Hormonal and metabolic changes, an essential part of the body's response to endurance exercise, are described. (Author/MT)

Data on the physical activity behavior of 15,381 American adults indicate that, while almost 53 percent participated at least once in moderate to high levels of physical activity, only about 18 percent were active on more than 60 days during a one-year period. (Author/CB)

Media misrepresentations have many women confused about the safety of exercise. The values and problems of exercise are discussed. (DF)

Many physicians encourage epileptic patients to lead active lives and put few, if any, restrictions on their choice of sports. Specific sports and their potential risks are discussed. (Author/MT)

Individuals who engage in regular exercise of varying intensity report significant reduction in anxiety and depression. While most evidence is anecdotal, research has provided support for exercise in depression therapy. (Author/MT)

Research into aging confirms that increased activity is associated with increased life expectancy. The emphasis is changing from high intensity exercise to activity. (MT)

Eight experts discuss the negative aspects of exercise, such as risk of injury. Adherence to exercise programs is reviewed, and ways of getting people to regard exercise as a natural and necessary aspect of life are considered. (Author/MT)

Sport psychology is becoming a bona fide field of study, although specialists have yet to come to terms with their own definitions. While practitioners stick mostly to performance enhancement and emotional control, researchers range the field. Eventually research is expected to yield information that will help physicians get their patients…

An active lifestyle is important in helping overweight people both lose and manage their weight. Exercise has many health benefits beyond weight control. The traditional exercise prescription of regular bouts of continuous vigorous exercise may need modification to increase rates of adoption and compliance, with people needing encouragement to…

The effects of a five-day-a-week, moderate-intensity aerobic training program were studied in previously sedentary middle-aged women. After 10 weeks of graduated-length sessions of continuous exercise, the subjects showed a 20 percent improvement in maximal oxygen uptake but no change in body weight or composition. Results are discussed.…

Examines the need for exercise intensity to become physically fit, concluding that intensity is not important for improving health, only for improving performance. What is important is routinely performing some sort of exercise. (GLR)

Researchers have long understood the relationship between exercise and cardiovascular fitness, but now they are looking into the potential of activity as the key to health. Activity is seen by the federal government as a way to reduce the incidence of chronic diseases. (Author/MT)

Research has shown that bone tissue responds to the forces of gravity and muscle contraction. The benefits of weight-bearing exercise in preventing or reversing bone mass loss related to osteoporosis is reviewed. The effects of weightlessness and immobilization, and the possible effects of athletic amenorrhea, on bone mineral density are…

Research regarding the direct and indirect effect of exercise on cancer risk is reviewed. (MT)

Excessive physical loading may disrupt normal osseous development and inflict injury. This is particularly applicable to young female gymnasts, for whom the injury rate is astonishingly high at advanced levels of competition. There is a need for a more extensive database using a longitudinal approach. (MT)