The COVID-19 pandemic challenged older adults’ health behaviours, making it even more difficult to engage in healthy diets and physical activity than it had been prepandemic. A resource to promote these could be social support. This study uses data from 136 older adults (Mage = 71.39 years, SD = 5.15, range: 63–87) who reported their daily fruit and vegetable consumption, steps, and health-behaviour-specific support from a close other every evening for up to 10 consecutive days. Findings show that on days when participants reported more emotional support than usual, fruit and vegetable consumption and step counts were higher. Daily instrumental support was positively associated with step counts, only. Participants receiving more overall emotional support across the study period consumed more fruit and vegetables; no parallel person-level association was found for overall steps. There were no significant interactions between dyad type and support links for our outcomes.

While physical activity reduces the risk for chronic disease development, evidence suggests those experiencing early life growth-restriction do not express positive adaptations in response to physical activity. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of low birthweight (LBW) on markers of chronic disease, adult physical activity, and the response to physical activity engagement in a longitudinal human cohort study. Data from the Framingham Offspring Cohort were organized to include participants with birthweight, physical activity, and chronic disease biomarker/treatment data available at two timepoints (exam 5 and exam 9, 19-year difference). A two-way ANCOVA was performed to determine the association of LBW and sex on physical activity engagement (63.0% female, 10.4% LBW). A multinomial logistic regression was performed to examine the associations of low birthweight and sex on chronic disease development while adjusting for physical activity. LBW was associated with elevated blood glucose and triglycerides (Exam 9). Though not statistically significant (p = 0.08), LBW females potentially spent more time in sedentary activity at exam 5 than LBW males and normal birthweight (NBW) females. LBW males spent significantly more time (p = 0.03) sedentary at exam 9 compared to NBW males and LBW females. There were no differences in the likelihood of chronic disease treatment between groups. Chronic disease biomarkers remained elevated when adjusted for total physical activity. In conclusion, LBW participants in the Framingham Offspring Cohort were not more likely to be treated for chronic diseases when controlling for physical activity engagement, though biomarkers of chronic disease remained elevated.

Chrono-medicine considers circadian biology in disease management, including combined lifestyle and medicine interventions. Exercise and nutritional interventions are well-known for their efficacy in managing type 2 diabetes, and metformin remains a widely used pharmacological agent. However, metformin may reduce exercise capacity and interfere with skeletal muscle adaptations, creating barriers to exercise adherence. Research into optimising the timing of exercise has shown promise, particularly for glycaemic management in people with type 2 diabetes. Aligning exercise timing with circadian rhythms and nutritional intake may maximise benefits. Nutritional timing also plays a crucial role in glycaemic control. Recent research suggests that not only what we eat but when we eat significantly impacts glycaemic control, with strategies like time-restricted feeding (TRF) showing promise in reducing caloric intake, improving glycaemic regulation and enhancing overall metabolic health. These findings suggest that meal timing could be an important adjunct to traditional dietary and exercise approaches in managing diabetes and related metabolic disorders. When taking a holistic view of Diabetes management and the diurnal environment, one must also consider the circadian biology of medicines. Metformin has a circadian profile in plasma, and our recent study suggests that morning exercise combined with pre-breakfast metformin intake reduces glycaemia more effectively than post-breakfast intake. In this review, we aim to explore the integration of circadian biology into type 2 diabetes management by examining the timing of exercise, nutrition and medication. In conclusion, chrono-medicine offers a promising, cost-effective strategy for managing type 2 diabetes. Integrating precision timing of exercise, nutrition and medication into treatment plans requires considering the entire diurnal environment, including lifestyle and occupational factors, to develop comprehensive, evidence-based healthcare strategies.

Temporal energy intake (EI) and physical activity (PA) patterns may be associated with obesity. We aimed to derive and characterise temporal EI and PA patterns, and assess their cross-sectional association with weight status, in 6-to-14-year-old Portuguese participants of the National Food, Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey 2015–2016. We extracted times and EI of all eating occasions from two 1-d food diaries/24-h recalls, while types and times of PA from 4-d PA diaries. We derived EI patterns (n 714) and PA patterns (n 595), using, respectively, a hierarchical and K-means cluster analysis, considering the average proportion of total daily EI (%TEI) and PA intensity (%TPA), within each 2-h interval across the 24-h day. Patterns were labelled based on the 2-h intervals of %TEI/TPA peaks. We assessed the association between patterns and overweight or obesity (BMI z-score ≥ +1 sd) using adjusted logistic regressions (OR (95 % CI)). Three EI patterns emerged: 1 – ‘Early afternoon and early evening’; 2 – ‘Early afternoon and late evening’; and 3 – ‘Late morning, early and mid-afternoon and late evening’. EI Pattern 3 v. Pattern 1 was negatively associated with overweight or obesity (0·49 (0·26, 0·92)). PA Pattern 1 – ‘Late morning, mid-afternoon and early evening’ v. Pattern 2 – ‘Late afternoon’, was not associated with weight status (0·95 (0·65, 1·38)). A daily EI pattern with more and even %TEI peaks at earlier daytime periods, rather than fewer and higher, may be negatively associated with overweight or obesity amongst this population whereas the identified PA patterns might have no relationship.

