Obesity is a significant issue for health care systems over the world, including Taiwan. In particular, obesity is a chronic disease with monumental public health implications, which associated with metabolic syndrome, and weight reduction was suggested to first line treatment. The objective of the study is to explore the efficacy (including of body composition and blood biochemical lab data) after ear acupuncture combined therapy with diet and physical activity . Participants and Setting: 369 people which belong to overweight ( BMI¡Ù24 kg/m2) and obesity (BMI¡Ù 27kg/m2 ) and a 12-week body weight control trial (purposive sampling trial) from July to December 2006. Intervention: Ear acupuncture was treated weekly for 12 weeks and participants need to keep their regular daily diet and physical activity. Our objective is to explore the efficacy (including of body composition and blood biochemical laboratory data) after 12-week body weight control trial. Results: Participants and Setting: 369 people and a 12-week body weight control trial from July to December 2006, the average of body weight for participants reduction 13.9 ¡Ó 5.0 Kg (p<0.001). BMI for participants reduction 5.3 ¡Ó 1.8 (p<0.001). Body fat for participants reduction 8.8 ¡Ó 2.5 % (p<0.001). Waist circimference for participants reduction 12.8 ¡Ó 5.8 cm (p<0.001). Waist to hip ratio for participants reduction 0.03 ¡Ó0.04 (p<0.001).Fasting sugar for participants reduction 5.0 ¡Ó 12.0 mg/dl (p<0.001). Total cholesterol for participants reduction 30.1 ¡Ó 26.2 mg/dl (p<0.001). LDL-cholesterol for participants reduction 31.2 ¡Ó 24.8 mg/dl (p<0.001). HDL-cholesterol for participants increasing 7.4 ¡Ó 7.8 mg/dl (p<0.001). Triglyceride for participants reduction 24.5 ¡Ó 52.1 mg/dl (p<0.001) GPT for participants reduction 16.1 ¡Ó 24.3 mg/dl (p<0.001). Uric acid for participants reduction 1.0 ¡Ó 5.5 mg/dl (p<0.001). But hemoglobin for participants reduction 0.5 ¡Ó 0.6 g/dl (p<0.001). Conclusion: These findings indicate that 12-week body weight control trial can be effective in treating obesity.

Background and Rationale: Asthma and overweight are public health concerns. Lifestyle, including dietary and activity patterns, is associated with overweight and asthma. Moreover, an association between these two diseases has been described. Yet, few studies have considered these associations longitudinally in youth. Methods: Based on data from the 1995 Manitoba Birth Prospective Cohort (n=723, 404 [55.9%] boys), we designed a series of studies to address the question: “Do obesity and related lifestyle behaviours influence asthma and airway hyperresponsivess (AHR) outcomes in children?” Following protocol for a mixed methods sequential explanatory design study, we first considered this research question using quantitative methods. Exposure variables included weight status (body mass index (BMI); BMI z-scores; normal weight vs. overweight), diet, physical activity and screen time. Outcome variables included asthma and AHR at 8-10 years old and at 12-13 years old. Quantitative findings provided direction for the qualitative investigations. That is, we sought to further explain some of the quantitative findings using qualitative methods. For the qualitative portion of this dissertation, 15-16 year old youth were purposively selected (Winnipeg residency, asthma status, gender) from the 1995 Manitoba Prospective Birth Cohort. Due to recruitment challenges, participation was supplemented with youth from the Canadian Asthma Primary Prevention Study, using the same purposive selection criteria. Quantitative Results: Overweight at 12-13 years old was associated with a two-fold increased odds of persistent asthma in girls. In contrast, boys within the highest BMI quartile at 8-10 years old were nearly twice as likely to have remittent asthma at 12-13 years old. High vegetable intake was protective against allergic asthma and moderate-to-severe AHR by 50% and 42%, respectively. High screen time at 8-10 years old, particularly amongst overweight youth, was associated with an increased odds of asthma, but not AHR at 8-10 years and 12-13 years; there were no associations between physical activity, asthma and AHR. Qualitative Results: Youth spoke of asthma as a condition that neither limits physical activity, nor is an excuse for refraining from physical activity. Conclusions: Modest evidence that some quantitatively-measured weight and related lifestyle behaviours during the pubertal years is associated with asthma. Yet, qualitative data suggest that youth with asthma believe that physical activity is achievable despite their condition, although some describe that asthma interferes with physical activity.

No description available.

