Elin Kolle

• Husøy, Anders; Kolle, Elin; Steene-Johannessen, Jostein; Dalene, Knut Eirik; Andersen, Lars Bo & Ekelund, Ulf [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2024). Longitudinal changes in device-measured physical activity from childhood to young adulthood: the PANCS follow-up study. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. ISSN 1479-5868. 21(1). doi: 10.1186/s12966-024-01578-7.
• Malnes, Lena; Berntsen, Sveinung; Kolle, Elin; Ivarsson, Andreas; Dyrstad, Sindre Mikal & Resaland, Geir Kåre [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2023). School-based physical activity in relation to active travel – a cluster randomized controlled trial among adolescents enrolled in the school in motion study in Norway. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. ISSN 1479-5868. 20(1). doi: 10.1186/s12966-023-01534-x. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background Active travel and school settings are considered ideal for promoting physical activity. However, previous research suggests limited effect of school-based interventions on overall physical activity levels among adolescents. The relationship between physical activity in different domains remains inconclusive. In this study, we examined the effects of adding two weekly hours of school-based physical activity on active travel rates. Method We analyzed data from 1370 pupils in the 9th-grade participating in the cluster RCT; the School In Motion (ScIM) project. Intervention schools (n = 19) implemented 120 min of class-scheduled physical activity and physical education, in addition to the normal 2 hours of weekly physical education in the control schools (n = 9), for 9 months. Active travel was defined as pupils who reported walking or cycling to school, while motorized travel was defined as pupils who commuted by bus or car, during the spring/summer half of the year (April–September), or autumn/winter (October–February). The participants were categorized based on their travel mode from pretest to posttest as; maintained active or motorized travel (“No change”), changing to active travel (motorized-active), or changing to motorized travel (active-motorized). Multilevel logistic regression was used to analyze the intervention effect on travel mode. Results During the intervention period, most participants maintained their travel habits. In total, 91% of pupils maintained their travel mode to school. Only 6% of pupils switched to motorized travel and 3% switched to active travel, with small variations according to season and trip direction. The intervention did not seem to influence the likelihood of changing travel mode. The odds ratios for changing travel habits in spring/summer season were from active to motorized travel 1.19 [95%CI: 0.53–2.15] and changing from motorized to active travel 1.18 [0.30–2.62], compared to the “No change” group. These findings were consistent to and from school, and for the autumn/winter season. Conclusion The extra school-based physical activity does not seem to affect rates of active travel among adolescents in the ScIM project.

• Leibinger, Eva; Åvitsland, Andreas; Resaland, Geir Kåre; Solberg, Runar Barstad; Kolle, Elin & Dyrstad, Sindre Mikal (2022). Relationship between health-related quality of life and physical fitness in Norwegian adolescents. Quality of Life Research. ISSN 0962-9343. doi: 10.1007/s11136-022-03309-6. Full text in Research Archive
• Andersen, Oddbjørn Klomsten; Gebremariam, Mekdes; Kolle, Elin & Tarp, Jakob (2022). Socioeconomic position, built environment and physical activity among children and adolescents: a systematic review of mediating and moderating effects. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. ISSN 1479-5868. 19. doi: 10.1186/s12966-022-01385-y. Show summary

  Background: Physical activity behaviors among children and adolescents are socioeconomically patterned. Understanding if, and how, the built environment contributes to socioeconomic inequalities in physical activity and for whom built environments are most important, can lead to the identification of intervention entry points to reduce inequalities in physical activity. Objective: To summarize the existing evidence among children and adolescents on (a) whether the built environment mediates the association between socioeconomic position and physical activity and (b) whether socioeconomic position moderates the association between the built environment and physical activity. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO and Web of Science. Two independent reviewers screened articles for eligibility, extracted information from included studies and assessed risk of bias with the Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional studies. We performed a narrative evidence synthesis considering the totality of the evidence and by study characteristics such as geographic region, age group, and exposure-outcome assessment methodology. The reporting was conducted in agreement with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement. Results: A total of 28 papers were included. In general, the studies were of low methodological quality. There was no evidence to support that the built environment functions as a mediator in the relationship between socioeconomic position and physical activity. We observed inconclusive moderation patterns with five studies reporting stronger associations between features of the built environment and physical activity among high socioeconomic positioned youths. Seven studies reported stronger associations among low socioeconomic positioned youth and fourteen studies reported no difference in associations. We observed different moderation patterns across geographical regions (Europe vs. US) indicating that, in Europe, having a walkable neighborhood is important for low socioeconomic positioned youth only. No differences in moderation patterns were observed for younger vs. older children or activity domains. Conclusion: Current evidence does not support a strong interplay between built environment and socioeconomic position on physical activity in youth. However, given the low quality of the evidence, firm conclusions cannot be made, and additional high-quality research is likely to have substantial impact on the evidence base.

• Dalene, Knut Eirik; Kolle, Elin; Steene-Johannessen, Jostein; Hansen, Bjørge Hermann; Ekelund, Ulf & Grydeland, May [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2022). Device-measured sedentary time in Norwegian children and adolescents in the era of ubiquitous internet access: secular changes between 2005, 2011 and 2018. International Journal of Epidemiology. ISSN 0300-5771. 51(5), p. 1556–1567. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyac063. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background: Access to screen-based media has been revolutionized during the past two decades. How this has affected sedentary time (ST) accumulation in children is poorly understood. Methods: This study, based on the Physical Activity among Norwegian Children Study (PANCS), uses accelerometer data from population-based samples of 9- and 15‐year-olds, collected in 2005 (n = 1722), 2011 (n = 1587) and 2018 (n = 1859). Secular changes between surveys were analysed using random-effects linear regression models adjusted for survey-specific factors. Data on ST were collected using hip-worn ActiGraphs and ST was defined using a threshold equivalent to <100 counts/min. Sedentary bouts were grouped by duration: <1, 1–5, 5–15, 15–30 and ≥30 min. Results: Between 2005 and 2018, ST increased by 29 min/day in 9-year-old boys (95% CI: 19, 39; P <0.001), by 21 min/day in 15-year-old boys (95% CI: 8, 34; P = 0.002) and by 22 min/day in 15-year-old girls (95% CI: 10, 35; P <0.001), but not in 9-year-old girls at 6 min/day (95% CI: -3, 16; P = 0.191). All age-sex groups accumulated less ST in bouts lasting <5 min and more ST in longer bouts, particularly in 5–15-min bouts. Adolescent girls also increased ST accumulation in 15–30-min and ≥30-min bouts. Changes were largely mirrored before, during and after school on weekdays and during weekend days. Conclusions: Coinciding with the introduction of smartphones, tablets and near-universal internet access, total daily ST and ST accumulated in prolonged sedentary bouts increased between 2005 and 2018 in children and adolescents.

• Malnes, Lena Hansen; Haugen, Tommy; Hansen, Bjørge Hermann; Kolle, Elin & Berntsen, Sveinung (2022). Establishing the Convergent Validity of the Travel Habit Questions in the Health Behavior in School-Aged Children Questionnaire by Quantifying Active Travel in Norwegian Adolescents. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living. ISSN 2624-9367. 4. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2022.761723. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background: Active travel (cycling or walking to school) can be a substantial part of adolescents' daily physical activity. Research on transport activities primarily relies on self-reported indices of travel mode and travel time. However, many researchers do not report the psychometric properties of their instruments. The Health Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSC) questionnaire is a commonly used instrument, but the items in this questionnaire on travel habits have not yet been validated. The present study was conducted to investigate the convergent validity and agreement between the HBSC items and a travel diary on (1) transport mode to and from school and (2) travel time to school. Methods: The study sample consisted of 50 participants in the 9th grade (15 ± 0.3 years, 62% girls) from seven Norwegian schools. Outcome variables included transport mode and travel time derived from the HBSC items and a five-day travel diary. Convergent validity was assessed by evaluating Cohen's kappa for travel mode and the correlation coefficient (Spearman Rho) for travel time. Simple agreement calculations between the two measurement methods were also conducted. Results: The association between the HBSC questionnaire and the diary for travel mode to and from school was κ = 0.63 (P < 0.001) and κ = 0.77 (P < 0.001), respectively. The total agreement between the HBSC questionnaire and the diary for was 78%. However, the agreement was higher for walking (88%) and cycling (91%) than for motorized transport (67%). For travel time, the Spearman correlation coefficient was ρ = 0.60 (P < 0.001) between the HBSC questionnaire and the diary. The total agreement on travel time was 67%; however, active commuters (86%) seemed to more accurately estimated travel time than motorized commuters (55%). Conclusion: Although the overall agreement between the HBSC questionnaire and the diary for mode of transport was 78%, the HBSC questionnaire may underestimate the prevalence of motorized transport compared to walking and cycling.

• Zhou, Bin; Carrillo-Larco, Rodrigo M.; Danaei, Goodarz; Riley, Leanne M.; Paciorek, Christopher J. & Stevens, Gretchen A. [Show all 100 contributors for this article] (2021). Worldwide trends in hypertension prevalence and progress in treatment and control from 1990 to 2019: a pooled analysis of 1201 population-representative studies with 104 million participants. The Lancet. ISSN 0140-6736. 398(10304), p. 957–980. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)01330-1. Full text in Research Archive
• Solberg, Runar Barstad; Steene-Johannessen, Jostein; Fagerland, Morten; Anderssen, Sigmund Alfred; Berntsen, Sveinung & Resaland, Geir Kåre [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2021). Aerobic fitness mediates the intervention effects of a school-based physical activity intervention on academic performance. The school in Motion study – A cluster randomized controlled trial. Preventive Medicine Reports. ISSN 2211-3355. 24. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2021.101648. Full text in Research Archive
• Iurilli, Maria Laura Caminia; Zhou, Bin; Bennett, James E.; Carrillo-Larco, Rodrigo M.; Sophiea, Marisa K. & Rodriguez-Martinez, Andrea [Show all 77 contributors for this article] (2021). Heterogeneous contributions of change in population distribution of body mass index to change in obesity and underweight. eLIFE. ISSN 2050-084X. 10. doi: 10.7554/eLife.60060. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  From 1985 to 2016, the prevalence of underweight decreased, and that of obesity and severe obesity increased, in most regions, with significant variation in the magnitude of these changes across regions. We investigated how much change in mean body mass index (BMI) explains changes in the prevalence of underweight, obesity, and severe obesity in different regions using data from 2896 population-based studies with 187 million participants. Changes in the prevalence of underweight and total obesity, and to a lesser extent severe obesity, are largely driven by shifts in the distribution of BMI, with smaller contributions from changes in the shape of the distribution. In East and Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, the underweight tail of the BMI distribution was left behind as the distribution shifted. There is a need for policies that address all forms of malnutrition by making healthy foods accessible and affordable, while restricting unhealthy foods through fiscal and regulatory restrictions.

• Åvitsland, Andreas; Leibinger, Eva; Kolle, Elin; Haugen, Tommy & Dyrstad, Sindre Mikal (2021). Associations between changes in physical fitness and psychological difficulties status among Norwegian adolescents. Mental Health and Physical Activity. ISSN 1755-2966. 21. doi: 10.1016/j.mhpa.2021.100411. Full text in Research Archive
• Steene-Johannessen, Jostein; Anderssen, Sigmund Alfred; Kolle, Elin; Hansen, Bjørge Hermann; Bratteteig, Mari & Dalhaug, Emilie Frederikke Mass [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2021). Temporal trends in physical activity levels across more than a decade – a national physical activity surveillance system among Norwegian children and adolescents. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. ISSN 1479-5868. 18. doi: 10.1186/s12966-021-01120-z. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background: There is a scarcity of device measured data on temporal changes in physical activity (PA) in large population-based samples. The purpose of this study is to describe gender and age-group specific temporal trends in device measured PA between 2005, 2011 and 2018 by comparing three nationally representative samples of children and adolescents. Methods: Norwegian children and adolescents (6, 9 and 15-year-olds) were invited to participate in 2005 (only 9- and 15-year-olds), 2011 and 2018 through cluster sampling (schools primary sampling units). A combined sample of 9500 individuals participated. Physical activity was assessed by hip worn accelerometers, with PA indices including overall PA (counts per minute), moderate-to-vigorous intensity PA (MVPA), and PA guideline adherence (achieving on average ≥ 60 min/day of moderate-to-vigorous PA). Random-effects linear regressions and logistic regressions adjusted for school-level clusters were used to analyse temporal trends. Findings: In total, 8186 of the participating children and adolescents provided valid PA data. Proportions of sufficiently active 6-year-olds were almost identical in 2011 and 2018; boys 95% (95% CI: 92, 97) and 94% (95%CI: 92, 96) and girls 86% (95% CI: 83, 90) and 86% (95% CI: 82, 90). Proportions of sufficiently active 15-year-olds in 2005 and 2018 were 52% (95% CI: 46, 59) and 55% (95% CI: 48, 62) in boys, and 48% (95% CI: 42, 55) and 44% (95% CI: 37, 51) in girls, respectively, resulting from small differences in min/day of MVPA. Among 9-year-old boys and girls, proportions of sufficiently active declined between 2005 and 2018, from 90% (95% CI: 87, 93) to 84% (95% CI: 80, 87)) and 74% (95% CI: 69, 79) to 68% (95% CI: 64, 72), respectively. This resulted from 9.7 min/day less MVPA in boys (95% CI: − 14.8, − 4.7; p < 0.001) and 3.2 min/day less MVPA (95% CI: − 7.0, 0.7; p = 0.106) in girls. Conclusions: PA levels have been fairly stable between 2005, 2011 and 2018 in Norwegian youth. However, the declining PA level among 9-year-old boys and the low proportion of 15-year-olds sufficiently active is concerning. To evaluate the effect of, and plan for new, PA promoting strategies, it is important to ensure more frequent, systematic, device-based monitoring of population-levels of PA.

