Chula joins hands with the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) to design “Walkable City” using the GoodWalk Score as the criteria for selecting the pilot area to be developed as Walkable City in Bangkok as well as many cities around the country. The plan is to help reduce pollution, revitalize tourism, and the local economy while enhancing the quality of life and health for city dwellers.
Tag: Physical Activity
Healthy sleep needs a healthy day: boost exercise to beat your bedtime blues
A world first study from the University of South Australia shows that getting a good night’s sleep is tied to how you structure your day, with exercise at the heart of sleep quality.
Self-monitoring improves physical activity of care-needing elderly
Self-monitoring of physical activity with an accelerometer and feedback is an effective tool to improve physical activity in elderly people requiring long-term support.
More than 7,500 Daily Steps Prior to Surgery Is Associated with Lower Risk of Postoperative Complications
Patients who recorded more walking activity prior to surgery, regardless of complexity of the operation or their health status, showed 51% reduced odds for postoperative complications than less active patients, according to research findings being presented at the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2023.
‘Substance abuse’ therapy could boost wellbeing for aged care workers
It’s a therapy that’s commonly used to help overcome addiction or substance abuse, but motivational interviewing could improve the health and wellbeing of frontline aged care workers, according to new research by the University of South Australia.
Loughborough University research helps protect 50 million young people in sport
Research conducted by Loughborough University has assisted global sports organisations in keeping over 50 million young people safe when playing sport.
Getting adults on board with messy nature play
Climbing trees, making mud pies, or simply playing outside, parents and educators know that being in nature is an important part of every childhood. But when it comes to messy or risky play, it’s a whole different story according to new research from the University of South Australia.
For Type 2 Diabetics Who Exercise, Some Approaches Are Better Than Others
An analysis on the positive effects of exercise on blood sugar levels in people with Type 2 diabetes shows that while all exercise helps, certain activities – and their timing – are extremely good for people’s health. The study, published in The American Journal of Medicine, provides a comprehensive but straightforward summary of the benefits of exercise on controlling blood glucose levels in people with Type 2 diabetes.
Walkable Neighborhoods Help Adults Socialize, Increase Community
Adults who live in walkable neighborhoods are more likely to socialize and have a stronger sense of community, report researchers at the UC San Diego Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science.
Wearable activity trackers accelerate hospital patient recovery
Fitbits, Garmins or Apple Watches, whatever your preference, wearable activity trackers could help patients recover faster during a hospitalisation, potentially easing some pressures on Australia’s overburdened hospital system, according to new research from the University of South Australia.
Sex Differences in Fat Storage during Military Training Help Women Preserve Lean Mass
Article title: Sex differences in body composition and serum metabolome responses to sustained, physical training suggest enhanced fat oxidation in women compared with men Authors: Meaghan E. Beckner, Lauren Thompson, Patrick N. Radcliffe, Rebecca Cherian, Marques Wilson, Nicholas Barringer, Lee…
Study shows children’s inactivity remains an issue in wake of pandemic
New research has revealed children’s physical activity in the UK has largely returned to pre-pandemic levels – but children are still more sedentary during the week.
Sedentary time may significantly enlarge adolescents’ heart
In adolescents, sedentary time may increase heart size three times more than moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, a paper published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports concludes.
Review Offers Multisystem Perspective of Frailty and Stresses Need for More Research
Article title: Multisystem physiological perspective of human frailty and its modulation by physical activity Authors: Joseph A. Taylor, Paul L. Greenhaff, David B. Bartlett, Thomas A. Jackson, Niharika A. Duggal, Janet M. Lord From the authors: “In summary, frailty is a…
More Steps, Moderate Physical Activity Cuts Dementia, Cognitive Impairment Risk
UC San Diego Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science study: senior women were less likely to develop mild cognitive impairment or dementia if they did more daily walking and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity.
Exercise is beneficial for people with epilepsy. Many physicians still don’t encourage it.
Other than in rare cases, physical activity does not increase the risk for seizures in people with epilepsy. But people with epilepsy are less active than the general population and have poorer objective physical fitness than the general population. How can we change that?
Study Explores Effects of Resistance Training in Older Adults at the Cellular Level
Aging and related diseases are associated with alterations in oxidative status and low-grade inflammation, as well as a decreased endoplasmic reticulum (ER) unfolded protein response (UPR). UPR is a functional mechanism by which cells attempt to protect themselves against ER stress. Researchers analyzed these proteins in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of elderly subjects and used computer simulation to predict the key proteins associated with these biomolecules underlying physiological adaptations to exercise. They collected blood samples about five to six days before and after the training period and analyzed various oxidative stress biomarkers in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The study takes research one step further in helping to elucidate the benefits of exercise in this population.
