UNASSIGNED: Lack of physical activity has a critical effect on the physical and mental health of adolescents. This study examined the influence of family adversities on the longitudinal changes in physical inactivity among adolescents during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
UNASSIGNED: The study used multi-wave data from the Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey, including 2590 Korean adolescents aged 12-14 years. The longitudinal trajectory of physical inactivity among adolescents and the effects of related factors were estimated using a latent growth modeling method.
UNASSIGNED: Our results revealed a significant increase in physical inactivity among adolescents over time. At the onset of the pandemic, approximately one-seventh of Korean middle schoolers reported a lack of physical activity. However, 3 years later, during the quarantine, nearly one-fifth of these adolescents reported a significant increase in their physical inactivity. Initially, low level parental education was predictive of adolescents\' physical inactivity, but this effect diminished over time, becoming statistically insignificant by the end of the 3-year period. Moreover, the increase in physical inactivity over the 3 years was significantly influenced by parental rejection.
UNASSIGNED: These findings suggest that adolescents who experience parental rejection are more likely to report an increase in sedentary behaviors in contexts such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Worldwide, physical inactivity (PIA) and sedentary behavior (SB) are recognized as significant challenges hindering the achievement of the United Nations (UN) sustainable development goals (SDGs). PIA and SB are responsible for 1.6 million deaths attributed to non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged governments to implement interventions informed by behavioral theories aimed at reducing PIA and SB. However, limited attention has been given to the range of theories, techniques, and contextual conditions underlying the design of behavioral theories. To this end, we set out to map these interventions, their levels of action, their mode of delivery, and how extensively they apply behavioral theories, constructs, and techniques.
METHODS: Following the scoping review methodology of Arksey and O\'Malley (2005), we included peer-reviewed articles on behavioral theories interventions centered on PIA and SB, published between 2010 and 2023 in Arabic, French, and English in four databases (Scopus, Web of Science [WoS], PubMed, and Google Scholar). We adopted a framework thematic analysis based on the upper-level ontology of behavior theories interventions, Behavioral theories taxonomies, and the first version (V1) taxonomy of behavior change techniques(BCTs).
RESULTS: We included 29 studies out of 1,173 that were initially screened/searched. The majority of interventions were individually focused (n = 15). Few studies have addressed interpersonal levels (n = 6) or organizational levels (n = 6). Only two interventions can be described as systemic (i.e., addressing the individual, interpersonal, organizational, and institutional factors)(n = 2). Most behavior change interventions use four theories: The Social cognitive theory (SCT), the socioecological model (SEM), SDT, and the transtheoretical model (TTM). Most behavior change interventions (BCIS) involve goal setting, social support, and action planning with various degrees of theoretical use (intensive [n = 15], moderate [n = 11], or low [n = 3]).
CONCLUSIONS: Our review suggests the need to develop systemic and complementary interventions that entail the micro-, meso- and macro-level barriers to behavioral changes. Theory informed BCI need to integrate synergistic BCTs into models that use micro-, meso- and macro-level theories to determine behavioral change. Future interventions need to appropriately use a mix of behavioral theories and BCTs to address the systemic nature of behavioral change as well as the heterogeneity of contexts and targeted populations.

UNASSIGNED: Recent research has focused on a new group called the \"weekend warriors\". These individuals accumulate their recommended moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) over just 1-2 days, often during weekends, while remaining relatively inactive during the rest of the week. However, the effects of engaging in low-frequency MVPA on the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) are not well understood. This study investigated the association between physical activity patterns and the risk of MetS among Korean adults.
UNASSIGNED: This study included 26,197 participants (11,804 male and 14,393 female) aged ≥ 20 years from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. MVPA was measured using a global physical activity questionnaire. MetS was defined as the presence of more than three risk factors.
UNASSIGNED: The odds ratio (OR) for MetS was 0.60 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.52, 0.70) in the \"regularly active\" group and 0.82 (95% CI = 0.69, 0.98) in the \"weekend warrior\" group compared to that in the inactive group (reference), which controlled for all covariates. For sensitivity analyses, the results across all subgroups exhibited similar patterns, with more pronounced effects observed in women, middle-aged individuals, and non-drinkers/light drinkers.