No description available.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of the 12-week Active Living Every Day (ALED) internet-based PA intervention on PA levels, health profile and health-related psychosocial factors in bariatric patients. Methods: Efficacy of the ALED program was compared across pre-intervention, post-intervention and six-month post-surgery time points. PA was measured using the Omron pedometer (HJ-720ITC) and Actigraph GT3X accelerometer in 19 bariatric patients (2 male, 17 female, 43  12 years). Results: Mean steps/day and time spent in sedentary, light, and MVPA increased from pre-intervention through six-months post-surgery. Significant improvements (P < 0.05) in body composition occurred from pre-intervention to post-intervention and from post-intervention to six-month post-surgery. Conclusion: The 12-week ALED PA intervention did not significantly improve PA levels in previously sedentary bariatric surgery patients who were non-compliant prior to bariatric surgery or six-months post-surgery; however, the intervention led to improvements in cardiovascular risk factors, RPE and self efficacy. / School of Physical Education, Sport, and Exercise Science

Whole body vibration (WBV) training is a relatively new training technique and is considered low intensity as it elicits non-voluntary muscle contractions generated by mechanical vibrations. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of a 6-week WBV training paradigm on the physical capacities and fatigability of overweight young female adults. We hypothesized that WBV would increase fat free mass as well as leg power and strength, decrease the fatigue index of the lower limbs during the Wingate test, increase fatigue resistance, improve neuromuscular efficiency and decrease fatigue perception in overweight young female adults. Participants (n=24) were overweight young female adults (body fat percentage 30-35) between the ages of 20 and 40 and were randomized into 2 groups; control group (CON; n=10) or whole body vibration group (VIB; n=14). This study consisted of six weeks of training and four testing sessions: 2 before (sessions 1 & 2) and 2 following (sessions 3 & 4) the training regimen. During testing sessions 1 and 3, the basal metabolic rate, body composition, leg power (Wingate), elasticity index (EI), squat and countermovement jumps and fatigue perception (questionnaires) were assessed for all subjects. Isokinetic tests to measure strength and muscle fatigue tests were performed during testing sessions 2 and 4. The training protocol lasted 6 weeks and exercises were performed 3 times a week. Sessions lasted 30 minutes and entailed 15 sets of 1-minute exercises followed by 1-minute rest intervals. One set consisted of 15 controlled and timed squats (15 flexion and extension per minute). The VIB group performed their exercises on the power Plate® pro 6. Vertical vibration amplitude settings were kept on low (2mm) throughout the entire 6 weeks and set at a frequency of 30Hz for weeks 1-3 and increased to 35Hz for weeks 4-6. The CON group performed the same exercises without vibration. iv The results revealed that a 6-week WBV training regimen had no effect on body composition or basal metabolic rate. WBV training did not affect EI as evidenced by similar squat jump and countermovement jump measures for both the CON and VIB groups. WBV training had no effect on leg power as measured using the Wingate ergocycle. The Wingate test did show a decrease in the fatigue index for both groups (p˂0.05). Unexpectedly, a decrease in strength was found in extension phase during the eccentric contractions (120°/s) and flexion phase during concentric contractions (120°/s and 180°/s). As there were no changes in fat free mass, it seems that the reduction in strength was due to central changes. The fatigue rate represented by regression slopes showed that the VIB group was more fatigue resistant post training compared to the CON group. Fatigue perception as measured using a multidimensional approach with questionnaires (FSS, MFI and SHARP) revealed no changes in fatigability for either group. To conclude, this study demonstrated that WBV training in overweight young female adults had minimal effects on the physical capacities and fatigability of our subjects. Higher intensity vibration parameters, a longer training regimen or individualized vibration parameters may have greater benefits for overweight subjects and should be considered in future studies.

