Advancing the physical activity curriculum at the collegiate level

2017 ◽  
Vol 117 (4) ◽  
pp. 372-381 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bradley (BJ) Warren ◽  
Eleanor Odenheimer Brin
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
College Courses ◽  
Content Type ◽  
College Course ◽  
Collegiate Level ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Fitness And Health ◽  
Health Related Fitness ◽  
Fitness Levels

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to assess college students’ pre- and post- health-related, fitness levels, as determined by the American College of Sports Medicine’s (ACSM) five components of fitness, in a one-credit, graded college course and to objectively measure any differences between those pre- and post- health-related fitness levels. Design/methodology/approach In a field setting, the investigators conducted health-related, fitness assessments using the ACSM validated protocols. In addition, descriptive statistics were collected including demographic information, such as, age and sex. Findings Paired-sample t tests were used to calculate the pre- and post-test scores for six fitness- and health-related categories across four semesters. There were statistically significant (p<0.001) improvements in six different areas in each of the four semesters with the exception of the resting heart rate and VO2 Max measurements in the fall semester of 2014. Originality/value This study builds upon the current body of work tracking trends in physical activity, college courses. The results answer health promotion scientists’ call for more research on the implementation and evaluation of programmatic interventions (Domitrovich and Greendberg, 2000; Durlack, 1998; Durlak and DuPre, 2008) “in real-world settings in order to understand if and how an intervention works” (Søvik et al., 2016, p. 238). This results in addressing a research gap in assessing the effectiveness of physical activity courses in higher education (Keating et al., 2005).

scholarly journals Active and Fit Communities. Associations between Neighborhood Walkability and Health-Related Fitness in Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 1131
Author(s):  
Gavin R. McCormack ◽  
Levi Frehlich ◽  
Anita Blackstaffe ◽  
Tanvir C. Turin ◽  
Patricia K. Doyle-Baker
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Resistance Training ◽  
Built Environment ◽  
Muscular Strength ◽  
Neighborhood Walkability ◽  
Walk Score ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Neighborhood Built Environment ◽  
Health Related Fitness ◽  
Fitness Levels

There are many health benefits of regular physical activity and improving physical fitness levels can reduce the risk of chronic disease. Accumulating evidence suggests the neighborhood built environment is important for supporting physical activity; however, few studies have investigated the contribution of the neighborhood built environment to fitness levels. We examined the associations between objectively-determined and self-reported neighborhood walkability and overall and specific components of perceived health-related fitness (cardiorespiratory, muscular strength, and flexibility) in a random sample of 592 adults from two areas of Calgary (Canada). Participants provided complete data to an online questionnaire capturing perceived cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), muscular strength (MST), flexibility, moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA), resistance training, and sociodemographic characteristics. The questionnaire also captured participant’s perceptions of their neighborhood’s walkability (Physical Activity Neighborhood Environment Scale; PANES) and the physical activity supportiveness of neighborhood parks (Park Perceptions Index; PPI). Objectively-measured neighborhood walkability was estimated using Walk Score®. The average (SD) age of participants was 46.6 (14.8) years and 67.2% were female. Participants, on average, participated in at least 30-minutes of MVPA on 3.4 (2.1) days/week and undertook resistance training 2.0 (1.8) days/week. Adjusting for covariates, Walk Score® was not associated with any fitness outcomes. Adjusting for covariates, the PANES index was positively associated (p < 0.05) with CRF, MST, flexibility, and overall fitness and the PPI was positively associated (p < 0.05) with all fitness outcomes except MST. Our findings provide novel preliminary evidence suggesting the neighborhood built environment may be important for supporting higher health-related fitness levels in adults.