UNASSIGNED: Our findings suggest that concentrated bouts of moderate to vigorous physical activity, even if undertaken infrequently, confer health benefits that align with the recommended guidelines. This study contributes to the growing evidence on the relationship between physical activity patterns and MetS risk in Korean adults. The study also emphasizes the potential of different activity patterns in mitigating metabolic risk.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive function is crucial during aging. This study assessed the cognitive function of European adults aged 50 and over in relation to handgrip strength and physical inactivity. Study Design: This was a cross-sectional survey.
METHODS: Data were collected from 41,395 adults from 27 European countries participating in the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) during 2019-2020. Cognitive function was assessed based on five tests, and cognitive impairment was defined using 3+tests. Handgrip strength and physical inactivity were also correlated through the analysis of covariance using a complex study design.
RESULTS: The majority of participants were female (56.6%), with a mean age of 70.9 years, and 22.6% presented multimorbidity. Furthermore, 51.1% had a normal cognitive function, while 13.3% had cognitive impairment (The estimated population was 21,944,722). Moreover, cognitive impairment was more prevalent in females than in males (14.4% vs. 12.0%, P<0.001) in patients with no years of education (P<0.001) and origin from southern European countries (P<0.001). Additionally, participants with cognitive impairment had lower mean handgrip strength compared to those with cognitive impairment in 1-2 criteria or with normal cognitive function (29.3 vs. 33.4 and 35.1 kg, respectively, P<0.001). Physically inactive participants had higher odds ratio (OR) of cognitive impairment than those engaging in moderate/vigorous physical activity, both in 1-2 tests (OR:1.73, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.32-2.26) and in 3+tests (OR: 3.36, 95% CI: 2.57-4.40).
CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive impairment presented low prevalence and was associated with low levels of handgrip strength and physical inactivity. These specific factors may play a special role in early detection, diagnosis, and treatment or may slow down the progression of cognitive impairment.

UNASSIGNED: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), which refer to potentially traumatic events occurring during childhood, have been consistently linked to detrimental effects on high-risk behaviors through various studies. Nonetheless, such an association has rarely been examined in the context of Arab culture. This study aimed to investigate the association between ACE levels and high-risk behaviors (e.g., smoking, alcohol consumption, drug use, high-risk sexual behavior, and physical inactivity) among Omani adults.
UNASSIGNED: This was a cross-sectional study with convenience sampling. The participants were recruited from a university-affiliated medical facility in Oman. Data were collected in 2022. They were asked to complete the Adverse Childhood Experience International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ).
UNASSIGNED: The study included 1648 Omani adults. Analyses revealed that the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for engaging in some of the identified high-risk behaviors increased as the level of ACEs increased. Specifically, individuals with an ACE level of 4 exhibited higher odds of smoking (OR: 2.6), alcohol consumption (OR: 2.9), and risky sexual behavior (OR: 32) than those without ACEs.
UNASSIGNED: The findings of this study underscore a notable association between ACEs and high-risk behaviors among Omani adults. Consequently, there is a pressing need for intensified efforts to prevent ACEs when possible and to alleviate their adverse effects, emphasizing the importance of public health initiatives and interventions in Oman.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a crucial mediator of neuronal plasticity. Here, we investigated the effects of controlled normobaric hypoxia (NH) combined with physical inactivity on BDNF blood levels and executive functions. A total of 25 healthy adults (25.8 ± 3.3 years, 15 female) were analyzed in a randomized controlled cross-over study. Each intervention began with a 30 min resting phase under normoxia (NOR), followed by a 90 min continuation of NOR or NH (peripheral oxygen saturation [SpO2] 85-80%). Serum and plasma samples were collected every 15 min. Heart rate and SpO2 were continuously measured. Before and after each exposure, cognitive tests were performed and after 24 h another follow-up blood sample was taken. NH decreased SpO2 (p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.747) and increased heart rate (p = 0.006, ηp2 = 0.116) significantly. The 30-min resting phase under NOR led to a significant BDNF reduction in serum (p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.581) and plasma (p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.362). Continuation of NOR further significantly reduced BDNF after another 45 min (p = 0.018) in serum and after 30 min (p = 0.040) and 90 min (p = 0.005) in plasma. There was no significant BDNF decline under NH. A 24 h follow-up examination showed a significant decline in serum BDNF, both after NH and NOR. Our results show that NH has the potential to counteract physical inactivity-induced BDNF decline. Therefore, our study emphasizes the need for a physically active lifestyle and its positive effects on BDNF. This study also demonstrates the need for a standardized protocol for future studies to determine BDNF in serum and plasma.

