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Recent High School Graduates Knowledge About Physical Activity Guidelines And Disease Related To Sedentary Lifestyle, Soojin Yoo

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This study examined recent high school graduates' knowledge about physical activity (PA) guidelines and disease related to sedentary lifestyle. Using a cross-sectional descriptive design, focus was on assessing knowledge performance and relating it to gender, ethnicity, PA behavior, and conceptualizations about high school health education (HE) and physical education (PE). Study participants were 394 recent high school graduates between the ages of 18-20 years of age. Participants completed a questionnaire designed to measure knowledge about PA guidelines and disease associated with sedentary lifestyle. In addition, the questionnaire also comprised items designed to capture demographical information and provide some information about …

A Correlational Study: The Relationship Between Physical Activity Levels, Physical Self-Worth, And Global Self-Worth In High School Physical Education Students, Ashley Danelle Eyre

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between physical activity levels, physical self-worth, and its sub-domains; (a) skill, (b) body attractiveness, (c) fitness and conditioning, and (d) strength, and overall global self-worth in high school students. One-Hundred and sixty-seven students (male = 66;female = 101) from the western United States, ages 13-18, participated in this study. Each participant completed a minimum of four days of physical activity (PA) data collection and completed the self-worth questionnaire. Pedometers were used to collect PA levels, calculating mean step counts, and the Children and Youth Physical Self-Perception Profile (CY-PSPP) was used …

Adolescents And Teachers As Partners In A School-Based Research Project To Increase Physical Activity Opportunities In A Rural Community, James Rye, Nancy O'Hara Tompkins, Darlene Mcclure, Jacqueline Aleshire

The Rural Educator

Schools are an important resource in combating the physical inactivity and obesity epidemics in rural economically depressed areas. Through a University-community partnership, teachers and adolescents in a rural West Virginia county with one of the highest obesity rates in the state developed a school-based research intervention to increase physical activity opportunities. The intervention included walking routes, educational sessions, and pedometers. A survey about barriers to physical activity revealed that “lack of willpower” was a barrier of concern among program participants (mostly school employees) and had a statistically significant (p = .0033) pre to post mean score decrease during the year …

Cardiorespiratory Fitness As A Predictor Of Fatal And Nonfatal Stroke In Asymptomatic Women And Men, Steven P. Hooker, Xuemei Sui, Natalie Colabianchi, John E. Vena, James N. Laditka, Michael J. Lamonte, Steven N. Blair

Faculty Publications

Background and Purpose - Prospective data on the association between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and stroke are largely limited to studies in men or do not separately examine risks for fatal and nonfatal stroke. This study examined the association between CRF and fatal and nonfatal stroke in a large cohort of asymptomatic women and men.

Methods - A total of 46,405 men and 15,282 women without known myocardial infarction or stroke at baseline completed a maximal treadmill exercise test between 1970 and 2001. CRF was grouped as quartiles of the sex-specific distribution of maximal metabolic equivalents achieved. Mortality follow-up was through …

Use Of Pedometers To Promote Physical Activity In Older Mexican American Females, Zasha Romero, Paul Villas, Tom Semper, Layne Jorgensen

Health & Human Performance Faculty Publications

The rates of obesity and related health conditions are rising at an alarming rate, especially among minority populations. Nutrition and physical activity have been particularly linked to the high rates of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. This study was to determine if pedometers promoted daily walking exercise reflected by changes on selected physiological measurements in older Mexican American females. Significance in the study was determined at the 95% level of confidence. The participants for this study were 55 Mexican American females ages 60 to 75 randomly assigned to a treatment or control group. An analysis of covariance was used …

Swimming And All-Cause Mortality Risk Compared With Running, Walking, And Sedentary Habits In Men, Nancy L. Chase, Xuemei Sui, Steven N. Blair

