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At least 793 records · Page 44Linked to original sources

PubMed2002

Physical activity and ethnic differences in hypertension prevalence in the United States.

BACKGROUND: In the United States, non-Hispanic blacks have higher rates of hypertension than other ethnic groups. In addition, they have higher rates of physical inactivity, a behavior linked to high blood pressure. We examined associations between ethnicity, leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), and hypertension prevalence in a representative sample of U.S. adults. METHODS: Using data on 16,246 adults in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, hypertension prevalence was determined for non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, and Mexican Americans at various levels of LTPA (none, 0.1-4.9 bouts/week at any intensity, 5+ bouts/week of moderate-to-vigorous activity). Logistic regression was used to examine relationships between hypertension prevalence, race, LTPA, and other variables. RESULTS: Hypertension prevalence was significantly less in the most active group, compared with their sedentary peers (odds ratio = 0.73, CI 0.59 to 0.90). Blacks had an odds ratio for hypertension of 1.77 (CI 1.49 to 2.10) compared with non-Hispanic whites, after adjusting for gender, age, income, LTPA, smoking, BMI, salt intake, rural/urban dwelling, and alcohol intake. Mexican Americans had an adjusted odds ratio of 0.75 (CI 0.62 to 0.89), relative to non-Hispanic whites. CONCLUSION: Ethnicity and LTPA are both associated with hypertension prevalence after controlling for each other, as well as other confounders. Thus, race and physical activity are important independent contributors to hypertension prevalence.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Environmental perceptions related to physical activity in high- and low-risk counties.

To identify whether perceptions about the physical activity environment were related to the prevalence of sedentary lifestyle, residents from high-risk (n = 153) or low-risk (n = 100) counties were interviewed. County risk status was determined by the prevalence of cardiovascular mortality, overweight, and sedentary lifestyle. Key public officials in the same counties were also interviewed. Residents in the low-risk county were more likely to report having sidewalks in their community and that these sidewalks were safe and well lit than residents living in the high-risk counties. Low-risk county residents also reported more indoor recreation facilities being available than the residents in the high-risk counties. Residents supported allocating tax dollars toward improving sidewalks, lighting, and so on. Thus a more conducive environment for physical activity was found in the low-risk county. Improving physical environments and individual perceptions could help increase physical activity behavior.

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System↗

PubMed1997

Modulation of buccal pressure during prey capture in Hexagrammos decagrammus (Teleostei: Hexagrammidae)

Changes in intraoral pressure during prey capture were recorded for a trophic generalist, Hexagrammos decagrammus, feeding on different prey species. Prey were grouped into elusive (shrimps), grasping (isopods and crabs) and non-elusive (pieces of shrimp) categories. Elusive and grasping prey elicited strikes with a larger and faster reduction in buccal pressure than did non-elusive prey. The suction force generated by the predator differed for strikes among the shrimp genera in the elusive prey category. The most sedentary shrimps (Crangon alaskensis and C. nigricauda) elicited the fastest and greatest reduction in pressure relative to the most evasive shrimps (Pandalus danae and Heptacarpus stylus). A preparatory phase, during which the buccal cavity is compressed prior to the strike, occurred significantly more frequently in strikes at grasping prey than in strikes at elusive and non-elusive prey, and more frequently for elusive than for non-elusive prey. Prey size did not influence the suction force generated by the predator. No differences in buccal pressure patterns were detected between strikes that resulted in a capture or a miss, suggesting that misses were due to the escape behavior of the prey and were not the result of an inappropriate suction force. These data support the current view that fish can modify their feeding mode in response to prey behavior, and they emphasize that the behavioral responses of the individual prey must be considered when defining the appropriate strategy for prey capture. The use of a flexible, modifiable feeding behavior is associated with a broad diet in H. decagrammus and may increase capture success on diverse prey relative to that of other species showing stereotypical feeding responses.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2006

Diet and foraging of the endemic lizard Cnemidophorus littoralis (Squamata, Teiidae) in the restinga de Jurubatiba, Macaé, RJ.

