Objectively measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity does not attenuate prospective weight gain among African-origin adults spanning the epidemiological transition.

Traditional obesity-related public health messaging often includes physical activity (PA) recommendations. However, at the population level, the data are conflicting, especially when comparing different self-reported vs measured techniques across different settings and populations. We measured the association between moderate-to-vigorous intensity PA (MVPA) and prospective weight change across five African-origin populations and the extent to which MVPA attenuated weight change over time.

"You go an extra mile": a qualitative study of community health worker perspectives in a health promotion intervention in urban South Africa.

Background: As part of the Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative in South Africa, the Bukhali health promotion intervention is being implemented by community health workers (CHW's) with young women in urban Soweto. The perspectives of these CHW's have not been fully explored.

Methods: A qualitative study was conducted to describe CHW's perspectives and experiences of delivering the Bukhali intervention.

The utility of physical activity questionnaires among African origin populations; lost in translation?

Background: Physical activity (PA) is an important preventive factor of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), particularly cardiovascular disease, yet progress towards reducing physical inactivity in populations is slow. Population-levels of PA are most often estimated using self-report questionnaires in population surveys, such as the Global PA Questionnaire (GPAQ), which may not accurately reflect objectively measured PA, such as accelerometers. The aim of the current study was to compare self-report vs objectively measured PA across 5 African-origin populations.

Examining the psychometric properties of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 among young urban South African women.

Background: Valid, reliable, and easy-to-administer scales are crucial for identifying mental health conditions, especially in LMICs where such scales tend not to be validated. This study aims to address this gap by investigating the psychometric properties and factorial structure of the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 in a sample of young women in Soweto, South Africa.

Methods: The PHQ-9 and GAD-7 were administered to 6028 women aged 18-28 years old.