The ethical beliefs and behaviours of Victorian fitness professionals

A survey based on those employed by Petitpas, Brewer, Rivera, and Van Raalte (1994), Pope, Tabachnick, and Keith-Spiegel (1987), Tabachnick, Keith-Spiegel, and Pope (1991), and Pope and Vetter (1992) was used to investigate the ethical beliefs and behaviours of Victorian fitness professionals. Although there is evidence that Victorian fitness professionals are knowledgeable about some general ethical principles, the results of this study suggest that there is some lack of consensus among Victorian fitness professionals about the ethical appropriateness of a number of complex issues relating to business practices, confidentiality, dual relationships, and personal and professional boundaries. The findings suggest there is a need to improve the professional and ethical education of fitness professionals and to develop comprehensive ethical principles and a code of conduct that is relevant to the individuals working in the Australian fitness profession

Relationships between exercise, smoking habit and mortality in more than 100,000 adults

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: O'DONOVAN, G., HAMER, M. and STAMATAKIS, E., 2017. Relationships between exercise, smoking habit and mortality in more than 100,000 adults. International Journal of Cancer, 140(8), pp.1819-1827., which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ijc.30611. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-ArchivingExercise is associated with reduced risks of all-cause, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and cancer mortality; however, the benefits in smokers and ex-smokers are unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate associations between exercise, smoking habit and mortality. Self-reported exercise and smoking, and all-cause, CVD, and cancer mortality were assessed in 106,341 adults in the Health Survey for England and the Scottish Health Survey. There were 9149 deaths from all causes, 2839 from CVD, and 2634 from cancer during 999,948 person-years of follow-up. Greater amounts of exercise were associated with decreases and greater amounts of smoking were associated with increases in the risks of mortality from all causes, CVD and cancer. There was no statistically significant evidence of biological interaction; rather, the relative risks of all-cause mortality were additive. In the subgroup of 26,768 ex-smokers, the all-cause mortality hazard ratio was 0.70 (95% CI: 0.60, 0.80), the CVD mortality hazard ratio was 0.71 (0.55, 092), and the cancer mortality hazard ratio was 0.66 (0.52, 0.84) in those who exercised compared to those who did not. In the subgroup of 28,440 smokers, the all-cause mortality hazard ratio was 0.69 (0.57, 0.83), the CVD mortality hazard ratio was 0.66 (0.45, 0.96), and the cancer mortality hazard ratio was 0.69 (0.51, 0.94) in those who exercised compared to those who did not. Given that an outright ban is unlikely, this study is important because it suggests exercise reduces the risks of all-cause, CVD and cancer mortality by around 30% in smokers and ex-smokers

Bristol Girls Dance Project: A cluster randomised controlled trial of an after-school dance programme to increase physical activity among 11- to 12-year-old girls

Background: Many children do not meet UK physical activity (PA) guidelines. Girls are less active than boys, and the age-related decline in activity is steeper for girls. Dance is the favourite form of PA among adolescent girls in the UK. Participation in after-school dance classes could significantly contribute to girls’ PA. Therefore, after-school dance may be effective for increasing PA levels.Objectives: To determine the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of a dance-based intervention to increase the objectively assessed mean weekday minutes of moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) of Year 7 girls (11- and 12-year olds) 1 year after baseline measurement.Design: Two-arm cluster randomised controlled trial and economic evaluation. Year 7 girls in participant schools received a ‘taster’ session and were invited to participate. Up to 33 girls per school were able to participate. Schools were randomly assigned (equal numbers) to intervention or control arms.Setting: A total of 18 mainstream secondary schools across greater Bristol.Participants: Year 7 girls in participating schools who could participate in physical education.Intervention: Nine intervention schools received an after-school dance intervention (40 × 75-minute sessions) underpinned by self-determination theory, which attempts to improve intrinsic motivation for being active, and delivered by external dance instructors. Control schools continued as normal.Main outcome measures: The main outcome was accelerometer-assessed mean minutes of MVPA at T2. Measures were assessed at baseline (T0), the end of the intervention (T1) and at T0 + 52 weeks (T2).Results: Baseline MVPA levels were high. A total of 508 girls were included in the primary analysis, which found no difference in weekday MVPA between trial arms. There was no effect on secondary accelerometer outcomes. Data were subjected to a per-protocol analysis and no effect was found. However, at T1, girls who attended dance classes had 4.61 minutes more of MVPA and 14.27 minutes more of light-intensity activity between 15.00 and 17.00 on the days on which they attended intervention sessions. The intervention was inexpensive at £73 per participant (£63 when excluding dance instructor travel) but was not cost-effective owing to the ineffectiveness of the intervention. The European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions Youth survey data were unresponsive to changes in the sample. The process evaluation reported that girls in attendance enjoyed the sessions, that exertion levels were low during sessions and that attendance was low and declined. Fidelity to the session-plan manual was low but theoretical fidelity (to self-determination theory) was good. Qualitative information provides information for improving future interventions.Conclusions: The intervention was enjoyed by participants. However, there was no difference in the MVPA levels (which were high at baseline) of girls allocated to receive dance compared with girls receiving the control. High baseline MVPA levels indicate that the study appealed to an already active cohort and, therefore, may not have targeted those most in need of an intervention. Dance is an enjoyable activity for adolescent girls and could be further trialled as a means by which to increase PA. Research might consider the impact of dividing the intervention period into smaller blocks

Partnerships and the past: Reflections on 1940s community centre endeavours of the National Fitness Council

Madsen, WL ORCiD: 0000-0002-6136-8939© Australian Health Promotion Association 2016.Issue addressed Multisectoral and multilevel partnerships have been used in Australia since the 1940s to promote health. Examination of historical partnerships can offer insights into current practice. Methods Historical method was used to analyse archival material regarding the role of the National Fitness Council (NFC) and its partnerships under the Federal Government's program to establish community centres. Results Inadequate funding, messy organisational structures, a broadly defined goal and limited capacity within the NFC inhibited its work in regards to community centres. Conclusions Although the policy of establishing community centres was ultimately unsuccessful, this examination has analysed the partnerships between the NFC and various levels of governments, and the effect of the political and economic context on them. So what? Current health promotion practitioners can draw on the past to gain insight into potential problems and issues

The Federal fit kit.

Shipping list no. 85-2006-P."Tab A.""NASA Headquarters - Physical Fitness Program."At head of title: Distribute to air traffic facilities.Cover title.Includes bibliographies.Mode of access: Internet