Showing 8 results for Physical Activity
P Taymoori, A Falhahi, N Esmailnasab,
Volume 9, Issue 1 (8-2011)
Abstract
Background and Aim: There is evidence that physical activity declines during adolescence in Western countries. However, this pattern has not yet been shown in Iranian youth. The purpose of this study was to detect changes in physical activity behaviors, psychological factors (including perceived benefits, barriers, and self-efficacy), and interpersonal influences associated with exercise behavior during the transition from secondary school to high school in Sanandaj, Iran.
Materials and Methods: The data on a group of high school students in Sanadaj were collected in a cross-sectional study in 2006, with a follow-up in 2009. The study population in 2009 included 844 students (51% males and 49% females) with a mean age of 16.42 ± 1.73 years. Data on physical activity-related perceived benefits, barriers, self-efficacy, and interpersonal influences, as well as physical activity behavior, was collected, using self-reporting questionnaires. The SPSS-16 software was used for data analysis.
Results: The test of time effects indicated significant differences between the 2 sexes as regards physical activity and most of the psychological variables and interpersonal influences associated with exercise activities. The girls had less physical activity than boys at both time points. The duration of moderate physical activity at the first time point was 31.82 and 53.75 minutes for girls and boys, respectively the corresponding values at the follow-up were 23.7 and 44.7 minutes. Girls had lower self-efficacy and fewer perceived benefits and more perceived barriers for physical activity over time. The correlation test indicated more stability of family interpersonal influences for girls than for boys.
Conclusion: The results of this study provide evidence for decreased physical activity in boys and girls and sex differences in cognitive variables and interpersonal influences.
Najmolmolook Amini, Davood Shojaeezadeh, Mohsen Saffari,
Volume 11, Issue 3 (1-2014)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Physical inactivity is one of the 10 leading causes of mortality and disability. This study aimed to investigate the effect of e-learning on physical activity and body mass index (BMI) of female-employees.
Materials and Methods: In this semi-experimental interventional study, 120 female-employees of Tehran University of Medical Sciences were selected randomly and assigned to a case or control group. Data were collected using a demographic and an international physical activity questionnaire. Pre-test and post-test questionnaires were completed by the case and control subjects prior to, and 2 months after the final phase of, the intervention. The intervention included virtual education through short message service (SMS), email messages or messages via intanet, and educational films for a period of 16 weeks. SPSS-17 was used to analyze the data, the statistical tests being Chi-square, independent and paired-t, and
Fisher's exact tests. Results: The mean age of the participants was 41 and 39 years in the case and control group, respectively. Most of them held a bachelor's degree and were married with 1 or 2 children. After the intervention, the mean score of physical activity in the intervention group increased significantly as compared with the control value (p<0.001). However, the intervention did not produce any change in the mean BMI of the case in comparison with the control group (p=0.119), although it brought about a statistically significant reduction in the initial BMI (p<0.001).
Conclusion: Web-based education, SMS and multi-media messages can increase physical activity in female-employees and might prevent illnesses caused by physical inativity.
Azadeh Khalilitehrani, Mostafa Ghorbani, Saeed Hosseini, Hamideh Pishva,
Volume 13, Issue 3 (12-2015)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Malfunction in the energy homeostasis central system resulting from melanocortin receptor 4 (MC4R) mutations is considered to be an important factor in development of obesity. Although physical activity can weaken the effect of obesity-related genes, very few investigations have been carried out in relation to the MC4R gene. This study was conducted to investigate the association between physical activity and body mass index (BMI) in different MC4R genotypes (rs17782313).
Materials and Methods: A sample of 400 individuals was randomly selected from among subjects participating in the Iranian Multicenter Osteoporosis Study (IMOS). Their weights and heights were measured and their dietary intakes and physical activity data assessed using validated questionnaires. In addition, the different MC4R genotypes (rs17782313) were determined in the subjects by the PCR-RFLP method. Finally, using the adjusted multiple linear regression model, the probable effect of physical activity on BMI in different MC4R polymorphisms (rs17782313) was determined.
Results: Only in individuals with the CT genotype was a statistically significant association (p<0.05) observed between body mass index and physical activity (hr/d and METs-hr/wk).
Conclusions: Physical activity, particularly in heterozygous MC4R polymorphism individuals (rs17782313), can play an effective role in reducing body mass index.
Mohammad Vahedian Shahroudi, Fatemeh Sedghi, Habib Allah Esmayli, Elahe Lael-Monfared,
Volume 14, Issue 1 (6-2016)
Abstract
Background and Aim: One of the most important health problems in the modern society is reduced appropriate physical activity by people. The five-step counselling process, which is composed of five essential principles in health counselling, can help to improve health behaviors, such as physical activity, in different individuals. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of an educational intervention using the five-step counseling process based on the stage of change construct on physical activity promotion in female-employees working in Toos Industrial State factories, Mashad, Iran.
Materials and Methods: This was a controlled intervention study including 76 women working in the Mashad industrial estate factories, Iran, divided into an experimental (n=36) and a control (n=40) group. Data were collected using the standard Marcus Physical Activity Stages of Change Questionnaire and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), which measures physical activity at three levels of light, moderate and severe, and analyzed using the SPSS software; a P<0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance.
Results: The results showed that there were no statistically significant differences before the consultation intervention between the two study groups as regards the stage of change and level of physical activity (p>0.05). Further analysis of the data revealed that the intervention had caused increases in both the physical activity and stage of change (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Based on the findings, it is concluded that the five-step counselling process is effective in promoting physical activity and can be used as an appropriate strategy by health professionals in the health-service delivery centers and organizations to promote the health behaviors of people.