National plan needed to improve children’s D- grade for physical activity
Researchers are calling for a National Physical Activity Plan to encourage greater levels of physical activity among Australian children following dismal results in the 2022 Active Healthy Kids Australia (AHKA) Report Card.
Five Key Factors Affect Physical Activity in Multi-ethnic Older Adults
A study is the first to use a large range of instruments/ tools and include older adults from many ethnic groups to determine factors affecting their physical activity. Results showed that age, education, social network, pain and depression accounted for a statistically significant proportion of unique variance in physical activity in this diverse older population living independently. Those who reported lower physical activity tended to be older, have less years of education and reported lower social engagement, networking, resilience, mental health, self-health rating, and higher levels of depression, anxiety, pain, and body mass index compared to the moderate to high physical activity groups.
Substantial proportion of ethnically diverse children from low-resource backgrounds report long-term COVID-19 complications
A substantial proportion of ethnically diverse children from low-resource backgrounds with severe COVID-19 illness are reporting long-term complications from the virus, according to research from UTHealth Houston.
NAU research collaborative receives $21M grant to continue pioneering work into health equity in the Southwest
A groundbreaking research collaborative at Northern Arizona University received another $21 million grant to continue its work to promote health equity and study health disparities among diverse populations of the American Southwest.
Physical Activity May Still Not Match Pre-Covid 19 Pandemic Levels
Step counts—a measure of physical activity—were markedly lower early in the COVID-19 pandemic than pre-pandemic and remained lower, on average, in the two years following the onset of the global pandemic.
Regular physical activity linked to lower risk of COVID-19 infection and severity
Regular physical activity is linked to a lower risk of COVID-19 infection and severity, including hospital admission and death, finds a pooled data analysis of the available evidence, published online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
Which Leisure Activities Are Linked to Lower Risk of Dementia?
Leisure activities, such as reading a book, doing yoga and spending time with family and friends, may help lower the risk of dementia, according to a new meta-analysis published in the August 10, 2022, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
JMIR Diabetes | Digital Diabetes Prevention Program on Weight and Physical Activity
JMIR Publications recently published “A 12-Month Follow-Up of the Effects of a Digital Diabetes Prevention Program (VP Transform for Prediabetes) on Weight and Physical Activity Among Adults With Prediabetes: Secondary Analysis” in JMIR Diabetes which reported that previous research has demonstrated the efficacy of a diabetes prevention program (DPP) in lifestyle modifications that can prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes among individuals at risk.
Researchers Suggest Continued Heart and Lung Monitoring after COVID-19 for People with Highly Physical Jobs
Article title: The effect of medium-term recovery status after COVID-19 illness on cardiopulmonary exercise capacity in a physically active adult population Authors: Peter Ladlow, Oliver O’Sullivan, Alexander N. Bennett, Robert Barker-Davies, Andrew Houston, Rebecca Chamley, Samantha May, Daniel Mills, Dominic…
Research Shows Alarming Increases in Deaths from Alcoholic Cirrhosis in the U.S.
Researchers conducted an original research study utilizing the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (WONDER) to compare trends in mortality from alcoholic cirrhosis in the U.S. in 1999 with those 20 years later in 2019.
Reducing screen time increases physical activity in children
Many young people spend much of their time using digital screens which may reduce their engagement in physical activity.
Study shows children’s physical activity levels fell below national guidelines in wake of pandemic
New research has revealed children’s physical activity levels in the UK were significantly lower by the time the COVID-19 pandemic public lockdown restrictions were lifted.
More greens, less sugar and fries: Abriendo Caminos study finds promising results
A study evaluating the effect of the Abriendo Caminos program on dietary behaviors of Hispanic children found youth participants consumed sugar-sweetened beverages, french fries and fast food less frequently and ate vegetables more often after the six-week workshop series.
IAFNS and Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center Team Up for 3-Part Webinar Series
Join scientists as they share the latest nutrition research on physical activity, gut and brain, and maternal and child diets.
Exercise Could Help Reduce Severity of Serious Cancer Complication
A new study has identified yet another benefit of keeping up your exercise routine. In experiments performed with mice, researchers found that exercising prior to developing cancer was associated with slower tumor growth and helped reduce the effects of a cancer complication known as wasting syndrome, or cachexia.
Housework linked to sharper memory and better falls protection in older adults
Housework is linked to sharper memory, attention span, and better leg strength, and by extension, greater protection against falls, in older adults, finds research published in the open access journal BMJ Open.
