Body size and shape: derivation of the "HAT" frame size model.

A bivariate mathematical model termed the "HAT" model for defining body frame size is presented for young males and females (mean age 22 yr). The HAT model is based on the relationship between stature and the sum of the biacromial and bitrochanteric diameter measurements. Small, medium, and large frame sizes were calculated for individuals and percentile rankings for the corresponding body weights, percentage fats, and lean body weights were given. For males, it was observed that differences in body weight between frame size groups was primarily due to differences in lean body weight. That is, lean body weight increased per frame size, while fat weight per frame size remained constant. For females in contrast, there was a small but statistically significant increase in fat weight per frame size and no increase in lean body weight per frame size.

Effects of exercise intensity on food consumption in the male rat.

The effects of two different levels of exercise of equal caloric cost on food consumption and body weight changes was investigated in 24 male rats (initial body weight = 378.3 g, SD = 22.3 g). Open circuit spirometry was used for the collection of respiratory gas exchange during running on the treadmill and these data were used to equate two intensities of exercise to the same caloric expenditure. Food consumption was measured 1 hr, and every 4 hr thereafter for 24 hr during 2 alternate weeks of exercise and rest. Results showed that high intensity exercise (16 m . min-1, 10% mill grade) resulted in depressed food consumption and depressed body weight gain than low intensity exercise (5 m . min-1, zero percentage mill grade) of equal caloric expenditure. Both exercise groups had depressed food consumption and rate of body weight change compared to nonexercise animals.

Energy expenditure in prepubescent children: influence of sex and age.

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the relationship between energy expenditure and speed for 6-and 7-yr-old children and to compare these data to published data for adults. Eight subjects (n = four boys, four girls) completed three treadmill tests at 67, 94, and 127.5 m . min-1 (k = 12 trials for the boys, 12 trials for the girls). Heart rate was monitored continuously and oxygen uptake (VO2) and carbon dioxide production (VCO2) were determined at each speed in order to estimate caloric expenditure. Sex differences were observed in the metabolic and heart rate responses to exercise. In comparison to the females, the energy expenditure (kcal . min-1) was 16 (p less than 0.05), 11 (p greater than 0.05) and 14 (p less than 0.05) percent higher for the males at the slow, medium, and fast speeds, respectively. Additionally, heart rate was 13 beats . min-1 lower (p less than 0.05) for the males at a speed of 94 m . min-1. Differences in kcal . kg . min-1 between children and adults were observed (children higher). In contrast to adults' linear increase in energy expenditure with increasing speed, a curvilinear pattern was observed for prepubescent children. It was concluded that these sex and age effects must be considered when attempting to quantify children's daily energy expenditure and caloric requirements.

Body frame size: validity of self-appraisal.

The validity of self-appraisal of body frame size was investigated in 72 college-aged subjects (39 males and 33 females). Validity was assessed by comparing self-appraised frame size versus the quantitative "HAT" formulation, which includes stature and two trunk diameters. Frame size was also assessed separately, for each subject by an expert rater. Results showed that the expert rater was in error 28% in comparison to the criterion frame size estimation, while 41% of the subjects were in error in assessing their own frame size, in comparison to the HAT criterion. The expert rater and self-appraisal differed by 33%. When analyzed by sex, it was revealed that the females were more inaccurate in assessing their frame size, in comparison to the criterion, than were the males. The consequences of inaccurate frame size assessment, in terms of ideal weight from the Metropolitan tables was discussed. Also, data were presented on a different sample of 103 females classified into percentage fat categories of less than 20%, 20 to 30%, and more than 30% which illustrated no statistical differences in skeletal dimensions, including frame size.

Resistance weight training during caloric restriction enhances lean body weight maintenance.

To assess the individual and combined effects of weight loss and weight training on body weight and body composition, 40 obese women were randomly assigned to one of four groups for an 8 wk weight-loss study. These groups were control (C); diet without exercise (DO); diet plus weight training (DPE); and weight training without diet (EO). Body weight decreased for DO (-4.47 kg) and DPE (-3.89 kg) compared with C (-0.38 kg) and EO (0.45 kg). Lean body weight (LBW) increased for EO (1.07 kg) compared with DO (-0.91 kg) and C (-0.31 kg) and for DPE (0.43 kg) compared with DO. Upper-arm muscle areas (determined by radiograph) increased for DPE (11.2 cm2) and EO (10.4 cm2) compared with C (2.7 cm2) and DO (2.1 cm2). It was concluded that weight training results in comparable gains in muscle area and strength for DPE and EO. Adding weight training exercise to a caloric restriction program results in maintenance of LBW compared with DO.

