Assessment methods for physical activity and physical fitness in population studies: Report of a NHLBI workshop

doi:10.1016/0002-8703(86)90022-0

American Heart Journal

Volume 111, Issue 6, June 1986, Pages 1177-1192

https://doi.org/10.1016/0002-8703(86)90022-0 Get rights and content

Abstract

This report summarizes the proceedings and recommendations of a National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute conference on assessment methods for physical activity and physical fitness in population studies held in Bethesda, Maryland, in May 1984. Synopses of each contributor's presentation are given, as well as specific recommendations for further research. Key areas for investigation were noted as validation and standardization of questionnaires, increased use of activity monitors in exercise research, development of simpler fitness tests, and research into possible surrogate measures for fitness evaluation.

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Cited by (244)

Problem-solving therapy-induced amygdala engagement mediates lifestyle behavior change in obesity with comorbid depression: A randomized proof-of-mechanism trial
2021, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Depression hinders obesity treatment; elucidating mechanisms may enable treatment enhancements.
The aim was to investigate whether changes in neural targets in the negative affect circuit following psychotherapy mediate subsequent changes in weight and behaviors.
Adults (n = 108) with obesity and depression were randomly assigned to usual care or an intervention that delivered problem-solving therapy (PST) for depression over 2 mo. fMRI for brain imaging was performed at baseline and 2 mo. BMI, physical activity, and diet were measured at baseline and 12 mo. Mediation analysis assessed between-group differences in neural target changes using t test and correlations between neural target changes and outcome changes (simple and interaction effect) using ordinary least-squares regression.
Compared with usual care, PST led to reductions in left amygdala activation (−0.75; 95% CI: −1.49, −0.01) and global scores of the negative affect circuit (−0.43; −0.81, −0.06), engaged by threat stimuli. Increases in amygdala activation and global circuit scores at 2 mo correlated with decreases in physical activity outcomes at 12 mo in the usual-care group; these relations were altered by PST. In relation to change in leisure-time physical activity, standardized β-coefficients were −0.67 in usual care and −0.01 in the intervention (between-group difference: 0.66; 0.02, 1.30) for change in left amygdala activation and −2.02 in usual care and −0.11 in the intervention (difference: 1.92; 0.64, 3.20) for change in global circuit scores. In relation to change in total energy expenditure, standardized β-coefficients were −0.65 in usual care and 0.08 in the intervention (difference: 0.73; 0.29, 1.16) for change in left amygdala activation and −1.65 in usual care and 0.08 in the intervention (difference: 1.74; 0.85, 2.63) for change in global circuit scores. Results were null for BMI and diet.
Short-term changes in the negative affect circuit engaged by threat stimuli following PST for depression mediated longer-term changes in physical activity. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02246413 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02246413).
CD34<sup>+</sup> progenitors are predictive of mortality and are associated with physical activity in cardiovascular disease patients
2021, Atherosclerosis
Circulating progenitor cells (CPCs) play an important role in vascular repair and can influence cardiovascular (CV) health and longevity. Exercise is known to modulate these cells via mobilization from the bone marrow. The primary aims of this study were to evaluate the association of CPCs with mortality and explore the association between physical activity (PA) and CPCs.
1751 individuals from the Framingham Offspring cohort (66 ± 9 years [40–92 years], 54% female) were included in the study. CPCs (CD34^+, CD34⁺CD133⁺, CD34⁺CD133⁺KDR⁺) were measured by flow cytometry. Multivariable Cox regression analyses were performed to investigate relationship of CPCs with future CV event and mortality. Multivariate regression analyses were performed to determine the relationship between self-reported PA and CPC counts.
Following adjustment for standard risk factors, there was an inverse association between CD34⁺ CPCs and all-cause mortality (hazard ratio (HR) per unit increase in CD34⁺, 0.79; 95% CI 0.64–0.98, p = 0.036). CD34⁺CD133⁺ CPCs were inversely associated with CV mortality (HR 0.63, 95% CI 0.44–0.91, p = 0.013). Associations of CD34⁺ and CD34⁺CD133⁺ with mortality were strongest in participants with pre-existing CVD. PA was associated with CD34⁺ CPCs only in CVD participants (PA Index: β = 0.176, p = 0.003; moderate-to-vigorous [MVPA]: β = 0.159, p = 0.007). This relationship was maintained after adjustment for confounding variables.
A higher number of CD34⁺ and CD34⁺ CD133⁺ CPCs was inversely associated with all-cause and CV mortality. These associations were strongest in participants with CVD. PA is independently associated with CD34⁺ CPCs in individuals with CVD only, suggestive of greater benefit for this population group.
Successful weight maintainers among young adults—A ten-year prospective population study
2018, Eating Behaviors
Citation Excerpt :
A physical activity index was calculated at mean age 24 (wave 4) from the product of self-reported exercise intensity, duration (hours) and yearly frequency (days). Intensity was expressed as estimated metabolic equivalent (MET) values (work metabolic rate divided by resting metabolic rate) (Wilson, Paffenbarger Jr, Morris, & Havlik, 1986). Adequate validity of these measures was found with respect to interviews and fitness assessments of VO2max among these twins in adolescence (Aarnio, Winter, Peltonen, Kujala, & Kaprio, 2002).
To assess factors associated with successful weight maintenance over ten years in a prospective general population sample of young adults.
Our study comprised 2452 women and 2227 men born in 1975–1979 (mean age at baseline 24 years, attrition 27.1%). Weight maintenance was defined as weight maintained within ±5% of baseline body mass index (BMI). We examined the role of various sociodemographic and lifestyle factors in successful weight maintenance.
Relatively few young adults were able to maintain their weight over ten years (28.6% of women vs. 23.0% of men); net weight loss was uncommon (7.5% and 3.8%). Most participants gained weight (mean annual weight gain was 0.9 kg in women and 1.0 kg in men). Among women, exercise was associated with successful weight maintenance, but having two or more children, frequent use of sweet drinks, irregular eating, history of dieting (intentional weight loss) and low life satisfaction were associated with weight gain. Among men, higher baseline BMI and higher education were associated with successful weight maintenance, whereas irregular eating, history of dieting and smoking were associated with weight gain.
Only about a quarter of young adults were able to resist weight gain. Regular eating and having no history of dieting were associated with successful weight maintenance in young women and men.
Effect of aerobic exercises on students’ physical health indicators
2018, Science and Sports
The purpose of this research was to explore the impact of 12-week aerobic exercises on both weight index and indicators of cardiovascular endurance. An increasingly passive life-style of students has led to a growth in health related disorders. Complex aerobic exercises are regarded as a kind of activity affecting youth physical health.
