Active ageing in Denmark; shifting institutional landscapes and the intersection of national and local priorities.

Studies of governance rarely examine how specific institutional configurations are designed to target specific 'problem' groups, including older adults via 'active ageing' policies. In Denmark, active ageing policy has been contoured by the Structural Reform of 2007, which drove changes in institutional landscapes at both national and local levels. Rather than representing a 'hollowing out' of control from the centre, the Danish Structural Reform comprised a decentralised re-territorialisation of welfare provision, giving the state additional fiscal powers whilst placing additional responsibility for welfare delivery at the municipal level. The introduction of 'Activity Centres' for older citizens in Copenhagen is an exemplar of this change. Here, the provision of sport and exercise to older citizens was driven by neoliberal consumer logic and demand for self-determination. Yet local services are delivered with communitarian goals and methods which directly incorporate service end-users in governance and decision-making processes. Older citizens are thus empowered to define meaningfulness in activities, but only as an active member of a community. Participants are conceptualised simultaneously as both consumer and voluntary promoter/supporter of active lifestyles within that community. 'Open access' to activity programmes is sought, but participation requires membership. Free choice is emphasized, yet activity programmes are designed according to group consensus and available resources. Claims to cater for the entire older population sit alongside a lower age limit of 65 years and the stated aim of ensuring citizens remain free of reliance upon municipal services. Activity Centres therefore represent an autonomization of responsibility for health maintenance among older citizens, whilst concurrently reflecting new techniques of arms-length state governance of their behaviour.

Relationship between volition, physical activity and weight loss maintenance: Study rationale, design, methods and baseline characteristics.

AIMS: To investigate the relationship between volition, physical activity and weight loss maintenance. METHODS: We recruited 84 sedentary (maximal oxygen uptake: 25 ± 5 ml/min), overweight and obese (Body mass index (BMI) 38 ± 7 m/h2, fat 44 ± 7 %) women ( n = 55) and men ( n = 29) for an interdisciplinary prospective study with follow-up. The change in lifestyle and weight loss is promoted via a 3-month intensive lifestyle intervention at a private health school. The intervention consists of supervised training (1-3 hours/day), a healthy hypo-caloric diet (-500 to -700 kCal/day) and education in healthy lifestyle in classes/groups. The participants' body weight and composition (Dual Energy X-ray absorptiometry), volitional skills (questionnaire), physical activity level (heart rate accelerometer/questionnaire) and maximal oxygen uptake (indirect calorimetry) are to be monitored before, after, and 3 and 12 months after the intervention. RESULTS: At the 12-month follow-up, three different groups will be established: Clinical weight loss maintenance (> 10% weight loss from baseline), moderate weight loss maintenance (1-10% weight loss) and no weight loss (or weight regain). A linear mixed model analysis will be used to compare levels of volitional skills, physical activity and maximal oxygen uptake over time, between the three groups. Correlational analyses will be used to investigate possible associations between volition, maximal oxygen uptake, physical activity level and weight loss maintenance. CONCLUSIONS: If specific volitional skills are identified as predictors of adherence to physical activity and success in clinical weight loss maintenance, these can be trained in future intensive lifestyle interventions in order to optimize the success rate.

The Effect of Floorball Training on Health Status, Psychological Health and Social Capital in Older Men.

This article presents the results of a multidisciplinary study which investigated the effects of a period with floorball training on health status, psychological health and social capital of older men. Thirty-nine untrained men aged 69.9 ± 0.6 (range: 65-76) were randomized into a group playing floorball (n = 22) or a group playing petanque (n = 17) one hour twice a week for 12 weeks. Both groups filled out the Health Survey Short Form (SF-12) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) before and after the 12-week intervention. Linear regression analyses with bootstrapping showed that the men in the floorball group improved in the SF-12 composite score for mental health, as well as the HADS subscales anxiety and depression, compared to the men in the petanque group. In addition, 21 interviews were conducted with a sample of the men engaged in floorball. According to the statements in the interviews, the men in the floorball group experienced a high degree of solidarity and group cohesion which seemed to have increased their social capital during the intervention. In particular, the fun and joyful experiences of playing led to a high degree of social connectedness, which were mentioned by many of the men as the main reason for their participation throughout the 12-week period. The statistical results and the interview findings suggest that participation in a ball game such as floorball has several benefits regarding health status, psychological health and social capital and in addition that playing floorball is experienced as enjoyable amongst older men. Thus, it can be concluded that floorball is an activity that benefits older men and should be provided in relevant contexts, such as e.g. sport clubs or centres for seniors.

"It's not very feminine to have a mustache": Experiences of Danish women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

This article explores women's lived experiences with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) on the basis of semistructured interviews with 21 Danish women. It provides insights about the problems that they experienced and how they coped with PCOS. The interviews revealed that they were highly influenced by society's femininity norms. Many of them perceived their bodies as "different" because of the symptoms of PCOS, namely, hirsutism. They used different strategies to live up to body ideals and cope with the symptoms. However, hirsutism had a decisive negative influence on the women's everyday lives, particularly with regard to male partners and sexual relations.

Meeting needs of Muslim girls in school sport: case studies exploring cultural and religious diversity.

