Factors associated with regular physical exercise and consumption of fruits and vegetables among Mexican older adults

Risk Factors for Eating Disorders and Perception of Body in Young Adults Associated with Sex

(1) Background: The integrated approach to the prevention and treatment of eating disorders (EDs) requires knowledge and can be used only when specific risk factors are known. The aim of this study was to examine the differences in food choices and eating behavior between males and females; (2) Methods: This study comprised 148 females and 27 males aged from 18 to 26-years-old (MEAN ± SD = 21.4 ± 1.86 years old). Information about EDs was obtained from four different measures: the body mass index (BMI), the eating disorder screen for primary care (ESP), a standardized and validated questionnaire called “My Eating Habits” and the food frequency questionnaire with 10 answers (FFQ-10); (3) Results: The risk for developing eating disorders was detected in nearly 67% of respondents. It was also shown that EDs were more common in females and how body weight affected the way individuals feel about themselves. Females showed more unhealthy eating habits, which contributed to dietary restrictions and emotional overeating, as they were also afraid of gaining weight. The frequency of eating meat and drinking alcohol was higher in males, whereas eating legume seeds was less frequent in females. (4) Conclusions: This study opens a new field, which will help health care professionals recognize the problems with eating disorders and treat them based on different sex characteristics.

Factors Associated with the Occurrence of Arterial Hypertension in Industry Workers of State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Fundamento

A hipertensão é um importante e persistente problema de saúde pública, sendo uma das principais causas de doenças cardiovasculares e mortalidade geral.

Objetivos

Este estudo buscou verificar a prevalência e os fatores associados à hipertensão arterial sistêmica em trabalhadores da indústria do estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.

Métodos

Trata-se de um estudo transversal com dados secundários de 20.792 industriários de 18 a 59 anos de idade. A presença de hipertensão arterial foi determinada a partir da pressão arterial sistólica ≥140mmHg e/ou pressão arterial diastólica ≥90mmHg, ou estar fazendo uso de medicação anti-hipertensiva. Os fatores investigados incluíram características demográficas, socioeconômicas, comportamentais, de estado nutricional e de história familiar. Regressão de Poisson foi utilizada na análise multivariável, adotando-se um p<0,05 como nível de significância. Todas as análises foram estratificadas por sexo.

Resultados

A amostra incluiu 12.349 homens e 8.443 mulheres com média de idade geral de 32,8 anos (Desvio-padrão=9,8 anos). A prevalência de hipertensão foi de 10,3% (IC95%:9,8-10,7), sendo esta significativamente maior entre os homens do que entre as mulheres (10,9% vs 9,4%;p=0,001). A hipertensão mostrou-se associada à elevação da faixa etária, baixa escolaridade, viver com companheiro, ter sobrepeso ou obesidade, e ter pelo menos um parente com história de hipertensão para ambos os sexos. As mulheres com melhores condições socioeconômicas apresentaram menores prevalências de hipertensão.

Conclusões

Os principais fatores associados à hipertensão arterial compreenderam características sociodemográficas, nutricionais e de história familiar. Ademais, as condições socioeconômicas demonstraram uma associação com a ocorrência de hipertensão, principalmente entre as mulheres.

Soluble Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (sICAM-1) as a Biomarker of Vascular Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults

BACKGROUND

Endothelial dysfunction and subsequent inflammation contribute to the development of vascular cognitive impairment (VCI). Soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) is upregulated in endothelial dysfunction and promotes an inflammatory response; however, the relationship between sICAM-1 and VCI remains equivocal.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether sICAM-1 contributes to the prediction of VCI.

METHODS

Community-dwelling older adults (n = 172) from the "Cohort of Obesity, Sarcopenia and Frailty of Older Mexican Adults" (COSFOMA) study were identified as VCI or controls using standard neuropsychological evaluations and neuroimaging. sICAM-1 was quantified using ELISA, and multivariate logistic regression determined the association between sICAM-1 and VCI.

RESULTS

A total of 31 VCI cases were identified. sICAM-1 was higher in VCI (VCI: 450.7 [241.6] ng/mL vs. controls: 296.9 [140.9] ng/mL). sICAM-1 concentrations above the 90th percentile (464.1 ng/mL) were associated with VCI group membership in all models (OR: 6.9, 95% CI: 1.1-42.2). The final saturated model explained 64% of the variance in VCI group membership.

CONCLUSION

High concentrations of sICAM-1 are independently associated with VCI group membership. Efforts to further characterize the relationship between indices of endothelial dysfunction and pathological changes to the aging brain should be further pursued.

