Michael J. Buono

Seven-day recall and other physical activity self-reports in children and adolescents.

There is need to develop low cost, practical, and accurate measures of physical activity in children and adolescents, and self-report is a promising methodology for children that is applicable for large studies. The purpose of the present study was to assess the reliability and validity of several self-reports of physical activity. Subjects were 36 fifth-, 36 eighth-, and 30 eleventh-grade male and female students. The test-retest reliabilities were r = 0.77 for the 7-d recall interview, r = 0.81 for the Godin-Shephard self-administered survey, and r = 0.93 for a simple activity rating. For the former two measures, reliability improved with age but was significant at all ages, and for the last measure there were no age effects. Memory skills and obesity status were not related to the reliability of recall, but males were more reliable reporters than females. Validity of the 7-d recall was determined by comparing heart rate monitoring records with recalls of very hard activities on the same day. A correlation of 0.53 (P < 0.001) for the total group supported the validity of the reports. Validity improved with age, but validity coefficients were significant in all age groups. These data indicate that physical activity recalls of children as young as the fifth grade are of adequate reliability and validity to use in research on physical activity in children.

Aggregation of physical activity habits in Mexican-American and Anglo families

It is believed that families are important influences on the development of health habits, and the purpose of the present study was to examine the familial aggregation of physical activity. Physical activity habits were assessed by standardized interview in adults and children in 95 Anglo families and 111 Mexican-American families. The results indicated a moderate degree of aggregation of physical activity in both samples, and adjustment for body mass index was inconsequential. Intrafamily correlations tended to be higher in Mexican-Americans. Mother-child correlations usually were higher than father-child correlations. These findings support the hypothesis that the family is a significant influence on physical activity.

Reliability of Interviewers Using the Seven-Day Physical Activity Recall

The Seven-Day Physical Activity Recall interview is commonly used in epidemiologic research, but the methods of training and certifying interviewers have not been studied or standardized. The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability of the Seven-Day Physical Activity Recall interviews after a structured training program. Twenty-one volunteer interviewers participated in a five-session group training program that targeted standardized interview techniques and scoring procedures. Interviewers scored eight videotaped interviews on two occasions to assess scoring skills. Across all videotapes and interviewers, the test-retest reliability was .99. Two interviewers independently interviewed the same person on the same day, and the reliability of kilocalorie expenditure across interviewers was .86. It was concluded that naive individuals can be taught to reliably conduct and score the Seven-Day Physical Activity Recall interview in a brief training program.

Acclimation to humid heat lowers resting core temperature

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that a reduction in resting rectal temperature (Tre) is partially responsible for the attenuation in the rise of core temperature during heat exposure following acclimation to humid heat. Nine male volunteers completed 7 days of acclimation, performing 2 h of exercise per day in a hot, humid environment (35°C, 75% relative humidity). Mean (±SD) ending Tre significantly ( P < 0.05) decreased from 38.9 ± 0.5°C on day 1 to 38.3 ± 0.4°C on day 7. Likewise, mean (±SD) resting Tre significantly ( P < 0.05) decreased from 37.0 ± 0.3 to 36.7 ± 0.4°C. In fact, all nine men showed a decrease in resting Tre from day 1to day 7, ranging from -0.1 to -0.5°C. In addition, resting Tre and ending Tre were significantly correlated ( r = 0.68). However, the mean increases in Tre (ending Tre minus resting Tre) and heat storage that occurred on each of the 7 acclimation days were not significantly different. These results support the hypothesis that a reduction in resting Tre is partially responsible for the attenuation in ending Tre during heat exposure following short-term acclimation to humid heat.The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that a reduction in resting rectal temperature (Tre) is partially responsible for the attenuation in the rise of core temperature during the heat exposure following acclimation to humid heat. Nine male volunteers completed 7 days of acclimation, performing 2 h of exercise per day in a hot, humid environment (35 degrees C, 75% relative humidity). Mean (+/- SD) ending Tre significantly (P < 0.05) decreased from 38.9 +/- 0.5 degrees C on day 1 to 38.3 +/- 0.4 degrees C on day 7. Likewise, mean (+/- SD) resting Tre significantly (P < 0.05) decreased from 37 +/- 0.3 to 36.7 +/- 0.4 degrees C. In fact, all nine men showed a decrease in resting Tre from day 1 to day 7, ranging from -0.1 to -0.5 degrees C. In addition, resting Tre and ending Tre were significantly correlated (r = 0.68). However, the mean increases in Tre (ending Tre minus resting Tre) and heat storage that occurred on each of the 7 acclimation days were not significantly different. These results support the hypothesis that a reduction in resting Tre is partially responsible for the attenuation in ending Tre during heat exposure following short-term acclimation to humid heat.

Culturally Tailored Aerobic Exercise Intervention for Low-income Latinas

Purpose. To determine the efficacy of community-based, culturally tailored exercise intervention on the moderate and vigorous physical activity and physiologic outcomes of low-income Latino women (Latinas). Design. A randomized trial contrasted safety education to an aerobic dance intervention. Setting. Interventions were held in a “store-front” exercise site near a community clinic. Subjects. Sedentary low-income Latinas (N = 151; 18—55 years; 70% overweight/obese) were recruited. Retention was 91% for follow-up measures. Intervention. Three sessions per week of supervised aerobic dance were provided for 6 months. Controls attended 18 safety education sessions over 6 months. Measures. Physical activity and aerobic fitness (VO2max) were primary outcomes. Results. Participants in the exercise group reported more vigorous exercise (p < .001) and walking (p = .005) at post-test than controls. Aerobic dance and unsupervised activity resulted in a five-fold greater increase in relative VO2max compared with controls (p < .001). Although exercise and fitness decreased at follow-up, vigorous exercise (p = .001) and relative VO2max (p < .001) remained higher in the exercise group, suggesting maintenance at 1 year. Conclusion. Culturally tailored aerobic dance can increase vigorous physical activity, possibly generalizing to walking, and the combination can improve cardiorespiratory fitness in low-income, overweight, sedentary Latinas.

Intraerythrocyte and plasma lactate concentrations during exercise in humans

SummaryThe purpose of this study was to examine plasma and intraerythrocyte lactate concentrations during graded exercise in humans. Seven adult volunteers performed a maximum O2 uptake (

Comparison of infrared versus contact thermometry for measuring skin temperature during exercise in the heat

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Sweat ethanol concentrations are highly correlated with co-existing blood values in humans.

) test on a cycle ergometer. Plasma and intraerythrocyte lactate concentrations (mmol · L−1 of plasma or cell water) were determined at rest, during exercise, and at 15-min post-exercise. The results show that plasma and intraerythrocyte lactate concentrations were not significantly different from each other at rest or moderate (⩽50%