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R S Paffenbarger

Publications and source records attributed to R S Paffenbarger.

130 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
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Physical activity, physical fitness and longevity.

Numerous studies consistently have shown that higher levels of physical activity are associated with decreased risks of coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, hypertension, non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, colon and, possibly, breast cancer, as well as osteoporosis. The biological processes proposed to explain these inverse associations are highly plausible. If physical activity does reduce the risk of developing these chronic diseases, we also would expect physical activity to delay mortality and enhance longevity. In this article, we review the major epidemiological studies worldwide that have examined the association between physical activity or physical fitness and all-cause mortality. The data from these studies indicate that physical activity is effective in postponing mortality and enhancing longevity. Public health professionals worldwide should emphasize the need to increase activity levels during leisure time, as well as the need to incorporate physical activity into the daily activities of life.

Animals↗
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Workshop on Epidemiologic and Public Health Aspects of Physical Activity and Exercise: a summary.

The Workshop on Epidemiologic and Public Health Aspects of Physical Activity and Exercise was conducted by the Centers for Disease Control on September 24-25, 1984. Fundamental topics were identified prior to the workshop, and experts were invited to participate. Ten papers were written, discussed at the workshop, revised, and are herewith published. The beneficial effects of physical activity on health are becoming progressively more apparent. A reduced risk of coronary heart disease, desirable weight control, and the reduction of symptoms of anxiety and mild to moderate depression are established. Beneficial effects on hypertension, type II diabetes, osteoporosis, and certain psychiatric and psychologic conditions appear likely but require additional study. Although the importance of physical activity to health is becoming better established, several important gaps in our knowledge remain. Physical activity is a complex behavior that is difficult to measure, and the accuracy of most measurement instruments is not known. Knowledge of the patterns of physical activity within our society and the determinants of those patterns is limited. Information on the rates of mechanical, metabolic, and psychologic risks of physical activity is largely absent. In addition, there is a need to know more about the dose-response effects of physical activity, the differential effects on various subgroups of the population, the specific dimensions of activity which effect different aspects of health, and the efficacy of various intervention and promotional strategies. Each paper stands as an independent contribution to the literature. As a group, the authors of these papers have provided the public health and scientific communities with a succinct yet comprehensive summary of the status of knowledge plus specific recommendations for future research in the areas of physical activity, public health, and epidemiology.

Epidemiology↗
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Serum androgens and sex hormone-binding globulins in relation to lifestyle factors in older African-American, white, and Asian men in the United States and Canada.

Differences in endogenous androgen levels have been hypothesized to explain ethnic differences in prostate cancer risk. To examine this hypothesis, we gathered data on serum concentrations of androgens and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) in healthy older men from four ethnic groups at different levels of prostate cancer risk. As part of a population-based case-control study of prostate cancer we conducted in California, Hawaii, and Vancouver, Canada, 1127 African-American, white, Chinese-American, and Japanese-American control men, mostly ages 60 years or older (mean age, 69.9 years) provided information on various lifestyle factors and donated an early morning fasting blood sample between March 1990 and March 1992. We used these data to examine the distributions of serum androgens [testosterone (total, free, and bioavailable), dihydrotestosterone (DHT)], the ratio of DHT to total testosterone (DHT:testosterone ratio), and SHBG in these four ethnic groups. We also assessed correlations between concentrations of these measures with age, body size, physical activity, and other personal characteristics, and we evaluated ethnic differences in concentrations of androgens and SHBG after adjusting for these characteristics. In each of the four ethnic groups, concentrations of free and bioavailable testosterone declined with age, whereas SHBG concentrations increased with age. Age-adjusted concentrations of all androgen measures and SHBG decreased with increasing levels of Quetelet's index. After adjustment for age and Quetelet's index, androgens and SHBG showed no clear and consistent relationships to physical activity, alcohol consumption, or tobacco use. DHT:testosterone ratio was higher in men reporting a history of benign prostate disease than in men without such a history, and higher in vasectomized men than in nonvasectomized men. SHBG concentrations were higher in men reporting one or more first-degree relatives with prostate cancer than in men without such a family history. After adjustment for age and Quetelet's index, the levels of total and bioavailable testosterone were highest in Asian-Americans, intermediate in African-Americans, and lowest in whites. However, the DHT:testosterone ratio was highest in African-Americans, intermediate in whites, and lowest in Asian-Americans, corresponding to the respective incidence rates in these groups and providing indirect evidence for ethnic differences in 5alpha-reductase enzyme activity.

Adult↗