Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Automated Ecological Assessment Of Physical Activity: Advancing Direct Observation., Jordan A. Carlson, Bo Liu, James F. Sallis, Jacqueline Kerr, J Aaron Hipp, Vincent S. Staggs, Amy Papa, Kelsey Dean, Nuno M. Vasconcelos

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Technological advances provide opportunities for automating direct observations of physical activity, which allow for continuous monitoring and feedback. This pilot study evaluated the initial validity of computer vision algorithms for ecological assessment of physical activity. The sample comprised 6630 seconds per camera (three cameras in total) of video capturing up to nine participants engaged in sitting, standing, walking, and jogging in an open outdoor space while wearing accelerometers. Computer vision algorithms were developed to assess the number and proportion of people in sedentary, light, moderate, and vigorous activity, and group-based metabolic equivalents of tasks (MET)-minutes. Means and standard deviations (SD) …

Working It Out: An Examination Of Modern Exercise Culture As Displayed On A College Campus, Mary Bolgan

Senior Theses

When asked to describe, as simplistically as possible, what one believes to be the most basic needs for human survival, it is likely that a few concepts will come up repeatedly: food, shelter, and procreation. In modern times, barriers to these needs tend to be financial resource. However, this has not always been the case. In primitive times, a third necessity would be needed to survive, that being a certain degree of physical fitness. To obtain food and build shelter, our ancestors had to have a great deal of physical competency to be able to hunt, gather, build, and keep …

Disc Golf As A Public Health Option: Utilizing America's Natural Resources To Offer Low Cost Outdoor Exercise, Victor Martins

Senior Theses

This paper explores the appeal and growth potential of disc golf as a way to offer a fun and immersive exercise experience. In a time when the United States is a world leader in obesity, understanding issues like appeal, exercise motivation and accessibility are important as the country looks to redirect itself towards a healthier future. In order to understand what brings disc golfers in, a survey of player motivations across demographic groups was completed using a rated average system. In doing so, researchers gained insight and verification of the game’s appeal under the framework of previous public health and …

Within-Person Associations Of Young Adolescents' Physical Activity Across Five Primary Locations: Is There Evidence Of Cross-Location Compensation?, Jordan A. Carlson, Tarrah B. Mitchell, Brian E. Saelens, Vincent S. Staggs, Jacqueline Kerr, Lawrence D. Frank, Jasper Schipperijn, Terry L. Conway, Karen Glanz, Jim E. Chapman, Kelli L. Cain, James F. Sallis

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Youth are active in multiple locations, but it is unknown whether more physical activity in one location is associated with less in other locations. This cross-sectional study examines whether on days with more physical activity in a given location, relative to their typical activity in that location, youth had less activity in other locations (i.e., within-person associations/compensation).

METHODS: Participants were 528 adolescents, ages 12 to 16 (M = 14.12, SD = 1.44, 50% boys, 70% White non-Hispanic). Accelerometer and Global Positioning System devices were used to measure the proportion of time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in five …

The Influence Of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors On Exercise Participation, Chadrick Cooper

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The study's purpose was to analyze whether the control (sustained healthy level) of independent cardiovascular disease risk factors could be used to significantly predict aerobic exercise status. The health belief and ecological model helped describe health awareness, autonomy, and ecological influences that could also influence the control of each risk factor. Multiple logistic regression analysis of behaviors and demographics was utilized to assess relationships of met aerobic recommendations to hypertension, diabetes, obesity, tobacco/alcohol use, diet, physical activity limitations, mood, and socio-economic status. The study consisted of 340 African American participants (37% male 63% female), between the ages of 30-64 who, …

Comparison Of Environmental Supports To A Healthy Lifestyle On The Unh Campus With Student Behaviors, Mary Hammar

Honors Theses and Capstones

Background: Environmental factors play a large role in shaping diet and lifestyle behaviors. Creating a college campus environment conducive to healthy dietary choices and physical activity may promote student health.

Objective: The objective of this study was to explore and describe the availability of environmental supports for a healthy lifestyle on the UNH campus and student behaviors.

Design: The Healthy Campus Environmental Audit (HCEA), a comprehensive tool developed by a USDA multi-state research team led by Syracuse University, was implemented to measure the availability of healthy options in dining establishments (n=12) and the adequacy of recreation facilities (n=3) and walking/biking …

Evaluation Of Acceptance And Efficiency Of Exercise For Indigenous Australians To Benefit Physiological, Anthropometric And Metabolic Syndrome Outcomes, Tuguy Esgin

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The proposed study will provide an increased understanding in a much-understudied area of how the Australian Indigenous community perceives physical activity and the beneficial effects for improving health outcomes.

The PhD will be made up of three studies:

1) To design an exercise prescription that is culturally appropriate and specifically addresses the major Indigenous health issues around metabolic syndrome.

The first will be a cross sectional study that surveys the motivators and barriers to physical activity within the Perth Noongar community. The results of this study will be used to enhance the intervention section of the PhD. It will provide …