Search Results (681)

Background: Health-related behaviors often cluster during young adulthood, potentially increasing the risk of long-term adverse health outcomes. Understanding how lifestyle risk behaviors co-occur among university students is essential for developing targeted health promotion strategies. Objective: This study aimed to identify lifestyle risk profiles among university students based on the co-occurrence of smoking behavior, alcohol consumption, sedentary behavior, and body weight status. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 147 university students enrolled in a physical education and sport undergraduate program (mean age: 20.58 ± 2.94 years; 80.3% male). Physical activity and sedentary behavior were assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire–Short Form (IPAQ-SF), while smoking and alcohol consumption were self-reported. Body mass index was used to classify weight status. Lifestyle risk profiles were identified using two-step cluster analysis based on regular smoking, alcohol consumption, sedentary behavior, and overweight/obesity. Differences in cluster distribution according to sex and federated athlete status were examined using chi-square tests. A two-step cluster analysis based on the Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC) and silhouette measure was used to identify lifestyle risk profiles. Results: Overall, 46.9% of participants had experimented with tobacco, 11.6% were current smokers, and 74.8% reported alcohol consumption. Participants accumulated an average of 3772.25 ± 1957.99 MET-min/week of physical activity. Three distinct lifestyle risk profiles were identified. Cluster 1 (46.9%), labeled the alcohol profile, was characterized by alcohol consumption without smoking and no prevalence of being overweight. Cluster 2 (20.4%), the multiple-risk profile, included participants who reported regular smoking, with nearly half presenting sedentary behavior and overweight/obesity. Cluster 3 (32.7%), the overweight profile, was characterized by overweight/obesity combined with alcohol consumption but no smoking. No significant differences were observed in the distribution of lifestyle profiles according to sex (p = 0.111) or federated athlete status (p = 0.087). Conclusions: Lifestyle risk behaviors cluster into distinct profiles among university students, with alcohol consumption appearing across multiple profiles and smoking concentrated in a specific high-risk group. These findings highlight the need for targeted health promotion strategies addressing multiple co-occurring behaviors within university populations. Full article

Background/Objectives: Gastric cancer (GC) remains a major health challenge in high-incidence regions like Fujian Province, China. This study aimed to identify modifiable dietary and behavioral risk factors for GC and to evaluate their combined effect using a Healthy Lifestyle Index (HLI) in a high-incidence region of China. Methods: A case–control study was conducted at a tertiary hospital from June 2023 to December 2024, including 336 newly diagnosed GC cases and 336 healthy controls from Fujian Province. A Healthy Lifestyle Index (HLI, scored 0–10) was constructed from ten dietary and behavioral factors, with participants categorized into tertiles as healthy, moderate, or unhealthy. Results: The proportions of males and females were 56.5% and 43.5%, respectively. The mean age of the case group was 56.76 ± 10.83 years, significantly higher than that of the control group (53.86 ± 11.13 years, p < 0.001). The HLI incorporated ten behavioral/dietary components: sedentary behavior, smoking, alcohol consumption, tea drinking, physical activity, pickled and processed food intake, regular eating habits, fruit intake, vegetable intake, and red meat intake. Cases showed a higher proportion of unhealthy lifestyle patterns (34.8% vs. 26.8%), whereas controls showed a higher proportion of healthy lifestyle behaviors (41.7% vs. 37.5%); however, the overall between-group distribution of HLI categories was not statistically significant (p = 0.078). The multivariate logistic regression showed that the healthy group was associated with a lower risk of developing GC compared to the unhealthy group (aOR = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.20–0.57, p < 0.001). Conclusions: A healthier combined dietary and behavioral profile may be associated with lower odds of GC in this population. However, the observed associations should be interpreted cautiously because of the case–control design, the lack of H. pylori data, and the absence of formal validation of the HLI in the Fujian population. Prospective studies with objective dietary assessment and more detailed clinical characterization are warranted. Full article

