There have been many publications in recent years reporting on the quantity of physical activity among college students using indirect indicators such as steps walked per day or time spent on physical activities. The purpose of this study was to describe the trends of physical fitness related to BMI and body fat among university students between 1996 and 2008. The results showed a significant decline in the average fitness levels measured as an estimation of VO2max for male and female students (p < 0.001 for both sexes). The linear trend for BMI by years was not significant for both sexes (p for males = 0.772, p for females = 0.253). On average, in the last 13 years, % body fat was increasing 0.513%/year for males and 0.654%/year for females. There is a significant indirect correlation between the student’s VO2max levels and % body fat, r = −0.489; p < 0.001 for males; and r = −0.416, p < 0.001 for females. Approximately 23.9% of the variance in the VO2max levels in males and 17.3% in females can be explained by the variance in % body fat. The results support recent findings that physical fitness among college students is declining and body fatness is increasing.

We evaluated dietary and other risk factors in a black California cohort. Baseline data were gathered in 1974 and 1976, and mortality follow-up continued through 1985. A study census questionnaire was returned from 3,299 subjects who lived in a household containing at least one Seventh-Day Adventist. Of these, 1,668 subjects also completed a detailed life-style and dietary questionnaire in 1976. Vital status was ascertained using church records and the California State death tapes. Mortality hazard ratios (HR; both sexes combined) across three increasing consumption levels were determined for nuts (1.00, 0.60, 0.56), fruits (1.00, 0.38, 0.57), and green salads (1.00, 0.54, 0.65). Consumption of meats appeared more hazardous for women, although there was no dose-response relation. Education (HR = 1.00, no college; 0.74, some college; 0.42, college graduate), male gender (HR = 1.55), diabetes mellitus (HR = 1.77), and hypertension (HR = 2.52) were independently associated with mortality, as was obesity, which had a curvilinear association in women and a linear association in men. Exercise was not associated with mortality after excluding those with morbidity at baseline. In summary, traditional risk factors operated with similar force in this black population. In addition, the frequent consumption of nuts, fruits, and green salads appears protective.

Walnuts contain a number of potentially neuroprotective compounds like vitamin E, folate, melatonin, several antioxidative polyphenols and significant amounts of n-3 a-linolenic fatty acid. The present study sought to determine the effect of walnuts on verbal and non-verbal reasoning, memory and mood. A total of sixty-four college students were randomly assigned to two treatment sequences in a crossover fashion: walnuts -placebo or placebo -walnuts. Baseline data were collected for non-verbal reasoning, verbal reasoning, memory and mood states. Data were collected again after 8 weeks of intervention. After 6 weeks of washout, the intervention groups followed the diets in reverse order. Data were collected once more at the end of the 8-week intervention period. No significant increases were detected for mood, non-verbal reasoning or memory on the walnut-supplemented diet. However, inferential verbal reasoning increased significantly by 11·2 %, indicating a medium effect size (P¼ 0·009; d ¼ 0·567). In young, healthy, normal adults, walnuts do not appear to improve memory, mood or non-verbal reasoning abilities. However, walnuts may have the ability to increase inferential reasoning.

The objective of the study was to examine whether reasons to adopt vegetarian lifestyle differ significantly among generations. Using a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), we identified that 4% of the participants were vegans, 25% lacto-ovo-vegetarians, 4% pesco-vegetarians and 67% non-vegetarian. Younger people significantly agreed more with the moral reason and with the environmental reason. People ages 41–60 significantly agreed more with the health reason. There are significant differences across generations as to why people choose to live a vegetarian lifestyle.

Results highlight the need for targeted dietary interventions for opioid-using pregnant women.