[Analysis of the relationship between self-estimated and measured physical fitness among non-athletic female and male university students]

The purpose of this study was to study the relationship between self-estimated and measured physical fitness among non-athletic young females and males. The target population of this study was all non-athletic male of female students from the University of Guilan. After translating the SPQ standard-questionnaire [Delignieres, 1994] and adjusting some of the questions, the questionnaire was evaluated by the specialists in the context of validity and the Reliability achieved by test-retest [Cronbach Alpha value of 0.84] We then, according to the Odineski table selected 150 male and 170 female students, with the mean: age of 21.83 +/- 1.17 and 21.13 +/- 1.56 years; height of 173.64 +/- 1.56 and 159.29 +/- 6.45 cm; weight of 70.66 +/- 11.80 and 57.73 +/- 10.27 kg; and body mass index of 23.45 +/- 3.3 and 22.74 +/- 3.7 kg/m[2], respectively. The inferential statistics of the t-test and Pearson correlation coefficient were used for data analysis. The results show that male and female students in the study did not have a true self-estimate of their physical fitness, muscular strength, endurance cardio - respiratory, flexibility, and body composition. There were also significant differences between self-estimated physical fitness and the fitness test measures among the male and female students [P<0.001]. Compared to the female students, the male students had a better self-estimated image of their physical activity. Based on the fact that the male and female students in the study do not have a true self-estimate of their physical fitness, we suggest that they should be provided with necessary facilities and support in order to encourage them to participate in the physical activity and fitness training programs, which could lead to improvement of their mental and body health status and a better picture of self-estimated physical activity

[ effect of walking exercise on the amount of fat mass and serum insulin in obese girls]

Obesity, a public health problem is growing in prevalence over the past decade. Obesity increases mortality risk and there is evidence that obesity in youth is a more powerful predictor of this risk than obesity in adulthood. The purpose of the present study is to examine the effect of walking exercise in order to reduce obesity in sedentary obese girls. This research was carried out on 20 non-athlete volunteer obese girls [BMI>30] between 19-25 years and then were randomly divided in two groups [Control: n=10 and Experimental: n=10]. At the beginning and after 2 months, fat mass, percent body fat and lean mass were assessed with bioelectrical impedance equipment [BIA] and serum insulin measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay [ELISA] analysis. Then the experimental group started to do exercise program which consisted of 30 minutes walking with intensity of 50%-75% of maximal heart rate, 3 sessions in a week for 2 months. The data was analyzed using t-test. The results of this study showed that walking exercise, positively reduced body fat percent and fat mass and increased lean mass in exercise group [p= 0.000]. Serum insulin also significantly decreased [p = 0.008]. This study demonstrated that a regular physical activity program such as walking exercise can significantly reduce body weight and improve serum insulin in obese girls. In conclusion, it seems that this type of training can be efficient, safe and inexpensive way in order to reduce and prevent obesity

[ effect of milk on bone density in adult girls]

Milk is long being known to reduce the risk of osteoporosis and potentially beneficial for bone health particularly among Iranian populations where consumption of dairy production is low. The aim of this prospective study was to assess the physiological effect of milk consumption on bone mass density [BMD] and prevention of osteoporosis in adult girls. This investigation was performed on twenty non-athlete thin and obese girls. BMD and blood parameters were measured by routine laboratory tests at the beginning and two months later. Both groups received two glasses of semi-skimmed milk [1.5% fat; 600 mg/dl calcium] three times a week for a total duration of 2 months. The study findings showed that the BMD of hip and spinal cord [L[2]-L[4]] significantly increased in both groups after 2 months [p<0.05]. According to our data, consumption of two glasses of milk 3 times a week could remarkably increase the BMD in adult girls hence, it could be concluded that the frequent consumption of milk by both thin and obese girls can reduce the risk of osteoporosis

Effect of 12 weeks life-style activity modification [LAM] on adiponectin gene expression and plasma adiponectin in obese men

