Greater male variability in daily energy expenditure develops through puberty.

There is considerably greater variation in metabolic rates between men than between women, in terms of basal, activity and total (daily) energy expenditure (EE). One possible explanation is that EE is associated with male sexual characteristics (which are known to vary more than other traits) such as musculature and athletic capacity. Such traits might be predicted to be most prominent during periods of adolescence and young adulthood, when sexual behaviour develops and peaks.

Patterns of sedentary behavior and physical function in older adults.

Background/aims: The purposes of this study were to examine the relationship between various objectively measured sedentary behavior (SB) variables and physical function in older adults, examine the measurement properties of an SB questionnaire, and describe the domains of SB in our sample.

Methods: Forty-four older adults (70 ± 8 years, 64 % female) had their SB measured via activPAL activity monitor and SB questionnaire for 1 week followed by performance-based tests of physical function.

Results: The pattern of SB was more important than total SB time.

Higher BMI is associated with reduced brain volume in heart failure.

Background: Heart failure (HF) patients are at risk for structural brain changes due to cerebral hypoperfusion. Past work shows obesity is linked with reduced cerebral blood flow and associated with brain atrophy in healthy individuals, although its effects on the brain in HF are unclear. This study examined the association among body mass index (BMI), cerebral perfusion, and brain volume in HF patients.

Dose-response relationships between sedentary behaviour and the metabolic syndrome and its components.

Aims/hypothesis: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship among sedentary behaviour (SB) and the metabolic syndrome and its components by age, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sex.

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was performed on 2003-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 5,076 adults aged ≥18 years (mean ± SD = 43.8 ± 19.

Reliability and Validity of 2 Self-Report Measures to Assess Sedentary Behavior in Older Adults.

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of 2 currently available physical activity surveys for assessing time spent in sedentary behavior (SB) in older adults.

Methods: Fifty-eight adults (≥65 years) completed the Yale Physical Activity Survey for Older Adults (YPAS) and Community Health Activities Model Program for Seniors (CHAMPS) before and after a 10-day period during which they wore an ActiGraph accelerometer (ACC). Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) examined test-retest reliability.

Smokers' physical activity and weight gain one year after a successful versus unsuccessful quit attempt.

Objective: To examine whether smokers' physical activity is related to weight change following a quit attempt.

Method: Data were analyzed for participants (n=683) of a randomized controlled trial comparing the efficacy of different smoking cessation pharmacotherapies (Wisconsin, 2005-2008). Activity (assessed via pedometry) and body weight were measured in the days surrounding the quit day and again one year later, at which time 7-day point-prevalence abstinence from smoking was assessed.

Lessons Learned from a Community Based Lifestyle Intervention for Youth at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes.

Purpose: This pilot study examined the feasibility and acceptability of a peer led diabetes prevention intervention for youth in an underserved community.

Methods: Children and adolescents randomized to the intervention group participated in a one year program which included peer support, physical activity, and family nutrition, and behavior modification sessions. Participants were asked about their satisfaction with the study and possible benefits, what they learned, and whether they would recommend participation to a friend.

Intensity of physical activity in the energy expenditure of older adults.

This study examined the intensity of activity contributing to physical activity energy expenditure in older adults. In 57 men and women aged ≥ 65, total energy expenditure (TEE) was measured using doubly labeled water and resting metabolic rate was measured using indirect calorimetry to calculate a physical activity index (PAI). Sedentary time and physical activity of light and moderate to vigorous (mod/vig) intensity was measured using an accelerometer.

Reduced cognitive function predicts functional decline in patients with heart failure over 12 months.

Background: Occurrences of impaired activities of daily living (ADL) are common in heart failure (HF) patients and contribute to the elevated mortality and hospitalization rates in this population. Cognitive impairment is also prevalent in HF, though its ability to predict functional decline over time is unknown.

Aims: This study examined the longitudinal pattern of activities of daily living (ADL) in HF persons and whether reduced baseline cognitive status predicts functional decline in this population.

Dietary habits moderate the association between heart failure and cognitive impairment.

Cognitive impairment is common in heart failure patients. Poor dietary habits are associated with reduced neurocognitive function in other medical populations, including diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. This study examined whether dietary habits help moderate the relationship between heart failure severity and cognitive function.

Executive dysfunction is independently associated with reduced functional independence in heart failure.

Aims And Objectives: To examine the independent association between executive function with instrumental activities of daily living and health behaviours in older adults with heart failure.

