Clarifies some recent recommendations about how much physical activity is enough, and answers common questions such as what the recommendations are and what they are based on, what is meant by moderate intensity physical activity, who is responsible for the recommendations, and when to use the different guidelines. (SM)

Examines data on 1,759 adolescents to assess the effect of low socioeconomic status on their health. Results confirm the relationship between income and health. Explains how the pathway to poor health care operates through the social environment, lifestyle differences, access to care, and self-esteem problems. Findings do suggest that physical…

Objective: This study aimed to determine whether it was necessary, cost effective and practical to investigate Welsh children's fitness levels in order to promote active, healthy lifestyles. Design: A multi-method study comprising a comprehensive review of literature, a questionnaire survey and interviews. Setting: This was a feasibility study…

The purpose of this study was to determine the immediate and long-term effectiveness of a university level conceptually-based health-related (CBHR) fitness course on health-related fitness (HRF) knowledge. Two hundred and seventy-seven students served as subjects. Subjects were grouped according to the following criteria. Group 1 represented…

This study was designed to investigate the equivalence reliability between the suggested FITNESSGRAM[R] muscular strength and endurance test, the 90[degrees] push-up (PSU), and alternate FITNESSGRAM[R] tests of upper-body strength and endurance (i.e., modified pull-up [MPU], flexed-arm hang [FAH], and pull-up [PU]). Children (N = 383) in Grades 3…

The purpose of this study was to characterize the hemodynamic responses during recovery from moderate intensity exercise in young Black normotensive males. Nineteen normotensive men (age 24-26 years) walked continuously on a treadmill for 40 minutes at 50-60 percent heart rate reserve. Following exercise, blood pressure (by auscultation) and…

This handbook focuses on how to get into shape, how to practice for each of the events in the President's Challenge, and how to improve performance on various events to increase chances of earning one of the President's Challenge awards. Sections of the booklet cover motivational tips, defining and measuring physical fitness, body composition, how…

Reports a study that examined the effects of a 15-week aerobic activity program on high school students' cholesterol levels. Analysis of control and participating students indicated that there were significant reductions in total cholesterol in the training group. There were no significant differences between groups in high density lipoprotein…

Examines current guidelines for physical fitness, noting issues that may influence the updating of the American College of Sports Medicine exercise statement. Differences between exercise prescription for fitness and physical activity for health are discussed, noting the importance of designing individualized programs with appropriate levels of…

Cognitive instructional cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) programs are beneficial to secondary students. Though health and physical educators recognize the need for cognitive information in fitness programs, there is little practice in secondary school fitness programs. The article makes recommendations for including valid, cognitively related…

The National Association for Sport and Physical Education's (NASPE) Physical Best program and the Cooper Institute for Aerobic Research's (CIAR) FITNESSGRAM have established a partnership to create a comprehensive health-related fitness education and assessment package. The goal of the Physical Best program is to enable students to acquire the…

A new study of parents' health, medical care, and health-related behavior finds that large numbers of parents at all income levels take part in risky behaviors that are harmful to their own health and are likely to harm the health of their children. These behaviors include smoking, heavy drinking, and being overweight and sedentary. Risky…

By completing a short worksheet, physical education students can develop and practice a five-step fitness plan that is appropriate for elementary through college students. The steps include: selecting an appropriate goal and listing costs and benefits, assessing progress, creating a supportive environment, using supportive self-messages, and…

A relationship between physical fitness and cognition has been difficult to document. The paper describes cognition and examines the effects of aging on cognition, the fitness-cognition relationship hypothesis, difficulties in determining the fitness-cognition relationship, and the current status of the relationship. (SM)

Reports on patterns of alcohol use and consequences of abuse among a sample of individuals with disabilities (n=916), analyzing demographics, disability groupings, and various consequences of abuse. Examines specific self-reported consequences as they relate to health, family relationships, legal involvements, and work problems. (JPS)