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Objectives (1) To develop reference values for health-related fitness in European children and adolescents aged 6–18 years that are the foundation for the web-based, open-access and multilanguage fitness platform (FitBack); (2) to provide comparisons across European countries. Methods This study builds on a previous large fitness reference study in European youth by (1) widening the age demographic, (2) identifying the most recent and representative country-level data and (3) including national data from existing fitness surveillance and monitoring systems. We used the Assessing Levels of PHysical Activity and fitness at population level (ALPHA) test battery as it comprises tests with the highest test–retest reliability, criterion/construct validity and health-related predictive validity: the 20 m shuttle run (cardiorespiratory fitness); handgrip strength and standing long jump (muscular strength); and body height, body mass, body mass index and waist circumference (anthropometry). Percentile values were obtained using the generalised additive models for location, scale and shape method. Results A total of 7 966 693 test results from 34 countries (106 datasets) were used to develop sex-specific and age-specific percentile values. In addition, country-level rankings based on mean percentiles are provided for each fitness test, as well as an overall fitness ranking. Finally, an interactive fitness platform, including individual and group reporting and European fitness maps, is provided and freely available online ( www.fitbackeurope.eu). Conclusion This study discusses the major implications of fitness assessment in youth from health, educational and sport perspectives, and how the FitBack reference values and interactive web-based platform contribute to it. Fitness testing can be conducted in school and/or sport settings, and the interpreted results be integrated in the healthcare systems across Europe., Erasmus+ Sport Programme of the European Union within the project FitBack 13010-EPP-1-2019-1-SI-SPO-SCP, Slovenian Research Agency within the Research programme Bio- psycho-social context of kinesiology P5-0142, Units of Excellence, Unit of Excellence on Exercise, Nutrition and Health, Junta de Andalucia, Investigacion y Universidades, European Commission SOMM17/6107/UGR, CIBERobn Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition

Background Evidence on whether leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) facilitates individuals’ adoption of multiple healthy behaviors remains scarce. This study investigated the associations of diverse longitudinal LTPA trajectories from childhood to adulthood with diet, screen time, smoking, binge drinking, sleep difficulties, and sleep duration in adulthood. Methods Data were drawn from the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study. Participants were aged 9–18 years (N = 3553; 51% females) in 1980 and 33–49 years at the latest follow-up in 2011. The LTPA trajectories were identified using a latent profile analysis. Differences in self-reported health-related behaviors across the LTPA trajectories were studied separately for women and men by using the Bolck-Croon-Hagenaars approach. Models were adjusted for age, body mass index, education level, marital status, total energy intake and previous corresponding behaviors. Results Persistently active, persistently low-active, decreasingly and increasingly active trajectories were identified in both genders and an additional inactive trajectory for women. After adjusting the models with the above-mentioned covariates, the inactive women had an unhealthier diet than the women in the other trajectories (p 0.50). The low-active men followed an unhealthier diet than the persistently and increasingly active men (p 0.50). Compared to their inactive and low-active peers, smoking frequency was lower in the increasingly active women and men (p 0.20) and persistently active men (p 0.20). The increasingly active men reported lower screen time than the low-active (p 0.50) and persistently active (p 0.20) men. The increasingly and persistently active women reported fewer sleep difficulties than the inactive (p 0.80) and low-active (p 0.50 and > 0.80, respectively) women. Sleep duration and binge drinking were not associated with the LTPA trajectories in either gender, nor were sleep difficulties in men and screen time in women. Conclusions Not only persistently higher LTPA but also an increasing tendency to engage in LTPA after childhood/adolescence were associated with healthier diet and lower smoking frequency in both genders, having less sleep difficulties in women and lower screen time in increasingly active men. Inactivity and low activity were associated with the accumulation of several unhealthy behaviors in adulthood. Associations were stronger in women. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-021-10554-w.

Background: School-based interventions have small impacts on daily PA levels and academic performance in children. Such failures reside in sub-optimal implementation rates and poor sustainability. To enhance implementation, literature suggests co-production of programmes with all relevant stakeholders to increase the likelihood of implementation success. While co-production approaches are commonly used to design health care interventions, limited contemporary school-based projects deploy such design methodologies. Introduction: Professor John Bartholomew, University of Texas at Austin. Title: Why moving beyond traditional research- and policy-led intervention design is essential for modern school-based PA programmes. Individual presentations: Presenter 1: Dr. Andy Daly-Smith, University of Bradford. Title: Experience-based co-design to develop the Creating Active Schools (CAS) Framework. Description: The UK-based CAS Framework was developed utilising the UK Design Council���s Double Diamond Method. Fifty stakeholders, representing 9 stakeholder groups (e.g. (head)teachers, policymakers and researchers), engaged in a 6-step iterative design process. The presentation outlines the development process, the CAS framework and the impact since the framework���s release. Presenter 2: Professor Geir K. Resaland, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences. Title: A national approach to co-developing a teacher training programme in physically active learning (PAL) Description: Center for PAL (SEFAL) have co-created a PAL teacher education program with the practice field, with the aim of developing PAL as a quality-assured teaching method for theoretical subjects. SEFAL is underpinned by three conceptual pillars; motivation, well-being and relationships. SEFAL carries out research on teachers and headteachers taking part in the education program. Presenter 3: Dr. Tuija Tammelin, LIKES Research Centre for Physical Activity and Health, Finland. Title: Co-development of the Finnish Schools on the Move programme with teachers, principals, policymakers and stakeholders ��� a key for successful implementation? Description: Finnish Schools on the Move is a national action programme establishing a physically active operating culture in schools. Over 90% of Finnish schools are involved in the programme that was co-developed since 2010 with a wide network of stakeholders including (non) governmental organisations, municipalities, schools, teachers and students. Presenter 4: Dr Amika Singh, Mulier Institute. Title: A European-wide approach to co-develop a PAL curriculum and teacher training programme: the ACTivate project. Description: The aim of ACTivate is to enhance teachers��� capability, opportunity and motivation to implement PAL in schools. In ACTivate, a six-nation partnership, we co- create, with practising teachers and other school stakeholders, an innovative European-wide open-access training programme and web portal. The presentation will outline the process of co-creation in the first phase of ACTivate. Summary: Professors Bartholomew and Mota will summarise cross-cutting themes across the four presentations, discussing possible impacts on policy and practice; reflecting on similar approaches beyond the European context. Following the summary, an interactive discussion will involve all symposium presenters and the audience with specific reference to co-production and knowledge translation in school-based PA., The Health & Fitness Journal of Canada, Vol. 14 No. 3 (2021): Proceedings from the 8th International Society for Physical Activity and Health Congress

