Successful physical fitness programs are geared toward independent fitness maintenance. Today's revised national fitness tests cover overall fitness concepts (emotional and physical), recognize individual needs, and develop a life process strategy. The article provides a summary of physical fitness program components, suggestions for teachers, and…

A survey of 723 medical school graduates investigated motivations for early specialty selections and later changes and factors involved in current specialty choice. Perceived match of personality and specialty, technology and methodology characteristic of specialty, and time for family were critical. Greater awareness of career lifestyles is…

The weeks just prior to conception and the early weeks of pregnancy are extremely crucial. By adopting a healthy lifestyle, parents can give their babies a head start toward a healthy life. Both men and women play an important role in preconception planning and behavior. (SM)

Discusses how families and family structures of the 1990s differ from those of the past, examining two-career families, single-parent families, stepfamilies, and distressed families (overwhelmed by poverty, violence, homelessness, or substance abuse). The article stresses the need for flexibility to make these families work. (SM)

Administered Lifestyle Assessment Questionnaire to 575 matriculating college freshmen to explore mean subscale differences across gender and to examine interrelationships among 11 subscales. Found 11 subscales to be highly intercorrelated; subscales appeared to measure underlying behavioral wellness and cognitive wellness dimensions. (Author/NB)

Interviewed 44 women who did not obtain prenatal care. Identified four categories of reasons for nonuse: women's lifestyles differed from mainstream; stressful events took priority over prenatal care; women attempted to receive care but were discouraged, turned away, or given poor information by service delivery system personnel; and women did not…

TAR WARS is an interactive, anti-tobacco program for fifth graders designed to promote positive health choices by increasing students' awareness of attitudes regarding tobacco use and the effects of tobacco on the body. The program encourages health care provider involvement in community health activities and mobilizes community support against…

Explores conceptions of health and health promotion that have emerged over the past decade, considering implications for school health personnel and presenting activities that incorporate the emerging ideas. Discusses health promotion principles and values; implications for school health personnel; and a community-level quality of life model that…

Studies the relationship between education and certain diabetic health investment proxies, such as smoking propensities, blood sugar control, and diet. Increased education positively affects diabetic health investment even after controlling for IQ and available information. However, diabetics' health investments are less responsive to education…

Physical educators can play a significant role in promoting active lifestyles and lifelong fitness. Unfortunately, many physical education programs face the challenges of time limitations, affordability, and professional commitment. The purpose of this article is to describe a stretch-band fitness program offered to sixth-grade students. The…

Despite the recognized health risks associated with physical inactivity, most Americans are not active enough to achieve health benefits, and many report no planned physical activity at all. The Surgeon General's report on physical activity and health and several research studies have provided evidence that most Americans do not exercise and are…

Health promoting behaviors have become increasingly important as Americans attempt to retain their youth and health. This study collected self-reported data from 559 participants in the Southwest United States using the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II to compare the health promoting behaviors of older adults (60-92 years), middle-aged adults…

Approximately seven years after completing a photographic essay about the self, 44 adults were surveyed about their lives, current creative activities, and their work values. In accord with prediction, those who devised richer, more multidimensional and creative photo essays--the more individualistic--were engaged in more creative lifestyles as…

This paper considers the place of education within our "consumers' society", beginning with Hannah Arendt's account of the rise of consumerism to a position of political dominance and the resulting eclipse of public life. Connections are then made between Arendt's account of this rise and Jean Baudrillard's account of the postmodern proliferation…

Childhood obesity has become an emotive and serious problem in Europe. In the UK, it has generated a great deal of interest by the media, health professionals, food companies, scientists, and more recently, the government. Upward trends have been recorded in most countries, levels are interestingly variable, and the origins of this variation have…