Although reports on the positive effects of fitness and exercise predominate in the exercise literature, some researchers describe frequent exercise as compulsive or addictive behavior. This paper addresses these "negative addictions" of exercise. As early as 1970, researchers recognized the addictive qualities of exercise. Short-term…

In the course of a longitudinal research program conducted in Sweden, data were being collected on biological and psychological aspects of individual functioning and on environmental factors for a fairly large representative sample (approximately 1,000) of Swedish males and females between 10 and 27 years of age. Based on data from the…

Exercise addiction may be defined as psychological and/or physiological dependence upon a regular regimen of physical activity. Additionally, exercise addiction is characterized by recognizable withdrawal symptoms when the need to exercise remains unfulfilled after 24 to 36 hours. These withdrawal symptoms may encompass both psychological and…

The effects of musical stimulation on activity and academic performance were studied in 36 retarded children (ages 11-19 years). (Author/DLS)

The response of mentally retarded children to various stimuli (low active remain low active, high active remain high active) relates activity to intelligence and suggests that, for low intellectual functioning subjects, the retardation was due to endogenous reasons with consequent organic brain involvement affecting mechanisms controlling activity…

The effects of physical activity on the human skeleton are examined. Research studies are cited that indicate exercise may be beneficial in maintaining or increasing bone mineral content. Effects of exercise on the prevention or treatment of osteoporosis are uncertain. (DF)

An article discusses what is known about children's fitness based on numerous small-scale studies. Specifically addressed are issues of cardiovascular fitness, effects of training, participation in physical activity, and behavioral carryovers to adulthood. Six articles follow that comment on and critique the first. (Author/MT)

Reports on the development of the Adolescent Activities Checklist (AAC) which is comprised of 100 items that assess pleasant and unpleasant activities. The AAC subscales demonstrated high internal consistency and homogeneity. Results suggest the AAC is a reliable index of the frequency of pleasant and unpleasant activities reported by adolescents.…

This article offers a perspective on the present and future status of the health and fitness of Americans. Many advances have been made in the areas of health and fitness, but heart disease and obesity are still major health problems. (DF)

There are many misconceptions about exercise that keep older adults from participating in a regular physical fitness program. This article explores some of these misconceptions and offers strategies for developing appropriate and safe programs for the older population. (DF)

Activity-level and childrearing questionnaires were administered to parents of 43 nursery school children. Results were interpreted as consistent with a heritable component to activity level. (ST)

Although research indicates that the growth and development of young athletes is not adversely affected by continuous rigorous physical activity, there is evidence to support the fact that inclusion of certain nutritional programs may deplete the physically active child. Cardiovascular involvement should be monitored and proper safeguards taken to…

To aid in the identification and treatment of hyperkinesis, parent and teacher rating scales were developed. Analysis of parent ratings indicated three factors: excitability; motor coordination; and directed attention. Analysis of the teacher form yielded similar factors. Analysis of variance of each factor score revealed significant differences…

The effects of task-overlapping linguistic noise on activity and performance of hyperactive and control children were assessed. Results suggest that task difficulty may play a role in the effects of overlapping stimulation on both groups. (Author/GK)

The effectiveness of a package of self-control procedures in a classroom with six hyperactive boys ages 7 to 10 was investigated. Results indicated that the self-control package was effective in improving misbehavior and attention to tasks during the individual seat work but not during group instruction. (Author)