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Item Exploring physical activity profiles of Māori, Pacific and European women from Aotearoa New Zealand : implications for body composition and metabolic health : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Nutritional Sciences at Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand(Massey University, 2018) O'Brien, Wendy JeanBackground: Regular physical activity provides extensive health benefits, and is a key modifiable risk factor for chronic disease. Aims and objectives: The research aim was to robustly explore the physical activity profiles of Māori, Pacific and European women aged 16-45 years, living in New Zealand, to understand ethnic differences in their physical activity profiles and its consequences on body composition and metabolic health markers. Objectives were to: investigate the challenges of collecting hip-worn accelerometer data; determine ethnic differences in physical activity levels, and associated disease risk of being overweight-obese; investigate whether substituting sedentary behaviour with equal time in physical activity can predict improved health markers; examine recreational physical activity preferences to make ethnic-specific suggestions for meeting physical activity guidelines. Methods: Participants were 406 healthy premenopausal Māori, Pacific and European women aged 16-45 years, stratified by body composition profile and ethnicity. Physical activity data were collected using hip-worn accelerometers and Recent Physical Activity Questionnaire. Body composition was assessed using anthropometry, air displacement plethysmography and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Metabolic biomarkers were measured from venous blood samples. Results: Accelerometer wear compliance was 86%, but discomfort (67%) and embarrassment (45%) hindered wear. European women (92.7%) returned more valid data than Māori (82.1%) or Pacific (73.0%, p < 0.04) women. More overweight-obese European (67%) than Māori (49%) or Pacific (32%, p < 0.001) women achieved physical activity guidelines. Achieving guidelines was strongly associated for Māori, inversely with total and regional fat percentages and clustered cardiometabolic risk score (p < 0.01) and positively with body lean percentage (p = 0.21), and for European women inversely with regional fat percentages and positively with body lean percentage (p ≤ 0.036). Substituting sedentary time with moderate-vigorous physical activity predicted improvements (p < 0.05) in total (14.8%) and android (12.5%) fat percentages, BMI (15.3%) and insulin (42.2%) for overweight-obese Māori women, and waist-to-hip ratio (6.4%) among Pacific women. Recreational physical activity preferences varied by ethnicity, possibly due to cultural/ethnic factors. Suggestions to increase physical activity were: family/whanaubased team activities for Māori women; community/church-linked games and fitness sessions for Pacific women; adding variety to existing activities for European women. Conclusions: Ethnicity played a major role in: collecting data; amounts/types of physical activity performed; implications of physical activity on health markers. Tailoring physical activity recommendations for specific ethnic groups could have major positive health implications for New Zealand women.Item The effects of different forms of exercise on body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness in previously sedentary females : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Exercise Physiology at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand(Massey University, 2002) Barr, Amy CatherineThirty-five healthy females between the ages of 18 and 45 who had not undertaken any training for at least two months prior to the experiment were studied to determine the effects of six weeks of 'Pump It' aerobics or walking training on body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness, expressed as estimated maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max). Twelve of the volunteers participated in 'Pump It' aerobics while eleven took part in walking training. The remaining twelve subjects served as controls. Prior to the training programme, subjects were assessed for their current levels of cardiorespiratory fitness and body composition (fitness test 1). Testing was repeated at the conclusion of the training period (fitness test 2). Estimated VO2max was determined from heart rate and oxygen uptake during a submaximal treadmill-walking test. This method was validated in a preliminary experiment. Oxygen consumption during 'Pump It' was overestimated by approximately 0.38L/min using the HR/VO2 relationship obtained during treadmill walking. This was taken into account for the calculation of VO2 in Experiment 2. Body composition was evaluated from the sum of five skinfolds (triceps, subscapular, suprailiac, abdomen, thigh) and the sum of six circumferences (forearm, upper arm, waist, hips, thigh and calf). Data were analysed using one factor ANOVA and regression analysis. The training programmmes consisted of three 55-60 minute sessions a week. Massey University 'Pump It' aerobics consisted of a variety of traditional weight training exercises performed using light weights and high repetitions to music. Walking training involved brisk walking as a group, in and around the Massey University, Turitea Campus. Six weeks of 'Pump It' and Walking training failed to produce significant improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness and body composition compared with the Control group. There were no significant changes in body mass, the sum of skinfolds or the sum of circumferences. It was concluded that the length of the fitness programmes were too short to improve cardiorespiratory fitness and the training intensity of 'Pump It' and Walking were insufficient to improve body composition.Item The relationships between body image, activity levels and coping styles in women : in fulfillment of the requirements for masterate thesis(Massey University, 2001) Gordon, FionaThis study investigated whether any relationship exists between Activity, Body Image Dissatisfaction and Coping Skills. Three questionnaires were combined to investigate Activity, Body Image Dissatisfaction and Coping Skills. They were presented to participants as a world wide website. Usable answers were submitted by 214 women, aged 18-65. The study did not identify a psychological factor that correlates with exercise non-adherence. Body Image Dissatisfaction and Coping Skills were found to be related. Women's level of exercise was not affected by their body image or coping style. Poor body image is correlated with maladaptive and emotion-focused coping skills. Therefore training in adaptive coping skills might reduce poor body image in women.Item Effects of a university fitness programme on cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength and endurance, body composition, and flexibility of previously sedentary females : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Physiology