The impact of a rapid economic growth on the patterns and trends of overweight and obesity is profound. Obesity is closely linked to lifestyle choices and the risk behaviours that lead to obesity-related morbidities in young adults can be traced to the acceptable norms from childhood through to adulthood. The aims of this study were to estimate the prevalence of overweight and obesity using the World Health Organization classification and to investigate the influence of perceptions/beliefs and health-risk behaviours and their association with overweight and obesity among female university students of the United Arab Emirates University. A cross-sectional survey of the lifestyle choices, risk behaviours and perceptions of obesity with the Body Mass Index (BMI) status of 321 young adult women aged 18-30 years was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire. The female students responded to questions about their diet and physical activity patterns. They reported their height/weight, and weight-related measurements were taken to calculate the BMI. Overall, 20.2% of the students were overweight while 8.40% were obese. The likelihood of being overweight or obese was higher among students who were older, married and had a family history of obesity. Faculty of study (p=0.018) was significantly associated with prevalence of overweight and obesity. Many of the students did not consume fruits and vegetables or eat breakfast daily. Students who spent long hours on sedentary activities were more likely to be obese, with lack of time reported as a major reason for physical inactivity. Respondents wanted to lose weight most commonly for better health and well-being and because of problems with clothes sizes. In view of the high number of health risk behaviours and prevalence of overweight and obesity, prompt action is needed to initiate and sustain interventions and preventive measures that could change the health-compromising behaviours associated with excess weight.

Hälsosamtal med elever i skolan är ett arbetssätt för att främja barns hälsa. Studiens syfte är att beskriva förutsättningar för ett bra hälsosamtal utifrån ungdomars perspektiv. 16 individuella intervjuer med ungdomar på högstadiet och gymnasiet genomförda inom ramen för ett större forskningsprojekt har analyserats med kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Resultatet visar hur ett elevcentrerat, tryggt och strukturerat hälsosamtal skapar förutsättningar för lärande, reflektion, motivation, relation och delaktighet. Ungdomarna uttrycker önskemål om ett elevcentrerat hälsosamtal, anpassat efter deras individuella behov och önskemål. Hälsosamtalet stärkte ungdomen och relationen till skolsköterskan som genom sin personlighet och sina strategier bidrog till känslan av trygghet. Ungdomarna upplevde att de fick ökad kunskap genom struktur, delaktighet och respekt. De beskrev vikten av delaktighet i samtalet för att kunna förmedla sina tankar och åsikter till skolsköterskan. Hälsoverktyget upplevdes skapa struktur i samtalet, förberedelse, en större förståelse, ett helhetsperspektiv över hälsan samt motivation till ändrade levnadsvanor. Resultatet talar för vikten av ett elevcentrerat hälsosamtal där ungdomen görs delaktig för att skapa möjligheter att främja hälsan. Resultatet har i enlighet med tidigare forskning pekat på fördelen med användandet av ett strukturerat hälsoverktyg och hälsosamtalets betydelse för ungdomars tankar om sin hälsa. / Health dialogue with pupils, a way to promote children’s health. The Purpose of the study is to describe prerequisites for a good health dialogue from adolescents´ perspective. 16 individual interviews with adolescents in upper level lower secondary school and high school completed within a major research project were analysed with qualitative content analysis. The result show that Pupil centred, secure and structured health dialogues creates conditions for learning, reflection, motivation, relation and participation. Adolescents express wishes of pupil centred health dialogues, adjusted to individual needs and requests. Helath dialouge strengthened adolescent and relation to school nurse, whom through strategies and personality contributes to the sense of security. Importance of freedom of choice and voluntariness was emphasized by adolescents. Adolescents experienced increased knowledge through structure, participation and respect. The health and lifestyle tool perceived to create structure, preparedness, a greater understanding, holistic perspectives over one’s health and motivation for lifestyle changes. Results indicates importance of pupil centred health dialogues where adolescents is made participant to create possibilities to promote health. In concurrence with previous research results points to advantage of using structured health and lifestyle tools and health dialogue’s importance for adolescents thoughts about health.

