Coaches’ Health Promotion Activity and Substance Use in Youth Sports

There is an increasing amount of evidence suggesting youth sports clubs are an important setting for health promotion. Adolescents in sport club settings can benefit from exposures of positive and negative consequences to health. To better understand the sport club context and coaches’ health promotion activity in substance use prevention, this study compares sport club members with non-members aged between 14–16 years old on their experience and use of alcohol, smoking and snuff and coaches’ health promotion activity on substances. Methods: Adolescents (n = 671) from sports clubs and from matched schools (n = 1442) were recruited in this study. Multiple binary logistic regressions were per…

Physical activity change and stability patterns from adolescence to early adulthood : how activity domains and sedentary behaviour are associated with maintaining, increasing and decreasing activity?

Background Longitudinal studies demonstrate that physical activity (PA) declines on average from adolescence to early adulthood. However, some subgroups of adolescents increase activity while others decrease or maintain high or low activity. Determinants of change or maintenance of (in)activity may differ between subgroups and are valuable information for targeted health promotion. The purpose of this study was to identify PA patterns from adolescence to early adulthood, and also to explore how different activity domains and Sedentary Behaviour (SB) are associated with PA patterns. Methods The data of this observational cohort study (collected in 2013/2014 and 2017/2018) consisted of 254 Fi…

Association between low-frequency ultrasound and hip fractures - comparison with DXA-based BMD

Background New methods for diagnosing osteoporosis and evaluating fracture risk are being developed. We aim to study the association between low-frequency (LF) axial transmission ultrasound and hip fracture risk in a population-based sample of older women. Methods The study population consisted of 490 community-dwelling women (78–82 years). Ultrasound velocity (VLF) at mid-tibia was measured in 2006 using a low-frequency scanning axial transmission device. Bone mineral density (BMD) at proximal femur measured using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used as the reference method. The fracture history of the participants was collected from December 1997 until the end of 2010. Lifestyl…

Association of accelerometer‐measured physical activity and midlife income : A Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 Study

This study investigated the association between physical activity (PA) and midlife income. The population-based data comprised employed members of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 (N = 2797). Using binned scatterplots and polynomial regressions, we evaluated the association between accelerometer-measured moderate PA (MPA), vigorous PA (VPA), and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) at 46 years old and register-based income at 50 years old. The models were adjusted for sex, marital status, number of children, education, adolescent PA, occupational physical strenuousness, and time preference. We found MPA (p < 0.001), VPA (p < 0.05), and MVPA (p < 0.001) to associate curvilinearly with income…

Longitudinal physical activity patterns and the development of cardiometabolic risk factors during adolescence

Purpose To examine the associations between longitudinal physical activity (PA) patterns and the development of cardiometabolic risk factors from adolescence to young adulthood. Methods This cohort study encompassed 250 participants recruited from sports clubs and schools, and examined at mean age 15 and 19. Device-measured moderate-to-vigorous PA was grouped into five patterns (via a data-driven method, using inactivity maintainers as a reference). The outcomes were: glucose, insulin, homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), total cholesterol, HDL and LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, and body mass index (BMI). Linear growth curve models were applied wit…

Heterogeneous contributions of change in population distribution of body mass index to change in obesity and underweight

From 1985 to 2016, the prevalence of underweight decreased, and that of obesity and severe obesity increased, in most regions, with significant variation in the magnitude of these changes across regions. We investigated how much change in mean body mass index (BMI) explains changes in the prevalence of underweight, obesity, and severe obesity in different regions using data from 2896 population-based studies with 187 million participants. Changes in the prevalence of underweight and total obesity, and to a lesser extent severe obesity, are largely driven by shifts in the distribution of BMI, with smaller contributions from changes in the shape of the distribution. In East and Southeast Asia…

Rising rural body-mass index is the main driver of the global obesity epidemic in adults

Body-mass index (BMI) has increased steadily in most countries in parallel with a rise in the proportion of the population who live in cities(.)(1,2) This has led to a widely reported view that urbanization is one of the most important drivers of the global rise in obesity(3-6). Here we use 2,009 population-based studies, with measurements of height and weight in more than 112 million adults, to report national, regional and global trends in mean BMI segregated by place of residence (a rural or urban area) from 1985 to 2017. We show that, contrary to the dominant paradigm, more than 55% of the global rise in mean BMI from 1985 to 2017-and more than 80% in some low- and middle-income regions…

Factors associated with body size perception among adolescent goal-oriented sports participants and non-participants : a cross-sectional Finnish study