• Solberg, Runar Barstad; Steene-Johannessen, Jostein; Anderssen, Sigmund Alfred; Ekelund, Ulf; Säfvenbom, Reidar & Haugen, Tommy [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2021). Effects of a school-based physical activity intervention on academic performance in 14-year old adolescents: a cluster randomized controlled trial – the School in Motion study. BMC Public Health. ISSN 1471-2458. 21. doi: 10.1186/s12889-021-10901-x. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background: School-based physical activity interventions evaluating the effect on academic performance usually includes children. We aimed to investigate the effect of a nine-month, school-based physical activity intervention titled School in Motion (ScIM) on academic performance in adolescents. Methods: Thirty secondary schools in Norway were cluster-randomized into three groups: the Physically active learning (PAL) group (n = 10), the Don’t worry – Be Happy (DWBH) group (n = 10) or control (n = 10). Target dose in both intervention groups was 120 min/week of additional PA during school hours. Parental consent was obtained from 2084 adolescent students (76%). Standardized national tests in reading and numeracy was conducted at baseline and at the end of the intervention. We used linear mixed model to test intervention effects. We found significant intervention effects in numeracy and reading among students in both interventions when compared with controls. Results: The mean difference in change in numeracy was 1.7 (95% CI: 0.9 to 2.5; Cohen’s d = 0.12) and 2.0 (95% CI: 1.4 to 2.7; Cohen’s d = 0.23) points in favour of students in the PAL and DWBH intervention, respectively. Similar results were found for reading, where the mean difference in change was 0.9 (95% CI 0.2 to 1.6; Cohen’s d = 0.06) and 1.1 (95% CI 0.3 to 1.9; Cohen’s d = 0.18) points in favour of students in the PAL and DWBH intervention, respectively. When conducting intention to treat analysis with imputed data the estimates were attenuated and some no longer significant. Conclusion: The ScIM study demonstrates that two different school-based PA interventions providing approximately 120 min of additional PA weekly over nine months, significantly improved numeracy and reading performance in 14-year old students compared with controls. However, the results should be interpreted with caution as the effect sizes reported were very small or small and the estimates were attenuated when conducting intention to treat analysis. Despite this, our results are still positive and suggest that PA interventions are viable models to increase academic performance among adolescents.

• Brazendale, Keith; Beets, Michael W.; Armstrong, Bridget; Weaver, R. Glenn; Hunt, Ethan T. & Pate, Russell R. [Show all 24 contributors for this article] (2021). Children’s moderate-to-vigorous physical activity on weekdays versus weekend days: a multi-country analysis. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. ISSN 1479-5868. 18:28, p. 1–13. doi: 10.1186/s12966-021-01095-x. Full text in Research Archive
• Andersen, Oddbjørn Klomsten; O'Halloran, Siobhan Anne; Kolle, Elin; Lien, Nanna; Lakerveld, Jeroen & Arah, Onyebuchi A. [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2021). Adapting the SPOTLIGHT Virtual Audit Tool to assess food and activity environments relevant for adolescents: a validity and reliability study. International Journal of Health Geographics. ISSN 1476-072X. 20:4, p. 1–14. doi: 10.1186/s12942-021-00258-0. Full text in Research Archive
• Sundgot-Borgen, Christine; Sundgot-Borgen, Jorunn; Bratland-Sanda, Solfrid; Kolle, Elin; Torstveit, Monica Klungland & Svantorp-Tveiten, Kethe Marie Engen [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2021). Body appreciation and body appearance pressure in Norwegian university students comparing exercise science students and other students. BMC Public Health. ISSN 1471-2458. 21. doi: 10.1186/s12889-021-10550-0. Full text in Research Archive
• Taddei, Cristina; Jackson, Rod; Zhou, Bin; Bixby, Honor; Danaei, Goodarz & Di Cesare, Mariachiara [Show all 361 contributors for this article] (2020). National trends in total cholesterol obscure heterogeneous changes in HDL and non-HDL cholesterol and total-to-HDL cholesterol ratio: A pooled analysis of 458 population-based studies in Asian and Western countries. International Journal of Epidemiology. ISSN 0300-5771. 49(1), p. 173–192. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyz099.
• Taddei, Cristina; Zhou, Bin; Bixby, Honor; Carrillo-Larco, Rodrigo M.; Danaei, Goodarz & Jackson, Rod T. [Show all 55 contributors for this article] (2020). Repositioning of the global epicentre of non-optimal cholesterol . Nature. ISSN 0028-0836. 582, p. 73–77. doi: 10.1038/s41586-020-2338-1. Full text in Research Archive
• Rodriguez-Martinez, Andrea; Zhou, Bin; Sophiea, Marisa K.; Bentham, James; Paciorek, Christopher J. & Turilli, Maria L.C. [Show all 54 contributors for this article] (2020). Height and body-mass index trajectories of school-aged children and adolescents from 1985 to 2019 in 200 countries and territories: a pooled analysis of 2181 population-based studies with 65 million participants. The Lancet. ISSN 0140-6736. 396(10261), p. 1511–1524. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31859-6. Full text in Research Archive
• Kolle, Elin; Solberg, Runar Barstad; Säfvenbom, Reidar; Dyrstad, Sindre Mikal; Berntsen, Sveinung & Resaland, Geir Kåre [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2020). The effect of a school-based intervention on physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle strength: the School in Motion cluster randomized trial. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. ISSN 1479-5868. 17. doi: 10.1186/s12966-020-01060-0. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background: Physical activity (PA) declines throughout adolescence, therefore PA promotion during this period is important. We analyzed the effect of two school-based PA interventions on daily PA levels, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and muscle strength among adolescents. Methods: For the nine-month School in Motion intervention study (ScIM), we cluster-randomized 30 Norwegian secondary schools (N = 2084, mean age [SD] = 14 [0.3] years) to one of three study arms. The physically active learning (PAL) intervention included 30 min physically active learning, 30 min PA and a 60 min physical education (PE) lesson per week. The Don’t worry-Be happy (DWBH) intervention included a 60 min PA lesson and a 60 min PE lesson per week, both tailored to promote friendships and wellbeing. Both intervention arms were designed to engage the adolescents in 120 min of PA per week in addition to recess and mandatory PE lessons. The control group continued as per usual, including the standard amount of mandatory PE. PA (main outcome) was assessed by accelerometers, CRF and muscle strength (secondary outcomes) were assessed by an intermittent running test and selected tests from the Eurofit test battery. Results: Daily PA and time spent in moderate- to vigorous-intensity PA (MVPA) decreased in all groups throughout the intervention. The mean difference in PA level and MVPA for participants in the PAL-intervention arm was 34.7 cpm (95% CI: 4.1, 65.3) and 4.7 min/day (95% CI: 0.6, 8.8) higher, respectively, compared to the control arm. There were no significant intervention effects on daily PA level, MVPA or time spent sedentary for adolescents in the DWBH-intervention arm. Adolescents in the PAL-intervention arm increased distance covered in the running test compared to controls (19.8 m, 95% CI: 10.4, 29.1), whilst a negative intervention effect was observed among adolescents in the DWBH-intervention arm (− 11.6 m, 95% CI: − 22.0, − 1.1). Conclusion: The PAL-intervention resulted in a significantly smaller decrease in daily PA level, time spent in MVPA, and increased CRF compared to controls. Our results indicate that a teacher-led intervention, including three unique intervention components, is effective in curbing the decline in PA observed across our cohort and improving CRF.

• Aandstad, Anders; Sandberg, Frank; Hageberg, Rune & Kolle, Elin (2020). Change in anthropometrics and physical fitness in norwegian cadets during 3 years of military academy education. Military medicine. ISSN 0026-4075. 185(7-8), p. E1112–E1119. doi: 10.1093/milmed/usz470. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Introduction: High physical fitness is associated with increased occupational performance, better health, and reduced risk of injuries in military personnel. Thus, the military emphasizes physical training to maintain or develop physical fitness in their soldiers. It is important to monitor the effect of the physical training regime, but such information is lacking for Norwegian military cadets. Hence, the primary aim of this study was to investigate changes in anthropometrics and physical fitness among male and female army, navy and air force cadets during 3 years of military academy education. Materials and methods: 260 male and 29 female Norwegian cadets from the army, navy, and air force academies volunteered to participate. Anthropometrics, muscular power, muscular endurance, and maximal oxygen uptake were measured at entry (T0) and end of each year (T1, T2, and T3). Linear mixed models were used to examine the development in anthropometrics and physical fitness. We applied to the Regional Committee for Medical and Health Research Ethics to review the study before start-up, but the study was considered exempted from notification. The study was reviewed and approved by the Norwegian Social Science Data Services. Results: Male and female cadets significantly increased their body weight, fat-free mass, body mass index, and percent body fat by 1 to 5% from T0 to T3. Skeletal muscle mass was unchanged. Muscular power (medicine ball throw and vertical jump) and muscular endurance (pull-ups and push-ups) increased by 3 to 20% in male cadets, while female cadets only increased results significantly for the medicine ball throw (10%). Relative maximal oxygen uptake decreased by 4% in both sexes, while absolute maximal oxygen uptake only decreased significantly (by 2%) in male cadets. Most of the observed changes were classified as trivial or small, according to calculated effect sizes. The observed changes were generally of similar magnitude for male and female cadets, and similar among the three academies. Conclusions: Anthropometrics and physical fitness were relatively stable in Norwegian male and female army, navy, and air force cadets during 3 years of military academy education. Observed changes were typically classified as trivial or small. The initial gap in physical fitness between male and female cadets did not narrow during the education years. Norwegian male and female cadets displayed relatively good physical fitness profiles, compared to sex-matched cadets and soldiers from previously studied military populations.

• Steene-Johannessen, Jostein; Hansen, Bjørge Hermann; Dalene, Knut Eirik; Kolle, Elin; Northstone, Kate & Møller, Niels Christian [Show all 51 contributors for this article] (2020). Variations in accelerometry measured physical activity and sedentary time across Europe – harmonized analyses of 47,497 children and adolescents. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. ISSN 1479-5868. 17. doi: 10.1186/s12966-020-00930-x. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background: Levels of physical activity and variation in physical activity and sedentary time by place and person in European children and adolescents are largely unknown. The objective of the study was to assess the variations in objectively measured physical activity and sedentary time in children and adolescents across Europe. Methods: Six databases were systematically searched to identify pan-European and national data sets on physical activity and sedentary time assessed by the same accelerometer in children (2 to 9.9 years) and adolescents (≥10 to 18 years). We harmonized individual-level data by reprocessing hip-worn raw accelerometer data files from 30 different studies conducted between 1997 and 2014, representing 47,497 individuals (2–18 years) from 18 different European countries. Results: Overall, a maximum of 29% (95% CI: 25, 33) of children and 29% (95% CI: 25, 32) of adolescents were categorized as sufficiently physically active. We observed substantial country- and region-specific differences in physical activity and sedentary time, with lower physical activity levels and prevalence estimates in Southern European countries. Boys were more active and less sedentary in all age-categories. The onset of age-related lowering or leveling-off of physical activity and increase in sedentary time seems to become apparent at around 6 to 7 years of age. Conclusions: Two third of European children and adolescents are not sufficiently active. Our findings suggest substantial gender-, country- and region-specific differences in physical activity. These results should encourage policymakers, governments, and local and national stakeholders to take action to facilitate an increase in the physical activity levels of young people across Europe.

