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ABSTRACTInternationally, there is recognition that the transition from military service to civilian life is challenged by a military identity. The aim of this study was to present the impact of an occupational military identity on the transition to civilian life from the perspective of former serving Australian Defence Force members. A narrative inquiry methodology was employed to explore the transition experience of the participants who each shared the story of their transition, presenting a narrative for data analysis. This analysis utilised Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis (2006, 2020), and the a prioritheme of identity. The 12 participant narratives led to the presentation of four themes: 1) Transition and a military identity; 2) Military service and a military identity; 3) Military identity and separation type (voluntary and involuntary); and 4) Enabling transition and the military identity in civilian life. The participants’ narratives highlighted how their occupational participation in military training and culture shaped an identity to challenge transition. Yet, they also highlighted the positive influence of a military identity, offering insights into how best to enable the transition from military service to civilian life.

•Not meeting sleep duration and activity guidelines increased mortality risk•Mortality risks of short or long sleep are reduced by meeting activity guidelines•Interventions targeting physical activity and sleep duration may be beneficial

In this paper we outline the protocol for an implementation-effectiveness trial of ecofit, a multi-component mHealth intervention aimed at increasing participation in resistance and aerobic physical activity using the outdoor built environment (i.e., outdoor gyms) and social support. We have previously demonstrated the efficacy and effectiveness of the ecofitprogram in insufficiently active people with (or at risk of) type 2 diabetes and community-dwelling adults, respectively. The objective of this trial is to compare the effects of two implementation support models (i.e., ‘Low’ versus ‘Moderate’) on the reach (primary outcome), uptake, dose received, impact and fidelity of the ecofitprogram.

Aerobic exercise has consistently been shown to improve glucose control (1-3), enhance insulin sensitivity (2,4,5), and improve cardiovascular risk factors such as visceral adiposity (2), lipid profile (6), arterial stiffness [...]

Background: Outdoor gym installations have become a popular initiative by local government agencies globally to increase community-based physical activity. Despite their rapid spread, usage rates and user characteristics are not well described, particularly the mode/type of activity performed. This study aims to investigate the proportion and timing of outdoor gym use, and demographic characteristics of gym users across seven locations. Method: The current study employed a cross-sectional research design with observational measures to examine outdoor gym use across seven locations in a large regional area in New South Wales, Australia. An outdoor gym audit including the number of pieces and names of the equipment, and type of outdoor gym was undertaken in the month prior to data collection. Results: A total of 56 h of observation periods were conducted, during which 2950 individuals were observed moving through the observation target areas. Across all parks, 3.8% of individuals (n= 112) were observed using the outdoor gyms for exercise purposes. Males (65%) were more likely to be observed using the equipment than females (35%) and there were more young-to-middle aged adult (83.9%) users than seniors (6.3%), adolescents (4.5%) and children (3.6%). Conclusion: Outdoor gyms have the potential to influence community-based physical inactivity rates as they appear to be a popular strategy by many government jurisdictions globally. To increase usage, local government agencies would benefit from working collaboratively with researchers to determine effective education and promotion strategies and in developing interventions to increase usage of outdoor gym equipment, particularly among women and older adults.

