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To investigate the mediating role of social network size and perceived quality in the associations of physical activity with quality of life and depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older adults. We analyzed information of 10,569 middle-aged and older adults from waves 2 (2006–2007), 4 (2011–2012), and 6 (2015) of the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe study (SHARE). Data on physical activity (moderate and vigorous intensities), social network (size and quality), depressive symptoms (EURO-D scale), and quality of life (CASP) were self-reported. Sex, age, country of residency, schooling, occupational status, mobility, and baseline values of the outcome were used as covariates. We created mediation models to test the mediating effect of social network size and quality in the association between physical activity and depressive symptoms. Social network size partly mediated the association between vigorous physical activity and depressive symptoms (7.1%; 95%CI: 1.7–12.6) as well as the association between moderate (9.9%; 1.6–19.7) and vigorous (8.1%; 0.7–15.4) physical activity and quality of life. Social network quality did not mediate any of the associations tested. We conclude that social network's size, but not satisfaction, mediates part of the association of physical activity with depressive symptoms and quality of life in middle-aged and older adults. Future physical activity interventions among middle-aged and older adults should consider increasing social interactions to facilitate benefits for mental health-related outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Our aim was to investigate the association between physical activity and alcohol consumption, as well as the sociodemographic and behavioral patterns of this association in a representative sample of Brazilian adults. Methods Data from the Brazilian Health Survey (PNS), a nationally representative survey conducted in 2013 (n = 60 202; age≥18 years), were used. Time spent in leisure physical activity, alcohol consumption as well as sociodemographic (chronological age, educational status and skin color) and associated behavioral factors (TV viewing and tobacco smoking) were collected via interview. Logistic regression models were used for the main analyses. Results Prevalence of weekly and almost daily alcohol consumption were 29.5% and 6.7% for men and 12.0% and 1.0% for women respectively. Adults with weekly alcohol consumption were more likely to be classified as physically active [young: men=OR:1.20 (CI 95%:1.02–1.39), women= OR:2.33 (CI 95%:1.92–2.82); middle-aged: men= OR:1.46 (CI 95%: 1.17–1.82), women= OR:1.75 (CI 95%:1.38–2.22); older: men= OR:1.83 (CI 95%:1.27–2.66), women= OR:2.11 (CI 95%: s1.26–3.52)], when compared to adults with no alcohol consumption. Almost daily alcohol consumption was associated with lower physical activity among young and middle-aged adults but with higher physical activity among older adults of both sexes and young women. Conclusions Weekly alcohol consumption was associated with a higher level of physical activity among young, middle aged and older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Physical inactivity and sedentary behavior are major concerns for public health. Although global initiatives have been successful in monitoring physical activity (PA) worldwide, there is no systematic action for the monitoring of correlates of these behaviors, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Here we describe the prevalence and distribution of PA domains and sitting time in population sub-groups of six south American countries. Methods: Data from the South American Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Network (SAPASEN) were used, which includes representative data from Argentina (n = 26,932), Brazil (n = 52,490), Chile (n = 3719), Ecuador (n = 19,851), Peru (n = 8820), and Suriname (n = 5170). Self-reported leisure time (≥150 min/week), (≥150 min/week), transport (≥10 min/week), and occupational PA total (≥10 min/week), as well as sitting time (≥4 h/day) were captured in each national survey. Sex, age, income, and educational status were exposures. Descriptive statistics and harmonized random effect meta-analyses were conducted. Results: The prevalence of PA during leisure (Argentina: 29.2% to Peru: 8.6%), transport (Peru: 69.7% to Ecuador: 8.8%), and occupation (Chile: 60.4 to Brazil 18.3%), and ≥4 h/day of sitting time (Peru: 78.8% to Brazil: 14.8%) differed widely between countries. Moreover, total PA ranged between 60.4% (Brazil) and 82.9% (Chile) among men, and between 49.4% (Ecuador) and 74.9% (Chile) among women. Women (low leisure and occupational PA) and those with a higher educational level (low transportation and occupational PA as well as high sitting time) were less active. Concerning total PA, men, young and middle-aged adults of high educational status (college or more) were, respectively, 47% [OR = 0.53 (95% CI = 0.36–0.78), I2 = 76.6%], 25% [OR = 0.75 (95% CI = 0.61-0.93), I2 = 30.4%] and 32% [OR = 0.68 (95% CI = 0.47-1.00), I2 = 80.3%] less likely to be active. Conclusions: PA and sitting time present great ranges and tend to vary across sex and educational status in South American countries. Country-specific exploration of trends and population-specific interventions may be warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To examine the relationship between physical activity, sedentary behaviors, and social isolation in a representative sample of Brazilian adolescents. Cross sectional analyses using data from the Brazilian Scholar Health Survey conducted in 2015. The sample included 100,839 adolescents (mean age: 14.3 y, 51.4% Female) from 3040 schools. Information about social isolation (number of close friends and perceived loneliness), physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire) and sedentary behaviors (total sitting time and TV viewing) were self-reported. Chronological age, race and type of city (state capital or other) were co-variables. Logistic regression models were used to analyze the data (results are presented as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals). Physical activity was associated with lower odds of both social isolation indicators in boys, and with lower likelihood of having few friends in girls. Greater sitting time was associated with higher likelihood of social isolation, as was low (<1 h/d) [boys: OR: 1.54 (95% CI: 1.33 to 1.77); girls: OR: 1.31 (95% CI: 1.17 to 1.48] and high TV viewing (≥8 h/d) [boys: OR: 1.75 (95% CI: 1.47 to 2.09)]; girls: OR: 1.58 (95% CI: 1.37 to 1.82)]. More than 300 min/week of physical activity was sufficient to eliminate the association of high TV viewing and high sitting time with markers of social isolation in boys. Physical activity is associated with a lower prevalence of social isolation, especially among boys. Both high and low amounts of TV viewing increase the likelihood of social isolation. Physical activity reduced the association between TV viewing and sitting with social isolation among boys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]