• Hansen, Bjørge Hermann; Dalene, Knut Eirik; Ekelund, Ulf; Fagerland, Morten; Kolle, Elin & Steene-Johannessen, Jostein [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2020). Step by step: Association of device‐measured daily steps with all‐cause mortality - A prospective cohort Study. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports. ISSN 0905-7188. 30(9), p. 1705–1711. doi: 10.1111/sms.13726. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Introduction: Walking is free, does not require special training, and can be done almost everywhere. Therefore, walking is a feasible behavior on which to tailor public health messages. This study assesses the prospective association and dose‐response relationship between daily steps and all‐cause mortality. Materials and Methods: Daily steps were measured by waist‐mounted accelerometers in 2183 individuals (53% women) for seven consecutive days at baseline (2008‐09). Participants were followed for a median period of 9.1 years and associations between steps and all‐cause mortality determined by registry linkage were assessed using Cox proportional hazard regression with adjustment for relevant covariates. Results: Mean age was 57.0 (SD 10.9) years at baseline. Median (IQR) daily steps across ascending quartiles were 4651 (3495‐5325), 6862 (6388‐7350), 8670 (8215‐9186), and 11 467 (10 556‐13 110), respectively. During follow‐up, 119 individuals died (68% men). Higher number of daily steps was associated with a lower risk of all‐cause mortality with hazard ratios of 1.00 (referent), 0.52 (0.29‐0.93), 0.50 (0.27‐0.94), and 0.43 (0.21‐0.88) across ascending quartiles of daily steps in the multivariable‐adjusted model with follow‐up commencing 2 years after baseline. Risk differences per 1000 individuals for ascending quartiles were 6.8 (2.9‐9.3), 7.1 (0.8‐11.1), and 8.0 (1.7‐12.1), respectively. Conclusions: Daily steps were associated with lower mortality risk in a non‐linear dose‐response pattern. The risk is almost halved when comparing the least active referent against the second quartile equivalent to a difference of about 2200 daily steps. Encouraging those least active to increase their daily steps may have substantial public health implications.

• Bernhardsen, Guro Pauck; Stensrud, Trine; Hansen, Bjørge Hermann; Steene-Johannessen, Jostein; Kolle, Elin & Nystad, Wenche [Show all 17 contributors for this article] (2020). Birth weight, cardiometabolic risk factors and effect modification of physical activity in children and adolescents: pooled data from 12 international studies. International Journal of Obesity. ISSN 0307-0565. 44(10), p. 2052–2063. doi: 10.1038/s41366-020-0612-9. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Objectives: Low and high birth weight is associated with higher levels of cardiometabolic risk factors and adiposity in children and adolescents, and increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and early mortality later in life. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is associated with lower cardiometabolic risk factors and may mitigate the detrimental consequences of high or low birth weight. Thus, we examined whether MVPA modified the associations between birth weight and cardiometabolic risk factors in children and adolescents. Methods: We used pooled individual data from 12 cohort- or cross-sectional studies including 9,100 children and adolescents. Birth weight was measured at birth or maternally reported retrospectively. Device-measured physical activity (PA) and cardiometabolic risk factors were measured in childhood or adolescence. We tested for associations between birth weight, MVPA, and cardiometabolic risk factors using multilevel linear regression, including study as a random factor. We tested for interaction between birth weight and MVPA by introducing the interaction term in the models (birth weight x MVPA). Results: Most of the associations between birth weight (kg) and cardiometabolic risk factors were not modified by MVPA (min/day), except between birth weight and waist circumference (cm) in children (p = 0.005) and HDL-cholesterol (mmol/l) in adolescents (p = 0.040). Sensitivity analyses suggested that some of the associations were modified by VPA, i.e., the associations between birth weight and diastolic blood pressure (mmHg) in children (p = 0.009) and LDL- cholesterol (mmol/l) (p = 0.009) and triglycerides (mmol/l) in adolescents (p = 0.028). Conclusion: MVPA appears not to consistently modify the associations between low birth weight and cardiometabolic risk. In contrast, MVPA may mitigate the association between higher birth weight and higher waist circumference in children. MVPA is consistently associated with a lower cardiometabolic risk across the birth weight spectrum. Optimal prenatal growth and subsequent PA are both important in relation to cardiometabolic health in children and adolescents.

• Sundgot-Borgen, Christine; Stenling, Andreas; Rosenvinge, Jan H; Pettersen, Gunn; Friborg, Oddgeir & Sundgot-Borgen, Jorunn [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2020). The Norwegian healthy body image intervention promotes positive embodiment through improved self-esteem. Body image. ISSN 1740-1445. 35, p. 84–95. doi: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2020.08.014. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  We examined both direct and indirect effects of the Healthy Body Image (HBI) intervention on positive embodiment among Norwegian high school students. In total, 2446 12th grade boys (43 %) and girls (mean age 16.8 years) from 30 schools participated in a cluster-randomized controlled study with the HBI intervention and a control condition as the study arms. We tested mediation models using path analysis and found that among several hypothesized mediators, only self-esteem mediated a positive intervention effect on positive embodiment for both boys and girls. A direct effect of the intervention on positive embodiment was only found in girls. The study provides novel findings indicating that health promotion interventions to address a positive embodiment should focus on enhancing adolescent’s self-esteem. Serial mediation modeling might reveal more complex explanations of change mechanisms and could further evolve current knowledge.

• Åvitsland, Andreas; Leibinger, Eva; Resaland, Geir Kåre; Solberg, Runar Barstad; Kolle, Elin & Dyrstad, Sindre Mikal (2020). Effects of school-based physical activity interventions on mental health in adolescents: The School in Motion cluster randomized controlled trial. Mental Health and Physical Activity. ISSN 1755-2966. 19, p. 1–10. doi: 10.1016/j.mhpa.2020.100348. Full text in Research Archive
• Åvitsland, Andreas; Leibinger, Eva; Haugen, Tommy; Lerum, Øystein; Solberg, Runar Barstad & Kolle, Elin [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2020). The association between physical fitness and mental health in Norwegian adolescents. BMC Public Health. ISSN 1471-2458. 20. doi: 10.1186/s12889-020-08936-7. Full text in Research Archive
• Bixby, Honor; Bentham, James; Zhou, Bin; Di Cesare, Mariachiara; Paciorek, Christopher J. & Bennett, James E. [Show all 51 contributors for this article] (2019). Rising rural body-mass index is the main driver of the global obesity epidemic in adults. Nature. ISSN 0028-0836. 569, p. 260–264. doi: 10.1038/s41586-019-1171-x. Full text in Research Archive
• Wijndaele, Katrien; White, Thomas; Andersen, Lars Bo; Bugge, Anna; Kolle, Elin & Northstone, Kate [Show all 17 contributors for this article] (2019). Substituting prolonged sedentary time and cardiovascular risk in children and youth: a meta-analysis within the International Children’s Accelerometry database (ICAD). International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. ISSN 1479-5868. 16:96, p. 1–10. doi: 10.1186/s12966-019-0858-6. Full text in Research Archive
• Sundgot-Borgen, Christine; Friborg, Oddgeir; Kolle, Elin; Torstveit, Monica Klungland; Sundgot-Borgen, Jorunn & Engen, Kethe Marie Elgesem [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2019). Does the Healthy Body Image program improve lifestyle habits among high school students? A randomized controlled trial with 12-month follow-up. Journal of International Medical Research. ISSN 0300-0605. doi: 10.1177/0300060519889453. Full text in Research Archive
• Bernhardsen, Guro Pauck; Stensrud, Trine; Nystad, Wenche; Dalene, Knut Eirik; Kolle, Elin & Ekelund, Ulf (2019). Early life risk factors for childhood obesity—Does physical activity modify the associations? The MoBa cohort study. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports. ISSN 0905-7188. 29(10), p. 1636–1646. doi: 10.1111/sms.13504. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Objectives: High maternal pre‐pregnancy body mass index (BMI), high birth weight, and rapid infant weight gain are associated with increased risk of childhood obesity. We examined whether moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity (MVPA) or vigorous physical activity (VPA) in 9‐ to 12‐year‐olds modified the associations between these early life risk factors and subsequent body composition and BMI. Methods: We used data from a sub‐cohort of the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa), including 445 children with available data on accelerometer assessed physical activity (PA). All participants had data on BMI, 186 of them provided data on body composition (dual energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA)). We used multiple regression analyses to examine the modifying effect of PA by including interaction terms. Results: Maternal pre‐pregnancy BMI and infant weight gain were more strongly related to childhood body composition in boys than in girls. Higher VPA attenuated the association between maternal pre‐pregnancy BMI and BMI in boys (low VPA: B = 0.32, 95% CI = 0.22, 0.41; high VPA B = 0.22, 95% CI = 0.12, 0.31). Birth weight was unrelated to childhood body composition, and there was no effect modification by PA. PA attenuated the associations between infant weight gain and childhood fat mass (low MVPA: B = 2.32, 95% CI = 0.48, 4.17; high MVPA: B = 1.00, 95% CI = 0.10, 1.90) and percent fat (low MVPA: B = 3.35, 95% CI = 0.56, 6.14; high MVPA: B = 1.41, 95% CI = −0.06, 2.87) in boys, but not girls. Conclusion: Findings from this study suggest that MVPA and VPA may attenuate the increased risk of an unfavorable body composition and BMI due to high maternal pre‐pregnancy BMI and rapid infant weight gain in boys, but not in girls.

• Gjestvang, Christina; Stensrud, Trine; Hansen, Bjørge Hermann; Kolle, Elin & Haakstad, Lene Annette Hagen (2019). Are fitness club members likely to meet the current physical activity recommendations? Translational Sports Medicine (TSM). ISSN 2573-8488. 3(2), p. 75–83. doi: 10.1002/tsm2.120.
• Kwon, Soyang; Andersen, Lars Bo; Grøntved, Anders; Kolle, Elin; Cardon, Greet & Davey, Rachel [Show all 14 contributors for this article] (2019). A closer look at the relationship among accelerometer-based physical activity metrics: ICAD pooled data. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. ISSN 1479-5868. 16. doi: 10.1186/s12966-019-0801-x. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background Accelerometers are widely used to assess child physical activity (PA) levels. Using the accelerometer data, several PA metrics can be estimated. Knowledge about the relationships between these different metrics can improve our understanding of children’s PA behavioral patterns. It also has significant implications for comparing PA metrics across studies and fitting a statistical model to examine their health effects. The aim of this study was to examine the relationships among the metrics derived from accelerometers in children. Methods Accelerometer data from 24,316 children aged 5 to 18 years were extracted from the International Children’s Accelerometer Database (ICAD) 2.0. Correlation coefficients between wear time, sedentary behavior (SB), light-intensity PA (LPA), moderate-intensity PA (MPA), vigorous-intensity PA (VPA), moderate- and vigorous-intensity PA (MVPA), and total activity counts (TAC) were calculated. Results TAC was approximately 22X103 counts higher (p < 0.01) with longer wear time (13 to 18 h/day) as compared to shorter wear time (8 to < 13 h/day), while MVPA was similar across the wear time categories. MVPA was very highly correlated with TAC (r = .91; 99% CI = .91 to .91). Wear time-adjusted correlation between SB and LPA was also very high (r = −.96; 99% CI = -.96, − 95). VPA was moderately correlated with MPA (r = .58; 99% CI = .57, .59). Conclusions TAC is mostly explained by MVPA, while it could be more dependent on wear time, compared to MVPA. MVPA appears to be comparable across different wear durations and studies when wear time is ≥8 h/day. Due to the moderate to high correlation between some PA metrics, potential collinearity should be addressed when including multiple PA metrics together in statistical modeling.

• Sundgot-Borgen, Christine; Friborg, Oddgeir; Kolle, Elin; Engen, Kethe Marie Elgesem; Sundgot-Borgen, Jorunn & Rosenvinge, Jan H [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2019). The healthy body image (HBI) intervention: Effects of a school-based cluster-randomized controlled trial with 12-months follow-up. Body image. ISSN 1740-1445. 29, p. 122–131. doi: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2019.03.007. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  We examined the effects of the Healthy Body Image (HBI) intervention on positive embodiment and health-related quality of life among Norwegian high school students. The intervention comprised three interactive workshops, with body image, media literacy, and lifestyle as main themes. In total, 2,446 12th grade boys (43%) and girls (mean age 16.8 years) from 30 high schools participated in a cluster-randomized controlled study with the HBI intervention and a control condition as the study arms. Data were collected at baseline, post-intervention, 3- and 12-months follow-up, and analysed using linear mixed regression models. The HBI intervention caused a favourable immediate change in positive embodiment and health-related quality of life among intervention girls, which was maintained at follow-up. Among intervention boys, however, weak post-intervention effects on embodiment and health-related quality of life vanished at the follow-ups. Future studies should address steps to make the HBI intervention more relevant for boys as well as determine whether the number of workshops or themes may be shortened to ease implementation and to enhance intervention effects.