Background Physically active lifestyle prevents and contributes to managing non-communicable diseases. Childhood physical activities have shown to associate with physically active lifestyle in adulthood. More research on which childhood physical activity modes associate with physical activity in later life is still needed. Within the present study, we examined how physically active commuting to school in childhood contributed to overall physical activity in adulhood. Methods The participants (N = 3596) were from the population-based, longitudinal Cardiovascular Risks in Young Finns Study. Questionnaires were used in assessing subjects' childhood (1980) and adulthood (2001-2018) physical activity. ActiGraph accelerometers were also applied in the adulthood measurements (2018-2020). The results were analyzed using logistic and linear regression models. Participants' age, sex, parents' educational background, parents' income level, childhood living area, participants' educational background, adulthood income level, and adulthood living area were adjusted for in the models. Results Based on the preliminary examinations, childhood commuting was not associated with self-reported commuting to work (2001-2018) or accelerometer-measured overall physical activity (2018-2020) in adulthood (p>.05). Active commuting in childhood associated with increased self-reported leisure-time physical activity in the year 2001 (b=.38, p>.001), 2007 (b=.35, p>.001), and 2018 (b=.28, p=.012), but the association between childhood commuting and self-reported physical activity in the years 2001 and 2018 attenuated after adjusting for all covariates (p>.05). Conclusions Physically active commuting in childhood (1980) was associated with higher levels of self-reported leisure-time physical activity in adulthood (2001-2018). The associations attenuated after adjusting for covariates excluding the one between active commuting and leisure-time physical activity assessed in 2007. Physically active commuting can be regarded as recommendable with respect to the development of physically active lifestyle, if supportive evidence for the causality between childhood commuting and leisure-time physical activity in adult age can be found. Future research should also focus on assessing whether active commuting in childhood contributes to adulthood activities parallel to active commuting in childhood. nonPeerReviewed

Fyysinen aktiivisuus ja kestävyyskunto ovat tutkimusten mukaan positiivisesti yhteydessä koulumenestykseen, mutta motoristen perustaitojen yhteyttä on tutkittu vähemmän. Tässä tutkimuksessa selvitettiin ovatko motoriset perustaidot ja sen osa-alueista erityisesti liikkumis-, välineenkäsittely- ja tasapainotaidot yhteydessä matemaattisiin taitoihin perusopetuksen kolmasluokkalaisilla. Tutkimus on osa laajempaa Likes-tutkimuskeskuksen Liikkuvaa matikkaa -tutkimusta. Tutkimusaineisto kerättiin syksyllä 2019 kolmestatoista keskisuomalaisesta koulusta, joista tutkimukseen osallistui 384 oppilasta (tyttöjä 50 %, ikä keskimäärin 8,8 vuotta, keskihajonta 0,5). Motorisia perustaitoja mitattiin kahdeksan eri testin avulla. Mukana oli testejä Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder (KTK), Movement Assessment Battery for Children 2 (MABC-2) ja Eurofit-testistöistä. Lisäksi matemaattisia taitoja mitattiin Functional Numeracy Assessment (FUNA) testistöstä valikoiduilla testeillä. Motoristen perustaitojen ja matemaattisten taitojen välisiä yhteyksiä tarkasteltiin Pearsonin korrelaatiokertoimen ja lineaarisen regressioanalyysin avulla. Oppilaan sukupuoli, sukupuolen ja motoristen perustaitojen tai sen osa-alueen yhdysvaikutus, kestävyyskunto, kehon rasvaprosentti ja äidin koulutus otettiin huomioon taustamuuttujina. Motoriset perustaidot sekä sen osa-alueista liikkumis- ja välineenkäsittelytaidot olivat positiivisesti yhteydessä matemaattisiin taitoihin. Motoriset perustaidot selittivät 8,2 prosenttia, liikkumistaidot 12,2 prosenttia ja välineenkäsittelytaidot 7,3 prosenttia matemaattisten taitojen vaihtelusta. Tasapainotaidot eivät selittäneet vaihtelua. Tutkimustulosten mukaan hyvät motoriset perustaidot voivat tukea oppilaan matemaattista osaamista. Tutkimus antaa viitteitä siitä, että monipuolisella liikkumisella ja motoristen perustaitojen osaamisella näyttäisi olevan merkitystä myös lasten matemaattisille taidoille. According to previous studies, physical activity and aerobic fitness are positively associated with academic achievement. However, the association between fundamental movement skills and academic achievement are far less studied. The present study investigates whether fundamental movement skills are associated with mathematical skills in 3rd graders. More specifically the study examined locomotor, manipulative and balance skills and their connections to mathematical skills. This study is part of a research project called Moving Maths by Research Centre for Physical Activity and Health. The study was executed in Central Finland in autumn 2019 including 13 schools and 384 students (50 % girls, mean age 8.8 years, SD 0.5). Fundamental movement skills were measured with tests from Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder (KTK), Movement Assessment Battery for Children 2 (MABC-2) and Eurofit test batteries and mathematical skills were measured with four tests from Functional Numeracy Assessment (FUNA). Data was analyzed by Pearson’s correlation coefficient and linear regression. Students’ sex, interaction of sex and motor skill, aerobic fitness, body fat percentage and mother’s education were considered as confounding factors. Fundamental movement skills and more specifically locomotor skills and manipulative skills were positively associated with mathematical skills. Fundamental movement skills explained 8.2 percent, locomotor skills 12.2 percent and manipulative skills 7.3 percent of the variation of the mathematical skills. Balance skills did not explain the variation. According to the present results, good fundamental movement skills can support students’ mathematical skills. Therefore, it seems that versatile physical activity and fundamental movement skills are meaningful for students’ mathematical skills. peerReviewed

