Examining psychosocial correlates of physical activity and sedentary behavior in youth with and without HIV

Health-Related Physical Fitness Evaluation in HIV-Diagnosed Children and Adolescents: A Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

Health-related physical fitness has been widely used to investigate the adverse effects of HIV infection/ART in children and adolescents. However, methods/protocols and cut-points applied for investigating health-related physical fitness are not clear. The aim of this scoping review was to map the literature to identify gaps in knowledge regarding the methods/protocols and cut-points.

METHODS

A scoping review, following the Joana Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines, was conducted through ten major databases. Search followed the PCC strategy to construct block of terms related to population (children and adolescents), concept (health-related physical fitness components) and context (HIV infection).

RESULTS

The search resulted in 7545 studies. After duplicate removal, titles and abstracts reading and full text assessment, 246 studies were included in the scoping review. Body composition was the most investigated component (n = 244), followed by muscular strength/endurance (n = 23), cardiorespiratory fitness (n = 15) and flexibility (n = 4). The World Health Organization growth curves, and nationals' surveys were the most reference values applied to classify body composition (n = 149), followed by internal cut-points (n = 30) and cut-points developed through small populations (n = 16). Cardiorespiratory fitness was classified through cut-points from three different assessment batteries, as well as cut-points developed through studies with small populations, muscular strength/endurance and flexibility were classified through the same cut-points from five different assessment batteries.

CONCLUSIONS

The research on muscular strength/endurance, cardiorespiratory fitness and flexibility has been scarcely explored. The lack of studies that investigated method usability as well as reference values was evidenced.

The utility of university fitness facilities: Environmental vs. psychological determinants of their use

OBJECTIVE

It is important for college students to engage regularly in physical activity. While psychological factors, such as motivation, are likely to increase attendance at fitness facilities, positive perceptions of the fitness facility (e.g., the type of classes offered) might also influence use of a fitness facility.

PARTICIPANTS

Data were collected from 462 college students.

METHODS

Participants completed a survey that included an assessment of commitment and motivation to exercise, life satisfaction, and perceptions of the environment of the fitness facility they use. They also answered questions about fitness facility preferences.

RESULTS

Commitment and motivation to exercise were associated with use of a fitness facility. Perceptions of the environmental context of the fitness facility did not influence attendance.

CONCLUSIONS

Even though college students shared some preferences (e.g., workout space and lighting), psychological factors were more influential than the environment of a fitness facility with regard to attendance.

Body composition, physical fitness and physical activity in Mozambican children and adolescents living with HIV

INTRODUCTION

As a result of the effectiveness of antiretroviral drugs (ART), HIV/AIDS has become a chronic disease, which has enabled children living with HIV to reach adolescence and adulthood. However, the long exposure to both the disease and ART has caused undesirable effects that compromise the physiological functioning and the quality of life of the subjects.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the body composition, physical fitness and habitual physical activity of children and adolescents living with HIV on ART.

METHODS

A total of 79 subjects of both genders aged 8-14 years, living with HIV in ART, selected by convenience participated in the study. The subjects underwent anthropometric assessment, physical fitness assessment and physical activity assessment.

RESULTS

Relative to reference norms, the values of the anthropometric indicators fell below 50th percentile (height/age = 92.4%; BMI/age 72.2%; sum of skinfolds = 51.9%; arm circumference = 63.3%). The prevalence of "low height/age" and "low weight/age" was 34.9% and 9.3%, respectively for boys, and 27.9% and 11.1%, respectively for girls. With the exception of trunk flexibility (12.3%), most subjects were considered unfit in the physical fitness tests (abdominal resistance = 76.4%; handgrip strength = 75.4%; lower limb power = 66.4%). The percentage of subjects with insufficient physical activity was 45.5% for boys and 77.8% for girls. The values for all variables were consistently and significantly lower when compared with studies done in Mozambicans boys and girls without HIV+ from both urban and rural areas.

CONCLUSION

The subjects participants in the study living with HIV and undergoing ART had impaired growth, low physical fitness and low levels of habitual physical activity in relation to the reference values of their peers without HIV, which compromised their physiological functioning and their quality of life.

The Effects of Exercise on Acute Immune Responses in Relative Leisure-Deprived People Living with HIV/AIDS: A Pilot Study

Exercise training involving exercises of optimal intensity and duration improves psychological and medical variables in relative leisure-deprived people living with HIV/AIDS. This study aimed to analyze associated psychological variables and the effect of exercise intensity and duration on immune responses in relative leisure-deprived people infected with HIV. The participants completed different moderate-intensity exercises (30 min (60−80% HRmax) and 45 min (60−80% HRmax)) and high-intensity exercise for 10 min (>80% HRmax). Levels higher than “normal” were rated for relative leisure deprivation, indicating relative deprivation of leisure among participants. The overall level of quality of life was “normal”, indicating that quality of life was not considered high. The stress level was psychologically considered low. Time had a significant effect on cortisol levels (p < 0.05). Compared to pre-exercise, cortisol level was significantly decreased immediately after moderate exercise for 45 min and 3 h post-exercise after high-intensity exercise for 10 min (p < 0.05). However, time and the interaction of condition and time had no significant effect on IL-6 and sIgA levels (p > 0.05). Despite the small sample size of this pilot study, the results demonstrate that moderate-intensity exercise can be recommended to improve the health and quality of life of people infected with HIV.