A cross-sectional analysis of physical activity and obesity in inner city Houston Texas Mexican American youth

Obesity prevalence among children and adolescents is rising. It is one of the most attributable causes of hospitalization and death. Overweight and obese children are more likely to suffer from associated conditions such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, chronic inflammation, increased blood clotting tendency, endothelial dysfunction, hyperinsulinemia, and asthma. These children and adolescents are also more likely to be overweight and obese in adulthood. Interestingly, rates of obesity and overweight are not evenly distributed across racial and ethnic groups. Mexican American youth have higher rates of obesity and are at higher risk of becoming obese than non-Hispanic black and non-Hispanic white children. ^ Methods. This cross-sectional study describes the association between rates of obesity and physical activity in a sample of 1313 inner-city Mexican American children and adolescents (5-19 years of age) in Houston, Texas. This study is important because it will contribute to our understanding of childhood and adolescent obesity in this at-risk population. ^ Data from the Mexican American Feasibility Cohort using the Mano a Mano questionnaire are used to describe this population's status of obesity and physical activity. An initial sample taken from 5000 households in inner city Houston Texas was used as the baseline for this prospective cohort. The questionnaire was given in person to the participants to complete (or to parents for younger children) at a home visit by two specially trained bilingual interviewers. Analysis comprised prevalence estimates of obesity represented as percentile rank (<85%= normal weight, >85%= at risk, >95%= obese) by age and gender. The association between light, moderate, strenuous activity, and obesity was also examined using linear regression. ^ Results. Overall, 46% of this Mexican American Feasibility cohort is overweight or obese. The prevalence for children in the 6-11 age range (53.2%) was significantly greater than that reported from NHANES, 1999–2002 data (39.4%). Although the percentage of overweight and obese among the 12-19 year olds was greater than that reported in NHANES (38.5% versus 38.6%) this difference was not statistically significant. ^ A significant association between BMI and sit time and moderate physical activity (both p < 0.05) found in this sample. For males, this association was significant for moderate physical activity (p < 0.01). For the females, this association was significant for BMI and sit time (p < 0.05). These results need to be interpreted in the light of design and measurement limitations. ^ Conclusion. This study supports observations that the inner city Houston Texas Mexican American child and adolescent population is more overweight and obese than nationally reported figures, and that there are positive relationships between BMI, activity levels, and sit time in this population. This study supports the need for public health initiatives within the Houston Hispanic community. ^

Provider perceptions of physical activity counseling: A systematic review

Background: Although the health benefits of physical activity are well-established, the evidence regarding the efficacy of physical activity counseling by primary care providers is inconclusive. Healthy People 2020 recommends that physicians provide counseling on physical activity to their patients; however, few providers adhere to these guidelines. The primary objective of this review is to systematically summarize and evaluate primary care providers' perceptions and attitudes about physical activity counseling. ^ Methods: A systematic literature search of relevant articles was conducted between January and May 2011 using four databases: MEDLINE (1948 to the present), PsycInfo (1806 to the present), CINAHL Plus with Full Text (1981 to the present), and the Cochrane Library. Studies were included if 1) the study population consisted of primary care providers and, 2) the study evaluated providers' attitudes and perceptions pertaining to physical activity counseling. Both quantitative and studies were considered. ^ Results: Most primary care providers agree that physical activity counseling is important and that they have a role in promoting physical activity to their patients. Providers are uncertain about the effectiveness of counseling, feel only marginally comfortable providing more than general advice about physical activity, and cite major barriers to counseling such as lack of time, lack of training, and lack of reimbursement for their counseling efforts. The evidence in this review suggests that beyond these barriers, providers are more likely to counsel their patients about physical activity if they are active themselves, or if they feel that their patients' condition, such as cardiovascular disease or obesity, would strongly benefit from a lifestyle change. ^ Conclusion: While major barriers to physical activity counseling, such as lack of time for counseling and lack of counseling knowledge still exist, primary care providers are receptive to the idea of acting as physical activity promoters in their clinical practices. However, the barriers encountered need to be addressed on multiple levels (e.g. individual, organizational), and additional training is needed in order for providers to effectively promote the physical activity of their patients.^

Associations of perceived body image and subjective social status with levels of physical activity in Mexican American adolescents

The current study is a secondary data analysis of a prospective cohort study that examined demographic and psychosocial variables and their associations with physical activity levels in Mexican-American adolescents in Houston, Texas. Body image, subjective social status, and anxiety were the main variables of interest. The sample included 952 unrelated Mexican-American adolescents in Houston, Texas. The majority (84.2%) of the study population did not meet physical activity standards prescribed by the CDC.^ In a multivariate model controlling for age, socioeconomic status, gender, general body image, preferred body image, subjective social status, and anxiety, gender and subjective social status were found to be the strongest determinants of physical activity levels. Males and those with a high subjective social status were more likely to participate in physical activity than those with low subjective status. Lower levels of anxiety and a more positive body image were also found to be associated with higher levels of physical activity. In multivariate analyses gender and subjective social status showed the strongest associations with physical activity.^

