Search

To date, few data on how the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions affected children's physical activity in Europe have been published. This study examined the prevalence and correlates of physical activity and screen time from a large sample of European children during the COVID-19 pandemic to inform strategies and provide adequate mitigation measures. An online survey was conducted using convenience sampling from 15 May to 22 June, 2020. Parents were eligible if they resided in one of the survey countries and their children aged 6–18 years. 8395 children were included (median age [IQR], 13 [10–15] years; 47% boys; 57.6% urban residents; 15.5% in self-isolation). Approximately two-thirds followed structured routines (66.4% [95%CI, 65.4–67.4]), and more than half were active during online P.E. (56.6% [95%CI, 55.5–57.6]). 19.0% (95%CI, 18.2–19.9) met the WHO Global physical activity recommendation. Total screen time in excess of 2 h/day was highly prevalent (weekdays: 69.5% [95%CI, 68.5–70.5]; weekend: 63.8% [95%CI, 62.7–64.8]). Playing outdoors more than 2 h/day, following a daily routine and being active in online P.E. increased the odds of healthy levels of physical activity and screen time, particularly in mildly affected countries. In severely affected countries, online P.E. contributed most to meet screen time recommendation, whereas outdoor play was most important for adequate physical activity. Promoting safe and responsible outdoor activities, safeguarding P.E. lessons during distance learning and setting pre-planned, consistent daily routines are important in helping children maintain healthy active lifestyle in pandemic situation. These factors should be prioritised by policymakers, schools and parents. To our knowledge, our data provide the first multi-national estimates on physical activity and total screen time in European children roughly two months after COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic. Only 1 in 5 children met the WHO Global physical activity recommendations. Under pandemic conditions, parents should set pre-planned, consistent daily routines and integrate at least 2-hours outdoor activities into the daily schedule, preferable on each day. Schools should make P.E. lessons a priority. Decision makers should mandate online P.E. be delivered by schools during distance learning. Closing outdoor facilities for PA should be considered only as the last resort during lockdowns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioelectrical impedance (BI) has been widely used but clarification about the behaviour of raw BI measurements under specific athletic conditions is required. Thus, we determined the usefulness of raw BI measures in tracking body fluids changes during the preparation period prior to competition in elite Judo athletes. At baseline (weight stability), 27 male athletes were evaluated (23.2 ± 2.8y) and again 1–3 days before competition (∼1–2 months apart). Athletes were free to gain/lost weight based upon specific competition needs. Using dilution techniques (deuterium and bromide), total-body water (TBW) and extracellular water were estimated, and intracellular water calculated as TBW minus extracellular water. Body fluid distribution was determined as Extra-to-/Intracellular water (E/I). Fat and fat-free mass (FFM) was assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Resistance, reactance, and phase angle (PhA) were obtained from bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy (50-kHz frequency). No differences in raw BI measures were observed between athletes that lost (N = 17) or gain weight (N = 10), except for fat, FFM, extracellular water, and EI (p < 0.05). After adjusting for FFM and height, resistance explained TBW (β = −0.047, p = 0.002) and extracelular water (β = −0.025, p = 0.001). Reactance explained ECW (β = −0.098, p = 0.004) and EI (β = −0.004, p = 0.006), while PhA predicted TBW (β = 1.609, p = 0.047), ICW (β = 1.899, p = 0.001) and EI (β = −0.056, p = 0.001). Regardless of body composition changes, athletes who increase reactance and resistance reduced extracellular water and body fluids while those who raised PhA increased intracellular water. Judo athletes who reduced weight, decreased FFM but cellular health was not compromised, as PhA remained stable and, consequently, cell hydration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neck circumference (NC) has been proposed as a simple and practical tool, independently associated with cardiometabolic risk factors. However, the association of NC with inter-muscular adipose tissue (IMAT) is still to be determined. We aimed to examine the association of NC with thigh IMAT, and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) measured with computed tomography (CT) in overweight/obese women. 142 premenopausal overweight and obese Caucasian women participated in this cross-sectional study. NC was measured with an inextensible metallic tape above the thyroid cartilage according to International Society for Advancement of Kinanthropometry protocol. Thigh IMAT and VAT volumes were measured with a single cross-sectional CT. Regarding the covariates, fat mass (FM) was assessed with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and physical activity was objectively measured with accelerometry. NC was positively associated with thigh IMAT and VAT volumes (standardized β coefficient: β = 0.45, P-value = ≤0.001, β = 0.60, P = ≤ 0.001; respectively), which persisted after adjusting for age, height, overall FM or moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Our findings show that NC is associated with thigh IMAT volume in overweight and obese premenopausal Caucasian women, regardless of the amount of lower-body fatness. These results suggest underscoring the relevance of NC as a marker of adipose tissue content in thigh skeletal muscle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Living-dead creatures are recurrent in various folk myths and recently became an icon of popular culture. The “zombie-ism� is usually caused by an infectious-like disease that has no cure and ultimately inflicts most of the human population, leading to a Zombie Apocalypse. In this work, we propose an epidemiological model for a zombie outbreak. By introducing an infection parameter, we show that human survival is possible in certain scenarios. Furthermore, our model allows for three distinct dynamical regimes, only one of which accounts for the full blown Zombie Apocalypse. Our results are obtained both for a fully connected time continuous model and for a stochastic individual based approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]