Leisure-Time Internet Use Does Not Correlate with Physical Activity or Physical Fitness Level of Ninth Grade African-American Girls

2001 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 402-412 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew S. Kerner ◽  
Michael Kalinski ◽  
Anthony B. Kurrant ◽  
Eric Small ◽  
Eugene Spatz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
African American ◽  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
Leisure Time ◽  
Reasoned Action ◽  
Leisure Time Physical Activity ◽  
African American Girls ◽  
Fitness Level ◽  
Fitness Tests

We assessed leisure-time Internet use (IU) and its relationship to physical fitness (PF) and leisure-time physical activity (PA) among 295 adolescent African-American girls. In addition, scales measuring variables in the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) were administered to elucidate PA data. Based on responses to the IU Questionnaire, participants were placed into either an Internet Nonuser (n = 184) or Internet User (n = 111) group. PF was assessed using body mass index (BMI) and AAHPERD Youth Fitness Tests. There were no correlations found between the fitness test scores and IU, PA, or BMI. No correlation was found between IU and PA, and similar findings were noted between PA and each variable constituting the TRA. As expected, within the TRA variables studied, significant moderate to high correlations were found between both Attitude to Exercise and Subjective Norm with Intention to Exercise, r = .43 and r = .53, respectively. The remarkably low scores among participants on the fitness tests and TRA scales suggest that IU would have no appreciable influence on the PF of this population, irrespective of IU.

Associations of Self-rated Fitness and Different Types of Leisure Time Physical Activity With Predicted Aerobic Fitness in 5979 Finnish Adults

2004 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 142-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katja Borodulin ◽  
Timo Lakka ◽  
Tiina Laatikainen ◽  
Raija Laukkanen ◽  
Hannu Kinnunen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Aerobic Fitness ◽  
Leisure Time ◽  
Leisure Time Physical Activity ◽  
Large Population ◽  
Alternative Methods ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Healthy Men ◽  
Fitness Level

Background:In large population studies, comparisons of physical activity, self-rated fitness, and measured aerobic fitness are seldom reported. Measuring aerobic fitness is time-consuming and expensive, thus alternative methods are needed.Objectives:To investigate the recently established Polar Fitness Test (PFT) as a method to predict maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max, a measure of maximal aerobic power), to assess distribution of predicted VO2max by gender and age, and to compare predictions to self-reported leisure time physical activity and self-rated fitness level in a large Finnish population sample.Methods:The study population comprised 5979 men and women aged 25 to 74 years who participated in the National FINRISK Study. Subjects filled in standardized questionnaires assessing self-rated fitness level and total, conditioning, commuting, and non-conditioning leisure time physical activity. The PFT was performed by a trained nurse at the study site and was based on resting heart rate measurements, gender, age, height, weight, and self-reported physical activity. Healthy individuals and those with a self-reported cardiovascular disease were analyzed separately.Results:The mean predicted VO2max was 38.1 and 35.1 ml/kg/min in healthy men and women, respectively. In both genders, predicted VO2max declined significantly by age. Individuals with cardiovascular disease had lower VO2max predictions than healthy persons. Healthy men reported total leisure time physical activity slightly less than healthy women. Self-rated fitness level and conditioning and commuting leisure time physical activity were independently associated with predicted VO2max, while no correlation between non-conditioning leisure time physical activity and predicted aerobic fitness was found.Conclusion:PFT was a feasible method to predict aerobic fitness in a large population study and was related both to self-rated fitness and self-reported physical activity. Aerobic fitness was associated with conditioning and commuting physical activity, but not with non-conditioning physical activity.

Effects of 32-Year Leisure Time Physical Activity Discordance in Twin Pairs on Health (TWINACTIVE Study): Aims, Design and Results for Physical Fitness

2009 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 108-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tuija Leskinen ◽  
Katja Waller ◽  
Sara Mutikainen ◽  
Sari Aaltonen ◽  
Paula H. A. Ronkainen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Leisure Time ◽  
Leisure Time Physical Activity ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Bone Properties ◽  
Fitness Tests ◽  
Health Related ◽  
And Function

AbstractThe physically active lifestyle is associated with low future morbidity and mortality, but the causality between physical activity and health is not always clear. As some inherited biological characteristics and childhood experiences may cause selection bias in observational studies, we sought to take them into account by identifying 16 twin pairs (7 MZ, 9 DZ, mean age 60 years) discordant for leisure time physical activity habits for thirty years. We conducted detailed health-related examinations among these twin pairs. Our main aims were to study the effects of physical activity and genes on fitness and body composition, with special reference to body fat compartments, metabolic syndrome components and related diseases and risk factor levels, status of arteries, structure and function of the heart, bone properties, and muscle and fat tissue-related mechanisms linked to physical activity and chronic disease development. Our physical activity assessments showed that inactive co-twins were on average 8.8 MET hours/day less active than their active co-twins through out their midlife (2.2 ± 2.3 vs. 11.0 ± 4.1 MET h/day, p < .001). Follow-up fitness tests showed that physically inactive co-twins were less fit than their active co-twins (estimated VO2peak 26.4 ± 4.9 vs. 32.5 ± 5.5 ml/kg/min, p < .001). Similar differences were found in both MZ and DZ pairs. On the basis of earlier epidemiological observations on nonrelated individuals, these physical activity and fitness differences are large enough to cause differences in many mechanisms and risk factors related to the development of chronic diseases and to permit future analyses.

scholarly journals Physical Activity and Physical Fitness in African-American Girls With and Without Obesity

1997 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 572-577 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dianne S. Ward ◽  
Stewart G. Trost ◽  
Gwen Felton ◽  
Ruth Saunders ◽  
Mary Ann Parsons ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
African American ◽  
Physical Fitness ◽  
African American Girls

Relationships between leisure time physical activity, physical fitness and mental health among young adult males

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S179-S179
Author(s):  
K. Appelqvist-Schmidlechner ◽  
J. Vaara ◽  
J. Mäkinen ◽  
T. Vasankari ◽  
H. Kyröläinen
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Leisure Time ◽  
Mental Distress ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Leisure Time Physical Activity ◽  
Military Education ◽  
Positive Mental Health

Physical activity has been seen as an important tool to prevent both physical and mental disorders like depression and anxiety. However, previous research has mainly focused on mental health problems rather than positive mental health. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association of leisure time physical activity (LTPA) and physical fitness with mental distress and positive mental health. The study sample consisted of 792 men (mean age 26 years) who participated in the study prior their military refresher-training course. Cardio-respiratory and muscle fitness tests were measured, and LTPA, positive mental health (Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale, SWEMWBS) and mental distress were assessed with a questionnaire. Analysis of variance and linear regressions were used as statistical methods. Younger age and lower military education were associated with mental distress, whereas older age and higher military education were inversely associated with high positive mental health (flourishing). Moreover, individuals reporting vigorous LTPA at least 1–2 times per week had lower level of mental distress and were more commonly experiencing flourishing compared to their less physically active counterparts. Physical fitness (both aerobic and muscular) was associated with lower mental distress, but not with flourishing. In conclusion, leisure time physical activity and physical fitness may contribute to mental health. The present results highlight that even low amount of leisure-time physical activity may promote mental health and prevent mental disorders. Leisure time physical activity, rather than physical fitness, seems to be more essential for positive mental health.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

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