Physical activity and risk of Metabolic Syndrome in an urban Mexican cohort

Abstract Background In the Mexican population metabolic syndrome (MS) is highly prevalent. It is well documented that regular physical activity (PA) prevents coronary diseases, type 2 diabetes and MS. Most studies of PA have focused on moderate-vigorous leisure-time activity, because it involves higher energy expenditures, increase physical fitness, and decrease the risk of MS. However, for most people it is difficult to get a significant amount of PA from only moderately-vigorous leisure activity, so workplace activity may be an option for working populations, because, although may not be as vigorous in terms of cardio-respiratory efforts, it comprises a considerable proportion of the total daily activity with important energy expenditure. Since studies have also documented that different types and intensity of daily PA, including low-intensity, seem to confer important health benefits such as prevent MS, we sought to assess the impact of different amounts of leisure-time and workplace activities, including low-intensity level on MS prevention, in a sample of urban Mexican adults. Methods The study population consisted of 5118 employees and their relatives, aged 20 to 70 years, who were enrolled in the baseline evaluation of a cohort study. MS was assessed according to the criteria of the National Cholesterol Education Program, ATP III and physical activity with a validated self-administered questionnaire. Associations between physical activity and MS risk were assessed with multivariate logistic regression models. Results The prevalence of the components of MS in the study population were: high glucose levels 14.2%, high triglycerides 40.9%, high blood pressure 20.4%, greater than healthful waist circumference 43.2% and low-high density lipoprotein 76.9%. The prevalence of MS was 24.4%; 25.3% in men and 21.8% in women. MS risk was reduced among men (OR 0.72; 95%CI 0.57–0.95) and women (OR 0.78; 95%CI 0.64–0.94) who reported an amount of ≥30 minutes/day of leisure-time activity, and among women who reported an amount of ≥3 hours/day of workplace activity (OR 0.75; 95%CI 0.59–0.96). Conclusion Our results indicate that both leisure-time and workplace activity at different intensity levels, including low-intensity significantly reduce the risk of MS. This finding highlights the need for more recommendations regarding the specific amount and intensity of leisure-time and workplace activity needed to prevent MS

Spontaneous symbolism in clinical supervision: Moving beyond logic

This article addresses the kind of spontaneous symbolism occurring during clinical supervision that defies logical explanation. Such symbolism, experienced by either supervisor or supervisee within the supervisory relationship, arises from immersion in a right-brain state and may take the form of visual imagery, “heard” phrases or words, or changes in sensation or affect. Key characteristics of the process giving rise to spontaneous symbolism include: forms of knowing that are in embodied symbolic form; a process that cannot be forced. symbols appearing as if “received”; the supervisor must be in a prepared and open state (“witnessing”); both supervisor and supervisee must tolerate “not knowing”; symbols require evaluation of their relevance to the supervisee’s work; both supervisee and supervisor experience a deep sense of satisfaction; the process depends on a trusting relationship between supervisor and supervisee. The question is posed: “what is going on here?” After briefly considering the embodied nature of the supervisory relationship, two dominant discourses derived from clinical work are explored, namely somatic countertransference and empathy. The first of these is found to be an inadequate explanation in the context of clinical supervision, while the concept of empathy offers some theoretical coherence, particularly when Rowan’s (2002) concept of “linking” is considered in the light of ideas derived from quantum physics and field theory. The implications of this debate for future research are considered