This study investigated the associations of accelerometer-measured physical activity, sedentary time and screen time with the incidence of neck and shoulder pain in school-aged children over a two-year follow-up. Children (aged 10–15) were measured at baseline 2013 (T0) (n = 970) and at follow-ups 2014 (T1) and 2015 (T2). Neck and shoulder pain frequency and screen time were determined with a web-based questionnaire. Daytime moderate to vigorous physical activity and sedentary time were measured with an accelerometer. Logistic regression was applied, and the results were adjusted for age, gender, body mass index and bedtime. Accelerometer-measured physical activity or sedentary time at baseline were not associated with the incidence of neck and shoulder pain at the two-year follow-up. Associations of neck and shoulder pain incidence with overall screen time (p = 0.020), and especially with passive gaming time (p = 0.036) and social media time (p = 0.023) were found at the first but not the second follow-up. The neck and shoulder pain incidence associated with overall screen time, passive gaming time and social media time at the first follow-up. The importance of limiting screen time, should be explored in order to find new approaches in preventing neck and shoulder pain in school-aged children. peerReviewed

Background In women, metabolic health deteriorates after menopause, and the role of physical activity (PA) in mitigating the change is not completely understood. This study investigates the changes in indicators of metabolic health around menopause and evaluates whether PA modulates these changes. Methods Longitudinal data of 298 women aged 48–55 years at baseline participating in the ERMA and EsmiRs studies was used. Mean follow-up time was 3.8 (SD 0.1) years. Studied indicators of metabolic health were total and android fat mass, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure, blood glucose, triglycerides, serum total cholesterol, and high- (HDL-C) and low-density (LDL-C) lipoprotein cholesterol. PA was assessed by accelerometers and questionnaires. The participants were categorized into three menopausal groups: PRE-PRE (pre- or perimenopausal at both timepoints, n = 56), PRE-POST (pre- or perimenopausal at baseline, postmenopausal at follow-up, n = 149), and POST-POST (postmenopausal at both timepoints, n = 93). Analyses were carried out using linear and Poisson mixed-effect models. Results At baseline, PA associated directly with HDL-C and inversely with LDL-C and all body adiposity variables. An increase was observed in total (B = 1.72, 95% CI [0.16, 3.28]) and android fat mass (0.26, [0.06, 0.46]), SBP (9.37, [3.34, 15.39]), and in all blood-based biomarkers in the PRE-POST group during the follow-up. The increase tended to be smaller in the PRE-PRE and POST-POST groups compared to the PRE-POST group, except for SBP. The change in PA associated inversely with the change in SBP (−2.40, [−4.34, −0.46]) and directly with the change in WHR (0.72, [0.05, 1.38]). Conclusions In middle-aged women, menopause may accelerate the changes in multiple indicators of metabolic health. PA associates with healthier blood lipid profile and body composition in middle-aged women but does not seem to modulate the changes in most of the studied metabolic health indicators during the menopausal transition. peerReviewed

Purpose The longitudinal influence of parental leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) on their offspring’s LTPA is poorly understood. This study examined the longitudinal associations between parental LTPA and offspring’s LTPA at two-time intervals. Method Child (offspring) participants (N=3596) were enrolled from the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study in 1980. Their LTPA was self-rated through nine phases from baseline to 2018 and categorized by year into youth (1980‒1986) and adult (1992‒2018) LTPA. Parental LTPA was assessed with a single self-reported question at three phases from 1980 to 1986. Latent growth curve modeling stratified by gender was fitted to estimate the potential pathways between parental LTPA and offspring’s youth and adult LTPA. Results Higher initial levels of paternal and maternal LTPA were independently associated with greater initial levels of youth and adult LTPA of offspring in both genders respectively, except maternal LTPA that did not associate with male offspring’s adult LTPA. The initial levels of paternal LTPA were directly related to changes in male offspring’s youth LTPA after adjusting for age, residential place, paternal education and occupation, having siblings, and offspring’s body mass index. Conclusion Our study demonstrates that the initial levels of parental LTPA are directly linked to the initial levels of offspring’s LTPA during youth and adulthood, while changes in parental LTPA are unrelated to changes in offspring’s youth and adult LTPA for either gender over time. These results imply that higher initial levels of LTPA in parents may serve as a predictor of offspring’s LTPA across life stages. peerReviewed

In recent years, we have got more information on physical activity and motor skills of preschool-aged children in Finland. However, national monitoring system for this age groups is still lacking in Finland like in many other European countries too. This presentation describes the process and recent results of an on-going research and development project JOYPAM - monitoring the joy of motion, physical activity and motor skills for pre-school-aged children. Aim of the project is to co-create, test and recommend a national level monitoring system by the end of 2020. nonPeerReviewed

Joy in Motion is a nationwide physical activity and well-being programme aimed at early childhood education and care (ECEC) launched in 2015 in Finland. The aim is to enable every child to be physically active and enjoy physical activity every day. Latest updates of the Finnish recommendations for physical activity in early childhood was published in 2016. The key message in the recommendations is Joy, play and doing together. Daily physical activity is just as important for children's well-being as healthy nutrition and sufficient sleep and rest. Presentations discuss the current state of the programme with more than 2200 registered early education units and provides concrete examples of the promotion work in practice. nonPeerReviewed