The antihypertensive effect of calorie restriction in obese adolescents: dissociation of effects on erythrocyte countertransport and cotransport.

Measures of maximal rates of lithium-sodium countertransport and frusemide-sensitive sodium and potassium cotransport have been proposed as biochemical markers for human essential hypertension. The stability of these functions over time within the same individuals has led to the suggestion that maximal transport capacities are genetically determined. The present study confirms the reproducibility of functional assays of countertransport and cotransport in human erythrocytes after overnight storage and over a six-month period in normal volunteers and provides estimates of the magnitude of technical error for each assay. A long-term dietary intervention study in a group of obese adolescents demonstrated marked increases in erythrocyte sodium levels and maximal frusemide-sensitive sodium and potassium fluxes but no changes in cell potassium or water and no effect on lithium-sodium countertransport. A correlation between the decrease in percentage of body fat and the increase in cell sodium content suggests a link between the metabolic effects of dieting and control of erythrocyte cation handling. Although the mechanism linking dietary calorie restriction and changes in erythrocyte cation metabolism is unknown, evaluation of body weight, and especially recent weight loss, is important in studies of erythrocyte transport. Conclusions regarding genetic contributions to the activities of lithium-sodium countertransport and sodium-potassium cotransport systems will be strengthened by clarification of environmental regulators.

Coronary risk incidence of obese adolescents: reduction by exercise plus diet intervention.

The incidence of coronary heart disease risk factors and the effects of 20 weeks of diet and exercise were studied in 36 obese adolescents. Values for the following risk factors were determined: serum triglyceride level, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol level, total cholesterol level, systolic and diastolic BP, maximum work capacity, obesity, and presence of coronary heart disease in the family history. Of the subjects, 97% had four or more risk factors. Two subjects possessed all eight risk factors. The adolescents were randomly assigned to either a control, diet therapy and behavior change, or exercise, diet therapy, and behavior change group. From pre- to posttreatment, a 14.8% and 41.4% reduction in multiple risk was noted for the latter two groups, respectively. No significant difference between the control group and the diet and behavior change group was found. In contrast, the exercise-diet-behavior change group reduced multiple risk (P less than .01) more than either of the other groups. It was concluded that obese adolescents are at high risk for the development of coronary heart disease and that exercise in addition to moderate dietary restriction can result in the reduction of multiple coronary heart disease risk.

Role for aldosterone in blood pressure regulation of obese adolescents.

To determine the role of aldosterone in the regulation of blood pressure (BP) in obese adolescents, supine and 2-hour upright plasma renin activity (PRA), and aldosterone and cortisol were measured in 10 nonobese and 30 obese adolescents before and after a 20-week weight loss program. The obese adolescents had significantly higher supine and 2-hour upright plasma aldosterone concentrations (17 +/- 8 vs 6 +/- 2 ng/dl [p less than 0.01 supine obese vs nonobese] and 30 +/- 11 vs 14 +/- 8 ng/dl [p less than 0.01 2-hour upright]). Although PRA was not significantly different between the 2 groups of children, a given increment in PRA produced a greater increment in aldosterone in the obese adolescents. In addition, obese subjects had a significantly increased mean BP (93 +/- 12 vs 74 +/- 8, p less than 0.005) and a weak correlation between BP and plasma aldosterone concentration. Compared with an obese control group, weight loss resulted in a significant decrease in plasma aldosterone (p less than 0.01) without an associated decrease in PRA. After weight loss there was also a significant decrease in the slope of the posture-induced relation between PRA and aldosterone. In addition to weight loss being associated with a significant decrease in BP (p less than 0.01), there was a significant correlation between the change in plasma aldosterone and the change in mean BP (r = 0.538; p less than 0.002 change in upright aldosterone vs change in mean BP). Obese adolescents have an increased plasma aldosterone concentration that may be important in the regulation of their BP.

Individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are in caloric balance despite losses in mass.

