Week 2: Epidemiology Of Physical Activity

Question 1

Define epidemiology?

Answer 1

The study of how a disease or health outcome is distributed in populations and what factors influence or determine this distribution.

Question 2

According to the World Health Organisation physical inactivity has been identified as the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality causing how many deaths globally?

Answer 2

3.2 million deaths

Question 3

What percentage of adults aged over 15 were insuficiently active in 2008?

Answer 3

31%

Question 4

Provide reasons why individuals have become more inactive since the industrial revolution?

Answer 4

Increase in the use of computer games.
Increased usage of PC (increasing obesity and the development of health related problems).
Increase in the number of cars.
Lack of parks.
Jobs in society now heavily rely on computers rather than the brain.
Before the industrial revolution being active was a part of everyday life e.g. Survival of the fittest.

Question 5

Provide a fact regarding the outcome of introducing the physical activity and fitness objectives in 2010?

Answer 5

They were introduced to make more individuals engage in regular physical activity and proved to be effective as mortality rates were reduced by 30% e.g. Reducing: cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and improving mental health

Question 6

Describe the “The Tomato effect/Phenomenon?

Answer 6

This describes the phenomenon whereby highly regarded therapies or treatments are ignored or rejected, simply because people choose to ignore the information and evidence available. Current researchers believe individuals are ignoring the benefits of regular physical activity.

Question 7

Name the 5 “Why’s” to understand patterns of behavior?

Answer 7

1) Who participates in physical activity?
2) Where do they participate in physical activity?
3) When do they participate in physical activity?
4) Why do they participate in physical activity?
5) What do they participate in physical activity?

Question 8

Define stage difference between physical activity and exercise?

Answer 8

Physical activity: activities such as walking and gardening

Exercise: planned exercise incorporates going to the gym

Both physical activity and exercise vary in: frequency, intensity, duration and regularity

Question 9

What percentage of industrialised country residents are inactive?

Answer 9

50-70% of residents

Question 10

Provide the percentages of inactivity for the citizens of Netherlands, USA and UK?

Answer 10

Netherlands: 18% of citizens inactive
USA: 40.5% of citizens inactive
UK: 63% of citizens inactive

Question 11

According to (Foster et al, 2005) provide the percentages of males and females who are sufficiently active here in the UK and meet the government guidelines of 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise 5 times a week?

Answer 11

37% of males are sufficiently active

25% of females are sufficiently active

Question 12

Provide a fact regarding the amount of physical activity and age?

Answer 12

The amount of exercise (frequency, duration and intensity) declines with age.

As a result of this decline and the increase in the older population money is currently been invested to increase participation and reduce the risk of disease.

Question 13

What percentage of children 6-17 take part in Physical Educational activities daily?

Answer 13

17%

Question 14

What percentage of low income individuals in the USA participate in physical activity? what percentage of the general population in the USA participate in physical activity?

Answer 14

Low income: 14%

General population: 16%

Question 15

Education is directly related to physical activity levels e.g. More education, the greater the participation in physical activity. True of false?

Answer 15

True

Question 16

Provide an example of a cross sectional study?

Answer 16

The relation ship between Individuals with a disease and Individuals without a disease on physical activity participation.

Question 17

Provide an example of a case-control study (retrospective)?

Answer 17

The relationship between Individuals with a disease and Individuals without a disease and past engagement in physical activity.

Question 18

Provide an example of a prospective study (longitudinal)?

Answer 18

Looks at individuals at present without disease the. In the future compare individuals with disease and without disease and see if there is a difference in activity participation between those who did and did not develop the disease.

Question 19

Provide an example of a clinical trial?

Answer 19

Looks at individuals at present without disease. Then in the future these individuals are assigned into a physical activity intervention group and a health education group and then we look to see if there is a difference in disease development between the two groups.

Question 20

What is the problem with cross sectional studies?

Answer 20

They only look at one point in time and it is hard to determine if it is physical activity that causes the disease to occur as there are many other factors that may contribute to the development of disease.

Question 21

What is the problem with a case control study (retrospective)?

Answer 21

People may lie about physical activity levels.

People may over or under estimate levels of physical activity (memory recall).

Question 22

What is the problem with a prospective study (Longitudinal)?

