New thesis explores the relationship between physical activity, disease, and how a mobile app can promote a healthy lifestyle
In a new thesis, Callum Regan, PhD student at the Divsion of Physiotherapy, NVS, explores how physical activity and sedentary behaviour affect disease risk, and how a personalised mobile app can support healthier habits. The findings highlight the benefits of daily activity for cardiovascular and overall health.
What is the main focus of your thesis?
”We wanted to dive deeper into how physical activity and sedentary behaviour e.g., time spent sitting are associated with diseases and to evaluate the potential of a mobile app to promote a healthy lifestyle. Thus, this thesis focused on how we can reduce our risk of and prevent disease.”, says Callum Regan, PhD student at the Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society.
What are the most important results?
”We found that sex and education can determine how active we are and that more time in physical activity – especially higher intensity physical activity e.g., brisk walking provides respectable risk reductions for cardiovascular disease. Moreover, a mobile app inspired people to start making positive changes to their lifestyle but the importance of the app to be personalised, motivating and user-friendly was highlighted”.
How can this new knowledge contribute to the improvement of people’s health?
”These findings suggest that being active and limiting time spent sitting is beneficial for health and that people should aim to be active daily – for example one to three 20-minute walks per day could be a feasible way to incorporate activity into everyday life. A mobile app or online coaching can help people to become more active, eat healthier and improve their mental health”.
What’s in the future for you? Will you continue to conduct research?
”I plan to continue to work within research with a shift of focus. I will help to evaluate a programme being implemented in schools which aims to combat obesity in children both in Sweden and in several countries in Africa. I look forward to this new challenge and to continue to try and help people”.