Physical Activity: Benefits, Determinants and Interventions Flashcards
What is the difference between physical activity and exercise?
Physical activity: Any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that results in energy expenditure
Exercise: Typically planned, repetitive & structured activity requiring physical effort, carried out to sustain or improve health and fitness
How do we measure physical
activity? How much physical activity should we do?
SELF-REPORT: Simple questions, recall/diaries
OBJECTIVELY: Accelerometer, Pedometers, Fitbit etc
People who do less than 30 mins p/w=inactive
1 in 5 men and 1 in 4 women= inactive
Positive associations with Physical Activity
in older adults ≥65 years old?
- Walkability – quality of roads and paving, hills, lighting, benches, infrastructure
- Safety – crime related personal safety, traffic safety
- Aesthetically pleasing neighbourhoods - greenery
- Residential density/ urbanisation
- Access to shops
- Access to specific services/public transport
- Recreational activities – parks, open space
- Social recreational facilities
What is the impact of exercise on depression and cognitive ability?
Physical activity reduces risk of depression at any age
- 49 studies
- Over 250,000 people
- High levels of physical activity = 17% lower risk of depression
Students who are more physically fit are more academically alert
physical activity is a key contributing factor to healthy brain function
What SOCIAL factors predict engagement in physical activity?
Higher socio-economic status & education – cost, safer environment, healthier choices
Male - stronger sports culture
People of mixed ethnicity most likely to be physically active in England
Active childhood predicts more PA in adulthood
Age: 19-24= most active, less likely to have family/career. Being active in mid- life - more likely to be more active in old age
Health status & Lower BMI=fewer psychological and physical barriers
One of the psychological determinants of physical activity is self efficacy and social support. Describe these
Self efficacy: Confidence a person has in their ability to perform a behaviour + overcome barriers - E.g., How confident are you that you will go gym even when raining?
Social support: “The resources provided to us through our interactions with other people” eg Family and friends
One of the psychological determinants of physical activity is beliefs. Describe the health belief model
One of the psychological determinants of physical activity is motivations. Describe this
Describe the psychological barriers to PE
What is the theory of planned behaviour?
What are the limitations of the theory of planned behaviour? How can we overcome these limitations?
Limitation of TPB = intention-behaviour gap
Implementation intentions (Gollwitzer 1999) help overcome this gap
Specify when, where, and how to achieve behaviour = help converts intentions to actions
“If-then” plans–> “IF situation X happens THEN I will do Y
What is the COM-B model?
Describe the habit loop
What are the different levels of physical activity interventions? What are the pros and cons of each?
One to one: Allows tailoring, flexible scheduling. BUT labour intensive, expensive.
Group: increase motivation, less labour intensive, more cost effective, social norms. BUT caters for group demands, less individual choice
Community (e.g. community activity clubs etc): wide impact, existing infrastructures, social norms, personal safety. BUT may favour people & areas with more resources
Societal (e.g. Gov policy): widest impact, BUT depends on access to resources, political will, funding.
