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Introduction: Physical education (PE) can contribute to total daily physical activity (PA) among children. In consequence, the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport has developed 16 teaching units focused on increasing PA levels during PE lessons, called "Unidades Didácticas Activas" (UDA; Active Teaching Units). Objectives: The goal of this study was to compare whether children participating in UDA lessons spent more time in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) than children participating in traditional lessons. Design: Quasi-experimental design. Methods: A total of 355 children (8-9 years old, 53.9% boys) from 7 schools in Granada participated in the study. Students were divided into two groups: a traditional PE group (n=204) and a UDA group (n=151). Time spent in MVPA was assessed using tri-axial accelerometers. Results: Time spent in MVPA was higher in the group engaged in the UDA lessons compared to the group that received traditional lessons (13.6 vs 15.2 minutes, p=0.021, Standard Error=0.27). The percentage of children who met international MVPA recommendations was similar for both groups (UDAs: 12.7% and traditional: 13.2%, p=0.504). Conclusions: UDA lessons and their methodology favoured greater participation in MVPA compared to a traditional PE approach. It will be important to change PE methodology (including duration, frequency and focus) to achieve MVPA goals.

Objective: The goals of this study were to (1) describe physical activity levels during school recess in 8-year-old children, (2) analyse the percentage of children who achieved physical activity recommendation at recess, and (3) examine if recess physical activity levels varied by gender, weight status, and parental educational level. Methods: In all, 291 children (mean age ± SD = 8.3 ± 0.3 years, 156 boys) from 7 schools of Granada (Spain) were recruited by convenience. To analyse sedentary time and physical activity levels during recess, children wore a tri-axial accelerometer attached to the wrist over five consecutive school days. Results: Sedentary time (29.6% vs 40%) and light physical activity (33.2% vs 35.5%) were lower in boys than in girls (all p < 0.001). Conversely, moderate physical activity (26.7% vs 20%), vigorous physical activity (10.5% vs 4.4%) and moderate-vigorous physical activity (37.2% vs 24.4%) were higher in boys than in girls (all p < 0.001). Only 12% of the children accomplished the moderate-vigorous physical activity recommendations during recess (21.2% boys vs 1.5% girls). Lower body mass index values were associated with higher vigorous physical activity intensity. Conclusions: Levels of moderate-vigorous physical activity during school recess are very low in children, being lower in girls than in boys, a very low percentage of children achieve moderate-vigorous physical activity recommendations during school recess, and girls and overweight/obese children show lower values in moderate-vigorous and vigorous physical activity.

Objectives: This study aimed to test whether fibromyalgia-related characteristics differ by mode of commute and by age in women with fibromyalgia. Methods: A total of 450 women with fibromyalgia (aged 52.0 ± 8.0 years old) were included. Data on their body composition, socioeconomic factors, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), depressive symptoms, sleep quality, pain-related outcomes, fatigue, and mode of commute, as well as the impact of fibromyalgia on their lives, were obtained. We performed linear regression analyses to test the differences in fibromyalgia-related characteristics between the participants engaged in active/passive modes of commuting. To analyze in depth the differences, a one-way analysis of covariance with Bonferroni's correction for multiple comparisons was conducted. Results: In the younger group, active commuters presented differences in fibromyalgia-related characteristics (all, p < 0.01): they were less impacted by having fibromyalgia, had lower levels of fatigue, and had a higher HRQoL than passive commuters. We observed no differences in symptoms between active and passive commuters in the older group (all, p > 0.05). Conclusions: The possible positive effect of active commuting on fibromyalgia-related characteristics might be reduced by age and by a decrease in total physical activity. Physical activity programs for women with fibromyalgia focused on improving fibromyalgia-related characteristics should consider active commuting behaviors to increase their effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines (a) the influence of exercise, lifestyle behavior components (sedentary time, physical activity, and sleep and dietary patterns), and physical