Abstract Background Regardless of competitive athletes’ body image pressures, only few studies have focused on adolescent sport participants’ body image and the findings are inconclusive. Furthermore, the role of competitive goals in sports on adolescents’ body size perception has not been studied. We examined the factors associated with adolescents’ competitive goals in sports and body size perception, and the associations between adolescents’ competitive goals in sports and body size perception. Methods The cross-sectional study consisted of 475 goal-oriented sports club participants and 936 reference youths (aged 14–16 years). The study questionnaire included multiple choice items on hea…

Author response: Heterogeneous contributions of change in population distribution of body mass index to change in obesity and underweight

Height and body-mass index trajectories of school-aged children and adolescents from 1985 to 2019 in 200 countries and territories: a pooled analysis of 2181 population-based studies with 65 million participants

BACKGROUND: Comparable global data on health and nutrition of school-aged children and adolescents are scarce. We aimed to estimate age trajectories and time trends in mean height and mean body-mass index (BMI), which measures weight gain beyond what is expected from height gain, for school-aged children and adolescents.

Training Volume and Intensity of Physical Activity among Young Athletes: The Health Promoting Sports Club (HPSC) Study

Both training volume and overall physical activity (PA) play a role in young athletes’ sports performance and athletic development. The purpose of this study was to describe the training volume and PA of young athletes in endurance, aesthetics, ball games, and power sports. Questionnaire data (n = 671) were obtained from 15-year-old Finnish athletes on sports participation, along with accelerometer data (n = 350) assessing the amount and intensity of their PA. The athletes’ mean weekly training volume was 11 h 41 min. Objectively assessed PA amounted to 4 h 31 min daily, out of which 1 h 31 min was at a level of moderate-to-vigorous intensity (MVPA). Among 24% of the athletes, the weekly tr…

Educational and family-related determinants of organized sports participation patterns from adolescence to emerging adulthood : A four-year follow-up study

This study aimed to identify organized sports participation patterns and their prevalence from adolescence to emerging adulthood, and the educational and family-related determinants of the patterns. Adolescents in the Finnish Health Promoting Sports Club (FHPSC) study answered a health behaviour questionnaire and reported on sports club participation at ages 15 and 19 (N = 609). In emerging adulthood, dropouts (total 41.05%; females 43.72%; males 36.56%), maintainers (30.87; 26.44; 38.33), nonparticipants (27.59; 29.32; 24.67), and joiners (0.49; 0.52; 0.44) (p =.024) were identified. A mixed multinomial logistic regression analysis showed, that male gender, as compared to female gender, in…

Gaming for health across various areas of life

Lack of physical activity is mostly addressed by implementing programs to promote physical activity but seeing as the major cause for physical inactivity is that of technology. Few studies used the approach to use the very barrier as s mean to try and educate and breed good habits. This paper outlines the design and development of a project that will us various environments, home, gym and outdoors to promote physical activity by means of technology and more specifically games. peerReviewed

Effects of a home-based, exergaming intervention on physical function and pain after total knee replacement in older adults : a randomised controlled trial

ObjectivesTo investigate the effects of 4 months of customised, home-based exergaming on physical function and pain after total knee replacement (TKR) compared with standard exercise protocol.MethodsIn this non-blinded randomised controlled trial, 52 individuals aged 60–75 years undergoing TKR were randomised into an exergaming (intervention group, IG) or a standard exercising group (control group, CG). Primary outcomes were physical function and pain measured before and after (2 months and 4 months) surgery using the Oxford Knee Score (OKS) and Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. Secondary outcomes included measures of the Visual Analogue Scale, 10m walking, short physical performance battery, iso…

National trends in total cholesterol obscure heterogeneous changes in HDL and non-HDL cholesterol and total-to-HDL cholesterol ratio : a pooled analysis of 458 population-based studies in Asian and Western countries

Artículo con numerosos autores. Sólo quedan reflejados el primero, los pertenecientes a la UAM y el colectivo

Physical Activity, Screen Time and Sleep among Youth Participating and Non-Participating in Organized Sports : The Finnish Health Promoting Sports Club (FHPSC) Study

Objectives: The aim of this Health Promoting Sport Club (HPSC) study was to compare physical activity (PA), sleep time and screen time (ST) between sports club participants (n = 1200) and non-participants (n = 913). Design: A cross-sectional survey design was employed to assess PA, sleep and ST of adolescents. Methods: Information on these was collected from 14 to 16 year old adolescents (1200 sport club participants and 913 non-participants) through a standardized questionnaire. Results: Boys were more physically active than girls and met the PA guidelines more often than girls (p < 0.001). The proportion of youth reaching the PA guidelines was significantly higher among youth participants…

Additional file 1 of Factors associated with body size perception among adolescent goal-oriented sports participants and non-participants: a cross-sectional Finnish study

Additional file 1: Supplementary Table 1. Motives to exercise by competitive goals in sports. Supplementary Table 2. Motives to exercise by body size perception.