Background and Rationale: Asthma and overweight are public health concerns. Lifestyle, including dietary and activity patterns, is associated with overweight and asthma. Moreover, an association between these two diseases has been described. Yet, few studies have considered these associations longitudinally in youth. Methods: Based on data from the 1995 Manitoba Birth Prospective Cohort (n=723, 404 [55.9%] boys), we designed a series of studies to address the question: “Do obesity and related lifestyle behaviours influence asthma and airway hyperresponsivess (AHR) outcomes in children?” Following protocol for a mixed methods sequential explanatory design study, we first considered this research question using quantitative methods. Exposure variables included weight status (body mass index (BMI); BMI z-scores; normal weight vs. overweight), diet, physical activity and screen time. Outcome variables included asthma and AHR at 8-10 years old and at 12-13 years old. Quantitative findings provided direction for the qualitative investigations. That is, we sought to further explain some of the quantitative findings using qualitative methods. For the qualitative portion of this dissertation, 15-16 year old youth were purposively selected (Winnipeg residency, asthma status, gender) from the 1995 Manitoba Prospective Birth Cohort. Due to recruitment challenges, participation was supplemented with youth from the Canadian Asthma Primary Prevention Study, using the same purposive selection criteria. Quantitative Results: Overweight at 12-13 years old was associated with a two-fold increased odds of persistent asthma in girls. In contrast, boys within the highest BMI quartile at 8-10 years old were nearly twice as likely to have remittent asthma at 12-13 years old. High vegetable intake was protective against allergic asthma and moderate-to-severe AHR by 50% and 42%, respectively. High screen time at 8-10 years old, particularly amongst overweight youth, was associated with an increased odds of asthma, but not AHR at 8-10 years and 12-13 years; there were no associations between physical activity, asthma and AHR. Qualitative Results: Youth spoke of asthma as a condition that neither limits physical activity, nor is an excuse for refraining from physical activity. Conclusions: Modest evidence that some quantitatively-measured weight and related lifestyle behaviours during the pubertal years is associated with asthma. Yet, qualitative data suggest that youth with asthma believe that physical activity is achievable despite their condition, although some describe that asthma interferes with physical activity.

Overweight and obesity are two of the most important emerging public health issues in our time and regarded by the World Health Organisation [WHO] (1998) as a worldwide epidemic. The prevalence of obesity in the USA is the highest in the world, and Australian obesity rates fall into second place. Currently, about 60% of Australian adults are overweight (BMI „d 25kg/m2). The socio-demographic factors associated with overweight and/or obesity have been well demonstrated, but many of the existing studies only examined these relationships at one point of time, and did not examine whether significant relationships changed over time. Furthermore, only limited previous research has examined the issue of the relationship between perception of weight status and actual weight status, as well as factors that may impact on people¡¦s perception of their body weight status. Aims: The aims of the proposed research are to analyse the discrepancy between perceptions of weight status and actual weight status in Australian adults; to examine if there are trends in perceptions of weight status in adults between 1995 to 2004/5; and to propose a range of health promotion strategies and furth er research that may be useful in managing physical activity, healthy diet, and weight reduction. Hypotheses: Four alternate hypotheses are examined by the research: (1) there are associations between independent variables (e.g. socio -demographic factors, physical activity and dietary habits) and overweight and/or obesity; (2) there are associations between the same independent variables and the perception of overweight; (3) there are associations between the same independent variables and the discrepancy between weight status and perception of weight status; and (4) there are trends in overweight and/or obesity, perception of overweight, and the discrepancy in Australian adults from 1995 to 2004/5. Conceptual Framework and Methods: A conceptual framework is developed that shows the associations identified among socio -demographic factors, physical activity and dietary habits with actual weight status, as well as examining perception of weight status. The three latest National Health Survey data bases (1995 , 2001 and 2004/5) were used as the primary data sources. A total of 74,114 Australian adults aged 20 years and over were recruited from these databases. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses (One -Way ANOVA tests, unpaired t-tests and Pearson chi-square tests), and multinomial logistic regression modelling were used to analyse the data. Findings: This research reveals that gender, main language spoken at home, occupation status, household structure, private health insurance status, and exercise are related to the discrepancy between actual weight status and perception of weight status, but only gender and exercise are related to the discrepancy across the three time point s. The current research provides more knowledge about perception of weight status independently. Factors which affect perception of overweight are gender, age, language spoken at home, private health insurance status, and diet ary habits. The study also finds that many factors that impact overweight and/or obesity also have an effect on perception of overweight, such as age, language spoken at home, household structure, and exercise. However, some factors (i.e. private health insurance status and milk consumption) only impact on perception of overweight. Furthermore, factors that are rel ated to people’s overweight are not totally related to people’s underestimation of their body weight status in the study results. Thus, there are unknown factors which can affect people’s underestimation of their body weight status. Conclusions: Health promotion and education activities should provide education about population health education and promotion and education for particular at risk sub -groups. Further research should take the form of a longitudinal study design ed to examine the causal relationship between overweight and/or obesity and underestimation of body weight status, it should also place more attention on the relationships between overweight and/or obesity and dietary habits, with a more comprehensive representation of SES. Moreover, further research that deals with identification of characteristics about perception of weight status, in particular the underestimation of body weight status should be undertaken.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--York University, 2006. Graduate Programme in Women's Studies. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 329-345). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:NR29509

Thesis (M.S.H.S.A.)--Regis University, Denver, Colo., 2008. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on May 27, 2009). Includes bibliographical references.