We investigated the diet and foraging of the endemic teiid lizard Cnemidophorus littoralis in a restinga habitat in Jurubatiba, Macaé - RJ. The stomach contents were removed, analyzed and identified to the Order level. There was no relationship between C. littoralis morphological variables and number, length or volume of preys. Termites (48.7%) and larvae (35.5%) were the most important prey items which occurred in the examined lizards' stomachs. The diet did not differ between males and females. Cnemidophorus littoralis is an active forager and predominantly consumes relatively sedentary prey or prey that is aggregated in the environment. We also found an intact and undigested hatchling of the crepuscular/nocturnal gekkonid lizard Hemidactylus mabouia in the stomach of an adult male of C. littoralis, which indicates that C. littoralis is a potential source of mortality for individuals of H. mabouia in the restinga de Jurubatiba.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Work disability among individuals with diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: Diabetes is rapidly increasing in prevalence among working-age adults, but little is known about the clinical characteristics that predict work disability in this population. This study assessed clinical predictors of work disability among working-age individuals with diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: In a cohort of diabetic individuals (n = 1,642) enrolled in a large health maintenance organization, excluding homemakers and retirees, we assessed the relation of diabetes severity, chronic disease comorbidity, depressive illness, and behavioral risk factors with work disability. Three indicators of work disability were assessed: being unable to work or otherwise being unemployed; missing > or =5 days from work in the prior month; and having severe difficulty with work tasks. RESULTS: In the study population, 19% had significant work disability: 12% were unemployed, 7% of employed subjects had missed > or =5 days from work in the prior month, and 4% of employed subjects reported having had severe difficulty with work tasks. Depressive illness, chronic disease comorbidity, and diabetes symptoms were associated with all three types of work disability. Diabetes complications predicted unemployment and overall work disability status, whereas obesity and sedentary lifestyle did not predict work disability. Among subjects experiencing both major depression and three or more diabetes complications, >50% were unemployed; of those with significant work disability, half met the criteria for major or minor depression. CONCLUSIONS: Depressive illness was strongly associated with unemployment and problems with work performance. Disease severity indicators, including complications and chronic disease comorbidity, were associated with unemployment and overall work disability status. Effective management of work disability among diabetic patients may need to address both physical and psychological impairments.

Comorbidity↗

PubMed2006

[A practicing physician's view on obesity].

Overweight and obesity are worldwide problems, its health and psychosocial burden on the individual and on society are tremendous. Diagnosing obesity is rather easy, and is based on simple anthropometric measurements, such as body weight, height and waist circumference. The different classes of obesity are determined by body mass index, which, together with waist circumference and comorbid conditions and other risk factors determine the individual risk for mortality and morbidity. Obesity is due to genetic and environmental factors, mainly is the consequence of excess calorie intake and sedentary lifestyle. The fat mass of the body is under neuroendocrine control, the central controller is the hypothalamus. Leptin, produced by adipocytes in proportion to fat mass, is the afferent signal to the hypothalamus. Decreasing or increasing levels of leptin result in orexigen and anorexigen neurotransmission, which mediate efferent activation towards food consumption and energy storage, or towards food restriction and energy expenditure, respectively. The balance of these events and/or the ,set point" of the controller--if leptin resistance is present--is shifted towards higher body/fat mass in obesity. Management of obesity is complex, however, in all stages of obesity lifestyle changes are mandatory--including diet, exercise and behavior modification. Pharmacotherapy might be needed if lifestyle changes alone do not result an acceptable weight loss. For the long-term treatment of obesity sibutramin and orlistat are the available approved drugs. In case of morbid obesity (body mass index > 40 kg/m2, or > 35 kg/m2 plus comorbid conditions and other risk factors) surgery might be the treatment of choice. There are different surgical methods, among those a widely used method nowadays is the laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding procedure.

Algorithms↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Cross-sectional relationship between diet and physical activity in two southeastern New England communities.

