During the past century, the medical profession has developed a paradigm for the treatment of obesity, which prescribes specific exercise and dietary goals under the umbrella of 'lifestyle change'. It has three components, all of which evolved from origins that had nothing to do with weight control. First, it is individually prescriptive, that is weight loss is considered the responsibility of the individual as contrasted to a societal or group responsibility. Second, it recommends exercise aimed towards structured, or non-functional, activities with a variety of physiological endpoints. Last, dietary goals are defined by calories, exchanges, food groups and various nutritional components. Diets are usually grouped by these goals. This model is unique to America, it is not working and it has also played a causal role in the obesity it is attempting to eliminate. A new model must be developed, which contains an observationally based societal prescription and links activity with functional outcomes and diets, which are food rather than nutritionally based.

The past 50 years has brought attention to high and increasing levels of human obesity in most of the industrialized world. The medical profession has noticed, has evaluated, and has developed models for studying, preventing, and reversing obesity. The current model prescribes activity in specific quantities such as days, minutes, heart rates, and footfalls. Although decreased levels of activity have come from changes revolving around built environments and social networks, the existing medical model to lower body weights by increasing activity remains individually prescriptive. It is not working. The study of societal obesity precludes the individual and must involve group behavioral studies. Such studies necessitate acquiring separate tools and, therefore, require a significant change in the evaluation and treatment of obesity. Finding groups with common activities and lower levels of obesity would allow the development of new models of land use and encourage active lifestyles through shared interests.

During the past 60 years, there has been a major transition in the way golf is played in America. Its potential as exercise largely has been negated by the increase in motorized golf cart usage to approximately two of every three rounds played in this country. Accidents in golf carts have increased rapidly, which, by making the sport more dangerous, will likely bring future regulations. Consequently, playing golf has gradually become more of a public health threat than a benefit. The motorized cart also has resulted in an almost doubling of the size of golf courses, which now occupy a large amount of the built environment designated for activity. These changes are a major loss to society, portend future problems, and call for the sport to reevaluate its current model.

No relationships reported)With the physiological decline in pulmonary function with age worsened by smoking, preventative strategies are needed to reduce the severity and to either improve or maintain a normal pulmonary function. PURPOSE:The purpose was to evaluate and compare the effects of 16 weeks of aerobic, resistance and aerobic combined with resistance training on pulmonary function. METHODS:Fifty sedentary male smokers with no history of pulmonary disease were matched and randomly assigned to either one of three treatment groups that exercised three times weekly for 16 weeks (i.e. aerobic group (AG; n = 13), resistance group (RG; n = 12), aerobic combined with resistance group (ARG); n = 13)) or a non-exercising control group (CG; n = 12). The AG subjects had to complete 45 minutes of aerobic exercise at 60% HRmax. The RG subjects performed seven whole-body resistance exercises at 60% 1-RM for three sets, 15 repetitions, while the ARG subjects performed two sets of 15 repetitions at 60% 1-RM and 22 minutes of aerobic training at 60% HRmax. RESULTS: FVC and IVC were found to be significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased in the AG (4.91 ± 0.68 vs. 5.34 ± 0.67 liters and 4.83 ± 0.62 vs. 5.53 ± 0.81 liters, respectively), RG (4.50 ± 0.65 vs. 4.85 ± 0.63 liters and 4.53 ± 0.57 vs. 4.83 ± 0.52 liters, respectively) and ARG (4.90 ± 0.63 vs. 5.54 ± 0.40 liters and 4.91 ± 0.74 vs. 5.87 ± 0.55 liters, respectively). FEV1 was found to be significantly increased in RG (3.88 ± 0.53 vs. 4.09 ± 0.45 liters) and ARG (4.07 ± 0.57 vs. 4.63 ± 0.23 liters). PIF was found to be significantly improved in the AG (9.64 ± 0.94 vs. 12.82 ± 1.80 liters) and RG (8.39 ± 1.26 vs. 10.45 ± 1.81 liters) while PEF was found to be significantly improved in only the AG (10.77 ± 1.45 vs. 12.14 ± 1.61 liters). FVC/FEV1 ratio significantly and deleteriously decreased in AG (89.48 ± 5.10% vs. 85.93 ± 6.30%). CONCLUSIONS:These findings indicate that 16 weeks of aerobic, resistance and aerobic combined with resistance training can improve lung function in sedentary male smokers, thus assisting in the prevention of the detrimental effects of smoking. The results suggest synergy between aerobic and resistance exercise and by concurrently performing these two modes of training, individuals may elicit the unique benefits that each mode of exercise has to offer. CONCLUSIONS:The golf industry has seriously defaulted on its societal contract to provide land mass for health and activity. The development of an alternative model, one which returns the game's potential for fitness, makes it once again safe, and invites the young to participate, should be considered.(No relationships reported) "Get Fit for Active Living" (GFAL) is an 8-week evidence-based physical activity education program developed for older adults by the Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging. This community-based program educates older adults about the importance of exercise and provides them with experience in developing an exercise routine, which in turn motivates them to continue their exerci...