NewsMakers

Light exercise could be the key to reversing childhood obesity linked to sedentariness

Each minute spent sedentary was associated with a 1.3-gram increase in total body fat mass. Both male and female children gained an average of 10kg of fat mass during growth from childhood until young adulthood. However, sedentary time potentially contributed 700 grams to 1kg of fat mass (approximately seven to ten percent) of the total fat mass gained during growth from childhood until young adulthood.

Published

4 months ago

December 26, 2023

ZestMag.com Staff

Increased sedentary time as a child through adolescence is directly linked to childhood obesity, but new research has found light physical activity may completely reverse the adverse process.

The study – conducted in collaboration with between University of Exeter, University of Eastern Finland, University of Bristol, and University of Colorado and published in Nature Communications – is the largest and longest follow-up to objectively measure physical activity and fat mass, using the University of Bristol’s Children of the 90s data (also known as the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children). The study included 6,059 children (53 percent female) aged 11 years who were followed up until the age of 24.

Recent reports concluded that more than 80 percent of adolescents across the globe do not meet the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended average of 60 minutes a day of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. It is estimated that physical inactivity will have caused 500 million new cases of heart disease, obesity, diabetes, or other noncommunicable diseases by 2030, costing £21-million annually. This alarming forecast regarding the morbid danger of physical inactivity necessitates urgent research on the most effective preventive approach.

Yet results from this new study shows that moderate-to-vigorous physical activity is up to ten times less effective than light physical activity in decreasing overall gain in fat mass.

Dr Andrew Agbaje of the University of Exeter led the study and said: “These new findings strongly emphasise that light physical activity may be an unsung hero in preventing fat mass obesity from early life. It is about time the world replaced the mantra of ‘an average of 60 minutes a day of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity’ with ‘at least 3 hours a day of light physical activity’. Light physical activity appears to be the antidote to the catastrophic effect of sedentary time in the young population.”

During the study, a waist-worn accelerometer measured sedentary time, light physical activity, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity among participants at ages 11, 15, and 24 years. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry-measured fat mass and skeletal muscle mass were also collected at the same ages and fasting blood samples were repeatedly measured for glucose, insulin, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. In addition, blood pressure, heart rate, smoking status, socio-economic status, and family history of cardiovascular disease were measured and controlled for in the analyses.

During the 13-year follow-up, sedentary time increased from approximately six hours a day in childhood to nine hours a day in young adulthood. Light physical activity decreased from six hours a day to three hours a day, while moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was relatively stable at around 50 minutes a day from childhood through young adulthood.

It was observed that each minute spent sedentary was associated with a 1.3-gram increase in total body fat mass. Both male and female children gained an average of 10kg of fat mass during growth from childhood until young adulthood. However, sedentary time potentially contributed 700 grams to 1kg of fat mass (approximately seven to ten percent) of the total fat mass gained during growth from childhood until young adulthood. A 1kg increase in fat has been linked to a 60-percent higher risk of premature death in a person’s early 50s.

Each minute spent in light physical activity during growth from childhood through young adulthood was associated with a 3.6-gram reduction in total body fat mass. This implies that cumulative light physical activity decreased total body fat mass by 950 grams to 1.5kg during growth from childhood to young adulthood, (approximately 9.5 to 15 percent decrease in overall gain in fat mass during the 13-year observation period). Examples of light physical activity are long walks, house chores, slow dancing, slow swimming, and slow bicycling.

In contrast, time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity – including meeting the 60 minutes a day recommended by the WHO – during growth from childhood through young adulthood was associated with 70 to 170 grams (approximately 0.7 to 1.7 percent) reduction in total body fat mass. Prior to this study, it has not been possible to quantify the long-term contribution of sedentary time to fat mass obesity and the magnitude by which physical activity may reduce it. But this study confirmed the report from a recent meta-analysis of 140 school-based randomised controlled trials across the globe that engaging in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity had minimal or no effect in reducing childhood BMI-obesity.

Dr Andrew Agbaje of the University of Exeter said: “Our study provides novel information that would be useful in updating future health guidelines and policy statements. Public health experts, health policymakers, health journalists and bloggers, paediatricians, and parents should encourage continued and sustained participation in light physical activity to prevent childhood obesity.”

The paper entitled ‘Effects of Accelerometer-based Sedentary Time and Physical Activity on DEXA-measured Fat Mass in 6059 Children’ is published in Nature Communications.

NewsMakers

Araneta City marks 70th year, announces promo

To thank the Araneta City-zens for their past seven decades, the “City of Firsts” is giving away iPad to lucky customers with the “70 IPADS FOR 70 YEARS” raffle promo.

Published

2 hours ago

May 6, 2024

ZestMag.com Staff

Araneta City, a storied mixed-use commercial hub with a pioneering legacy in lifestyle and entertainment, is marking yet another milestone this 2024 as it celebrates its 70th founding anniversary. To thank the Araneta City-zens for their past seven decades, the “City of Firsts” is giving away iPad to lucky customers with the “70 IPADS FOR 70 YEARS” raffle promo.

From April 19 to July 7, customers just need to present a ₱1,000 single-receipt purchase from any establishment inside Araneta City malls (Gateway Mall 1, Gateway Mall 2, Ali Mall, or Farmers Plaza) to earn an e-raffle entry. Customers may also present four receipts totaling ₱1,000 each—with each receipt at least ₱250–from any Araneta City mall food court or from Dampa at Farmers Market to enter the promo.

