This study aimed to evaluate systematic reviews and meta-analyses that have examined the effect of exercise training on VO₂max in healthy individuals at different intensities. Five databases were searched:EBSCOhost, MEDLINE/PubMed, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Eligibility criteria for selecting reviews included systematic reviews and meta-analyses of healthy adults that examined the effect of lower intensity training (LIT) and/or high intensity training (HIT) on VO₂max. Eleven reviews met the eligibility criteria. All reviews were of moderate-to-very strong methodological quality. The included reviews reported data from 179 primary studies with an average of 23±10 studies per review. All reviews included in this overview showed that exercise training robustly increased VO₂max at all intensities. Three meta-analyses that compared LIT versus HIT protocols on VO₂max reported small/moderate beneficial effects for HIT over LIT; however, the beneficial effects of HIT on VO₂max appear to be moderated by training variables other than intensity (e.g., training impulse, interval length, training volume, and duration) and participants baseline characteristics (e.g., age and fitness levels). Overall, evidence from this overview suggests that the apparent differences between LIT and HIT protocols on VO₂max were either small, trivial, or inconclusive, with several methodological considerations required to standardise research designs and draw definitive conclusions.

Internationally, insufficient physical activity (PA) is a major health concern. Children in Northern Ireland (NI) are recorded as having the lowest levels of PA in the United Kingdom (UK). To date, validated and representative data on the PA levels of NI school children are limited. The aim of this study was to provide surveillance data on self-reported PA, sport and physical education (PE) participation of school children in NI. Differences between genders and factors associated with PA were also examined. A representative sample of primary (n = 446) and post-primary (n = 1508) children was surveyed in school using validated self-report measures. Findings suggest that PA levels are low, with a minority of children (13%) meeting the PA guidelines (primary pupils 20%, post-primary pupils 11%). NI school children have lower levels of PA, PE and sports participation than UK and European peers. A trend of age-related decline across all the domains of PA was apparent. The data presented highlighted that females are less likely to achieve PA guidelines, children from lower socio-economic background participate in school and community sport less often, and that enjoyment and social support are important variables in PA adherence. Policy solutions that would support implementation e.g., mandatory minimum PE time, whole school approaches to PA promotion and targeted investment in schools, particularly in areas of deprivation and for females, are suggested.

Activity monitors such as the SenseWear Pro3 (SWP3) and the activPAL3 Micro (aP ³ M) are regularly used by researchers and practitioners to provide estimates of the metabolic cost (METs) of activities in free-living settings. The purpose of this study is to examine the accuracy of the MET predictions from the SWP3 and the aP ³ M compared to the criterion standard MET values from indirect calorimetry. Fifty-six participants (mean age: 39.9 (±11.5), 25M/31F) performed eight activities (four daily living, three ambulatory and one cycling), while simultaneously wearing a SWP3, aP ³ M and the Cosmed K4B ² (K4B ² ) mobile metabolic unit. Paired samples T -tests were used to examine differences between device predicted METs and criterion METs. Bland–Altman plots were constructed to examine the mean bias and limits of agreement for predicted METs compared to criterion METs. SWP3 predicted MET values were significantly different from the K4B ² for each activity ( p ⩽ 0.004), excluding sweeping ( p = 0.122). aP ³ M predicted MET values were significantly different ( p < 0.001) from the K4B ² for each activity. When examining the activities collectively, both devices underestimated activity intensity (0.20 METs (SWP3), 0.95 METs (aP ³ M)). The greatest mean bias for the SWP3 was for cycling (−3.25 METs), with jogging (−5.16 METs) producing the greatest mean bias for the aP ³ M. All of the activities (excluding SWP3 sweeping) were significantly different from the criterion measure. Although the SWP3 predicted METs are more accurate than their aP ³ M equivalent, the predicted MET values from both devices are significantly different from the criterion measure for the majority of activities.