Purpose:

Academics have a responsibility to conduct high-quality research that informs the development of evidence-based guidelines for population health. International guidelines have been developed for physical activity, nutrition, and sleep for general and specific population groups. These guidelines; however, highlight many areas of research that are lacking, and clinical trials are needed to better understand the effects of lifestyle behaviours on a variety of health outcomes and for specials populations. This presentation takes the stance that researchers have a commitment to clinical research and developing practical guidelines. Furthermore, science is lacking an understanding of the long-term effects of lifestyle behaviours as mostly only short-term results have been reported.

Methods:

The children and adult Canadian 24-hour Movement Guidelines will be used as an example describing the need for clinical trials to inform the effect of lifestyle behaviours over the lifecourse. A literature review summarizing the limitations in current clinical trials, including the lack of long-term follow up will be conducted and areas for future research will be provided. Finally, the importance of practical guidelines will be discussed and the need for scientists to focus on research outcomes will be argued.

Results:

Clinical investigations have not yet evaluated the long-term effects of lifestyle behaviours; consequently, scientists need to conduct high-quality trials to further inform practical guidelines. An example includes the lack of information on the effects of exercise on long-term health outcomes as most trials do not include extended follow-up periods. Furthermore, many more specialized groups, requiring tailored guidelines have not yet been investigated. High quality clinical trials with long-term follow up explaining the effect of lifestyle behaviours on health outcomes are needed.

Conclusons:

The focus for scientists should be on producing high quality clinical trials to address research gaps for lifestyle behaviours, especially focusing on the long-term effects. By presenting high quality, practical guidelines that address the long-term effects of exercise, nutrition and sleep, future efforts for implementation may be made easier as we can say with evidence that implementing lifestyle interventions can have long-term health effects.

Purpose:

This presentation will take the stance that clinical scientists have a responsibility to assess implementation and feasibility of interventions. This aim would require immediate funding efforts to support knowledge translation of lifestyle behaviour research and guidelines. As many countries have developed evidence-based guidelines for lifestyle behaviours, the next step for research should be determining how to implement these recommendations, and whetherthe guidelines themselves are feasible.

Methods:

First, a literature review of recent implementation and feasibility registered trials and their funding source will be presented for nutrition, exercise and sleep interventions. This will be done by searching clinical trials and health interventions that have been registered within the last 5 years. Next, global statistics for meeting physical activity, sleep and nutrition guidelines will be summarized for the general child/youth and adult populations. Finally, benefits of collaborating with industry and non-profit agencies will be summarized with examples of successful collaborations.

Results:

Over the past 5 years, despite an increase in the availability of evidence-based guidelines for lifestyle behaviours, majority of researchers are studying the clinical effects of exercise, nutrition and sleep in comparison to feasibility or implementation. This is of concern because global health statistics have remained stable for the lack of activity performed by populations, poor sleep and nutrition habits suggesting that despite an increase in knowledge for the clinical health effects of lifestyle habits and behaviours are not improving. This may be evidence for the lack of research funding being allocated to support implementation and feasibility science. It is possible that an evidence disconnect exists between clinical scientists and their role for knowledge translation. It is time to demand more than publications of research findings from experts.

Conclusion:

As experts behind clinical trials, researchers may be in the best position to contribute to implementation and feasibility of lifestyle behaviour-related guidelines. Clinical scientists should be encouraged to include implementation and feasibility testing as a part of their research efforts. This may be done by collaborating with various, and possibly unlikely partners, like industry and non-profit organizations.