Objectives: To assess the ability to predict individual unfavourable future status and development in the 20m shuttle run test (20MSRT) during adolescence with machine learning (random forest (RF) classifier). Methods: Data from a 2-year observational study (2013‒2015, 12.4±1.3 years, n=633, 50% girls), with 48 baseline characteristics (questionnaires (demographics, physical, psychological, social and lifestyle factors), objective measurements (anthropometrics, fitness characteristics, physical activity, body composition and academic scores)) were used to predict: (Task 1) unfavourable future 20MSRT status (identification of individuals in the lowest 20MSRT tertile after 2 years), and (Task 2) unfavourable 20MSRT development (identification of individuals with 20MSRT development in the lowest tertile among adolescents with baseline 20MSRT below median level). Results: Prediction performance for future 20MSRT status (Task 1) was (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, AUC) 83% and 76%, sensitivity 80% and 60%, and specificity 78% and 79% in girls and boys, respectively. Twenty variables showed predictive power in boys, 14 in girls, including fitness characteristics, physical activity, academic scores, adiposity, life enjoyment, parental support, social status in school and perceived fitness. Prediction performance for future development (Task 2) was lower and differed statistically from random level only in girls (AUC 68% and 40% in girls and boys). Conclusion: RF classifier predicted future unfavourable status in 20MSRT and identified potential individuals for interventions based on a holistic profile (14‒20 baseline characteristics). The MATLAB script and functions employing the RF classifier of this study are available for future precision exercise medicine research. peerReviewed

Background In recent years, researchers have begun applying a trajectory approach to identify homogeneous subgroups of physical activity (PA) in heterogeneous populations. This study systematically reviewed the articles identifying longitudinal PA trajectory classes and the related factors (e.g., determinants, predictors, and outcomes) in the general population during different life phases. Methods The included studies used finite mixture models for identifying trajectories of PA, exercise, or sport participation. Three electronic databases, PubMed (Medline), Web of Science, and CINAHL, were searched from the year 2000 to 13 February 2018. The study was conducted according to the PRISMA recommendations. Results Twenty-seven articles were included and organized into three age group: youngest (eleven articles), middle (eight articles), and oldest (eight articles). The youngest group consisted mainly of youth, the middle group of adults and the oldest group of late middle-aged and older adults. Most commonly, three or four trajectory classes were reported. Several trajectories describing a decline in PA were reported, especially in the youngest group, whereas trajectories of consistently increasing PA were observed in the middle and oldest group. While the proportion of persistently physically inactive individuals increased with age, the proportion was relatively high at all ages. Generally, male gender, being Caucasian, non-smoking, having low television viewing time, higher socioeconomic status, no chronic illnesses, and family support for PA were associated either with persistent or increasing PA. Conclusions The reviewed articles identified various PA subgroups, indicating that finite mixture modeling can yield new information on the complexity of PA behavior compared to studying population mean PA level only. The studies also provided novel information how different factors relate to changes in PA during life course. The recognition of the PA subgroups and their determinants is important for the more precise targeting of PA promotion and PA interventions. Trial registration PROSPERO registration number: CRD42018088120. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12889-019-6513-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Introduction Adolescents have experienced decreased aerobic fitness levels and insufficient physical activity levels over the past decades. While both physical activity and aerobic fitness are related to physical and mental health, little is known concerning how they manifest in the brain during this stage of development, characterized by significant physical and psychosocial changes. The aim of the study is to examine the associations between both physical activity and aerobic fitness with brains’ functional connectivity. Methods Here, we examined how physical activity and aerobic fitness are associated with local and interhemispheric functional connectivity of the adolescent brain (n = 59), as measured with resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Physical activity was measured by hip‐worn accelerometers, and aerobic fitness by a maximal 20‐m shuttle run test. Results We found that higher levels of moderate‐to‐vigorous intensity physical activity, but not aerobic fitness, were linked to increased local functional connectivity as measured by regional homogeneity in 13–16‐year‐old participants. However, we did not find evidence for significant associations between adolescents’ physical activity or aerobic fitness and interhemispheric connectivity, as indicated by homotopic connectivity. Conclusions These results suggest that physical activity, but not aerobic fitness, is related to local functional connectivity in adolescents. Moreover, physical activity shows an association with a specific brain area involved in motor functions but did not display any widespread associations with other brain regions. These results can advance our understanding of the behavior–brain associations in adolescents., We examined the association of physical activity and aerobic fitness with the functional connectivity of the adolescent brain. Our findings reveal that physical activity, but not aerobic fitness is associated with the brain's local function connectivity in 13–16‐year‐old adolescents. These results demonstrate the different association between physical behavior and physical capacity with functional connectivity.

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Additional file 4: Supplementary file 4. Effect sizes (Cohen’s d and h) corresponding to adjusted models two and three for both genders.

Additional file 2.

