The objective of this research study was to explore the relationship between students perceptions of their physical education (PE) classes and their level of leisure-time physical activity (PA). Three psychosocial constructs (enjoyment, self-efficacy, and social support) were examined in the context of physical education. Past research indicates that these constructs influence participation in leisure-time PA. This study attempted to characterize the influence that PE has on leisure-time PA. This study had two objectives. The first was to understand the relationship between PE and leisure-time PA. Secondly, the relationships among enjoyment, self-efficacy, and social support were examined in order to explore enjoyment as a mediator between both self-efficacy and enjoyment and social support and enjoyment, in the context of PE and leisure-time physical activity. Males and females between 13 and 18 years of age (n = 663) were surveyed in their PE classes by trained volunteers. Enjoyment, self-efficacy and social support were examined using a questionnaire that was developed for this study. Physical activity was assessed using a summer-time PA inventory, from which median minutes per day of PA were calculated for each participant. The results of independent samples t-tests indicate that males reported significantly higher scores on the enjoyment assessment than females, and a significantly higher number of median minutes per day of PA compared to females. Among white students, self-efficacy scores were significantly higher than within the minority sub-group. Results also indicate that 12th graders reported higher scores on the social support assessment than did all remaining grade-levels. Weak to moderate correlations were found among the psychosocial constructs. Results of the regression analyses show that none of the possible covariates were significant predictors of participation in leisure-time PA. Enjoyment was not a mediator between self-efficacy and total PA, and social support and total PA. The sub-group that reported the highest enjoyment scores also reported the most minutes of total PA (males). However, the exact relationship between PE and participation in leisure-time PA is still unclear. Complex factors contribute to peoples adoption and long term maintenance of PA. Enjoyment, social support, and self-efficacy do not exist independent from one another. Rather, they seem to influence each other. The exact nature of this influence is not fully understood. Future research is still necessary to better understand the complex relationships that were examined.

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the single largest killer of American females. Prevalent risk factors that give rise to increasing coronary risk for women include markers of inflammation, such as C-reactive protein (CRP), lipid abnormalities, such as lipoprotein(a), and insulin resistance. Also, rates of CHD are relatively low among premenopausal women but increase sharply with age and the onset of menopause. The primary purpose of this study was to examine the associations between CRP and physical activity on the risk factor profile of postmenopausal women without known heart disease who were either taking or not taking hormone therapy. The secondary purpose of this investigation was to examine the relation of other cardiovascular risk factors on subclinical measures of coronary heart disease CHD. A cohort of 201 postmenopausal, 52-62 year old women who are enrolled in the Women On the Move through Activity and Nutrition (WOMAN) Study was examined at the baseline evaluation. Spearman correlations revealed a significant inverse relationship between CRP and mean pedometer steps (rho= -0.2441, p=0.0348). Significant positive correlations were identified between CRP and body mass index (rho= 0.3081, p<0.0001), waist circumference (rho= 0.25711, p<0.0002), and triglycerides (rho= 0.1925, p=0.0063). Women taking hormone replacement therapy had significantly higher levels of CRP (p=0.0216) than those women not on hormone therapy. There was no significant relationship found between CRP and intima medial thickness, nor with coronary artery calcium score. The women identified with metabolic syndrome by ATPIII guidelines had significantly lower HDL-cholesterol levels (p<0.0001) and higher total cholesterol (p=0.0072), triglycerides (p<0.0001), glucose (p<0.0001), and insulin (p=0.0183) levels. These women also had significantly higher body mass index (p=0.0210), systolic blood pressure (p<0.0001), carotid intimal medial thickness (p=0.0378) and coronary calcium score (p=0.0125).

Within recent years, strength training involving the modalities of heavy elastic bands and weighted chains has received widespread recognition and increased popularity. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of a seven week heavy elastic band and weighted chain program on maximum muscular strength and maximum power in the bench press exercise. METHODS: Thirty six (n=36) healthy males 18-30 years old from the Robert Morris University football team volunteered to participate in this study. During the first week, predicted one repetition maximum (1RM) bench press and a five repetition (5RM) maximum speed bench press tests were conducted. Subjects were randomly divided into three groups (n=12): elastic band (EB), weighted chain (WC) and control (C). Subjects were oriented to the elastic band (EB) and chain weighted (WC) bench press prior to pre testing. During weeks 2 through 8 of the study, subjects were required to follow the resistance training program designed for using the EB and WC for seven weeks. All other components of normal spring training and conditioning remained the same. Means and standard deviations of the predicted 1RM bench press and 5RM speed bench press were computed in the first and ninth week of the program. A two factor (method X time) analysis was applied to identify significant differences between the training groups. Statistical significance was set at α = 0.05. RESULTS: Results indicated a significant time (*p < 0.05), but no group effect for both predicted 1RM (kg) and 5RM peak power tests (watts). Although not significant, results did show greater improvements in the EB and WC groups compared to control when the two highest and greatest values were selected regarding peak power. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the use of EB and WC in conjunction with a general seven week off season strength and conditioning program can increase overall maximum upper body strength in a sample of Div 1-AA football players. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The implementation of heavy elastic bands and weighted chains into a strength and conditioning regimen may result in potential gains in muscular strength and power. These types of training modalities add a unique training style and more flexibility in respect to exercise prescription for athletes and strength practitioners.

