ORCID
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7251-4516
Document Type
Article
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Disciplines
Medicine and Health | Medicine and Health Sciences | Sociology | Sports Sciences
Abstract
Background: Despite the large number of studies and reviews available, the evidence regarding the biological determinants of physical activity (PA) is inconclusive. In this umbrella review, we summarized the current evidence on the biological determinants of PA across the life course, by pooling the results of the available systematic literature reviews (SLRs) and meta-analyses (MAs). Methods: We conducted an online search on MEDLINE, ISI Web of Science, Scopus, and SPORTDiscus databases up to January 2018. SLRs and MAs of observational studies that investigated the association between biological determinants of PA and having PA as outcome were considered eligible. The extracted data were assessed based on the importance of the determinants, the strength of evidence, and the methodological quality. Results: We identified 19 reviews of which most were of moderate methodological quality. Determinants that were studied most frequently among all ages and demonstrated evidence suggesting a positive association to PA were younger age, being male, higher health status, and higher physical fitness levels. Among adults, normal birth weight was found to be positively associated to PA with convincing strength of evidence, while findings among adolescents were inconsistent and with limited strength of evidence. Conclusions: Different social or behavioral factors may contribute to the decrease of PA with age and among females versus males, and creating programmes targeted at diverse ages, female population, and adults with abnormal birth weight is recommended. Future studies should use prospective study designs, standardized definitions of PA, and objective measurement methods of PA assessment.
Recommended Citation
Aleksovska, K. et al., 2019. Biological determinants of physical activity across the life course: a “Determinants of Diet and Physical Activity” (DEDIPAC) umbrella systematic literature review. Sports Medicine - Open, 5(1). Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40798-018-0173-9.
Publication Details
© The Author(s). 2019.
This article was published in the journal Sports Medicine - Open on the 08 January 2019. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40798-018-0173-9.
Funding
○ 1, 19, 20 MIUR: CDR2.PRIN 2010/11 COD. 2010KL2Y73_003.
○ 1 Eraweb 2: contract n. 2013-2548/001-001-EMA2 for supporting the work of Katina Aleksovska.
○ 2 Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Germany (01EA1377).
○ 3, 5, 13, 15 The Health Research Board, Ireland.
○ 8 MIUR: DEDIPAC F.S. 02.15.02 COD. B84G14000040008.
○ 11 Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Germany (01EA1374).
○ 14, 17 This project was supported by grants from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Germany (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, Förderkennzeichen 01EA1372C and 01EA1372E. The responsibility for the content of this manuscript lies with the authors).
○ 18 Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), Institut National de Prévention et d’Education pour la Sante (INPES).