The long-term impact of eating duration on the risk of all-cause mortality remains unclear, with limited exploration of how different levels of energy intake and physical activity might influence this impact. To investigate, 24 484 American adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey spanning 1999–2018 were included. Eating duration was assessed via 24-h dietary recall, and all-cause mortality data were sourced from the National Death Index. The relationship between eating duration and all-cause mortality was analysed using Cox proportional hazards regression models, restricted cubic splines and stratification analysis with complex weighted designs. The median (IQR) of eating duration for participants was 12·5 (11·0, 14·0) h. In this study, 2896 death events were observed, and the median follow-up time (IQR) was 125 (77, 177) months. After multivariable adjustment, compared with Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4 had reduced risks of all-cause mortality by 17, 15 and 13 %, respectively. Furthermore, each additional hour of eating duration was correlated with a 2 % decrease in the risk of all-cause mortality. Additionally, a non-linear dose–response relationship was observed between eating duration and the risk of all-cause mortality, showing a U-shaped relationship from 8·9 h to 15·3 h (P for non-linearity < 0·05). Interestingly, the non-linear dose–response relationship was observed exclusively among individuals with high energy intake or a lightly active physical activity level. These findings suggest potential health benefits from adjusting eating duration, though further prospective studies are needed for validation.

Reduced appetite with ageing is a key factor that may increase risk of undernutrition. The objective of this study is to determine the impact of innovative plant protein fibre (PPF) products within a personalised optimised diet (PD), a physical activity (PA) programme, and their combination on appetite, and other nutritional, functional and clinical outcomes in community-dwelling older adults in a multi-country randomised controlled intervention trial. One hundred and eighty community-dwelling adults (approximately sixty per trial centre in Germany, Ireland and Italy) aged 65 years and over will be recruited to participate in a 12-week, parallel-group, controlled trial. Participants will be randomised into one of four groups: 1, PD (incorporating two PPF products): 2, PA; 3, PD + PA; and 4, no intervention (control). The primary outcome is appetite measured by visual analogue scales and energy intake from an ad libitum test meal. Secondary outcomes include fasting and postprandial appetite-related gut hormones, Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire score, body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, physical function and PA. In addition, self-efficacy, cognitive status, dietary restraint, depressive symptoms and compliance and acceptability of the intervention will be assessed. Metabolomic profiles, RMR, muscle motor unit properties and gut microbiome will also be assessed to explore potential underlying mechanisms. This multi-centre randomised controlled trial will advance knowledge on how PD (incorporating PPF products), PA and their combination influence appetite, nutritional status and related health outcomes in community-dwelling older adults and contribute to the prevention of undernutrition. Trial registration: Clinical Trials.gov Registry NCT05608707 (registered on 2 November 2022). Protocol Version: NCT05608707 Version 4 (registered on 29 September 2023).

There is an urgent need to develop sustainable and impactful interventions to mitigate the high risk of diet-related non-communicable diseases (diet-NCDs) in South Asians living in high-income countries. The current study using a co-design methodology aimed to identify community-led intervention components (solutions) to address barriers and enablers of disease-promoting dietary and physical activity behaviours in New Zealand South Asians. Data were collected from South Asian immigrants aged 25–59 years via three focus group discussions (n = 21) and 10 telephone or face-to-face interviews between 2018 and 2019. The thematic analysis resulted in identifying 22 barrier and enabler codes and 12 solution codes which were summarised under five themes. The key solutions (intervention components) to mitigate the identified target behaviours were providing recipes for using local vegetables in South Asian cuisine, information on the nutritional quality of frozen vegetables and canned lentils, simple home gardening techniques, the saturated fat content of dairy foods, interpreting nutrition labels, optimal portion sizes of foods, and framing low-fat messages positively. Similarly, group-based activities with peer support such as walking, cultural dancing and community sports like cricket, football, and tennis were the identified solutions to increase physical activity levels. The identified solutions for health promoting dietary habits and physical activity levels could be part of any targeted multicomponent health promoting programme to reduce the risk of diet-NCDs in South Asian immigrants.

