The purpose of this study is to determine if African American Women (AAW) with low fitness levels have low fitness related to a lifestyle choice of decreased physical activity (PA) or the cardiovascular disadvantage of greater proportion of Type II (FT) muscle fibers. Forty-eight apparently healthy AAW participated in the study. The women had no known risk factors for CVD; were sedentary (no structured fitness training program within last six months) or minimally fit (PA ≤ 3 x week for 20 minutes); and were not taking any prescription medications for blood pressure, diabetes, or lipid control. On the first visit the following measurements were taken: 1.) height and weight (electronic scale and stadiometer); 2.) body fat percentage (dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA % body fat); and 3.) CRF (submaximal treadmill exercise test). On the second visit additional measurements included: 1.) blood pressure (stethoscope and sphygmomanometer); 2.) lipid profile and high sensitivity-C reactive protein (hs-CRP) (Cholestech LDX analyzer); 3.) thigh anthropometric measurements; 4.) isokinetic power and fatigue testing (KIN-COM dynamometer). Pearson product correlation coefficient (r) was used to analyze the relationship between the variables. The results indicated that gross oxygen consumption at 85% maximal heart rate (VO2) was not significantly related to PA (r = -.06, p = .67) or FT fibers (r = 0.14, p = 0.34). VO2 was negatively correlated with hs-CRP (r = -.31, p < 0.05), systolic blood pressure (r = -0.47, p < 0.01), diastolic blood pressure (r = -0.42, p < 0.01), and DXA % body fat (r = -0.64, p < 0.01). There were no significant relationships between PA and any of the variables. FT fibers were negatively correlated with low density lipoprotein (r = -0.30, p < 0.05) and DXA % body fat (r = -0.46, p < 0.01). In conclusion, low cardiorespiratory fitness in AAW does not seem to be a related to reported levels of PA or proportion of FT fibers. This suggests that there may be other factors that are contributing to the low levels of cardiorespiratory fitness observed in this sample of AAW.

Introduction: Physical inactivity, related lifestyle diseases and back pain are severe problems in today’s society. One way to increase physical activity level is through Motivational Interviewing (MI).   Purpose: Comparing participants who were in need of MI for physical activity due to risk of heart- and coronary disease with participants not in need of MI, and to describe whether MI for physical activity and other factors can predict change of physical activity level.   Method: A cohort was followed during two years and measured on lifestyle factors, socioeconomic and psychological factors, general health, motivation to change lifestyle and back pain by questionnaires. Based on risk of heart and coronary disease, participants underwent an MI-session for increased physical activity (n=393) or no MI-session (n=380) at baseline.   Results: Besides having a deteriorated lifestyle, the majority of participants who received MI were females, had lower self-estimated economy, had lower health-related quality of life, scored lower on psychological factors and had comorbidity and back pain to a larger extent. Factors related to increase of physical activity level included being physically inactive at baseline, being a female, not having MI and not having disability due to back pain.   Conclusion: Participants in the MI-group had poorer health and more back pain. Having MI did not predict an increase of physical activity, but a low level of physical activity in the past and being a female did play a part in the prediction. More research is needed on MI for increase of physical activity level for an individual with risk of heart- and coronary disease and/or with back pain. / Introduktion: Fysisk inaktivitet, livsstilssjukdomar, och ryggsmärta är stora problem i dagens samhälle. Ett sätt att öka fysisk aktivitet är motiverande samtal (MI).   Syfte: Att jämföra deltagare som på grund av ökad risk för hjärt-/kärlsjukdom har behov för MI för ökad fysisk aktivitet med de som inte har behov, samt att beskriva om MI för ökad fysisk aktivitet och andra faktorer kan predicera en ökning i fysisk aktivitetsnivå efter två år.   Metod: En cohort följdes genom två år och mättes med enkäter beträffande livsstils-, socioekonomiska och psykologiska faktorer, hälsa, motivation till ändrad livsstilsbeteende samt ryggsmärta. Baserad på sin risk för hjärt-/kärlsjukdom fick deltagare ett MI-samtal syftat till att öka sin fysiska aktivitetsnivå (n=393) eller inget MI-samtal (n=380) vid baslinjen.   Resultat: Deltagare som fick MI för ökad fysisk aktivitet var oftare kvinnor, hade lägre själv-estimerad ekonomi, sämre hälsorelaterad livskvalitet, sämre psykologisk hälsa, mera komorbiditet och mera ryggsmärta. Faktorer relaterade till ökning av fysisk aktivitetsnivå var att vara inaktiv vid baslinjemätningen, att vara kvinna, att inte ha haft MI och att inte ha funktionsnedsättning på grund av ryggsmärta.   Konklusion: Deltagare i MI-gruppen hade sämre hälsa och mera ryggsmärta. MI predicerade inte en ökning av fysisk aktivitetsnivå. Däremot predicerade tidigare låg aktivitetsnivå och att vara kvinna en ökning. Mer forskning behövs avseende effekt av MI för ökning av fysisk aktivitetsnivå för individer med risk för hjärt-/kärlsjukdom och/eller ryggsmärta.