at Massey University(Massey University, 1995) Scott, Christine AnnThirty-eight healthy females between the ages of 20 and 49 that had not undertaken any training for at least two months prior to the experiment were studied to determine the effects of six weeks of a combined circuit weight training and aerobic programme on estimated maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), muscular strength, body composition and flexibility. Nineteen of the volunteers participated in the exercise programme while the remaining nineteen served as control subjects. Prior to the training programme each subject took part in two testing sessions. Further testing was conducted after 3 weeks (1 testing session) and at the conclusion of the training programme (two testing sessions). Estimated VO2max was determined from heart rate and oxygen uptake during a submaximal test using a cycle ergometer. Muscular strength was determined from an estimated one repetition maximum and maximum number of repetitions for a set weight for the bench press, leg press, leg extension and abdominal crunches. Body composition was evaluated from the sum of the triceps, subscapular, suprailiac, abdomen, thigh and calf skinfolds. Flexibility was evaluated for the hamstrings muscle group (using the sit and reach test), gastrocnemius and soleus muscles and shoulders. The training programme consisted of three 25-40 minute sessions a week on The Massey University Recreation Centre Supercircuit. The supercircuit consisted of thirty-six 40-second exercises which include 11 aerobic exercises and a variety of weight training and calisthenic exercises. Data was analysed using regression analysis and one factor ANOVA. There was no significant increase in the mean estimated VO2max following the training period. The estimated 1RM increased by 40% and the maximum number of repetitions for a set weight increased by 100% for the bench press. The estimated 1RM increased by 16% for the leg press and the maximum number of repetitions for a set weight increased by 52% for the leg extension. The number of abdominal crunches completed in one minute increased significantly. There was no significant change in body mass or the sum of the skinfolds. There was a significant increase in the flexibility of the hamstring muscle group but not of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles and shoulders. Over the six weeks of the study period subjects felt they had significantly improved in stamina, muscle tone, strength, flexibility and general well being and had made small improvements in body shape. It was concluded that the supercircuit at the Massey University Recreation Centre is an effective means of improving musclar strength in sedentary females but it may not be as effective at improving cardiorespiratory fitness and body composition as some other forms of exercise.Item Does meeting physical activity guidelines in normal weight females influence body fatness? : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand(Massey University, 2014) Swift, RichardPurpose: To investigate the associations among objectively measured physical activity and markers of body composition in normal weight, New Zealand European women. Methods: Anthropometric measures were performed in 107 women aged 16-45 years with a BMI between 18.5 to 25 kg/m2. Accelerometers were worn over 7 days to assess sedentary time (<100 counts per minute), light (100 - 2019), moderate (2200 - 5998) and vigorous (>5999) physical activity. Independent t-tests were used to compare associations between participants with normal (<30%) and high (=30%) body fat. Partial correlations examined the independent associations of physical activity behaviours on body fat. Results: Participants with normal body fat completed significantly more moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) minutes per week (P = .002) and MVPA% (P =.021). Achieving current physical activity recommendations of = 150 mins/week of MVPA, resulted in lower body fat (P =.038). Achieving =300 mins/week of moderate physical activity showed a trend towards significance for lower body fat (P = .076), while achieving =150 mins/week of vigorous activity showed significantly lower body fat% (P = .022). Partial correlations determined the significance of MVPA on body fat% independent of sedentary (r [104] = -.258 P = 0.008) and light activity (r [104] = -.273 P = 0.005). Conclusion: Achieving current exercise recommendations was associated with lower body fat % in normal weight women. Our data suggest this association is stronger for vigorous activity, and is independent of the amount of sedentary activity achieved. Increasing vigorous physical activity may be important for improving body composition in this group.Item Maintaining physical activity as a health-promoting behaviour for midlife women : a feminist perspective : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts (Nursing), Massey University(Massey University, 1999) Yarwood, Judith AWhilst being physically active is linked to many health benefits, it appears maintenance of activity is both complex and poorly understood. Ten women participated in this research to explore the positive and negative factors that may influence midlife women to maintain physical activity over time. The perceived benefits of physical activity as a health-promoting behaviour have been found to be firmly located within the biomedical discourse, with disease prevention accorded primacy by a consensus of health and social disciplines. The individualistic nature of this discourse mostly ignores contextual determinants, which has necessitated a feminist approach be taken in this research to ensure that the everyday reality of midlife women living in a gendered society was recognised. The three discourses of physical activity taken up by the participants - disease prevention, health and well-being and the "body beautiful" - had resonance with the currently competing discourses in society. All three discourses appear to be constituted within a health imperative, which strongly motivated all participants to maintain physical activity. Whilst the desire to maintain such activity was axiomatic, the context in which this occurred was frequently problematic. The interweaving and changing life situations clearly illustrated the relevance of the social context in which these women were physically active. Nurses' position within health promotion discourses has been located within and constrained by the individualistic bio-medical discourse. The limitations inherent in risk and lifestyle behaviours appear to have prevented examination of the contextual reality of women's lives. Within the political and health ideology currently underpinning health care there are opportunities for nurses to expand their practice to incorporate social determinants. In so doing they can claim their place as autonomous practitioners who emphasize promoting health within a contextual reality, thus acknowledging the uniqueness, diversity and complexity of women's lives.