Interventions aiming to reduce social inequalities of weight status in adolescents usually focus on lifestyle behaviours, but their effectiveness is limited. This study analysed the effect of achieving levels of dietary intake (DI) and/or physical activity (PA) guidelines on reducing social inequalities in weight status among adolescents. We included adolescents from the PRomotion de l’ALIMentation et de l’Activité Physique – INÉgalité de Santé (PRALIMAP-INÈS) trial with weight status data available at baseline and 1-year follow-up (n 1130). PA and DI were measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and a validated FFQ, respectively. We estimated the likelihood of a 1-year reduction in BMI z-score (BMIz) and population risk difference (PRD) under hypothetical DI and PA levels and socio-economic status using the parametric G-formula. When advantaged and less advantaged adolescents maintained their baseline DI and PA, we found social inequalities in weight status, with a PRD of a 1-year reduction in BMIz of −1·6 % (–3·0 %, −0·5 %). These inequalities were not observed when less advantaged adolescents increased their proportion of achieving DI guidelines by 30 % (PRD = 2·2 % (–0·5 %, 5·0 %)) unlike the same increase in PA (PRD = −3·9 % (–6·8 %, −1·3 %)). Finally, social inequalities of weight status were not observed when levels of achievement of both PA and DI guidelines increased by 30 % (PRD = 2·2 % (–0·5 %, 4·0 %)). Enhancing DI rather than PA could be effective in reducing social inequalities in weight status among adolescents. Future interventions aiming to reduce these inequalities should mostly target DI to be effective.

People with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have higher weight gain and psychological distress compared to those without PCOS(1). While COVID-19 restrictions led to population level adverse changes in lifestyle, weight gain and psychological distress(2), their impact on people with PCOS is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact the 2020 COVID-19 restrictions had on weight, physical activity, diet and psychological distress for Australians with PCOS. Australian reproductive-aged women participated in an online survey with assessment of weight, physical activity, diet and psychological distress. Multivariable logistic and linear regression were used to examine associations between PCOS and residential location with health outcomes. On adjusted analysis, those with PCOS gained more weight (2.9%; 95% CI; 0.027–3.020; p = 0.046), were less likely to meet physical activity recommendations (OR 0.50; 95% CI; 0.32–0.79; p = 0.003) and had higher sugar-sweetened beverage intake (OR 1.74; 95% CI 1.10–2.75; p = 0.019) but no differences in psychological distress compared to women without PCOS. People with PCOS were more adversely affected by COVID-19 restrictions, which may worsen their clinical features and disease burden. Additional health care support may be necessary to assist people with PCOS to meet dietary and physical activity recommendations.

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have higher risk of developing cardiometabolic diseases due to chronic gut and systemic inflammation which promotes atherogenesis. Adopting healthy lifestyle habits can prevent development of cardiometabolic diseases, but can be challenging for people with IBD. The IBD exercise and diet (IBDeat) habits study describes the lifestyle habits and cardiometabolic disease risk factors of adults with IBD in Aotearoa, New Zealand (NZ).

