Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1990. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 52-57). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Florida State University, 2006. / Advisor: Gary R. Heald, Florida State University, College of Communication, Dept. of Communication. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed Sept. 14, 2006). Document formatted into pages; contains xii, 106 pages. Includes bibliographical references.

The purpose of this study was to determine if maximal aerobic exercise promotes BDNF expression in obese individuals. Plasma levels and the expression of BDNF in PBMCs were examined. 22 participants (10 obese, 12 non-obese) completed a V02max treadmill test and blood was obtained pre, post, and 1 and 2 hours into exercise recovery. Plasma and PBMCs were isolated and analyzed for BDNF via ELISA and Western blot techniques. A significant effect for time was observed for plasma BDNF (P= <0.00 1 ). Additionally, A significant group-by-time interaction was found from pre-to-RIH for BDNF expression in PBMCs (P= 0.046). Further, significant correlations were found between BMI and waist circumference (r= .91, P< 0.001), WHR (r= .51, P= 0.002) and Pre-to-RlH ratio (r=0.58, P=0.008). Young obese subject's BDNF response to maximal exercise was consistent with previous studies. Post-exercise BDNF expressed in PBMCs were significantly higher than rest suggesting immunological-neuroprotective interactions in the CNS. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2016. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Physical inactivity is one of the major public health problems in many parts of the World. In Scotland it is reported that two thirds of Scottish adults (>16yrs) and one third of Scottish children (<16yrs) do not do sufficient physical activity to gain the health benefits of physical activity. Furthermore, there is still much debate about the nature and volume of physical activity required to provide health benefits. Therefore, more investigations are required to help improve our understanding of the links between physical activity, obesity and health. In addition, the assessment of habitual physical activity needs to be accurately quantified using appropriate methods that are valid and reliable. The main aims of this thesis were thus to assess the validity and reliability of three new generations of movement sensing devices (Actigraph, ActivPAL and SenseWear PRO2) in adults and adolescents in a controlled laboratory environment and to then use the most valid and reliable device in assessing the habitual physical activity of adults (lean and overweigh/obese) and adolescents in a free-living situation. Following objectively assessing the habitual physical activity, investigation of the associations between physical activity status and cardiovascular and metabolic disease risk markers in adults and adolescents were the last main aims of this thesis. In the first study, the results indicated that the new generations of the three devices were reliable in assessing EE during walking on the flat and on a 5% incline in lean and overweight/obese adults and lean adolescents. However, none iii of these devices and the methods or programme versions that were selected and applied was able to accurately estimate EE during walking on a treadmill. However, based on the sensitivity data obtained and previous evidence, the Actigraph was considered the most appropriate device for assessing the habitual physical activity due to its ability to discriminate between physical activity intensities. The second and third studies concluded that adults (including lean and overweight/obese) met the recommended physical activity guidelines for health and wellbeing purposes. However, the data suggest that overweight/obese participants may need to be advised to spend more time in MVPA and probably more vigorous activity to not only reduce body fat but also to increase cardiorespiratory fitness and reduce their chances of future cardiovascular and metabolic disease. The fourth and fifth studies, demonstrated that the Scottish adolescents –in the cross sectional study- were below the recommended physical activity guidelines. When the method of physical activity assessment was adjusted the Scottish adolescents were similar to the adolescents in other European countries and were observed to be more active than adolescents in some of the developed countries such as American adolescents (Texas State). In the case of lean adolescents who have a low physical activity- but who are not sedentary- the cardiovascular and metabolic disease risk markers may not be obvious at this stage, but the differences in glucose and HOMA-IR suggest that there may be early signs of progression towards metabolic disease in this group. iv The importance of the associations between vigorous physical activity and body fat, as well as between body fat and the risk markers of metabolic disease, suggests that future intervention studies should focus on monitoring the outcome from vigorous physical activity interventions vs. moderate activity within current guidelines.

Thesis (Masters) -- The College of Saint Elizabeth, 2010. / Typescript. Available at The College of Saint Elizabeth - Office of Graduate Programs. "March 2010"

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and abdominal obesity (AbOb) increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Energy restriction (ER), highprotein (PRO) intake and high-intensity interval training (HIT) can independently improve MetS and AbOb. However, ER reduces metabolically active lean body mass (LBM) in addition to body fat (BF). Purpose: To determine the effects of a 16-wk ER diet with 2 levels of PRO (15% or 25% of energy), plus HIT, on MetS risk factors, AbOb, and body composition in women. Methods: Sedentary, premenopausal women (age=35±10y) with AbOb (waist circumference [WC] ≥80cm) were randomized to a 16-wk ER diet (-300kcals/d) with 15% (15PRO; n=17) or 25% (25PRO; n=18) of energy from PRO, plus 45min/d, 3d/wk HIT and 45min/d, 2d/wk continuous moderate-intensity exercise (CME) (-200kcals/d). Diet and physical activity (PA) were assessed using 4-d weighed food and PA records, respectively; diet and exercise compliance were assessed monthly with multiple-pass 24-h recalls and weekly tracking logs. Body weight (BW), WC, DXA-assessed body composition (BF [%], BF [kg], trunk fat [kg], and LBM [kg]), blood lipids (total cholesterol [TC], high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C], low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C], triglycerides [TG]), glycemic markers (fasting plasma glucose [FPG], insulin, and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance [HOMA-IR], beta cell function [HOMA-%β] and insulin sensitivity [HOMA-%S]) and resting blood pressure (BP) (systolic BP [SBP]; diastolic BP [DBP]) were assessed pre/post-intervention. Repeated measures analysis of variance and two sample t-tests were used at analyze the date. Results are reported as means±standard deviations. Results: There were significant time, but not group, differences in BW (-5.1±2.6kg, p=0.0141), WC (- 7.3±3.6cm, p<0.0001), TC (-18.1±17.4mg/dL, p<0.0001), LDL-C (12.2± 16.2mg/dL, p<0.0001), TG (-25.3±56.2mg/dL, p=0.0064), insulin (-2.1±4.2mg/dL, p=0.0048), HOMA-IR (-0.2±0.5, p=0.0062), HOMA-%β (-12.1±35.2%, p=0.0497), HOMA-%S (28.5±78.4%, p=0.0357), and SBP (-3±9mmHg, p=0.214). There were significant group x time differences in DBP (15PRO=-5±8mmHg, 25PRO=- 2±8mmHg; p=0.0024). There were no time or group differences in FPG or HDLC. There were significant time, but not group, effects on changes in BW (-5.1kg± 2.6, p<0.0001), BF (-3.3±1.6%, p<0.0001), and LBM (-0.6kg±1.5, p=0.0283). The 15PRO group lost more absolute whole BF (-5.2kg vs. -3.9kg, p=0.0355) and trunk fat (-3.1kg vs. -2.2kg) vs. the 25PRO group. Conclusion: Both diets significantly improved BW, AbOb, MetS risk factors, glycemic control, and BF (%); LBM (kg) loss was similar in both groups. Compared to the 15PRO diet had significantly greater absolute BF-kg and trunk fat-kg losses. Increased PRO intake did not improve AbOb or MetS risk beyond ER and HIT/CME. The impact of HIT/CME and the greater (-1.3kg) changes in BW in the 15PRO group may have contributed significantly to the changes in absolute BF and trunk fat. More research is needed to separate the impact of HIT/CME and weight loss from the impact of PRO during ER. / Graduation date: 2013 / Access restricted to the OSU Community at author's request from March 28, 2013 - March 28, 2014