IMPORTANCE: Cardiorespiratory fitness is an important marker of childhood health and low fitness levels are a risk factor for disease later in life. Levels of children's fitness have declined in recent decades. Whether school-based physical activity interventions can increase fitness at the population level remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of an internet-based intervention on children’s cardiorespiratory fitness across a large number of schools. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: In this cluster randomized clinical trial, 22 government-funded elementary schools (from 137 providing consent) including 1188 students stratified from grades 3 and 4 in New South Wales, Australia, were randomized. The other schools received the intervention but were not included in the analysis. Eleven schools received the internet-based intervention and 11 received the control intervention. Recruitment and baseline testing began in 2016 and ended in 2017. Research assistants, blinded to treatment allocation, completed follow-up outcome assessments at 12 and 24 months. Data were analyzed from July to August 2020. INTERVENTIONS: The internet-based intervention included standardized online learning for teachers and minimal in-person support from a project mentor (9-10 months). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Multistage 20-m shuttle run test for cardiorespiratory fitness. RESULTS: Of 1219 participants (49% girls; mean [SD] age, 8.85 [0.71] years) from 22 schools, 1188 students provided baseline primary outcome data. At 12 months, the number of 20-m shuttle runs increased by 3.32 laps (95% CI, 2.44-4.20 laps) in the intervention schools and 2.11 laps (95% CI, 1.38-2.85 laps) in the control schools (adjusted difference = 1.20 laps; 95% CI, 0.17-2.24 laps). By 24 months, the adjusted difference was 2.22 laps (95% CI, 0.89-3.55 laps). The cost per student was AUD33 (USD26). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this study, a school-based intervention improved children's cardiorespiratory fitness when delivered in a large number of schools. The low cost and sustained effect over 24 months of the intervention suggests that it may have potential to be scaled at the population level. TRIAL REGISTRATION: http://anzctr.org.au Identifier: ACTRN12616000731493

The aim of this research was to understand the prevalence and impact of long COVID on people with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Specifically, to identify the proportion of people with T2D who have had COVID-19 and experience long COVID symptoms, and explore how these ongoing symptoms impact diabetes management and physical activity participation.

Regular physical activity can significantly reduce the risk of numerous chronic diseases, and improve bone density and mental health. Yet, only 50% of Australian adults meet the aerobic physical activity guidelines and 9-19% meet the resistance-based physical activity guidelines. The aim of this study is to enhance community-based aerobic and resistance-based physical activity through the use of publicly available outdoor exercise equipment, social support and smartphone technology.

BackgroundCardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is an important marker of current and future health status. The primary aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of a time-efficient school-based intervention on older adolescents’ CRF.MethodsTwo-arm cluster randomised controlled trial conducted in two cohorts (February 2018 to February 2019 and February 2019 to February 2020) in New South Wales, Australia. Participants (N=670, 44.6% women, 16.0±0.43 years) from 20 secondary schools: 10 schools (337 participants) were randomised to the Burn 2 Learn (B2L) intervention and 10 schools (333 participants) to the control. Teachers in schools allocated to the B2L intervention were provided with training, resources, and support to facilitate the delivery of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) activity breaks during curriculum time. Teachers and students in the control group continued their usual practice. The primary outcome was CRF (20 m multi-stage fitness test). Secondary outcomes were muscular fitness, physical activity, hair cortisol concentrations, mental health and cognitive function. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, 6 months (primary end-point) and 12 months. Effects were estimated using mixed models accounting for clustering.ResultsWe observed a group-by-time effect for CRF (difference=4.1 laps, 95% CI 1.8 to 6.4) at the primary end-point (6 months), but not at 12 months. At 6 months, group-by-time effects were found for muscular fitness, steps during school hours and cortisol.ConclusionsImplementing HIIT during curricular time improved adolescents’ CRF and several secondary outcomes. Our findings suggest B2L is unlikely to be an effective approach unless teachers embed sessions within the school day.Trial registration numberAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12618000293268).

ObjectivesSome online, personally tailored, text-based physical activity interventions have proven effective. However, people tend to ‘skim’ and ‘scan’ web-based text rather than thoroughly read their contents. In contrast, online videos are more engaging and popular. We examined whether web-based personally tailored physical activity videos were more effective in promoting physical activity than personally tailored text and generic information.Methods501 adults were randomised into a video-tailored intervention, text-tailored intervention or control. Over a 3-month period, intervention groups received access to eight sessions of web-based personally tailored physical activity advice. Only the delivery method differed between intervention groups: tailored video versus tailored text. The primary outcome was 7-day ActiGraph-GT3X+ measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) assessed at 0, 3 and 9 months. Secondary outcomes included self-reported MVPA and website engagement. Differences were examined using generalised linear mixed models with intention-to-treat and multiple imputation.ResultsAccelerometer-assessed MVPA increased 23% in the control (1.23 (1.06, 1.43)), 12% in the text-tailored (1.12 (0.95, 1.32)) and 28% in the video-tailored (1.28 (1.06, 1.53)) groups at the 3-month follow-up only, though there were no significant between-group differences. Both text-tailored (1.77 (1.37, 2.28]) and video-tailored (1.37 (1.04, 1.79)) groups significantly increased self-reported MVPA more than the control group at 3 months only, but there were no differences between video-tailored and text-tailored groups. The video-tailored group spent significantly more time on the website compared with text-tailored participants (90 vs 77 min, p=0.02).ConclusionsThe personally tailored videos were not more effective than personally tailored text in increasing MVPA. The findings from this study conflict with pilot study outcomes and previous literature. Process evaluation and mediation analyses will provide further insights.Trial registration numberACTRN12615000057583

