports less credible?

• social desirability

• problems with recalling correctly

• overestimation

cross-sectional study

data collected from a population group at one specific time

cohort studies

a selected population is monitored over several periods of time

what are pre/post intervention studies for? (aka control groups)

measuring change

RCT

randomized controlled trial