This study examined the role of physical activity and changes in physical activity levels during childhood in long‐term labor market outcomes. To address this important but under‐researched theme, the study utilized data drawn from longitudinal research, the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study (YFS), and from registries compiled by Statistics Finland. The study consisted of children aged 9 (n=1565) and 15 (n=2445) at the time their physical activity was measured. Labor market outcomes, including employment status, average employment months, and average unemployment months, were calculated from 1997 to 2010, when the participants were aged 20 to 48 years. Regression models were used to assess the relationship between physical activity and labor market outcomes. The results show that the consequences of childhood physical activity may be far‐reaching, as higher childhood physical activity was positively related to the probability of being employed and employment months and was negatively related to unemployment months. On average, a one‐unit increase in physical activity index was related to a 1% higher probability of being employed, 0.10 more months of yearly employment, and 0.05 fewer months of yearly unemployment. The results also imply that persistently active individuals had the highest level of employment and the lowest level of unemployment compared with other activity groups. In conclusion, investments in childhood physical activity may not only promote health and well‐being but may also correlate with better labor market outcomes later in life, providing both personal and societal benefits. peerReviewed

Previous research indicates that programmes employing Hellison?s Teaching Personal and Social Responsibility (TPSR) model in physical activity have had a positive impact on youth development by increasing participants? positive values, autonomy, life skills, and prosocial behaviour. Despite encouraging results of the effects of TPSR-based programmes, there remains lack of research on the effective content of these programmes, and their implementation and evaluation. The current protocol article describes the development of a TPSR-based instructor training programme and a plan for an intervention study in which novice instructors learn to understand and apply the TPSR model in practice. The participants of the TPSR-based training intervention study are novice instructors who are matched and randomly allocated to a 20-hour TPSR-based training intervention and a six-hour control instructor training without the TPSR content. The proposed study examines whether the intervention is effective in teaching novice physical activity instructors to understand and apply the TPSR model, whether the instructors? personal and social responsibility develops, and whether the training intervention is feasible.

Additional file 3: Supplementary file 3. STROBE-nut checklist.

Additional file 1.

Additional file 2: Supplementary file 2. Description of the covariates.

Uudistunut liikkumissuositus lapsille ja nuorille suosittaa kaikille 7−17-vuotiaille monipuolista, reipasta ja rasittavaa liikkumista vähintään 60 minuuttia päivässä yksilölle sopivalla tavalla, ikä huomioiden. Runsasta ja pitkäkestoista paikallaanoloa tulee välttää. nonPeerReviewed

Additional file 1: Supplementary file 1. Statistical analyses used for identifying the leisure-time physical activity trajectories and the description of the trajectories.

This study aimed to investigate the associations of competitive sport participation in adolescence and age at menarche (AAM) with body composition, femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD), physical performance, and physical activity (PA) in middle-aged women. 1098 women aged 47&ndash, 55 years formed the sample of this retrospective study. Participants self-reported their PA level at age 13&ndash, 16 years and AAM. The protocol also included dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, physical performance tests, and accelerometer-measured PA. Participants were divided into three groups according to their PA level at the age of 13&ndash, 16 (no exercise, regular PA, and competitive sport) and according to their AAM (&le, 12, 13, and &ge, 14 years). After adjusting for potential confounding factors, participation in competitive sport at age 13&ndash, 16 was associated with higher midlife lean mass and BMD, and better physical performance compared to groups with no exercise or regular PA. Individuals with AAM &ge, 14 years had lower midlife BMI and fat mass than participants in the other AAM groups and pre- and perimenopausal women with AAM &ge, 14 years had lower BMD than those with AAM &le, 12. The findings indicate that participation in competitive sport in adolescence is associated with healthier body composition, higher BMD, and better physical performance in midlife, but BMD might be impaired if menarche occurs late.

Background Personality reflects relatively stable and pervasive tendencies in feeling, thinking and behaving. While previous studies have found higher extraversion and lower neuroticism to be linked to higher self-reported physical activity levels, larger studies using accelerometer-measured physical activity are lacking. This study investigated the cross-sectional associations of extraversion and neuroticism with both accelerometer-measured and self-reported physical activity and the role of these personality traits in possible discrepancies between these two measures of physical activity among Finnish adults. Methods Two community-dwelling samples were used in this study: a) 47–55-yr-old women (n = 1098) and b) 70–85-yr-old women and men (n = 314). In both samples, extraversion and neuroticism were assessed by the 19-item short form of the Eysenck Personality Inventory. Physical activity was assessed with hip-worn tri-axial accelerometers and self-reported questions. Regression analyses were adjusted by age, BMI and education. Results In the middle-aged women, neuroticism was negatively associated with accelerometer-measured leisure time moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (β = −.07, p = .036) and with self-reported physical activity (β = −.08, p = .021), while extraversion was positively associated with self-reported physical activity (β = .10, p = .005). No associations of extraversion or neuroticism with physical activity were found in the older men and women. Older adults who scored high in neuroticism reported less physical activity than what was measured by accelerometers (β = −.12, p = .039). Extraversion was not associated with discrepancy between self-reported and accelerometer-measured leisure time physical activity in either sample. Conclusions Neuroticism was associated with lower leisure-time physical activity levels and extraversion with higher self-reported physical activity among middle-aged women. Neuroticism and extraversion were unrelated to physical activity among older adults, but older adults with high neuroticism seemed to underreport their physical activity level. The role of personality in the discrepancy between self-reported and device-based physical activity warrants further research. peerReviewed

© 2020 The Author(s). Background: Inadequate physical activity in young people is associated with several physical and mental health concerns. Physical education (PE) is a potentially viable existing network for promoting physical activity in this population. However, little research has been conducted on whether PE teachers can influence students' engagement in leisure-time physical activity. The present study therefore examined the efficacy of an intervention aimed at increasing PE teachers' autonomy support on students' leisure-time physical activity (the PETALS trial). The intervention was guided by the trans-contextual model (TCM) explaining the processes by which PE teachers' provision of autonomy support during PE promotes students' motivation and engagement in physical activity in their leisure time. Methods: The study adopted a cluster-randomized, waitlist control intervention design with randomization by school. Participants were PE teachers (N = 29, 44.83%female; M age = 42.83, SD = 9.53 yrs) and their lower secondary school students (N = 502, 43.82%female; M age = 14.52, SD = 0.71 yrs). We measured TCM constructs, including perceived autonomy support, autonomous motivation in PE and leisure time, beliefs and intentions towards leisure-time physical activity, and physical activity behavior at baseline, post-intervention, and at one-, three-, and six-months. Study hypotheses were tested through a series of ANOVAs and structural equation models using post-intervention and one-month follow-up data. Results: We found no changes in TCM constructs or physical activity behavior in either group at post-intervention or at 1 month. Path analyses supported two propositions of the TCM as change variables: perceived autonomy support had a significant effect on autonomous motivation in PE and autonomous motivation in PE had a significant effect on autonomous motivation in leisure time. Although we found a direct effect of autonomous motivation in leisure time on physical activity, we did not find support for the third premise of the TCM that autonomous motivation in leisure time indirectly affects physical activity through beliefs and intentions. Conclusions: Current findings did not support the efficacy of the PETALS intervention at changing physical activity behavior and TCM constructs. More research is required to determine whether the TCM predictive validity is supported when other model variables are manipulated through experimental and intervention studies. Trial registration: ISRCTN, ISRCTN39374060. Registered 19 July 2018. Prospectively registered.