• Hansen, Bjørge Hermann; Steene-Johannessen, Jostein & Kolle, Elin (2018). Status fysisk aktivitet og fysisk form i befolkningen. In Torstveit, Monica Klungland; Lohne-Seiler, Hilde; Berntsen, Sveinung & Anderssen, Sigmund Alfred (Ed.), Fysisk aktivitet og helse: Fra begrepsforståelse til implementering av kunnskap. Cappelen Damm Akademisk. ISSN 9788202568313. p. 92–113.
• Kolle, Elin & Grydeland, May (2018). Begrepsavklaringer. In Torstveit, Monica Klungland; Lohne-Seiler, Hilde; Berntsen, Sveinung & Anderssen, Sigmund Alfred (Ed.), Fysisk aktivitet og helse: Fra begrepsforståelse til implementering av kunnskap. Cappelen Damm Akademisk. ISSN 9788202568313. p. 40–54.
• Hansen, Bjørge Hermann; Kolle, Elin; Steene-Johannessen, Jostein; Dalene, Knut Eirik; Ekelund, Ulf & Anderssen, Sigmund Alfred (2018). Monitoring population levels of physical activity and sedentary time in Norway across the lifespan. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports. ISSN 0905-7188. doi: 10.1111/sms.13314. Show summary

  Purpose: The pandemic of physical inactivity is recognized globally but there is a scarcity of studies employing valid and reliable assessment methods of physical activity (PA) across the lifespan. The purpose of this study is to provide a comprehensive description of objectively measured PA, sedentary time, and prevalence of meeting PA recommendations, in a population‐based sample of Norwegian children, adolescents and adults. Methods: Children and adolescents (6, 9 and 15‐year‐olds) were surveyed in 2011, and adults and older people (20‐85‐year‐olds) were surveyed in 2014/15, including more than 8000 individuals. Anthropometric data were measured in children and adolescents and self‐reported in the adult sample. PA was assessed by ActiGraph accelerometers for seven consecutive days, and PA indices include total PA (counts per minute), intensity‐specific PA, and adherence to PA recommendations. Results: Six‐year‐olds are 21% and 70% more active than 9‐ and 15‐year‐olds, respectively (P < 0.001). Nine‐year‐olds are 40% more active compared to 15‐year‐olds (P < 0.001). Moving from adolescence (15‐year‐olds) into adulthood (20‐65 years) yields a further reduction in total PA by 18%. Among six‐, nine‐ and 15‐year olds, 90%, 77%, and 48% meet the current PA recommendations, respectively, while adherence among adults and older people are 33% and 31%, respectively. Overweight and obese individuals had lower odds of meeting PA recommendations. Conclusions: The results from the Norwegian surveillance system indicate a strong association between age and indices of physical activity. The vast majority of Norwegian adults do not meet the PA recommendations and public health action are needed to increase PA in Norway.

• Aadland, Eivind; Anderssen, Sigmund Alfred; Andersen, Lars Bo; Resaland, Geir Kåre; Kolle, Elin & Steene-Johannessen, Jostein (2018). Aerobic fitness thresholds to define poor cardiometabolic health in children and youth. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports. ISSN 0905-7188. 29, p. 240–250. doi: 10.1111/sms.13330. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Aerobic fitness is an apparent candidate for screening children and youth for poor cardiometabolic health and future risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Yet, age‐ and sex‐specific cut points for children and youth determined using a maximal protocol and directly measured peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) does not exist. We used a nationally representative sample of 1462 Norwegian children and youth (788 boys and 674 girls aged 8.7–10.4 years and 14.7–16.7 years) who in 2005–2006 performed a maximal cycle ergometer test with direct measurement of VO2peak, along with measurement of several other risk factors for CVD (systolic blood pressure, waist circumference:height ratio, total:high density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, triglycerides, Homeostasis Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance). Based on the proportion of children having clustering (least favorable quartile) of 6 (1.6%), ≥ 5 (5.2%), and ≥ 4 (10.6%) CVD risk factors, we established the 2nd, 5th, and 10th percentile cut points for VO2peak (ml/kg/min) for children and youth aged 8–18 years. Classification accuracy was determined using the Kappa coefficient (k), sensitivity and specificity. For boys, the 2nd, 5th, and 10th percentile VO2peak cut points were 33.6–36.4, 36.3–39.8, and 38.7–43.0 ml/kg/min, respectively. For girls, the corresponding cut points were 29.7–29.1, 32.4–31.4, and 34.8–33.5 ml/kg/min, respectively. Together with BMI, but without more invasive measures of traditional risk factors for CVD, these cut points can be used to screen schoolchildren for poor cardiometabolic health with moderate discriminating ability (k ≤ 0.53).

• Dalene, Knut Eirik; Anderssen, Sigmund Alfred; Andersen, Lars Bo; Steene-Johannessen, Jostein; Ekelund, Ulf & Hansen, Bjørge Hermann [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2018). Cross-sectional and prospective associations between sleep, screen time, active school travel, sports/exercise participation and physical activity in children and adolescents. BMC Public Health. ISSN 1471-2458. 18(1). doi: 10.1186/s12889-018-5610-7. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background: The aim of this study was to investigate how sleep, screen time, active school travel and sport and/or exercise participation associates with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in nationally representative samples of Norwegian 9- and 15-y-olds, and whether these four behaviors at age nine predict change in MVPA from age nine to 15 years. Method: We pooled cross-sectional accelerometer and questionnaire data from 9- (n = 2366) and 15-y-olds (n = 1554) that participated in the first (2005/06) and second (2011/12) wave of the Physical Activity among Norwegian Children Study to investigate cross-sectional associations. To investigate prospective associations, we used data from a sub-sample that participated in both waves (at age nine and 15 years, n = 517). Results: Cross-sectional analyses indicated a modest, inverse association between screen time and MVPA among 9- (− 2.2 min/d (95% CI: -3.1, − 1.3)) and 15-y-olds (− 1.7 min/d (95% CI: -2.7, − 0.8)). Compared to their peers with 0–5 min/d of active travel to school, 9- and 15-y-olds with ≥16 min/d accumulated 7.2 (95% CI: 4.0, 10.4) and 9.0 (95% CI: 3.8, 14.1) more min/d of MVPA, respectively. Nine-y-old boys and 15-y-olds reporting ≥8 h/week of sports and/or exercise participation accumulated 14.7 (95% CI: 8.2, 21.3) and 17.9 (95% CI: 14.0, 21.8) more min/d of MVPA, respectively, than those reporting ≤2 h/week. We found no cross-sectional association between sleep duration and MVPA in either age group. None of the four behaviors predicted change in MVPA from age nine to 15 years (p ≥ 0.102). Conclusion: Active travel to school and sport/exercise participation may be important targets for future interventions aimed at increasing MVPA in children and adolescents. However, future studies are needed to determine causality.

• Hansen, Bjørge Hermann; Anderssen, Sigmund Alfred; Andersen, Lars Bo; Hildebrand, Maria; Kolle, Elin & Steene-Johannessen, Jostein [Show all 14 contributors for this article] (2018). Cross-sectional associations of reallocating time between sedentary and active behaviours on cardiometabolic risk factors in young people : an International Children’s Accelerometry Database (ICAD) analysis. Sports Medicine. ISSN 0112-1642. 48(10), p. 2401–2412. doi: 10.1007/s40279-018-0909-1. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Introduction Sedentary time and time spent in various intensity-specific physical activity are co-dependent, and increasing time spent in one behaviour requires decreased time in another. Objective The aim of the present study was to examine the theoretical associations with reallocating time between categories of intensities and cardiometabolic risk factors in a large and heterogeneous sample of children and adolescents. Methods We analysed pooled data from 13 studies comprising 18,200 children and adolescents aged 4–18 years from the International Children’s Accelerometry Database (ICAD). Waist-mounted accelerometers measured sedentary time, light physical activity (LPA) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Cardiometabolic risk factors included waist circumference (WC), systolic blood pressure (SBP), fasting high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C and LDL-C), triglycerides, insulin, and glucose. Associations of reallocating time between the various intensity categories with cardiometabolic risk factors were explored using isotemporal substitution modelling. Results Replacing 10 min of sedentary time with 10 min of MVPA showed favourable associations with WC, SBP, LDL-C, insulin, triglycerides, and glucose; the greatest magnitude was observed for insulin (reduction of 2–4%), WC (reduction of 0.5–1%), and triglycerides (1–2%). In addition, replacing 10 min of sedentary time with an equal amount of LPA showed beneficial associations with WC, although only in adolescents. Conclusions Replacing sedentary time and/or LPA with MVPA in children and adolescents is favourably associated with most markers of cardiometabolic risk. Efforts aimed at replacing sedentary time with active behaviours, particularly those of at least moderate intensity, appear to be an effective strategy to reduce cardiometabolic risk in young people.

• Sundgot-Borgen, Christine; Bratland-Sanda, Solfrid; Engen, Kethe Marie Elgesem; Pettersen, Gunn; Friborg, Oddgeir & Torstveit, Monica Klungland [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2018). The Norwegian healthy body image programme: Study protocol for a randomized controlled school-based intervention to promote positive body image and prevent disordered eating among Norwegian high school students. BMC Psychology. ISSN 2050-7283. 6(8). doi: 10.1186/s40359-018-0221-8. Full text in Research Archive
• Kolle, Elin; Horta, Bernardo L; Wells, Jonathan; Brage, Soren; Barros, Fernando C. & Ekelund, Ulf [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2017). Does objectively measured physical activity modify the association between early weight gain and fat mass in young adulthood? BMC Public Health. ISSN 1471-2458. 17(1). doi: 10.1186/s12889-017-4924-1. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background: Substantial evidence suggests that weight gain in early life is associated with increased adiposity and other metabolic disorders later in life. It is, however, unknown whether physical activity (PA) may modify these associations. We aimed to examine whether objectively measured PA at 30 years modified the associations between conditional weight gain in infancy (0–2 y) and childhood (2–4 y) with fat mass index (FMI) and visceral abdominal fat measured at age 30 years. Methods: Prospective birth cohort study in Pelotas, Brazil, including 1874 participants with weight data at birth, two and four years of age, and measures of FMI, visceral abdominal fat and PA at a mean age of 30.2 years. At age 30, time spent (min/day) in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was measured objectively using a wrist-worn accelerometer worn for four to seven consecutive days.. Multiple linear regression analyses was performed to assess the associations between conditional weight gain and outcome variables at 30 years, adjusting for covariates. We examined whether PA modified the association between conditional weight gain and the outcomes of interest by introducing an interaction term (conditional weight gain × PA) in the models. Results: Conditional weight gain in infancy and childhood were both positively associated with later FMI (infancy weight gain: β = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.48, 0.88; P < 0.001; childhood weight gain: β = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.70, 1.11; P < 0.001). A formal test for interaction suggested that MVPA at 30 years of age modified the association between childhood relative weight gain and later FMI (β = −0.006, 95% CI: -0.011, −0.001; P = 0.029), suggesting stronger associations between weight gain and FMI in those with lower levels of MVPA. Conditional weight gain in childhood was also positively associated with visceral abdominal fat (β = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.15, 0424, P < 0.001). There was no evidence for a modification of the latter association after adjustment for physical activity. Conclusion: Conditional weight gain between 2 and 4 years of age is associated with increased FMI at age 30 years. However, higher levels of MVPA appear to attenuate this detrimental association.

• Solbraa, Ane; Anderssen, Sigmund Alfred; Holme, Ingar Morten K; Kolle, Elin; Hansen, Bjørge Hermann & Ashe, Maureen C (2017). The built environment correlates of objectively measured physical activity in Norwegian adults: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Sport and Health Science. ISSN 2095-2546. 7(1), p. 19–26. doi: 10.1016/j.jshs.2017.11.002. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background: Built environments that are designed to provide accessible, attractive, and convenient locales promote regular physical activity (PA). Norway has great variability in its geographic, natural, and built environment features. Urban areas have well-developed built environment features, whereas the rural areas are less walkable and this may influence the mode of transport. In general, active transport is more common in urban centers. Further, public transportation is more developed in urban areas, whereas motorized transport may be more widespread in the rural areas. Despite this, in Sogn & Fjordane, a rural county in western Norway, high PA levels are frequently observed. Thus, the aims of this study were to (1) explore perceived built environment features and characterize their associations with objectively measured PA levels in Norwegian adults and (2) explore the differences in these correlates between Sogn & Fjordane and the rest of Norway. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, participants used questionnaires to rate perceptions of their built environments, and their PA was objectively measured for 7 consecutive days using the ActiGraph GT1M accelerometer. There were 972 Norwegian adults who were included in the study. The average age was 46.9 ± 6.5 years and 43.8% of participants were men. Data were analyzed using multiple linear regression. Results: Total PA and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) were both associated with perceived walkability, the community perception score, and active transport for commuting (all p ≤ 0.004). We also observed geographic-area-specific associations: the community perception score was negatively associated with total PA and MVPA in the rest of Norway (p ≤ 0.012) but not in Sogn & Fjordane. Public transport for commuting was positively associated with MVPA in Sogn & Fjordane (p = 0.03) but not in the rest of Norway. Conclusion: Total PA level and MVPA were associated with built environment factors, such as perceptions of community, perceived walkability, and engaging in active transport for commuting. Geographic differences in the PA correlates were observed, and thus, locally customized environmental population approaches aimed at increasing PA levels may be essential complements to individual behavior and lifestyle strategies. Further, objective measures of Norwegian built environments, such as geographic information system data, and validated walk- and bike-scores would advance the field.