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Swimming, water jogging, and aqua aerobics are lifetime physical activities that provide many health benefits comparable to those of walking and running. Research on the association between swimming and mortality is scarce, however. To evaluate the association between different types of physical activity and all-cause mortality, we studied 40,547 men age 20-90 years who completed a health examination during 1971 – 2003. Cox proportional-hazards regression was used to estimate the relative risks according to physical activity exposure categories. A total of 3,386 deaths occurred during 543,330 man-years of observation. After adjustment for age, body-mass index, smoking status, alcohol intake, and …

Association Of Fat Oxidation And Insulin Resistance In Prepubertal Children, Connie Vanvrancken Tompkins

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Identifying the relationship between fat oxidation and insulin resistance (IR) may provide vital clues to the mechanisms behind the development of metabolic disease in prepubertal children. The purpose of this study was to examine the association of fat oxidation with insulin resistance (IR) and insulin sensitivity (SI) in prepubertal children. A total of 34 prepubertal 7-9 year olds (18 females, 16 males, 13 non-Caucasian, 21 Caucasian, 8.0±0.8 years, 36.5±12.1 kg) were observed. Subjects participated in indirect calorimetry to obtain respiratory quotient (RQ) and a blood test to obtain fasting insulin and glucose to calculate IR by homeostatic model assessment (HOMA). …

Descriptive Study Of Parents' And Guardians' Perceived Barriers To Physical Activity In The Mississippi Delta, Julia Parrott Callahan

Theses and Dissertations

Understanding of beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors toward health issues, such as physical inactivity, within certain populations are often studied to design programs and interventions specific to communities. A total of six elementary schools were chosen in the Mississippi Delta, two elementary schools within three school districts, to provide a deeper understanding of barriers to physical activity. Fortyour parents and guardians of elementary aged children participated in focus groups to discuss current physical activity levels and factors impacting and limiting local children’s physical activity levels. The most frequently reported barriers were environmental issues such as fear of children’s safety, lack of …

Physical Activity And Neighborhood Resources In High School Girls, Russell R. Pate, Natalie Colabianchi, Dwayne E. Porter, Maria João C. A. Almeida, Felipe Lobelo, Marsha Dowda

Faculty Publications

Background - Physical activity behavior is influenced by a person's physical environment, but few studies have used objective measures to study the influences of the physical environment on physical activity behavior in youth. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between selected neighborhood physical activity resources and physical activity levels in high school girls.

Methods - Participants were students in schools that had participated in a large physical activity intervention trial. The 3-Day Physical Activity Recall was completed by 1506 12th-grade girls. Data on physical activity facilities and resources in the participating communities were collected using a …

Race Differences In Activity, Fitness, And Bmi In Female Eighth Graders Categorized By Sports Participation Status, John R. Sirard, Karin A. Pfeiffer, Marsha Dowda, Russell R. Pate

Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to identify racial differences in physical activity (PA), fitness, and BMI in female 8th-grade sports participants and nonparticipants. Girls from 31 South Carolina middle schools (N=1,903, 48% White; mean age=13.6 ± 0.63) reported PA and previous year sports-team participation, completed a submaximal fitness test, and had height and weight measured. Sports team participation was positively associated with PA and negatively associated with television viewing and BMI, in a dose-response manner. Compared with Whites, African-Americans reported less PA and more television viewing, and had greater BMI scores. Whereas PA intervention programs that incorporate …

Obesity Risk Knowledge, Self-Efficacy, And Physical Activity In Families Of Adolescents, Elaine M. Rutkowski Phd, Msn, Rn, Cns

Dissertations

There were no significant relationships found between parental obesity risk knowledge and physical activity in their children. nor between parent's self efficacy and their children's physical activity. In addition there was no significant relationship between the adolescents' obesity risk knowledge and their physical activity. There was, however, a statistically significant relationship between adolescent's self efficacy and physical activity. The result of the correlation between parent's self-efficacy and their level of physical activity was not significant but approached significance (p = .07) and may be identified as a trend. There was a statistically significant negative correlation between parents who describe their …

Promoting Physical Activity In Middle School Girls: Trial Of Activity For Adolescent Girls, Larry S. Webber, Diane J. Catellier, Leslie A. Lytle, David M. Murray, Charlotte A. Pratt, Deborah Rohm Young, John P. Elder, Timothy G. Lohman, June Stevens, Jared B. Jobe, Russell R. Pate

Faculty Publications

Background - Physical activity is important for weight control and good health; however, activity levels decline in the adolescent years, particularly in girls.