fitness on maternal weight gain, postpartum weight retention, and excessive gestational weight gain and (b) whether exercise protects against the adverse effects of impaired metabolism and nonoptimal body composition related to excessive gestational weight gain. Subjects were assigned to either a supervised concurrent (aerobic + resistance) exercise program followed 3 days/week (n = 47) or a control group (n = 54). Sedentary time, physical activity, sleep and dietary patterns (assessed by accelerometry and questionnaires), muscle strength (handgrip test), and cardiorespiratory fitness (Bruce test) were determined at gestational Weeks 16 and 33 (early-middle and late pregnancy, respectively), and at 6 weeks postpartum. Weight gain and weight retention were calculated using recorded weights at prepregnancy, early-middle, and late pregnancy, and at 6 weeks postpartum. Birth complications, maternal postpartum body composition, cardiometabolic, and inflammatory markers in maternal and umbilical cord arterial and venous blood, and in colostrum, and mature milk were also recorded. The exercise intervention reduced late weight gain (B = −2.7, SE = 0.83, p =.003) and weight retention (B = −2.85, SE = 1.3, p =.03), independent of any lifestyle behavior component or physical fitness, but did not prevent excessive weight gain. Increasing cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, and sleep duration were associated with a smaller mean weight gain and lower excessive weight gain values (p <.05). Among the participants who experienced excessive weight gain, those who were exercisers had a lower body mass index and systemic tumor necrosis factor-alpha concentration, lower umbilical cord venous tumor necrosis factor-alpha and arterial interferon gamma levels, higher cord arterial interleukin-10 levels, and improved placental function compared with controls (p <.05). In summary, exercise may help optimize gestational weight gain and weight retention, and may attenuate the impaired phenotype related to excessive weight gain. Increasing cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, and sleep duration might help to prevent excessive weight gain during pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundSedentary time (ST) has been associated with detrimental health outcomes in fibromyalgia. Previous evidence in the general population has shown that not only is the total amount of ST harmful but the pattern of accumulation of sedentary behaviors is also relevant to health, with prolonged unbroken periods (ie, bouts) being particularly harmful. ObjectiveTo examine the association of the patterns of ST with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in women with fibromyalgia and to test whether these associations are independent of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). MethodsA total of 407 women (mean 51.4 years of age [SD 7.6]) with fibromyalgia participated. ST and MVPA were measured with triaxial accelerometry. The percentage of ST accumulated in bouts and the frequency of sedentary bouts of different lengths (≥10 min, ≥20 min, ≥30 min, and ≥60 min) were obtained. Four groups combining total ST and sedentary bout duration (≥30 min) were created. We assessed HRQoL using the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). ResultsA greater percentage of ST spent in all bout lengths was associated with worsened physical function, bodily pain, vitality, social function, and physical component summary (PCS) (all P

Physical fitness (PF) is a cornerstone of metabolic health. However, its role in maternal–fetal metabolism during pregnancy is poorly understood. The present work investigates: (i) the association of PF with maternal and fetal cardiometabolic markers, and with clustered cardiometabolic risk during pregnancy, and (ii) whether being fit counteracts cardiometabolic abnormalities associated with overweight/obesity. Several PF components (flexibility, lower and upper body strength, and cardiorespiratory fitness [CRF]) were objectively assessed in 151 pregnant women at gestational weeks 16 and 33, and an overall PF cluster score calculated. At the same times, maternal glycemic and lipid markers, cortisol, and C-reactive protein were assessed with standard biochemical methods, along with blood pressure and a proxy for insulin resistance, and a cardiometabolic risk cluster score determined. These analytes were also measured in maternal and umbilical cord arterial and venous blood collected at delivery. PF was found to be associated with several maternal and a small number of fetal cardiometabolic markers (p <.05). Lower and upper body muscle strength, CRF, overall PF (week 16), and CRF changes (weeks 16–33) were inversely associated with clustered cardiometabolic risk (p <.05). Normal weight fit women had lower values for insulin level, insulin resistance, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, C-reactive protein, and diastolic blood pressure than did overweight/obese unfit women at week 16 (p <.05). In conclusion, greater PF, especially muscle strength and CRF in early–middle pregnancy, appears to be associated with a better metabolic phenotype, and may protect against maternal cardiometabolic risk. "Keep yourself fit and normal weight before and during early pregnancy" should be a key public health message. