232 research outputs found
High-intensity interval exercise training for public health: A big HIT or shall we HIT it on the head?
No full textThe efficacy of high-intensity interval training for a broad spectrum of cardio-metabolic health outcomes is not in question. Rather, the effectiveness of this form of exercise is at stake. In this paper we debate the issues concerning the likely success or failure of high-intensity interval training interventions for population-level health promotion. Discussion: Biddle maintains that high-intensity interval training cannot be a viable public health strategy as it will not be adopted or maintained by many people. This conclusion is based on an analysis of perceptions of competence, the psychologically aversive nature of high-intensity exercise, the affective component of attitudes, the less conscious elements of motivated behaviour that reflect our likes and dislikes, and analysis using the RE-AIM framework. Batterham argues that this appraisal is based on a constrained and outmoded definition of high-intensity interval training and that truly practical and scalable protocols have been - and continue to be - developed. He contends that the purported displeasure associated with this type of exercise has been overstated. Biddle suggests that the way forward is to help the least active become more active rather than the already active to do more. Batterham claims that traditional physical activity promotion has been a spectacular failure. He proposes that, within an evolutionary health promotion framework, high-intensity interval training could be a successful population strategy for producing rapid physiological adaptations benefiting public health, independent of changes in total physical activity energy expenditure. Summary: Biddle recommends that we focus our attention elsewhere if we want population-level gains in physical activity impacting public health. His conclusion is based on his belief that high-intensity interval training interventions will have limited reach, effectiveness, and adoption, and poor implementation and maintenance. In contrast, Batterham maintains that there is genuine potential for scalable, enjoyable high-intensity interval exercise interventions to contribute substantially to addressing areas of public health priority, including prevention and treatment of Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseas
Physical activity research in Australia: A view from exercise psychology and behavioural medicine
No full textAustralia has a proud history in physical activity and is known for its love of, and success in, sport. It is also sometimes perceived to be a physically active country yet statistics show similar troubling trends of inactivity and non-communicable disease as many other high income countries. In research and professional practice, however, Australia can be seen to have been ‘punching above its weight’ (given its small population) in physical activity and public health. It has been a leading country for research on a number of themes concerning physically active lifestyles, including mental health, physical activity correlates, interventions, sedentary behaviour, and guidelines. The role of exercise psychology, however, is less clearly demarcated. The research concerning physical activity and public health has adopted a behavioural medicine approach, of which psychology is just one part. In this paper, behavioural medicine and exercise psychology will be defined, and research strengths and trends in Australia outlined. Issues particularly important for Australia will be explored briefly in the context of exercise psychology, including indigenous health and those living in rural and remote locations
Barriers to physical activity: Time to change? A Preventive Medicine Golden Jubilee Editorial
No full textPhysical activity is arguably one of the most important contemporary health behaviours and has a central place in the study of preventive medicine. Benefits of a physically active lifestyle are well documented and include mental, cognitive, social, economic, environmental, and physical benefits. However, despite such obvious advantages for individuals and societies, levels of activity remain stubbornly low across most, if not all, population groups. To address this, researchers and policy makers have tried to improve understanding of two main behavioural issues. The first involves the drivers of physical activity, including important correlates or determinants of behaviour, alongside theoretical frameworks that enable robust testing of behavioural decision making. The second involves the study of barriers to physical activity
Motivation and Self-perception Profiles and Links with Physical Activity in Adolescent Girls
No full textResearch shows a decline in participation in physical activity across the teenage years. It is important, therefore, to examine factors that might influence adolescent girl's likelihood of being physically active. This study used contemporary theoretical perspectives from psychology to assess a comprehensive profile of motivational and self-perception variables in 11–16 year old English girls (n=516). A cross-sectional design was employed. Cluster analysis was conducted to (a) map cluster profiles and (b) test whether clusters differed in physical self-worth, global self-esteem, and physical activity. Results revealed a five-cluster solution depicting 40% of the sample as moderately motivated, 30% lowly motivated in two clusters, and 30% highly motivated, also in two clusters. However, differences between clusters on physical activity were quite small. Results show potential areas for intervention to enhance the motivation of adolescent girls for physical activity
Physical activity and mental health in children and adolescents: an updated review of reviews and an analysis of causality
No full textObjectives: Evidence concerning physical activity and mental health remains less well documented for children and adolescents. An updated review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses was undertaken concerning physical activity and mental health in children and adolescents, and to judge the extent to which associations can be considered causal.