Physical activity from adolescence to young adulthood: patterns of change, and their associations with activity domains and sedentary time

Background Longitudinal studies demonstrate an average decline in physical activity (PA) from adolescence to young adulthood. However, while some subgroups of adolescents decrease activity, others increase or maintain high or low activity. Activity domains may differ between subgroups (exhibiting different PA patterns), and they offer valuable information for targeted health promotion. Hence, the aim of this study was to identify PA patterns from adolescence to young adulthood; also to explore the associations of (i) changes in PA domains and in sedentary time, (ii) sociodemographic factors, and (iii) self-rated health with diverging PA patterns. Methods The observational cohort study data …

Repositioning of the global epicentre of non-optimal cholesterol

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Health promotion activities of sports clubs and coaches, and health and health behaviours in youth participating in sports clubs: the Health Promoting Sports Club study

Introduction: Sports clubs form a potential setting for health promotion, but the research is limited. The aim of the Health Promoting Sports Club (HPSC) study was to elucidate the current health promotion activities of youth sports clubs and coaches, and to investigate the health behaviours and health status of youth participating in sports clubs compared to non-participants. Methods and analysis: The study design employs cross-sectional multilevel and multimethod research with aspirations to a prospective cohort study in the next phase. The setting-based variables at sports clubs and coaching levels, and health behaviour variables at the individual level, are investigated using surveys; a…

The Individual-level Productivity Costs of Physical Inactivity

Abstract Purpose: This study estimated the long-term individual-level productivity costs of physical inactivity. Methods: The data were drawn from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966, to which the productivity cost variables (sick leaves and disability pensions) from Finnish registries were linked. Individuals (N = 6261) were categorized into physical activity groups based on their level of physical activity, which was measured in three ways: 1) self-reported leisure-time moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) at 46 yr old, 2) longitudinal self-reported leisure-time MVPA at 31–46 yr old, and 3) accelerometer-measured overall MVPA at 46 yr old. The human capital approach…

Low back and neck and shoulder pain in members and non-members of adolescents' sports clubs : the Finnish Health Promoting Sports Club (FHPSC) study

Background The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of self-reported low back pain (LBP) and neck and shoulder pain (NSP), and the related factors in members and non-members of adolescents’ sports clubs. Methods This cross-sectional study was based on surveys of 14–16-year-olds as a part of the Finnish Health Promoting Sports Club (FHPSC) Study. The surveys on self-reported health behaviours, injuries, and musculoskeletal health were conducted among sports club members (n = 962) and non-members (n = 675). Binary logistic regression analysis was applied to study the associations between dependent variables of LBP and NSP, and the independent factors. Results The prevalen…

Haemoglobin, iron status and lung function of adolescents participating in organised sports in the Finnish Health Promoting Sports Club Study

ObjectivesTo compare laboratory test results and lung function of adolescent organised sports participants (SP) with non-participants (NP).MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, laboratory tests (haemoglobin, iron status), and flow-volume spirometry were performed on SP youths (199 boys, 203 girls) and their NP peers (62 boys, 114 girls) aged 14–17.ResultsHaemoglobin concentration &lt;120/130 g/L was found in 5.8% of SP and 5.1% NP (OR 1.20, 95% CI 0.54 to 2.68). Ferritin concentration below 15 µg/L was found in 22.7% of both SP and NP girls. Among boys ferritin &lt;30 µg/L was found in 26.5% of SP and 30.2% of NP (OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.40 to 1.47). Among SP iron supplement use was reported by 3…

Association between low-frequency ultrasound and hip fractures - comparison with DXA-based BMD

Background: New methods for diagnosing osteoporosis and evaluating fracture risk are being developed. We aim to study the association between low-frequency (LF) axial transmission ultrasound and hip fracture risk in a population-based sample of older women. Methods: The study population consisted of 490 community-dwelling women (78 – 82 years). Ultrasound velocity (V LF ) at mid-tibia was measured in 2006 using a low-frequency scanning axial transmission device. Bone mineral density (BMD) at proximal femur measured using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used as the reference method. The fracture history of the participants was collected from December 1997 until the end of 2010. Li…