• Ekelund, Ulf; Kolle, Elin; Steene-Johannessen, Jostein; Dalene, Knut Eirik; Nilsen, Ada Kristine Ofrim & Anderssen, Sigmund Alfred [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2017). Objectively measured sedentary time and physical activity and associations with body weight gain: does body weight determine a decline in moderate and vigorous intensity physical activity? International Journal of Obesity. ISSN 0307-0565. 41(12), p. 1769–1774. doi: 10.1038/ijo.2017.186. Show summary

  OBJECTIVES: High levels of physical activity (PA) may prevent the development of obesity. However, the magnitude and direction of the association between PA of various intensities, sedentary time and weight status remain unclear. Thus, we examined whether objectively measured sedentary time and PA independently predict gain in body weight, change in body weight and to examine the possibility of reverse causation. METHODS: We examined the prospective associations between sedentary time, PA and body weight (BW). Baseline measurements were conducted in 2008/2009 and follow-up measurements in 2014/2015 in a random sample of the adult Norwegian population (N = 1710, 45.1% men). Moderate and vigorous intensity PA (MVPA) and sedentary time were measured by accelerometry and BW and height self-reported. We first modelled the associations between baseline sedentary time and PA with BW at follow-up. We then modelled the reverse associations (BW as the exposure) and sedentary time and PA (as outcomes) in separate models. All models were adjusted for age, sex, baseline value of the outcome, socio-economic status, alcohol consumption, smoking, monitor wear time and follow-up time. RESULTS: Body mass index (BMI) increased by 0.2 units (P = 0.003) between baseline and follow-up, and 46.5% of participants were either overweight (36.4%) or obese (10.1%) at baseline increasing to 49.6% (11.7% obese) at follow-up. Baseline sedentary time, MVPA and vigorous PA were not associated with BW at follow-up after adjustment for covariates. In contrast, baseline BW was inversely associated with MVPA (β = − 0.11; 95% confidence interval (CI); − 0.21, − 0.009) and VPA (β = − 0.035; 95% CI; − 0.059, − 0.011) in adjusted models. These associations were unchanged when BW was substituted by BMI. CONCLUSIONS: Baseline BW seems to determine a decrease in MVPA in healthy adult Norwegian men and women, more so than the reverse.

• Bentham, James; Di Cesare, Mariachiara; Bilano, Ver; Bixby, Honor; Zhou, Bin & Stevens, Gretchen A. [Show all 110 contributors for this article] (2017). Worldwide trends in body-mass index, underweight, overweight, and obesity from 1975 to 2016: a pooled analysis of 2416 population-based measurement studies in 128·9 million children, adolescents, and adults. The Lancet. ISSN 0140-6736. 390(10113), p. 2627–2642. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)32129-3. Full text in Research Archive
• Dalene, Knut Eirik; Anderssen, Sigmund Alfred; Andersen, Lars Bo; Steene-Johannessen, Jostein; Ekelund, Ulf & Hansen, Bjørge Hermann [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2017). Secular and longitudinal physical activity changes in population-based samples of children and adolescents. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports. ISSN 0905-7188. 28(1), p. 161–171. doi: 10.1111/sms.12876. Show summary

  The aims of this study were to investigate whether physical activity (PA) and sedentary time (ST) in 9-and 15-year- olds differed between 2005-2006 and 2011-2012 (secular change), and to investigate changes in PA and ST from age 9 to 15 (longitudinal change). In 2005-2006, we invited nationally representative samples of Norwegian 9-( n=1470) and 15-year- olds (n=1348) to participate. In 2011-2012, we invited a new nationally representative sample of 9-year- olds (n=1945), whereas 15-year- olds (n=1759) were invited to participate either based on previous participation in 2005-2006 or from a random sample of schools. We assessed PA and ST objectively using accelerometers. In 2011-2012, both 9-and 15-year- olds spent more time sedentary (≥35.7 min/d, P<.001) and less time in light PA (≥35.2 min/d, P<.001) compared to their peers in 2005-2006. Nine-year- old girls also spent less time in moderate-to- vigorous PA (MVPA) (4.2 min/d, P=.041). In both age groups, the proportion accumulating an average of 60 min/d of MVPA did not differ between the two cohorts. From age 9 to 15, girls and boys decreased their time spent in LPA (≥106.7 min/d, P<.001) and in MVPA (≥20.8 min/d, P<.001). During the same period, ST increased by a mean of >2 h/d (P<.011). We observed an adverse secular change in PA from 2005-2006 to 2011-2012 among 9-and 15-year- olds, and a large decline in PA in the participants followed longitudinally from age 9 to 15 years.

• Dalene, Knut Eirik; Anderssen, Sigmund Alfred; Andersen, Lars Bo; Steene-Johannessen, Jostein; Ekelund, Ulf & Hansen, Bjørge Hermann [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2017). Cross-sectional and prospective associations between physical activity, body mass index and waist circumference in children and adolescents. Obesity Science & Practice. ISSN 2055-2238. 3(3), p. 249–257. doi: 10.1002/osp4.114. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Objective: To study the cross-sectional and prospective associations between physical activity (PA) of different intensities, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) in children and adolescents using isotemporal substitution modelling. Methods: Physical activity (accelerometry), BMI and WC were assessed in 6- (n = 970), 9- (n = 2,423) and 15-year-olds (n = 1,544) in 2005/2006 and 2011/2012. Participants aged 9 years in 2005/2006 were followed prospectively to 2011/12 (age 15). Associations between PA of different intensities (light, moderate and vigorous), BMI and WC were examined using isotemporal substitution models. Results: Substituting 10 min per day of sedentary time with light PA was associated with higher WC (0.17 to 0.29 cm, p ≤ 0.003)) in all age groups. Substituting 10 min per day of sedentary time with moderate PA was associated with lower WC in 6- and 9-year-olds (−0.32 to −0.47 cm, p ≤ 0.013)). Substituting 10 min per day of sedentary time with vigorous PA was associated with lower WC in 9- and 15-year-olds (−1.08 to −1.79 cm, p ≤ 0.015)). Associations were similar with BMI as the outcome. In prospective analyses, substituting sedentary time with light, moderate or vigorous PA at age 9 was not associated with BMI or WC at age 15. Conclusion: Substituting sedentary time with moderate PA appears favourably associated with adiposity in children, whereas vigorous PA may be required in adolescents. Cross-sectional associations were not replicated in prospective analyses.

• Mitchell, Jonathan A.; Dowda, Marsha; Pate, Russell R.; Kordas, Katarzyna; Froberg, Karsten & Sardinha, Luís B. [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2017). Physical Activity and Pediatric Obesity: A Quantile Regression Analysis. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. ISSN 0195-9131. 49(3), p. 466–473. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000001129. Show summary

  Purpose: We aimed to determine whether moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary behavior (SB) were independently associated with body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) in children and adolescents. Methods: Data from the International Children"s Accelerometry Database were used to address our objectives (N = 11,115; 6–18 yr; 51% female). We calculated ageand gender-specific BMI and WC z-scores and used accelerometry to estimate MVPA and total SB. Self-reported television viewing was used as a measure of leisure time SB. Quantile regression was used to analyze the data. Results: MVPA and total SB were associated with lower and higher BMI and WC z-scores, respectively. These associations were strongest at the higher percentiles of the z-score distributions. After including MVPA and total SB in the same model, the MVPA associations remained, but the SB associations were no longer present. For example, each additional hour per day of MVPA was not associated with BMI z-score at the 10th percentile (b = j0.02, P = 0.170) but was associated with lower BMI z-score at the 50th (b = j0.19, P G 0.001) and 90th percentiles (b = j0.41, P G 0.001). More television viewing was associated with higher BMI and WC, and the associations were strongest at the higher percentiles of the z-score distributions, with adjustment for MVPA and total SB. Conclusions: Our observation of stronger associations at the higher percentiles indicates that increasing MVPA and decreasing television viewing at the population-level could shift the upper tails of the BMI and WC frequency distributions to lower values, thereby lowering the number of children and adolescents classified as obese.

• Zhou, Bin; Bentham, James; Di Cesare, Mariachiara; Bixby, Honor; Danaei, Goodarz & Cowan, Melanie J. [Show all 114 contributors for this article] (2017). Worldwide trends in blood pressure from 1975 to 2015: a pooled analysis of 1479 population-based measurement studies with 19·1 million participants. The Lancet. ISSN 0140-6736. 389(10064), p. 37–55. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(16)31919-5. Full text in Research Archive
• Kjær, Ingirid Geirsdatter Heald; Torstveit, Monica Klungland; Kolle, Elin; Hansen, Bjørge Hermann & Anderssen, Sigmund Alfred (2016). Normative values for musculoskeletal- and neuromotor fitness in apparently healthy Norwegian adults and the association with obesity: a cross-sectional study. BMC sports science, medicine and rehabilitation. ISSN 2052-1847. 8. doi: 10.1186/s13102-016-0059-4. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background: Up-to-date research on musculoskeletal- and neuromotor fitness (MSMF) is lacking. The aims of the present paper were to a) establish normative values of MSMF by gender and age, and b) to assess how much of the variance in MSMF can be explained by obesity in adults. Methods: A random selection of 726 Norwegians (20–65 years) participated in a national cross-sectional study. Muscular endurance, muscular strength, explosive power, flexibility and balance were assessed in addition to waist circumference (WC). Results: Females displayed significantly higher scores compared to males on muscular endurance of the back extensors and on the flexibility tests (p < 0.001). Males displayed significantly higher scores than females (p < 0.001) on handgrip strength, modified push-ups, and explosive power. An inverse association was found between age and all MSMF scores for females (Beta:−0.06–(−0.92), p ≤ 0.044) and males (Beta:−0.15–(0.91), p ≤ 0.006), where younger participants displayed higher test scores on all MSMF tests, compared to older participants. Furthermore, participants showing higher scores on WC displayed lower scores on the following MSMF tests for both females and males: muscular endurance of the back extensors, balance, flexibility of the shoulder, and explosive power (p < 0.001). Additionally, male participants with higher WC scores showed lower scores on muscular endurance of the upper body and flexibility of the hamstrings compared to males with lower WC scores (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The data provide normative values of MSMF for adults based on age and gender, and support an inverse relationship of MSMF to age and WC.

• Dalene, Knut Eirik; Anderssen, Sigmund Alfred; Ekelund, Ulf; Thoren, Anne-Karine Halvorsen; Hansen, Bjørge Hermann & Kolle, Elin (2016). Permanent play facility provision is associated with children's time spent sedentary and in light physical activity during school hours: A cross-sectional study. Preventive Medicine Reports. ISSN 2211-3355. 4, p. 429–434. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2016.08.011.
• Seiler, Hilde Lohne; Kolle, Elin; Anderssen, Sigmund Alfred & Hansen, Bjørge Hermann (2016). Musculoskeletal fitness and balance in older individuals (65-85 years) and its association with steps per day: A cross sectional study Physical functioning, physical health and activity. BMC Geriatrics. ISSN 1471-2318. 16. doi: 10.1186/s12877-016-0188-3. Show summary

  Background: There is limited normative, objective data combining musculoskeletal fitness (MSF), balance and physical activity (PA) among older adults. The aims were therefore to; 1) describe MSF and balance in older Norwegian adults focusing on age- and sex-related differences; 2) investigate the associations among MSF, balance and objectively-assessed PA levels. Methods: This was part of a national multicenter study. Participants (65 – 85 years) were randomly selected from the national population registry. We used ActiGraph GT1M accelerometers to measure PA. Balance and MSF were assessed using: one leg standing (OLS), handgrip strength (HG), static back extension (SBE), sit and reach (SR), back scratch right, left arm over (BSR, BSL). Univariate analyses of variance were used to assess sex differences within the different MSF and balance tests and for comparisons among multiple age groups. Linear regression analysis was used to investigate how PA (expressed in 1000 steps increments) was associated with MSF and balance. Results: 85 women and 76 men were included. Mean age (standard deviation (SD)) was 73.2 (5.4) years for women and 72.3 (4.8) years for men. The youngest participants (65 – 69 years) had significantly better mean OLS- and SBE results compared with older participants. Women (65 – 85 years) had significantly better mean SR, BSR, BSL and SBE results compared with men (65 – 85 years). Men had significantly better mean HG results compared with women. No sex differences in mean OLS results were observed. A daily increment of 1000 steps was associated with better mean test scores for OLS- and SBE tests (b = 1.88, 95 % CI: 0.85 to 2.90 (p ≤ 0.001) and b = 4.63, 95 % CI: 1.98 to 7.29 ( p = 0.001), respectively). Conclusion: The youngest (65 – 69 years) had better static balance and muscular endurance in trunk extensors compared with older participants. Older women (65 – 85 years) had better joint flexibility than older men (65 – 85 years), whereas older men had better handgrip strength than older women. A higher PA level was associated with better static balance and muscular endurance in trunk extensors in older individuals. This study provides important normative data, and further investigation of trunk endurance and static balance as key foci for PA interventions in elderly is warranted.