Purpose: To explore whether there was a difference in objectively measured physical activity and study participation between people who received their preferred study group allocation (matched) and those who did not receive their preferred study group (mismatched).Design: Secondary data from the NewCOACH randomized controlled trial.Setting: Insufficiently active patients in the primary care settings in Sydney and Newcastle, Australia.Participants: One hundred seventy-two adults aged 20 to 81 years.Intervention: Participants indicated their intervention preference at baseline for (1) five face-to-face visits with an exercise specialist, (2) one face-to-face visit and 4 telephone follow-ups with an exercise specialist, (3) written material, or (4) slight-to-no preference. Participants were then allocated to an intervention group and categorized as either “matched” or “mismatched” based on their indications. Participants who reported a slight-to-no preference was categorized as “matched.”Measures: Daily step count as measured by pedometers and study participation.Analysis: Mean differences between groups in daily step count at 3 and 12 months (multiple linear regression models) and study participation at baseline, 3 months, and 12 months (χ2tests).Results: Preference for an intervention group prior to randomization did not significantly (all P’s > .05 using 95% confidence interval) impact step counts (differences of <600 steps/day between groups) or study participation.Conclusion: Future research should continue to address whether the strength of preferences influence study outcome and participation and whether the study preferences change over time.

The various effects of the pedometers and print materials (PM) on the physical activity (PA) in the breast cancer survivors after a randomized trial are discussed. The results prove that the breast-cancer specific PM has no impact on the enhancement of PA in such patients.

A study was conducted to identify demographic and health factors associated with physical activity in adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The results indicate that most adults with diabetes do not regularly engage in adequate physical activity to achieve health benefits and the majority of both type 1 and type 2 participants were considered insufficiently active.

Healthy Dads Healthy Kids (HDHK) was the first program internationally to specifically target overweight and obese fathers to improve their children's health. In previous randomized controlled trials, HDHK generated meaningful short-term improvements in the adiposity, physical activity, and eating behaviors of both fathers and children. The aim of this dissemination trial was to evaluate the 12-month impact of HDHK when delivered by trained facilitators across four low socioeconomic and regional communities in the Hunter Region, Australia. The study was a nonrandomized, prospective trial with minimal eligibility criteria (i.e., father body mass index [BMI] ≥ 25 kg/m2 and children aged 4-12 years). HDHK included eight weekly practical and theoretical sessions. Assessments were baseline, 3 months (post-intervention), 6-months, and 12-months. The primary outcome was fathers' weight. Secondary outcomes included child BMI z-score and validated lifestyle behavior measures (e.g., physical activity, diet). Overall, 189 fathers (mean age: 40.2 years, BMI: 32.6 kg/m2) and 306 children (mean age: 8.1 years) participated in one of 10 HDHK programs in four areas. Intention-to-treat linear mixed models revealed a significant mean reduction in fathers' weight at post-intervention (-3.6 kg, 95% confidence interval: -4.3, -2.9), which was maintained at 12 months (71% retention). Corresponding improvements were also detected in children's BMI z-score and a range of lifestyle behaviors for both fathers and children. Attendance and satisfaction levels were high. Positive intervention effects observed in previous randomized controlled trials were largely replicated and sustained for 12 months when HDHK was delivered by trained local facilitators in underserved communities. Further investigation into the key systems, processes, and contextual factors required to deliver HDHK at scale appears warranted.

