Gail M. Dummer

Prevalence of pathogenic weight‐control behaviors among native American women and girls

Results of a survey administered to 85 Native American girls and women, aged 12–55, revealed that 74% were trying to lose weight and that 75% of those who were dieting to lose weight were employing potentially hazardous techniques. The results also showed that 24% of the dieters used one or more purging behaviors. The mean age of those using pathogenic weight-control methods was 28.8 years. Subjects with higher body mass indexes were more likely to use dangerous weightcontrol methods. These findings suggest that Native American women should be included among the groups at risk for eating disorders and that older and heavier women in this population also should receive attention.

Body Composition and Physiological Responses of Masters Female Swimmers 20 to 70 Years of Age

Abstract Eighty-seven female masters swimmers ranging in age from 20 to 69 were selected for a detailed study of their body composition and physiological responses at rest and during exercise. These women were then placed into two subsets, a highly trained group and a not highly trained group, on the basis of the frequency, duration, and intensity of swimming workouts. Significant differences were detected when comparing the highly trained and not highly trained subjects on measures of weight, body density, percent fat and lean body weight (p<.05). Significant differences which favored the highly trained group were also seen when comparing these same two groups for [Vdot]E max, [Vdot]O2 max (1/min), [Vdot]O2 max (ml·kg–1·min–1), [Vdot]O2 max (ml·kg·LBW–1·min–1), O2 pulse (ml·kg–1·beat–1), and O2 pulse (ml·kg·LBW–1). Both the highly trained and not highly trained swimmers were considerably lower in percent fat than previously reported data for normal untrained women of similar ages. In both groups, however...

Age-Related Differences in Muscular Strength and Muscular Endurance among Female Masters Swimmers

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine age-related differences in muscular strength and muscular endurance among 73 female masters swimmers aged 24 to 71 years. Each subject was assessed on measures of body size, grip strength, peak isokinetic torque of shoulder and knee flexion and extension, and endurance of shoulder and knee movements. Although swim training appears to have resulted in higher strength values for these swimmers than for less active women, an age-related decline in muscular strength values was nevertheless apparent. The results fail to reveal a similar age-related trend for muscular endurance, suggesting that swim training influences muscular endurance more than muscular strength among adult women.

Physiological Characteristics of Female Masters Swimmers

In brief: Two female masters swimmers, ages 70 and 71, members of the 1980 All-American Masters Swim Team, were compared with sedentary females of the same age and with younger female athletes. They had considerably lower percent body fat than normal sedentary women in their 70s and were well within the range for normal women who are 19 to 25 years old. Their Vo2 max values were approximately twice those for normal women in their 70s and comparable to considerably younger nonathletes. These findings show that regular physical training may delay the accumulation of excess fat that accompanies inactivity during aging and may also offset the age-related decline in aerobic power.