Reduced energy expenditure and impaired fat oxidation are critical factors associated with obesity. Although much is known about the effects of exercise training on fat metabolism in normal weight, healthy women, considerably less is known about the potential benefits of exercise on fat metabolism in obesity. PURPOSE: 1) To determine the effects of aerobic exercise on fat metabolism and body composition in previously sedentary obese women. 2) To examine whether a dietary supplement purported to increase metabolism will elicit further improvements in fat metabolism and body composition when combined with exercise. METHODS: 15 Obese (BMI &gt 30 kg/m2) premenopausal women aged 36 ± 7 years completed a 16- week intervention consisting of moderate exercise. Women were randomized into either a dietary supplement group or placebo; all participated in the exercise training intervention. Pre and post intervention, all subjects underwent a DXA, graded exercise test, and indirect calorimetry to measure energy expenditure and fat oxidation at rest and during exercise (treadmill walking at 55% VO2 max). RESULTS: VO2 max improved on average by 11% from 50.9 ± 8.2 to 56.1 ± 8.1 ml/kgFFM/min; (p<0.01). There was a significant weight loss overall (85.5 ± 9.7 to 83.2 ± 10.1kg; p< 0.05) but there was no significant difference between intervention groups. However, the analysis revealed a significant weight loss in the supplement group (89.9 ± 10.9 to 87.4 ± 12.0 kg; p<0.05), while the Placebo group did not quite reach significant differences (80.5 ± 5.0 ± to 78.3 ± 5.9, p=0.06). The amount of weekly structured exercise (kcal per week) was strongly associated with greater reductions in waist circumference (R2=0.77; P<0.05). There was an exercise-training induced increased rate of fat oxidation during 60 minutes of sub-maximal exercise (0.30 ± 0.06 to 0.34 ± 0.12 g/min; p<0.05). There was, however, no change in resting metabolic rate (RMR) or resting fat oxidation. CONCLUSION: Exercise training increases the reliance on fatty acids for energy during physical activity in obese women. Exercise training also improved body composition. These improvements were not affected by the dietary supplement.

There is variability in the pattern of weight change in response to a weight loss intervention (i.e., slowing of subsequent weight loss, cessation of weight loss, weight regain). A reduction in resting energy expenditure (REE) may partially explain the observed variability. Few studies have examined the effect of initial weight loss on change in REE. PURPOSE: To examine the change in REE in response to weight loss across a 4-week period in overweight and obese males and females. METHODS: Thirty-seven subjects (body mass index 25.0-39.9 kg/m2; males = 14, females = 23) participated in a 4-week intervention with random assignment to an Experimental Group or a no treatment Control Group. The experimental group was instructed to reduce energy intake to 1200-1500 kcal/d and participate in 100 min/wk of moderate aerobic exercise. The control group was instructed to maintain current eating and exercise behaviors. Assessments of body weight, body composition, and REE were conducted at 0 and 4 weeks. REE was expressed as absolute REE (kcal/d), REE relative to body weight, (kcal/kg/d), REE relative to lean body mass (kcal/kgLBM/d). RESULTS: Thirty-five subjects completed the study (94.6%). There were significant differences (p<0.05) for change in outcomes between the experimental and control groups for body weight (-3.3+1.7 vs. 0.6+1.1 kg) lean body mass (-0.6+0.9 vs. 0.2+0.9 kg), absolute REE (-205.8+193.0 vs. -11.4+ 140.6 kcal/d), and REE relative to lean body mass (-3.3+2.9 vs. -0.4+2.6 kcal/kgLBM/d). There was a trend toward a significant difference between the groups (p = .07) for REE relative to body weight (-1.4+1.9 vs. -0.3+1.5 kcal/kg/d). When the groups were combined, there was a correlation between change in REE and change in body weight was r=0.41 (p<.05), and change in REE and change in lean body mass was r=0.44 (p<.01). CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that absolute and relative REE are significantly reduced in response to weight loss over a 4-week period. The modest correlations between change in REE and both body weight and lean body mass may suggest that additional physiological mechanisms influence REE during the acute phase of weight loss.