• Kjær, Ingirid Geirsdatter Heald; Kolle, Elin; Hansen, Bjørge Hermann; Anderssen, Sigmund Alfred & Torstveit, Monica Klungland (2015). Obesity prevalence in Norwegian adults assessed by body mass index, waist circumference and fat mass percentage. Clinical Obesity. ISSN 1758-8103. 5(4), p. 211–218. doi: 10.1111/cob.12100. Show summary

  The prevalence of obesity presents serious public health challenges worldwide and is most commonly estimated by the categorization of body mass index (BMI). The purpose of this study was (i) to describe the sensitivity of BMI, waist circumference (WC) and fat mass percentage in the classification of overweight and obesity and (ii) to describe the prevalence of overweight and obesity using different measurement methods in a national sample of Norwegians. A total of 904 Norwegians (20–85 years) were randomly enrolled. Body weight, height, WC and skinfold thickness were measured; BMI and fat mass percentage (FPskf) were calculated. The sensitivity and specificity varied from 77.0% to 86.9% and from 60.6% to 82.3%, respectively. Area under the curve was 0.837 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.801–0.872) for the ability of BMI to predict obesity by FPskf and 0.811 (95% CI: 0.770–0.852) for WC. A total of 12.7% (male: 12.1%, female: 13.4%) were obese based on BMI classifications, 29.1% (male: 36.5%, female: 20.0%) of the sample were obese based on FPskf and 24.3% of men and 37.8% of women were abdominally obese by WC. The agreement between selected measuring methods was fair to good, although the variation in obesity prevalence rates between the different assessments methods varied markedly.

• Hildebrand, Maria; Kolle, Elin; Hansen, Bjørge Hermann; Collings, Paul J.; Wijndaele, Katrien & Kordas, Katarzyna [Show all 14 contributors for this article] (2015). Association between birth weight and objectively measured sedentary time is mediated by central adiposity: data in 10,793 youth from the International Children’s Accelerometry Database. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. ISSN 0002-9165. 101(5), p. 983–990. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.114.103648. Show summary

  Background: Birth weight is an early correlate of disease later in life, and animal studies suggest that low birth weight is associated with reduced activity and increased sedentary time. Whether birth weight predicts later sedentary time in humans is uncertain. Objectives: We examined the relation between birth weight and sedentary time in youth and examined whether this association was mediated by central adiposity. Design: We used pooled cross-sectional data from 8 observational studies conducted between 1997 and 2007 that consisted of 10,793 youth (boys: 47%) aged 6–18 y from the International Children’s Accelerometry Database. Birth weight was measured in hospitals or maternally reported, sedentary time was assessed by using accelerometry (<100 counts/min), and abdominal adiposity (waist circumference) was measured according to WHO procedures. A mediation analysis with bootstrapping was used to analyze data. Results: The mean (±SD) time spent sedentary was 370 ± 91 min/d. Birth weight was positively associated with sedentary time (B = 4.04, P = 0.006) and waist circumference (B = 1.59, P < 0.001), whereas waist circumference was positively associated with sedentary time (B = 0.82, P < 0.001). Results of the mediation analysis showed a significant indirect effect of birth weight on sedentary time through waist circumference (B: 1.30; 95% bias-corrected CI: 0.94, 1.72), and when waist circumference was controlled for, the effect of birth weight on sedentary time was attenuated by 32% (B = 2.74, P = 0.06). Conclusion: The association between birth weight and sedentary time appears partially mediated by central adiposity, suggesting that both birth weight and abdominal adiposity may be correlates of sedentary time in youth.

• Grydeland, May; Hansen, Bjørge Hermann; Ried-Larsen, Mathias; Kolle, Elin & Anderssen, Sigmund Alfred (2014). Comparison of three generations of ActiGraph activity monitors under free-living conditions: Do they provide comparable assessments of overall physical activity in 9-year old children? BMC sports science, medicine and rehabilitation. ISSN 2052-1847. 6(1). doi: 10.1186/2052-1847-6-26.
• Seiler, Hilde Lohne; Hansen, Bjørge Hermann; Kolle, Elin & Anderssen, Sigmund Alfred (2014). Accelerometer-determined physical activity and self-reported health in a population of older adults (65-85 years): A cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health. ISSN 1471-2458. 14. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-14-284. Show summary

  Background: The link between physical activity (PA) and prevention of disease, maintenance of independence, and improved quality of life in older adults is supported by strong evidence. However, there is a lack of data on population levels in this regard, where PA level has been measured objectively. The main aims were therefore to assess the level of accelerometer-determined PA and to examine its associations with self-reported health in a population of Norwegian older adults (65–85 years). Methods: This was a part of a national multicenter study. Participants for the initial study were randomly selected from the national population registry, and the current study included those of the initial sample aged 65–85 years. The ActiGraph GT1M accelerometer was used to measure PA for seven consecutive days. A questionnaire was used to register self-reported health. Univariate analysis of variance with Bonferroni adjustments were used for comparisons between multiple groups. Results: A total of 560 participants had valid activity registrations. Mean age (SD) was 71.8 (5.6) years for women (n = 282) and 71.7 (5.2) years for men (n = 278). Overall PA level (cpm) differed considerably between the age groups where the oldest (80–85 y) displayed a 50% lower activity level compared to the youngest (65–70 y). No sex differences were observed in overall PA within each age group. Significantly more men spent time being sedentary (65–69 and 70–74 years) and achieved more minutes of moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) (75–79 years) compared to women. Significantly more women (except for the oldest), spent more minutes of low-intensity PA compared to men. PA differed across levels of self-reported health and a 51% higher overall PA level was registered in those, with “very good health” compared to those with “poor/very poor health”. Conclusion: Norwegian older adults PA levels differed by age. Overall, the elderly spent 66% of their time being sedentary and only 3% in MVPA. Twenty one percent of the participants fulfilled the current Norwegian PA recommendations. Overall PA levels were associated with self-reported health.

• Hansen, Bjørge Hermann; Børtnes, Ingvild; Hildebrand, Maria; Holme, Ingar Morten K; Kolle, Elin & Anderssen, Sigmund Alfred (2014). Validity of the ActiGraph GT1M during walking and cycling. Journal of Sports Sciences. ISSN 0264-0414. 32(6), p. 510–516. doi: 10.1080/02640414.2013.844347. Show summary

  The ActiGraph activity monitors have developed and newer versions of the ActiGraph accelerometers (GT1M, GT3X and GT3X +) are now available, including changes in hardware and software compared to the old version (AM7164). This is problematic as most of the validation and calibration work includes the AM7164. The aims of the study were to validate the ActiGraph GT1M during level and graded walking and to assess the potential underestimation of physical activity during cycling. Data were obtained from 20 participants during treadmill walking and ergometer cycling. Energy expenditure was measured via indirect calorimetry and used as the criterion method. Activity counts were highly correlated with energy expenditure during level walking (R2 = 0.82) and graded walking at 5% and 8% (R2 = 0.82 and R2 = 0.67, respectively). There was no linear relationship between activity counts and energy expenditure during cycling. The average activity counts for all data points during cycling was 1,157 counts per minute (CPM) (SD = 974), and mean energy expenditure was 5.0 metabolic equivalents. The GT1M is a valid tool for assessing walking across a wide range of speeds and gradients. However, there is no relationship between activity counts and energy expenditure during cycling and physical activity is underestimated by ≈73% during cycling compared to walking.

• Hansen, Bjørge Herman; Ommundsen, Yngvar; Holme, Ingar Morten K; Kolle, Elin & Anderssen, Sigmund Alfred (2014). Correlates of objectively measured physical activity in adults and older people: a cross-sectional study of population-based sample of adults and older people living in Norway. International Journal of Public Health. ISSN 1661-8556. 59(2), p. 221–230. doi: 10.1007/s00038-013-0472-3. Show summary

  Objectives: The aims of the study were to identify correlates of objectively measured physical activity and to determine whether the explanatory power of the correlates differed with sex, weight status or level of education. Methods: Physical activity was assessed objectively in 3,867 participants, aged 20–85 years, for a consecutive 7 days using the ActiGraph GT1M activity monitor. Demographic and biological variables and levels of psychological, social environmental and physical environmental correlates were selfreported. Results: The complete set of correlates explained 18.6 % (p\0.001) of the variance in overall physical activity. Age and physical activity identity were the most important factors, explaining 4.8 and 3.2 % of the variance, respectively, whereas social environmental and physical environmental correlates did not significantly increase the amount of explained variance. Small interaction effects between demographic and biological variables and the correlates were observed. Conclusions: Self-efficacy, perceived behavioural control and physical activity identity might be important targets for intervention. Intervention efforts aimed at influencing psychological correlates of physical activity may prove equally effective regardless of sex, weight status and level of education.

• Steene-Johannessen, Jostein; Kolle, Elin; Andersen, Lars Bo & Anderssen, Sigmund Alfred (2013). Adiposity, Aerobic Fitness, Muscle Fitness, and Markers of Inflammation in Children. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. ISSN 0195-9131. 45(4), p. 714–721. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0b013e318279707a. Show summary

  Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe levels of inflammation markers in Norwegian children and to examine the associations of adiposity, aerobic fitness and muscle fitness with markers of inflammation. Methods: In 2005-2006, 1467 9-year-olds wererandomly selected from all regions in Norway. The participation rate was 89%. The inflammatory markers evaluated included C-reactive protein (CRP), leptin, adiponectin, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, tumor necrosis factor- [alpha] (TNF-[alpha]), hepatocyte growth factor, resistin and interleukin-6. We assessed muscular strength by measuring explosive, isometric and endurance strength. Aerobic fitness was measured directly during a maximal cycle ergometer test. Adiposity was expressed as waist circumference (WC). Results: The girls had significantly higher levels of CRP, leptin, adiponectin and resistin and lower levels of TNF-[alpha] compared to the boys. We observed a graded association of CRP and leptin levels across quintiles of WC, aerobic fitness and muscle fitness (P <=0.001 for all participants). The regression analyses revealed that WC, aerobic fitness and muscle fitness were independently associated with the CRP (WC [beta]= 0.158, P < 0.001; aerobic fitness [beta]= -0.190, P < 0.001; muscle fitness [beta]= -0.158, P < 0.002) after adjustments for gender, age, Tanner pubertal stage and the other independent variables. The same pattern was observed for leptin levels (WC [beta]= 0.406, P < 0.001; aerobic fitness [beta]= -0.298, P < 0.001; muscle fitness [beta]= -0.064, P < 0.036). Conclusions: These data represent a reference material with respect to inflammatory markers. Our results show that adiposity, aerobic and muscle fitness were independently associated with the CRP and leptin levels.

• Kolle, Elin & Ekelund, Ulf (2013). Is Sitting Time a Strong Predictor of Weight Gain? Current Obesity Reports. ISSN 2162-4968. 2(1), p. 77–85. doi: 10.1007/s13679-012-0039-2. Show summary

  The current review aimed to examine the evidence on prospective associations between sedentary behavior (i.e., sitting time) and weight gain. Prospective studies published between January 2010 and August 2012 were identified from searches in the Medline databases. In total 13 studies (seven in adolescents and six in adults) examining the prospective association between sedentary behavior and any measure of weight gain met inclusion criteria. In adolescents, mixed evidence was observed for a positive association between sedentary behavior at baseline and weight gain at follow-up. In adults, there was insufficient evidence that sedentary time at baseline was a strong predictor of weight gain at follow-up. The majority of the included studies used self- or parent-reported sedentary time which can be affected by social desirability and recall bias. Marked heterogeneity in study populations, exposure and outcome measures precluded a quantitative meta-analysis. Failure to appropriately adjust the results for baseline measures of the outcome particularly in the studies in children and adolescents may partly explain the observations. Therefore, firm conclusions whether prolonged sitting time predict weight gain in young people and adults is currently not possible. High-quality studies using repeated objective measures of sedentary behavior is warranted to establish a causal association.

• Østergaard, Lars; Kolle, Elin; Steene-Johannessen, Jostein; Anderssen, Sigmund Alfred & Andersen, Lars Bo (2013). Cross sectional analysis of the association between mode of school transportation and physical fitness in children and adolescents. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. ISSN 1479-5868. 10. doi: 10.1186/1479-5868-10-91.
• Hansen, Bjørge Hermann; Holme, Ingar Morten K; Anderssen, Sigmund Alfred & Kolle, Elin (2013). Patterns of Objectively Measured Physical Activity in Normal Weight, Overweight, and Obese Individuals (20-85 Years): A Cross-Sectional Study. PLOS ONE. ISSN 1932-6203. 8(1). doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0053044. Show summary

  Background: The magnitude of the association between physical activity (PA) and obesity has been difficult to establish using questionnaires. The aim of the study was to evaluate patterns of PA across BMI-defined weight categories and to examine the independent contribution of PA on weight status, using accelerometers. Methods:The study was a cross-sectional population-based study of 3,867 adults and older people aged 20–85 years, living in Norway. PA was assessed for seven consecutive days using the ActiGraph GT1M accelerometer. Anthropometrical data was self-reported and overweight and obesity was defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 25–<30 and ≥30 kg/m2, respectively. Results:Overweight and obese participants performed less overall PA and PA of at least moderate intensity and took fewer steps, compared to normal weight participants. Although overall PA did not differ between weekdays and weekends, an interaction between BMI category and type of day was present, indicating a larger difference in overall PA between BMI categories on weekends compared to weekdays. Obese participants displayed 19% and 25% lower overall physical activity compared to normal weight participants, on weekdays and weekends, respectively. Participants in the most active quintile of overall PA had a 53% lower risk (OR 0.47, 95% CI: 0.37 to 0.60) for having a BMI above or below 25 kg/m2, and a 71% lower risk (OR: 0.29, 95% CI: 0.20 to 0.44) for having a BMI above or below 30 kg/m2. Conclusions:Overweight and obese participants engaged in less overall PA and moderate and vigorous PA compared with normal weight individuals. The weight related differences in overall PA were most pronounced on the weekend and the risk of being overweight or obese decreases across quintiles of PA.