Diabetes type 2 is a fast growing illness and a global health problem, often a result from less appropriate standard of living. Lifestyle changes related to diet and physical activity are important lifestyle changes regarding to get control of the self-management and to avoid vascular complications. Aim The aim of this study was to describe patient's experiences of lifestyle changes in diabetes type 2. Method A literature study was carried through based on 12 qualitative scientific articles. Results The analysis result into two main themes and eight subthemes. Main themes where barriers and motivators for lifestyle changes and the subthemes where struggle, denial, lack of knowledge, alienation, support, motivation, acceptance and knowledge. Conclusion This study shows that lifestyle changes are experienced different by patient with diabetes and nurses should therefore be aware of the unique and specific demands these patients require. This is important for providing a good diabetic healthcare and to help patients with their self-management

This paper starts where previous research in this scientific field, research about individuals who managed to end their criminal lifestyle, ends – by talking in terms of Pierre Bourdieu’s forms of capital. In former studies the researchers pointed out access to a job and parenting as helpful factors to end a criminal lifestyle. Our purpose with this paper, however, was to find out if it is possible to understand criminals successfully ending their criminal lifestyle from Bourdieu’s capital metaphors and Mark Granovetter’s concept of strong and weak ties. The empirical data consists of interviews with a life story perspective by eight members of an organization called KRIS (Criminals Return Into Society). All the interviewees included in this study have managed to end their respective criminal lifestyle. The results indicate that our interviewees had help in their ending of the criminal lifestyle by access to or by establishing social capital. The social capital in the interviewees’ cases were constituted by on one hand strong ties, on the other hand weak ties. In a couple of cases both types of ties were involved. Nevertheless, the results indicate that the social capital itself cannot make an ending of the criminal lifestyle possible. The following factors in the individual’s life has to be fulfilled in order to end his or hers criminal lifestyle: (1) exhort a strong motive inside him-/herself, (2) accept no drug use of any kind and (3) carry through a switch of field from the criminal society to the conventional.

Thesis (M.A. (Human Movement Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

Physical inactivity is identified as one of the major risk factors for the development of coronary heart diseases. It has been well documented in research literature that regular engagement in physical activity and healthy lifestyle habits has a positive influence on the risk of developing coronary heart diseases. Research literature reveals that these diseases have a negative influence on the productivity of the employee. In the light of the above mentioned, the fact has become clear that the health of the employee is of major concern to the employer. Healthy employees mean better productivity and better financial benefits for the company. The aim of this research is therefore to determine the physical activity, lifestyle and coronary index profiles of employees working at an electricity supply company in South Africa. Furthermore the aim is to determine the influence of physical activity and lifestyle on the coronary health of the same population. A total of one hundred and seventy nine (N=179) voluntary subjects between the ages of 26 and 65 years (46.1 ± 9.5), who were part of a non-random availability population, took part in the study. Data was collected by means of questionnaires. The Physical Activity Index questionnaire of Sharkey and Gaskill (2007) was used to collect data on the physical activity of respondents, the Lifestyle Index questionnaire of Belloc and Breslow (1972) was used to determine the lifestyle practises of the respondents and the Coronary Risk Index of Bjiirstrom en Alexiou (1978) was used to determine the coronary risk index of the respondents. The physical activity index profile of the respondents was classified as average (25.6 ± 35.6), as was the case with their lifestyle index profile (4.5 ± 1.3) and coronary risk index profile (25.5 ± 7.5). In spite of these findings, it was found that the majority of respondents in fact led a sedentary life (58.1%). That means that the respondents have an increased risk of developing coronary heart disease. The results further showed that age, exercise, gender and stress was identified as the major contributors to increased risk of developing coronary heart diseases. The fact emerged that the majority of respondents were unaware of their cholesterol, systolic and diastolic blood pressure status. These findings are problematic, for it is well documented in research literature that these three factors are major contributors to the development of coronary heart disease. In terms of the influence of physical activity and lifestyle on coronary health, a statistic meaningful (p < 0.05) difference was found in terms of physical activity and lifestyle habits on the coronary health of the employees. Wellness programs that are implemented by companies are of great value. These programs give the workers the opportunity to take responsibility for their health and provide them with the necessary tools to manage their health on optimal levels. Companies that succeed in motivating their staff to engage in these wellness programs, can empower their staff to care for their own health. This means less risk of developing coronary heart diseases, increased productivity and decreased absenteeism, sick leave and medical costs. / Thesis (M.A. (Human Movement Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

Thesis (M.A. (Human Movement Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