Design - Group randomized controlled trial.

Setting/participants - Middle school girls with English-speaking skills and no conditions to prevent participation in physical activity in 36 schools in six geographically diverse areas of the United States. Random, cross-sectional samples were drawn within schools: 6th graders in 2003 (n=1721) and 8th graders in 2005 (n=3504) and 2006 (n=3502).

Intervention - A 2-year study-directed intervention (fall 2003 to spring 2005) targeted schools, community agencies, …

The Effectiveness Of Mentoring-Based Professional Development On Physical Education Teachers' Pedometer And Computer Efficacy And Anxiety, Jeffrey J. Martin, Nate Mccaughtry, Pamela Hodges Kulinna, Donetta Cothran, Roberta Faust

Kinesiology, Health and Sport Studies

The purpose of our study was to examine the impact of mentoring-based professional development on physical education teachers' efficacy. Experienced mentor teachers were paired (n = 15) with inexperienced protégé teachers (n = 15) at the beginning of a yearlong intervention study. It was hypothesized that teachers would increase their efficacy to use pedometers and computers to enhance instruction, and reduce their computer anxiety. Repeated-measures ANOVAs for mentors and protégés revealed a variety of significant main effects. We found increases in computer and pedometer efficacy. A second set of repeated-measures ANOVAs based on mentors', protégés', and control groups' …

Modeling Physical Activity In Working Adults: How Suitable Is The Expanded Parallel Process Model?, Adwoa B-H-Sam

Health Services Research Dissertations

This study is an assessment of the usefulness of the Expanded Parallel Process Model in predicting health enhancing physical activity as an outcome variable. The theory is tested in the context of risk for coronary heart disease and involves secondary analyses of a dataset from a group of working adults. These individuals had elected first to participate in a health plan ‘Quality Improvement Study’ and were then randomly selected to receive an intervention program designed to get people to be more active.

Data on self-reported demographics, physical activity levels, health status characteristics and perceptions measured on a Likert-type scale known …

Psychosocial Determinants Of Childhood And Adolescent Obesity, Manoj Sharma, Melinda J. Ickes

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

The purpose of this article was to identify psychosocial determinants of childhood and adolescent obesity. Some of the determinants were considered non-modifiable such as genetics, sex, age, and race. The risk of developing obesity started early on in life, with high birth weight, rapid growth in infancy, maternal smoking during pregnancy, and lack of breastfeeding indicated as positive predictors. Family food environment and dietary behaviors were considered modifiable determinants and included: consumption of unhealthy foods, portion sizes, snacking, and number of family meals. Physical activity was also considered a protective factor against the development of obesity, with overweight children significantly …

Use Of Accelerometers In A Large Field-Based Study Of Children: Protocols, Design Issues, And Effects On Precision, Calum Mattocks, Andy R. Ness, Sam D. Leary, Kate Tilling, Steven N. Blair, Julian Shield, Kevin Deere, Joanne Saunders, Joanne Krikby, George Davey Smith, Jonathan Wells, Nicholas Wareham, John J. Reilly, Chris J. Riddoch

Faculty Publications

Background: Objective methods can improve accuracy of physical activity measurement in field studies but uncertainties remain about their use.

Methods: Children age 11 years from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), were asked to wear a uni-axial accelerometer (MTI Actigraph) for 7 days.