<p>Various factors, including low levels of physical activity (PA), and high consumption levels of sugar-sweetened drinks (SD), have been implicated in the general increase of fat mass (FM) levels seen in youth. <b>Purpose</b>: To determine if a significant relationship exists between fat mass (FM) and physical activity (PA) or sugar-sweetened drink (SD), in boys and girls, using longitudinal analysis. <b>Methods</b>: 105 boys and 103 girls were assessed repeatedly during childhood and adolescence, for a maximum of 7 years. Height was measured annually, as was fat free mass (FFM) and FM estimated by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). PA was evaluated bi-annually using a questionnaire for children (PAQ-C/A: 1 low, 5 high), and SD was assessed using a 24-hour dietary intake questionnaire completed 1-4 times/year. Years from peak height velocity were used as a biological age indicator. Random effects models were used to analyze the data, subsequent to log linearization of the FM variable since it was not initially normally distributed. <b>Results</b>: The constructed model, controlling for maturation, FFM, and adjusted energy intake, found no interaction effect between SD and PA (p>0.05). After removal of the interaction term from the model, SD was found to have no significant relationship (p>0.05) with FM of boys or girls. In contrast, PA level was found to have a significant relationship (p<0.05) with FM of males; but not with FM of females. <b>Conclusion</b>: The longitudinal models employed revealed a significant negative relationship between level of PA and FM in males but not females, after controlling for maturational status, body size and dietary energy intake. This finding lends support, to proponents of increasing PA in youth to control FM. Regarding SD and FM, the models employed showed no relationship. Future investigation with more complex models, accounting for more covariates, may be warranted in this area.</p>

