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International Journal of Exercise Science 15(7): 1075-1084, 2022. Introduction: Anxiety is the most prevalent mental illness worldwide. Physical activity and mindfulness both reduce anxiety. The two are highly related; however, the relative association of physical activity and mindfulness on anxiety has yet to be examined. The present study aimed to evaluate the unique variance accounted for by physical activity and mindfulness on anxiety. Methods: Fifty young adults from a student population (M ± SD = 19 ± 0.2 years old; 58% female) reported their physical activity, mindfulness, and anxiety symptoms at the start of the study and reported their change in state anxiety to an acute psychological stress test, Trier Social Stress Test. Results: Mindfulness explained more of the variance associated with anxiety symptoms at baseline, whereas physical activity explained more of the variance associated with change in state anxiety in response to the acute stressor. Females had higher rates of anxiety symptoms than males suggesting that females may benefit more from mindfulness. In contrast, both males and females reacted similarly to an acute stressor suggesting that both genders may benefit from physical activity. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that physical activity and trait mindfulness may have related, but distinct impacts on anxiety levels. These results have important implications for using these lifestyle interventions to support mental health and point to personalizing interventions to help ease the burden of anxiety felt by the individual. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Academic performance is influenced by multitude factors. However, little is known about their relative importance and how they evolve over time. The purpose of the present study was to determine the relative importance of cognitive control, physical, psychological and sociological factors as well as lifestyle habits in predicting academic performance in high school students using cross sectional and longitudinal approaches. One hundred and eighty-five grade seventh to ninth students (mean age: 13.1 ± 1.0 years old) from a single high school completed a 3-year prospective study. Academic performance, cognitive control, physical, psychological and sociological factors as well as lifestyle habits were assessed every year during the 3-year study. Results showed that different combinations of factors were found to predict academic performance measures in both male and female students at baseline and after a 3-year period. For example, in female students, screen time and VO2 max were found to be important predictors of academic performance, whereas working memory was the only recurring factor in predicting academic performance in male students. Moreover, our models were able to explain between 6.1 to 52.2% of the variation in the change of the different measures of academic performance. Results of the present study show that academic performance may be predicted by a wide range of multiple factors in high school students. Indeed, the factors that predicted academic performance varied between school subjects, sex and study design, highlighting the complexity of predicting academic performance in high school students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study explores the reliability and validity of the SenseWear Armband (SWA) and Actical (ACT) for free-living total energy expenditure, and energy expenditure during rest and light-to-moderate exercises (walking, ergocycling).Design: Participants wore the 2 devices during 7 days (free-living) and then participated to 3 days of testing in our laboratory.Methods: SWA and ACT estimates of total energy expenditure was compared to the doubly labeled water technique (7 days), and energy expenditure during rest (60min), treadmill (45min; intensities ∼22% to ∼41% VO2peak) and ergocycling (45min; ∼50% VO2peak) were compared to indirect calorimetry over the following 3 days. Paired T-tests and intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) with 95% confidence interval (CI95) were computed.Results: Twenty adults were recruited (BMI 23.1±2.3kg/m(2)). Compared to doubly labelled water, SWA overestimated energy expenditure by 94kcal/d (±319; P=0.2) and ACT underestimated by -244kcal/d (±258; P=0.001). Energy expenditure during rest (SWA 210±116, ACT 124±133kcal/d; p<0.05) and treadmill (according on intensity: SWA 54±46 to 67±38, ACT 68±25 to 84±40kcal; p<0.05) were overestimated and underestimated during ergocycling (SWA -93±65, ACT -269±111kcal; p<0.05) compared to indirect calorimetry. High ICC were observed at rest (SWA 0.994 CI95 0.987-0.997; ACT 0.998 CI95 0.996-0.999) and during ergocycling (SWA 0.941 CI95 0.873-0.975; ACT 0.854 CI95 0.687-0.939).Conclusion: Acceptable estimation of total energy expenditure was observed with the SWA. Both devices were reliable but not accurate for energy expenditure's estimations during rest and for specific exercises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the level of plasma hepatic enzymes in obese women displaying the metabolically healthy but obese (MHO) phenotype. We studied 104 obese, sedentary, postmenopausal women. Subjects were classified as MHO or at risk based on insulin sensitivity as assessed with the oral glucose tolerance test–derived Matsuda index. Subjects were divided into quartiles according to insulin sensitivity values. Subjects in the upper quartile were categorized as MHO, whereas subjects in the lower 3 quartiles represented at-risk subjects. Outcome measures were hepatic enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase [AST], alanine aminotransferase [ALT], alkaline phosphatase, and γ-glutamyltransferase [GGT]], high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, triglycerides to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, apolipoprotein B, fatty liver index, body composition (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry), and visceral adipose tissue (computed tomography). The MHO individuals had significantly lower concentrations of ALT, AST, and GGT as well as a lower fatty liver index compared with at-risk subjects (P < .05). In addition, lean body mass index and visceral adipose tissue were significantly lower in MHO individuals (P < .05). Moreover, stepwise regression analysis showed that ALT explained 17.9% of the variation in insulin sensitivity in our cohort, which accounted for the greatest source of unique variance. Results of the present study indicate that postmenopausal women displaying the MHO phenotype present favorable levels of ALT, AST, and GGT. Lower concentrations of hepatic enzymes, in particular, lower circulating ALT levels, in MHO individuals may reflect lower hepatic insulin resistance and lower liver fat content; and this could be involved, at least in part, in the protective profile of MHO individuals. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the relation between insulin sensitivity and cardiorespiratory fitness in overweight and obese postmenopausal women. The study population consisted of 127 overweight and obese postmenopausal women (age, 57.7 ± 4.8 years; body mass index, 32.7 ± 4.7 kg/m2). Subjects were classified by dividing the entire cohort into tertiles (T) based on insulin sensitivity expressed per kilograms of lean body mass (LBM) (T1, <10.9; T2, 10.9-12.9, T3, >12.9 mg/min per kilogram of LBM, respectively). Outcome measures were body composition (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry), visceral adipose tissue (computed tomography), insulin sensitivity (hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp), cardiorespiratory fitness (indirect calorimetry), lower-body muscle strength (1 maximal repetition), physical activity energy expenditure (doubly labeled water), fasting lipids, and inflammatory profile. We found a significant positive relationship between insulin sensitivity and cardiorespiratory fitness (r = 0.25, P = .005). Moreover, cardiorespiratory fitness was higher in the T3 group compared to the T1 group (36.2 ± 6.1 vs 33.1 ± 5.0 mL/kg LBM per minute, respectively; P = .028). However, the difference was no longer significant after controlling for visceral adipose tissue or muscle strength. Finally, cardiorespiratory fitness was an independent predictor of insulin sensitivity. High levels of cardiorespiratory fitness are associated with higher levels of insulin sensitivity in overweight and obese postmenopausal women. Moreover, visceral adipose tissue accumulation or muscle strength may be potential mediators of this relationship. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]