Overweight and obesity, one of the most common public health problems in affluent societies, have become epidemic not only in Canada but also throughout the world. Obesity is also a major contributor to the global burden of chronic disease and disability such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disorders. <p>Studies have demonstrated clearly that higher intake of cholesterol and saturated fats and generally higher intake of energy-dense food are a key determinant of increasing levels of obesity and overweight in children. Physical activity is also recognized as a major factor in preventing obesity among children. Environmental factorsby which we mean both social (such as social support, social networks) and physical environment (such as access to physical activity amenities, roads and trails, grocery stores)in generally believed to have a powerful influence on either limiting or enhancing the effects of fundamental determinants (diet and physical activity) of obesity in children. This thesis focuses on one of the key determinants, physical activity, and in turn examines factors that are related to changing physical activity in children. <p>This research was designed to examine two major questions: (1) How do physical activity and overweigh/obesity change over time in a cohort of adolescents in Saskatoon? Are there differences in the patterns of change in overweight/obesity and physical activity between boys and girls? (2) What are the effects of family/friends and physical environments on the changing patterns of physical activity in this sample? <p>The data used in this study was taken from the in motion studies longitudinal data. Study participants include 837 adolescents from12-18 years of age from two high schools and five elementary schools from two diverse geographic areas in Saskatoon (low and high socioeconomic status). Physical activity patterns of adolescents were investigated over a five-month period (e.g., type, frequency, and duration). Participants were also asked to respond to questions on demographics, social support, perceived benefits and barriers of physical activity, and health practices. <p>The results of this study indicated that overweight/obesity increased with age, while physical activity decreased with age for both boys and girls. Boys overall were more likely to be physically active than were girls. Adolescents who received greater direct support from family members were 21% more likely to sustain their physical activity levels (relative odds 1.21; 95% CI 1.17, 1.24); in contrast, the more the familys indirect support the 5.4% less sustaining were the adolescents physical activity (relative odds 0.94; 95% CI 0.91, 0.98). Home environments which were rich in resources relevant to physical activity had 4% greater influence on adolescents physical activity levels, and this relationship was stronger than that of the influence of living in certain neighbourhoods (relative odds 1.04; 95% CI 1.03, 1.05). <p>This research shed some greater understanding of the impact of familys support and physical environment factors on adolescents continued physical activity levels. The implications of results for further research, targeted programs, and social policy is discussed in the thesis.

Introduction: Obesity is a public health concern in its association with various comorbidities, especially cardiovascular disease. Negative structural and functional changes of the left ventricle are associated with obesity and research is conflicting as to the effect of diet-induced and diet plus exercise-induced weight loss in Class II and III obese adults. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine effect of diet-induced or diet plus exercise-induced weight loss on cardiac structure and function in Class II and III obese women. Methods: 24 healthy, sedentary, obese women (BMI: 35.0 to 45 kg/m2; Age: 45.4 + 6.9yrs.) underwent a 12-week diet and exercise intervention: caloric restriction alone (DIET), caloric restriction plus aerobic training (DIET+AT), and caloric restriction plus resistance training (DIET+RT). Subjects reported to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital to undergo Cardiac MRI to measure left ventricular mass (LVM), myocardial fibrosis (Ve), end diastolic volume (EDV), end systolic volume (ESV), and ejection fraction (EF). Results: 18 out of 24 subjects completed the intervention. 16 out of 24 completed 12 week Cardiac MRI at UPMC Presbyterian. Body weight significantly decreased across all treatment groups (~4.5kg lost, p=0.001). Subjects in the DIET group had significantly greater reduction in LVM (-7.2 ± 3.9g) than the DIET+AT (2.3 ± 4.7g) and DIET+RT (-0.2 ± 3.5g) groups (p=0.007). Subjects in the DIET+RT group had a significantly higher Ve score at 12 weeks (27.9 ± 1.5%) than subjects in the DIET+AT (26.5 ± 1.4%) and DIET (24.0 ± 0.8%) groups (p=0.010). There were no significant changes in EDV, ESV, or EF at 12 weeks between groups (p>0.159). Conclusions: In conclusion, only LVM in the DIET group and Ve in the DIET+RT showed statistical changes from baseline. Further investigations into the effect of weight loss and exercise on cardiac structure and function in Class II and III obese adults are warranted to expand upon the results of this investigation.

