Promotion of Muscle-Strengthening Activity Among Latina and Black/African American Women: A Review of Literature.

Latina and Black/African American (AA) women report disproportionately low levels of muscle-strengthening activities (MSA) and high rates of related chronic health conditions. Despite the health benefits of MSA, physical activity intervention research in these populations has focused mostly on increasing aerobic physical activity. The purpose of this review was to describe the current state of scientific literature on MSA interventions among Latina and Black/AA women.

Relationships of Physical Activity and Type 2 Diabetes With Cognition in Mexican Americans and Non-Hispanic Whites.

Problem, Research Strategy, and Findings: Low physical activity (PA) and Type 2 diabetes are associated with cognitive aging and Alzheimer's disease, but the evidence is inconsistent and particularly limited by ethnicity. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships of PA and Type 2 diabetes with cognition in Mexican Americans and non-Hispanic Whites. The study was a cross-sectional analysis of the Health and Aging Brain Study-Health Disparities (n = 1,982-2,000 after removing outliers).

Environmental, Sociocultural, Behavioral, and Biological Factors Associated with Cognitive Decline, Alzheimer's Disease, and Other Types of Dementia in Black Americans.

Purpose Of Review: This narrative review summarizes environmental, sociocultural, behavioral, and biological factors associated with cognitive decline and dementia in Black Americans.

Recent Findings: Variations in environmental factors (education, toxins) contribute to poor cognition in Blacks. Historical context, early-life educational experiences, and environmental exposures should be considered for addressing late-life cognitive disparities.

Breast Cancer Screening among African Immigrants in the United States: An Integrative Review of Barriers, Facilitators, and Interventions.

The purpose of this review was to synthesize the available literature on breast cancer-screening barriers, facilitators, and interventions among U.S. African immigrants.

Through Alzheimer's Eyes: A Virtual Pilot Intervention for Family Caregivers of People with Dementia.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a virtually delivered psychoeducational skill-building intervention for ADRD caregivers.

Methods: A single-arm, pre-posttest pilot study design was employed to evaluate the intervention. Four 90-min group-based weekly sessions were combined with four individual coaching sessions via Zoom.

How Societal Forces of Change Are Transforming Youth Physical Activity Promotion in North America.

Background: Climate change, increasing recognition of institutionalized discrimination, and the COVID-19 pandemic are large-scale, societal events (ie, forces of change) that affect the timing, settings, and modes of youth physical activity. Despite the impact that forces of change have on youth physical activity and physical activity environments, few studies consider how they affect physical activity promotion.

Methods: The authors use 2 established frameworks, the ecological model of physical activity and the youth physical activity timing, how, and setting framework, to highlight changes in physical activity patterns of youth in North America that have resulted from contemporary forces of change.

Predictors of Usual and Peak Gait Speed in Community-Dwelling Older Adults With Mild-to-Moderate Alzheimer's Dementia.

Gait speed significantly affects functional status and health outcomes in older adults. This cross-sectional study evaluated cognitive and physical fitness contributors to usual and peak gait speed in persons with Alzheimer's dementia. Multiple hierarchal linear regression was used to obtain squared semipartial correlation coefficients (sr2) and effect sizes (Cohen's ƒ2).

Barriers and Facilitators to Muscle-Strengthening Activity Among Latinas in the U.S.: Results From Formative Research Assessments.

Background: Latinas are disproportionately affected by low physical activity (PA) levels and related health conditions (e.g., diabetes, obesity).

Behind the Scenes of a Technologically Enhanced Intervention for Caregivers of People With Dementia: Protocol for a Feasibility and Acceptability Study.

Background: Alzheimer's disease affects 55 million people worldwide. As the disease progresses, these individuals require a devoted caregiver, often a family member, who provides evolving complex care. Caregivers can experience a variety of ongoing stressors, resulting in reductions in caregiver emotional well-being (and other quality-of-life indicators).

: A Culturally Tailored Smartphone-Delivered Physical Activity Intervention for Cardiometabolic Risk Reduction among African American Women.

This article reports the results of Smart Walk: a randomized pilot trial of an 8-month culturally tailored, smartphone-delivered physical activity (PA) intervention for African American women with obesity. Sixty participants (age range = 24−49 years; BMI range = 30−58 kg/m2) were randomized to the Smart Walk intervention (n = 30) or a wellness comparison intervention (n = 30). Results supported the acceptability and feasibility of the intervention, as demonstrated by participant retention (85% at 4 months and 78% at 8 months), Smart Walk app use, and intervention satisfaction (i.

Cardiometabolic Risk Factors Among Insufficiently Active African American Women With Obesity: Baseline Findings From Smart Walk.

Background: Low moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) levels and obesity are associated with increased cardiometabolic disease risk.

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe MVPA and cardiometabolic risk characteristics of insufficiently active African American women with obesity (N = 60) enrolled in a culturally tailored MVPA intervention.

Methods: We assessed accelerometer-measured and self-reported MVPA, blood pressure, serum lipid profiles, cardiorespiratory fitness (VO 2 peak), and aortic pulse wave velocity.

Targeting Sedentary Behavior in Minority Populations as a Feasible Health Strategy During and Beyond COVID-19: On Behalf of ACSM-EIM and HL-PIVOT.