Interventions to promote physical activity for sedentary patients seen in general practice may be a way to reduce the burden of chronic disease. Coaching by an exercise physiologist is publicly funded in Australia, but cost effectiveness has not been documented.

Supervised physical activity (PA) improves short-term health outcomes in cancer survivors, but longer-term adherence is rarely achieved.

OBJECTIVE To determine the association between physical activity (PA) intensities and cardiometabolic risk factors in youth. DESIGN Cross-sectional study using data from the 2008 Healthy Hearts Prospective Cohort Study of Physical Activity and Cardiometabolic Health in Youth. SETTING Rural and urban communities in Alberta, Canada. PARTICIPANTS A convenience sample of 605 youth aged 9 to 17 years. Youth were on average aged 12.1 years, 248 were boys (41%), and 157 were overweight or obese (26%). MAIN EXPOSURE Actical accelerometer–measured PA intensity. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES The primary outcome was body mass index (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) z score. Secondary outcome measures included waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, and cardiorespiratory fitness (maximal oxygen consumption [[Vdot]O2max]). RESULTS Body mass index z score, waist circumference, and systolic blood pressure decreased and [Vdot]O2max increased in a dose-response manner across tertiles of vigorous PA (adjusted P &lt; .001). No significant differences in cardiometabolic risk factors were seen across tertiles of moderate or light PA in multivariable analyses. Achieving more than 7 minutes of vigorous PA daily was associated with a reduced adjusted odds ratio of overweight status (0.56; 95% CI, 0.33-0.95) and elevated systolic blood pressure (0.36; 95% CI, 0.16-0.79). The odds of overweight status and elevated blood pressure decreased with increasing time and intensity of PA. CONCLUSIONS Only vigorous PA was consistently associated with lower levels of waist circumference, body mass index z score, systolic blood pressure, and increased cardiorespiratory fitness in youth. These findings underscore the importance of vigorous PA in guidelines for children and adolescents.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the impact of a 12-month multicomponent school-based obesity prevention program, Nutrition and Enjoyable Activity for Teen Girls among adolescent girls. DESIGN Group randomized controlled trial with 12-month follow-up. SETTING Twelve secondary schools in low-income communities in the Hunter and Central Coast regions of New South Wales, Australia. PARTICIPANTS Three hundred fifty-seven adolescent girls aged 12 to 14 years. INTERVENTION A multicomponent school-based intervention program tailored for adolescent girls. The intervention was based on social cognitive theory and included teacher professional development, enhanced school sport sessions, interactive seminars, nutrition workshops, lunch-time physical activity sessions, handbooks and pedometers for self-monitoring, parent newsletters, and text messaging for social support. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Body mass index (BMI, calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared), BMI z score, body fat percentage, physical activity, screen time, dietary intake, and self-esteem. RESULTS After 12 months, changes in BMI (adjusted mean difference, −0.19; 95% CI, −0.70 to 0.33), BMI z score (mean, −0.08; 95% CI, −0.20 to 0.04), and body fat percentage (mean, −1.09; 95% CI, −2.88 to 0.70) were in favor of the intervention, but they were not statistically different from those in the control group. Changes in screen time were statistically significant (mean, −30.67 min/d; 95% CI, −62.43 to −1.06), but there were no group by time effects for physical activity, dietary behavior, or self-esteem. CONCLUSIONS A school-based intervention tailored for adolescent girls from schools located in low-income communities did not significantly reduce BMI gain. However, changes in body composition were of a magnitude similar to previous studies and may be associated with clinically important health outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION anzctr.org.au Identifier: 12610000330044

Few research studies have focused on physical activity in young-adult cancer survivors despite the potential long-term health consequences of inactivity in this population.

Interventions for obese adolescents in real-world, clinical settings need to be evaluated because most weight management care occurs in this context.