Introduction: The role that inflammation plays in the atherosclerotic disease process is well established. Obesity is coupled with a state of chronic inflammation and is associated with increased circulating inflammatory markers including C-Reactive Protein. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the additive effect of aerobic or resistance exercise training to caloric restriction for weight loss on high sensitivity C-Reactive Protein changes compared to dietary restriction alone in class II and class III obese individuals. Methods: 24 healthy, sedentary, obese women underwent a 12-week diet and exercise intervention: Caloric restriction weight loss program with no exercise (DIET); Caloric restriction with aerobic endurance training (DIET+AT); and Caloric restriction with resistance training (DIET+RT). Blood was drawn at baseline and 12-weeks and assayed for hs-CRP. Results: Weight was decreased significantly in all groups in the intervention. Hs-CRP was unchanged at 12-weeks.Conclusions: In conclusion, this investigation was successful in producing weight loss, BMI decreases, decreases in body fat percentage, and positive changes in fitness markers, though no changes in hs-CRP were associated with weight loss or weight loss with exercise. Further investigations into the influence of weight loss and exercise on CRP levels among Class II and Class III individuals should be completed to examine and expand upon the results observed in this study.

Background: University administrator physical activity (PA) attitudes and actions may play an important role in student fitness promotion on campus but have been given little attention. Guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), this study explored the relationships of factors that influence Chinese university administrator PA behaviors. Methods: A survey was designed to collect information regarding participants’ PA behaviors, intentions, perceived health, body mass index (BMI) and common demographic factors. A total of 474 Chinese university administrators participated in this study with 443 completed surveys. Path analysis was used to test the predictive and mediational role of the aforementioned variables on total PA. Results: Results revealed a good model fit. Attitudes mediated the effects of BMI and perceived health on total PA; subjective norms and self-efficacy had significant direct effects and mediated the effects of satisfaction and attitudes on total PA. The effects of intentions on total PA were not significant. Conclusions: Chinese university administrator PA behaviors were significantly influenced by attitudes, subjective norms, self-efficacy, BMI, perceived health and satisfaction with exercise facilities. The non-significant effects of intention on PA participation were not expected. More studies on university administrator’s PA are needed in the future. / text

Two prospective studies were conducted to examine the social and built environmental barriers to physical activity among middle childhood youth in a low income, minority, urban community. The mixed method design first explored parent and child perceptions related to the social and built environmental barriers to middle childhood, ages 8-12, physical activity (PA) for families residing in East Austin, and then compared those to barriers identified by a systematic objective assessment of the neighborhoods of residence. Study 1 was a qualitative study where middle childhood-aged students and their parents participated in six parent-only and student-only focus groups. The focus group prompts encouraged discussion of the participants's perceptions of built and social environmental barriers to PA within their community. The parents identified traffic, crime, limited programming at local PA sites and technology, such as video games and television, as barriers to middle childhood PA. While the students discussed traffic and crime, they expressed less concern than their parents, and although they acknowledged that television and video games competed with PA, they expressed a desire for more family PA. Study 2 was an environmental study incorporating spatial analysis and systematic objective observation. Five East Austin neighborhoods were selected from those represented by the Study 1 participants. The neighborhoods and nearby recreational sites were mapped. Built environmental barriers were located and crime and traffic data were incorporated for each specific neighborhood. The measured barriers were then compared to the perceived barriers from Study 1. The spatial analysis revealed that the youth of East Austin have access to many parks and PA sites. Built environmental barriers included railroad tracks; traffic danger and fenced commercial properties blocking access. Social environmental barriers included limited age-appropriate programming for middle childhood-aged youth. / text

Introduction: Pedometers are increasingly used as a self-monitoring aid for achieving and increasing daily physical activity. Older pedometers had varied levels of accuracy ranging from 0 to 45% difference and were needed to be positioned in a certain way (on the waist). Newer models can be placed anywhere on the body but its accuracy is unknown when they are placed at different bodily sites. Purpose: We determined the accuracy of various newer pedometers under controlled laboratory and free walking conditions. Method: A total of 40 subjects (20 male and 20 female) varying widely in age (18-61 years) and BMI (18-38 kg/m²) were studied. The pedometers, including Omron HJ-320, Omron HJ-324U, Lifesource XI-25, Fitbit Ultra, and Virgin Health Miles, were placed at waist, at chest, in a pocket, and on an armband. The number of steps recorded with the pedometers was compared against those counted with a hand tally counter while the subjects walked on the treadmill at 54, 80, 107, 134, and 161 m/min and on paved ground outside at a self-selected pace. Results: With the exception of one, all the pedometers were accurate (within ±5% of the criterion measure) at moderate walking speeds (80 and 107 m/min). The results were similar no matter where the pedometers were placed on the body and where the walking was performed. There were general tendencies for the accuracy to decrease at slower and faster walking speeds in most pedometers. The mean difference scores increased particularly when the pedometers were placed in the pockets or in the purse. Conclusions: Most of the pedometers examined were accurate when they were placed at waist, chest, and armband no matter what walking speed or what terrain they exercised. But some pedometers did not register accuracy when they were put in the pocket or in the purse particularly at a slow and fast walking speed. / text

