Browsing by Subject "physical activity"
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Item The 2007 Tucker Center Research Report: Developing Physically Active Girls: An Evidence-based Multidisciplinary Approach(Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport, 2007) Kane, Mary Jo; LaVoi, Nicole; Wiese-Bjornstal, Diane; Duncan, Margaret; Nichols, Jeanne; Pettee, Kelley; Ainsworth, BarbaraItem Assessment of a pharmacist-led comprehensive medication management and wellness program(University of Minnesota, College of Pharmacy, 2015) Janovick, Daniel L.; Green, Tara R.; Bright, David R.Background: Pharmacists are currently providing comprehensive medication management in the outpatient setting. However, there is little documented evidence demonstrating pharmacists are generating further improved health outcomes utilizing non-pharmacologic support, such as fitness and nutrition counseling. The objective of this study is to determine if a pharmacist-led wellness program with medication management and lifestyle modifications through fitness and nutrition coaching can lead to improved biometric markers. Methods: The wellness program targeted corporate employees and was offered in a corporate headquarters' setting with an on-site workout facility. The program was expected to recruit approximately 15 patients into the wellness program consisting of two treatment arms. The standard group featured nutrition-based classes, medication therapy management and fitness education. The intervention group performed the standard group’s activities plus direct, supervised fitness training once weekly. Measured biometric markers were assessed at baseline, 3.5 months, and 7 months and included body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), fasting blood glucose (FBG), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP), and full lipid panel (TC, TG, HDL, and LDL). Results: Seventeen patients were enrolled in the study. The standard group (n = 11) and intervention group (n = 6) had relatively similar biometric markers at baseline. Seven total patients completed the study (4 from standard group, 3 from intervention group). The majority of biometric markers improved in both groups, and BP and LDL control was maintained for all who completed the study. Conclusion: These data suggest that a licensed pharmacist with certified personal trainer credentials may be capable of maintaining biometric markers at healthy levels and improving where necessary in an employee wellness program through one-on-one medication, fitness and nutrition support. Additional, large-scale research is needed to verify the clinical outcomes and feasibility in a larger group setting.Item Community based intervention effects on older adults’ physical activity and falls (Ready Steady 3.0)(2024-03-08) McMahon, Siobhan K; Lewis, Beth; Guan, Weihua; Hayes, Shannon; Wang, Qi; Rothman, Alexander J; skmcmaho@umn.edu; McMahon, Siobhan KLess than 14% of older adults perform physical activities recommended by the CDC and WHO, which include fall reducing exercises.The purpose of the Ready Steady 3.0 trial was to test the main and interaction effects of two types of behavior change change strategies within an 8-week physical activity intervention, on physical activity (PA) and falls. The two types of behavior change strategies interpersonally oriented (e.g., peer to peer learning and sharing of barriers and problem solving) or intrapersonally oriented (e.g., setting personal goals and creating action plans), based on theory and evidence. To test their effects, 309 adults ≥ 70 years old were randomized to 1 of 4 conditions in a 2 × 2 full factorial trial. All participants received two core intervention components: the Otago Exercise Program adapted for small groups and a PA monitor. All interventions were delivered during 8 weekly, small group, meetings in community settings. The primary outcome of PA, measured objectively, and secondary outcomes of falls and the quality of life were assessed at four time points: baseline and post-intervention: 1 week, 6 months, and 12 months. The data collected for Ready Steady 3.0 will be shared to enhance its understanding and to make it available for pooling of data with multiple trials to extend scientific findings beyond those available from a single study,Item Energizing SNAP-Ed: Using Physical Activity to Inspire Diet and Lifestyle Changes(University of Minnesota Extension, 2012-10) Lovett, Kathleen; Johnson, Betsy; Caskey, MaryThe University of Minnesota SNAP-Ed program adapted, with permission from North Carolina’s Department of Public Instruction and East Carolina University’s Activity Promotion Lab, a set of Energizers. Energizers are five- to tenminute physical activities that focus on an educational concept. The Energizers were adapted by Community Nutrition Educators (CNEs) across the state to focus on nutrition. In addition, the activities were edited to ensure adaptability across a wide variety of audiences and for ease