In midlife, women experience hormonal changes due to menopausal transition. A decrease especially in estradiol has been hypothesized to cause loss of muscle mass. This study investigated the effect of menopausal transition on changes in lean and muscle mass, from the total body to the muscle fiber level, among 47&ndash, 55-year-old women. Data were used from the Estrogenic Regulation of Muscle Apoptosis (ERMA) study, where 234 women were followed from perimenopause to early postmenopause. Hormone levels (estradiol and follicle stimulating hormone), total and regional body composition (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and computed tomography (CT) scans), physical activity level (self-reported and accelerometer-measured) and muscle fiber properties (muscle biopsy) were assessed at baseline and at early postmenopause. Significant decreases were seen in lean body mass (LBM), lean body mass index (LBMI), appendicular lean mass (ALM), appendicular lean mass index (ALMI), leg lean mass and thigh muscle cross-sectional area (CSA). Menopausal status was a significant predictor for all tested muscle mass variables, while physical activity was an additional significant contributor for LBM, ALM, ALMI, leg lean mass and relative muscle CSA. Menopausal transition was associated with loss of muscle mass at multiple anatomical levels, while physical activity was beneficial for the maintenance of skeletal muscle mass.

Physical activity and exercise beneficially link to brain properties and cognitive functions in older adults, but the findings concerning adolescents remain tentative. During adolescence, the brain undergoes significant changes, which are especially pronounced in white matter. Studies provide contradictory evidence regarding the influence of physical activity or aerobic-exercise on executive functions in youth. Little is also known about the link between both fitness and physical activity with the brain's white matter during puberty. We investigated the connection between aerobic fitness and physical activity with the white matter in 59 adolescents. We further determined whether white matter interacts with the connection of fitness or physical activity with core executive functions. Our results show that only the level of aerobic fitness, but not of physical activity relates to white matter. Furthermore, the white matter of the corpus callosum and the right superior corona radiata moderates the links of aerobic fitness and physical activity with working memory. Our results suggest that aerobic fitness and physical activity have an unequal contribution to the white matter properties in adolescents. We propose that the differences in white matter properties could underlie the variations in the relationship between either physical activity or aerobic fitness with working memory.

peer-reviewed The objective of this study was to analyze the associations of various individual- and environmental- related factors with subgroups of daily, frequent, moderate and low moderate-to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) among children and adolescents. Data were obtained from the Finnish School-age Physical Activity (FSPA) study 2016 from 4677 national representative 11-, 13-, and 15-year-old children and adolescents. MVPA and individual- and environmental-related factors were assessed by a questionnaire and analyzed by two-level logistic regression. Seventeen of the twenty-one variables were statistically significantly associated with MVPA. However, only three variables were statistically significant in all MVPA subgroups, whereby self-directed PA at least twice a week, fewer perceived barriers, and higher peer support increased the odds of participating in more MVPA. The results from this study showed essential differences among the MVPA subgroups, also supporting previous findings, whereby various individual- and environmental-based factors are associated with children and adolescents’ levels of MVPA. Challenges to designing and implementing effective interventions are based on the need to account for individual differences within the population, as well as the varied connections between PA with different social and physical environments where children and adolescents’ PA takes place. PA interventions with various actions at multiple levels are warranted

Additional file 1: Appendix A Figure S1. Timeline of the PETALS Trial. Appendix B Table S1. Description of the Teacher-Training Program: Content and Matched Behavior Change Techniques for Each Session [90]. Appendix C Table S2. Measures, Data Collection Time Points, and Methods in the PETALS Intervention. Appendix D Processing of IPAQ Data [91]. Appendix E Table S3. Differences Between Completers and Non-Completers on Baseline Characteristics [67]. Appendix F Table S4. Descriptive and Reliability Statistics of Key Variables at Baseline [67]. Table S5. Pearson’s Correlations Between Key Variables at Baseline. Appendix G Table S6. Descriptive Statistics for Trans-Contextual Model Constructs over Time.