Population-level risks of physical activity: Saving bones and screening hearts

Documented risks of physical activity include reduced bone mineral density at high activity volume, and sudden cardiac death among adults and adolescents. Further illumination of these risks is needed to inform future public health guidelines. The present research seeks to 1) quantify the association between physical activity and bone mineral density (BMD) across a broad range of activity volume, 2) assess the utility of an existing pre-screening questionnaire among US adults, and 3) determine if pre-screening risk stratification by questionnaire predicts referral to physician among Texas adolescents. ^ Among 9,468 adults 20 years of age or older in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007-2010, linear regression analyses revealed generally higher BMD at the lumbar spine and proximal femur with greater reported activity volume. Only lumbar BMD in women was unassociated with activity volume. Among men, BMD was similar at activity beyond four times the minimum volume recommended in the Physical Activity Guidelines. These results suggest that the range of activity reported by US adults is not associated with low BMD at either site. ^ The American Heart Association / American College of Sports Medicine Preparticipation Questionnaire (AAPQ) was applied to 6,661 adults 40 years of age or older from NHANES 2001-2004 by using NHANES responses to complete AAPQ items. Following AAPQ referral criteria, 95.5% of women and 93.5% of men would be referred to a physician before exercise initiation, suggesting little utility for the AAPQ among adults aged 40 years or older. Unnecessary referral before exercise initiation may present a barrier to exercise adoption and may strain an already stressed healthcare infrastructure. ^ Among 3181 athletes in the Texas Adolescent Athlete Heart Screening Registry, 55.2% of boys and 62.2% of girls were classified as high-risk based on questionnaire answers. Using sex-stratified contingency table analyses, risk categories were not significantly associated with referral to physician based on electrocardiogram or echocardiogram, nor were they associated with confirmed diagnoses on follow-up. Additional research is needed to identify which symptoms are most closely related to sudden cardiac death, and determine the best methods for rapid and reliable assessment. ^ In conclusion, this research suggests that the volume of activity reported by US adults is not associated with low BMD at two clinically relevant sites, casts doubts on the utility of two existing cardiac screening tools, and raises concern about barriers to activity erected through ineffective screening. These findings augment existing research in this area that may inform revisions to the Physical Activity Guidelines regarding risk mitigation.^

Summary of physical properties on cores used for petrofabric analyses triaxial experiments at DSDP Leg 67 Holes

Deformation features within the cores are studied with a view towards elucidating the structure of the Middle America Trench along the transect drilled during Leg 67. Where possible, inferences are made as to the physical environment of deformation. Extensional tectonics prevails in the area of the seaward slope and trench. Fracturing and one well-preserved normal fault are found mostly within the lower Miocene chalks, at the base of the sedimentary section. These chalks have high porosities (40%-60%) and water content (30%-190%, based on % dry wt.). Experimental triaxial compression tests conducted on both dry and water-saturated samples of chalk from Holes 495 and 499B show that only in the saturated samples is more brittle behavior observed. Brittle failure of the chalks is greatly facilitated by pore fluid pressures that lead to low effective pressures. Additional embrittlement (weakening) can take place as a result of the imposed extensional stress resulting from bending of a subducting elastic oceanic plate. The chalks exhibit, in a landward direction, an increase in density and mechanical strength and a decrease in water content. These changes are attributed to mechanical compaction that may have resulted from tectonic horizontal compression. The structure of the landward slope is not well understood because the slope sites had to be abandoned due to the presence of gas hydrate. The relationship of the chaotic, brittle deformation (observed in the cores from Hole 494A) at the base of the landward slope to tectonic processes remains unclear. The deformation observed on the slope sites (Holes 496 and 497) is mostly fracturing and near-vertical sigmoidal veinlets. These are interpreted as being the result of gas/fluid overpressurization due to the decomposition of the gas hydrate, and not due to tectonic loading of accreted sediments. Aside from four small displacement (less than 1cm) reverse faults observed in the lower Miocene chalks (which may be the product of soft-sediment deformation), there is a noticeable absence of structures reflecting a dominance of horizontal (tectonic) compression along the transect drilled. The absence of such features, the lack of continuity of sediment types across the trench-landward slope, and the normal stratigraphic sequence in Hole 494A do not support any known accretionary model.