Maximum heart rate and maximum oxygen consumption were measured. Participants included 1180 17–21 aged students from five universities in Anqing and Hefei municipalities, China. Cardiovascular endurance indicators were defined by the using Quinn steps exercise. Each student stepped up and down for about 5 minutes and after that heart beats were measured for about 20 seconds from the carotid region. Students’ health indicators were defined twice before and after the exercises.
MHR decreased to 159.8 bpm for boys (from 164.1 bpm) and 160.2 bpm for girls (164.8 bpm at the beginning of the experiment). As for VO2max, it increased by 1.4 (from 43.6 to 45) and 2.1 (from 41.6 to 43.7) mL/kg/min for boys and girls respectively.
Le but de cet article était d’étudier l’effet de 12 semaines d’aérobic à l’indice de la masse du corps et les indicateurs de l’endurance cardio-vasculaire. La répartition de la mode de vie passive chez les jeunes conduit à une augmentation des problèmes de santé. Les exercices aérobics complets sont considérés par les scientifiques comme l’un des types d’exercice qui affectent activement la santé physique des jeunes.
La fréquence cardiaque maximale et la consommation d’oxygène ont été mesurés. L’échantillon comprenait 1180 élèves âgés de 17–21 ans à partir de 5 universités à Anqing et de la municipalité de Hefei, en Chine. Les indicateurs d’endurance cardiovasculaire ont été définis par l’exercice d’étapes Quinn. Chaque étudiant a progressé pendant environ 5 minutes et après que les battements cardiaques ont été mesurés pendant environ 20 secondes de la région carotidienne. Les indicateurs de santé des élèves ont été définis deux fois avant et après les exercices.
La fréquence cardiaque a diminué à 159,8 bpm pour les garçons (de 164,1 bpm) et 160,2 pour les filles (164,8 bpm au début de l’expérience). En ce qui concerne le VO2max, il a augmenté de 1,4 (de 43,6 à 45) et 2,1 (de 41,6 à 43,7) mL/kg/min chez les garçons et les filles.
Physical activity and associations with computed tomography-detected lumbar zygapophyseal joint osteoarthritis
2015, Spine Journal
Citation Excerpt :
Physical activity and covariate data were taken from the scheduled Framingham clinical examinations that best corresponded temporally with the timing of the CT scans (Examination 8 for the Offspring participants and Examination 1 for the Generation 3 participants); the CT scans were obtained at an average of 1 year before the clinical examination. Measures of physical activity were drawn from the Framingham Physical Activity Index, an interviewer-administered questionnaire that measures metabolic work done during a typical day [22]. The Physical Activity Index estimates how many hours per day participants typically spend in the following physical activity categories: sleeping (hsleep), sitting (hsedentary), slight activity (hslight), moderate activity (hmoderate), and heavy activity (hheavy).
There are no previous epidemiologic studies examining associations between physical activity and imaging-detected lumbar zygapophyseal joint osteoarthritis (ZJO) in a community-based sample.
To determine whether physical activity is associated with prevalent lumbar ZJO on computed tomography (CT).
A community-based cross-sectional study.
Four hundred twenty-four older adults from the Framingham Heart Study.
Participants received standardized CT assessments of lumbar ZJO at the L2–S1 levels. Severe lumbar ZJO was defined according to the presence and/or degree of joint space narrowing, osteophytosis, articular process hypertrophy, articular erosions, subchondral cysts, and intra-articular vacuum phenomenon. This definition of lumbar ZJO was based entirely on CT imaging findings and did not include any clinical criteria such as low back pain.
Physical activity was measured using the Physical Activity Index, which estimate hours per day typically spent in these activity categories: sleeping, sitting, slight activity, moderate activity, and heavy activity. Participants reported on usual frequency of walking, running, swimming, and weightlifting. We used multivariable logistic regression to examine associations between self-reported activity and severe lumbar ZJO, while adjusting for key covariates including age, sex, height, and weight.
In multivariable analyses, ordinal categories of heavy physical activity duration per day were significantly associated with severe lumbar ZJO (p for trend=.04), with the greatest risk observed for the category 3 or more hours per day, odds ratio 2.13 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.97–4.67). When heavy activity was modeled as a continuous independent variable, each hour was independently associated with 1.19 times the odds of severe lumbar ZJO (95% CI 1.03–1.38, p=.02). Less vigorous types of physical activity and the type of exercise were not associated with severe lumbar ZJO. Older age, lesser height, and greater weight were independently and significantly associated with severe lumbar ZJO. In multivariable models predicting lumbar ZJO, neither model discrimination nor reclassification improved with the addition of physical activity variables, compared with a multivariable model including age, sex, height, and weight.
Our findings demonstrate a statistically significant cross-sectional association between heavy physical activity and CT-detected severe lumbar ZJO. However, the additional discriminatory capability of heavy physical activity above and beyond that contributed by other factors was negligible.
Cardiorespiratory fitness and brain diffusion tensor imaging in adults over 80 years of age
2014, Brain Research
Citation Excerpt :
One challenge in examining the relationship between CRF and brain health in very old age is the limited availability of safe and accurate measures of CRF. Most prior studies focusing on well-functioning adults in their mid-sixties to seventies applied the graded maximal exercise test (Colcombe et al., 2003; Erickson et al., 2009; Johnson et al., 2012; Marks et al., 2011) which can pose safety risks for adults over 80 years of age (Hollenberg et al., 1998; Wilson et al., 1986). By contrast, the self-paced 400-m long-distance corridor walk test has high safety in measuring CRF and it has been previously validated against the graded maximal exercise test (Simonsick et al., 2006).
A positive association between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and white matter integrity has been consistently reported in older adults. However, it is unknown whether this association exists in adults over 80 with a range of chronic disease conditions and low physical activity participation, which can influence both CRF and brain health. This study examined whether higher CRF was associated with greater microstructural integrity of gray and white matter in areas related to memory and information processing in adults over 80 and examined moderating effects of chronic diseases and physical activity. CRF was measured as time to walk 400 m as quickly as possible with concurrent 3 T diffusion tensor imaging in 164 participants (57.1% female, 40.3% black). Fractional anisotropy (FA) was computed for cingulum, uncinate and superior longitudinal fasciculi. Mean diffusivity (MD) was computed for dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, parahippocampus, and entorhinal cortex. Moderating effects were tested using hierarchical regression models. Higher CRF was associated with higher FA in cingulum and lower MD in hippocampus and entorhinal cortex (β, sex-adjusted p: −0.182, 0.019; 0.165, 0.035; and 0.220, 0.006, respectively). Hypertension attenuated the association with MD in entorhinal cortex. Moderating effects of chronic diseases and physical activity in walking and climbing stairs on these associations were not significant. The association of higher CRF with greater microstructural integrity in selected subcortical areas appears robust, even among very old adults with a range of chronic diseases. Intervention studies should investigate whether increasing CRF can preserve memory and information processing by improving microstructure and potential effects of hypertension management.