Purpose. Determine the proportion of adults aware of Canada's Physical Activity Guide to Healthy Active Living (Guide) and its specific recommendations (objective 1); whether key demographic factors (objective 2a) and physical activity behavior (objective 2b) are associated with awareness and specific familiarity with the Guide; and if changes in awareness and specific recommendations with the Guide occurred over a 1-year period (objective 3a and 3b).Design. Random selection with computer-assisted telephone interviewing.Setting. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.Subjects. A total of 2803 adults 18 years or older completed interviews from 4831 telephone contacts (response rate, 58.0%), and after 1 year, 1423 individuals (55%) completed interviews.Measures. Demographic, physical activity, Guide awareness.Analysis. Chi-square, analysis of variance.Results. At baseline, 27.3% were aware of the Guide, and 15.6% were familiar with the Guide's specific recommendations. Younger individuals (p = .01), women (p < .001), and those with a higher education (p < .001) were more likely to be generally aware of the Guide, and women were also more specifically aware (p = .01). Physical activity levels were positively associated with the general (p < .001) and specific (p < .001) awareness of the Guide. Changes in general familiarity and specific recommendations over 1 year were observed.Conclusions. The majority of those surveyed were not familiar with the Guide. Men, individuals with a lower education, and older individuals may need to be specifically targeted. (Am J Health Promot 2011;25[5]:294-297.)

Maintaining recommended levels of physical activity throughout the lifespan is an important public health objective, considering this behaviour is positively associated with both physical and mental health across all age groups. This article provides an overview of selected publications with an exclusive focus on research relating to physical activity promotion published in the past 18 months.

Purpose. To evaluate the effects of a 12-week e-mail intervention promoting physical activity and nutrition, and to describe participant use and satisfaction feedback.Design. A longitudinal, randomized trial.Setting. Five large workplaces in Alberta, Canada.Participants. One thousand forty-three participants completed all three assessments, and 1263 participants in the experimental group provided use and satisfaction feedback after receiving the 12-week intervention.Intervention. Paired physical activity and nutrition messages were e-mailed weekly to the experimental group. The control group received all messages in bulk (i.e., within a single e-mail message) at the conclusion of the intervention.Measures. Self-report measures of knowledge, cognitions, and behaviors related to physical activity and nutrition were used. Satisfaction with e-mail messages was assessed at Time 2.Analysis. Planned contrasts compared the experimental group measures at Time 3 with those reported at Time 2 and with control group measures reported at Time 3. Control group measures at Time 3 were also compared with control group measures at Time 2.Results. The small intervention effects previously reported between Time 1 and Time 2 were maintained at Time 3. Providing the e-mail messages in bulk also had a significant positive effect on many of the physical activity and nutrition variables.Conclusions. E-mail offers a promising medium for promoting health-enhancing knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. Additional research is needed to determine optimal message dose and content.

The primary objective of the current study was to explore the relationship between 2 dietary behaviours — (i) fruit and vegetable intake and (ii) dietary fat intake — with body mass index (BMI) and physical activity. A secondary objective was to examine the reliability of these relationships at 6 and 18 months.

Purpose. To compare the effects of stage-matched and standard print materials for physical activity (PA) change.Design. Participants were randomized into (1) a stage-matched intervention group (n = 165), (2) a standard intervention group (n = 176), or (3) a no-contact control group (n = 166). The stage-matched and standard intervention groups both received materials at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Assessments of all three groups were conducted at baseline, 6, and 12 months.Setting. Canadian worksites.Subjects. Employees (N = 507).Interventions. Five motivationally targeted booklets were developed for the stage-matched group. The standard group received Canada's Physical Activity Guideand handbook.Measures. The main dependent variable was PA, expressed as metabolic equivalent (MET) minutes and measured using the Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire. Demographic characteristics and stages of change for PA were also assessed.Results. At 12 months mean weekly MET minutes for combined moderate and vigorous activity increased from baseline by 223, 67, and 78 for the stage-matched, standard, and control groups, respectively; however, differences were not significant (p > .05). Women in the stage-matched group over the 12-month period significantly increased their activity by 327 weekly MET minutes whereas the standard and control groups declined their activity (F = 3.01, p < .05).Conclusion. PA stage-matched materials delivered in the workplace are efficacious for women but not men. Future interventions should explore the use of these intervention materials in conjunction with multilevel strategies, and particular attention should be paid to possible gender differences.

