The effect of physical activity on the perception of body image and well-being during aging

Problem Statement: Physical activity levels have been positively associated with mental and physical wellbeing. Nevertheless, associations between physical activity levels, which decrease with aging, and body image perception and indices of psycho-physical well-being have never been studied in adult and elderly subjects as a function of aging. Approach: This observational study was carried out in several provinces and regions of Italy. Information was collected from 192 men and 260 women between 50 and 98 years using a questionnaire on place of residence, physical activity level, perceived well-being and body image. Purpose: This study aimed to assess the influence of the level of physical activity on perceptions of body image and well-being in adult and elderly subjects. Results: Physical activity levels were positively associated with body image perception. Interactions between physical activity levels and the other investigated variables showed no significant effect on body image. Hence, the main effect of physical activity on body image does not vary according to the subject’s age, place of residence (rural or urban), kind of job (active or sedentary) or educational level. The well-being index was not significantly associated with either physical activity levels or the other variables investigated in this study. Conclusions: Physical activity levels are positively correlated with the body image perception, and high levels of physical activity are associated with more accurate perceptions of body image. The effect of physical activity is not influenced by different individual characteristics; hence, increasing levels of physical activity could improve body image perception across a broad range of subjects. On the other hand, the well-being index was not influenced by either physical activity levels or the other characteristics examined in this investigation. Additional experimental studies are needed to develop a specific intervention to improve the well-being and body image perception in adults and elderly subjects

La percezione fisica di sé negli scolari adolescenti: Ruolo della costituzione fisica e del livello di attività fisica

Physical self-perception depends on body weight, gender, but also to physical exercise. It is not well understood, however, whether the effects of the latter can be attributed to the level of physical activity or to the resulting physical fitness. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of both physicalactivity level and physical fitness on the physical self-perception and its relationship with gender and body weight in adolescent pupils. The fitness level of 188 adolescents aged 12-16 years old was assessed through a test battery, while the “Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents” and the “Physical Self-Description Questionnaire Short” were administered to assess physical activity level and physical self-perception, respectively. The effects of gender and body weight on physical self-perception was evaluated using the analysis of variance with physical activity level and physical fitness as covariates. Results showed that overweight reduces the overall physical self-perception.Furthermore, the physical self-perception is generally higher in males than in females even without differences in either physical activity level or physical fitness.La percezione di sé è influenzata dalla costituzione corporea, dal sesso, e dall’esercizio fisico. Non è chiaro, però, se gli effetti dell’esercizio derivino dal livello di attività fisica praticata o dal miglioramento delle capacità fisiche che esso determina. Pertanto questo studio ha indagato l’effetto, sia del livello di attività fisica che delle capacità fisiche sulla percezione fisica di sé, in funzione del sesso e della costituzione corporea, in studenti adolescenti. Il livello generale delle capacità fisiche di 188 adolescenti tra i 12 ed i 16 anni è stato valutato tramite una batteria di test motori, il livello di attività fisica è stato misurato con il questionario Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents, mentre la percezione fisica di sé è stata valutata con il questionario Physical Self-Description Questionnaire Short. L’effetto del sesso e della costituzione fisica sono stati indagati tramite analisi della varianza considerando come covariate il livello di attività fisica e le capacità fisiche. I risultati evidenziano che essere in sovrappeso diminuisce la considerazione fisica generale di sé. Inoltre, la percezione di sé dei maschi è generalmente più alta delle femmine anche se questa non corrisponde a più elevate capacità fisiche o ad un maggior livello di attività fisica

