This study aimed to examine the relationship of physical activity and/or dietary quality and diabetes prevalence in the general population and within specific age groups. It was a cross-sectional study using 2011–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Patterns Equivalents data (n = 15,674). Physical activity was measured by Global Physical Activity questionnaire; dietary quality was analyzed using the Healthy Eating Index 2015; diabetes prevalence was determined by reported diagnosis and glycohemoglobin or fasting glucose. Data were analyzed using multiple logistic regression adjusted for demographic variables and weight status. Results revealed that although no statistically significant or non-substantial relationships were observed between dietary quality or physical activity and diabetes prevalence, respondents who did not meet physical activity recommendations regardless of dietary quality had a higher odds of diabetes prevalence than those who met physical activity recommendations and had a higher dietary quality (p < 0.05). In conclusion, meeting physical activity recommendations is an important protective factor for diabetes especially in combination with a higher quality diet. A healthy lifestyle appears to have the greater impact on diabetes prevention in middle-aged men and women.

This study examined the relationship of physical activity (PA) and dietary quality to android fat composition and distribution using a national representative adult sample and determined sex-based differences in these relationships. It is a cross-sectional (n = 10,014) analysis of the 2011–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the US department of Agriculture’s Food Patterns Equivalents datasets. Variables utilized for this analysis include PA, 24-h dietary recalls, android percent fat, and android-gynoid (A/G) ratio measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Multiple linear regression was performed to examine the relationship between PA and/or dietary quality and android percent fat and A/G ratio adjusted for confounding factors. The study results revealed that PA and/or dietary quality were inversely related to android percent fat and A/G ratio (p < 0.05), but the sex effect was only seen between PA and A/G ratio (p = 0.003). Participants who met PA recommendations and had higher dietary quality had 2.12% lower android fat than those who did not meet PA recommendations and had lower dietary quality (p < 0.001). Both PA and dietary quality are associated with android fat reduction regardless of sex. Given the direct connection between android fat and cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, it is important to increase both PA and dietary quality.

The purpose of this study was to examine demographic-specific relationships between direct abdominal fat measures and anthropometric indices. A cross-sectional study was conducted utilizing abdominal fat measures (visceral fat area, VFA; visceral to subcutaneous adipose area ratio, VSR) and anthropometrics (body mass index, BMI; waist circumference, WC) data from the 2011–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Linear or polynomial linear regression models were used to examine the relationships of abdominal fat measures to anthropometrics with adjustment for demographics. The results revealed that while VFA was linearly related to BMI and WC across all demographics (p < 0.001), the relationships between VSR and both BMI and WC were concave in men and convex in women. The relationships between VFA, VSR, and BMI, WC varied by sex and race/ethnicity. In conclusion, increasing BMI and WC were linearly associated with increased VFA, but their relationships with VSR were nonlinear and differed by sex.

Purpose: To determine whether kinetic chain pattern during knee extensor strength training influences quadriceps femoris center of mass and moment of inertia about the hip in a predictable manner as such changes can affect running economy.Methods: Twelve participants completed 8 weeks of both unilateral open (OKC) and closed (CKC) kinetic chain resistance training on opposing legs. Changes in quadriceps femoris muscle volume (VOL_QF), center of mass location (CoM_QF), and moment of inertia (I_QF) about the hip were determined from magnetic resonance images scans. Regional hemodynamics of the vastus lateralis taken at 30% and 70% of muscle length during OKC and CKC bouts early in the training program were measured using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and used post hoc to predict changes in CoM_QF.Results: While increases in VOL_QF were similar between OKC (Δ79.5 ± 87.9 cm³) and CKC (Δ60.2 ± 110.5 cm³, p = 0.29), the patterns of hypertrophy differed; a distal shift in CoM_QF (Δ2.4 ± 0.4 cm, p < 0.001) and increase in I_QF (Δ0.017 ± 0.014 kg m², p < 0.001) occurred in OKC but not in CKC (CoM_QF: Δ-2.2 ± 2.0 cm, I_QF: Δ-0.022 ± 0.020 kg m², p > 0.05). Regional hemodynamics assessed by NIRS during a single training session displayed similar exercise and regional differences and predicted 39.6% of observed changes in CoM_QF.Conclusions: Exercise selection influences muscle shape sufficiently to affect CoM_QF and I_QF, and these changes may be predicted in part from NIRS measurements during a single workout. Given I_QF is inversely related to running economy and since CKC exercise provides a more proximal pattern of hypertrophy than OKC, it may be more preferential for running. The results from the present study also highlight the potential of NIRS as a tool for predicting patterns of hypertrophy between different exercises and exercise conditions.

Background: Exercise-associated muscle damage (EAMD) temporally impairs muscle function and intramuscular glycogen storage. Contrast with compression (CwC) therapy provides localized EAMD treatment with minimal changes in core/tissue temperature that can impair glycogen resynthesis. Hypothesis: CwC will enhance the recovery of strength, power, and joint mobility, reduce markers of EAMD, and attenuate the disruption of glycogen storage observed after damaging exercise. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial with crossover design. Level of Evidence: Level 2. Methods: Ten men completed 2 bouts of eccentric elbow flexor exercise, separated by 1 week, using contralateral arms. After each bout, participants received either CwC therapy (at 0, 24, and 48 h postexercise) or no therapy with intervention order and limb randomly assigned. Prior to (pre-exercise) and 1, 24, 48, and 72 h after each exercise bout, muscular strength, muscular power, intramuscular glycogen, creatine kinase, muscle thickness, muscle soreness, pressure pain threshold, active elbow flexion, passive elbow extension, and dietary intake were assessed. Comparisons were made between conditions over time (interaction effects) using separate repeated-measures analyses of variance/multivariate analyses of variance and effect sizes (Cohen d) to describe treatment effect at each time point. Results: Significant interaction effects were observed for muscular strength ( d = 0.67-1.12), muscular power ( d = 0.20-0.65), intramuscular glycogen ( d = 0.29-0.81), creatine kinase ( d = 0.01-0.96), muscle thickness ( d = 0.35-0.70), muscle soreness ( d = 0.18-0.85), and active elbow flexion ( d = 0.65-1.17) indicating a beneficial effect of CwC over time ( P ≤ 0.05). In contrast, no significant interaction effect was observed for pressure pain threshold or passive elbow extension ( P > 0.05). Conclusion: These results support the use of CwC for the recovery of muscle function after damaging exercise in male patients and indicate that CwC attenuates, but does not remove, the disruption of intramuscular glycogen stores observed after intense eccentric exercise. Clinical Relevance: Glycolysis-dependent athletes may benefit from CwC therapy after training/competition that causes EAMD.