Results: Of 7159 children who attended for assessment, 5595 (78%) provided valid measures. The reliability coefficient for 3 days of recording was .7 and the power to detect a difference of 0.07 SDs (P ≤ .05) was > 90%. Measures tended to be higher on the first day of recording (17 counts/min; 95% CI, …

Pedometer-Determined Physical Activity, Bmi And Waist Girth In 7- To 16- Year-Old Children And Adolescents, Beth P. Hands, Helen Parker

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Background: Different approaches to measuring physical activity and fatness in youth have resulted in studies reporting relationships ranging from very strong to non-existent.

Methods: The sample comprised 787 males and 752 females aged between 7 and 16 years. Pedometer-determined physical activity, height, weight and waist girth measures were taken.

Results: Significant differences were found in activity level between BMI-determined weight categories for the females (F(1, 742) = 9.07, p = .003) but not for the males (F(1, 777) = 3.59, p = .06) and between truncal adiposity groupings for both the males (F(1, 777) = 4.69, p = .03) and …

Towards An Understanding Of Salient Neighborhood Boundaries: Adolescent Reports Of An Easy Walking Distance And Convenient Driving Distance, Natalie Colabianchi, Marsha Dowda, Karin A. Pfeiffer, Dwayne E. Porter, Maria João C. A. Almeida, Russell R. Pate

Faculty Publications

Numerous studies have examined the association between the surrounding neighborhood environment and physical activity levels in adolescents. Many of these studies use a road network buffer of Euclidean distance buffer around an adolescent's home to represent the appropriate geographic area for study (i.e., neighborhood). However, little empirical research has examined the appropriate buffer size to use when defining this area and there is little consistency across published research as to the buffer size used. In this study, 909 12^th grade adolescent girls of diverse racial and geographic backgrounds were asked to report their perceptions of an easy walking distance …

Special Article: Physical Activity, Physical Fitness, And Cardiovascular Risk Factors In Childhood, Samuel S. Gidding

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

In adults, physical activity and exercise training are associated with reduced cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, a reduced likelihood of developing adverse cardiovascular risk factors, and improved insulin sensitivity. In childhood, participation in appropriate physical activity may prevent the development of cardiovascular risk factors in the future and complement treatment of existing cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension, dyslipidemia, and overweight. Exercise in children can also significantly improve insulin sensitivity independent of weight loss. These e fects are mediated in overweight children by increases in lean body mass relative to fat mass and associated improvements in inflammatory mediators, endothelial function, and the …

Long-Term Effects Of A Physical Activity Intervention In High School Girls, Russell R. Pate, Ruth P. Saunders, Rod K. Dishman, Cheryl L. Addy, Marsha Dowda, Dianne S. Ward

Faculty Publications

Background - Physical activity decreases during childhood and adolescence, and physical activity levels are significantly lower in females than males, particularly during adolescence. Schools are attractive settings in which to implement interventions designed to promote physical activity in girls and young women, but few studies have tested the sustained effects of such interventions.

Design - Cross-sectional. Data were collected in 2002-2003 and analyzed in 2006-2007.

Setting/Participants - 1594 adolescent girls in 22 high schools.

Intervention - The intervention, Lifestyle Education for Activity Program (LEAP), was designed to increase physical activity in 9^th grade girls through two channels: changes in …

Three-Year Weight Change In Successful Weight Losers Who Lost Weight On A Low-Carbohydrate Diet, Suzanne Phelan, Holly Wyatt, Shirine Nassery, Julia Dibello, Joseph L. Fava, James O. Hill, Rena R. Wing

Kinesiology and Public Health

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate long-term weight loss and eating and exercise behaviors of successful weight losers who lost weight using a low-carbohydrate diet.
Research Methods and Procedures: This study examined 3-year changes in weight, diet, and physical activity in 891 subjects (96 low-carbohydrate dieters and 795 others) who enrolled in the National Weight Control Registry between 1998 and 2001 and reported ≥ 30-lb weight loss and ≥ 1 year weight loss maintenance.
Results: Only 10.8% of participants reported losing weight after a low-carbohydrate diet. At entry into the study, low-carbohydrate diet users reported consuming more …