Elderly-Caring Service Pattern in USA Comparing With Iran

Objectives: Nowadays, in developed countries the rate of growing old population increases due to medical and public heath improvements, leading to increased life expectancy. So, providing a special elderly caring service system seems to be necessary. The purpose of this study was to compare the elderly- caring service pattern in Iran and in USA. Methods & Materials: This systematic review aimed to investigate the literate related to the caring system of elderly in Iran and the USA. Sampling was goal-based and it was upon the dependence rate, relation between the topics and keywords. Results: Although increasing the number of elderly people in the USA causes other people to be hopeful to reach to the old age, this makes a lot of significant problems for the young population in the society. Social security in the USA plays a great role in support of the elderly especially retired people financially. More than two third of the costs of health is paid for the elderly with chronic diseases. Medicare is a health insurance program in USA for elderly and handicaps (who has kidney transplanting, needs dialyze and kidney diseases), which its cost is provided by taxes, insurance and some of general incomes. Also, this program has provided the medical services for lower class and those who have no insurance. Conclusion: Social security is an important source of income for retired and elderly people in the USA and other developed countries. Without this source of income, the large population of elderly (two third or 66.8 percent) will be poor in developed countries. In Iran the social security and insurance for increasing the quality of elderly life should be studied. In Iran, establishing NGOs can help us to solve a lot of these problems

Educazione a corretti stili di vita tramite la didattica dell’esercizio fisico nelle carceri Italiane

Prison has a general preventive purpose that aims to highlight the negativity of the crime committed. Re-education is not a guaranteed outcome, as the outcome of an educational process never is, but rather a ‘bet’ that society makes with itself on a possible, but never certain outcome. With motor activity, typical sedentary diseases (obesity, malabsorption syndrome, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases) are prevented. The social value of sporting activity must also be associated with this, as it stimulates socialisation, team spirit, respect for and sharing of rules, and the stimulus and motivation to achieve positive goals while respecting others. In this study, conducted on inmates of Fossombrone prison, the aim was to investigate the possible correlations between the level of physical activity, body image and well-being, and the role that physical activity plays within prison institutions. However, the idea is confirmed that physical activity for prisoners is very important both from a psycho-physical and re-educational point of view because it allows them to move and vent stress, conveys important values, teaches commitment to achieve objectives, increases self-esteem and improves lifestyle by limiting the onset of frequent pathologies found in prison facilities.La carcerazione ha una finalità di prevenzione generale che mira a mettere in evidenza la negatività del reato commesso. La rieducazione non è un risultato garantito, come non lo è mai l’esito di un processo educativo, ma è piuttosto una “scommessa” che la società fa con sé stessa su un esito possibile, ma mai sicuro. Con l’attività motoria si prevengono le malattie tipiche della sedentarietà (obesità, sindrome da malassorbimento, diabete, malattie cardiovascolari). A ciò si deve anche associare il valore sociale della pratica sportiva, essendo in grado di stimolare la socializzazione, lo spirito di gruppo, il rispetto e la condivisione delle regole, lo stimolo e la motivazione a raggiungere obiettivi positivi nel rispetto degli altri. In questo studio, condotto sui detenuti del carcere di Fossombrone, si è voluto indagare sulle possibili correlazioni tra livello di attività fisica, immagine corporea e benessere e il ruolo che ricopre l’attività fisica all’interno degli istituti penitenziari. Viene comunque confermata l’idea che l’attività fisica per i detenuti sia molto importante sia dal punto di vista psico-fisico che rieducativo, perché permette di muoversi e sfogare lo stress, veicola valori importanti, insegna a impegnarsi per raggiungere degli obiettivi, aumenta la stima in sé stessi e migliora lo stile di vita limitando l’insorgenza di patologie frequenti riscontrate nelle strutture penitenziarie

La percezione fisica di sé negli scolari adolescenti: Ruolo della costituzione fisica e del livello di attività fisica

