Jeff K. Vallance

Associations of objectively-assessed physical activity and sedentary time with depression: NHANES (2005–2006)

BACKGROUND Studies provide conflicting evidence for the protective effects of moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity on depression. Recent evidence suggests that sedentary behaviors may also be associated with depression. PURPOSE To examine the associations of accelerometer-derived moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity and sedentary time with depression among a population-based sample. METHODS Cross-sectional study using 2,862 adults from the 2005-2006 US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. ActiGraph accelerometers were used to derive both moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity and sedentary time. RESULTS Depression occurred in 6.8% of the sample. For moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity, compared with those in quartile 1 (least active), significantly lower odds of depression were observed for those participants in quartiles 2 (OR=0.55, 95% CI, 0.34 to 0.89), 3 (OR=0.49, 95% CI, 0.26 to 0.93), and 4 (most active) (OR=0.37, 95% CI, 0.20 to 0.70) (p for trend p<0.01). In overweight/obese participants only, those in quartile 4 (most sedentary) had significantly higher odds for depression than those in quartile 1 (least sedentary) [quartile 3 vs 1 (OR=1.94, 95% CI, 1.01 to 3.68) and 4 vs 1 (OR=3.09, 95% CI, 1.25 to 7.68)]. CONCLUSION The current study identified lower odds of depression were associated with increasing moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity and decreasing sedentary time, at least within overweight/obese adults.

Associations of objectively assessed physical activity and sedentary time with health-related quality of life among colon cancer survivors

The primary purpose of this study was to determine associations of accelerometer‐assessed moderate‐ to vigorous‐intensity physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary time with health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) and physical function and well‐being in colon cancer survivors.

Suitability and readability assessment of educational print resources related to physical activity: Implications and recommendations for practice

OBJECTIVE The primary objective of this study was to assess the suitability and readability level of publicly available educational print resources related to physical activity (PA). METHODS Educational print resources related to PA (n=66) were requested from organizations (e.g., professional, commercial, government, and educational). The suitability assessment of materials (SAM) and the simple measure of gobbledygook (SMOG) readability measure were used to evaluate the suitability and readability of the PA resources. RESULTS Of the 66 PA resources, suitability scores were superior in only 10 resources (15%), adequate in 36 resources (55%), and inadequate/not suitable in 20 resources (30%). The average reading grade level for the PA resources was a 10th grade level (S.D.=1.82; Rg=5th grade to 15th grade). Only 56.5% (n=35) of PA resources depicted a primary PA recommendation that was consistent with the public health recommendation for PA. CONCLUSION Results indicate that the majority of educational print resources related to PA have poor readability indices and inadequate to adequate suitability. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Health educators developing educational print resources related to PA must ensure these resources conform to the highest suitability standards. This includes developing resources that a) contain information consistent with current public health recommendations, and b) can be utilized by all individuals regardless of health literacy status.

Prospective Examination of Objectively Assessed Physical Activity and Sedentary Time after Breast Cancer Treatment: Sitting on the Crest of the Teachable Moment

Background: This study prospectively examined patterns of objectively assessed sedentary time and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) during a 1-year period following completion of primary treatment among breast cancer survivors. The potential moderating effect of weight status on sedentary and MVPA time was also examined. Methods: Breast cancer survivors [n = 177; M(SD)age = 54.9 (11.1) years, 85% White/Caucasian; 82% stage I or II cancer; M(SD)time since treatment = 3.5 (2.4) months] who were recruited into a convenience sample had weight, height, and waist circumference measured and wore Actigraph GT3X accelerometers for 1 week every 3 months for 1 year. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA. Results: Survivors spent nearly 78% of their day sedentary across all time points compared with less than 2% of their day engaged in MVPA. Sedentary time remained fairly stable over 12 months, whereas MVPA levels significantly decreased. Survivors with an overweight body mass index and unhealthy waist-to-height ratio engaged in significantly less MVPA than healthy weight survivors, with significant waist-to-height ratio moderator effects for both sedentary and MVPA. Conclusions: Sedentary time remains high in the first year following treatment for breast cancer, and MVPA decreases. These trends are more pronounced for survivors who are overweight, with stronger effects noted when waist-to-height ratio was examined compared with body mass index. Impact: These findings suggest that breast cancer survivors may be doing very little to improve their lifestyle behaviors following a cancer diagnosis and treatments. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 23(7); 1324–30. ©2014 AACR.

Accelerometer‐Derived Pattern of Sedentary and Physical Activity Time in Persons with Mobility Disability: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003 to 2006

To describe objectively determined sedentary and activity outcomes (volume and pattern) and their associations with cardiometabolic risk biomarkers in individuals with and without mobility disability.

Understanding physical activity maintenance in breast cancer survivors.

OBJECTIVES To examine predictors of physical activity (PA) 6 months after a randomized controlled trial. METHODS Breast cancer survivors (N=377) completed assessments at baseline, postintervention, and 6 months after the intervention. Data were collected on demographic, medical, psychosocial, motivational, and behavioral variables at baseline, postintervention, and 6 months. RESULTS Survivors meeting PA guidelines at baseline (OR = 5.54, 95% CI = 2.99-9.82, P < 0.001) and postintervention (OR = 2.92, 95% CI = 1.63-5.23, P < 0.001) had a greater likelihood of meeting PA guidelines at 6 months follow-up. CONCLUSIONS Interventions promoting PA maintenance should focus on optimizing PA behavior, psychosocial functioning, and motivation.