This is a cross-sectional study including adult NZ IBD patients recruited online via Crohn’s and Colitis NZ and Dunedin hospital from 2021 to 2022. An online questionnaire collected demographics, smoking status, comorbidities, medications, disease severity scores, quality of life, physical activity, and dietary intake. The Dunedin cohort had physical measurements taken including anthropometrics, handgrip strength, blood pressure, body composition (bioelectrical impedance), blood nutritional markers, and faecal calprotectin. Data were compared to established reference values and linear regression analysis investigated associations between lifestyle habits and cardiometabolic risk factors. The study received University of Otago ethical approval (reference: H21/135). A total of 213 adults with IBD (54% Crohn’s disease; 46% ulcerative colitis) completed the online questionnaire and a subset of 102 from Dunedin provided physical measurements. Participants characteristics were: median age 37 (IQR 25, 51) years, 71% female, 82% NZ European, 4% smokers, and 1.4% had active IBD. Thirty-five percent of participants had at least one comorbidity and 34% of participants had poor quality of life. Known dietary risk factors associated with cardiometabolic diseases were common: low intakes of vegetables (77%), fruit (51%), fibre (35%) and high intakes of total fat (84%) and saturated fat (98%). Physical activity recommendations were met by 61% of participants and 63% reported barriers to being more active from fatigue (63%) and joint pain (54%). Other cardiometabolic risk factors were common in the Dunedin cohort: high LDL (79%) and total cholesterol (76%), central adiposity (64%), high body fat percentage (44%), high blood pressure (26%), and low handgrip strength (25%). Regression analysis showed that vegetable (per serve) and carbohydrate (per 5% of total daily energy intake (TE)) were associated with 0.22 mmol/L (95%CI 0.43, 0.013) and 0.20 mmol/L (95%CI 0.34, 0.057) lower LDL cholesterol. Discretionary food items were associated with higher LDL cholesterol, 0.11 mmol/L per daily serve (95%CI 0.028, 0.19). A 5% difference in TE intake from carbohydrate was associated with 1.11% (95%CI 2.22%, 0.0038%) lower body fat percentage while protein was associated with 3.1% (95%CI 0.81%, 5.39%) higher body fat percentage. Physical activity had weak associations with cardiometabolic disease risk factors. Adults with IBD have multiple modifiable risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases. Vegetable and carbohydrate intake were associated with lower LDL cholesterol concentration while discretionary food items showed otherwise. Protein intake was associated with higher body fat percentage.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome PCOS is an endocrine disorder affecting 8 to 13% of reproductive aged women(1). Dietary and physical activity changes are the first-line therapy to assist with symptom and weight management and to reduce the risk of reproductive, metabolic and psychological comorbidities(2). However, women with PCOS have a higher weight, experience weight gain, and a higher prevalence of living in a larger body. Health care professionals (HCPs) play a crucial role in delivering diet and physical activity advice for people with PCOS. Thus, the aim of this systematic review is to understand the barriers, facilitators, experiences, and perceptions of engagement and compliance with diet and physical activity modifications in people with PCOS and in HCPs providing or referring people with PCOS to diet and physical activity modifications. A mixed-method systematic review was conducted with quantitative studies narratively synthesised and all studies thematically analysed. There were 68 eligible papers, including n = 59 (n = 5198) people with PCOS and n = 17 (n = 2,622) HCPs. Several themes were identified as impacting people with PCOS’ ability to make diet and physical activity changes. HCP education on PCOS management through diet and physical activity was viewed by HCPs and people with PCOS to be inadequate, further impacting the quality of care and health outcomes. Dietary and physical activity advice delivered by a multidisciplinary team, including dietitians, was identified as a key component for change. Both people with PCOS and HCPs agreed that there was a need for individualised and PCOS-specific diet and physical activity advice. However, HCPs viewed that there was limited evidence supporting these recommendations and a lack of time to deliver this care. Weight stigma was identified as impacting both those in larger and smaller bodies with PCOS, reducing the quality of care and affecting self-perception and mental health. People with PCOS perceived that diet and physical activity are overly focused on weight loss and fertility, independent of their own personal motivations and goals. Systemic changes, including receiving diet and physical activity advice that meet the individual’s needs, are necessary for leading to long-term sustainable changes and improvements in health outcomes. A multidisciplinary team approach and an overhaul of HCPs’ perceptions and mentality of weight and weight-centric care for those with PCOS are essential in delivering effective diet and physical activity advice.

A narrative of decline dominates the ageing process in the Global North. At the same time, older people have shared more positive stories of ageing, particularly with respect to their leisure practices. I explore this tension by drawing on an interview-based study with people playing walking football in the United Kingdom. My contention is that older people express multiple meanings of ageing that disturb deficit-focused cultural scripts of later-life, albeit in ways that can be fraught with tensions and contradictions. First, I explore how older people cultivate an alternate identity departing from assumptions of loneliness and degradation, with walking football providing an opportunity to develop friendships and a sense of belonging. Second, older people emphasise their own (good) health and the embodied demands of walking football, yet in doing so, can reinforce ageist discourses by distinguishing themselves from the inactive and isolated (older) other. Third, older people reflect on their current and future involvement in walking football in positive ways. However, through attending to the temporal character of their experiences, I show how, whilst older people express a desire to continue participation, this is threatened by the realities of their ageing bodies in ways that align with deficit framings of later-life. I conclude by calling for recognising the multiplicity of older people's experiences and exercising caution about reproducing over-simplistic and sweeping celebrations of ageing.