Health promotion at work.

This study examined health promotion intervention amongst council employees and determined the extent that any changes were subsequently maintained. The results showed that even with modest intervention, beneficial changes were observed in alcohol consumption, diastolic blood pressure, body mass, waist/hips ratio, body fat, aerobic capacity and arm strength. Behavioural measures tended not to change, but this could be a consequence of unfocused questioning or insufficient intensity of the health promotion activities.

Unbiased estimation of human body composition by the Cavalieri method using magnetic resonance imaging.

The classical methods for estimating the volume of human body compartments in vivo (e.g. skin-fold thickness for fat, radioisotope counting for different compartments, etc.

Body fat estimations by electrical impedance and infra-red interactance.

The purpose of this study was to examine body fat estimation using three methods of electrical impedance (the BIA-103 Body Composition Analyser--RJL Systems, Detroit; the BMR 2000 Body Composition Analyzer--Berkeley Medical Research, San Leandro; the BC300 Body Composition Analyzer--Spacelabs, Dallas) and an infra-red interactance method (Futrex 5000 Analyzer--Futrex Inc. Gaithersburg) as an alternative to hydrodensitometry. Five different groups were examined using at least one of the electrical systems and in all cases utilising hydrodensitometry as the criterion method.

Effect of very low calorie diet on body composition and exercise response in sedentary women.

The effect of very low calorie diet (VLCD) on fat-free mass (FFM) and physiological response to exercise is a topic of current interest. Ten moderately obese women (aged 23-57 years) received VLCD (1695 kJ.day-1) for 6 weeks.

Children's attitudes towards activity and perceptions of physical education.

The attitudes towards activity (CATPA) and perceptions of physical education of a sample of 291 secondary and 316 primary boys and girls were investigated with respect to health promotion. Using analysis of variance techniques significant differences between boys' and girls' attitudes were found in both the secondary and primary samples. Girls had significantly more positive attitudes towards physical activity than boys, but the data yielded no differences in attitudes between the socio-economic levels.

Sources of error in isokinetic dynamometry: effects of visual feedback on maximum torque.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of visual feedback on isokinetic maximum torque and reciprocal muscle group ratio of the knee extensors and flexors at a slow (60 degrees /set) and a fast (180 degrees /sec) speed of movement. The real-time gravity-corrected torque output, used as the visual feedback source, elicited a significant increase in the maximum torque output of both muscle groups at the slow speed. There was no improvement at the fast speed of movement.

Leisure-time physical activity as an estimate of physical fitness: a validation study.

This paper describes a new interview questionnaire for the assessment of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), and its validation as an alternative estimate of physical fitness. British subjects (77 males, 41 females) provided details of their LTPA over a period of a "typical" 2 weeks, enabling the estimation of the energy expended. Physical fitness was assessed with a battery of measures, the optimal single measure being sub-maximal physical work capacity (PWC).

A comparison of selected health-related data from surveys of a general population and a sporting population.

This paper presents a comparison of health-related data from two surveys of British adults. Respondents from one survey formed a representative sample of the British population, whilst respondents from the other were characterised by their participation in sport. Statistical analysis revealed that sports participants had significantly lower body mass index values, lower blood pressures and lower resting pulse rates (P less than 0.

Effect of changes of water and electrolytes on the validity of conventional methods of measuring fat-free mass.

Fat-free mass was measured by hydrodensitometry, electrical impedance and total body potassium before and after water and electrolyte loss induced by (a) the administration of the diuretic frusemide, and (b) sweat loss. All methods of measuring fat-free mass were shown by pilot experiments to have procedural reliability. The diuretic caused a reduction in apparent fat-free mass of 2.

The assessment of physical activity by leisure-time physical activity questionnaires.

The assessment of physical activity by questionnaire is currently the most popular and practical method of quantifying physical activity levels. Many questionnaires, past and present, have considered overall or habitual physical activity, which includes occupational (or nonleisure) activity. Others have focused specifically on leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) owing to the recognition of its dominating contribution to the total physical activity of developed populations.

Comparative study of cefuroxime axetil suspension and amoxycillin syrup in the treatment of acute otitis media in general practice.

In a multicentre general practice study, 660 children aged between 3 months and 12 years with otitis media were randomized to receive a 10-day course of cefuroxime axetil suspension or amoxycillin syrup. Children under 2 years of age were given 125 mg cefuroxime axetil twice daily after food or 125 mg amoxycillin three times daily; older children received 250 mg cefuroxime axetil twice daily or 250 mg amoxycillin three times daily. The overall cure or improvement rate was 94.

Evaluation of low back pain by patient questionnaires and therapist assessment.

Paper completed by D.J.B.

Self-perceived health among sports participants and non-sports participants.

This paper examines and compares the self-perceived health (SPH) of a sample of sports participants (n = 1385) and a matched sample of non-participants (n = 292). Ratings of health were generally found to be favourable among both samples, but a non-parametric analysis of their distributions revealed that the SPH of sports participants was significantly (P less than 0.0001) better than that of the non-participants.

Reliability measures in distorting body-image.

This study is the first to make a direct comparison between the distorting mirror and the distorting videocamera with the same group of nonclinical subjects. It also establishes the internal consistency, the test-retest reliability and the convergent validity of both techniques. Analysis indicates, as with other studies, that perceived image is consistently over-estimated and ideal image is consistently under-estimated by both techniques.

Comparative study of cefuroxime axetil and amoxycillin in the treatment of acute sinusitis in general practice.

Cefuroxime axetil was compared with amoxycillin in the treatment of acute and acute on chronic sinusitis in a multicentre general practice study. A total of 160 patients were randomized to receive 250 mg cefuroxime axetil orally twice daily, or 250 mg amoxycillin orally three times daily for 10 days. Of the 45 assessable patients with acute sinusitis 43 (96%) were cured or improved using cefuroxime axetil compared with 49 (94%) of the assessable patients in the amoxycillin-treated group.

Isokinetic dynamometry. Applications and limitations.

Isokinetic contraction is the muscular contraction that accompanies constant velocity limb movements around a joint. The velocity of movement is maintained constant by a special dynamometer. The resistance of the dynamometer is equal to the muscular forces applied throughout the range of movement.

Development of a computer system for real-time display and analysis of isokinetic data.

An isokinetic analysis system was developed by interfacing an Akron isokinetic dynamometer to a microcomputer. The system was designed for real-time display of the muscular torque output in order to provide immediate visual feedback of the muscular performance. The muscular torque data were filtered for the effect of gravitational forces.

Rapid weight loss and lean tissue: evidence for comparable body composition and metabolic rate in differing rates of weight loss.

In assessing the desirability of very low calorie diets (VLCD) it is important to assess whether the additional calorie deprivation associated with a VLCD is within the range of physiological adaptation of normal people: specifically that the overweight person will return to normality in terms of body composition and metabolic rate. Comparison of fat free mass (FFM) and resting metabolic rate (RMR) change was made between two groups of dieting female subjects, whose weight loss was 1.9 kg/week (group A) and 1.

Restoration to normal body composition by VLCD: a comparison of post obese and lean subjects questions BMI 25 as diet limit.

Body composition was assessed in naturally lean female subjects who never had need to diet. At BMI 21-22 their body weight distribution of 75 per cent FFM and 25 per cent fat was compared with subjects who had dieted below BMI 25 by various conventional self-selected diets; subjects who had dieted to BMI 21-22 by VLCD and subjects who were dieting with VLCD but were still above BMI 25. These body composition studies support values of BMI 22-22 as a better estimate of desirable weight in women than BMI 25.