Top 10 Research Questions Related to Physical Activity and Cancer Survivorship

In the United States, there are more than 14 million cancer survivors. Many of these survivors have been treated with multimodal therapy including surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapies. These therapies improve survival; however, they also cause acute and chronic side effects that can undermine health and quality of life. Physical activity (PA) and cancer survivorship is a rapidly growing field of inquiry that studies the role of PA in people diagnosed with cancer. In this article, we propose the following top 10 research questions for the field of PA and cancer survivorship: (1) Does PA reduce the risk for cancer recurrence and/or improve survival? (2) Does PA influence cancer treatment decisions, completion rates, and/or response? (3) What is the optimal PA prescription for cancer survivors? (4) What is the role of sedentary behavior in cancer survivorship? (5) What are the most effective PA behavior change interventions for cancer survivors? (6) Which cancer variables modify the PA response? (7) What are the safety issues concerning PA in cancer survivors? (8) Which specific cancer symptoms can be managed by PA? (9) Is there a role for PA in advanced cancer? And (10) How do we translate PA research into clinical and community oncology practice? The answers to these questions are critical not only for advancing the field of PA and cancer survivorship, but for improving the lives of the millions of cancer survivors every year who are diagnosed with cancer, going through treatments, recovering after treatments, or coping with advanced disease.

Understanding Physical Activity Intentions and Behavior in Postmenopausal Women: An Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior

BackgroundIn the present paper, we report the social cognitive correlates of physical activity (PA) intentions in postmenopausal women using the two-component theory of planned behavior (TPB) framework.PurposeThe primary objective of the present study was to investigate the utility of the TPB in understanding PA behavior in postmenopausal women.MethodPostmenopausal women (N = 297) residing in Southern Alberta, Canada completed a mailed questionnaire that assessed self-reported PA and TPB constructs.ResultsData indicated that 67% of postmenopausal women intended to engage in PA behavior consistent with the public health PA guidelines. Multiple regression analysis suggested that the TPB model explained 44% of the variance in PA intentions with instrumental attitude (β = 0.33), affective attitude (β = 0.29), descriptive norm (β = 0.19), and self-efficacy (β = 0.24) making significant contributions to PA intentions. Postmenopausal women meeting PA guidelines reported higher scores across all TPB variables when compared to women not meeting PA guidelines. Unique behavioral, normative, and control beliefs were also elicited.ConclusionThe two-component TPB framework appears to be a useful model for understanding PA intentions and behavior in postmenopausal women. These data can be used in the development and establishment of PA behavior intervention and health promotion materials designed to facilitate PA intentions and behavior in postmenopausal women.

Physical activity and health-related quality of life among older men: an examination of current physical activity recommendations.

OBJECTIVE To determine differences in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) between older men achieving versus not achieving American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the United States Department of Health and Human Services recommendations (USDHHS) physical activity (PA) recommendations. METHOD Older-aged men (≥ 55 years) completed a mailed survey that assessed self-reported PA and HRQoL. Data were collected between September and October of 2010. RESULTS 387 older men (Mean age=65) completed the survey. Under half (48%) reported achieving the ACSM recommendation while 64% reported achieving the USDHHS recommendation. Older men achieving the ACSM recommendation reported significantly higher scores in physical health (Δ=3.5, p<0.001), mental health (Δ=4.4, p<0.001), and global health (Δ=4.3, p<0.001) component scores compared to those not achieving the recommendation. Those achieving the higher dose recommended by the USDHHS (≥ 300 min per week of moderate-intensity activity) reported significantly higher scores on the PHC (Δ=2.1, p=0.029) and GHC (Δ=2.3, p=0.027) scales compared to those achieving the USDHHS base recommendation (150-299.9 min per week of moderate-intensity activity). CONCLUSIONS Self-reported PA was significantly and positively associated with higher HRQoL scores among older men. Associations were stronger for those achieving a higher volume of PA.

Quality of life and psychosocial health in postmenopausal women achieving public health guidelines for physical activity.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine if there are differences in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and psychosocial health between postmenopausal women who meet public health physical activity (PA) guidelines versus those who do not (ie, self-report) and those women who achieve at least 7,500 steps · day−1 versus those who do not (ie, via objective monitor). Methods: Postmenopausal women (n = 297) residing in Southern Alberta, Canada, completed a mailed questionnaire that assessed self-reported PA, HRQoL, and psychosocial health outcomes. Total daily steps were assessed with a pedometer via a 3-day step monitoring period. Results: Of the postmenopausal women, 43.1% were meeting public health PA guidelines. A significant multivariate model (Wilks &lgr; = 0.968, F2,294 = 4.918, P = 0.008) indicated that women achieving public health PA guidelines reported higher HRQoL on both the physical (mean difference [Mdiff] = 2.4, P = 0.008, d [effect size] = 0.31) and mental (Mdiff = 2.3, P = 0.011, d = 0.30) component scales of the RAND-12 compared with women not achieving PA guidelines. Furthermore, women achieving at least 7,500 steps · day−1 indicated significantly higher scores on the physical component scale (Mdiff = 4.33, P < 0.001, d = 0.56) than did women achieving fewer than 7,500 pedometer steps · day−1. Conclusions: These findings lend support for the health benefits of achieving public health PA guidelines in postmenopause and further the rationale for developing, evaluating, and implementing strategically designed PA behavior change programs for postmenopausal women.