Le point sur les recommandations de santé publique en matière d’activité physique

Objective

To describe the evolution of the recommendations for physical activity to better understand their scientific bases and to summarize the current public health recommendations for physical activity.

News

The health-related benefits from physical activity are well-known even if all the mechanisms are not well understood. Some recommendations have been published and guidelines have been provided.

Perspectives and projects

Public health recommendations for physical activity are largely shared. However, specific recommendations for management of chronic disease should be precised.

Conclusion

Recommendations for physical activity should be disseminate among professionals, and particularly among health professionals because of their capacity to deliver advices to their patients. The challenge consists in defining the optimal quantity and the type of physical activity according to the characteristics of the population and their health.     

Perception de soi et activité physique adaptée dans l’anorexie mentale

Introduction

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder related to disturbances of self-perception (body image, self-esteem, physical self-perception).

Methods and results

These three components of self-perception were assessed by questionnaires in 19 women with anorexia, at the beginning and at the end of a program of adapted physical activity (APA), and in 16 women without eating disorder. Results revealed that the anorexics scores were significantly lower than controls for the three variables. Nevertheless, we observed no effect of the program of APA on these variables for anorexics.

Conclusion

In spite of absence of significant effect, we considered that a six-month program of APA would contribute to the anorexia recovery process by reducing the self-perception disturbances.     

Condition physique et niveau d’activité physique d’adolescents présentant une déficience intellectuelle

Introduction

The aim of this study is to analyze the physical fitness and physical activity in adolescents with intellectual disabilities.

Summary of facts

These adolescents had a low level of physical fitness according to Eurofit test battery compared with standard results. Moreover, 41.18% of participants presented an excess of body fat mass and only 12% reach enough physical activity to avoid an excess of body fat.

Conclusion

This low physical fitness coupled with low levels of physical activity increases the health risks and might worsen restriction of social participation.     

Activité physique adaptée et qualité de vie liée à la santé lors d’un séjour hospitalier chez des enfants atteints d’un cancer : APOP, un essai randomisé en cross-over

Introduction

The objective was to assess the efficacy of adapted physical activity on quality of life of hospitalized children and adolescents with cancer.

Facts

Thirty children were included in the APOP study (mean age 13.6 ± 2.9 years; 18 males). Cross-over analysis revealed no effect of period or interaction between physical activity and period. Quality of life was higher when children practiced than when they did not practice physical activity during their hospitalization, as reported by both children and parents, for the dimensions of physical functioning (P < 0.0001), role/social-physical limitations (P = 0.001), self-esteem (P < 0.0001) and mental health (P < 0.0001). Physical activity had a significant effect on the general behavior dimension (P = 0.01), as reported by children, and on the bodily pain dimension (P = 0.0004), as reported by parents.

Conclusion

Physical activity practiced during hospitalization for children with cancer was associated with better health-related quality of life.