Physical Activity And Public Health In Older Adults: Recommendation From The American College Of Sports Medicine And The American Heart Association, Miriam E. Nelson, W. Jack Rejeski, Steven N. Blair, Pamela W. Duncan, James O. Judge, Abby C. King, Carol A. Macera, Carmen Castaneda-Sceppa

Faculty Publications

Objective - To issue a recommendation on the types and amounts of physical activity needed to improve and maintain health in older adults.

Participants - A panel of scientists with expertise in public health, behavioral science, epidemiology, exercise science, medicine, and gerontology.

Evidence - The expert panel reviewed existing consensus statements and relevant evidence from primary research articles and reviews of the literature. Process: After drafting a recommendation for the older adult population and reviewing drafts of the Updated Recommendation from the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the American Heart Association (AHA) for Adults, the panel issued a …

Agreement Between Student-Reported And Proxy-Reported Physical Activity Questionnaires, Marsha Dowda, Russell R. Pate, James F. Sallis, Patty S. Freedson, Wendell C. Taylor, John R. Sirard, Stewart G. Trost

Faculty Publications

Parents and 531 students (46% males, 78% white) completed equivalent questionnaires. Agreement between student and parent responses to questions about hypothesized physical activity (PA) correlates was assessed. Relationships between hypothesized correlates and an objective measure of student's moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in a subset of 177 students were also investigated. Agreement between student and parent ranged from r=.34 to .64 for PA correlates. Spearman correlations between MVPA and PA correlates ranged from -.04 to .21 for student report and -.14 to .32 for parent report, and there were no statistical differences for 8 out of 9 correlations between parent …

Effectiveness Of The Spark Program In Increasing Fitness Among Children And Adolescents, Latrice Stephanie Sales

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The present study evaluated the effectiveness of the SPARK program in increasing cardiovascular and musculoskeletal fitness among children and adolescents. It was hypothesized that participation in the SPARK program would significantly increase fitness as measured by the FITNESSGRAM physical fitness battery. 247 children age 7-12 at the Boys and Girls Club of Bulloch County, Inc. were placed in either a treatment group that received the SPARK program twice a week or a control group that went to a study hall. Fitness assessments were performed before and after the 6-week physical activity program. Results indicated a significant increase in measures of …

C-Reactive Protein Levels According To Physical Activity And Body Weight For Participants In The Coronary Health Improvement Project, Michael T. Massey

Theses and Dissertations

Objectives. Evaluate C-reactive protein (CRP) levels according to weight and physical activity. The study explored how changes in CRP were associated with baseline CRP, weight, and physical activity and changes in these variables.

Methods. A randomized controlled study design assigned 348 individuals to the intervention or control group with measurements taken at baseline, 6 weeks, and 6 months of body weight, physical activity, and serum CRP levels. Participants attended an intensive 40-hour educational course delivered over a four-week period.

Results. At baseline, CRP was negatively associated with total steps/week, and positively associated with weight, BMI, percent fat, and saturated fat …

Emotional Health And Weight Gain: A Prospective Study Of Middle-Aged Women, Ann Bahr