Central obesity down regulates adiponectin gene expression and plasma adiponectin concentration. The effects of lifestyle activity modification [LAM] training according to Centers for Disease Control [CDC] and American College of Sports Medicine ACSM guidelines on adiponectin gene expression and its secretion in obese people is not well known. The purpose of this study hence was to examine the effects of LAM on adiponectin gene expression and plasma adiponectin in obese men. Sixteen healthy middle aged men [42.06 +/- 6.01 years; mean +/- SD] participated in this study. The subjects were randomly assigned to the LAM [n=8] and control group [n=8]. Subjects in the LAM group walked 2 miles for 30 minutes for 4 days for 12 weeks on treadmill according to the CDC and ACSM guidelines. After 12 weeks LAM training, subjects were asked to avoid any high intensity physical activity for a week. The results showed that weight, BMI, body fat mass, body fat percent, central [visceral and subcutaneous] and peripheral subcutaneous fat volume, waist and hip circumstance and waist to hip ratio [WHR] were decreased significantly after 12 weeks in the LAM group, compared to the controls [P<0.05]. After one week detraining, body composition in the training group was maintained and did not change significantly. Also, maximum oxygen uptake, adiponectin gene expression on abdominal and hip subcutaneous adipose tissue were increased significantly in the LAM group compared to controls after 12 weeks [P<0.05]. On the other hand, after 12 weeks LAM training no significant differences were observed in plasma adiponectin and serum high sensitive C reactive protein [hs-CRP], levels between groups, while after one week detraining plasma adiponectin and serum hs-CRP levels were significantly increased and decreased respectively [P<0.05]. Although, twelve weeks LAM training improved body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness and adiponectine gene expression in obese men, but the intensity and time of these exercises are not enough to increase plasma adiponectin and hs-CRP reduction

[ effects of the intensity and volume of resistance exercises on the post-exercise blood pressure, heart rate and rate pressure product]

Cardiovascular diseases are the most common causes of mortality in the world. Increased blood pressure is one of the most important risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Decreasing blood pressure due to exercise can reduce the risk of cardiovascular incidents. Thus, the objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of exercise on blood pressure, heart rate and rate pressure product. To evaluate the effects of intensity and volume of resistance exercises on the post-exercise cardiovascular responses, 10 young untrained non-athletic men [age: 22 +/- 0.8 years; height: 173.05 +/- 2.4 cms and weight: 67.2 +/- 3.4 kgs] participated in this study as the subjects. The subjects performed four exercise bouts in a randomized order. Each bout consisted of five exercises: arm curl, hamstring curl, squat, seated lat pull-down and bench press. The exercises were determined to be performed at three sets: SHORT volume of LOW 40% IRM [SL] and HIGH intensity 80% 1RM [SH] and at six sets: LONG volume of LOW 40% 1RM [LL] and HIGH intensity 80% 1RM [LH]. Blood pressure [BP], heart rate [HR] and rate pressure product [RPP] [product of HR and systolic BP] were measure before the exercise [baseline] and at the ten-minute intervals within 90minutes after each exercise. Then, the data were analyzed using two way ANOVA repeated measures and LSD post-hoc tests. Systolic BP was found to be affected by the volume and intensity of exercise and became lower during 10 to 60 minutes after the exercises [P<0.05]. However, Diastolic BP was not altered after the exercise bouts. HR was increased in 30 minutes after LL and SL, and within 60 minutes after SH and LH exercises [p<0.05]. In contrast, after SH and LH, RPP was increased over a period of 50 minutes. The intensity and volume of resistance exercises do not influence the magnitude and duration of post-exercise hypotension. Also, HR and RPP post-exercise are not affected by the resistance exercise volume

[Effect of caffeine on blood pressure during exercise and at rest in overweight men]

Caffeine is a naturally occurring substance that is widely consumed in a variety of forms. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of caffeine on blood pressure in overweight men during exercise and at rest. In double-blind randomly designed study, six men [BMI 29.55 +/- 1.22 kg/m2, age 22.50 +/- 0.83 yr, height 174 +/- 9.12cm, weight 89.31 +/- 8.85kg, body fat percent 26.38 +/- 3.62] with sedentary lifestyles, performed 30 minutes running on treadmill at similar exercise intensities [60% VO2max], 1 hour after taking caffeine [5 mg/kg body weight] or placebo. Heart rate was recorded during exercise, and blood pressure [BP] was measured before and 1 hour after taking caffeine and immediately after exercise, and data analysis was conducted using student' t-test. Results indicated that systolic and diastolic BP and mean arterial pressure significantly elevated following caffeine intake at rest, but no significant differences were observed after exercise no significant differences were observed between caffeine and placebo in heart rate during exercise. The findings indicate that caffeine at this dosage level alters cardiovascular dynamics by augmenting arterial blood pressure in moderately obese men at rest. However, it seems that taking caffeine before exercise does not cause abnormal elevations in blood pressure in moderately obese men