BACKGROUND: The rising worldwide concern of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) is alarming as it is associated with 80% of annual global mortality. NCD threat is rising due to, among others, the increasing ageing population, thus putting the efforts to promote health ageing at the forefront of many countries\' health agenda. Physical activity has been recognised as one of the significant factors in the pursuit of healthy ageing. Nevertheless, approximately one third of individuals in Malaysia are physically inactive. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of physical inactivity and its associated factors among pre-retirement government healthcare workers.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted from May to June 2023 among pre-retirement government healthcare workers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The sample size required was 233 and proportionate random sampling was used to recruit potential respondents who answered self-administered online questionnaires. Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) was used to measure the level of physical activity and data analysis was performed using SPSS version 29.
RESULTS: A total of 214 complete responses were received from the 233 questionnaires distributed, giving a response rate of 91.8%. The prevalence of physical inactivity among pre-retirement healthcare workers was 39.7% as compare only 29.9% in general population. Significant predictors for physical inactivity included higher education levels (SPM, STPM, or certificate holders) (AOR = 13.4, 95% CI: 2.47-72.65), non-Malay ethinicity (AOR = 4.7, 95% CI: 1.23-18.38), personal barriers (AOR = 1.6, 95% CI:1.35-1.79), social barriers (AOR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.06-1.39), and physical environment barriers (AOR = 1.468, 95% CI: 1.221-1.765).
CONCLUSIONS: This study shows a worrying prevalence of physical inactivity among pre-retirement healthcare workers that is even higher than the general population in Malaysia. The findings highlight the importance of focusing the preventive strategies among non-Malay workers and those with lower education levels. It is also vital to address all the physical, social, and environmental barriers towards physical inactivity. By prioritising these factors, employers and stakeholders will be able to establish better workplace health promotion and address the issue of physical inactivity more efficiently.

The prolonged period of COVID-19 has ingrained physical inactivity as a habit, leading to a reluctance to move. This has resulted in a decline in physical fitness and the loss of a healthy body composition. While this trend is particularly noticeable among the older adults, its impact on the immune cell defense system, which is crucial for minimizing viral infections, remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the physical fitness, body composition, cytokines and immunocytes of older adults who engaged in physical activity (PA) before the COVID-19 pandemic but had to stop it due to the lockdown. A total of 172 older adults aged 61 to 85 years participated in this study: 90 in non-PA group (NPAG, 34 men and 56 women), and 82 in PA group (PAG, 29 men and 53 women). Physical inactivity was 45.13 ± 5.67 weeks in the NPAG and 1.70 ± 0.43 weeks in the PAG. Although there was no significant difference in calorie intake, PA volume showed a significant decrease in NPGA (P < 0.001). VO₂max, strength, and sit-ups decreased in NPAG, whereas they maintained or increased in PAG (Ps < 0.001). NPAG experienced an increase in fat mass (∼33.0 %), along with a decrease in muscle mass (∼10.4 %), but PAG showed slight increases (∼1.1 % vs. ∼1.5 %, Ps < 0.001). Interleukin-6 (∼38.9 %), tumor necrosis factor-α (∼38.3 %), and C-reactive protein (∼33.6 %) increased, whereas immunocytes decreased in NPAG (Ps < 0.001). In contrast, those in PAG showed the opposite phenomenon. This study indicates that even during the COVID-19 situation, maintaining active PA in the older adults helps retain beneficial physical fitness and body composition, reduces inflammatory factors, and contributes to preserving or enhancing the function of immunocytes.

