Longitudinal change in physical activity and adiposity in the transition from adolescence to early adulthood: the 1993 Pelotas cohort study

Abstract

Background In the current Physical Activity Guidelines (PAG) for moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA), abrupt transition from ≥ 60 min/day [youth PAG] to ≥ 150 min/week (≥ 22 min/day on average) [adult PAG] during emerging adulthood is poorly justified. The aim of this study was to examine body fat mass changes according to whether meeting the youth and adult PAGs in late adolescence (age 18 years) to early adulthood (age 22 years). Methods The study sample included 2,099 participants (1,113 females) from the 1993 Pelotas (Brazil) Study. At ages 18 and 22 years, MVPA was measured using wrist-worn accelerometry and fat mass was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. MVPA at age 18 was categorized into two groups: 0–59 or ≥ 60 min/day (no [N] or yes [Y] for meeting the youth recommendation, respectively). MVPA at age 22 was categorized into three groups: 0–21, 22–59, or ≥ 60 min/day (N, Y22, or Y60 for not meeting the adult recommendation, meeting the adult recommendation, or meeting the youth recommendation, respectively). The combination of these groups created six MVPA groups (N&N, N&Y22, N&Y60, Y&N, Y&Y22, and Y&Y60). Sex-specific multivariable linear regression analyses were conducted to estimate change in fat mass index (FMI) from age 18 to 22 years in the six MVPA groups. Results Among males, compared to Y&Y60 (FMI increase = 1.2 kg/m2 [95% CI = 1.0, 1.4]), Y&Y22 and Y&N had larger FMI increases (1.9 [1.6, 2.1] and 1.9 [1.2, 2.5], respectively). Among females, Y&Y60 and Y&Y22 had an equal FMI increase (1.6 [1.4, 1.9] for both groups), while Y&N had a larger FMI increase (2.4 [1.8, 3.0]). Conclusions These findings suggest that among those who were active in late adolescence, engaging in ≥ 22 min/day of MVPA in adulthood is associated with lower body fat gain for females, but not for males.

Physical Activities and Learning Experience of Higher Education Students: Mediating Role of Quality of Life and Physical Self-Esteem

“…As a result, there is a dearth of data on the mental (quality of life and learning experience) and physical (physical self-esteem) outcomes associated with different PA levels among young adults and college students. There is a special interest in the college population because of the unique challenges that this cohort of young adults faces as they make the transition from high school to college [ 36 , 37 ], encountering greater accountability, competition, academic pressure, and time management demands [ 38 , 39 , 40 ]. Decreased physical activity (PA), expanded emotional and psychological stress, and sleep problems are all possible side effects of this change [ 30 , 36 ], as well as the onset of risky health behaviors such as drug and alcohol abuse [ 41 ], which may have an adverse effect on learning experience and quality of life.…”

Before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Physical Fitness Association with Mental Health among Higher Education Students: A Multi-Group Analysis Model

“…Using an independent t-test sample method, the mean of the early and late responses was determined. Non-response bias was not an issue in our study because no statistically significant differences were observed [54].…”

“…The values for the mean ranged anywhere between 2.22 and 3.15, while the values for the standard deviation were between 0.876 and 1.05. As a direct result, the data were found to be more dispersed and less concentrated in the center [54]. Additionally, the virtual observation of the skewness and kurtosis scores (data distribution) indicated no values that surpassed −2 or +2, giving evidence of normal normality distribution (univariate) [55].…”

The Effectiveness of a Physical Literacy-Based Intervention for Increasing Physical Activity Levels and Improving Health Indicators in Overweight and Obese Adolescents (CAPACITES 64)

“…PA levels were assessed and recorded using Actigraph GT3X+ accelerometers (ActiGraphTM, Pensacola, FL, USA) and Actilife software (version 6.13.4), which are valid and reliable tools for recording and measuring PA levels in adolescents [ 66 , 67 ].…”