Dad Khaoda Sadeghi Tejdano, Arezo Fallahi, Babak Nemat Shahrbabaki,
Volume 14, Issue 2 (9-2016)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Physical activity is a low-cost and uncomplicated way for the prevention of osteoporosis. The aim of the present study was to determine the interactive effects of constructs of perceived benefit, barriers, susceptibility and severity on perceived exercise behavior self-efficacy for prevention of osteoporosis based on the Health Belief Model in female-employees of Kermanshah City.
Materials and Methods: This analytic-descriptive study was conducted on 595 female-employees in the governmental and private organizations in 2014. Inclusion criteria included women between the age of 30 years and start of menopause and having no history of osteoporosis. Data were collected using a two-part questionnaire including questions on demographic variables and questions related to the Health Belief Model and analyzed using the SPSS and Lisrel software.
Results: Analysis of the data showed that perceived severity and perceived barriers had direct and indirect effects on self-efficacy for exercise behavior. Self-efficacy had the highest correlation with perceived benefits (r=0.319). Further analysis of the data revealed a significant inverse correlation between perceived barriers and perceived severity and a significant positive correlation between perceived benefits and perceived severity.
Conclusion: The results of this study show female-employees do not have a high perceived susceptibility or severity to osteoporosis. A high perception of barriers and a low self-efficacy perception indicate the need for implementing appropriate intervention programs and increasing preventive behaviors.
Sajad Moradi, Leyla Khorrami , Fatemeh Zare, Sima Ali-Akbar, Zhila Maghbooli, Khadijeh Mirzaei,
Volume 14, Issue 4 (3-2017)
Abstract
Background and Aim: The role of physical activity in prevention of non-communicable diseases is now well known. The purpose of the present study was to find any possible association between physical activity and bone mineral density (BMD) in the hip and lumbar spine areas in women in postmenopausal years.
Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study including 254 postmenopausal women aged 46 to 78 years. Body composition and BMD were determined using the bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and DEXA methods, respectively, and for physical activity measurement the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used.
Results: The distribution (%) of the subjects according to the level of physical activity ─ inactive, moderate and active ─ was 39.7%, 47.6% and 12.5% respectively. There was a positive association between physical activity level and lumbar spine BMD (P = 0.03) in the 55-year-old or younger women. No association was found between physical activity level and the hip BMD(P>0.05).
Conclusion: Based on the findings it may be concluded that physical activity level can be used as a predictor of bone mineral density in the lumbar spine area in women in postmenopausal years (≥55 years old).
Masoumeh Dashtian, Hasan Eftekhar Ardebili, Kambiz Karimzadeh Shirazi, Mostafa Shahmoradi, Kamal Azam,
Volume 15, Issue 2 (9-2017)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Self-care has a vital role in the control and prevention of complications in patients with Type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), two important behaviors in self-care being medication adherence and physical activity. Regular physical activity has been shown to improve glycemic control, reduce blood pressure, reduce lipids and improve cardiorespiratory fitness in individuals with T2DM. In addition, medication adherence is a key factor in controlling and decreasing the risk of related complications. This study aimed to determine and predict the most important factors affecting the levels of physical activity and medication adherence in patients with T2DM based on the theory of planned behavior.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study, based on the planned behavior theory, was performed on 160 selected men and women with T2DM referring to urban health centers in Yasuj, Iran in 2016; the selection was done by random cluster sampling. Data on medication adherence and physical activity were collected using questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS version 20 software, the statistical tests being descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple linear regression; a p<0/05 was considered to indicate statistical significance.
Results: Altogether, 45% and 43% of the patients had a low and medium level of physical activity, respectively, only 12% having an acceptable level. The adherence to medication was much better ─ 76% had a good adherence. As regards the planned behavior theory constructs, perceived behavior control had a significant relationship with physical activity and medication adherence. Results of multiple linear regression also showed that perceived behavior control was a predictive variable for physical activity level and medication adherence in the patients.
Conclusion: Based on the findings, which indicate that the most important construct is perceived behavior control as regards medication adherence and level of physical activity, it is concluded that it is vital to strengthen the self-care component of health programs and support such programs.
Zahra Tavakoli, Bahram Mohebbi, Roya Sadeghi, Azar Tol, Mirsaeed Yekaninejad, Masoud Alimardi,
Volume 20, Issue 1 (6-2022)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Physical activity and nutrition are important topics in adolescent health. This study aimed to determine the predictors of nutritional knowledge, behaviors, and physical activity in fifth-grade elementary school female students
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was performed on 480 female students in the fifth grade of the elementary school in Gods city in 2020-2021 by cluster random sampling. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire two-part questionnaire of contextual questions and questions about knowledge, nutritional and physical activity, virtual in the Shad messenger. The content validity ratio and content validity index was used to determine validity, and the intra-cluster correlation index to determine the reliability, of the questionnaire. In data analysis, descriptive statistical tests, Pearson
correlation coefficient, and multiple regression analysis were performed using SPSS 27.
Results: The results of multiple regression analysis showed the effect of nutritional knowledge variables on nutritional behavior (p <0.001, β = 0.159) and physical activity knowledge on nutritional behavior (p = 0.008, β = 0.120) if the Physical activity knowledge variable was not effective on physical activity behavior and also nutritional knowledge variable had no effect on physical activity behavior.
Conclusion: Increasing knowledge of nutrition and physical activity improves students' nutritional behavior, but this increase in knowledge does not affect physical activity behavior. The sedentary lifestyle and the presence of the Covid-19 pandemic appear to have significantly reduced physical activity. By increasing knowledge, nutritional behavior and physical activity can be improved to some extent
