A Faith-Integrated Physical Activity Intervention and Cardiometabolic Risk in African American Women.

Purpose: To determine the effects of a 10-month secular (SEC) versus faith-integrated (FI) community-based physical activity (PA) intervention on cardiometabolic risk factors in low active, African-American women.

Methods: Participants (age: 55.4±11.

The Energy Expenditure of Recreational Ballroom Dance.

The popularity of recreational ballroom dancing has increased dramatically in recent years. Yet, relatively little information is known regarding the physiological demands of ballroom dancing. The purpose of this study was to determine the energy requirements for recreational ballroom dancing.

The Energy Expenditure of Tinikling: A Culturally Relevant Filipino Dance.

Filipino Americans have higher risks for developing cardiovascular disease than many other U.S. minority groups and Caucasians.

Characterizing the Aerobic and Anaerobic Energy Costs of Polynesian Dances.

This study characterized both aerobic and anaerobic energy expenditure (EE) for several Polynesian dances in a group of experienced professional Polynesian dancers. Thirteen men and 17 women were tested using indirect calorimetry to assess aerobic EE (and converted to METs), and fingertip blood lactate to estimate anaerobic EE, during both resting and dancing activities. Total EE was then computed as the sum of both aerobic and anaerobic activity energy expenditure (AEE, or EE above resting).

Associations of vitamin D status with markers of metabolic health: A community-based study in Shanghai, China.

Aims: This study investigated the associations of vitamin D status (i.e., serum 25(OH)D concentration) with markers of metabolic health and metabolic syndrome (MS), as well as possible gender differences in these associations, with metabolic syndrome (MS) for a sample from Shanghai, China.

Increasing Physical Activity in Black Women: Results from a Randomized Trial Conducted in Faith-Based Settings.

Objective: The Learning and Developing Individual Exercise Skills (L.A.D.

Learning and Developing Individual Exercise Skills (L.A.D.I.E.S.) for a Better Life: A Church-Based Physical Activity Intervention - Baseline Participant Characteristics.

Objective: Physical activity (PA) is beneficial for health, yet most African American women do not achieve recommended levels. Successful, sustainable strategies could help to address disparities in health outcomes associated with low levels of PA. The Learning and Developing Individual Exercise Skills (L.

Evaluation of the ability of three physical activity monitors to predict weight change and estimate energy expenditure.

Activity monitors such as the Actical accelerometer, the Sensewear armband, and the Intelligent Device for Energy Expenditure and Activity (IDEEA) are commonly validated against gold standards (e.g., doubly labeled water, or DLW) to determine whether they accurately measure total daily energy expenditure (TEE) or activity energy expenditure (AEE).

Learning and Developing Individual Exercise Skills (L.A.D.I.E.S.) for a better life: a physical activity intervention for black women.

Physical activity (PA) is low among African American women despite awareness of its positive impact on health. Learning and Developing Individual Exercise Skills for a Better Life (L.A.

Influence of an alkalizing supplement on markers of endurance performance using a double-blind placebo-controlled design.

Background: Previous research has shown that ingestion of substances that enhance the body's hydrogen ion buffering capacity during high intensity exercise can improve exercise performance. The present study aimed to determine whether the chronic ingestion of an alkalizing supplement, which purports to enhance both intracellular and extracellular buffering capacity, could impact cardiorespiratory and performance markers in trained Nordic skiers.

Methods: Twenty-four skiers (12 men, 12 women), matched for upper body power (UBP), were split into treatment and placebo groups.

Differential accuracy of physical activity self-report by body mass index.

Objectives: To examine whether agreement between self-reported and accelerometer-measured physical activity varies by BMI category in a low-income black sample.

Methods: Participants completed a questionnaire and wore an accelerometer for 4-6 days. Using one- and 10-minute bouts, accelerometers measured light, moderate, and vigorous physical activity time.

Modeling physical activity outcomes from wearable monitors.

Although the measurement of physical activity with wearable monitors may be considered objective, consensus guidelines for collecting and processing these objective data are lacking. This article presents an algorithm embodying best practice recommendations for collecting, processing, and reporting physical activity data routinely collected with accelerometry-based activity monitors. This algorithm is proposed as a linear series of seven steps within three successive phases.

Validation of the actical activity monitor in middle-aged and older adults.

Purpose: This study was designed to validate the Actical activity monitor in middle-aged and older adults of varying body composition to develop accelerometer thresholds to distinguish between light and moderate intensity physical activity (PA).

Methods: Nonobese 45 to 64 yr (N = 29), obese 45 to 64 yr (N = 21), and ≥65 yr (N = 23; varying body composition) participants completed laboratory-based sitting, household, and locomotive activities while wearing an Actical monitor and a portable metabolic measurement system. Nonlinear regression analysis was used to identify activity count (AC) cut-points to differentiate between light intensity (<3 METs) and moderate intensity (≥3METs) PA.

Acid-base balance and hydration status following consumption of mineral-based alkaline bottled water.