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Background:Physical activity trackers (PATs) such as apps and wearable devices (eg, sports watches, heart rate monitors) are increasingly being used by young adolescents. Despite the potential of PATs to help monitor and improve moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) behaviors, there is a lack of research that confirms an association between PAT ownership or use and physical activity behaviors at the population level.Objective:The purpose of this study was to examine the ownership and use of PATs in youth and their associations with physical activity behaviors, including daily MVPA, sports club membership, and active travel, in 2 nationally representative samples of young adolescent males and females in Finland and Ireland.Methods:Comparable data were gathered in the 2018 Finnish School-aged Physical Activity (F-SPA 2018, n=3311) and the 2018 Irish Children’s Sport Participation and Physical Activity (CSPPA 2018, n=4797) studies. A cluster analysis was performed to obtain the patterns of PAT ownership and usage by adolescents (age, 11-15 years). Four similar clusters were identified across Finnish and Irish adolescents: (1) no PATs, (2) PAT owners, (3) app users, and (4) wearable device users. Adjusted binary logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate how PAT clusters were associated with physical activity behaviors, including daily MVPA, membership of sports clubs, and active travel, after stratification by gender.Results:The proportion of app ownership among Finnish adolescents (2038/3311, 61.6%) was almost double that of their Irish counterparts (1738/4797, 36.2%). Despite these differences, the clustering patterns of PATs were similar between the 2 countries. App users were more likely to take part in daily MVPA (males, odds ratio [OR] 1.27, 95% CI 1.04-1.55; females, OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.20-1.85) and be members of sports clubs (males, OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.15-1.62; females, OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.07-1.50) compared to the no PATs cluster, after adjusting for country, age, family affluence, and disabilities. These associations, after the same adjustments, were even stronger for wearable device users to participate in daily MVPA (males, OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.49-2.23; females, OR 2.25, 95% CI 1.80-2.82) and be members of sports clubs (males, OR 1.88, 95% CI 1.55-2.88; females, OR 2.07, 95% CI 1.71-2.52). Significant associations were observed between male users of wearable devices and taking part in active travel behavior (OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.04-1.86).Conclusions:Although Finnish adolescents report more ownership of PATs than Irish adolescents, the patterns of use and ownership remain similar among the cohorts. The findings of our study show that physical activity behaviors were positively associated with wearable device users and app users. These findings were similar between males and females. Given the cross-sectional nature of this data, the relationship between using apps or wearable devices and enhancing physical activity behaviors requires further investigation.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the primary cause of mortality in women in developed countries. CVD risk rises with age, yet for women there is a rapid increase in CVD risk that occurs after the onset of menopause. This observation suggests the presence of factors in the middle-aged women that accelerate the progression of CVD independent of chronological aging. Leisure time physical activity (LTPA) is a well-established protective factor against CVD. However, its role in attenuating atherogenic lipid profile changes and CVD risk in post-menopausal women has not been well-established. The present study is part of the Estrogenic Regulation of Muscle Apoptosis (ERMA) study, a population-based cohort study in which middle-aged Caucasian women (47–55) were classified into pre-menopausal, peri-menopausal, and post-menopausal groups based on follicle stimulating hormone levels and bleeding patterns. Comprehensive questionnaires, laboratory visits, anthropometric measurements, and physical activity monitoring by accelerometers were used to characterize the menopausal groups and serum lipid profiles were analyzed to quantify CV (cardiovascular) risk factors. Based on our findings, LTPA may attenuate menopause-associated atherogenic changes in the serum CV risk factors of healthy middle-aged women. However, LTPA does not seem to entirely offset the lipid profile changes associated with the menopausal transition. peerReviewed

Introduction: Despite substantial interest in the development of health behaviors, there is limited research that has examined the longitudinal relationship between physical activity (PA) and smoking trajectories from youth to adulthood in a Finnish population. This study aimed to identify trajectories of smoking and PA for males and females, and study the relationship between these trajectories from youth to adulthood. Methods: Latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to identify trajectories of smoking and PA separately for males and females among 3355 Finnish adults (52.1% females). Participants&rsquo, smoking and PA were assessed five to eight times over a 31-year period (3&ndash, 18 years old at the baseline, 34&ndash, 49 years at last follow-up). Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to study the relationship between the trajectories of smoking and PA. Results: Five smoking trajectories and four to five PA trajectories were identified for males and females. Of the PA trajectory groups, the persistently active group were least likely to follow the trajectories of regular smoking and the inactive and low active groups were least likely to follow non-smoking trajectory group. Likewise, inactive (women only) and low active groups were less likely to belong to the non-smokers group. Conclusions: The study suggests that those who are persistently active or increasingly active have substantially reduced probabilities of being in the highest-risk smoking categories.

PETALS measures. Measures, data collection time points and methods in the PETALS intervention. Overview of measures, data collection time points and methods in the PETALS intervention including main outcome measure, secondary outcome measure, mediating measures, additional measures, teacher measures, parenting measures and demographic measures. (DOCX 17 kb)

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Table S2. Details of the search strategy. (PDF 247 kb)

Table S3. Characteristics of the included studies, physical activity trajectories and related factors reported, and main findings in each study. (PDF 462 kb)

Table S4. Quality assessment checklist and quality scores of the included studies. (PDF 180 kb)

Background Given the documented decline in levels of physical activity in early adolescence, promoting physical activity in young people is a priority for health promotion. School physical education (PE) is an important existing network in which participation in physical activity beyond school can be promoted to the captive young people. The objective of current article is to present the protocol for a PE teacher-delivered theory-based trial to promote secondary school students’ participation in physical activity out-of-school contexts. The intervention will be guided by the trans-contextual model explaining the processes by which PE teachers’ support for autonomous motivation in the classroom promotes students’ motivation to engage in out-of-school physical activity. We hypothesize that school students receiving the teacher-delivered intervention to promote autonomous motivation toward physical activity will exhibit greater participation in physical activities outside of school, relative to students receiving a control intervention. Methods The trial will adopt a waitlist-control design with cluster-randomization by school. PE teachers assigned to the intervention condition will receive a two-week, 12-h training program comprising basic information on how to promote out-of-school physical activity and theory-based training on strategies to promote students’ autonomous motivation toward physical activity. Teachers assigned to the waitlist control condition will receive an alternative training on how to monitor physical functional capacity in children with special needs. PE teachers (n = 29) from eleven schools will apply the intervention program to students (n = 502) in PE classes for one month. Physical activity participation, the primary outcome variable, and psychological mediators from the trans-contextual model will be measured at pre-trial, post-trial, and at one-, three- and six-months post-trial. We will also assess teachers’ autonomy-supportive techniques and behaviours by observation. Discussion The study will make a unique contribution to the literature by testing a theory-based intervention delivered by PE teachers to promote school students’ participation in out-of-school physical activity. Information will be useful for educators, community stakeholders and policy makers interested in developing programs to promote students’ out-of-school physical activity. Trial registration ISRCTN39374060. Registered 19.7.2018. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12889-019-6478-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Forest plot. Physical activity trajectories divided into categories by age group. (PDF 264 kb)

