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.

Syftet med föreliggande studie var att studera frukostvanor, övervikt och fysisk aktivitet hos 15-åriga pojkar och flickor. Studien är en kvantitativ komparativ tvärsnittsstudie och är en delstudie ur det tidigare utförda projektet ”Mat &amp; Hälsa 2007” där frågor om mat, hälsa, måltidsvanor, fysisk aktivitet och självvärdering undersöktes. I denna delstudie användes ett demografiskt frågeformulär som mäter ungdomars frukostvanor, fysisk aktivitet samt vikt och längd. Framkomna resultat visar att majoriteten av studiedeltagarna har regelbundna frukostvanor samt intar frukost utan sällskap av familjemedlem eller annan person. Vidare framkommer att pojkar tenderar att vara mer fysiskt aktiva än flickor trots att andelen överviktiga pojkar var något högre än andelen överviktiga flickor. Regelbundna eller oregelbundna frukostvanor tycks i denna studie inte ha något samband med ett högt BMI. Förmedlandet av goda kost- och motionsvanor ligger till stor del på föräldrarnas ansvar men även skolan och skolsköterskan har en betydande roll. Att i skolan erbjuda och servera frukost skulle kunna bidra till mer regelbundna frukostvanor hos barn och ungdomar.

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.

Obesity has been linked to a wide range of health problems. Evidence suggests that overweight and obese (OW/O) women avoid or delay seeking medical care and routine health screenings, a choice that may result in poorer overall health. The objective of this study is to explore how an OW/O woman’s self-identity and her experiences in past medical encounters may affect her health-seeking behaviors. Twenty-three women who self-identified as being overweight (currently or in the past) were recruited using a flyer placed in a women’s exercise facility and through the snowball method. Each agreed to an audio-taped, in-depth, semi-structured interview. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed. This study employs multiple methods of analysis and multiple genres of representation of the data, an approach recently termed “crystallization.” Analysis of an autoethnographic narrative served as a guide for the generation of the research questions, which focused on how OW/O women conceptualize their identities in relation to their bodies, how their attitudes about their bodies may have impacted choices about seeking healthcare and their perception of their experiences within medical encounters, and what OW/O women believe to be potentially effective strategies for clinicians to adopt in caring for overweight patients. Interviews were scrutinized to identify story types using Arthur Frank’s well-established framework for the analysis of narratives of sudden life-threatening illness. Two additional story types, Reorientation and Acceptance, are proposed as potentially useful in analyzing stories of chronic health conditions. Grounded theory analysis was used to identify the factors that OW/O women perceive to contribute to their weight struggles, as well as to determine clinician attitudes and practices that OW/O women regard as effective and ineffective. Two emergent themes—othering and control—were discerned in the data and are discussed in terms of both how OW/O women are impacted by their weight and how practitioners can work to provide more effective care. An explanatory model linking social bias, personal identity, and medical interactions is proposed. Finally, a performance script is presented as a means of synthesizing and disseminating research findings.

Recent research has shown an association between low dietary calcium intake and obesity in adults as well as overweight in young children; however, this relationship has not been investigated in adolescents. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between inadequate calcium intake and overweight in adolescents. The hypothesis of this study was that there is a negative correlation between dietary calcium intake and overweight in adolescents. The study population consisted of middle school and high school students (n = 102) in a local school district. The gender and ethnic distributions of the sample were as follows: 74% female, 26% male, 63% Caucasian, 16% African-American, 12% Hispanic, and 8% other. Dietary calcium and energy intakes were assessed using a previously validated calcium-focused food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for youths. Calcium intake was also assessed using a single question on daily milk consumption. The FFQ was administered by trained interviewers to groups of three to five students. Body fat was assessed using body mass index for age (BMI-for-age) and sum of triceps and subscapular skinfolds (STS). The mean reported calcium intake was 1,972 ± 912 mg/day, and mean reported energy intake was 3,421 ± 1,710 kcals/day. Reported calcium intake from the FFQ was inflated since approximately 75% reported drinking less than three glasses of milk a day. According to BMI-for-age, 29% were classified as at risk of overweight or overweight. Using STS, 39% were classified as overweight. Chi-square analysis using either method of dietary calcium intake and either method of overweight assessment did not show dependence between categories of calcium intake and level of weight or body fat. This study failed to show a relationship between dietary calcium intake and risk of overweight or overweight in adolescents.

Thesis--PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references.

Considering the increasing global prevalence of overweight and obesity and their propensity for disease, this study was undertaken in an attempt to optimize exercise prescription for this at-risk group by determining if the benefits associated with interval training occur in an intensity dependent manner. 19 sedentary, overweight males (Age: 22.7 ± 3.9 yrs, BMI: 31.4 ± 2.6 kg/m2, WC: 106.5 ± 6.6 cm) performed interval training for three weeks at either 70% or 100% of their peak work rate on a cycle ergometer. Aerobic capacity measurements, time to completion trials, muscle biopsies, and fasted blood samples were all performed pre and post training. Analyses of aerobic capacity and exercise performance demonstrate greater improvements made in the 100% compared to the 70% group, while measures of skeletal muscle oxidative capacity indicate equivalent changes between groups. Taking into account the similar increases in mitochondrial content in both groups and understanding the influence of both oxygen supply and demand in determining maximal oxygen consumption, the greater increases in aerobic capacity achieved by the 100% group may be the result of enhanced cardiovascular adaptations. These findings suggest that some of the health benefits associated with interval exercise may be intensity dependent. Therefore, there may be additional benefit to exercise at higher intensities. / Thesis (Master, Kinesiology & Health Studies) -- Queen's University, 2012-09-27 17:26:19.425

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Thesis (Ph. D.)--Columbia University, 1926. / Vita. Published also as Teachers college, Columbia university, Contributions to education, no. 221. Bibliography: p. 117-123.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Columbia University, 1926. / Vita. Published also as Teachers college, Columbia university, Contributions to education, no. 221. Bibliography: p. 117-123.