The hypothesis that health promotive diets associated with higher levels of habitual physical activity confound the relationship between regular physical activity and health has not been well explored in epidemiologic studies. We evaluated self-reported physical activity, Willett Food Frequency dietary data, sociodemographic and physiologic factors cross-sectionally for 2,004 household survey participants in two southeastern New England communities. We compared the dietary habits of sedentary participants (n = 964) to those of moderately active (n = 600) and very active (n = 440) participants after adjusting for age, gender, education, smoking status, year of survey, and total calories. Our results showed that moderately active and very active participants consumed more fiber, less total fat, and less saturated fat than sedentary participants (P < .01). They also consumed more vitamins (A, C, D, E), beta carotene, and calcium, (P < .01), and ate more fruits and vegetables (P < .001) than sedentary participants. We found these relationships in both New England communities studied. This association between regular physical activity and diet suggests that the relationship of habitual physical activity and chronic disease may be confounded by diet.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Exercise enhances learning and hippocampal neurogenesis in aged mice.

Aging causes changes in the hippocampus that may lead to cognitive decline in older adults. In young animals, exercise increases hippocampal neurogenesis and improves learning. We investigated whether voluntary wheel running would benefit mice that were sedentary until 19 months of age. Specifically, young and aged mice were housed with or without a running wheel and injected with bromodeoxyuridine or retrovirus to label newborn cells. After 1 month, learning was tested in the Morris water maze. Aged runners showed faster acquisition and better retention of the maze than age-matched controls. The decline in neurogenesis in aged mice was reversed to 50% of young control levels by running. Moreover, fine morphology of new neurons did not differ between young and aged runners, indicating that the initial maturation of newborn neurons was not affected by aging. Thus, voluntary exercise ameliorates some of the deleterious morphological and behavioral consequences of aging.

Aging↗

PubMed2005

The epidemiology of Type 2 diabetes mellitus in Greek adults: the ATTICA study.

AIMS: Individuals with Type 2 diabetes are at high risk for coronary heart disease, and may benefit from aggressive lifestyle modification. We evaluated the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes, in a Greek adult population, in relation to physical activity and dietary habits. METHODS: From May 2001 to December 2002, we randomly enrolled 1514 men and 1528 women, with no evidence of cardiovascular or any other chronic disease. The sampling was stratified by the age and gender distribution of the general population in the greater area of Athens (census 2001). Diabetes was defined according to the established American Diabetes Association criteria. Dietary habits were assessed through a validated food frequency questionnaire and a diet score was developed, in which higher values suggest greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Weekly energy expenditure was assessed by considering frequency, duration and intensity of sports-related physical activity during a usual week. RESULTS: After age adjustment for the Greek adult population (2001 census), the projected prevalence of Type 2 diabetes was 7.6% in men and 5.9% in women. A significant proportion of diabetic subjects (24% of men and 30% of women) were unaware of their condition. Moreover, a 10-unit increase in the diet score was associated with 21% lower odds of diabetes (P < 0.05), while individuals taking light physical activity were at 35% lower odds ratio of diabetes compared with sedentary individuals (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes mellitus is common in our population, with approximately 1 in 5 individuals with Type 2 diabetes being unaware of their condition. The lifestyle approach described here may contribute significantly to the reduction in the prevalence of diabetes, at a population level.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Pacific women's decisions about exercise adoption: utilising the stage-of-exercise-adoption model.

AIMS: To analyse the exercise patterns of Pacific women utilising the stage-of-exercise-adoption model, and to investigate how the pros and cons of exercising, exercise self-efficacy, self-reported health, and sociodemographic barriers to exercise influence exercise adoption. METHODS: A non-random questionnaire survey of 106 Pacific women living in the North Island of New Zealand. RESULTS: Thirty percent of the sample was sedentary, 34% were participating in some exercise, and 35% were exercising regularly. The balance between pros and cons of exercise, exercise self-efficacy, self-rated health and levels of barriers reliably differentiated respondents at extreme stages of exercise adoption. In addition, two specific barriers to exercise (not having friends who exercise, and being unsatisfied with current income) were associated with reduced exercise self-efficacy. CONCLUSIONS: A large number of Pacific women are sedentary, but analysis of the factors associated with exercise adoption level and exercise-related self-confidence provides a platform for future intervention. Exercise adoption interventions tailored specifically to Pacific women should focus on broader community-based systems that include peer-group participation, and emphasise inexpensive options for exercise.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

The effect of physician office visits on CHD risk factor modification as part of a worksite cholesterol screening program.