Answer 22

Long time period of 5-10 years so people drop out.
Many variables to control that may influence the development of disease due to the length of he study.
High costs involved.
People develop diseases at different times.

Question 23

Provide one negative and one positive with a clinical trial?

Answer 23

Intervention is normally between six and nine weeks which involves high costs, however the positives of a clinical trial is that there is less variability ability and we have more control over the groups

Question 24

Provide an example of subjective/self-reports measure?

Answer 24

Interviews and questionnaires

Question 25

Provide an example of an objective/technological measure?

Answer 25

HR monitor, pedometer, accelerometer, and GPS

Question 26

Define validity, reliability and sensitivity?

Answer 26

Validity; is a measure measuring what you want to study.
Reliability: can you repeat your data and replicate what you’ve carried out.
Sensitivity: different amounts of physical activity.

Question 27

Provide two benefits of physical activity?

Answer 27

1) Helps you to cope with the side effects of disease and treatments E.G.cancer.
2) Also use the prevention of chronic disease.

Question 28

Tell me about the San Francisco longshoreman study (Paffenbarger et al, 1977)?

Answer 28

This study looked at thousands of longshoreman workers and the amount of exercising they undertook whilst working as this job was labour-intensive. They measured job activity, morbidity and mortality. They found the group expending 8500 Kcal/week had a reduced risk of coronary heart disease and therefore reduced risk of mortality. This study was a landmark study that further studies have built upon.

Question 29

Tell me about the Harvard Alumni (university graduates) study (Paffenbarger et al,1996)?

Answer 29

17,000 students from 1962 to 1978
The study focused on self-reported leisure activities.
There was a 53% reduction in all-cause mortality when involved in at least three hours/week of activity.
The study revealed that mortality rates were 33% lower for those who participated in additional moderate level physical activity (10 miles per week).
Also active individuals lived two years longer than inactive.

Question 30

Provide future directions for research in this area?

Answer 30

1) The best dose of activity that provides the maximal benefits for various health outcomes.
2) The relevance of physical activity patterns.
3) Specific subpopulations E.G.obese, people with different chronic diseases, people of low economic status.

Question 31

According to the National fitness survey, why do people need to exercise? Provide 6 reasons!

Answer 31

1) To reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
2) To prevent brittle bone disease (osteoporosis) (Reduced bone mineral density).
3) To manage non-insulin dependant diabetes.
4) To manage bodyweight.(Reduce obesity)
5) To reduce levels of stress.
6) To improve quality of life.

Question 32

Why was the national fitness survey conducted?

Answer 32

1) To assist the government in setting targets for increasing physical activity levels/ participation of the population.
2) To develop scientific understanding and identify possibilities for further research.
3) To provide benchmark for measuring change.

Question 33

Who was survey for the national fitness survey?

Answer 33

6000 adults (>16) were randomly selected throughout the country between next February and November 1990.
4316 people completed the home interview stage, 62% of which attended the mobile laboratory for physical assessments.

Question 34

Provide a limitation to the national fitness survey study?

Answer 34

Number of individuals were unable to undertake the physical assessment (aerobic capacity, leg strength and leg power) due to medical reasons.

Question 35

What is measured in the national fitness Survey?

Answer 35

1) Levels of participation E.G.past participation, current activity levels and barriers to exercise participation.
2) Physical activity at work e.g. D I Y, gardening and walking.
3) Health related behaviours E.G.smoking and alcohol consumption
4) Sports injuries.
5) Knowledge about exercise and attitudes towards physical activity, fitness and health.
6) Psychological variables E.G.well-being, social support, stress and anxiety

Question 36

Provide 3 facts regarding the national fitness survey?

Answer 36

1) 1/6 people were relatively sedentary (no activities for >20 means in the last 4 weeks).
2) Amongst 16 to 24 year olds 70% of men and 91% of women did not take part in sufficient physical activity.
3) People overweight appears to be increasing, according to the office of population centres and surveys 48% of men and 40% of women were overweight e.g. BMI 25>30 kg/m2 (1990).

Question 37

According to the HSE 2010 adults trend tables approximately what percentage of men and women were overweight?

Answer 37

Men: 47%
Women: 40%

Question 38

There have been noticeable increases in obesity between 1993 - 2010 provide the percentages for both years?

Answer 38

1993: 13.2%
2010: 26.2%