Background/Objectives: Masters athletes are adults aged ≥40 who compete in sport, exhibiting superior physical function and healthier aging than their sedentary peers. However, even highly trained masters athletes experience age-related performance declines. Women masters athletes represent a growing yet understudied population who may face unique physiological challenges. This scoping review synthesizes literature from 1984 to 2024, examining the impact of age and menopause on determinants of endurance performance in women masters athletes. Methods: Following JBI scoping review methodology, six databases were searched (Medline, Embase, Central, CINAHL, SPORTdiscus, Scopus). Studies were evaluated for population characteristics, methodological approaches, and physiological determinants of performance (i.e., aerobic capacity, lactate kinetics, and exercise economy). Results: Twenty-nine studies were included. Most (n = 28) assessed aerobic capacity, reporting declines between 0.36 and 0.84 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹·year⁻¹ (0.5–2.4%·year⁻¹). These reductions were primarily associated with decreased cardiac output followed by changes in body composition. Training volume emerged as a predictor of aerobic capacity, but the effects of menopause were unclear. Findings on lactate kinetics and exercise economy were mixed but preliminary research indicated that lactate threshold relative to VO₂max generally increased, peak lactate remained stable and energy cost increased with age. Fitness and health characteristics among women athletes differed from sedentary populations, emphasizing the need for athlete-specific data to support training and health decisions. Conclusions: Aging is associated with decreased aerobic capacity and variable changes in lactate kinetics and exercise economy. While training volume may attenuate performance decrements, the impact of menopause remains uncertain, underscoring the need for longitudinal research to better support this growing segment of the population. Full article

Metabolically-dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) represents the most common chronic liver disease in the pediatric population, and its prevalence has doubled over the past decade. The etiology is multifactorial, including genomic risk factors, perinatal and developmental or behavioral factors. Still, many cases of MASLD are associated with being overweight and obesity, particularly in children who have poor dietary habits and sedentary lifestyles that contribute to excessive weight gain. Given the progressive and heterogeneous nature of MASLD, early identification of high-risk patients before the development of severe liver disease is a major clinical priority. Recent studies indicate that disorders of amino acid metabolism are closely linked to both obesity and MASLD, reflecting profound alterations in systemic metabolic homeostasis. The reported data sustain significant changes in circulating amino acid profiles, particularly elevated levels of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) and aromatic amino acids. These alterations are thought to reflect fundamental metabolic disturbances, including insulin resistance, compromised mitochondrial activity, and altered hepatic lipid metabolism. Consequently, alterations in amino acid metabolism have been proposed as potential biomarkers for disease progression and metabolic dysfunction in MASLD. This review aims to evaluate the correlation between the amino acid profile and histological changes in pediatric MASLD, including steatosis, steatohepatitis, and fibrosis. Full article

Worldwide, hypertension is a major risk factor for stroke and cardiovascular diseases, creating serious public health issues. This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors and the prevalence of hypertension in a community in South Africa. Between 2019 and 2023, an observational study with 1029 participants was carried out. The South African Hypertension Society hypertension guidelines were used to determine the prevalence of hypertension. Risk factors, such as anthropometric factors, socioeconomic factors, and lifestyle choices, were evaluated using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Within the total study population, the mean age was 48 years, and 81.1 percent of the participants were female. The mean blood pressure was 128/82.5 mmHg and 48.7% of the participants were obese. The prevalence of hypertension was 53.6%. Significant risk factors for hypertension included ageing, diabetes, having a higher body mass index, not having formal education, being unemployed, leading a sedentary lifestyle, and living in a rural area. The study highlights the increased prevalence of hypertension in this South African population. The findings were consistent with the current literature with regard to hypertension risk factors, such as age, body mass index, education, and physical activity. Current data highlights the need for focused health education and awareness initiatives that encourage healthy living. Improving healthcare access and addressing the socioeconomic factors should be the main goals of policy initiatives to lessen the impact of hypertension in underprivileged rural communities. Full article

This comparative cross-sectional study simultaneously investigated the dual health burden of body mass index (BMI) and common mental disorders (CMDs) driven by occupational stressors in two stepwise regression models. By classifying stress exposure into three clinically relevant tiers (low, moderate, and severe) in two distinctive populations—a hospital and a manufacturing company—we used the validated SDS-30 and SRQ-20 instruments. The robust multiple regression models uncovered a highly nuanced landscape of employee well-being that highlights the context-dependent nature of psychosocial hazards. The most compelling findings emerged from the interaction analyses, which demonstrated that the physical and mental consequences of severe stress do not impact the workforce uniformly. Regarding mental health, severe occupational stress proved to be a potent catalyst for CMD symptoms, but this psychological toll was significantly magnified within the hospital sector relative to the manufacturing environment. An opposite, yet equally context-dependent, pattern emerged regarding physical health. In the main-effects-adjusted model, the severity of occupational stressors did not demonstrate a statistically significant linear association with an overall increase in BMI. However, the interaction model revealed a hidden vulnerability: employees in operational field roles who report severe stress are highly susceptible to severe BMI increases compared with admin personnel. While administrative staff may face sedentary risks, field workers under severe stress likely endure higher physiological allostatic load, erratic shift patterns that disrupt circadian metabolic rhythms, and potentially poorer dietary coping mechanisms during active labor. This combination of physical exhaustion and severe psychological tension severely disrupts metabolic homeostasis, forcing the redistribution of adipose tissue and driving the observed BMI spike. Full article

