Displacing Sedentary Behaviour (SB) with light intensity physical activity (LIPA) is increasingly viewed as a viable means of health enhancement. It is, however, unclear whether any behavioural compensations accompany such an intervention. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify any dietary changes that accompany SB displacement. We hypothesised that SB displacement would improve dietary quality. Thirty-five elderly females (73 ± 5 years) were randomly allocated to one of three groups: (1) sedentary behaviour fragmentation (SBF) (n = 14), (2) continuous LIPA (n = 14), or (3) control (n = 7). Habitual diet (four-day food diary) and physical behaviour (accelerometery) were assessed at weeks 0 and 8. Out of 45 nutrients examined, only glucose exhibited a group × time interaction (p = 0.03), mediated by an exclusive reduction following SBF (−31%). SBF was also the sole experimental group to increase nutrients promoting bone health (SBF: 17%, LIPA: −34%. control: 21%), whereas both experimental groups consumed more nutrients promoting anabolism (SBF: 13%, LIPA: 4%, control: −34%) (z-scores). New ambulators (n = 8) also consumed more nutrients promoting bone health (16%)/anabolism (2%) (z-scores), including significantly increased Zinc intake (p = 0.05, 29%). Displacing SB with LIPA improves dietary quality in older females. Furthermore, SB fragmentation appears advantageous for various dietary outcomes.

Rationale: The COVID-19 pandemic is limiting outdoor and community-based activities, especially for older adults owing to the requirement for self-isolation, potentially increasing prolonged sedentary behavior (SB). Given a poor tolerance for intense exercise, SB displacement with light intensity physical activity (LIPA) is a promising health enhancing alternative. Therefore, the aims of this study were to investigate the effects of two different types of SB displacement on health outcomes in older adults and any differential impact of associated LIPA pattern.Method: 28 older women (age: 73 ± 5 years, height: 1.60 ± 0.07 m, weight: 67 ± 10 kg, and BMI: 26.1 ± 3.6 kg/m2) underwent overnight fasted dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) imaging, blood sampling, and functional assessments before being randomly allocated to one of two groups: (1) single continuous bout of 45–50 min LIPA daily (n = 14); or (2) SB fragmentation (SBF; ~48 min LIPA daily, 2 min LIPA for every 30 min of SB; n = 14). Compliance was systematically monitored using tri-axial accelerometery. All measures were taken at weeks 0 and 8.Results: Physical behavior significantly altered (decreased SB/increased LIPA; p < 0.05) and to a similar extent in both groups. We observed a significant reduction in serum triglycerides [p = 0.045, effect size (ɳp2) = 0.15; SBF: −0.26 ± 0.77 mmol/L, LIPA: −0.26 ± 0.51 mmol/L], improved 30 s sit-to-stand (STS) count (p = 0.002, ɳp2 = 0.32, 2 ± 3 STS) and speed (p = 0.009, ɳp2 = 0.35, −10 ± 33%), as well as increased average handgrip strength (p = 0.001, ɳp2 = 0.45, 6 ± 12%), and gait speed (p = 0.005, ɳp2 = 0.27, 0.09 ± 0.16 m/s) in both groups. Interestingly, SBF caused a greater increase in peak handgrip strength (8 ± 14%), compared to LIPA (2 ± 10%; p = 0.04, ɳp2 = 0.38).Conclusion: SB displacement induced significant improvements in fasting triglycerides, gait speed, as-well as STS endurance/speed in older women. Frequent vs. continuous SB displacement also caused greater increases in handgrip strength. While both SB displacement protocols display promise as efficacious home-based interventions for self-isolating older adults, our results would suggest a physical functioning advantage of the SBF protocol for certain outcomes.

Gladys (2020) Minimizing sedentary behavior (without increasing medium-to-vigorous exercise) associated functional improvement in older women is somewhat dependent on a measurable increase in muscle size. Aging, 12.

The menstrual cycle is an important biological process in women that is associated with a range of physical symptoms, which can shape how women think, feel, and participate in activities of daily life. This study employed a mixed-methods design to investigate adult women’s physical activity throughout the menstrual cycle. One hundred and twenty-eight participants completed an online questionnaire that explored events of the menstrual cycle (e.g., bleeding, pain, fatigue) and physical activity. Semistructured interviews with 21 questionnaire respondents unpacked individual experiences of physical activity throughout the menstrual cycle. From the questionnaire data, 44 participants were categorized as avoiders and 84 as nonavoiders of physical activity due to menstrual events. Avoiders of physical activity reported longer periods, heavier menstrual flow, and higher levels of fatigue and pain compared with nonavoiders. Interviews revealed that avoidance of physical activity ranged from complete avoidance to adaptation (e.g., types of exercise). Reasons for avoidance and adaptation of physical activity included menstrual symptoms, personal thoughts, and concerns about other people’s views of the period. The present study findings emphasize the importance of not only evaluating prevalent physical symptoms, but also unpacking women’s individual perspectives and established societal norms to better understand and normalize physical activity throughout the menstrual cycle.

Dis)joint(ed) action, reciprocity, and professional status: An ethnographic investigation of two UKCC CL4 awardsCoach education research has focused on studying coaches' perspectives about coach education programmes with limited studies investigating the practices of other key stakeholders involved in programme design and delivery (e.g. managers, educators). The purpose of this study was to investigate the interactions and practices of coaches, coach educators, and coach education managers in two contexts of the United Kingdom Coaching Certificate Coach Level 4 (UKCC CL4) award. Over a period of 18 months, ethnographic fieldwork was conducted with 53 participants, comprising of 250 hours of participant observations and informal conversations, as well as 51 semistructured interviews. Symbolic interactionist writing by Blumer (1946;1969), Mead (2015, and Strauss (1997) was utilised to make sense of the processes, relations, and tensions created by the UKCC CL4 award. The themes explore consequences and challenges of novel collaborations between course organisers from Governing Bodies (GB) and Higher Education institutions (HEi), opportunities and issues arising when university lecturers mediate theoretical course content for practitioner cohorts, and the value of postgraduate study to coaches' professional lives.