This paper contains a sociocultural analysis of school sport experiences of Muslim girls in two countries with different gender policies in physical education (PE) classes: England and Denmark. In Denmark, PE lessons take place in co-educative classes, in England schools are more diverse, with predominantly co-educational but also single-sex and faith schools offering different learning contexts. Two case studies from Denmark and England are used to explore the experiences of migrant Muslim girls in these different settings. A social constructionist approach to gender underpins the interpretation of stakeholders' voices on the inclusion of Muslim girls and the analysis of PE discourses in these countries. Findings illustrate similarities and differences at the interface of cultural diversity, political rhetoric of inclusion and realities of sport experiences for Muslim girls in both countries. Complex influences on PE experiences include gender stereotypes, cultural and religious orientations and practices, as well as actions and expectations of parents, communities and coaches/teachers. The studies provide insights into the ways participants managed their identities as Muslim girls in different sport environments to enable participation and retention of their cultural identities. Highlighted throughout the paper are the ways in which school sport policy and practice, providers and gatekeepers, can include or exclude groups, in this case Muslim girls. Too often coaches and teachers are unaware of crucial facts about their learners, not only in terms of their physical development and capabilities but also in terms of their cultural needs. Mistakes in creating conducive learning environments leave young people to negotiate a way to participate or refrain from participation.

"Sports" medicine in Germany and its struggle for professional status.

In Germany gymnastics and sport had formed alliances with medical "sciences" as early as the 18th century. At the end of the 19th century, the rise of sport provoked heated debates among physicians about the benefits and the dangers of sporting activities. After World War I, sport became a fashion and a mass movement that increasingly attracted the interest of the medical profession. Doctors organized congresses and founded a professional organization and journal. Using theoretical approaches to professionalization, the efforts of "sport physicians" to gain professional status (and the resources and power connected with it) will be analyzed and interpreted.

Mulheres Tomando a Liderança ou mulheres tomando a liderança nas organizações esportivas alemãs / Women Taking the Lead / Mujeres Tomando el Liderazgo

Este artigo apresenta os resultados de três estudos empíricos, levados a cabo no projeto Mulheres Tomando a Liderança, na Universidade Livre de Berlim, na Alemanha. A pesquisa, que compreende todos os executivos, homens e mulheres, nas federações esportivas alemãs, incluiu questões relacionadas à sócio-demografia dos atores, suas carreiras como executivos nas organizações esportivas, bem como em suas próprias carreiras, tanto no esporte como nas profissões específicas. A pesquisa revela diferenças marcantes de gênero, idade, situação familiar, responsabilidades nos comitês executivos, duração do emprego e barreiras na carreira. Realizamos 23 entrevistas de profundidade, semi-estruturadas, com mulheres em cargo de liderança, a fim de explorar suas perspectivas individuais. Entrevistamos também nove homens e sete mulheres que não atuam mais no esporte, com vistas a identificar barreiras que levaram essas pessoas a interromperem, prematuramente, suas atividades em cargo de liderança. Este grupo representa informantes de elite, com excelente insight sobre suas organizações e que experimentaram barreiras, que resultaram na interrupção do trabalho. Os discursos mostram diferenças consideráveis, em relação a experiências, atitudes e avaliações de homens e mulheres

This paper presents the results of three empirical studies that have been undertaken within the project "Women Taking the Lead" at the Freie Universität Berlin, Germany. The representative survey of all male and female executives in German sports federations included questions concerning their socio-demography, their careers as executive members in the sports organisations as well as their careers in both sport and their profession. The survey reveals significant gender differences in terms of age, family situation, responsibilities in the executive committees, duration of office and career barriers. Further, we conducted 23 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with women in leadership positions in order to explore the women's individual perspectives. The aim of a second interview study ("drop-out" study), with 9 women and 7 men, was to identify barriers in the voluntary careers of male and female leaders who have left their position earlier than they had originally planned. These informants can be seen as experts with an excellent insight into their organisations and who have experienced barriers which caused them to "drop out". The respondents' statements showed considerable differences with respect to the experiences, attitudes and evaluations of women and men

Este artículo presenta los resultados de tres estudios empíricos llevados a cabo en el proyecto Mujeres tomando el liderazgo, en la Universidad Libre de Berlín, Alemania. La investigación, que comprende todos los ejecutivos, hombres y mujeres, en las federaciones deportivas alemanas, incluyó cuestiones relacionadas a la sociodemografía de los actores, sus carreras como ejecutivos en las organizaciones deportivas, así también como en sus propias carreras, tanto en el deporte como en las profesiones específicas. La investigación revela diferencias significativas de género, edad, situación familiar, responsabilidades en los comités ejecutivos, duración de empleo y barreras en la carrera. Se realizaron 23 entrevistas en profundidad, semi-estructuradas, a mujeres con cargos de conducción o liderazgo, a fin de explorar sus perspectivas individuales. Se entrevistó también a 9 hombres y 7 mujeres que no actúan más en el deporte, buscando identificar barreras que llevaron a esas personas a interrumpir, prematuramente, sus actividades en cargos de conducción o liderazgo. Este grupo se conformó por informantes de elite, con excelente insight sobre sus organizaciones; el grupo experimentó barreras que lo llevaran a interrumpir sus trabajos. Los discursos muestran diferencias considerables en relación a las experiencias, actitudes y evaluaciones de hombres y mujeres