Objective: To examine the differences in experiences of stress, emotional well-being, and physical activity among international and domestic students. Participants: Domestic (n = 4,035) and international (n = 605) students at a large Canadian university. Methods: Responses to items on stress, emotional well-being (happiness and satisfaction with…

Objective: There is recent evidence that exercise referral schemes (ERSs) are beginning to permit self-referral access. Notwithstanding this, to date it is unknown whether key referral characteristics, such as age, gender and socioeconomic status are associated with a greater likelihood of self-referring to an ERS, and whether self-referral…

As the number of international and domestic college students has increased, the importance of developing healthy lifestyles has been getting significant attention from college administrators. The current study was designed to determine if differences occur in exercise motivation between international and domestic college students. A total of 155…

A hazard ratio presents one benefit of exercise as reducing annual mortality risk by 19%. Alternatively, speed-of-ageing metaphors present this as adding 2.5 years to one's life expectancy--equating to 1 extra hour each day--or taking 2.5 years off one's "effective age." Few studies compare these (increasingly popular) metaphors. Study 1…

Objective: The constant deterioration of the physical fitness of college students has been a popular topic in China, thus this research analyzes the potential health risk of inadequate physical activity among college students. Participants/methods: During the national student fitness test (NSFT) in 2012, 1500 students from Tsinghua University were…

All of the behaviors that people exhibit in order to stay healthy both physically and psychologically and maintain their health during their lifetime are included in the definition of "healthy life behavior". In this study, it was aimed to identify and compare the perceptions of healthy life behavior of students of the Department of…

Obesity rates among children and young adults are considered one of the most consequential global public health challenges of the 21st century (Hurt et al., 2010; WHO, 2016). Obesity comorbidities include propensity of low self-esteem (Franklin et al, 2006). Using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), a triangulation mixed-methods,…

Adults with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability often do not engage in healthy levels of physical activity despite its many benefits. We conducted a randomized control trial to evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of the Step It Up program, which used supported self-management strategies, on daily step counts, health…

Objective: Regular exercise and healthy eating are important contributors to a person's overall health and well-being. To enhance community health, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California medical students have been leading in-person nutrition, cooking and exercise classes for community members at the Los Angeles County…

The Early College High School Initiative (ECHSI) was introduced in 2002. Since 2002, limited data, especially student physical activity data, have been published pertaining to the ECHSI. The purpose of this study was to examine the aerobic capacities of early college students and compare them to state and national averages. Early college students…

This study examined (a) the validity of two accelerometers (ActiGraph GT3X [ActiGraph LLC, Pensacola, FL, USA] and activPAL [PAL Technologies Ltd., Glasgow, Scotland]) for the assessment of sedentary behavior; and (b) the variations in assessment accuracy by setting minimum sedentary bout durations against a proxy for direct observation using an…

Background: Teen pregnancy rates and related risks remain elevated among Latino teens. We tested the impact on youth sexual behaviors of a brief, culturally targeted, bilingual media intervention designed for parents of young adolescents. Methods: "Salud y éxito" (Health & Success) uses dramatic audio stories to model positive…

Background: Given the dramatic increase in adolescent overweight and obesity, models are needed for implementing weight management treatment through readily accessible venues. We evaluated the acceptability and efficacy of a school-based intervention consisting of school nurse-delivered counseling and an afterschool exercise program in improving…

Schools are positioned to play a key role in nurturing students with knowledge and behaviours associated with healthful living. Our study examined the effects of an intervention on energy balance (EB) knowledge. Twelve 6th and 7th grade classrooms (n = 140) were assigned to receive either two standardised lessons on EB or a combined intervention…

Fidelity in implementing an intervention is critical to accurately determine and interpret the effects of an intervention. It is important to monitor the manner in which the behavioral intervention is implemented (e.g. adaptations, delivery as intended and dose). Few interventions are implemented with 100% fidelity. In this study, high school…