Also valid for an e-raffle entry are four movie tickets from Gateway Cineplex 18, and a single-receipt purchase of at least ₱1,000 from either Novotel Manila Araneta City or ibis Styles Manila Araneta City.

Maximize your chances of winning by spending and redeeming e-raffle stubs on May 17-19, May 31-June 2, June 14-16, and June 28-30 to avail of the “Double Your Raffle Stub” promo. E-raffle redemption booths are open from 10AM to 8PM until July 7 at designated areas in Araneta City malls.

Don’t miss your chance to be among the lucky winners of Araneta City’s anniversary surprise. So spend now and enjoy this treat only at the City of Firsts! To learn more about this promo, please visit this link.

NewsMakers

Pru Life UK champions sustainable community empowerment with Community Investment initiatives

Recently recognized at the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, Pru Life UK and Prudence Foundation’s Project PADAYON Bantayan Island and Cha-Ching Financial Literacy for Youth program are a testament to the company’s strong focus on sustainability.

Published

2 days ago

May 4, 2024

ZestMag.com Staff

Pru Life UK solidifies its commitment to building resilient communities through impactful social initiatives. Anchored on its advocacies around financial education and inclusion, health and safety protection and climate adaptation, the company intensified its efforts through two community investment programs.

The programs underscore Pru Life UK’s commitment to building long-term resilience for its customers and communities as part of its collective responsibility to create a better future for Filipinos and future generations.

In partnership with Prudence Foundation, the community investment arm in Asia and Africa of Prudential plc, Pru Life UK’s parent company, and the Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST), Pru Life UK identified health, employment, and disaster preparedness as fundamental pillars for community well-being. This framework guided the creation of Project PADAYON Bantayan Island, a series of community-based training and development programs for Bantayan Island, Cebu residents. It is the latest in Pru Life UK’s decade-long support for the island, beginning with the recovery efforts in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda in 2013.

Central to these sessions were discussions surrounding micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) empowerment, family nutrition, women’s health, disaster risk reduction and management, and climate resiliency, all in an effort to help residents thrive in the “new normal”. The program has directly engaged 1,900 participants, fostering growth and development opportunities within the community.

Meanwhile, championing Pru Life UK’s education pillar is the Cha-Ching Financial Literacy for Youth program, a flagship initiative created and developed by Prudence Foundation. The award-winning financial literacy program instills sound financial habits and promotes financial responsibility in children by teaching its four money management concepts: earn, save, spend, and donate.

In an event in 2023 entitled “One Student to a Million: Cha-Ching Shaping a Financially Literate Generation”, Prudence Foundation, in partnership with JA Philippines, set an ambitious goal to reach 1,000,000 students and 28,000 teachers through the Cha-Ching Program nationwide. This reinforces Pru Life UK’s commitment to becoming a trailblazer in financial literacy education for the youth. At the recent Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, Project PADAYON Bantayan Island was honored with a Bronze award in the Corporate Social Responsibility category, while Cha-Ching Financial Literacy for Youth Program was given a Silver award. The Asia-Pacific Stevie® Awards stand as a beacon of recognition within the international business community, encompassing organizations across 29 markets in the Asia-Pacific region.

NewsMakers

Climb stairs to live longer, claims study

Compared with not climbing stairs, stair climbing was associated with a 24% reduced risk of dying from any cause and a 39% lower likelihood of dying from cardiovascular disease. Stair climbing was also linked with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease including heart attack, heart failure and stroke.

Published

3 days ago

May 3, 2024

Rachelle Grace Tan-Estrecho

Climbing stairs is associated with a longer life.

This is according to research – “Evaluating the cardiovascular benefits of stair climbing: a systematic review and meta-analysis” – presented at ESC Preventive Cardiology 2024, a scientific congress of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).

“If you have the choice of taking the stairs or the lift, go for the stairs as it will help your heart,” said study author Dr. Sophie Paddock of the University of East Anglia and Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital Foundation Trust, Norwich, UK. “Even brief bursts of physical activity have beneficial health impacts, and short bouts of stair climbing should be an achievable target to integrate into daily routines.”

Cardiovascular disease is largely preventable through actions like exercise. However, more than one in four adults worldwide do not meet recommended levels of physical activity. Stair climbing is a practical and easily accessible form of physical activity which is often overlooked.

This study investigated whether climbing stairs, as a form of physical activity, could play a role in reducing the risks of cardiovascular disease and premature death. The authors collected the best available evidence on the topic and conducted a meta-analysis. Studies were included regardless of the number of flights of stairs and the speed of climbing. There were nine studies with 480,479 participants in the final analysis. The study population included both healthy participants and those with a previous history of heart attack or peripheral arterial disease. Ages ranged from 35 to 84 years old and 53% of participants were women.

Compared with not climbing stairs, stair climbing was associated with a 24% reduced risk of dying from any cause and a 39% lower likelihood of dying from cardiovascular disease. Stair climbing was also linked with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease including heart attack, heart failure and stroke.

“Based on these results, we would encourage people to incorporate stair climbing into their day-to-day lives. Our study suggested that the more stairs climbed, the greater the benefits – but this needs to be confirmed. So, whether at work, home, or elsewhere, take the stairs,” Dr. Paddock ended.