Methods: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses were identified to update our previous review of reviews (Biddle & Asare, 2011), with papers identified between November 2010 and the end of 2017. Criteria were used to judge causality (Hill, 1965), including strength of association, dose-response association, and experimental evidence.
Results: Since 2011, the quantity (k = 42 reviews) and quality of research has increased in depression (evidence from 10 reviews), self-esteem (10 reviews) and cognitive functioning (25 reviews). Anxiety had only three new, small, reviews. Intervention effects for depression are moderate in strength while observational data show only small or null associations. Variable effect sizes are evident from interventions for the reduction of anxiety and improvement in self-esteem. Higher or improved fitness and physical activity are associated with better cognitive health and performance. There was partial support for a causal association with depression, a lack of support for self-esteem, but support for cognitive functioning.
Conclusions: There are significant increases in research activity concerning physical activity and depression, self-esteem, and cognitive functioning in young people. The strongest evidence for a causal association appears to be for cognitive functioning, and there is partial evidence for depression
Sedentary behavior and dietary intake in children, adolescents and adults: A systematic review
No full textContext
Sedentary behavior is implicated in youth and adult overweight and obesity. However, the relationship between sedentary behavior and weight status is often small or inconsistent, with few studies controlling for confounding factors such as diet and physical activity. Diet has been hypothesized to covary with some sedentary behaviors. It is opportune, therefore, to review whether dietary intake is associated with sedentary behavior in young people and adults. This may allow for better interpretation of the diversity of findings concerning sedentary behavior and weight status.Evidence acquisition
Published English-language studies were located from computerized and manual searches in early 2010. Included studies were observational studies assessing an association between at least one sedentary behavior and at least one aspect of dietary intake in children (aged 18 years).
Evidence synthesis
Fifty-three studies, totaling 111 independent samples, were eligible for this review. Sedentary behavior in children (n=19, independent samples=24), adolescents (n=26, independent samples=72), and adults (n=11, independent samples=14) appears to be clearly associated with elements of a less healthy diet including lower fruit and vegetable consumption; higher consumption of energy-dense snacks, drinks, and fast foods; and higher total energy intake. Strengths of association were mainly in the small-to-moderate range.
Conclusions
The association drawn mainly from cross-sectional studies is that sedentary behavior, usually assessed as screen time and predominantly TV viewing, is associated with unhealthy dietary behaviors in children, adolescents, and adults. Interventions need to be developed that target reductions in sedentary time to test whether diet also changes
Extraordinary claims in the literature on high-intensity interval training (HIIT): IV. Is HIIT associated with higher long-term exercise adherence?
No full textNonadherence to and dropout from regular exercise and physical activity are important reasons why the field of exercise science has yet to fulfill its promise of improving public health on a global scale. Researchers have claimed that High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is a feasible and sustainable exercise modality that may result in higher long-term adherence than moderate-intensity continuous exercise. If true, this would be a breakthrough discovery that could unlock the potential of exercise as a health-promoting intervention. We performed a systematic search of the literature and identified eight trials comparing HIIT to moderate-intensity continuous exercise, all of which involved follow-up periods of at least 12 months (i.e., SWIFT, Small Steps for Big Changes, SAINTEX-CAD, SMARTEX-HF, Generation 100, FITR, OptimEx-Clin, HITTS). Findings from these trials demonstrate that, while unsupervised, individuals initially assigned to HIIT tend to exercise at lower-than-prescribed intensities and HIIT groups demonstrate no advantage in long-term adherence
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