Background: Compound muscle action potential (CMAP) parameters provide objective information on peripheral neuromuscular function, yet comparisons between track athletes and sedentary individuals remain limited, particularly when stratified by sex. This exploratory study examined whether CMAP parameters differ between sprinters and sedentary controls, with a secondary descriptive analysis of female middle-distance runners. Methods: A total of 48 participants (27 females, 21 males) aged 15 to 28 years were recruited by convenience from a restricted-access athletic population. The main comparisons focused on sprinters versus sex-matched sedentary controls, analyzed separately in females (9 sprinters, 10 controls) and males (10 sprinters, 11 controls). Female middle-distance runners (n = 8) were retained as an exploratory subgroup. Bilateral peroneal nerve conduction studies were performed in the extensor digitorum brevis. Outcomes included latency, amplitude, nerve conduction velocity, and CMAP duration. Main comparisons used Welch’s t-tests, supplemented by Mann–Whitney U tests. Effect sizes (Hedges’ g) and 95% confidence intervals were reported. A BMI-adjusted model examined whether the main female finding remained after accounting for BMI. Results: Female sprinters showed significantly higher right-sided CMAP amplitude than sedentary females (Welch p = 0.017; Hedges’ g = 1.32; 95% CI of the mean difference, 0.68 to 5.44 mV), supported by non-parametric testing (p = 0.025). The group effect remained significant after BMI adjustment. No other comparisons reached statistical significance. In males, no significant differences were observed. Conclusions: The main finding was a higher right-sided CMAP amplitude in female sprinters compared with sedentary controls, reasonably consistent across complementary parametric, non-parametric, and BMI-adjusted analyses. Given the small sample and exploratory design, these findings warrant cautious interpretation and replication in larger studies. Full article

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the effects of voluntary exercise on type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) development and splenic immunological profiles in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, a spontaneous model of human T1D. Methods: Prediabetic female NOD mice were randomly assigned to sedentary or exercise groups, with mice in the exercise group given 10-week wheel access and sedentary mice receiving none. Late-time mice were monitored to diabetes onset or 24 weeks of age; early-time mice were analyzed immediately post-intervention. Blood glucose, food intake, water consumption, and body mass were monitored weekly. At the endpoints, splenocyte counts, T and B cell subsets, and mitogen-stimulated cytokine production were analyzed using flow cytometry. Results: Mice in the exercise group ran an average of 20.76 ± 0.22 km/day. By the late-time endpoint, 75% of mice in the exercise group remained non-diabetic versus 35% of sedentary mice (p = 0.006). Mice in the exercise group demonstrated lower blood glucose (p = 0.015), visceral fat mass (p = 0.035), and water intake (p < 0.001) but higher food intake (p = 0.001), with no difference in body mass (p = 0.389) compared to sedentary mice. No differences were observed in splenocyte counts or Th, Tc, Treg, or B cell populations at either time point (p ≥ 0.185). Early-time point cytokines also did not differ between groups (p ≥ 0.08). Conclusions: Voluntary exercise reduces T1D incidence and mitigates hyperglycemia in NOD mice, suggesting a protective effect against disease progression. Despite the benefits, physical activity did not alter splenic Tcell subsets or inflammatory cytokines, demonstrating systemic immunomodulation may not be the primary driver of benefit. Our results indicate that voluntary exercise protects against T1D through tissue-specific or metabolic mechanisms, which warrant further mechanistic investigation. Full article

Background: Since sedentary habits have become a growing global public health concern, the promotion of physical activity (PA) from early childhood could help children live healthy lifestyles. The aim of this systematic review was to analyze the level of compliance with PA in preschoolers in relation to the reference guidelines. Method: A systematic review of relevant articles was carried out using four databases (PubMed, ProQuest, SCOPUS, and FECYT (Web of Sciences, CCC, CIDW, KJD, MEDLINE, RSCI, and SCIELO)) until 14 May 2025. The methodological assessment process was performed by using an adapted version of the MINORS assessment criteria. Results: A total of 623 studies were initially found and 23 were included in the qualitative synthesis. Conclusions: The results revealed that the average in most contexts usually ranges between 30% and 65% of the child population. Due to different operational criteria, compliance was generally higher when PA was assessed separately using single-behavior guidelines as opposed to when integrated 24 h movement frameworks were used. However, these results should be considered with caution because establishing the level of adherence to PA guidelines is difficult due to the different outcomes and guidelines used to compare the level of children’s PA. In future research, it is important to establish common baseline criteria (specifying more specific ages, common questionnaires, and criteria for calculating PA quantity and intensity) to facilitate more objective and reliable comparisons between studies. This systematic review is important because it highlights the need for healthy educational habits from the first years of a person’s life. Full article