Factors Associated with Meeting Current Recommendation for Physical Activity in Scottish Adults with Diabetes

It remains unclear which factors are instrumental in meeting the recommended physical activity in people with diabetes. We, therefore, aimed to determine the sociodemographic, health-related behavior and clinical factors associated with meeting the recommended levels of physical activity in Scottish adults with diabetes. The study was based on the nationally-representative cross-sectional Scottish Health Surveys (2014–2017). The study participants included a sub-sample of 1259 adults (≥16 years old) with diabetes. Physical activity was evaluated using international guidelines. Overall, 34.1% of the subjects met the recommended levels of physical activity. Independent determinants of meeting the recommended levels of physical activity include male gender (odds ratio (OR) 1.47; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07–2.00) and being a non-smoker (OR 1.62; 95% CI 1.02–2.56). Furthermore, meeting the recommended physical activity levels decreased with age (OR 0.96; 95% CI 0.95–0.97), having a longstanding illness (OR 0.56; 95% CI 0.34–0.93) and body mass index (OR 0.94; 95% CI 0.92–0.97), but increased with higher fruit and vegetable intake (OR 1.16; 95% CI 1.07–1.25) and mental wellbeing (OR 1.04; 95% CI 1.02–1.06). Implementation of health promotion programs that target the identified determinants is needed to improve the recommended levels of physical activity among adults with diabetes.

Do Older Adults with Multimorbidity Meet the Recommended Levels of Physical Activity? An Analysis of Scottish Health Survey

There is a positive association between physical activity (PA) and improved health in older adults. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and determinants of meeting recommended levels of PA among older adults with multimorbidity. Data has been derived from the nationally representative Scottish Health Surveys (2014–2017). A sub-sample of 2230 older adults (aged 65+) with multimorbidity were the study participants. Physical activity was evaluated using current recommended guidelines. Overall, 32.3% of the participants met the recommended levels of PA. Independent predictors of meeting the recommended levels of PA include male gender [odds ratio (OR) 2.00 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.58–2.54)], living in the least deprived areas [OR 1.79 (95% CI 1.20–2.69)]; being a non-smoker [OR 2.22 (95% CI 1.48–3. 34)]. Also, meeting recommended PA decreased with age [OR 0.92 (95% CI 0.90–0.94)] and body mass index [OR 0.93 (95% CI 0.91–0.95]; but increased per additional portion of fruit and vegetables taken [OR 1.19 (95% CI 1.12–1.25)] and with increase in well-being scale score [OR 1.05 (95% CI 1.03 to 1.06)]. Adherence to PA guidelines seems to be more related to age, BMI, gender (i.e. higher PA adherence in men vs. women), social support (i.e. social deprivation), dietary habits (i.e. fruit and vegetable intake) and social isolation among the elderly. In the one-third of older population, adherence to PA was associated to better mental health. Therefore, adaptation of PA guideline to suit theses determinants factors would reduce the gap difference among older adults with multimorbidity and enhance their mental well-being.

Factors Associated with Participation of Community-Dwelling Older Adults in a Home-Based Falls Prevention Program

This observational study was conducted to determine which factors are associated with frequent participation in a home-based exercise program. The effects of frequent participation on health-related outcomes over time are investigated, as well. Community-dwelling adults aged ≥65 years participated in a twelve-week home-based exercise program. The program consisted of an instruction book with exercises that were performed individually at home. Frequent participation was classified as performing exercises of the instruction book daily or a few days a week during the study period. A logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the association between factors (i.e., demographic and health-related characteristics) and frequent participation. Furthermore, to investigate the effects of frequent participation on health-related outcomes, generalized linear and logistic regression models were built. A total of 238 participants (mean age 81.1 years (SD ± 6.7), 71% female) were included in the study. Frequent participation during the study period was indicated by fifty-two percent of participants. Analyses showed that a higher degree of pain (OR: 1.02, 95% CI: 1.⁻1.04) was associated with frequent participation. In addition, the effect of frequent participation over time was a significant improvement in current health perceptions (B: 4.46, SE: 1.99).

Association between number of medications used and nutritional markers among elderly persons with chronic diseases: National Health Survey (2013)

Abstract Objective: to evaluate the association between the number of medications taken and nutritional markers in Brazilian elderly persons diagnosed with chronic diseases. Method: study based on data from the National Health Survey (PNS) 2013, for the population aged 60 years or older who reported at least one chronic disease (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, stroke, arthritis, depression, lung disease and chronic renal failure) (7,770 elderly persons). The outcome was the number of medications used for the selected diseases (0, 1 to 2 and 3 or more), and the exploratory variables were food consumption markers and anthropometric indicators (body mass index, waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio). The associations were evaluated by multinomial logistic regression, estimating the odds ratio and confidence intervals (95%) and considering potential confounding factors. Results: the use of a greater number of medications was positively associated with the consumption of fruits and vegetables, fish and milk, and negatively associated with the consumption of sweet foods, soft drinks and meat with excess fat; a greater consumption of medications was also associated with higher anthropometric indicator values. Conclusion: although a greater consumption of medications was associated with better dietary indicators, these elderly persons also had higher anthropometric indicator values, including a higher concentration of central adiposity.

