The purpose of this study was to investigate among postmenopausal women the relationship of dietary fat intake, tobacco smoking, alcohol use, physical activity, and body weight to total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol measures in order to assess the relative influence of each…

A summary and discussion of a series of studies considered the dilemma that equal educational treatment of all children in public schools appears likely to increase the spread of differences among them in educational achievement. Longitudinal studies of pairs of identical and of fraternal twins in Sweden from 10 to 18 years of age considered the…

The effects of exercise in children can be assessed by physiological measures of the respiratory and cardiovascular body functions and by anthropometric measures of body composition and maturation. Several methods and techniques in these areas are available to the researcher and practitioner for attempting to assess the physiological aspect of…

This report summarizes expert panel presentations and large and small group discussions focused on identifying educational opportunities as part of a public education effort to prevent obesity. Panel 1 reported on the epidemiology of obesity and cardiovascular disease, including obesity in both children and adults. Panel 2 reported on…

Sex, body size, several sociocultural variables, and status rank were measured in mixed-sex small groups. The intervening sociocultural variables explained some but not all of the interrelationships. Results underscore the empirical vulnerability of social-psychological explanations of sex-role behavior and signal the need for further research.…

Tested Jessor's (1987) model of three overlapping domains relevant to adolescent health promotion using multidimensional scaling analysis (MDS). MDS yielded three dimensions--labeled positive coping resources, conventional/unconventional, and underweight/overweight--that revealed clusters of behaviors largely coinciding with Jessor's three…

Over the last two decades we have witnessed an emerging set of conditions in schools which render them contexts replete with social messages about the body, health, and self. Research has suggested that both the formal and informal contexts of education are heavily imbued with a "culture of healthism" which places moral obligation and…

The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) is a national survey developed by the Division of Adolescent and School Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in collaboration with 71 state and local departments of education and 19 federal agencies. The YRBS specifically investigates behaviors related to the leading causes of mortality,…

From 1964-71, 323 pairs of twins and 740 age-matched controls born in 1954-55, were investigated. Compared to schoolchildren in 1880 and 1940 the children in the present study were taller, reached maturity earlier and passed through puberty faster. No differences between socioeconomic strata defined by father's occupation and family income were…

Whether athletes in sports that emphasize leanness differ from athletes in other sports with regard to eating attitudes and disposition toward eating disorders was studied for 104 female and 87 male postsecondary level athletes. Results indicate that different groups of athletes may be at different risks of eating disorders. (SLD)

Effectiveness of a program for junior high school students focusing on attitudes and knowledge about weight and dieting was evaluated in 2 studies with 80 females in experimental groups and 139 females in control groups. Subjects responded favorably whether the program was presented by videotape or the regular teacher. (SLD)

Obesity prevalence has increased dramatically in the United States. Rural areas have been especially affected, yet few weight management studies have been conducted in these populations. This study was designed to assess weight management attitudes and strategies used when rural adults in particular attempt to lose weight, employing measures that…

A survey of 2,439 high school students (the 1993 Youth Risk Behavior Survey) in North Carolina found that students present a mixed picture of healthy and risky physical, nutritional, and weight management practices. The survey examined perception of body weight; weight control by gender; method of weight control; consumption of fruit or fruit…

Measured physical and cognitive development of 7- to 10-year-old Brazilian children in 3 social groups. Domestic servants' children were taller and heavier than children in slums, and shorter than middle-class children. Domestic servants' sons scored similar to slum-dwelling boys on cognitive measures. (BC)

A major concern to practitioners in the wellness movement has been the dearth of high quality up-to-date information about their field. This book provides a comprehensive and current look at the wellness field. Presentations in part 1 include: (1) "The History and Future of the Wellness Movement" (Donald B. Ardell); (2) "Presenting…