of teaching. Each Energizer for Simply Good Eating activity is available as an electronic document that can be downloaded from the University of Minnesota Extension website individually or as a set of 53. Energizers for SGE require little or no preparation or equipment and can be adapted to fit the time available during the nutrition lesson. For example, “Pass the Salmonella, Please” is an Energizer that works with all ages to reinforce food safety messages. The CNE coats a rubber chicken with a gel to simulate germs, participants pass the chicken around to music, then examine their hands under a black light to demonstrate how bacteria are spread in the kitchen. Energizers were finalized for use by CNEs to bolster existing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) for low-income families to help increase the likelihood that participants will make positive dietary and lifestyle choices on a limited income. University of Minnesota Extension reports 62 percent of participants attending SNAP-Ed classes with an Energizer responded “I am now more physically active as a result of this class.Item Examination of the Effectiveness of Physical Activity Interventions on the Wellbeing of Caregivers of Older Adults: A Meta-Analysis(2021-06) Marshall, ElaineCaregivers of older adults afflicted with a variety of chronic physical and mental health conditions provide vital support and assistance for this growing population. Although essential, many individuals in this time-consuming role are unprepared older adults themselves, which creates significant burdens on their own mental and physical health. Caregivers are at risk for depression, loneliness, and reduced health related to chronic stress. Evidence suggests that physical activity (PA) interventions alleviate aspects of this burden and psychological distress, as well as provide benefits to physical health. However, there are notable limitations in the previous reviews that have attempted to synthesize the evidence for the benefits of PA interventions. Using meta-analytic methodology, this study investigated and quantified the impact of PA interventions on different domains of mental and physical health for caregivers of older adults. A comprehensive search yielded 25 controlled studies. PA interventions led to small-to-medium effects on mental health, with the most notable impact on quality of life. PA interventions led to trivial effects on physical health, with small but significant effects found for mobility outcomes. Moderator analyses revealed that yoga interventions, study quality, and duration of interventions had significant moderating effects. PA interventions appear to be effective for improving caregiver health, particularly in relation to psychological health. Further high-quality research using standardized measures for health domains is needed to determine the type, format, and length of PA interventions that best serve different caregiving populations.Item Executive Summary: The 2007 Tucker Center Research Report: Developing Physically Active Girls: An Evidence-based Multidisciplinary Approach(Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport, 2007-12) LaVoi, Nicole; Wiese-Bjornstal, Diane; Kane, Mary JoItem Feasibility and Evaluation of an After-School Jump Rope Program(2015-07) Albers, JessicaChildhood obesity has increased significantly in the U.S. over the past two decades. After-school programs can provide opportunities for increasing moderate to vigorous physical (MVAP) activity among children, which could potentially decrease the incidence of obesity. After-school jump rope programs may be one ideal setting to help increase physical activity among children; however, few studies have evaluated these programs. The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility of an after-school jump rope program for children and to evaluate the time and intensity of activity. Additionally, psychological variable were assessed. Students ages 8-12 years old from two elementary schools (n=28) participated in a 12-week after-school jump rope program that met twice a week for 90 minutes each session. Participants practiced individual and group jump rope skills and learned a team routine that they performed at the end of the 12 weeks. In the 90-minutes session, participants spent 17.3 minutes (19.2%) in vigorous activity, 28.0 minutes (31.2%) in moderate activity, 8.0 minutes (8.9%) in light activity, and 36.7 (40.7%) in sedentary behavior. No changes were observed in perceptions of competence, physical activity enjoyment, or goal orientation from pre- to post-test. Overall weekly physical activity, F(1, 27)=53.1, p<.001, ?� =.663, and METs, F(1, 27)=82.1, p<.001, ?