BACKGROUND: Elevated serum cholesterol is a major risk factor for CHD. Primary prevention through behavioral modification has been designated first-line treatment for patients with elevated cholesterol. In this study, we assessed the impact of a physician office visit after a worksite cholesterol screening on self-reported changes in diet, weight loss, exercise, and smoking. We hypothesized that those individuals who had a physician office visit regarding cholesterol would make more changes in CHD risk factors than those who did not have such a visit. METHODS: A cohort of 4,928 participants from 33 work-sites in Massachusetts and Rhode Island had baseline CHD risk factors evaluated at a cholesterol screening and 4,473 were available at follow-up 6 months later by telephone interview. A total of 1,957 had elevated cholesterol levels (>/=200 mg;/dl) and were instructed to visit their physician, in addition to receiving educational materials related to CHD risk factor modification. RESULTS: Most individuals with elevated cholesterol levels had other prevalent self-reported CHD risk factors at baseline: 58% consumed high-fat diets (>30% fat), 43% were overweight, 60% had a sedentary lifestyle (sweat-related physical activity <3 x per week), and 22% were cigarette smokers. After 6 months of follow-up, 74% of participants with high-fat diets reported eating a lower fat diet, 71% of overweight participants reported weight loss, 53% of sedentary participants attempted to increase physical activity, and 38% of smokers decreased or quit cigarette smoking. Thirty-five percent of participants completed the referral for a physician office visit to discuss their elevated cholesterol determined at the baseline worksite screening. However, these individuals showed only a modest change (which was not statistically significant) in self-reported CHD risk factors compared with those who did not have follow-up physician visits after adjusting for age, sex, race, education, occupation, medical insurance, time since last doctor visit, diabetes, and hypertension. Objective measurements of serum cholesterol, body mass index, and dietary score were likewise modestly improved and not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: In 6 months of follow-up, high absolute levels of CHD risk factor modification were observed after a worksite cholesterol screening. A physician office visit added only a modest but not statistically significant benefit for further CHD risk factor modification. These findings indicate that the follow-up cholesterol-related physician visit had little added clinical benefit over the screening intervention alone.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Obesity: the science behind the management.

The prevalence of obesity is increasing in Western and Westernizing countries. The changing environment plays a major role in this increase, particularly the reduction in physical activity. There is also a strong genetic contribution to the development of obesity, although single-gene defect obesity is rare. Neither the environment nor genes is simple to modify. Obesity is an energy-balance disorder, and the human body has evolved to resist any loss of body fat. This biological drive to maintain weight is coordinated through central pathways, with the involvement of many neuropeptides. Thus, dietary restriction will induce changes designed to counter weight loss, including a fall in resting metabolic rate. The management of obesity demands reasonable goals, which focus on metabolic, rather than cosmetic, improvement. As obesity is a complex condition, multiple therapeutic strategies are required. Dietary modification, an increase in physical activity, a reduction in sedentary activity and behaviour modification all form the basis of obesity therapy. Drug therapy options at present are limited and may have a stronger role in weight maintenance. Currently, surgical management of obesity has the best long-term outcomes. Long-term maintenance of weight loss is achieved by few individuals. Those individuals who are successful are able to maintain long-term restrictive eating habits and high levels of physical activity.

Behavior Therapy↗

PubMed2001

Lifecycle nutrition and cardiovascular health: the aged.

As the world's population ages, cardiovascular health becomes increasing important. The ageing process gradually leads to a decline in the structure and function of the cardiovascular system. Other factors associated with ageing can hasten this decline, for instance, lifestyles that have become more sedentary. Additionally, the prevalence of hypertension, dyslipidaemia and diabetes, major risk factors for cardiovascular disease increase with age. Nutrition throughout the lifecycle can help prevent the development of these conditions and appropriate food habits instigated later in life can improve the management of these conditions and their impact on cardiovascular health.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed1990

The accuracy of self-reports of physical activity.