This study: 1) compared three (i.e., V-slope, Bhambhani et al., 1997, and Belardinelli et al., 1995) techniques of measuring the ventilatory threshold (VT), 2) examined the relation between OMNI RPE and muscle deoxygenation (MD), and 3) evaluated the impact of gender on MD and RPE. Subjects included 20 males and 13 females, aged 25-29 years. A commercial NIRS sensor (NIRS Micro-Run Man model # MRM-96) was placed over the right vastus lateralis and secured with an elastic wrap. Next, each subject underwent a progressive multistage cycle ergometer test to establish the VT using the V-slope method and NIRS methods. The V-slope (58.62 ± 10.47% VO2peak), Bhambhani et al. 1997 (49.75 ± 20.13% VO2peak), and Belardinelli et al. 1995 (60.87 ± 10.15% VO2peak) methods did not result in different (F(2,49) = 2.77, p > 0.05) VT values. The following significant linear regression equation was generated (p = 0.016): OMNI RPE = 5.97 (15.20)MD (R = -0.20, R2 = 0.04, and SE = 2.76). The two-way ANOVA (gender x power output) conducted on OMNI RPE revealed a significant main effect for gender (F(1,193) = 19.53, p < 0.05). Males had lower RPEs (6.32 ± .17) than females (7.16 ± .28). A significant main effect for power output was also found (F(9, 193) = 56.21, p < 0.05). In addition, a significant gender x power output interaction was found (F(7, 193) = 2.11, p < 0.05). With respect to MD, the two-way ANOVA revealed a significant main effect for gender (F(1, 133) = 10.61, p < 0.05). Females had less MD (0.012 ± .007) than males (0.002 ± .005). The results of this study indicate that the three methods of determining the VT were not different. MD values decreased with increasing ratings of perceived exertion. RPE differed between genders, with males having lower RPEs than females (p < 0.05). Also, a significant gender x power output interaction was found (p < 0.05). Finally, women experienced less skeletal MD than men during a progressively incremented cycle ergometer protocol.

Obesity and cardiovascular disease is common in bipolar disorder, both of which are associated with insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is also associated with distribution of body fat, specifically abdominal visceral fat and fat accumulation in skeletal muscle. Furthermore, reduced capacity to utilize fat has been linked with obesity, type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance. PURPOSE: To compare insulin sensitivity, body composition and resting substrate utilization between obese and normal weight patients with bipolar 1 disorder and race, age and BMI matched controls. METHODS: Participants underwent dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) to measure fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM), computed tomography (CT) to measure cross-sectional abdominal adipose tissue and indirect calorimetry to measure resting substrate oxidation. Free- living energy expenditure was measured for 5 days using BodyMedia SenseWear Pro Armband and the food frequency questionnaire estimated the usual consumption of 79 main food items over the preceding 12 months. Insulin sensitivity was measured from fasting insulin and glucose measurements and defined by the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA IR). RESULTS: Eighteen patients with bipolar 1 disorder and 17 controls participated in this study. There were no differences observed in insulin resistance between obese (BMI > 30 kg/m2) patients and controls (56.8 &#x00B1; 17.2 vs. 51.8 &#x00B1; 11.1; P = 0.842) or normal weight (BMI < 25 kg/m2) patients and controls (30.5 &plusmn 6.3 vs. 27.0 &#x00B1; 5.7 P = 0.691). CT revealed a difference in total abdominal fat (718.1 &plusmn 33.6 vs. 607.4 &#x00B1; 38.6cm2; P = 0.04), a trend in visceral abdominal fat (P = 0.06) though no difference in subcutaneous abdominal fat between obese patients and controls. Indirect calorimetry revealed a trend (P=0.06) in reduced fat oxidation in normal weight patients compared to controls and when combining obese and normal weight patients. CONCLUSION: Patients with bipolar 1 disorder do not appear to be more insulin resistant than controls after accounting for their obesity. However, a reduced fat oxidation in normal weight patients may be an underlying factor predisposing them for future weight gain and concomitant increased risk for type 2 diabetes.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="Noindent"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><span>The aim of this study was to examine the decision making performance of experienced and inexperienced soccer players at four different exercise intensities: rest, 40% maximal aerobic power (moderate exercise I), 60% maximal aerobic power (moderate exercise II) and 80% maximal aerobic power (high intensity exercise). </span>Following Easterbrook&rsquo;s theory, for the novice players it was predicted that the decision making accuracy and speed of decision making would show an inverted-U shape with increasing levels of exercise. For the experienced players, due to the automaticity of information processing, speed and accuracy of decision making were predicted to show no change in performance with increased exercise intensity. <span>Thirty-two</span> subjects, 16 experienced and 16 inexperienced adult male soccer players, participated in the study.<span> Subjects were required to answer seven decision making questions at each exercise intensity. Level of soccer experience and level of exercise intensity were the independent variables while accuracy and speed of decision making were the dependent variables of this study. </span>The data were analyzed using a 2 (experienced and inexperienced players) X 4 (exercise intensity level) multivariate analysis of variance with repeated measures on the last factor. The results indicated that exercise does not affect accuracy of decision making however there was a difference between experienced and inexperienced players. The effects of exercise intensity on speed of decision making for experienced and inexperienced players showed improved speed of decision making at moderately-high and high intensity exercise. Results of this experiment do not support the inverted-U hypothesis. </font></font></p>