La percezione di sé è influenzata dalla costituzione corporea, dal sesso, e dall’esercizio fisico. Non è chiaro, però, se gli effetti dell’esercizio derivino dal livello di attività fisica praticata o dal miglioramento delle capacità fisiche che esso determina. Pertanto questo studio ha indagato l’effetto, sia del livello di attività fisica che delle capacità fisiche sulla percezione fisica di sé, in funzione del sesso e della costituzione corporea, in studenti adolescenti. Il livello generale delle capacità fisiche di 188 adolescenti tra i 12 ed i 16 anni è stato valutato tramite una batteria di test motori, il livello di attività fisica è stato misurato con il questionario Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents, mentre la percezione fisica di sé è stata valutata con il questionario Physical Self-Description Questionnaire Short. L’effetto del sesso e della costituzione fisica sono stati indagati tramite analisi della varianza considerando come covariate il livello di attività fisica e le capacità fisiche. I risultati evidenziano che essere in sovrappeso diminuisce la considerazione fisica generale di sé. Inoltre, la percezione di sé dei maschi è generalmente più alta delle femmine anche se questa non corrisponde a più elevate capacità fisiche o ad un maggior livello di attività fisica

Barbell load distribution and lifting velocity affect bench press exercise volume and perceived exertion

Objective The intensity of barbell bench press exercise is generally prescribed as the load to be lifted for a specific number of repetitions; however, other factors (e.g., execution velocity) can affect bench press exercise intensity. Moreover, no study assessed whether load distribution (i.e., the distance between the disc stacks on the two sides of the barbell) affects exercise intensity. The present study aims to assess how different combinations of load, velocity, and barbell load distribution affect the number of repetitions to failure (REPfailure), and rating of perceived exertion (RPEfatigue) and number of repetitions (REPfatigue) at fatigue onset. Methods Ten males (age 23.3±1.8 years) performed bench press exercises to exhaustion using random combinations of three loads (50%, 65%, and 80% of 1 repetition maximum), three execution velocities (50%, 70%, and 90% of maximal concentric velocity), and two load distributions (narrow and wide). Three separate three-way repeated-measures ANOVAs were performed to assess the effect of load, velocity, and load distribution on REPfailure, RPEfatigue, and REPfatigue expressed as a percentage of REPfailure. Results REPfailure was affected by load (p<0.001), velocity (p<0.001), and distribution (p = 0.005). The interactions between load and velocity (p<0.001) and load and distribution (p = 0.004) showed a significant effect on REPfailure, whereas the interaction between velocity and distribution was not significant (p = 0.360). Overall, more REPfailure were performed using lower loads, higher velocities, and a wider distribution. RPEfatigue and REPfatigue were affected by load (p<0.001 and p = 0.007, respectively) and velocity (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively), and not by distribution (p = 0.510 and p = 0.571, respectively) or the two-way interaction effects. Overall, using higher loads yielded higher RPEfatigue but lower REPfatigue, while RPEfatigue and REPfatigue were higher when slower velocities were used. Conclusion The current investigation shows that not only load but also velocity and barbell load distribution may influence bench press training volume and perceived exertion

Barbell load distribution and lifting velocity affect bench press exercise volume and perceived exertion

Objective The intensity of barbell bench press exercise is generally prescribed as the load to be lifted for a specific number of repetitions; however, other factors (e.g., execution velocity) can affect bench press exercise intensity. Moreover, no study assessed whether load distribution (i.e., the distance between the disc stacks on the two sides of the barbell) affects exercise intensity. The present study aims to assess how different combinations of load, velocity, and barbell load distribution affect the number of repetitions to failure (REPfailure), and rating of perceived exertion (RPEfatigue) and number of repetitions (REPfatigue) at fatigue onset. Methods Ten males (age 23.3±1.8 years) performed bench press exercises to exhaustion using random combinations of three loads (50%, 65%, and 80% of 1 repetition maximum), three execution velocities (50%, 70%, and 90% of maximal concentric velocity), and two load distributions (narrow and wide). Three separate three-way repeated-measures ANOVAs were performed to assess the effect of load, velocity, and load distribution on REPfailure, RPEfatigue, and REPfatigue expressed as a percentage of REPfailure. Results REPfailure was affected by load (pConclusion The current investigation shows that not only load but also velocity and barbell load distribution may influence bench press training volume and perceived exertion