Background: The purposes of this study were to: 1) explore the potential role of sex in the association between the perceived environment and walking; and 2) determine the efficacy of an Internet-based research platform for collecting population-level physical activity and correlates data. Methods: Visitors to the Canada on the Move website were asked questions about their demographics, physical activity participation and perceptions of their neighbourhood environment. A total of 3,144 Canadians (2,036 women; 609 men) completed the survey. Level of walking was regressed on eight measures of perceived neighbourhood environment in a series of logistic regressions. Results: Individuals who reported interesting scenery (OR=1.41, 95% CI 1.17–1.71) and many places to go that were within easy walking distance (OR=1.39, 95% CI 1.18–1.64) were more likely to report walking at a level sufficient to derive health benefits. For women, interesting scenery in and around their neighbourhood (OR=1.40, 95% CI 1.13–1.74) and the presence of many places to go within easy walking distance (OR=1.42, 95% CI 1.17–1.72) were associated with walking at a sufficient level. Among men, no significant associations were found between the perceived environment measures and walking. Conclusions: The results from this study provide additional support for the use of models in which sex is treated as a potential moderator of the link between the perceived environment and physical activity. Further, the results support the use of an Internet-based research platform to collect data on the correlates of physical activity.

Background: The Internet is a potential medium to attain large groups of Canadians for physical activity monitoring and interventions, however, little is known about the characteristics of participants who could be recruited on a national level. Our objectives were to determine: 1) the extent to which our sample was representative of the Canadian population; 2) the demographic, social-cognitive and physical activity behaviour, and environmental characteristics of one-time and multi-time users of the Canada on the Move website; and 3) whether certain recruitment strategies were more likely to reach specific demographic subgroups. Methods: Web-based self-report measures were collected on demographic, social-cognitive, physical activity behaviour, and environmental factors. Descriptive statistics were employed to address the study’s research objectives. Results: Significant differences (p&lt;0.001) were found between our total sample and 2001 Canadian census/Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) data on all demographic and physical activity behaviour measures. One-time and multi-time users significantly differed on age (p&lt;0.005) and being responsible for children under age 13 (p=0.01). No differences existed between the groups on any of the social-cognitive, behavioural or environmental variables. Source of knowledge about the Canada on the Move website between one-time and multi-time users was not significantly different. Conclusion: The Canada on the Move website presents a viable approach to reaching diverse demographic groups. Further work needs to be undertaken to: 1) develop engaging websites; 2) detail the monitoring of the web-based access information; 3) integrate the website with other organizations promoting physical activity; and 4) expand the number of recruitment sources.

Background: The purpose of this study was to: 1) evaluate the quality of promotional pedometers widely distributed through cereal boxes at the time of the 2004 Canada on the Move campaign; and 2) establish a battery of testing protocols to provide direction for future consensus on industry standards for pedometer quality. Methods: Fifteen Kellogg’s* Special K*Step Counters (K pedometers or K; manufactured for Kellogg Canada by Sasco, Inc.) and 9 Yamax pedometers (Yamax; Yamax Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) were tested with 9 participants accordingly: 1) 20 Step Test; 2) treadmill at 80m.min−1)(3 miles.hr−1)and motor vehicle controlled conditions; and 3) 24-hour freeliving conditions against an accelerometer criterion. Results:: Fifty-three percent of the K pedometers passed the 20 Step Test compared to 100% of the Yamax. Mean absolute percent error for the K during treadmill walking was 24.2±33.9 vs. 3.9±6.6% for the Yamax. The K detected 5.7-fold more non-steps compared to the Yamax during the motor vehicle condition. In the free-living condition, mean absolute percent error relative to the ActiGraph was 44.9±34.5% for the K vs. 19.5±21.2% for the Yamax. Conclusions:: K pedometers are unacceptably inaccurate. We suggest that research grade pedometers: 1) be manufactured to a sensitivity threshold of 0.35 Gs; 2) detect ±1 step error on the 20 Step Test (i.e., within 5%); 3) detect ±1% error most of the time during treadmill walking at 80m.min−1(3 miles.hr−1); as well as, 4) detect steps/day within 10% of the ActiGraph at least 60% of the time, or be within 10% of the Yamax under free-living conditions.