Principal Components of Fitness: Relationship to Physical Activity and Lifestyle

1994 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 200-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roy J. Shephard ◽  
Claude Bouchard
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Principal Components ◽  
Hdl Cholesterol ◽  
Cardiovascular Fitness ◽  
Abdominal Circumference ◽  
Caffeine Consumption ◽  
Exercise Frequency ◽  
F Factor ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Health Related Fitness

Interrelationships between metabolic and cardiorespiratory health were examined in 350 healthy adults. Four principal components accounted for 66.7% of the variance in 172 males (M) and for 62.4% in 178 females (F). Factor 1, "obesity," related to body mass index, abdominal circumference, total skinfold thickness, and (M only) abdominal/hip circumference ratio. Factor 2, "cardiovascular fitness," had loadings from resting heart rate and PWC150/kg. Factors 3 and 4 were related to total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol, respectively (plus blood pressures, particularly in F). Factor 1 was linked to caffeine consumption and to exercise frequency (F) or perceived intensity (M). Factor 2 was linked to perceptions of activity relative to others (M and F) and to the intensity of activity (M only). Factors 3 and 4 were associated with perceived fitness and physical activity relative to others. Because perceptions of physical activity and fitness lack consistency, it is suggested that health be judged more directly from simple measures of health related fitness that require little subject cooperation. Key words: caffeine consumption, cardiorespiratory fitness, gender differences, health related fitness, metabolic fitness, perceived activity

scholarly journals Children’s Weight Gain and Cardiovascular Fitness Loss over the Summer

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. 2770 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy Brusseau ◽  
Ryan Burns
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Physical Activity Intervention ◽  
Cardiovascular Fitness ◽  
The Body ◽  
School Year ◽  
School Based ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Physical Activity Programming ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Health Related Fitness

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of summer breaks on the body composition and cardiovascular fitness of elementary school children who participated in a multi-year school-based physical activity intervention. Participants were 404 children who had their height and weight measured and completed the Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run (PACER) during physical education classes at the beginning and end of the school year for three consecutive years. To examine the effects of time on health-related fitness data, general linear mixed effects models were employed. The results indicate that there was a trend toward an increase in body mass index (BMI) after the summer of 2015 (p = 0.958), and a significant increase in BMI after the summer of 2016 compared to time point 1 (p < 0.001). For PACER laps, there were trends toward decreases in PACER laps after the summers of 2015 (p = 0.515) and 2016 (p = 0.073). Summer breaks tended to attenuate the BMI and PACER lap improvements that were observed during the intervention. While school-based physical activity programming has had some successes in improving health-related fitness markers, the loss of these improvements over the summer is of concern to both practitioners and researchers. It is clear that additional efforts are needed to limit obesogenic behaviors during the summer months.

Childhood Depressive Symptoms, Physical Activity and Health Related Fitness

2003 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 419-439 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lois Michaud Tomson ◽  
Robert P. Pangrazi ◽  
Glenn Friedman ◽  
Ned Hutchison
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Relative Risk ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Symptoms Of Depression ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Health Related Fitness

While research has confirmed a negative relationship between adult depression and physical activity, there is little evidence for children. This study examined the relationship of being classified as physically active or inactive by a parent or a teacher to depressive symptoms in children 8 to 12 years of age (N = 933). It also assessed the relationship of playing sports outside of school, and of meeting health related fitness standards, to symptoms of depression. Relative risk of depressive symptoms for inactive classification was 2.8 to 3.4 times higher than it was for active, 1.3 to 2.4 times higher for children not playing sports outside of school, and 1.5 to 4.0 times higher for those not meeting health related fitness goals.

Reasons and Barriers for University Students’ Leisure-Time Physical Activity: Moderating Effect of Health Education

2019 ◽  
Vol 126 (6) ◽  
pp. 1084-1100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saulius Sukys ◽  
Vida J. Cesnaitiene ◽  
Arunas Emeljanovas ◽  
Brigita Mieziene ◽  
Irena Valantine ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Health Education ◽  
University Students ◽  
Leisure Time ◽  
Leisure Time Physical Activity ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Fitness And Health ◽  
The Relationship

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between health education and motives and barriers for university students’ engagement in leisure-time physical activity (PA). The research sample included 709 students (312 females and 397 males) in different years of study, ranging in age between 18-25 years. A questionnaire survey method revealed a significant positive relationship between fitness and health motives and students’ leisure-time PA. External barriers were negative predictors of students’ leisure-time PA, while more health education-related courses per week were positively associated with students’ leisure-time PA. Finally, we found that the number of health education-related courses per week moderated the relationship between fitness and health motives and students’ leisure-time PA. These findings suggest that university students’ fitness and health motives and external barriers to be physically active outweigh other motives and barriers in determining their leisure-time PA. In addition, health education in university studies can effectively increase students’ health-related motivation for PA.

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