Healthy aging : Free time of adults

El trabajo que aquí se presenta surge de la necesidad de conceptualizar y profundizar sobre el uso productivo del tiempo libre de las personas adultas mayores. Se llevará a cabo una aproximación teórica sobre las diferentes concepciones de tiempo libre y ocio como dimensiones interdisciplinarias que involucran elementos referidos al entorno en donde personas y comunidades buscan integrarse en un tiempo y espacio determinado

Medio ambiente social y cultural : Análisis de los enunciados de las clases de Educación Física

El análisis de las acciones verbales que tienen lugar en las clases proporciona información sobre las prácticas docentes. Los seres humanos contamos con el lenguaje como herramienta fundamental para comunicarnos y construir conocimiento. La reflexión sobre su uso, concretamente el uso que los docentes hacen de este instrumento netamente humano en sus prácticas, es esencial para acrecentar nuestro conocimiento acerca de la tarea docente.
Desde el área de la Didáctica de la Lengua y los enfoques teóricos de la Teoría de la actividad (Leontiev, 1983) y el Interaccionismo socio-discursivo (Bronckart, 1997/2004, 2007), emprendemos este trabajo que se circunscribe al material resultado de las observaciones de clases de Educación Física de nivel primario de escuelas públicas de San Carlos de Bariloche (Río Negro-Argentina). La metodología consiste en convertir los textos orales de las clases en registros escritos para estudiar su organización interna según tres niveles superpuestos, tal como Bronckart (1997/2004) plantea. El resultado es un trabajo de corte cualitativo en el que se estudian en profundidad los contenidos actitudinales presentes en las clases.
Nuestro objetivo es estudiar las interacciones docente-alumnos en el medio social áulico para determinar a través de qué actividades los docentes propiciamos el desarrollo de nuestros alumnos. Es decir, analizar cómo a través de los enunciados de los docentes, se construye el medio ambiente social y cultural (Voloshinov, 1992; Riestra, 2011) en las clases de Educación física.

Del movimiento a la acción motriz : Elementos para una genealogía de la motricidad

Originado en la inquietud de repensar las relaciones entre praxiología y educación física, este artículo recorre algunas de las categorías centrales incluidas en los estudios en educación física en las últimas décadas, tomando como puntosde trayectoria para el análisis los conceptos de movimiento, motricidad, acción motriz, conducta motriz y poniéndolos en una perspectiva interdisciplinar. El material es parte del recorrido teórico que ha orientado a las producciones de la cátedra de Didáctica Especial I (D.E.F-FAHCE-UNLP) y de dos trabajos de investigación (H11418 -H 566) en el Area de investigación en Educación Física (IDIHCS.UNLP)

Medio ambiente social y cultural : Análisis de los enunciados de las clases de Educación Física

El análisis de las acciones verbales que tienen lugar en las clases proporciona información sobre las prácticas docentes. Los seres humanos contamos con el lenguaje como herramienta fundamental para comunicarnos y construir conocimiento. La reflexión sobre su uso, concretamente el uso que los docentes hacen de este instrumento netamente humano en sus prácticas, es esencial para acrecentar nuestro conocimiento acerca de la tarea docente.
Desde el área de la Didáctica de la Lengua y los enfoques teóricos de la Teoría de la actividad (Leontiev, 1983) y el Interaccionismo socio-discursivo (Bronckart, 1997/2004, 2007), emprendemos este trabajo que se circunscribe al material resultado de las observaciones de clases de Educación Física de nivel primario de escuelas públicas de San Carlos de Bariloche (Río Negro-Argentina). La metodología consiste en convertir los textos orales de las clases en registros escritos para estudiar su organización interna según tres niveles superpuestos, tal como Bronckart (1997/2004) plantea. El resultado es un trabajo de corte cualitativo en el que se estudian en profundidad los contenidos actitudinales presentes en las clases.
Nuestro objetivo es estudiar las interacciones docente-alumnos en el medio social áulico para determinar a través de qué actividades los docentes propiciamos el desarrollo de nuestros alumnos. Es decir, analizar cómo a través de los enunciados de los docentes, se construye el medio ambiente social y cultural (Voloshinov, 1992; Riestra, 2011) en las clases de Educación física.

Del movimiento a la acción motriz : Elementos para una genealogía de la motricidad

Originado en la inquietud de repensar las relaciones entre praxiología y educación física, este artículo recorre algunas de las categorías centrales incluidas en los estudios en educación física en las últimas décadas, tomando como puntosde trayectoria para el análisis los conceptos de movimiento, motricidad, acción motriz, conducta motriz y poniéndolos en una perspectiva interdisciplinar. El material es parte del recorrido teórico que ha orientado a las producciones de la cátedra de Didáctica Especial I (D.E.F-FAHCE-UNLP) y de dos trabajos de investigación (H11418 -H 566) en el Area de investigación en Educación Física (IDIHCS.UNLP)

Healthy aging : Free time of adults

El trabajo que aquí se presenta surge de la necesidad de conceptualizar y profundizar sobre el uso productivo del tiempo libre de las personas adultas mayores. Se llevará a cabo una aproximación teórica sobre las diferentes concepciones de tiempo libre y ocio como dimensiones interdisciplinarias que involucran elementos referidos al entorno en donde personas y comunidades buscan integrarse en un tiempo y espacio determinado

Healthy aging : Free time of adults

El trabajo que aquí se presenta surge de la necesidad de conceptualizar y profundizar sobre el uso productivo del tiempo libre de las personas adultas mayores. Se llevará a cabo una aproximación teórica sobre las diferentes concepciones de tiempo libre y ocio como dimensiones interdisciplinarias que involucran elementos referidos al entorno en donde personas y comunidades buscan integrarse en un tiempo y espacio determinado