This paper offers an overview of population-based perspectives and strategies related to the role of physical activity in the management of diabetes. Topics include the importance of physical activity promotion, need for theoretically driven approaches, individual-level population-based strategies and resistance training. Studies undertaken in the Physical Activity and Population Health Research Laboratory at the University of Alberta are presented as illustrative examples throughout. Recommendations and implications for research and practice are discussed, with a call for ecological approaches that recognize the inter-relationships between individuals and the multiple levels of their environments.

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a 12-week workplace e-mail intervention designed to promote physical activity and nutrition behavior.Design. A pre- and post-test design was conducted to compare the effects of e-mail messages between intervention and control groups.Setting. Five large workplaces in Alberta, Canada.Subjects. Employees with access to a personal e-mail address (N = 2121) were randomly assigned to an intervention (n = 1566) or a control group (n = 555).Intervention. Physical activity and nutrition messages were based on social-cognitive theories. The intervention group received one physical activity and one parallel nutrition message per week for 12 weeks. The control group received no weekly messages.Measures. Each participant completed self-report measures of physical activity and nutrition related to knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors 1 week before (time 1) and 1 week after (time 2) the intervention.Results. The intervention group was more efficacious at time 2 on measures of self-efficacy, pros, cons, intentions, and behavior related to physical activity. This group also reported more favorable changes in practicing healthy eating, balancing food intake with activity level, cooking meals with techniques to reduce fat, and avoiding eating high-fat foods. Effect sizes for all significant differences were small.Conclusion. E-mail is a promising mode of delivery for promoting physical activity and nutrition in the workplace. Further theoretically driven studies are needed.

Background.The purpose of this study was to test the ability of the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) to predict exercise stage transition of individuals in a large, untreated-population-based, random sample of Canadian adults (18–65 years of age) over two consecutive time periods.

PURPOSEThe purpose of this study was to investigate the factors associated with exercise behavior among adults with diabetes.METHODSExercise behavior (stage of exercise readiness and energy expenditure) and potential determinants were measured on a subsample (n=46) of adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes from a randomized population-based telephone survey. Participants were assessed at baseline and at a 6-month follow-up.RESULTSSociodemographic and biomedical characteristics did not significantly differ between the stages of exercise behavior. Scores on the psychosocial constructs of self-efficacy, behavioral processes, self-concept, and social support were significantly higher for those in the action stage than those in the preaction stage of exercise readiness. Self-efficacy and behavioral process of change were significantly associated with energy expenditure; self-efficacy was the strongest predictor in the longitudinal analysis.CONCLUSIONSThese findings may generate direction for theory development and guide health and medical practitioners when intervening on the specific constructs. Populationand community-based surveys have utility for assessing diabetes health-related behavior (eg, exercise behavior).

•Acceptability of the TaylorActive intervention website was rated mostly high in the video-tailored and text-tailored intervention groups.•Usability was rated high across the 3 groups with no significant between-group differences.•Usage of the TaylorActive website was modest in both video-tailored and text-tailored intervention groups.•Perceived usefulness of the TaylorActive website for increasing physical activity was rated low in both intervention groups, albeit significantly higher compared to the control group.•Satisfaction with the TaylorActive website was mixed. Intervention participants liked its ease of use, personalized feedback, and tracking of progress; however, they found completing action plans and survey questions each week repetitive and tedious.

The article describes the role played by exercise specialists in delivering the HEALD·PCN program and outlines which variables will be tracked to determine the success of the program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]