� =.753, increased from pre- to post-test. These findings suggest that additional research is needed to better understand the effect of jump rope programs on psychological variables. Additionally, it appears that jump rope programs may be an effective venue for helping children achieve the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity per day.Item “Fitstagram”: Investigating Fitness-Related Instagram Use and Physical Activity Participation Among Emerging Adults(2024-02) Grace, StephanieMany emerging adults use (aged 18 to 29) social media and cite them as primary sources of health-related information, including physical activity (PA) information. Instagram is among the most popular social media sites, and fitness-related content on Instagram is commonly researched, particularly regarding negative well-being outcomes associated with its use. However, PA promotion professionals are turning to Instagram (and other sites) to create innovative strategies that reach larger, more diverse populations. Yet, there is a limited understanding of emerging adults’ behavior and experiences regarding fitness-related Instagram use, and little work that investigates these topics among samples diverse in gender and racialized/ethnicized identities. This dissertation uses mixed-methodologies to (1) gain a more comprehensive understanding of young people’s fitness-related Instagram use and how it relates to their PA participation and (2) investigate the role of relevant psychosocial and behavioral factors in the relationship between fitness-related Instagram use and PA participation among a diverse sample of emerging adults. This dissertation includes three study manuscripts in Chapters 4, 5, and 6. Participants (N=247) completed a cross-sectional survey regarding their demographic information, fitness-related Instagram use, PA participation, PA information seeking behavior, and exercise self-schema. Chapter 4 discusses descriptive characteristics of participants’ fitness-related Instagram use and explores differences by gender and racialized/ethnicized identities. Chapter 5 examines the relationship between fitness-related Instagram use and PA, including the roles of PA information seeking and exercise self-schema. Chapter 6 reports findings from focus groups with 17 emerging adults who access fitness-related Instagram content daily, specifically related to their use practices and perceptions of content and its influence on their PA behavior. Overall, this dissertation uses a mixed-method approach to yield a more comprehensive understanding of fitness-related Instagram use among a diverse sample of young people so practical suggestions can be made to strengthen PA promotion programs and be mindful of cultural factors. Further, this dissertation provides insight into how emerging adults experience fitness-related Instagram content and mitigate potential harm that can occur while accessing it.Item Household chaos in rural families: Exploring the relationship between child physical activity, sedentary behavior, and screen-time with the home environment(2021-01) Grace, StephanieINTRODUCTION: Regular physical activity (PA) and limited sedentary behavior (SB) and screen-time are essential for children’s health. Household chaos (HHchaos), defined as disorganization characterized by noise and crowding, has been linked with negative health and behavioral outcomes in children. MAIN PURPOSE: To examine associations between child PA, SB and screen-time with HHchaos in rural children. METHODS: One-hundred-and-five parent/child dyads were enrolled in NU-HOME, a family-based, obesity prevention RCT. Baseline data from participants were analyzed using SAS 9.4. RESULTS: Children were 8.96±1.05 years old, 58% female and 53% normal weight. Mean daily total PA, SB, and screen-time were 259.1±58.22 minutes, 499.9±77.46 minutes, and 2.1±1.42 hours, respectively. Unadjusted HHchaos scores (mean=5.04±3.6) were not significantly associated with child PA or SB but were positively associated with child screen-time (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings related to screen-time align with current literature. However, the relationship between HHchaos with PA and SB need to be explored further.Item The Impact of Physical Activity Variety on Physical Activity Participation(2024-06) Dregney, TylerResearch indicates variety (i.e., multiple types of activities) may be effective for increasing physical activity; however, more information is needed on variety’s impact on various psychosocial factors. This study examined the effect of a home-based physical activity variety intervention on physical activity participation and psychosocial variables in an eight-week randomized intervention trial. Participants (n=47; mean age, 19.9 +/- 1.9; 75% female) were low-active, 18-25-year-old college students randomized to participate in the physical activity variety intervention or the comparison control condition. Both conditions received a website containing workout videos (14 for variety; one video for consistency) and written outlines for each video, while also receiving weekly individual counseling sessions. Findings suggest that participants in the variety condition reported marginally significant more moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (p<.10) over