Health and Fitness

Nutrition Overweight and Obesity –Obesity (20% over avg body wt) has been increasing for more than 2 decades (66.5% and 30% for adults) –Heredity, but environmental pressures? Sedentary lives # calories and fat content of foods –Between 25 & 50, adding wt is normal Basal Metabolic Rate- energy needed at rest- declines –Treatment-Earlier, better Success  Estimates from the class? Lasting change: low fat diet + exercise, accurate recording, social support, problem solving skills, extended intervention

Nutrition Dietary Fat –Nation’s health goals: 30% fat diet, 10% saturated –Links to breast cancer, colon cancer, cardiovascular disease. –Saturated fat  meat, dairy; solid at room temperature. –Unsaturated fat  vegetable oils; liquid at room temperature –Best rule: less fat of all kinds, use unsaturated when possible

Exercise Fosters resistance to disease –Moderate intensity-reduces fat, builds muscle, enhances immune response –Associated with a number of other healthy behaviors –Disease prevention-inhibits growth of cancerous tumors (animal research), enhances cardiovascular functioning in humans –Reduces anxiety and depression, improves mood, enhances alertness and energy Associated with lower death rate Recommendation: 20 min, 3 to 5x/wk, relatively vigorous, heart rate 60 to 90% of max.

Substance use Cigarette Smoking –Reduced more than 15% since Largest drop is in what population? Earlier starting, greater consumption –Ingredients and damage Link between smoking and mortality is dose related Benefits of quitting –Return to non-smoking disease risks in 3 to 8 years –Those in treatment programs or using cessation aids often fail. Why?

Substance Use Alcohol –13% men, 3% women- Heavy drinkers (2+ drinks/day) –1/3 alcoholics –Genetic contribution to alcoholism, but ½ of hospitalized alcoholics have no family history –Cost of Alcohol-related problems to society –60% relapse w/in 3 months

Sexuality Kinsey? Heterosexual Attitudes and Behavior –National Health and Social Life Survey- 1 st in-depth study of American’s sex lives based on a nationally representative sample –Americans sexual activity? –In yr olds, 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 –Most Americans happy w/sex lives –Negative r between # partners and satisfaction –Satisfaction not only predicted by technique; Attained in context of love, affection, fidelity

Sexuality Homosexual attitudes and behaviors –AIDS has increased visibility of GLB community in the U.S. –Avg U.S. Attitudes  negative, but changing NPR example –Little evidence indicates similar patterns to heterosexual sex –Larger percentages in large urban environments Anonymity Support/Social network Acceptance