Background: Executive function is an important contributor to functional independence as it consists of cognitive processes needed for decision-making, planning, organising and behavioural monitoring. Impairment in this domain is common in heart failure patients and associated with reduced performance of instrumental activities of daily living in many medical and neurological populations.

Dose-response relationships between physical activity, social participation, and health-related quality of life in colorectal cancer survivors.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between physical activity (PA), social participation, and health-related quality of life (HQOL) in older, long-term colorectal cancer survivors.

Methods: Male and female colorectal cancer survivors (n = 1,768), aged ≥65 and ≥5 years post-diagnosis, completed surveys on their current PA, social participation, HQOL, health history, and relevant covariates. Analysis of covariance was used to evaluate the cross-sectional relationship between PA and social participation with the SF-36 subscales, as well as the physical component summary score (PCS) and mental health component summary score (MCS).

Poorer physical fitness is associated with reduced structural brain integrity in heart failure.

Objective: Physical fitness is an important correlate of structural and functional integrity of the brain in healthy adults. In heart failure (HF) patients, poor physical fitness may contribute to cognitive dysfunction and we examined the unique contribution of physical fitness to brain structural integrity among patients with HF.

Methods: Sixty-nine HF patients performed the Modified Mini Mental State examination (3MS) and underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging.

Cerebral perfusion is associated with white matter hyperintensities in older adults with heart failure.

Cognitive impairment is common in heart failure (HF) and believed to be the result of cerebral hypoperfusion and subsequent brain changes including white matter hyperintensities (WMHs). The current study examined the association between cerebral blood flow and WMHs in patients with HF and the relationship between WMHs and cognitive impairment. Sixty-nine patients with HF completed the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and underwent echocardiography, transcranial Doppler sonography for cerebral blood flow velocity of the middle cerebral artery, and brain magnetic resonance imaging.

Sedentary behavior, physical activity, and markers of health in older adults.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between sedentary behavior (SB), cardiometabolic risk factors, and self-reported physical function by level of moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA).

Methods: Cross-sectional analysis was completed on 1914 older adults age ≥ 65 yr from the 2003-2006 U.S.

The adverse impact of type 2 diabetes on brain volume in heart failure.

Objective: Heart failure (HF) is associated with structural brain abnormalities, including atrophy in multiple brain regions. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a prevalent comorbid condition in HF and is associated with abnormalities on neuroimaging in other medical and elderly samples. The current study examined whether comorbid T2DM exacerbates brain atrophy in older adults with HF.

Depressive symptomatology, exercise adherence, and fitness are associated with reduced cognitive performance in heart failure.

Objective: Depression is common in heart failure (HF) and associated with reduced cognitive function. The current study used structrual equation modeling to examine whether depression adversely impacts cognitive function in HF through its adverse affects on exercise adherence and cardiovascular fitness.

Method: 158 HF patients completed neuropsychological testing, physical fitness test, Beck depression inventory-II (BDI-II), and measures assessing exercise adherence and physical exertion.

Cognitive function and treatment adherence in older adults with heart failure.

Objective: Treatment recommendation and guidelines for patients with heart failure (HF) can be complex, and past work has shown that patients with HF demonstrate low rates of adherence to recommended health behaviors. Although previous work has identified several medical, demographic, and psychosocial predictors of the capacity to adhere to treatment recommendations of persons with HF, little is known about the contribution of cognitive impairment to reported treatment adherence in this population.

Methods: A total of 149 persons with HF (mean [standard deviation] = 68.

The independent association of hypertension with cognitive function among older adults with heart failure.

Objective: Hypertension is the most common comorbidity among heart failure (HF) patients and has been independently linked with cognitive impairment. Cognitive impairment is prevalent among HF patients, though the extent to which hypertension contributes to cognitive function in this population is unclear.

Methods: 116 HF patients (31.

Depression is associated with reduced physical activity in persons with heart failure.

Objective: Reduced physical activity is common in persons with heart failure (HF). However, studies of correlates and modifiers of physical activity in this population rarely employ objective measures. Motivational and mood related factors that may exacerbate inactivity in HF patients are also rarely investigated.

The additive effects of type-2 diabetes on cognitive function in older adults with heart failure.

Background. Medical comorbidity has been theorized to contribute to cognitive impairment in heart failure (HF) patients. Specifically, type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), a common coexisting condition among HF patients, may be an independent predictor of cognitive impairment.