• Svege, Ida Charlott; Kolle, Elin & Risberg, May Arna (2012). Reliability and validity of the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) in patients with hip osteoarthritis. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. ISSN 1471-2474. 13. doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-13-26. Show summary

  Background: Physical activity (PA) is beneficial in reducing pain and improving function in lower limb osteoarthritis (OA), and is recommended as a first line treatment. Self-administered questionnaires are used to assess PA, but knowledge about reliability and validity of these PA questionnaires are limited, in particular for patients with OA. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) in patients with hip OA. Methods: Forty patients with hip OA (20 men and 20 women, mean age 61.3 ± 10 years) were included. For test-retest reliability PASE was administered twice with a mean time between tests of 9 ± 4 days. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM) and minimal detectable change (MDC) were calculated for the total score and for the particular items assessing different PA intensity levels. In addition a Bland-Altman analysis for the total PASE score was performed. Construct validity was evaluated by comparing the PASE results with the Actigraph GT1M accelerometer and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), using the Spearman rank correlation coefficient. Results: ICC for the total PASE score was 0.78, with relatively large error of measurement; SEM = 31 and MDC = 87. ICC for the intensity items was 0.20 for moderate PA intensity, 0.46 for light PA intensity and to 0.68 for vigorous PA intensity. The Spearman rank correlation coefficient between the Actigraph GT1M total counts per minute and the total PASE score was 0.30 (p = 0.089), and ranging from 0.20-0.38 for the different PA intensity categories. The Spearman rank correlation between IPAQ and PASE was 0.61 (p = 0.001) for the total scores. Conclusions: In patients with hip OA the test-retest reliability of the total PASE score was moderate, with acceptable ICC, but with large measurement errors. The construct validity of the PASE was poor when compared to the Actigraph GT1M accelerometer. Test-retest reliability and construct validity revealed that the PASE was unable to assess PA intensity levels. PASE is not recommended as a valid tool to examine PA level for patients with hip OA.

• Hansen, Bjørge Hermann; Kolle, Elin; Dyrstad, Sindre Mikal; Holme, Ingar Morten K & Anderssen, Sigmund Alfred (2012). Accelerometer-Determined Physical Activity in Adults and Older People. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. ISSN 0195-9131. 44(2), p. 266–272. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0b013e31822cb354. Show summary

  Purpose: There is a lack of large-scale comparable data on the population levels of physical activity (PA) and sedentary activity. We conducted a cross-sectional population-based multicenter study to describe the levels of PA and sedentary activity and to determine adherence to current national PA recommendations in Norwegian adults and older people. Methods: In 2008 and 2009, PA was assessed objectively for seven consecutive days using the ActiGraph GT1M accelerometer in 3867 participants age 20–85 yr. A total of 3267 participants provided valid PA assessments that met all inclusion criteria. Results: Women and men did not differ in the overall activity levels (335 and 342 counts per minute, respectively) or in steps per day (8113 and 7951 steps per day, respectively). However, for intensity-specific PA, men accumulated significantly more minutes of sedentary activity and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) compared with women (557 vs 533 min of sedentary activity, P <= 0.001 and 35 vs 33 min of MVPA, P = 0.01). Both overall activity levels and steps per day remained steady with age, until 65 yr, after which activity levels declined. Conclusions: Overall, the study sample spent 62% of their time being sedentary, 25% in low-intensity PA, 9% in lifestyle activity, and 4% in MVPA. One in five people met current national PA recommendations. These results suggest that adults and older people spend the majority of their time being sedentary and that adherence to PA recommendations is low.

• Nerhus, Kjersti Andersen; Anderssen, Sigmund Alfred; Lerkelund, Hans Erik & Kolle, Elin (2011). Sentrale begreper relatert til fysisk aktivitet. Forslag til bruk og forståelse. Norsk Epidemiologi. ISSN 0803-2491. 20(2), p. 149–152. doi: 10.5324/nje.v20i2.1335.
• Adegboye, Amanda R. A.; Anderssen, Sigmund Alfred; Froberg, Karsten; Sardinha, Luis B.; Heitmann, Berit L. & Steene-Johannessen, Jostein [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2011). Recommended aerobic fitness level for metabolic health in children and adolescents: a study of diagnostic accuracy. British Journal of Sports Medicine. ISSN 0306-3674. 45(9), p. 722–728. doi: 10.1136/bjsm.2009.068346. Show summary

  Objective: To define the optimal cut-off for low aerobic fitness and to evaluate its accuracy to predict clustering of risk factors for cardiovascular disease in children and adolescents. Design: Study of diagnostic accuracy using a cross-sectional database. Setting: European Youth Heart Study including Denmark, Portugal, Estonia and Norway. Participants: 4500 schoolchildren aged 9 or 15 years. Main Outcome Measure: Aerobic fitness was expressed as peak oxygen consumption relative to bodyweight (mlO2/min/kg). Results: Risk factors included in the composite risk score (mean of z-scores) were systolic blood pressure, triglyceride, total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratio, insulin resistance and sum of four skinfolds. 14.5% of the sample, with a risk score above one SD, were defined as being at risk. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to define the optimal cut-off for sex and age-specific distribution. In girls, the optimal cut-offs for identifying individuals at risk were: 37.4 mlO2/min/kg (9-year-old) and 33.0 mlO2/min/kg (15-year-old). In boys, the optimal cut-offs were 43.6 mlO2/min/kg (9-year-old) and 46.0 mlO2/min/kg (15-year-old). Specificity (range 79.3–86.4%) was markedly higher than sensitivity (range 29.7–55.6%) for all cut-offs. Positive predictive values ranged from 19% to 41% and negative predictive values ranged from 88% to 90%. The diagnostic accuracy for identifying children at risk, measured by the area under the curve (AUC), was significantly higher than what would be expected by chance (AUC >0.5) for all cut-offs. Conclusions: Aerobic fitness is easy to measure, and is an accurate tool for screening children with clustering of cardiovascular risk factors. Promoting physical activity in children with aerobic fitness level lower than the suggested cut-points might improve their health.

• Kristensen, Peter Lund; Møller, Niels Christian; Korsholm, Lars; Kolle, Elin; Wedderkopp, Niels & Froberg, Karsten [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2010). The association between aerobic fitness and physical activity in children and adolescents: the European youth heart study. European Journal of Applied Physiology. ISSN 1439-6319. 110(2), p. 267–275. doi: 10.1007/s00421-010-1491-x. Show summary

  The link between aerobic fitness and physical activity in children has been studied in a number of earlier studies and the results have generally shown weak to moderate correlations. This overall finding has been widely questioned partly because of the difficulty in obtaining valid estimates of physical activity. This study investigated the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationship between aerobic fitness and physical activity in a representative sample of 9 and 15-year-old children (n = 1260 cross-sectional, n = 153 longitudinal). The specific goal was to improve past studies using an objective method of activity assessment and taking into account a number of major sources of error. Data came from the Danish part of the European youth heart study, 1997?2003. The cross-sectional results generally showed a weak to moderate association between aerobic fitness and physical activity with standardized regression coefficients ranging from 0.14 to 0.33. The longitudinal results revealed a tendency towards an interaction effect of baseline physical activity on the relationship between changes in physical activity and aerobic fitness. Moderate to moderately strong regression effect sizes were observed in the lower quadrant of baseline physical activity compared to weak effect sizes in the remaining quadrants. In conclusion, the present study confirms earlier findings of a weak to moderate association between aerobic fitness and physical activity in total population of children. However, the study also indicates that inactive children can achieve notable increase in aerobic fitness by increasing their habitual physical activity level. A potential physiological explanation for these results is highlighted.

• Kolle, Elin; Steene-Johannessen, Jostein; Andersen, Lars Bo & Anderssen, Sigmund A. (2010). Objectively assessed physical activity and aerobic fitness in a population-based sample of Norwegian 9- and 15-year-olds. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports. ISSN 0905-7188. 20(1), p. 41–47. Show summary

  The present study described current physical activity, determined compliance with physical activity guidelines and assessed aerobic fitness in a nationally representative sample of 9- and 15-year-olds in Norway. In 2005?2006, 2299 children and adolescents were randomly recruited. The participation rate was 89% and 74% among the 9- and 15-year-olds, respectively. Physical activity was assessed objectively by accelerometry, and aerobic fitness was measured directly as peak oxygen uptake during a cycle ergometry test. Boys were more physically active than girls, and 9-year-olds were substantially more active than 15-year-olds. Physical activity was higher during weekdays than weekends, and 9-year-olds were most active during spring. While four out of five children met current physical activity guidelines, only half of the adolescents did. The mean (SD) values for peak VO2 were: 9-year-old boys, 48.2 (7.1) mL/min/kg; 9-year-old girls, 42.9 (6.7) mL/min/kg; and 15-year-old girls 41.1 (6.0) mL/min/kg and 15-year-old boys 51.9 (8.0) mL/min/kg. Because of the high participation rate, this study provides a good description of the physical activity and aerobic fitness in the young population. Finally, girls and adolescents seem appropriate targets when promoting physical activity in order to increase the proportion meeting the recommendations.

• Steene-Johannessen, Jostein; Kolle, Elin; Reseland, Janne Elin; Anderssen, Sigmund A. & Andersen, Lars Bo (2010). Waist circumference is related to low-grade inflammation in youth. International Journal of Pediatric Obesity. ISSN 1747-7166. 5(4), p. 313–319. doi: 10.3109/17477160903497035.