Population aging and widespread sedentary lifestyles have increased the prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases, many of which are linked to progressive disruptions of cellular homeostasis. Autophagy, a conserved cellular degradation and recycling pathway, plays a central role in maintaining metabolic flexibility, proteostasis, and organ function. However, aging and physical inactivity impair autophagic regulation, thereby contributing to the development of sarcopenia, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases. Physical exercise is a non-pharmacological intervention that can restore autophagic activity and confer systemic health benefits in multiple preclinical and clinical contexts. Increasing evidence indicates that these benefits are mediated not only by local tissue adaptations but also by complex inter-organ communication. Central to this process are exercise-induced bioactive factors, collectively termed exerkines, including myokines, cardiokines, adipokines, hepatokines, osteokines, and circulating miRNAs. Rather than acting independently, exerkines form an integrated signaling network that fine-tunes autophagic flux across multiple tissues. Exerkine-mediated regulation of autophagy involves key pathways such as AMPK/mTOR, FoxO, SIRT1, ULK1, and TFEB, thereby coordinating energy metabolism, mitochondrial quality control, inflammation, and protein turnover in skeletal muscle, heart, liver, adipose tissue, bone, and the central nervous system. This review summarizes current evidence on representative exerkines and their roles in autophagy-dependent inter-organ crosstalk, highlighting the exercise–exerkine–autophagy axis as a promising target for preventing and managing chronic diseases. Full article

Background: In Southern Italy, metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MASLD) is rising despite adherence to traditional Mediterranean diets. Accurate assessment of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior is critical for effective non-pharmacological management but remains methodologically challenging. Methods: We compared subjective and objective PA measures in 133 adults (mean age 49.0 ± 9.8 years; BMI 35.7 ± 4.9 kg/m²) with moderate-to-severe MASLD. Participants completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire–Short Form (IPAQ-SF) and wore an ActiGraph GT9X wrist accelerometer for seven days. Results: The IPAQ-SF significantly underestimated moderate PA by 865 min/week (p < 0.001) and reported 33.16 ± 14.78 min/week of vigorous activity not detected by accelerometry. Sedentary time was slightly underestimated (0.45 h/day, p = 0.05), with better overall agreement. Stratified analyses showed significant underestimation of sedentary behavior among women and participants <50 years. Spearman correlations were weak (rho = 0.14 for moderate PA; rho = 0.36 for sedentary behavior). Bland–Altman plots confirmed poor agreement for moderate PA but acceptable limits for sedentary estimates. Conclusions: In high-risk Southern Italian populations with MASLD, reliance on self-reported PA may lead to inaccurate clinical guidance. Integrating objective monitoring with subjective tools is essential to deliver precise, individualized exercise prescriptions beyond generic “move more” recommendations. Full article

Coilia nasus, a typical species with migratory–sedentary polymorphism, shows different intestinal microbiota characteristics among its different ecotypes. This is attributed to differences in feeding habits and habitat environments (such as water temperature, salinity, etc.). This study constructed a database of intestinal microbiota for three ecological types of C. nasus, namely migratory type (comprising marine populations and freshwater populations), sedentary type and aquaculture-reared type, through 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing technology. This study investigates the ecological mechanisms underlying microbiota differentiation, focusing on three key drivers: environmental selection, host nutritional metabolism requirements, and host life history strategies. The results showed that the core flora of C. nasus consisted of Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria. Both the depletion of microbial taxa and the enrichment of marine-adapted bacterial lineages—including Proteobacteria and Psychrobacter—are associated with elevated salinity in the migratory marine population of C. nasus. In contrast, the elevated relative abundance of Actinobacteria in aquaculture-reared C. nasus is likely attributable to dietary supplementation with protein- and lipid-rich artificial feed. Functional correlation analysis holds promise for partially predicting the microbiota’s metabolic functional succession patterns. The dominance of Pseudomonas_E in the migratory freshwater population is consistent with its well-documented physiological versatility and adaptive capacity in dynamically fluctuating aquatic habitats. The elevated abundance of Cyanobacteria in the sedentary population C. nasus coincides with the water bloom in their habitat, suggesting that the structure of the microbiota may serve as a novel biomarker for indicating the ecosystem. In conclusion, this study identifies potential molecular markers for tracing genetic resources and distinguishing ecological types of C. nasus, while establishing a theoretical foundation for elucidating the co-evolutionary dynamics between fish hosts and their associated microbiota—and thereby informing both conservation strategies for wild populations and microbiota-informed aquaculture practices. Full article