The self has been identified as the ?psychological apparatus that allows individuals to think consciously about themselves? (Leary & Price Tangney, 2003, p. 8). Further, the self has been identified as a worthwhile construct of investigation in relation to health behaviour (Contrada & Ashmore, 1999). Two self-related variables that have been useful in the study of health behaviour are <em>identity</em> (e. g. Anderson, Cychosz, & Franke, 1998; Petosa, Suminski & Hortz, 2003; Storer, Cychosz, & Anderson, 1997) and <em>self-efficacy</em> (Maddux, Brawley & Boykin, 1995). Identity Theory posits that individuals regulate their behaviour in a manner that is consistent with their goal identity (Gecas & Burke, 2003). Social Cognitive Theory provides a means of measuring social cognitions that may be important in behavioural regulation relative to identity. Further, self-efficacy beliefs may influence individuals? persistence at aligning their identity and behaviour. Research to date has investigated the link between identity and exercise (e. g. Anderson, Cychosz & Franke, 1998; Petosa, et al. , 2003). Further, researchers are beginning to investigate the link between identity and other health behaviours (e. g. Armitage & Conner, 1999; Kendzierski and Costello, 2004; Storer, Cychosz, & Andersen, 1997). However, research has not utilized the predictive frameworks offered by Identity Theory and Social Cognitive Theory to investigate the relationships between identity, behaviour and behavioural regulation. <br /><br /> Study One investigated the role of identity and self-efficacy beliefs in the maintenance of vigorous physical activity. Results were consistent with both Identity Theory and Social Cognitive Theory. Individuals who strongly identified with the runner identity expressed stronger task and self-regulatory efficacy beliefs. They also exercised more frequently and for longer durations than did those who only moderately identified with running. <br /><br /> Study Two further explored the relationship between exercise identity, exercise behaviour and the self-regulatory processes involved in behavioural regulation. Identity Theory and Social Cognitive Theory were used as guiding frameworks for this investigation. High and moderate exercise identity groups were compared in term of their affective and cognitive reactions to a hypothetical behavioural challenge to exercise identity. Consistent with Identity Theory, results indicated that participants appeared to be regulating their behaviour in a manner that was consistent with their exercise identity. Specifically, in response to the behavioural challenge to identity, high exercise identity participants, in contrast to their moderate counterparts, showed (a) less positive and (b) greater negative affect about the challenge, (c) higher self-regulatory efficacy for future exercise under the same challenging conditions, (d) stronger intentions for this future exercise, as well as for (e) using self-regulatory strategies to manage the challenging conditions and (f) intending to exercise more frequently under those conditions. <br /><br /> Study Three investigated whether identity with <em>healthy eating</em> could also be useful in understanding behaviour and behavioural regulation. Similar to Study Two, extreme healthy-eater identity groups? reactions to a hypothetical behavioural challenge to identity were compared. Results were similar to Study Two. Participants responded in a manner that suggested that they would regulate their future behaviour relative to their healthy-eater identity. In response to the behavioural challenge to identity, individuals who highly identified as healthy-eaters expressed less (a) positive affect, greater (b) negative affect, (c) self-regulatory efficacy for managing their healthy eating in the future challenging weeks, (d) intentions to eat a healthy diet, (e) generated more self-regulatory strategies and had (f) stronger intentions to use those strategies in future weeks under the same challenging conditions than did individuals who moderately identified themselves as healthy-eaters. Further, prospective relationships between healthy-eater identity and social cognitive variables, and healthy eating outcomes were examined. As was found in Study One in the context of exercise, healthy-eater identity and social cognitions predicted healthy eating outcomes. <br /><br /> Taken together, the three studies suggest that identity may be important in understanding health behaviours and the regulation of these behaviours. Also, the present findings support the compatible use of Identity Theory and Social Cognitive Theory in the investigation of identity and health behaviour.

Social ecological models of physical activity (PA) promotion embrace a wide range of factors and disciplines that may contribute to active living. Parks, trails, and recreation facilities have been acknowledged as important components of the built environment for promoting PA and overall health, but little research has investigated these community resources in detail. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the association between the presence and characteristics of parks and recreation amenities and PA levels of community members. The study involved four integrated components: i) a written questionnaire with 585 adult residents from four Waterloo planning districts that addressed a variety of personal, psychosocial, and environmental correlates of PA, ii) a detailed seven-day log booklet of recreational, transportation, household and job-related PA episodes, iii) objective assessment of PA via accelerometers, and iv) observation and rating of parks for their features that may be related to PA. Ratings of psychosocial characteristics (e.g., self-efficacy, social support) and perceptions of neighbourhood walkability attributes (e.g., land use diversity, street connectivity) were significantly different between those who engaged in some PA versus those who engaged in no PA, but neighbourhood perceptions did not moderate the relationship between psychosocial variables and PA, nor did psychosocial variables mediate the relationship between neighbourhood perceptions and PA. Parks and trails were used in approximately 8% and 3% of total PA episodes, respectively, with an average duration per episode of 49 minutes and 38 minutes, respectively. Parks with more facilities for PA and supporting amenities were more likely to be used for PA than parks with fewer facilities and amenities, and trails were the park feature most strongly related to park-based PA. The number of municipal parks within 1 km from participants’ homes the and total parkland area within 1 km were associated with higher odds of neighbourhood PA and neighbourhood park PA, while distance to the closest park from home was not related to either outcome. Although subject to several limitations, these results provide guidance for municipal and park planners in designing communities and the resources within them to promote increased levels of PA and active living. Suggestions for future research include studying environmental correlates of PA among youth and older adults, direct observation of PA in parks, and development of a comprehensive surveillance system to track both changes in the built environment and associated changes in residents’ PA participation.

