Bernstein, M. S., Morabia, A., & Sloutskis, D. (1999). Definition And Prevalence Of Sedentarism In An Urban Population. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH 89 (6): 862-867.
    The Journal’s Home Page is at: http://www.ajph.org/.
    ABSTRACT: Objectives. The present study sought to formulate a precise definition of sedentarism and to identify activities performed by active people that could serve as effective preventive goals. Results. The rates of sedentarism were 79.5% in men and 87.2% in women. Among Sedentary and active men, average daily energy expenditures were 2600 kcal (95% confidence interval [CI] = 2552, 2648) and 3226 kcal (95% CI = 3110, 3346), respectively; the corresponding averages for women were 2092 kcal (95% CI = 2064, 2120) and 2356 kcal (95% CI = 2279, 2440). The main moderate- and high-intensity activities among active people were sports (tennis, gymnastics, skiing), walking, climbing stairs, gardening, and (for men only) occupational activities. Conclusions. The definition of sedentarism outlined in this article can be reproduced in other populations, allows comparisons across studies, and provides preventive guidelines in that the activities most frequently performed by active people arts the ones most likely to be adopted by their sedentary peers.

Brenner, I. K. M., Thomas, S., & Shephard, R. J. (1998). Autonomic Regulation of the Circulation During Exercise and Heat Exposure: Inferences from Heart Rate Variability.  SPORTS MEDICINE: AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL 26 (2): 85.

Bylak, J., & Hutchinson, M. R.  Common Sports Injuries in the Young Tennis Player.  SPORTS MEDICINE: AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL 26 (2): 119.

Carpinelli, R. N.,  & Otto, R. M. (1998).   Strength Training: Single Versus Multiple Sets. SPORTS MEDICINE: AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL 26 (2): 73.

Fleischmann, K. E., Hunink, M. G. M., & Douglas, P. S. (1998).  Exercise Echocardiography or Exercise SPECT Imaging? A Meta-analysis of Diagnostic Test Performance. JAMA - JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION 280 (10): 913-920.

Kargotich, S., Goodman, C., & Morton, A. R. (1998). The Influence of Exercise-Induced Plasma Volume Changes on the Interpretation of Biochemical Parameters Used for Monitoring Exercise, Training and Sport.  SPORTS MEDICINE: AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL 26 (2): 101.

Peirce, N. S. (1999). Diabetes And Exercise. BRITISH JOURNAL OF SPORTS MEDICINE 33 (3):161-172.
    ABSTRACT: Exercise is frequently recommended in the management of type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus and can improve glucose uptake by increasing insulin sensitivity and lowering body adiposity Both alone and when combined with diet and drug therapy physical activity can result in improvements in glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes. In addition, exercise can also help to prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes, in particular in those at higher risk, and has an important role in reducing the significant worldwide burden of this type of diabetes. Recent studies have improved our understanding of the acute and long term physiological benefits of physical activity, although the precise duration, intensity, and type of exercise have yet to be fully elucidated. However, in type I diabetes, the expected improvements in glycaemic control with exercise have not been clearly established. Instead significant physical and psychological benefits of exercise can be achieved while careful education, screening, and planning allow the metabolic, microvascular, and macrovascular risks to be predicted and diminished.

West, R. V. (1998). The Female Athlete: The Triad of Disordered Eating, Amenorhoea and Osteoporosis. SPORTS MEDICINE: AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL 26 (2): 63.

Neighborhood Safety and the Prevalence of Physical Inactivity -- Selected States, 1996. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Vol. 48/No. 7, Feb. 26, 1999. View the full text of this week's MMWR as a web page at:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/     Physical inactivity is an important risk factor for premature morbidity and mortality, especially among high-risk populations. Although health-promotion programs have targeted high-risk groups (i.e., older adults, women, and racial/ethnic minorities) (1), barriers exist that may affect their physical activity level (2). Identifying and reducing specific barriers (e.g., lack of knowledge of the health benefits of physical activity, limited access to facilities, low self-efficacy, and environmental issues [2-6]) are important for efforts designed to increase physical activity. Concerns about neighborhood safety may be a barrier to physical activity (2,3). To characterize the association between neighborhood safety and physical inactivity, CDC analyzed data from the 1996 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) in Maryland, Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. This report summarizes the results of this analysis, which indicate that persons who perceived their neighborhood to be unsafe were more likely to be physically inactive.

1. 1996 Surgeon General’s Report. Given the facts of the report in the boxed issue, how would you go about making a case to a School Board to increase the daily amount of Physical Education? What allies would you try to bring on-side in your arguments?

2. Quality of Life. The poem about "The Healthiest Couple" alludes to the issues of quality versus quantity of life; health as a means to an end rather than an end in itself; the great human tragedy of dying without having really lived, whether it be 50 or 150 years; of not just adding years to one's life but life to one's years; and of wanting health as a means of living a full life for much more than survival. How do these issues relate to the difference between personal health and community health?

3. Fitness as fad or trend. The fitness boom is most observable among the affluent young in fashionable leotards, headbands and expensive jogging shoes. It is evident that there are more runners, walkers, tri-athletes, bicyclists, dancercizers, racquetball players, and those engaged in individual and team sports across all ages. These observations suggest that the fitness revolution is here to stay and looking more like a trend than a fad. Identify indicators of the fitness movement in their communities. How do these indicators vary by gender, socioeconomic status, age, and ethnicity?

4. Recreation resources. Identify recreation resources/ organizations in their own community. How many and what kinds of resources/organizations are publicly or privately supported? Visit a community recreation site to explore how these agencies plan for, market, implement, and evaluate their activities?

5. Age and physical activity. Explore physical activity by age. For example, how do child care centers, grade schools, high schools, work sites, and nursing homes or senior centers provide for physical activity? How does the kind of physical activity itself vary by site and what are the issues of involving people of different activities in physical activity?

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