Physical activity and sedentary behaviors among active college students in Kuwait relative to gender status.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of physical activity (PA), sedentary behaviors (SB) and sleep duration and the associations between those variables among Kuwaiti Physical Education (PE) College students.

Methods: A total of 418 participants (220 females) were randomly selected from the Basic Education College in the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training in Kuwait. Body weight and height were measured, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated.

No Changes in Appetite-Related Hormones Following Swimming and Cycling Exercise Interventions in Adults with Obesity.

Swimming is a favorable and ideal modality of exercise for individuals with obesity and arthritis as it encompasses a minimal weight-bearing stress and a reduced heat load. However, the available evidence indicates that regular swimming may not be effective in reducing body weight and body fatness. A current hypothesis is that exercise in cold water stimulates appetite.

Apolipoprotein E genotype moderates the association between dietary polyunsaturated fat and brain function: an exploration of cerebral glutamate and cognitive performance.

To investigate the effect of Apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype on the association between dietary polyunsaturated fat (PUFA), cognitive function, and cerebral glutamate. A participant sample of 122 middle-aged adults were grouped according to APOE genotype (ϵ4 carrier or ϵ4 non-carrier) and asked to record dietary intake for three consecutive days. All participants also underwent neuropsychological testing and a proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H MRS) scan to assess glutamate in the posterior cingulate cortex.

The effect of Bikram yoga on endothelial function in young and middle-aged and older adults.

The purpose of this investigation was to determine if Bikram yoga, a style of heated hatha yoga, would improve endothelial function in young and middle-aged and older, healthy adults. This trial was performed in 36 young (n = 17) and middle-aged and older adults (n = 19) who completed 3 weekly Bikram yoga classes for 8 weeks. Height, body weight and body composition were determined and endothelial function was measured noninvasively using brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) before and after the intervention.

Impact of Hot Yoga on Arterial Stiffness and Quality of Life in Normal and Overweight/Obese Adults.

Background: Obesity is associated with arterial stiffening and diminished quality of life. Bikram yoga may be a feasible alternative to traditional exercise among obese individuals. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of Bikram yoga, a heated style of hatha yoga, on arterial stiffness in normal and overweight/obese adults.

Interrelationships Among Various Measures of Central Artery Stiffness.

Background: A number of different techniques and methodologies have been applied to quantify stiffness of arteries. Because measures of arterial stiffness differ in regards to measurement locations as well as properties, it is not clear how well these measures that are supposed to reflect the same arterial wall properties are related.

Methods: Interrelationships between different measures of arterial stiffness were evaluated in 50 apparently healthy subjects varying in age.

Serum Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Mediates the Relationship between Abdominal Adiposity and Executive Function in Middle Age.

Objectives: Excessive adipose tissue, especially in the abdominal area, is associated with increased risk of dementia in older adults. However, the mechanisms underlying this relationship are poorly understood. As increased adiposity is also associated with lower circulating levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a key molecule modulating brain plasticity and neuronal regeneration, we hypothesized that the changes in cognition that occur as a result of excessive abdominal adiposity would be driven by lower levels of circulating BDNF.

Improved Function and Reduced Pain after Swimming and Cycling Training in Patients with Osteoarthritis.

Objective: Arthritis and its associated joint pain act as significant barriers for adults attempting to perform land-based physical activity. Swimming can be an ideal form of exercise for patients with arthritis. Yet there is no information on the efficacy of regular swimming exercise involving patients with arthritis.

Effects of Swimming and Cycling Exercise Intervention on Vascular Function in Patients With Osteoarthritis.

Swimming exercise is an ideal and excellent form of exercise for patients with osteoarthritis (OA). However, there is no scientific evidence that regular swimming reduces vascular dysfunction and inflammation and elicits similar benefits compared with land-based exercises such as cycling in terms of reducing vascular dysfunction and inflammation in patients with OA. Forty-eight middle-aged and older patients with OA were randomly assigned to swimming or cycling training groups.

Impact of blood pressure perturbations on arterial stiffness.

Although the associations between chronic levels of arterial stiffness and blood pressure (BP) have been fairly well studied, it is not clear whether and how much arterial stiffness is influenced by acute perturbations in BP. The primary aim of this study was to determine magnitudes of BP dependence of various measures of arterial stiffness during acute BP perturbation maneuvers. Fifty apparently healthy subjects, including 25 young (20-40 yr) and 25 older adults (60-80 yr), were studied.

Hypotensive effects of solitary addition of conventional nonfat dairy products to the routine diet: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: The high consumption of low-fat and nonfat dairy products is associated with reduced risk of high blood pressure.

Objective: We aimed to investigate whether the solitary addition of nonfat dairy products to the normal routine diet was capable of lowering blood pressure in middle-aged and older adults with elevated blood pressure.

Design: With the use of a randomized, crossover intervention-study design, 49 adults (56% women) with elevated blood pressure (mean ± SEM age: 53 ± 2 y; systolic blood pressure: 135 ± 1; diastolic blood pressure: 80 ± 1 mm Hg) underwent a high-dairy condition (+4 servings conventional nonfat dairy products/d) and isocaloric no-dairy condition (+4 servings fruit products/d) in which all dairy products were removed.

Improvements in glucose tolerance with Bikram Yoga in older obese adults: a pilot study.

Bikram yoga is an exotic form of physical activity combining hatha yoga and thermal therapy that could positively impact metabolic health. Although this increasingly popular alternative exercise may be ideal for obese adults due to its low impact nature, few studies have elucidated the health benefits associated with it. As an initial step, we determined the effect of Bikram yoga on glucose tolerance.

The effect of Bikram yoga on arterial stiffness in young and older adults.

Background And Objective: Bikram yoga is the most popular form of hot yoga, despite the limited information available on its cardiovascular benefits. This study sought to determine the effect of Bikram yoga on arterial stiffness and insulin resistance in young and older adults.

Methods: Twenty-four young (mean age±standard deviation, 30±1 years) and 18 middle-aged and older (mean age, 53±2 years) adults completed an 8-week Bikram yoga intervention.