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• Malnes, Lena; Berntsen, Sveinung; Kolle, Elin; Ivarsson, Andreas & Dyrstad, Sindre Mikal (2023). School-based physical activity in relation to active travel among adolescents .
• Steinacker, Jürgen M.; Van Mechelen, Willem; Bloch, Wilhelm; Börjesson, Mats; Casasco, Maurizio & Wolfarth, Bernd [Show all 113 contributors for this article] (2023). Global Alliance for the Promotion of Physical Activity: the Hamburg Declaration. BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care. ISSN 2052-4897. 9(3). doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2023-001626. Full text in Research Archive
• Kwon, Soyang; Andersen, Lars Bo; Grøntved, Anders; Kolle, Elin; Cardon, Greet & Davey, Rachel [Show all 14 contributors for this article] (2019). Correction to: A closer look at the relationship among accelerometer-based physical activity metrics: ICAD pooled data (Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act (2019) 16:40 DOI: 10.1186/s12966-019-0801-x). International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. ISSN 1479-5868. 16(1). doi: 10.1186/s12966-019-0828-z.
• Leibinger, Eva; Åvitsland, Andreas; Resaland, Geir Kåre; Solberg, Runar Barstad; Kolle, Elin & Dyrstad, Sindre Mikal (2019). Relationship between health-related quality of life, cardiorespiratory fitness and muscular fitness in adolescents​.
• Åvitsland, Andreas; Dyrstad, Sindre Mikal; Lerum, Øystein; Leibinger, Eva; Solberg, Runar Barstad & Kolle, Elin [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2019). Physical fitness and mental health in adolescents - What we know, and what we don't.
• Åvitsland, Andreas; Säfvenbom, Reidar; Tjomsland, Hege Eikeland; Kolle, Elin; Resaland, Geir Kåre & Berntsen, Sveinung [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2019). A new approach to school time physical activity: The "Don't worry, be happy" intervention model.
• Engen, Kethe Marie Elgesem; Sundgot-Borgen, Christine; Torstveit, Monica Klungland; Rosenvinge, Jan H; Friborg, Oddgeir & Bratland-Sanda, Solfrid [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2018). Is disordered eating related to muscle-enhancing supplement use and exercise context in adolescents?
• Sundgot-Borgen, Christine; Engen, Kethe Marie Elgesem; Rosenvinge, Jan H; Pettersen, Gunn; Friborg, Oddgeir & Sundgot-Borgen, Jorunn [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2018). Positive body image and meeting the physical activity recommendations across physical activity arenas in adolescents.
• Hansen, Bjørge Hermann; Nilsen, Ada Kristine Ofrim; Dalene, Knut Eirik; Steene-Johannessen, Jostein; Kolle, Elin & Ekelund, Ulf [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2016). Cross-sectional and Longitudinal Associations of Replacing Sedentary Time with Active Behaviors on the Body Mass Index. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. ISSN 0195-9131. 48. doi: 10.1249/01.mss.0000485698.85376.e6.
• Solbraa, Ane; Anderssen, Sigmund Alfred; Holme, Ingar Morten K; Kolle, Elin; Hansen, Bjørge Hermann & Ashe, Maureen C (2016). The built environment correlates of objectively measured physical activity in Norwegian adults: a cross-sectional study.
• Solbraa, Ane; Anderssen, Sigmund Alfred; Holme, Ingar Morten K; Kolle, Elin; Hansen, Bjørge Hermann & Ashe, Maureen C (2014). Walk the talk – built environment and physical activity. The Complexity of Obesity Proceedings. ISSN 2387-2748. 2. doi: 10.6084/m9.figshare.1211862.
• Solbraa, Ane; Anderssen, Sigmund Alfred; Holme, Ingar Morten K; Kolle, Elin; Hansen, Bjørge Hermann & Ashe, Maureen C (2014). Walk the talk – built environment and physical activity.
• Kolle, Elin; Stokke, Johanne Støren; Hansen, Bjørge Hermann & Anderssen, Sigmund Alfred (2013). Accelerometer-derived Physical Activity Levels And Transport To School Among A Population-based Sample Of Norwegian 6-year-olds. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. ISSN 0195-9131. 45(5), p. 390–391.
• Stokke, Johanne Støren; Kolle, Elin; Hansen, Bjørge Hermann & Anderssen, Sigmund Alfred (2013). Physical Activity Among Children And Youth With Ethnic Minority Background In Norway. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. ISSN 0195-9131. 45(5), p. 466–466.
• Svege, Ida Charlott; Kolle, Elin & Risberg, Marianne (2012). RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY OF THE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY SCALE FOR THE ELDERLY (PASE) IN PATIENTS WITH HIP OSTEOARTHRITIS. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. ISSN 1063-4584. 20, p. S266–S266.
• Stokke, Johanne Støren; Kolle, Elin; Hansen, Bjørge Hermann & Anderssen, Sigmund Alfred (2012). Fysisk aktivitet blant barn og unge med innvandringsbakgrunn (ungKan2). Norsk idrettsmedisin. ISSN 0806-9328. 27(3), p. 23–23.
• Stokke, Johanne Støren; Kolle, Elin; Hansen, Bjørge Hermann & Anderssen, Sigmund Alfred (2012). Fysisk aktivitet blant barn og unge med innvandringsbakgrunn (ungKan2).
• Seiler, Hilde Lohne; Hansen, Bjørge Hermann; Kolle, Elin & Anderssen, Sigmund A. (2012). Accelerometer determined physical activity and its associations with self-reported health in a population of older adults.
• Kolle, Elin; Steene-Johannessen, Jostein; Andersen, Lars Bo & Anderssen, Sigmund Alfred (2012). Sedentary Behavior And Overweight In Children And Adolescents. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. ISSN 0195-9131. 44, p. 664–664.
• Hansen, Bjørge Hermann; Holme, Ingar Morten K; Anderssen, Sigmund Alfred & Kolle, Elin (2012). Body Mass Index And Accelerometer-determined Physical Activity: A Linear Dose-response Relationship. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. ISSN 0195-9131. 44, p. 232–232.
• Seiler, Hilde Lohne; Hansen, Bjørge Hermann; Kolle, Elin; Støa, Eva Maria; Lorenzen, C & Anderssen, Sigmund A. (2011). Objectively assessed levels of physical activity in a population of older adults (65-85 y).
• Kjær, Ingirid Geirsdatter Heald; Seiler, Hilde Lohne; Kolle, Elin; Hansen, Bjørge Hermann; Pedersen, Freddy & Steene-Johannessen, Jostein [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2011). Musculoskeletal and motor fitness in Norwegian adults and elderly; Status and the development of reference values. KAN 1.
• Stangeland, Ingirid; Stangeland, Ingirid; Torstveit, Monica Klungland; Torstveit, Monica Klungland; Lohne-Seiler, Hilde & Lohne-Seiler, Hilde [Show all 13 contributors for this article] (2010). Overvekt og fedme blant voksne og eldre nordmenn (KAN1). Show summary

  INNLEDNING Overvekt og fedme representerer en alvorlig folkehelseutfordring for Verdens Helseorganisasjons (WHO) Europeiske region. WHO har klart gitt uttrykk for et økende behov for kartlegging for å illustrere dimensjonen av denne fedmeepidemien. Formålet med denne studien var å kartlegge forekomsten av overvekt og fedme uttrykt som kroppsmasseindeks (KMI), midjeomkrets og hudfoldsmålinger. METODER Totalt 904 (441 kvinner og 463 menn) nordmenn (20 ? 85 år, gjennomsnitt; 51,3 år, SD; ±14,8 år) ble tilfeldig utvalgt for å delta i det nasjonale KAN1prosjektets fase II. Kroppsvekt, høyde, midjeomkrets, hudfoldsmål og KMI ble målt. RESULTATER Gjennomsnittlig KMI var 25,8 ±3,9 kg/m2. Totalt 39,9 % (29,9 % kvinner og 49,5 % menn) ble karakterisert som overvektige i tillegg til 12,7 % som ble klassifisert som fete (13,4 % kvinner og 12,1 % menn). Mennene hadde en høyere gjennomsnittlig midjeomkrets (94,7 ± 10,3 cm) sammenliknet med kvinnene (85,2 ± 11,9 cm) (p=0,001). Totalt 66,3 % av kvinnene og 51,3 % av mennene hadde en økt risiko for vektrelaterte metabolske komplikasjoner (WRMC) basert på WHO sine grenseverdier for midjeomkrets. Av disse hadde 37,6 % av kvinnene og 24,3 % av mennene en kraftig økt risiko for WRMC. DISKUSJON Resultatene indikerer at den norske befolkningen har en høyere andel overvektige og fete enn tidligere antatt og at mer enn halvparten av den norske befolkningen har en økt risiko for WRMC. Flere menn enn kvinner er karakterisert som overvektige, mens flere kvinner har en økt og kraftig økt risiko for WRMC sammenliknet med menn.

• Stangeland, Ingirid; Stangeland, Ingirid; Lohne-Seiler, Hilde; Lohne-Seiler, Hilde; Hansen, Bjørge Herman & Hansen, Bjørge Herman [Show all 14 contributors for this article] (2010). OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY IN NORWEGIAN ADULTS AND ELDERLY. Show summary

  Introduction Overweight and obesity are one of the most serious public health challenges for the World Health Organization?s (WHO) European region today. The WHO clearly state that health assessment is needed in order to illustrate the dimensions of the obesity epidemic. Therefore, the aim of this work was to investigate the prevalence of overweight and obesity in a representative sample of adult and elderly Norwegians. Methods A total of 901 (441 female and 460 male) adult and elderly Norwegians (20 ? 85yr, mean; 51,3 yr, SD; ±14,8yr) were randomly enrolled as part of the Norwegian KAN project phase II; health related physical fitness assessment. Body weight, height, waist circumference (WC) and skinfold measurements from 3 sites were measured, and body mass index (BMI) values were calculated. Results Mean BMI was 25,8 kg/m2 (SD; ±3,9 kg/m2), where females displayed significantly lower BMI (25,3 kg/m2) values than males (26,3 kg/m2). A total of 40,1% (29,9% females and 49,8% males) were classified as overweight and 12,7% as obese (13,4% females, 12,0% males). A significant increase was found in mean BMI values with increasing 10 year age range groups (p=0,037 females, p=0,001 males). Mean WC was 90,1 cm (SD; ±12,1 cm,), where males had a significantly higher mean value (94,7 cm) compared to females (85,2 cm) (p=0,001). In both males and females a significant increase in WC was detected with increased age (p=0.001 and p= 0.003, respectively). A total of 66,1% of the females and 51,4% of the males were categorized as having an increased risk of weight related metabolic complications (WRMC) according to the WHO cut-off values for WC values, where 37,5% of the females and 24,3% of the males were at highly increased risk of WRMC. Females displayed a mean sum of skinfolds of 81,8 mm (SD; ±24,4 mm), and the males a mean of 70,5 mm (SD; ±25,5 mm). No significant change in skinfold measures was detected across age groups. Discussion As many as 61,8% and 43,3% of Norwegian males and females, respectively, are either overweight or obese. Both the average male and female WC are above the WHO cut-off values for increased risk of weight related metabolic complications (WRMC); ?94 cm for men and ?80 cm for women. As expected, the BMI and WC increase with increased age in both genders. Gender differences are also found, as males display higher values for both BMI and WC. Governmental measures should be initiated in order to address the situation.

• Stangeland, Ingirid; Stangeland, Ingirid; Torstveit, Monica Klungland; Torstveit, Monica Klungland; Seiler, Hilde Lohne & Hansen, Bjørge Herman [Show all 13 contributors for this article] (2010). Overweight and obesety in Norwegian adults an elderly. ?.
• Steene-Johannessen, Jostein; Kolle, Elin; Kolle, Elin; Reseland, Janne E.; Anderssen, Sigmund A. & Anderssen, Sigmund A. [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2010). Levels of inflammatory markers in a population-based sample of Norwegian children and adolescents. Show summary

  Background: Adipose tissue is more than a storage depot- it also serves as an endocrine organ that secrets inflammatory cytokines and growth factors. Prospective studies in adults have shown that low-grade inflammation may contribute to the development of insulin resistance, atherosclerosis, diabetes and cancer. Previous studies investigating inflammatory markers in children have been limited by small non-representative samples, and no Norwegian representative data exist. Representative data are needed to describe levels of inflammatory markers in a population. Aim: To describe the distribution of inflammatory markers among Norwegian children and adolescents. Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of data from 2299 Norwegian 9- and 15-year-olds participating in the study ?Physical activity among Norwegian children?. Inflammatory markers included C-reactive protein (CRP), leptin, adiponectin, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), tumor necrosis factor-? (TNF-?), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Skinfold thicknesses were taken by trained investigators. Results: After adjustment for sex and puberty the results showed that 9-year-olds had significantly higher levels of adiponectin (P<0.001), PAI-1 (P<0.001) and TNF-? (P<0.001) but lower levels of leptin (P<0.001) compared to 15-year-olds. A graded association of body composition with PAI-1 (P<0.001), leptin (P<0.001), adiponectin (P=0.004), HGF (P=0.04), and CRP (P<0.001) were observed across quartiles of sum of four skinfolds. In addition, a similar graded associations between physical fitness and PAI-1 (P<0.001), leptin (P<0.001), IL-6 (P=0.04), and CRP (P<0.001) were observed. Conclusions: In the current study, we provide reference values on selected inflammatory markers in a representative cohort of Norwegian children and adolescents. In addition, both body composition and physical fitness showed graded associations with several inflammatory markers.

• Hansen, Bjørge Hermann; Kolle, Elin & Anderssen, Sigmund Alfred (2010). Objectively Assessed Physical Activity in 20-85-y-old Norwegians. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. ISSN 0195-9131. 42(5), p. 51–51.
• Kolle, Elin; Lyngdal, Anne Bang; Hofmann, Peder & Egset, Kristoffer Myklebust (2023). Tilsynsrapport - Oslo Nye Høyskole - Periodisk tilsyn med systematisk kvalitetsarbeid. NOKUT.
• Hansen, Bjørge Hermann; Steene-Johannessen, Jostein; Kolle, Elin; Udahl, Karine; Kaupang, Oda Bjørge & Andersen, Inge Dehli [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2023). Kartlegging av fysisk aktivitet blant voksne og eldre 2020-22 (Kan3). Folkehelseinstituttet. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Kartlegging av fysisk aktivitet og stillesittende tid blant voksne og eldre (Kan3) er utført ved Norges idrettshøgskole i samarbeid med Folkehelseinstituttet. Formålet med Kan3 er å følge opp tidligere undersøkelser av voksne og eldre for å øke kunnskapen om status, trender og utviklingen av fysisk aktivitet i den norske befolkingen. Kan3 inngår som en del av det nasjonale kartleggingssystemet av fysisk aktivitet og fysisk form. De norske ungKan- og Kan-undersøkelsene er unike ved at fysisk aktivitet er målt objektivt ved hjelp av akselerometre i populasjonsbaserte utvalg ved flere tidspunkt. Dette gir mer nøyaktige estimater av befolkingens fysiske aktivitetsnivå enn ved spørreskjemabaserte undersøkelser. Slik kunnskap er nødvendig for å kunne iverksette tiltak for å redusere stillesitting og øke det fysiske aktivitetsnivået.

• Kolle, Elin; Steene-Johannessen, Jostein; Säfvenbom, Reidar; Anderssen, Sigmund Alfred; Grydeland, May & Ekelund, Ulf [Show all 17 contributors for this article] (2019). Hovedrapport: School in motion. Utdanningsdirektoratet.
• Hagen, Aina Landsverk; Andersen, Bengt; Brattbakk, Ingar; Dahlgren, Kenneth; Ascher, Barbara Elisabeth & Kolle, Elin (2016). Ung & ute. En studie av ungdom og unge voksnes bruk av uterom. Arbeidsforskningsinstituttet. ISSN 978-82-7609-374-2.
• Kolle, Elin; Stokke, Johanne Støren; Hansen, Bjørge Hermann & Anderssen, Sigmund Alfred (2012). Fysisk aktivitet blant 6-, 9- og 15-åringer i Norge : resultater fra en kartlegging i 2011. Helsedirektoratet. ISSN 978-82-8081-262-9.

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