the course of the intervention relative to the consistency condition when controlling for baseline. Additionally, participants in the variety condition reported marginally significant higher psychological needs satisfaction (p<.10) at four weeks than the control. The variety intervention condition reported significantly higher perceived autonomy (p<.05) within psychological needs at four weeks, physical activity feelings of tranquility (p<0.01) at eight weeks, and physical activity self-efficacy (p<0.05) at eight weeks relative to control. There was inconsistent support for incorporating variety into physical activity, however, there was some evidence that variety may lead to increased physical activity and improved psychological responses to physical activity among college-age individuals. Given that variety can be introduced to physical activity in multiple ways, future studies should examine how a variety of different activities (e.g., cycling, tennis, group fitness classes) influence motivation and physical activity, in addition to including larger and more diverse samples.Item Nature Preschools as Promoters of Physical Activity(2021-12-15) Bruno, Alexis LPreschools and other early childhood education and care settings are influential in the promotion of physical activity (PA) for young children. This study utilized the Yamax Digiwalker pedometer and a quasi-experimental design to quantitatively explore the influence of nature preschools on the PA of 154 preschool-aged children. Results suggest that nature preschools support sufficient PA; furthermore, participants were able to achieve recommended PA during cold and wet months through unstructured nature play. These findings suggest that nature preschool offers another method for increasing PA, even during winter months. The results also point to the important role unstructured play has in children's overall well-being. Implications for practice and further research are discussed.Item Neuromodulation of Orexin Neurons in the Lateral Hypothalamus Regulates Spontaneous Physical Activity, Energy Expenditure, and Diet-Induced Obesity(2015-08) Zink, AnastasiaSpontaneous physical activity (SPA) is a promising therapeutic target for improving multiple clinical outcomes in obesity and metabolic syndrome. Low levels of the neuropeptide, orexin, are correlated with reduced SPA and pathological body weight in humans and animals. The dissertation research described here used a pharmacosynthetic approach (Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs; DREADDs) to modulate orexin neurons activity in adult male and female mice. Selective cellular and anatomic targeting was achieved by bilateral virus injection aimed at the lateral and caudal lateral hypothalamic area of transgenic mice expressing the DNA-recombinase, Cre, in orexin neurons. In the presence of Cre, viruses expressed the excitatory, Gq-coupled DREADD, hM3Dq, or the inhibitory, Gi-coupled DREADD, hM4Di. Expression and functional activation were validated via histology. A single systemic dose of the Designer Drug, Clozapine-N-Oxide (CNO; 5mg/kg; IP) induced cFos in the lateral hypothalamus, increased SPA, and energy expenditure (indirect calorimetry) 4hrs post-injection compared to vehicle. Females exhibited higher sensitivity to the lowest dose of CNO (1mg/kg) tested, leading to a significant sex-difference. However, no difference between sexes was observed at the dose (5mg/kg) selected for use in subsequent experiments. Under standard chow conditions, acute CNO treatment did not affect body weight. Eating and drinking patterns were altered in a complimentary fashion such that total food and water intake were unchanged. To test if elevated SPA protects against an obesogenic diet, males were housed on 45% high fat diet (HFD) and given repeated daily injections of CNO or vehicle. After 10d, adult mice (4.5M) showed significant weight loss and improved adiposity, while aged mice (9M) exhibited similar effects after only 5d. This study demonstrates the ability of SPA to counteract HFD-induced weight gain. Many medical conditions, in addition to obesity, stand to benefit from enhanced physical activity.Item Parenting Practices And Fruit And Vegetable Intake Among Latino Parents And Children(2018-06) Arellano Roldan, PatriciaLatino children growing up in the United States have a high prevalence of obesity. Fruit and vegetable consumption is indicative of diet quality and may be related to obesity among youth. Unfortunately, most youth do not meet the recommendations for fruit and vegetable (FV) intake. Parenting practices such as role modeling, controlling availability and accessibility at home, and family meals influence children’s weight and nutrition-related behaviors. Padres Preparados, Jóvenes Saludables is a community-based parenting skills and nutrition education program for Latino families with youth 10-14 years. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that youth perceptions of the frequency of parenting practices of Latino fathers are correlated with youth fruit and vegetable intake using baseline data from this program (n = 69 families to date). Fathers and youth completed surveys to assess perceptions of the frequency of parental role modeling of fruit and vegetable intakes, making fruits and vegetables available at home, and the frequency of family participation in family meals. Fathers and children reported usual fruit and vegetable intakes via food frequency questions. Father and child skin carotenoid levels were assessed using Resonance Raman Spectroscopy as a biomarker for fruit and vegetable intake. The mean age (years) was 39.3 ± 6.8 years and 11.5 ± 1.5 years for fathers and youth, respectively. Slightly more than half of the youth were male (55%). Fathers’ mean BMI (kg/m2) was 29.4 ± 4.4 and youth mean BMI-for-age percentile was 84.5 ± 19.9. The majority (68%) of the youth were overweight or obese, with 43% classified as obese. The majority of fathers reported annual household incomes below $49,999 and about half of households were food insecure. The correlation between fathers’ and children’s skin carotenoid scores was positive (r = 0.369, p = 0.002) as well as the correlation between children’s vegetable intake and their skin carotenoid scores (r = 0.266, p = 0.027). Overall, congruence between fathers’ and children’s perceptions of the frequency of fathers’ parenting practice was only found for making fruits and making vegetables available at home. Significant associations were observed between fathers’ and children’s perceptions of the frequency of fathers making fruit available at home (r = 0.248, p = 0.040) and making vegetables available at home (r = 0.310, p = 0.010). Children’s perceptions of the frequency of fathers’ role modeling vegetable intake were significantly correlated with children’s vegetable intake and fruit and vegetable intake combined (r = 0.410, p = 0.001, r = 282, p = 0.019, respectively). Children’s perceptions of the frequency of fathers’ making vegetables available at home were positively correlated with children’s vegetable intake and children’s fruit and vegetable intake combined (r = 0.436, p=0.001; r= 0.348, p = 0.003, respectively). Fathers making fruit available at home based on children’s perceptions were significantly associated with intake of fruits by children (r = 0.250, p = 0.039) and with children’s intake of fruits and vegetables combined (r = 0.287, p = 0.017). A correlation was also observed between children’s skin carotenoid scores and their perceptions of the frequency of participation in family meals (r = 0.280, p = 0.029). The results based on child-reported fruit and vegetable intake frequency indicated that the null hypothesis should be rejected because children’s perceptions of the frequency of fathers’ fruit and vegetable parenting practices were positively associated with child fruit and vegetable intake. However, the null hypothesis should not be rejected if children’s fruit and vegetable intakes were based on skin carotenoid scores. Given the discrepancy in findings based on the measures used to estimate fruit and vegetable intake, additional studies are needed to clarify the relationships between intake and parenting practices.Item Relationships Among Physical Activity, Motor Skill Competence, Cardiovascular Fitness, Perceived Competence, and Cognition In Preschool Children(2018-06) Zeng, NanEarly childhood is marked as one of the most critical and intensive periods of development in the human lifespan. Physical activity is a crucial contributor to health and cognition in early childhood, and therefore is considered to be a vital part of development. In this cross-sectional study, my purpose was to examine relationships among physical activity, motor skill competence, perceived physical competence, cardiovascular fitness, and cognition in preschool children, including possible gender differences in all variables. I recruited 65 preschool children (4-6 years old) from two local elementary schools in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Children’s 3 days physical activity during school time was assessed via Actigraph Link; motor skill competences was measured via Test of Gross Motor Development–Second Edition; perceived physical competence was assessed via Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance; cardiovascular fitness was assessed via a modified YMCA 3-Minute Step Test; and cognition was assessed via the computer-administered NIH Toolbox. Using IBM-SPSS 25.0 (IBM, Inc., Armonk, NY), I computed Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficients to determine the relationships among all outcomes. I used independent samples t-test to detect gender differences in all measures. I found that preschool children’s moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) during school time was not significantly related to their motor skills competence (r = 0.182, p > 0.05), perceived competence (r = 0.121, p > 0.05), cardiovascular