Background: The present study sought to determine whether the consumption of a mineral-rich alkalizing (AK) bottled water could improve both acid-base balance and hydration status in young healthy adults under free-living conditions. The AK water contains a naturally high mineral content along with Alka-PlexLiquid™, a dissolved supplement that increases the mineral content and gives the water an alkalizing pH of 10.0.

Influence of activity monitor location and bout duration on free-living physical activity.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of the location (ankle, hip, wrist) where an activity monitor (AM) is worn and of the minimum bout duration (BD) on physical activity (PA) variables during free-living monitoring. Study 1 participants wore AMs at three locations for 1 day while wearing the Intelligent Device for Energy Expenditure and Activity (IDEEA) system. Study 2 participants wore AMs at the same locations for 3 days.

Upper body power as a determinant of classical cross-country ski performance.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between short (< or =60 s) and long duration (4-12 min) measures of upper body power (UBP) and mass start classical cross-country ski performance. Several experienced skiers (eight men, five women) completed three separate tests of UBP on a double poling ergometer: two tests of highest average power output for 10 s (UBP(10)) and 60 s (UBP(60)), and an incremental test to exhaustion to measure peak oxygen uptake (VO(2PEAK)) and peak power output (UBP(PEAK)). Lastly, subjects competed in a 10-km classical cross-country ski race from which race speed (RS) was computed.

Validation of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short among Blacks.

Background: The International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-S) has been evaluated against accelerometer-determined physical activity measures in small homogenous samples of adults in the United States. There is limited information about the validity of the IPAQ-S in diverse US samples.

Methods: 142 Blacks residing in low-income housing completed the IPAQ-S and wore an accelerometer for up to 6 days.

Body dissatisfaction mediates the association between body mass index and risky weight control behaviors among White and Native American adolescent girls.

The developmental path leading to eating disorders among adolescent girls often proceeds from increasing body size, to increasing body dissatisfaction, to increasing eating disorder (ED) risk. To determine whether body dissatisfaction (BD) mediates the association between body size and risky weight control behaviors, we examined data from White (n=709) and Native American (n=253) girls, who differ substantially in terms of average body mass and reported weight control behaviors. Measures of BD included weight, shape, and appearance concerns.

Pilot study of a faith-based physical activity program among sedentary blacks.

Introduction: Physical activity participation is low among blacks, and strategies are needed to successfully create immediate and sustained behavior change related to physical activity. Churches can play an important role in health promotion efforts among blacks because of their central role in spiritual guidance, communication, social support, and networking. This pilot study evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of implementing a physical activity program for sedentary black adults in churches.

Ethnic differences in BMI, weight concerns, and eating behaviors: comparison of Native American, White, and Hispanic adolescents.

Evidence suggests that substantial proportions of adolescents, regardless of ethnicity or gender, are engaged in excessive weight control behaviors. Crago and Shisslak (2003), however, have noted that small samples and poorly validated instruments have limited the value of previous ethnic difference studies. Using the McKnight Risk Factor Survey, we compared Native American, White, and Hispanic adolescents.

Predicting activity energy expenditure using the Actical activity monitor.

This study developed algorithms for predicting activity energy expenditure (AEE) in children (n = 24) and adults (n = 24) from the Actical activity monitor. Each participant performed 10 activities (supine resting, three sitting, three house cleaning, and three locomotion) while wearing monitors on the ankle, hip, and wrist; AEE was computed from oxygen consumption. Regression analysis, used to create AEE prediction equations based on Actical output, varied considerably for both children (R2 = .

Prior resistance training and sex influence muscle responses to arm suspension.

Purpose: The magnitude of atrophy and strength loss induced by partial or complete disuse of skeletal muscles varies greatly among individuals. Factors predisposing some individuals to more extreme responses have not been identified. The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether 1) level of activity before disuse or 2) sex differences influence the magnitude of atrophy and changes in muscle strength, endurance, and sense of muscular effort in response to 21 d of arm suspension.

Body size as a determinant of the 1-h cycling record at sea level and altitude.

This study was designed to validate models for predicting the two Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) classifications for the 1-h cycling record at sea level and altitude. Specific attention was paid to the integration of model components that were sensitive to scaling differences in body mass (m(b)). The Modern Aero Position model predicted UCI Best Hour performances using predictions of total projected frontal area (A(P)) that included use of an aerodynamic bicycle and aerodynamic handlebars.

Body mass scaling of frontal area in competitive cyclists not using aero-handlebars.

This study was designed to evaluate the scaling relationship between body mass ( m(b)) and projected frontal area ( A(P)) in competitive male cyclists using traditional drop-style handlebars. A group of 21 male cyclists [mean (SD) m(b) 74.4 (7.

Estimating energy expenditure in wildland fire fighters using a physical activity monitor.

This study piloted the use of an electronic activity monitor (MTI AM 7164-1.2) as a tool for estimating activity (EE(ACT), kcal day(-1)) and total (EE(TOT) kcal day(-1)) energy expenditure in wildland fire fighters during extended periods of wildland fire suppression. Ten Hot Shot fire fighters (9 men, 1 woman) volunteered to wear a MTI monitor during every work shift for 21 consecutive days.