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this study was to investigate the extent to which risk of gaining weight or body fat is affected by emotional health in women. A secondary objective was to determine the influence of age, baseline weight and body fat, physical activity (PA), energy intake, and changes in PA and energy intake, on the relationship between emotional health and gains in weight and body fat. The study was a prospective cohort investigation over 20 months of 256 healthy, non-obese females (age: 35-45 y, BMI < 30 kg/m2). All subjects were assessed for several variables using objective measurements at baseline and again at 20 months. Emotional health was assessed using the General Well-Being Schedule. Body fat percentage was indexed using the Bod Pod. PA was measured objectively using MTI (CSA) accelerometers, and energy intake was measured using weighed, 7-day food records. The results of the study demonstrated that risk of gains in weight and body fat were no greater in depressed women compared to their counterparts. However, 171 (66.8%) subjects demonstrated less than positive (LTP) emotional health at baseline, and 37.4% of these subjects gained weight during the 20-month study. Conversely, 85 (33.2%) subjects had positive emotional health at baseline, but only 23.5% gained weight over the investigational period. With no variables controlled, women with LTP emotional health had 59% greater risk of weight gain over the study period than women with positive emotional health (RR 1.59, 95% CI = 1.04-2.44). Women with LTP emotional health were at no greater risk of gains in body fat percentage than women with positive emotional health (RR 0.96, 95% CI = 0.70-1.33). After adjusting for each potential confounder individually, risk of gaining weight or body fat did not change. However, after adjusting for all of the potential confounders simultaneously, risk of weight gain was weakened (RR 1.43, 95% CI = 0.93-2.21). These results seem to demonstrate that middle-aged women with LTP emotional health may be at increased risk of gaining weight compared to women with positive emotional health.

Wellness Program Effect On The Health Parameters Of Female Employees Aged 25 To 60 Years Of Age Targeting Physical Activity And Nutrition Therapy., Adrienne J. Poag

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to determine if the health parameters of female employees would improve, as measured in the posttest data, following the completion of a 12-week employee wellness program. The participants included 17 female employees from the Carter County Health Department located in Elizabethton, Tennessee. The principle investigator assessed the changes in the pretests and posttests and analyzed the data using SPSS. The results showed on average an increase in fruit and vegetable consumption and in the number of days exercised per week as well as improved diastolic blood pressure and triglyceride levels. The employees who experienced …

The Motivational Readiness To Change Leisure Time Physical Activity Behavior Of Mississippi Community College Students, Jerry Phillip Crenshaw

Theses and Dissertations

The stages of motivational readiness to change leisure time physical activity behavior of students from two Mississippi community colleges were investigated. The Stages of Motivational Readiness to Change (SMRC) model postulates that behavior change is a longitudinal process described by five stages that assess an individual?s motivational level relative to changing leisure time physical activity behavior. That is, individuals are positioned in one of the following five stages at any given point in time: (a) precontemplation (i.e., no intention to change); (b) contemplation (i.e., considering a change); (c) preparation (i.e., small changes already made toward an ultimate behavior goal); (d) …

The Impact Of A Physical Activity Intervention On The Physical Activity Self-Efficacy Of Preadolescent Females, Katherine Hommel

All Theses

Females often do not participate in the recommended level of physical activity on a regular basis possibly leading to both physical and psychological consequences. Reasons for lack of participation include a lack of self-efficacy. Self-efficacy theory proposes that self-efficacy is a key determinant in maintenance, adoption, and perseverance in difficult tasks. Recent literature has supported a relationship between an individual's physical activity self-efficacy and actual behaviors relating to physical activity.
The Finding Your Voice program was aimed at increasing pre-adolescent female's self-efficacy for physical activity through education and practical experience. The primary purpose of this study was to determine the …

Structural Equation Model Of Exercise In Women Utilizing The Theory Of Unpleasant Symptoms And Social Cognitive Variables, Sarah Elizabeth Cobb

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A dramatic decline in physical activity levels occurs from adolescence to young adulthood. Those who were sedentary as adolescents tend to maintain a sedentary lifestyle. Women are particularly vulnerable to the effects of a sedentary lifestyle because of the risk for cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this research was to test a theoretical model of exercise in adolescent and young adult women using the theory of unpleasant symptoms with social cognitive variables and then to test a revised model that was determined a priori. The central hypotheses were that the relationships as depicted in the proposed theoretical models would be …