What is public health?
Fitness instructors have the greatest potential to effect positive changes in the health and well-being of participants and community. It involves preventing and managing chronic conditions, promoting physical activity, addressing psycho-social factors, and adopting holistic approaches.
What is the role of fitness instructors in public health?
As front-line staff/volunteers, their expertise in exercise and wellness helps people live healthier lives, prevent chronic disease, and improve well-being.
What are the effects of regular exercise on chronic disease?
Regular exercise positively affects coronary heart disease, hypertension, osteoporosis, colon and breast cancer, and both Type 1 and 2 diabetes. It can decrease depression and anxiety, and increase well-being.
What are physiological responses to a sedentary lifestyle?
Muscle loss, gradual fat gain, decreased glucose tolerance, decreased contractility of ventricles, increased resting heart rate and blood pressure, decreased HDL cholesterol, 3.2 million deaths per year linked to sedentary lifestyle.
What are physiological adaptations to cardiovascular exercise?
Decrease in resting blood pressure, increase in HDL cholesterol, increase in elasticity of blood vessels, more capillaries, increased mitochondria, increased oxidative enzymes, increased stroke volume, decreased resting heart rate, increased cardiac output.
What are physiological adaptations to resistance training?
Increased muscle tissue, increased metabolic activity, increased bone mineral density, decreased body fat, increased insulin sensitivity, decreased arthritic pain, increased glycogen storage, ability to use fat as energy source.
Define obesity.
Excessive accumulation of body fat. True obesity is carrying 30% or more of body weight as fat; morbid obesity is 40% or more.
What is BMI and how is it classified?
BMI = weight (kg) / height (m^2). <18.5 underweight, 18.5–24.9 healthy, 25–29.9 overweight, 30+ obese. Different ethnicities have different thresholds.
What is waist-to-hip ratio and waist circumference significance?
Waist >31.5 inches (women) or >34 inches (men) increases disease risk. Women >35 inches or men >40 inches indicate obesity and higher risk of chronic disease.
What are fat distribution patterns?
Pear-shaped (gynoid) = hips/buttocks; Apple-shaped (android) = abdomen/trunk. Apple shape carries higher risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
What is Type 1 Diabetes?
Insulin-dependent; pancreas does not produce insulin; accounts for 10% of cases.
What is Type 2 Diabetes?
Most common; insulin resistance; associated with obesity, aging, family history, muscle loss; can often be prevented with healthy lifestyle.
What is Metabolic Syndrome?
A cluster of conditions: insulin resistance, hypertension, low HDL, high LDL, high triglycerides, visceral fat. Leads to higher risk of diabetes and heart disease.
What is coronary artery disease?
Atherosclerosis of coronary arteries; most common cause of death; leads to heart attacks.
What are secondary risk factors for heart disease?
Heredity, age, obesity, diabetes, gender, gout, elevated triglycerides, metabolic syndrome.
What are novel risk factors for heart disease?
High homocysteine, high C-reactive protein, insulin resistance.
What are complications of hypertension?
Stroke, blindness, kidney failure, heart attack, arteriosclerosis.
What are benefits of quitting smoking?
20 min: blood pressure drops. 8h: CO drops, O2 rises. 24h: heart attack risk decreases. 48h: senses improve. Weeks to months: circulation and lung function improve. 1y: risk of CHD halved. 15y: risk same as non-smoker.
What is a stroke?
Interruption of blood flow to brain; ischemic (blood clot) or hemorrhagic (vessel rupture). 80% ischemic, 20% hemorrhagic.
What are physiological effects of stress?
Elevated cortisol/adrenalin, suppressed immune system, increased BP/HR, reproductive function suppression, elevated free fatty acids, enlarged pupils, goose bumps.
What is the holistic concept of wellness?
Defined by 6 dimensions: Social, Occupational, Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Emotional. Emphasizes multidimensional well-being.
What are personal barriers to exercise?
Low self-esteem, anxiety, lack of time, lack of energy, discomfort, fear of injury, inertia, isolation, misconceptions.
What are environmental barriers to exercise?
Lack of transport, affordability, physician neglect, technology reducing activity, long work hours, family responsibilities.
What are specific fitness environment barriers?
Intimidating facility environment, ‘one size fits all’ programming, intimidating staff, inclement climate, excessive intensity, lack of instruction.