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Assessment methods for physical activity and physical fitness in population studies: Report of a NHLBI workshop

Abstract

Am Heart J

Am Heart J

Lancet

Am J Clin Nutr

Metabolism

Clin Chim Acta

Some health benefits of physical activity: The Framingham study

Arch Int Med

Physical activity as an index of heart attack in college alumni

Am J Epidemiol

Physical activity in the prevention of cardiovascular disease

Incidence of death during jogging in Rhode Island from 1975–1980

JAMA

Work activity and coronary mortality

N Engl J Med

A controlled prospective study on the effect of endurance training on the recurrence rate of myocardial infarction

Am J Epidemiol

A natural history of athleticism and cardiovascular health

JAMA

Seven-day activity and self-report compared to a direct measure of physical activity

Am J Epidemiol

Physical activity assessment methodology in the five-city project

Am J Epidemiol

A questionnaire for the assessment of leisure time physical activities

J Chron Dis

Assessment of habitual physical activity apart from occupation

Br J Soc Prev Med

Diet, leisure activity and skinfold measurements of sedentary men

Diet and heart: A postscript

Br Med J

Two step exercise test brought up-to-date

NY J Med

Gradational step tests for assessing work capacity

J Appl Physiol

Physical activity and cardiovascular health. III. The exercise prescription; frequency and type of activity

Mod Concepts Cardiovasc Dis