Effectiveness of Gamification in Knee Replacement Rehabilitation : Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial With a Qualitative Approach

Background: Exergames can provide encouraging exercise options. Currently, there is limited evidence regarding home-based exergaming in the postoperative phase of total knee replacement (TKR). Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of a 4-month postoperative home-based exergame intervention with an 8-month follow-up on physical function and symptoms among older persons undergoing TKR compared with home exercise using a standard protocol. In addition, a concurrent embedded design of a mixed methods study was used by including a qualitative component within a quantitative study of exergame effects. Methods: This was a dual-center, nonblinded, two-arm, parallel group randomized…

The associations between adolescents’ sports club participation and dietary habits

For adolescent athletes, data on nutrition behaviours are limited. The present study aimed to evaluate the dietary habits of adolescent sports club participants (SPs) compared with those of non‐participants (NPs). The cross‐sectional study of 1917 adolescents aged 14–16 was based on data from the Finnish Health Promoting Sports Club (FHPSC) study. The health behaviour surveys were conducted among SPs (n=1093) and NPs (n=824). Logistic regression was used to test statistical significance of the differences in dietary habits between SPs and NPs. SPs were more likely than NPs to eat breakfast on weekends [89% vs. 79%, odds ratio (OR) 1.46, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07–2.01] and to report …

Musculoskeletal examination in young athletes and non-athletes:the Finnish Health Promoting Sports Club (FHPSC) study

ObjectivesTo determine the inter-rater repeatability of a musculoskeletal examination and to compare findings between adolescent athletes and non-athletes in Finland.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, a musculoskeletal examination assessing posture, mobility and movement control was carried out by a sports and exercise medicine physician on 399 athletes aged 14–17 years and 177 non-athletes. Within 2 weeks another sports and exercise medicine physician repeated the examination for 41 adolescents to test the inter-rater repeatability.ResultsIn total, 10 of the 11 tests performed had at least moderate inter-rater reliability (κ ≥0.4 or percentage agreement &gt;80%). Athletes more often tha…

Polygenic Risk Scores and Physical Activity

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Movement characteristics during customized exergames after total knee replacement in older adults

Introduction: There is limited understanding of how older adults can reach kinematic goals in rehabilitation while performing exergames and conventional exercises, and how similar or different the kinematics during exergaming are when compared with conventional therapeutic exercise with similar movement. The aim of this study was to describe the movement characteristics performed during exercise in custom-designed exergames and conventional therapeutic exercises among patients who have undergone unilateral total knee replacement (TKR). In addition, the secondary aim was to assess the relation of these exercise methods, and to assess participants' perceived exertion and knee pain during exer…

Resting Electrocardiogram and Blood Pressure in Young Endurance and Nonendurance Athletes and Nonathletes.

Context Much information is available on electrocardiogram (ECG) and blood pressure (BP) changes in senior athletes. However, corresponding data on adolescent athletes are scarce. Objective To study the differences in resting ECG and BP values among adolescent endurance athletes, nonendurance athletes, and nonathletes. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting A total of 154 youth sports clubs in Finland and 100 secondary schools for comparison data. Patients or Other Participants We recruited young athletes (n = 410) aged 14 to 16 years in 10 popular sport disciplines, including winter and summer as well as team and individual sports, and categorized them as endurance or nonendurance sports. …

Acute and overuse injuries among sports club members and non-members : the Finnish Health Promoting Sports Club (FHPSC) study

Background Physical activity in adolescence is promoted for its multi-dimensional health benefits. However, too intensive sports participation is associated with an increased injury risk. Our aim was to compare the occurrence of acute and overuse injuries in Finnish sports club members and non-members and to report training and competing habits associated with a higher injury risk in sports club members. Methods In this cross-sectional survey targeted at 14–16-year-old adolescents, a structured questionnaire was completed by 1077 sports club members and 812 non-members. The main outcome measures were self-reported acute and overuse injuries, their location and type. Results At least one acu…

Did the Finnish depression of the early 1990s have a silver lining? : The effect of unemployment on long-term physical activity

This paper studies the impact of long-term unemployment on physical activity. We examined the effects 6 and 15 years following a severe business cycle downturn in Finland over the period 1991–1994. The study sample comprised residents of Northern Finland. The unemployed individuals were 23–26 years old during the downturn. Physical activity, measured by MET minutes and meeting WHO guidelines, was higher 15 years later among those people who experienced the longest periods of unemployment in 1991–1994. Physical activity was somewhat lower among people with relatively shorter periods of unemployment. peerReviewed