Physical inactivity is identified as one of the major risk factors for the development of coronary heart diseases. It has been well documented in research literature that regular engagement in physical activity and healthy lifestyle habits has a positive influence on the risk of developing coronary heart diseases. Research literature reveals that these diseases have a negative influence on the productivity of the employee. In the light of the above mentioned, the fact has become clear that the health of the employee is of major concern to the employer. Healthy employees mean better productivity and better financial benefits for the company. The aim of this research is therefore to determine the physical activity, lifestyle and coronary index profiles of employees working at an electricity supply company in South Africa. Furthermore the aim is to determine the influence of physical activity and lifestyle on the coronary health of the same population. A total of one hundred and seventy nine (N=179) voluntary subjects between the ages of 26 and 65 years (46.1 ± 9.5), who were part of a non-random availability population, took part in the study. Data was collected by means of questionnaires. The Physical Activity Index questionnaire of Sharkey and Gaskill (2007) was used to collect data on the physical activity of respondents, the Lifestyle Index questionnaire of Belloc and Breslow (1972) was used to determine the lifestyle practises of the respondents and the Coronary Risk Index of Bjiirstrom en Alexiou (1978) was used to determine the coronary risk index of the respondents. The physical activity index profile of the respondents was classified as average (25.6 ± 35.6), as was the case with their lifestyle index profile (4.5 ± 1.3) and coronary risk index profile (25.5 ± 7.5). In spite of these findings, it was found that the majority of respondents in fact led a sedentary life (58.1%). That means that the respondents have an increased risk of developing coronary heart disease. The results further showed that age, exercise, gender and stress was identified as the major contributors to increased risk of developing coronary heart diseases. The fact emerged that the majority of respondents were unaware of their cholesterol, systolic and diastolic blood pressure status. These findings are problematic, for it is well documented in research literature that these three factors are major contributors to the development of coronary heart disease. In terms of the influence of physical activity and lifestyle on coronary health, a statistic meaningful (p < 0.05) difference was found in terms of physical activity and lifestyle habits on the coronary health of the employees. Wellness programs that are implemented by companies are of great value. These programs give the workers the opportunity to take responsibility for their health and provide them with the necessary tools to manage their health on optimal levels. Companies that succeed in motivating their staff to engage in these wellness programs, can empower their staff to care for their own health. This means less risk of developing coronary heart diseases, increased productivity and decreased absenteeism, sick leave and medical costs. / Thesis (M.A. (Human Movement Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

Bakgrund: Oro, ångest, depression och sömnsvårigheter har fördubblats eller ökat ännu mer de senaste 20 åren bland ungdomar i åldern 15-24 år. Uppgifter tyder på att skolsystemet inte fungerar optimalt, vilket kan ha en negativ inverkan på ungdomars hälsa. Under de senaste decennierna har hälsoperspektivet kommit att påverka skolidrotten, vilket resulterat i en ändring av ämnesnamnet till idrott och hälsa. Detta tyder på ett tydligare fokus på hälsa. Syfte: I denna studie undersöktes hur lärare i idrott och hälsa arbetar för att ge ungdomar kunskap om hälsa. Fokus har legat på "Hälsa och Livsstil", ett salutogent synsätt på hälsa har använts med teorin om KASAM. Metod: En kvalitativ metod med semistrukturerade intervjuer användes. Resultat: Lärarna i idrott som intervjuades var av uppfattningen att hälsa och livsstil är viktiga men att de inte har tillräckligt med tid eller resurser för det. Slutsats: Denna studie har gett svar på frågan att det finns möjligheter att arbeta med hälsofrågor från ett salutogent perspektiv i skolan, förutsatt att man kan prioritera värdegrund, delaktighet, samarbete och resurser för ämnet idrott och hälsa. Ytterligare studier behövs för att verifiera dessa resultat. / Background: Worry, anxiety, depression and insomnia has doubled or increased even more the past 20 years among adolescents aged 15-24. Evidence suggests that the school system is not functioning optimally, which may have a negative impact on young people's health. In recent decades, health perspective has come to influence schools physical education, which resulted in a change of the name to physical training and health. This indicates a clearer focus on health. Aim: This study looked at how teachers in physical education are working to give young people knowledge about health. Focus has been on "Health and Lifestyle", a salutogenic approach to health has been used with the theory of SOC. Method: A qualitative approach with semi-structured interviews were used. Results: The teachers of physical education that were interviewed were of the view that health and lifestyle is important but they don’t have enough time or resources for it. Conclusion: This study has provided answers to the question that there are opportunities to work with health issues from a salutogenic perspective in school, provided that sets of values, participation, cooperation and resources for physical education are in place. Further studies are needed to verify these findings.

The state and individual must both understand that the increase in fat rates is a social phenomenon that requires reconciliation between collective and individual participation. A social movement needs to be generated that seeks solutions to this health phenomenon through preventative health measures; because the state’s current reactionary response does not address the factors that contribute to increased fat. These factors transcend the direct relationship between an individual, food and exercise, and also involve power. The current policy definition of fat is incorrect because it does not address the multiple variables that have generated an increase in common indicators of obesity; rather, it relies on inaccurate measurement systems, differing conceptions of the healthy individual, and narrow understandings of what causes obesity. The result is the current paralysis of policy reform. This thesis provides solutions that reconcile the current political definition with my own in order to advocate health promotion strategies that activate both the citizen and the state. / Graduate