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To analyze the associations of total and prolonged sedentary time (ST) with depressive symptoms and state anxiety in women with fibromyalgia and whether these associations are modified by moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and physical fitness. This cross-sectional exploratory study included 386 women with fibromyalgia aged 51.2 ± 7.6 years. Total ST, time in prolonged bouts of ST (≥30- and ≥60-min) and MVPA were measured with triaxial accelerometry. Depressive symptoms were assessed with the "Beck Depression Inventory-second edition," state anxiety with the "State-Trait Anxiety Inventory," and physical fitness with the "Senior Fitness Test Battery." Total and prolonged ST were directly associated with depressive symptoms (total: β = 0.19, ≥30-min bout: β = 0.15, and ≥60-min bout: β = 0.12) and odds of severe depressive symptoms (all, p < 0.001). These associations generally remained significant after adjustments for MVPA and physical fitness (all, p < 0.05). Total and prolonged ST were directly associated with state anxiety (total: β = 0.11, ≥30-min bout: β = 0.12, and ≥60-min bout: β = 0.07; all, p < 0.001). These associations were generally independent of MVPA (p < 0.05) but vanished when considering physical fitness (p > 0.05). Higher levels of total and prolonged ST are associated with greater depressive symptoms and state anxiety in women with fibromyalgia. MVPA did not modify these associations, although physical fitness could play a protective role specially for state anxiety. Reducing sedentary time and avoiding its accumulation in prolonged periods could potentially reduce depressive symptoms and state anxiety in fibromyalgia. Higher sedentary time is associated with more severe depressive symptoms even in patients who engage in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Higher levels of physical fitness could attenuate the negative associations of sedentary time with depressive symptoms and, specially, state anxiety. "Sit less, move more and exercise to increase your fitness" could be a positive message for people with fibromyalgia in clinical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To analyze changes over time and the predictive value of baseline and changes of sedentary time (ST) and physical activity (PA) on pain, disease impact, and health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) at 2‐ and 5‐year follow‐up in women with fibromyalgia. Methods: This is a longitudinal and exploratory study with three time points. A total of 427 women with fibromyalgia (51.4 ± 7.6 years) were followed after 2 (n = 172) and 5 years (n = 185). ST and PA (light and moderate‐to‐vigorous [MVPA]) were assessed using triaxial accelerometers. Pain, disease impact, and HRQoL were measured using: pressure pain threshold, the pain subscale of the revised fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (FIQR), the bodily pain subscale of the 36‐item short‐form health survey (SF‐36), a visual analog scale (VAS), the FIQR, and the SF‐36 physical and mental components. Results: Over 5 years, pressure pain threshold, ST, light PA, and MVPA variables were worsened, while FIQR and SF‐36 variables were improved (Cohen's d < 0.1–0.3). Baseline ST or light PA were not associated with future outcomes, whereas greater MVPA at baseline was associated with better SF‐36 bodily pain at 5‐year follow‐up (β = 0.13). Reducing ST and increasing light PA were associated with better bodily pain (β = −0.16 and 0.17, respectively) and SF‐36 physical component (β = −0.20 and 0.17, respectively) at 5‐year follow‐up. Increasing MVPA was associated with less pain (pressure pain threshold, VAS, and FIQR‐pain) and better SF‐36 physical component at 2‐ and 5‐year follow‐up (β's from −0.20 to 0.21). Conclusions: Objectively measured variables slightly worsened over years, while for self‐reported outcomes there was a trend for improvement. Reductions in ST and increases in light PA and MVPA were associated with better HRQoL at 5‐year follow‐up, and increases in MVPA were additionally associated with better pain and HRQoL at 2‐year follow‐up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]