BACKGROUND: Mitochondria represent key organelles influencing cellular homeostasis and have been implicated in the signalling events regulating protein synthesis.
METHODS: We examined whether mitochondrial bioenergetics (oxidative phosphorylation and reactive oxygen species (H2O2) emission, ROS) measured in vitro in permeabilized muscle fibres represent regulatory factors for integrated daily muscle protein synthesis rates and skeletal muscle mass changes across the spectrum of physical activity, including free-living and bed-rest conditions: n = 19 healthy, young men (26 ± 4 years, 23.4 ± 3.3 kg/m2) and following 12 weeks of resistance-type exercise training: n = 10 healthy older men (70 ± 3 years, 25.2 ± 2.1 kg/m2). Additionally, we evaluated the direct relationship between attenuated mitochondrial ROS emission and integrated daily myofibrillar and sarcoplasmic protein synthesis rates in genetically modified mice (mitochondrial-targeted catalase, MCAT).
RESULTS: Neither oxidative phosphorylation nor H2O2 emission were associated with muscle protein synthesis rates in healthy young men under free-living conditions or following 1 week of bed rest (both P > 0.05). Greater increases in GSSG concentration were associated with greater skeletal muscle mass loss following bed rest (r = -0.49, P < 0.05). In older men, only submaximal mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (corrected for mitochondrial content) was positively associated with myofibrillar protein synthesis rates during exercise training (r = 0.72, P < 0.05). However, changes in oxidative phosphorylation and H2O2 emission were not associated with changes in skeletal muscle mass following training (both P > 0.05). Additionally, MCAT mice displayed no differences in myofibrillar (2.62 ± 0.22 vs. 2.75 ± 0.15%/day) and sarcoplasmic (3.68 ± 0.35 vs. 3.54 ± 0.35%/day) protein synthesis rates when compared with wild-type mice (both P > 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: Mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and reactive oxygen emission do not seem to represent key factors regulating muscle protein synthesis or muscle mass regulation across the spectrum of physical activity.

BACKGROUND: Movement behaviours, such as sedentary behavior (SB) and physical inactivity, have become a public health issue due to their implications for physical and mental health. The literature indicates that the university environment influences the movement behaviors of university students, and the strategies adopted during the pandemic may have favored a decrease in the practice of physical activity and an increase in the time dedicated to SB in this population. We aimed to evaluate the association of SB and moderate to vigorous leisure-time physical activity (MVPA) with presence of symptoms of mental disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic.
METHODS: This is a multicenter survey conducted with undergraduate students from eight Brazilian universities between October 2021 and February 2022 using an online questionnaire. The outcome variable was symptoms of anxiety and depression, assessed by the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21. SB was assessed by total sitting time, being that individuals with ≥ 9 h/day were classified with high SB. The practice of MVPA was evaluated based on weekly frequency, duration, and type of exercise. Subsequently, the ratio between the time spent in MVPA (minutes/day) and the time spent in SB (hours/day) was calculated, being considered as cutoff point was the practice of 2.5 min of MVPA for each sedentary hour. To assess the association between the outcome and explanatory variables, multivariable logistic regression was performed.
RESULTS: A total of 8,650 students participated in the study, with an average age of 23.9 years (SD: ± 6.34). In the multivariate analysis, the odds of anxiety symptoms [OR: 1.37 (95% CI: 1.24-1.50)] and depression [OR: 1.61 (95% CI: 1.47-1.77)] were higher in individuals with ≥ 9 h of SB per day. In the analysis of the relationship between MVPA and SB, not engaging in 2.5 min of MVPA per hour of SB increases the odds of anxiety symptoms [OR: 1.44 (95% CI: 1.31-1.58)] and depression [OR: 1.74 (95% CI: 1.59-1.92)].
CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that SB is a risk factor associated with symptoms of anxiety and depression and that not engaging in MVPA exacerbates the negative effects of SB.