Feeling connected to one’s community has been associated with increased self-rated health and well-being. Connectivity has also been linked to health behaviours such as smoking and obesity, which have been related to overall health status. Physical activity is related to overall health status as it protects against many chronic diseases. Unfortunately, less than 50% of Canadian adults are meeting the physical activity requirements set out by Canada’s Physical Activity Guide to Healthy Living. Thus, this study determines whether sense of connectedness is associated with current participation in leisure-time physical activity and intention to start or increase engagement in physical activity. Cross-sectional data from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) cycle 3.1 was used to analyze the association between sense of community belonging and physical activity among Canadians aged 25 to 64. A series of logistic regression models were used to analyze the data. People reporting a stronger sense of connectedness had greater odds of being physically active with income, education and sex often moderating the relationship. It appeared that the relative odds of being physically active were greatest among people who felt very strongly connected to their communities and in the highest socioeconomic groups. Further, feeling more that very weakly connected to the community increased the odds of intending to start or increase physical activity among inactive females and decreased the odds of intending to increase physical activity among moderately active males. This study provides preliminary results regarding how important social factors may alter population level physical activity. The results from this study inform our understanding of barriers and facilitators associated with physical activity and how policies and conditions which affect community connectedness may be used to enhance physical activity.

Recently, the Saskatoon in motion physical activity health promotion initiative has worked with educators and high school administrators in the city of Saskatoon to develop a targeted physical activity strategy for high school students. The in motion high school strategy was implemented in each school by an in motion high school champion. In each school in motion could incorporate such things as announcements, bulletin boards, posters, physical activity clubs and physical activity challenges. The strategy was piloted in a Saskatoon high school previously and had positive impact on students activity levels. Purpose: To investigate the effectiveness of the in motion strategy at impacting the physical activity behaviour of a large sample of Saskatoon high school students, and to uncover how in motion could be better supported in the school environment. Method: in motion was implemented in eight Saskatoon high schools from October to June of the 2005/06 school year. Study participants were male and female students, from grades 9-12, attending the eight schools. The Godin Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire was administered in October 2005 (n = 4395), and May 2006 (n = 3299) to assess self reported physical activity, and analysed using independent t-tests and ANOVA with Tukey post hoc tests.<p>In June of 2006, questionnaires were administered to the in motion champions (n = 8). Questionnaires inquired into the specific activities and events that comprised the in motion intervention in each school and champion experiences with in motion. Information obtained led to the classification of dose of intervention implemented at each school. Schools were separated into high, moderate, and low dose categories, and a dose-response relationship between dose of intervention and change in physical activity level was investigated. Qualitative data was analysed using typological analysis, and represented as summary of responses. Results: An overall increase in self-reported physical activity was found after the implementation of the in motion physical activity intervention (t (3920.355) = -21.15, p < 0.0001). Increases were observed in all genders, grades, and schools. Two schools were deemed high dose, four moderate dose, and two low dose. No dose-response relationship was found between dose of in motion and change in physical activity or students opinion of how in motion impacted personal activity levels. Dose-response relationship was found between dose of intervention and recognition of in motion. Additionally, through champion questionnaires, multiple supports and barriers for the in motion intervention, and suggestions for how in motion could be improved, was given by in motion champions. Conclusions: Student opinion of in motions impact on their personal activity level indicates that in motion is a promising tool for increasing physical activity in students. Lack of dose-response relationship between intervention and physical activity change, and student opinion of how in motion has affected activity level suggests that the definition of dose is too narrow. To further support in motion in schools, more staff involvement and appropriate activities for different demographic groups are needed.