Syftet med studien var att undersöka om vårdpersonal använder fysisk aktivitet på recept(FaR) som behandling till personer med depression. Frågeställningar: Ordinerar vårdpersonal FaR som behandling till personer med depression? Arbetar vårdpersonalen utifrån Socialstyrelsens Nationella riktlinjer (2010) gällande patienter med depression? Metod Studien är gjord utifrån en kvalitativ metod och analyserad utefter en innehållsanalys. Intervjumetoden är av semistrukturerad art med en frågeguide på elva öppna frågor som underlag. Av de fyrtio kontaktade verksamhetschefer som i sin tur gick ut och frågade sina anställda om de var någon som ville ställa upp så intervjuades fyra stycken respondenter. Alla fyra informanterna var utbildade läkare inom allmänmedicin eller psykiatri som antingen arbetade inom primärvården (3) eller som specialist inom psykiatrin (1). Resultat Resultaten visar att alla intervjupersoner var positivt inställda till fysisk aktivitet som del i behandling till personer med depression. Även om själva FaR metoden ansågs som ett trubbigt och komplicerat verktyg så tyckte informanterna ändå att det gav positiva resultat för deras patienter att komma igång och aktivera sig. Det framkom att enklare budskap till vårdpersonal gällande de nationella riktlinjerna möjligen kan öka användningen av FaR för deprimerade inom hälso- och sjukvården, och på så sätt bidra till att fler patienter uppnår en förbättrad psykisk hälsa. I analysen framkom att de flesta hade många års erfarenhet av att arbeta med deprimerade. Slutsats Det kan rekommenderas att se över bristande rutiner i uppföljning med FaR för patienter som har depression samt en förenkling av journalinförandet och det digitala receptet. Med grund i denna studies resultat kan man dra slutsatsen att Socialstyrelsens nationella riktlinjer gällande personer med depression behöver lyftas fram och implementeras ytterligare i den svenska hälso- och sjukvården.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of resistance training, designed to prevent the development of coronary heart disease (CHD) based on the Framingham Risk Assessment (FRA) score. Twenty-five healthy sedentary men with low CHD risk were assigned to participate in a 16-week (three days per week) resistance training programme (n = 13) or non-exercising control group (CG) (n = 12). Resistance training was performed using eight whole-body exercises for three sets of 15 repetitions at 60% of one-repetition maximum. Resistance training did not significantly (p > 0.05) reduce the number of cigarettes smoked daily (p > 0.133) or TC (p > 0.917), while significant improvements were found in SBP (p < 0.003), HDLC (p < 0.005) and FRA score (p < 0.021); thus improving absolute 10-year risks for CHD. The CG subjects were found to have had no significant changes in number of cigarettes smoked daily (p > 0.831), TC (p > 0.678), HDLC (p > 0.672) or FRA score (p > 0.504), but SBP increased significantly (p < 0.030). These data indicate that resistance training can effectively reduce the predicted risk of developing CHD, even in men with already low risk.

Abstract Despite the clear benefits that resistance training might have in weight management the effects of resistance training on adiposity in sedentary individuals are unsubstantiated. As such, the aim of the study was to determine the effect of resistance training on anthropometric measures of total, central and abdominal adiposity. Twenty-five healthy, sedentary males not on an energy-restricted diet were assigned to a non-exercising control group (CON) (n = 12) or a resistance training group (RES) (n = 13) to determine the effect of 16 weeks of resistance training on anthropometric measures of total, centrally located and abdominal adiposity. Resistance training was prescribed three times weekly using eight exercises for three sets of 15 repetitions at 60% of one-repetition maximum. Resistance training decreased three of the six anthropometric measures of total adiposity and increased body mass and body mass index (BMI). Resistance training had no impact on the measures of centrally located and abdominal adiposity. Body mass and BMI should be used with caution in risk calculations and measures of total adiposity in individuals engaging in resistance training due to this mode of training increasing lean mass (and thus body mass and BMI). Resistance training reduced total adiposity but did not provide an effective stimulus to lower centrally located and abdominal adiposity.

Modern sedentary lifestyles, an increase in the consumption of nutrient dense foods and declining levels of participation in physical activity progressing from childhood to adulthood have been implicated in the occurrence of many hypokinetic diseases including obesity and coronary artery disease (CAD). Despite this quality health and physical education (PE) programmes are not employed as a proactive preventative measure to address this issue. The purpose of this study was therefore to investigate, using qualitative methods, the perceptions of grade 10 learners with regard to PE at schools and make recommendations thereon. Informal focus group interviews were conducted with 68 Grade 10 learners (n = 39 males and 29 females) from different high schools in Gauteng, South Africa. The interviews were conducted outside the formal classroom situation and PE lesson to access information regarding the perceptions of learners with regard to physical education (PE). Several underlying themes which included value, enjoyment, support, preferred PE activities and obstacles to involvement in physical activity emerged from the study. The descriptive information demonstrated that future physical education educators should be adequately prepared to guide their learners in the process of becoming physically active and healthy for a lifetime by focusing on lifetime activities and health-enhancing behaviors linked to health concepts and skills such as healthy eating, safety and stress management with less emphasis on athletic skills.