Over a period of eight years, a group of habitual exercisers maintained desirable body weight while nonexercisers and occasional exercisers showed girth expansion, decreased flexibility, and slower body reaction time. (PBS)

This study investigated the musculoskeletal consequences of travel aids, particularly white canes and guide dogs, as perceived by 21 individuals (ages 27-68) with visual impairments or blindness. They experienced a variety of negative physical effects that they denied, ignored, or minimized because of benefits derived from being independently…

Provides an annotated listing of various Internet sites, many that are starting points for exploration of specific health subject areas. Special considerations for locating and selecting health and medicine resources are also provided. (Author)

Examined the relationship between weight cycling and psychological health in 120 obese women. Weight cycling was defined in two ways by retrospective self-report: total lifetime weight loss and total number of weight cycles greater than or equal to 20 pounds. Psychological self-report measures assessed psychiatric symptoms, eating behavior, mood,…

Documented the development, testing, and application of an organizational assessment tool for measuring employer support for heart health. The Heart Check inventory measured such factors as organizational foundations, administrative supports, stress management, and screening services. Data on diverse worksites throughout New York State indicated…

Discusses steps that professional sports organizations are taking to identify athletes with drinking problems and help them reach full recovery. Many teams are taking preventive steps such as offering information about the dangers of alcohol, issuing new policies dealing with players' rights and providing for employee assistance programs. (SM)

Reviews longitudinal studies on effects of employment on women's mental and physical health, with special attention to variations in effects of employment depending on characteristics of women and their jobs. Concludes that employment appears to improve health of women who have positive attitudes toward employment, and social support from…

Children with cerebral palsy sometimes display nutritional inadequacy, as evaluated through anthropometric measurements and laboratory values. Causes of poor nutritional status include inadequate calories offered or adequate calories offered but not consumed. Inadequate caloric retention may be due to vomiting, rumination, or gastroesophageal…

Developments in the biomedical sciences affect how people think about health and fitness, as do social and cultural factors. This paper examines two topics of interest to educators, physicians, and researchers in the physiological sciences from 1867-1950 (the phenomenon referred to as the athlete's heart and anthropometrical/growth and development…

Children with neurological impairments are prone to develop serious infection with anaerobic bacteria. The most common anaerobic infections are decubitus ulcers; gastrostomy site wound infections; pulmonary infections (aspiration pneumonia, lung abscesses, and tracheitis); and chronic suppurative otitis media. The unique microbiology of each of…

Evaluates the association of age, self-rated health, and walking activity with 4 measures of cognitive functioning in 6,979 randomly selected people ranging in age from 18 to 94. Assessments included a face-to-face interview regarding health and health beliefs as well as cognitive testing. Analyses indicated that faster reaction time speed was…

Discusses the differences between exercise alone and exercise with medication (e.g., diuretics, beta blockers, and ACE inhibitors) for treating hypertensive patients. Guidelines are presented for physicians wanting to change the therapeutic regimen or to step down from medical therapy, noting exercise must always be part of the program. (SM)

Findings from Georgia Centenarian Study of older adults (n=165; ages 60-100+) support earlier findings that religiosity does not change significantly as one ages, although trend in results suggests otherwise. Results indicated significant relationship between religiosity and physical health but no significant relationship between religiosity and…

Presents a model of short-term counseling for clients seen at university counseling centers to deal with the ramifications of testing positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). An abbreviated summary of six sessions from an actual case history illustrates the short-term model in practice. (Author)

Research consistently shows links between eating breakfast and learning. Many resources, including the National School Breakfast Program, are available to help parents who cannot provide breakfast at home. The article offers suggestions to help parents make creative, child-pleasing breakfasts and become active in planning school breakfasts. (SM)