Background: Resting energy expenditure (REE) represents 60–75% of total daily energy expenditure and is mainly determined by fat-free mass (FFM). Indeed, the predictive equations vary according to FFM techniques and population characteristics. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the influence of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)-derived FFM on REE prediction by different predictive equations in a large and diverse cohort. Methods: A total of 1987 active and sedentary participants of both sexes (43.8 ± 19.4 years) underwent body composition assessment by DXA. REE was predicted using the Harris–Benedict, Schofield, Mifflin–St Jeor (weight- and height-based), and Mifflin (FFM-based) equations. Statistical analyses included Kruskal–Wallis, Spearman correlations, and linear regression. Results: Men presented higher absolute FFM, whereas women exhibited higher relative fat mass (FM) (p < 0.01). Across age groups, FFM declined progressively, while FM increased (p < 0.01). The REE differed significantly (p < 0.001) between equations, with the lowest values predicted from the FFM-based model, while the Harris–Benedict and Schofield equations showed the highest REE, especially in women. Strong correlations were observed between FFM and REE (r = 0.77–0.98; p < 0.01) for all age groups and equations, whereas FM showed strong correlations (r = 0.77–0.85; p < 0.01) only for the ≥60 years group. REE tended to be higher in active than sedentary participants, with the correlations to FFM and FM exhibiting a similar profile to that observed for the whole group. Conclusions: FFM showed a strong association with the estimate of REE in active and sedentary participants from both sexes and different age groups, but FM showed a similar trend in older participants only. Therefore, the increase or the maintenance of FFM with an active lifestyle is important to keep REE at high and efficient levels regardless of sex and age. Full article

Background: Children’s behavior and lifestyle are changing rapidly, potentially exceeding the capacity of physiological adaptation. Contemporary lifestyles may negatively affect spinal development and contribute to dysfunction and premature degeneration. Despite the increasing prevalence of postural changes, cervical spine disorders in adolescents remain under-researched. Methods: This narrative review is based on a comprehensive search of PubMed/MEDLINE and Scopus. The search strategy included a broad review of anatomical and biomechanical literature from the past 25 years and a focused review of studies from the last 15 years to reflect recent generational changes. Results: The immature spine has distinct structural and biomechanical characteristics that increase susceptibility to maladaptive responses to unbalanced forces. High screen time is associated with sedentary behavior and increased consumption of ultra-processed foods, which may affect metabolic health and musculoskeletal development. Childhood and adolescent obesity are increasingly prevalent and may influence spinal development, including through myosteatosis. Data on the consequences of cervical and lumbar lordosis loss in adolescents remain limited. Although degenerative spinal disorders are well recognized in adults, their identification in younger populations may be inadequate. Conclusions: Modern lifestyle factors pose a growing risk to children’s spinal health through complex interactions among behavioral, metabolic, and biomechanical mechanisms. The developing spine’s vulnerability and the coexistence of multiple, interrelated risk factors support the need for integrated preventive strategies rather than single-factor interventions. Future studies should focus on models capturing these interactions and their long-term consequences. Full article

The evolution of the mHealth era offers the possibility of behavioral interventions to promote changes in lifestyle habits with prevention relevance. These tools are considered digital therapeutics (DTx) and follow the MDR 745/2017 for testing, validation, and certification. In the frame of the ACTIVE3 project, we developed a platform composed of a mobile app, a wearable device, and a cloud backend to support healthy aging intervention in a population of 60–80-year-old subjects. This paper describes the clinical trial protocol and the baseline data of the recruited population. The explored parameters describe the effect of the DTx in the physical, nutritional (and metabolic), and cognitive domains, leveraging the Walking Group initiatives coordinated by ATS Brianza that are active in the Lecco area; in addition, system usability and acceptance were analyzed. The study started on 1 September 2024, and the analyzed baseline data are presented here. With respect to an expected population of 200 subjects, we received interest and consent to participate from 237 subjects: over-enrollment was allowed and all these subjects were accepted into the study. The characterization of the study population at the initial time of the trial was carried out, and the outcomes are presented here. The population is generally more active than Italian people of the same age. According to the outcome of the 6MWT, the population was divided into three groups: trained participants (42 subjects), active participants (142 subjects), and sedentary participants (58 subjects). The tests at month 12 were recently competed, and the final results will be available in winter 2025–2026. Full article