Serum vitamin D concentrations are not typically assessed in patients with Crohn's disease, even though neuromuscular complaints are one of the most common complaints observed. Crohn's patients, especially with small bowel resections, are at risk for hypovitaminosis D and fatigue. Purpose: To determine if Crohn's disease patients have low serum 25(OH)D concentrations and to determine the association between 25(OH)D and measures of neuromuscular function, such as muscle strength, muscle fatigue, nerve function, and quality of health. Methods: Nineteen Crohn's patients (9 male and 10 female), with at least one small bowel resection were tested. Isometric muscle strength at 45� of knee extension and flexion, EMG fatigue rates of the rectus femoris (RF) and vastus lateralis (VL), and the total physical score (PCS) and total mental score (MCS) from the SF-36 were collected. Statistics: Pearson correlations were calculated to determine the association between vitamin D and the measures of neuromuscular function. Results: The mean 25(OH)D was 32ng/ml. The Crohn's patients tested were 43.16 + 10.26 years with an average of 1.79 resections and 17.79 years with the disease. The mean peak torque (Nm) for knee extension was 75.24 + 45.39, and 28.94 + 12.76 for flexion. The mean average peak torque (Nm) for knee extension was 55.91 + 35.55, and 20.96 + 9.80 for flexion. The mean fatigue rates (Hz/sec) were -0.07 + 0.05 for RF and -0.03 + 0.04 for VL. Peroneal nerve latency mean was 4.28 + 1.75 ms and the mean amplitude was 2.26 + 2.03 mV. No significant differences at the � = 0.05 level for muscle strength, fatigue rates, nerve function, and the MCS were found. A significant (p = 0.02) positive correlation existed for the PCS (r = 0.55) of the SF-36. Conclusions: The average vitamin D concentrations were sufficient and vitamin D was not correlated to muscle strength, fatigue, or nerve function. The serum vitamin D concentrations were found to explain 30% of the variability of the PCS of their quality of health. Further studies are required to identify the exact mechanisms of the decreased strength and fatigue experience by Crohn's patients.

Objective. The objective of this analysis was to examine the relation of physical activity (PA) to weight status in a sample of adolescents. Study Design. A four year longitudinal study was conducted. Methods. A diverse sample of 1098 adolescents aged 11-16 years was assessed annually over four years. Height and weight were measured. BMI and weight status category were calculated. Physical activity was assessed via a questionnaire to determine the hours per week of activity over the past year. A generalized mixed model statistical approach was used to test the main hypothesis. Results. A decline in physical activity and an increase in BMI was found among males and females (p<0.01). Significant differences regarding the amount of physical activity between gender, race and SES levels was also found (p<0.05). Overall, the highest amount of physical activity was reported by males, Caucasians and those in the high SES group. As for weight status, males were more often categorized as "at risk" and "overweight" compared to females (p < 0.05). There was insufficient evidence to support the main hypothesis that physical activity affected weight status. Thus the amount of physical activity one participated in during each study year, did not increase the odds of being categorized as "at risk" or "overweight" compared to a "healthy weight". Nor did the amount of physical activity one participated in during the previous year, increase the odds of being categorized as "at risk" or "overweight" compared to a being categorized as a "healthy weight" the following year. Conclusions. The results of this study do not support the hypothesis that decreasing physical activity during adolescence is related to change in weight status. Conclusions can be made however, regarding the relationships between the covariates and both the amount of physical activity and weight status category. Overall, males, Caucasians and those in the high SES group report higher amounts of physical activity. Males were more often categorized in the higher weight status categories compared to females.