Kira Stillwell

283 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MALE AND FEMALE MIDDLE DISTANCE RUNNERS

Recent social policies have focused on reentering persons with mental retardation (MR) into the work force and the mainstream of society. However, as individuals with MR age, their rate of institutionalization greatly outweighs that of the general population as well as children with MR. Health care organizations have expressed serious concern about the impact of an aging population with disabilities, particularly the cost associated with institutionalization. Considering that cardiovascular disorders are more common in population with than without MR, and that physical fitness has been directly related to work productivity among individuals with MR, physical fitness and exercise training have important implications for this population. Yet, available data suggest that individuals with MR have low levels of physical fitness, a higher incidence of obesity, and may respond differently to exercise training than persons without MR. This paper reviews current knowledge of physical fitness status, impact of exercise testing and training, and identifies differences between populations with and without MR, with special emphasis on trends associated with aging. This review is limited to three physical fitness components: obesity, cardiovascular fitness, and muscular strength and endurance, as these components have been shown to impact health and well-being, and are related to work performance of persons with MR. Suggestions for future research are also provided.

Fatty Acid Intake and Serum Lipids in Overweight and Obese Adults: Short-term Effects of Fat Reduction, Exercise, and Weight Loss

The purpose of this observational study was to describe the relationship between dietary fatty acids and serum lipids in 154 overweight adults participating in a weight management program. Mean energy intake decreased by 252 ± 548 kcal and weight decreased by 4.1 ± 3.4 kg (P < .001). Total fat (% kcal), grams of polyunsaturated fat, monounsaturated fat, and trans fatty acids, and saturated fat decreased as did serum lipids except for triglycerides (P ≤ .001). Changes in total cholesterol were correlated with alterations in all fatty acids except for saturated fatty acids; low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) was correlated with a change in trans fats and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was not correlated with any variables. In the multiple regression model, 3.9% of the variance in LDL-C could be explained by trans fats after controlling for the effects of other variables; a lowering of HDL-C was associated with a change in percentage of fat kilocalories. In conclusion, trans fats appear to be associated with LDL-C. Based on these findings, it is prudent to recommend that the public limit their intake of trans fats.