INTRODUCTION: Physical activity (PA) is important in the prevention and treatment of impaired glucose metabolism. However, association of physical inactivity during the transition between childhood and adulthood with glucose metabolism is unknown. Therefore, we studied the association of persistent physical inactivity since childhood with glucose metabolism in adulthood. METHODS: Data were drawn from the ongoing, Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study with repeated follow-ups between 1980 and 2011 (baseline age, 3-18 yr; n = 3596). Impaired glucose metabolism was defined as having impaired fasting glucose (6.1-6.9 mmol·L) or type 2 diabetes in adulthood. Leisure-time PA habits were repeatedly collected with a standardized questionnaire and expressed as a PA Index. Using PA Index, four groups were formed (n = 2000): 1) persistently low PA, 2) decreasingly active, 3) increasingly active, and 4) persistently active subjects. Poisson regression model was used to examine the association between PA groups and impaired glucose metabolism. RESULTS: The proportion of the sample with impaired glucose metabolism was 16.1% in individuals with persistently low PA, 14.5% in decreasingly active, 6.8% in increasingly active, and 11.1% in persistently active. Compared with individuals with persistently low PA, age and sex-adjusted risk for impaired glucose metabolism were lower in those who increased PA (relative risk [RR], 0.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.29-0.76) and in those who were persistently active (RR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.51-0.97), but similar in those who decreased PA (RR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.66-1.36). CONCLUSIONS: Persistently physically inactive lifestyle from youth to adulthood is associated with increased risk of impaired glucose metabolism in adulthood. Importantly, a moderate increase in PA lowered the risk. The results highlight the importance of avoiding physically inactive lifestyle at all stages of life. peerReviewed

Health behaviors in youth can predict the same behaviors later in life, but the role of sport participation in predicting healthy lifestyle habits is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between participation in organized youth sport and adult healthy lifestyle habits. Data from the longitudinal Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study (YFS) with a 28‐year follow‐up were used. The participation in sport‐club training sessions was self‐reported by 9‐18‐year‐olds in 1983 and 1986 (n = 1285). During 2011, participants (aged 37‐43‐year old) reported their smoking status, alcohol consumption, fruit and vegetable consumption, and physical activity. Odd ratios (OR) were calculated using logistic regression, to examine how participation in organized youth sport was associated with having three or four versus fewer (0‐2) healthy habits in adulthood. Participants who were active in youth sport in both 1983 and 1986 had almost two times greater odds of having three or four healthy habits in adulthood than those who were not active at both time points (OR: 1.75, 95%CI: 1.11‐2.76). When the analyses were stratified by sex, the findings were statistically significant among women (OR: 2.13, 95%Cl: 1.13‐3.99) but not men (OR: 1.27, 95%CI: 0.63‐2.58). The results suggest that participation in organized youth sport could promote healthy lifestyle choices. peerReviewed

Aim: The aim of this prospective four-year follow-up study was to examine how socioeconomic status (SES) and change in marital status are associated with the change in pedometer-measured physical activity (PA) in adulthood among participants in the ‘Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study’. Methods: Questionnaires were completed and pedometers worn at baseline in 2007 and again at follow-up in 2011 by 1051 Finnish adults (62.3% female, aged 30–45 years in 2007). A latent change score model was used to examine mean change in daily total steps, aerobic steps and non-aerobic steps during weekdays and weekend days between 2007 and 2011. Results: In women re-coupling or finding a new partner was associated with decrease in total steps (p=0.010) and being single was associated with increase in non-aerobic steps (p=0.047) during weekdays from 2007 to 2011 compared to women who were married. In men, divorcing was associated with decrease in non-aerobic steps (p=0.049). Conclusions: In order to promote PA in the general population of adults, it is recommended to pay attention to people with lower SES and those who have had changes in their marital status. These factors could be taken into account when developing strategies to promote PA among the adult population. peerReviewed

Objective: The multidisciplinary Estrogenic Regulation of Muscle Apoptosis (ERMA) study was designed to reveal how hormonal differences over the menopausal stages affect the physiological and psychological functioning of middle-aged women. This paper describes the protocol and nonrespondent analysis of ERMA and novel findings on menopausal differences in blood count variables and their association with female sex hormones. Methods: Women aged 47 to 55 years were assigned to pre, early peri, late peri, and postmenopausal groups based on follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and bleeding diary. Multivariate linear regression models were constructed to estimate the association of 17b-estradiol (E2) and FSH with the blood count variables. Results: In all, 3,064 women returned the prequestionnaire (ERMA phase one), 1,393 donated blood samples and were assigned to the relevant menopausal group (phase two), and 914 completed phase three, which included physiological and psychological measurements. Nonrespondents were more likely than respondents to be obese, whereas the menopausal groups showed no mean differences in body mass index. Blood count variables, while being within clinical reference values, showed significant differences between groups. E2 and FSH were associated with the white blood cell (WBC) count and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio. Conclusions: The ERMA study was successful in recruiting and characterizing the menopausal status of a cohort sample of middle-aged women. The significant group differences found in the blood count variables and their associations with E2 and FSH verifies menopause-associated changes in WBC composition potentially being an early sign of low-grade inflammation that may develop later in life. Key Words: 17b-Estradiol – Blood viscosity – FSH – Leucocyte count – Menopausal status – Neutrophil- to-lymphocyte ratio. peerReviewed