Although physical activity above a certain threshold has been associated with numerous health benefits (Warburton, Nicol, & Bredin, 2006), most Canadians are not active enough to realize these benefits (Craig, Russell, Cameron, & Bauman, 2004). In order to examine individuals own explanations of their health-related physical activity behaviour in terms of attributions, four studies testing elements of Weiners (1986) attribution theory and Banduras (1997) self-efficacy theory were conducted with a university sample. The results from the first study revealed that perceived outcome differentiated attributional explanations while objective outcome did not. Results also revealed that although predicted relationships concerning attribution-dependent emotions were largely unsupported, emotions were associated with outcomes. Further, results suggested that those making stable attributions reported more certainty of similar future outcomes than those making unstable attributions. Results in the second study suggested that attributional dimensions significantly improved the prediction of self-regulatory efficacy beyond that predicted by past success/failure to be active enough for health benefits alone. Stability appeared to be the most important attributional dimension in predicting self-efficacy. Results in the third study suggested self-regulatory efficacy significantly improved the prediction of future intention beyond that of past success/failure to be active enough for health benefits alone. The results from the fourth study supported the plausibility of self-regulatory efficacy partially mediating the relationship between stability of attributions for typical levels of exercise and intention to maintain those levels during a forthcoming final exam period for both moderate- and mild-intensity exercise. Results are discussed in the contexts of testing attribution theory and self-efficacy theory and improving understandings of physical activity behaviour.

In Canada, the prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity has increased dramatically since the 1980s. Few studies have examined factors associated with overweight and obesity in Canadian children. The purpose of this study was to: (1) explore the relationship between physical activity and BMI, (2) examine the prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity, and (3) explore the importance of age, gender, and residency (farm versus town) in relation to childhood overweight and obesity in a sample of rural Saskatchewan children.<p>This cross-sectional study included a self-report questionnaire survey and anthropometric assessment of a sample of children (Grades 4-6) from rural Saskatchewan. Of the 525 questionnaires distributed, 262 were completed with a signed consent form (response rate: 49.9%) and 251 of those students had their height, weight, and sitting height measured. The research questionnaire gathered demographic data about the child and the parents or guardian, data on the childs sedentary leisure activities, and a 7 day physical activity history using the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C). Each childs body mass index was estimated using the measured height and weight and these estimates were compared to international standards for BMI to estimate the prevalence of childhood overweight (25.5%) and obesity (7.1%) within the study population. There were no statistically significant gender differences in the proportion of children who were overweight or obese. The factors found to consistently have a significant association with the prevalence of overweight and obesity were Aboriginal descent and mothers and fathers BMI category. The mean PAQ-C score was similar for boys (3.3, SD = 0.64) and girls (3.2, SD = 0.57) and did not differ significantly by BMI category. <p>This descriptive study provided information on the prevalence of physical activity, overweight, and obesity in a sample of rural Saskatchewan children and the relationship between physical activity and BMI in the sample. Findings of this study can be used by nurses, other health professionals, and education leaders to develop health promotion programs to promote a healthier lifestyle for children and their families.

Although physical activity has been identified as important for children and adolescents health, a majority are not active enough to receive health benefits. Given that physical activity lapses have been identified in adolescents, and social influences have been related to physical activity, the overall purpose of this dissertation was to explore the social influences that occur following a lapse by using a social control framework. Three studies were conducted to examine whether physical activity lapses would be associated with parental use of social control (Study 1 and 2) as well as whether this use of different social control types would be associated with changes in behaviour (Study 2 and 3) and affect (Study 3). Results from Study 1 revealed that parents reported the use of three types of social control (i.e., positive, collaborative, and negative) following a hypothetical physical activity lapse. Results from Study 2 revealed that adolescents who experienced a lapse reported greater increases in the use of positive and collaborative social control if they had an active family. Changes in social control also were associated adolescents recovery from a lapse, with collaborative social control emerging as the strongest social control type. Results from the third study revealed that each of the three types of social control were associated with behaviour change, but in a different way. Behaviour change was associated with the use of collaborative social control, the need for congruence between preferences and use for positive social control, and the perceptions of negative social control as supportive. Perceived supportiveness for all tactics was related to affect. These results provide preliminary support for the suggestion that social control may be one framework to help explain the use of parental social influences following a lapse. Future directions and complementary theories are discussed.