Prevalence and correlates of physical inactivity among older adults in Malaysia: Findings from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2015

Malaysia has an increasingly aging population. Despite the substantial benefits of physical activity for healthy aging, older adults are considered the most physically inactive segment of the Malaysian population. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of physical inactivity among older adults in Malaysia and its correlates. We analysed data on adults aged ≥60 years (n = 3790) from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2015, a cross-sectional, nationwide population-based survey covering information on socio-demographic characteristics, physical activity and other lifestyle-related variables, health conditions, and functional limitations. Individuals included in this study were classified as physically active or physically inactive. Logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with physical inactivity. The overall prevalence of physical inactivity among older adults aged ≥60 years old was 48.8%. Physical inactivity was significantly more prevalent among females, older age groups, Indians, those being single/widowed/divorced, those with no formal education, those who reported high sedentary time (≥7 h/day), those with diabetes, anaemia, and functional limitations (p < 0.001). In fully adjusted analyses, females, older age, high household income (≥MYR4000), inadequate fruits and vegetables consumption (<5 servings/day), high sedentary time, having diabetes, and having mobility impairment were all associated with physical inactivity. Approximately half of the Malaysian older population are physically inactive. Identifying the correlates of physical inactivity among Malaysian older adults will help to develop public health policies and interventions that encourage active living among older people and promote healthy aging in Malaysia.

Review: Partner Support and Physical Activity among Mexican American Women

Objective

Global recommendations on physical activity for noncommunicable disease prevention can be promoted using partner support strategies among women of Mexican descent and other ethnicities.

Design/Methods

This systematic review utilized a multifaceted ecological approach by focusing comprehensively on community, individual, and social factors influencing physical activity. PubMed, SAGE Publications, EBSCO, ResearchGate, the Cochrane Library and Google Scholar search engines were used to find research on physical activity, with inclusion criteria of Mexican American women, aged ≥ 18 years, comprising at least 50% of study population sizes.

Main Outcome Measures

An initial search of 232 articles with subsequent searches from reference lists led to selection of a mixture of qualitative (3), mixed methods (3), and intervention (1) studies reporting partner support for physical activity as perceived by women.

Results

Primarily, studies have conceptualized physical activity as leisure time activities. Few studies have considered multiple ecological factors in examining influences of physical activity among women. Importantly, how women perceive support for physical activity received from partners has been shown to influence their levels of activity.

Conclusions

Conceptualization of physical activity restricted only to leisure time eliminates other domains that a broader definition of the term encompasses. Future studies are needed to investigate partner support influences on the overall physical activity of Mexican American women within a larger ecological context. Careful attention to partner support for physical activity engagement can help ameliorate and prevent chronic diseases both nationally and around the world.

Telomere shortening and frailty in Mexican older adults

AIM

Telomere shortening has been associated with several age-related diseases, in addition to being considered a hallmark of aging. Frailty is a clinical syndrome characterized by an accentuated physiological and functional decline that might be a predictor of an adverse condition in older age. The present study evaluated the relationship between frailty and telomere shortening in older adults from Mexico City, Mexico.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study. Data were collected from 323 frail older adults, including physical and environmental factors, such as body mass index, comorbidities, physical activity and tobacco consumption. Telomere length was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The frailty syndrome was diagnosed using the Fried criteria.

RESULTS

An association between frailty and telomere shortening was found in both sexes. Telomere length decreased from 6.05 kb (5.54-6.48 kb) to 4.20 kb (3.80-4.54 kb; P < 0.001). It was also observed that tobacco consumption could be a significant modifying factor in the association between these two variables. Previous reports are contradictory, suggesting that there is no relationship between telomere length and frailty; however, it is possible that there are genetic and/or environmental variables to be elucidated, that might influence this association, particularly in the studied population.

CONCLUSIONS

Telomere length is inversely related to frailty in Mexican frail older adults, and tobacco consumption is the main environmental modifying factor. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2018; 18: 1286-1292.

Consumption of a High Quantity and a Wide Variety of Vegetables Are Predicted by Different Food Choice Motives in Older Adults from France, Italy and the UK

BACKGROUND

Consumption of a high quantity and wide variety of vegetables is currently recommended for health. Dietary variety can be low, however, particularly for older adults. This study investigated the affective factors associated with the quantity and variety of vegetables consumed by older adults in France, Italy and the UK.

METHODS

Adults aged 65 years plus completed questionnaires on self-reported vegetable intake (quantity and variety), liking for vegetables, attitudes towards intake, and demographic variables.

RESULTS

In 497 older adults (France, n = 187, Italy, n = 152, UK, n = 158), higher quantities of vegetables consumed were associated with a higher age, affluence score and liking for vegetables, and a lower importance in consumption of familiarity (smallest β = 0.11, p = 0.03). Greater variety was associated with a higher liking and importance of health benefits, and a lower importance of familiarity (smallest β = -0.11, p < 0.01). Higher quantity and variety combined (quantity × variety) was associated with a higher age, liking and importance of health benefits, and a lower importance of familiarity (smallest β = 0.14, p = 0.02). Country-specific effects were also found (smallest β = 0.20, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings demonstrate a role for liking and a lower concern for eating familiar foods in vegetable consumption, and a particular role for concern for health benefits in the consumption of a greater variety of vegetables.