Increased sedentary behavior has been an unintended consequence of social and physical distancing restrictions needed to limit transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Sedentary behavior is defined as any waking behavior characterized by an energy expenditure ≤1.5 metabolic equivalents (METs), while in a sitting, reclining, or lying posture.

Physical activity and sedentary behavior in people with spinal cord injury: Mitigation strategies during COVID-19 on behalf of ACSM-EIM and HL-PIVOT.

People with spinal cord injury (SCI) face unique challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, including greater risk of poor COVID-19-related outcomes, increased social isolation, and restricted access to important services. Furthermore, COVID-19 related restrictions have decreased already low levels of physical activity (PA) in this population. Therefore, the purpose of this commentary is to: 1) address the impact of COVID-19 on PA and sedentary behavior (SB) in people with SCI; 2) provide potential SB reduction strategies to guide future research; and 3) provide recommendations to increase PA and reduce SB on behalf of the American College of Sports Medicine Exercise is Medicine (ACSM-EIM) and Healthy Living for Pandemic Event Protection (HL-PIVOT) using a social-ecological model targeting the individual-, social environment-, physical environment-, and policy-level determinants of behavior in people with SCI.

Recruitment and retention of underrepresented and vulnerable populations to research.

Per principles outlined in the Belmont Report, research involving human subjects should minimize risks to participants and maximize benefits to participants and society. Recruitment of participants should be equitable. Once enrolled, participants have the right to withdraw at any point.

Physical Activity Patterns and Neighborhood Characteristics of First-Generation Latina Immigrants Living in Arizona: Cross-sectional Study.

Background: Metabolic diseases, including obesity and type 2 diabetes, are a major health concern for Latina immigrants. Performing regular aerobic physical activity (PA) is a lifestyle behavior associated with the prevention and control of these conditions. However, PA levels of most Latina immigrants are below national guidelines.

Physical Activity Among Predominantly White Middle-Aged and Older US Adults During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: Results From a National Longitudinal Survey.

The first COVID-19 case in the US was diagnosed late January 2020. In the subsequent months, cases grew exponentially. By March 2020, SARS-CoV-2 (the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19) was a global pandemic and the US declared a national emergency.

Results of a Culturally Tailored Smartphone-Delivered Physical Activity Intervention Among Midlife African American Women: Feasibility Trial.

Background: Regular aerobic physical activity (PA) is an important component of healthy aging. However, only 27%-40% of African American women achieve national PA guidelines. Available data also show a clear decline in PA as African American women transition from young adulthood (ie, 25-44 years) into midlife.

Still striding toward social justice? Redirecting physical activity research in a post-COVID-19 world.

The COVID-19 crisis and parallel Black Lives Matter movement have amplified longstanding systemic injustices among people of color (POC). POC have been differentially affected by COVID-19, reflecting the disproportionate burden of ongoing chronic health challenges associated with socioeconomic inequalities and unhealthy behaviors, including a lack of physical activity. Clear and well-established benefits link daily physical activity to health and well-being-physical, mental, and existential.

Associations of perceived neighborhood environment and physical activity with metabolic syndrome among Mexican-Americans adults: a cross sectional examination.

Objective: This secondary data analysis examined associations among perceived neighborhood environmental factors, physical activity (PA), and the presence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in Mexican-American (MA) adults. Seventy-five MA adults (mean age of 37.9 ± 9.

A Culturally Relevant Smartphone-Delivered Physical Activity Intervention for African American Women: Development and Initial Usability Tests of Smart Walk.

Background: Smart Walk is a culturally relevant, social cognitive theory-based, smartphone-delivered intervention designed to increase physical activity (PA) and reduce cardiometabolic disease risk among African American (AA) women.

Objective: This study aimed to describe the development and initial usability testing results of Smart Walk.

Methods: Smart Walk was developed in 5 phases.

A Systematic Review of Electronic and Mobile Health (e- and mHealth) Physical Activity Interventions for African American and Hispanic Women.

Background: The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the existing scientific literature on e- and mHealth interventions promoting physical activity (PA) among African American (AA) and Hispanic women.

Methods: Using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guidelines, 5 electronic databases and gray literature sources were searched in August 2017. Inclusion criteria are published in English language peer-reviewed journals between 2000 and 2017, use of an e- or mHealth delivery strategy to promote PA, primary focus on AA or Hispanic women, and reported PA outcome data.

Rationale and design of Smart Walk: A randomized controlled pilot trial of a smartphone-delivered physical activity and cardiometabolic risk reduction intervention for African American women.

Background: African American (AA) women perform low levels of physical activity (PA) and are disproportionally burdened by cardiometabolic disease conditions when compared to White women and the U.S. population as a whole.

Physical Activity and Related Psychosocial Outcomes From a Pilot Randomized Trial of an Interactive Voice Response System-Supported Intervention in the Deep South.

Background: Physical activity exerts cancer-protective effects, yet most Americans are inactive, especially in the South, where cancer incidence rates are generally higher. Telephone-based approaches can help overcome physical activity intervention barriers in this region (literacy, costs, lack of transportation/technology, distance from facilities) and can be automated via interactive voice response (IVR) systems for improved reach and cost-effectiveness.

Aims: To evaluate the Deep South IVR-supported Active Lifestyle (DIAL) intervention.