fitness (r = -0.141, p > 0.05), cognition (r = -0.095, p > 0.05), but their step counts were significantly positively related to motor skills competence (r = 0.282, p < 0.05), with preschool children’s motor skill competence was a significant predictor of step counts [F (4, 63) = 4.65, β = 0.12, p < 0.05, R2 = 0.24] after age, gender, and BMI were controlled. In addition, I found that perceived competence was significantly positively correlated with motor skills competence (r = 0.366, p < 0.01), and was a significant predictor of motor skills competence [F (4, 63) = 2.66, β = 0.26, p = 0.04, R2 = 0.15] in preschool children. Meanwhile, I observed that children’s cognition was significantly positively correlated with motor skills competence (r = 0.266, p < 0.01) and cardiovascular (r = 0.372, p < 0.01), respectively, but only cardiovascular fitness seemed to be a significant predictor of cognition [F (2, 62) = 4.52, β = 0.35, t = 2.73, p = 0.01, R2 = 0.14]. I observed significant mean differences in preschool children’s MVPA, with boys spending more time in MVPA as compared to girls (Mean: 41.72 mins vs. 36.87 mins, t = -2.04, p < 0.05, Cohen’s d = 0.51). I also found that boys took more steps per minute than girls (Mean: 22.26 vs. 19.11, t = -3.96, p < 0.01, Cohen’s d = 0.98). Last, I found that boys demonstrated higher motor skill competence than girls (Mean: 33.16 vs. 29.88, t = -2.13, p < 0.05, Cohen’s d = 0.53). The current study supports the need for effective strategies that simultaneously promote motor skill competence, cardiovascular fitness, cognition, and physical activity behaviors in early childhood. Future research with larger and more diverse samples is necessary to further explore the relationships of preschool children’s physical activity patterns (inside and outside of school) with other health-related fitness.Item Results of an Impact Evaluation of a School Nutrition Education Program(University of Minnesota Extension, Center for Family Development, 2015) Center for Family Development, Applied Research and EvaluationDuring the 2012-2013 school year, 396 students at 22 elementary schools throughout Minnesota participated in seven classes taught by Extension’s SNAP-Ed educators, as part of an impact evaluation of the SNAP-Ed Program. Schools in the treatment group conducted classes in the fall, and the delayed-control group schools conducted classes in the spring. Educators collected data four times (see table below) or data collection points (DCPs), over the course of a year to understand the impact of Extension’s health and nutrition programming in elementary schools. Data collected included: measurement of the body mass indices (BMIs) of students given pedometers and encouraged to exercise more; students’ answers to survey questions about their fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity, and other healthy habits; and parents’ answers to surveys about their children. This report includes key findings from the collection of data during these four times.Item The Role of Clinical Pharmacists in Modifying Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors(University of Minnesota, College of Pharmacy, 2014) Bagwell, Autumn; Skelley, Jessica W.; Saad, Lana; Woolley, Thomas; Dugan, DeeAnnObjective: Assess the effect of intensive clinical and educational interventions aimed at reducing risk factors for Cardiovascular Disease (CVD), implemented by clinical pharmacists, on modifying risk factors in targeted patients at high risk for CVD. Design: Patients with at least two risk factors for CHD were identified at two clinics by conducting a pre-intervention survey and were monitored over a period of 6 months with follow up conversations conducted every 4 weeks by phone and at subsequent physician visits. A post-intervention survey was conducted at the end of the study period to detect modified risk factors. Setting: The Jefferson County Public Health Department (JCHD) Participants: We followed a total of 47 patients over 6 months. The average age at baseline was 51 years old and 80% of the participants were female. The baseline average number of modifiable cardiovascular disease risk factors was 3.7. Measurements: We assessed total number of CVD risk factors, smoking behavior, blood pressure, LDL, A1C, weight, and level of physical activity (major modifiable risk factors by the American Heart Association). Results: Over a 6 month follow-up of 47 patients, statistically significant reductions occurred in total number of CVD risk factors, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and A1C. Reductions also occurred in LDL level, weight, and changes in smoking behavior and physical activity were identified. Conclusions: Results showed that increased patient counseling on adherence and lifestyle changes along with increased disease state monitoring and medication adjustment led by a clinical pharmacist can decrease risk factors in patients with multiple risk factors for cardiovascular disease.