Sitting more linked to increased feelings of depression, anxiety
During the initial COVID-19 outbreak in March 2020, a lot of people suddenly became more sedentary as they adhered to stay-at-home orders or opted to self-isolate. Recently published research found people who continued to spend a higher amount of time sitting in the weeks following were likely to have higher symptoms of depression. A closer investigation into this association could play a role in helping people improve their mental health.
Study says Americans do about 30 minutes less physical activity a day than 200 years ago
Today, Americans have access to what feels like an endless amount of workout routines, huge gyms, and even high-end home workout equipment like the Peloton.
Help ward off dementia, step by step
To mark Dementia Action Week and World Alzheimer’s Day, researchers at the University of South Australia are sharing their latest insights about dementia in a new podcast series, Re-imagining Ageing.
Older Adults Need More Than Clichés Like ‘Exercise is Good for You’ to Stay Active
More than 80 percent of adults get the recommended 150 minutes of moderate intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity per week. Moreover, 40 percent of Americans 75 and older are entirely inactive. Little is known about factors associated with increasing, sustaining, or declining physical activity levels over time. A study explored what drives older adults from diverse backgrounds to start or sustain physical activity and what stops them. The bottom line: knowledge and old clichés alone aren’t enough to keep them moving.
Too much time on a computer, watching TV or other sedentary activities raises stroke risk
Adults younger than age 60 whose days are filled with sedentary leisure time (which includes using the computer, TV, or reading) and little physical activity have a higher stroke risk than people who are more physically active
Active Workstations Encourage Seated Workers to Sit Less, Move More
Prolonged workplace sitting has emerged as a major risk factor for chronic diseases. Standing and treadmill desks have become popular solutions among office workers to decrease workplace sitting. However, little is known about the long-term success of these desks in…
Exercise Reduces Medication for Metabolic Syndrome Management
Chances are that as we age, we will need to correct our blood pressure, blood sugar or blood fat with the help of medication. Thanks to such medication, an individual’s health span is extended by reducing cardiovascular and metabolic diseases…
Olympics provide untapped chance to improve health for all
Given the increased interest in sports and exercise around the Olympics underway in Tokyo, events such as the Summer Games represent an unrealized opportunity to improve global health, finds a new paper from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis.
Promoting physical activity is key to achieving U.N. Sustainable Development Goals
New evidence supports integrating strategies to promote increased physical activity as a key part of the action plan for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, finds a new study led by researchers at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis.
Arlington, Va., Named ‘Fittest City’ in 2021 American Fitness Index Ranking of Top 100
CSM and the Anthem Foundation release the 2021 American Fitness Index, ranking America’s 100 largest cities on health behaviors, chronic disease and community infrastructure indicators. Arlington, Va. earned the title of “America’s Fittest City.” Minneapolis, Minnesota; Seattle, Washington; Denver, Colorado; Madison, Wisconsin; Washington, D.C.; St. Paul, Minnesota; Irvine, California; Portland, Oregon; and Atlanta, Georgia; round out the top 10 fittest cities.
Pandemic increased screen time, decreased physical activity in children
The stay-at-home orders during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 led to a decrease in children’s physical activity and an increase in screen time, finds two new studies from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis.
Combining Gamification, Cash Incentive Increases Veterans’ Exercise
Daily step counts increased by approximately 1,200 among veterans who were given goals and participated in game-like interventions with loss-framed cash rewards
Penn State Health one of six health systems in nation to add physical activity as a vital sign
When visiting a health care provider, most people expect to have their body temperature, pulse, weight and blood pressure measured. Some Penn State Health patients can also anticipate questions about how much they exercise. The health system is one of six in the United States and the only one in Pennsylvania to incorporate physical activity as a vital sign.
WVU professor: Personal desire, not shaming, should serve as motivator to arise from the unhealthy pits of COVID
George Kelley, a professor in West Virginia University’s School of Public Health, said he believes the key now is to push forward from the pandemic and into healthier lifestyles.
ACSM / Anthem American Fitness Index to Reveal 2021 Fittest City
For more than a decade, the evidence-based ACSM / Anthem American Fitness Index has recognized the critical role physical activity and city infrastructure play in a city’s overall health and fitness. ACSM and the Anthem Foundation will release the 2021 Fitness Index rankings at 7 a.m. EDT on July 13.
Most US adults fall short of cancer-prevention dietary guidelines
The vast majority of American adults eat a dietary pattern that falls short of meeting national dietary guidelines for cancer prevention, a new study shows.
ACSM Annual Meeting Research Highlights for June 3
ACSM’s comprehensive sports medicine and exercise science conference takes place virtually from June 1 to 5 with programming covering the science, practice, public health and policy aspects of sports medicine, exercise science and physical activity.