This investigation determined the accuracy of self-reports of physical activity compared to observations obtained surreptitiously. Subjects were 44 adults engaged in 1 h of their preferred physical activity while actual activity levels were surreptitiously obtained and compared to immediate self-reported estimates of physical activity. Results indicated that subjects were moderately accurate in recalling their physical activity levels (R = 0.62) but underestimated sedentary activities and overestimated aerobic activities by over 300%. Males overestimated their activity relative to females, and obese subjects underestimated their activity levels compared to normal-weight subjects. Finally, a number of two-way interactions that moderated the accuracy of those subjects engaging in high chronic levels of physical activity were observed.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Ecological characterization of steinernema rarum

Entomopathogenic nematodes are used for inundative biological control of insect pests but also have potential for use in augmentative and/or inoculative biological control. Numerous new species are being described but generally, little information is provided on their ecology. Moreover, many species have been described previously without subsequent ecological information. This paper presents a number of simple experiments examining a nematode's physiological host range, host-foraging behavior, thermal activity range, and soil moisture activity range that provides the basic information necessary for further studies of a new species as a biological control agent. We suggest that any taxonomic description of new species should be combined with such an ecological study. This kind of information should also be generated for species in which no ecological studies have been done. In our study, we found that the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema rarum which was described in 1986 infected a wide range of arthropod species under laboratory conditions but appeared to be best adapted to lepidopteran larvae as hosts. It used an intermediate foraging strategy infecting both mobile hosts on the soil surface and sedentary hosts below the soil surface efficiently. The range of soil moisture at which S. rarum was effective suggested an adaptation to the fluctuating soil moisture in the upper soil layers. Its temperature optimum of 25 degreesC corresponded well to the warm temperate climate of its area of origin in Argentina. The optimal storage temperature was around 15 degreesC. Our study suggests that S. rarum is well adapted to lepidopteran hosts with larvae spending part of their live on the soil surface and/or that pupate in the soil. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2005

Behavioural determinants of obesity.

Obesity in children arises from a complex interplay between genetic susceptibility and behaviour, primarily relating to dietary habits and physical activity. Evidence for specific behavioural factors that promote or protect against excess weight gain in children is more limited than in adults, and the effects of growth and development are not clear. A number of behavioural risk factors has been postulated, including diets with a high energy density, high consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, large portion sizes, eating patterns, high levels of sedentary behaviour and low levels of physical activity. However, most evidence is derived from cross-sectional studies which frequently yield conflicting results. More prospective studies with accurate measures of exposures and outcomes in terms of body composition are needed to provide more robust evidence on which to base interventions to achieve long-term behavioural change and prevent excess weight gains in children.

Carbonated Beverages↗

PubMed1992

The planning, development, and implementation of a work-site health promotion program: a case study.

A voluntary health promotion program was introduced at an academic institution with 665 employees. The 239 employees who volunteered to participate in a health risk appraisal were significantly younger and more likely to be female than were nonparticipants. The prevalence rates of the major coronary heart disease risk factors in the participants were as follows: hypercholesterolemia, 25.5%; elevated blood pressure, 15.5%; and current cigarette smoker, 15.1%. In addition, many participants daily consumed food high in cholesterol or fat (54.2%), were obese (44.8%), and led sedentary lifestyles (28.5%). Although a majority of female participants had received physician/nurse breast examinations and had Papanicolaou smears taken during the previous year, only about half this number performed monthly breast self-examinations. A telephone survey of employees revealed the most desired health promotion program components to be stress reduction, nutrition counseling, exercise fitness, and weight reduction. The program is now being monitored for health benefits and program costs.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Explicit and implicit attitudes towards food and physical activity in childhood obesity.

This study investigated differences in the explicit and implicit attitudes towards food and physical activities between children with obesity (n=38) and a matched control group (n=38). The implicit attitude was assessed using the Extrinsic Affective Simon Task (EAST; J. Exp. Psychol. (50) (2003) 77), a modified version of the Implicit Association Test (IAT; J. Personality Social Psychol. (74) (1999) 1464). It was expected that both groups would report a positive explicit attitude towards healthy food and intense physical activities, and a negative explicit attitude towards unhealthy food and sedentary activities. Of particular interest was the hypothesis that children with obesity would have a more positive implicit attitude towards unhealthy food and sedentary activities than the control group. Results revealed no differences between groups in the explicit attitude towards food and physical activity. Children and adolescents with obesity had a more pronounced positive implicit attitude towards food in general. The relevance of these findings in terms of prevention, treatment and further research is discussed.

Adolescent↗