1. Academic Wits Research Publications (Faculties submissions)

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Author: search.filters.author.Norris, Shane A.Subject: search.filters.subject.Physical activity

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    Influence of socioeconomic status on changes in body size and physical activity in ageing black South African women
    (BioMed Central, 2018-04) Gradidge, Philippe Jean-Luc; Norris, Shane A.; Munthali, Richard; Crowther, Nigel J.
    Background: The increasing prevalence of obesity in sub-Saharan African women is not well understood, and black South African women in the region are particularly vulnerable. This study aimed to examine whether the relationship of socioeconomic status (SES) with changes in body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) is mediated by physical activity in ageing African women. Methods: In a longitudinal analysis of the 518 caregivers associated with the Birth to Twenty Plus study, the role of SES associated with 10-year changes in BMI and WC was tested using structural equation modelling (SEM). The degree of mediation of moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sitting time in this association was also assessed. Results: The prevalence of obesity increased significantly from baseline to follow-up (p < 0.0001). In the SEM models, baseline SES had a direct positive effect on changes in BMI (β, 95% CI, 0.02 (0.005 to 0.04), and a direct negative effect on changes in MVPA (β, 95% CI, − 3.81 (− 6.92 to − 0.70). Baseline MVPA had a direct negative effect (β, 95% CI, − 0.002 (− 0.003 to − 0.0003) and indirect positive effect via change in MVPA (β, 95% CI, 0.01 (0.0001 to 0.001) on change in WC. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates the role and interaction of sociodemographic and behavioural predictors of obesity and suggests a multifaceted approach to management of the crisis in communities of ageing urban African women.
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    Associations between nutrition knowledge and obesity-related attitudes and physical activity among young adults from Kenya, South Africa, and the United Kingdom
    (National Inquiry Services Centre (NISC) & Taylor and Francis Group, 2024) Norris, Shane A.; Dlamini, Siphiwe N.; Mtintsilana, Asanda; Mapanga, Witness; Craig, Ashleigh
    This study’s aim was to test associations between nutrition knowledge and obesity-related attitudes and physical activity (PA) among 3000 18–35-year-old men and women from Kenya, South Africa (SA), and the United Kingdom (UK).Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in April 2022. To estimate nutrition knowledge, dietary recommendation knowledge score was computed using the standard General Nutrition Knowledge questionnaire. Obesity-related attitudes were from the British Social Attitudes Survey. Self-reported days of vigorous and moderate PAs and walking were used. Ordinal logistic regression was employed to test all associations, while adjusting for age group, gender and a household asset score. Using simple mediation, testing was also done to ascertain whether obesity-related attitudes mediated associations between nutrition knowledge and PA. Results: Consistently, better nutrition knowledge was associated with disagreeing that ‘There is no reason to worry about obesity’ (ORs ≥ 1.09), but lower odds of being against ‘Providing free weight management courses’ and ‘Creating/improving cycle paths and pavements to encourage PA’ (ORs ≤ 0.90). Better nutrition knowledge was also associated with higher vigorous PA in SA (OR = 1.09), and moderate PA (OR = 1.04) and walking (OR = 1.12) in the UK. In the combined sample, associations of nutrition knowledge with vigorous PA were fully mediated by believing that ‘Obesity results from not exercising enough’ (11.1% mediated). Likewise, associations of nutrition knowledge with moderate PA were fully mediated by attitude towards ‘Creating or improving cycle paths and pavements to encourage PA’ in the UK (38.9% mediated).Conclusions: Nutrition knowledge is associated with obesity-related attitudes and PA among young adults, but some relationships are country-specific. Interventions based on findings from high-income countries should be evaluated before being implemented in low-resource settings.