The purpose of this study was to quantify body composition changes during amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) progression and to determine whether these subjects were losing or maintaining the energy stored in their bodies. The body composition of 12 males in the early stages of ALS and 6 age-matched controls was measured twice over a 6-month period using dual X-ray absorptiometry. During the study period the control group did not change. The ALS group lost an average of 2 kg of lean mass while gaining 0.55 kg of fat mass, resulting in a 1.45 kg loss in total body mass. When the changes in mass were converted to their energy equivalents, the ALS subjects lost an average of 1800 kcal of energy stored in lean mass but gained 4900 kcal in fat mass, resulting in a net increase of 3100 kcal stored. In conclusion, a small increase in fat mass can successfully compensate for the energy lost in lean mass from disease progression. Therefore, it is possible to preserve the amount of energy stored in the body of ALS patients, even when there are significant losses in lean and overall body mass. Consequently, a moderate loss of body mass should be expected and even encouraged among this patient population.

Biological variability in maximum aerobic power.

The biological variation in maximum aerobic power (V O2max) was examined in four trained females and one trained male. An average of 8-20 repeat VO2max treadmill tests over a 2-4 wk period were performed on each subject (80 total tests). Biological variation (Si) in VO2max was computed as the standard deviation for the VO2max values for each individual, after subtracting net technological error (Se). Technological error was computed for each piece of equipment as the standard deviation of multiple trials. Results revealed that Si + Se amounted to +/- 5.6%. Biological variability accounted for 90% or more of this variability, while technological error accounted for less than 10%. In light of the magnitude of biological variation for VO2max, the necessity for securing control data when attempting to study training effects is pointed out.

Muscular development and lean body weight in body builders and weight lifters.

The extent of extreme muscular development in 39 males identified as body builders (N = 18), power weight lifters (N = 13), and Olympic weight lifters (N = 8) were studied. Body composition and anthropometric data, including calculations of pre-excess muscle body weight (scale weight minus excess muscle) were obtained. The lean body weight and percent fats of the subjects were: body builders = 74.6 kg, 9.3%; power weight lifters = 73.3 kg, 9.1%; and Olympic weight lifters = 68.2 kg, 10.8%. No group differences were present in frame size, percent fat, lean body weight, skinfolds, and diameter measurements. The only group differences were for the shoulders, chest, biceps relaxed and flexed, and forearm girths. In each case the body builders were larger. Calculations of excess muscle by the Behnke method revealed that the body builders had 15.6 kg excess muscle, power weight lifters 14.8 kg, and Olympic weight lifters 13.1 kg. Somatographic comparisons revealed only slight differences between the groups, while differences with reference man were substantial.

Metabolic responses during hydraulic resistance exercise.

Thirteen college-age men under-went a treadmill (TM)-graded VO2max exercise test on 1 d and a 24.5-min hydraulic resistive exercise circuit on a following day. Seven exercises were performed in the following order: leg extension, bent-over row, bicep curl, squat, upright row, bench press, and behind-neck press. Each exercise was performed three times with the following work-to-rest timing: 30 s exercise, 30 s rest; 30 s exercise; 30 s rest; and 30 s exercise, 60 s rest (to allow for machine switch-over to the next exercise). Thus, each exercise took a total of 120 s, of which work was for 90 s and rest 120 s. During the circuit, heart rate averaged 153.8 b X min-1 (81.2% of TM max) and VO2 averaged 1.93 l X min-1 (41.4% of TM max). Oxygen uptake for the individual exercises ranged from 1.52 l X min-1 (32.6% of TM max) for the behind-neck-press exercise to 2.43 l X min-1 (52.1% of TM max) for the squat exercise. Heart rate ranged from 135.9 b X min-1 (71.8% of TM max) for the leg extension exercise to 163.4 b X min-1 (86.3% of TM max) for the squat exercise. Hydraulic circuit resistance exercise results in an average caloric expenditure of 40.8 kJ X min-1 (9.75 kcal X min-1).

Physiological responses to nine different exercise:rest protocols.

This study determined the metabolic responses to different exercise:rest protocols during circuit exercise using hydraulic resistance. In experiment 1, nine subjects underwent nine different 27 min exercise circuits. There were three variations of three exercise:rest protocols (2:1, 1:1, 1:2). The VO2 for the nine circuits averaged (mean +/- SEM) 1.94 +/- 0.03 l.min-1 (43% of treadmill VO2max), with the largest difference between the protocols being 13%. Heart rate averaged 152.2 +/- 3.1 beats.min-1, with the largest difference between the protocols being 8%. Increasing the exercise duration per minute or the number of exercise bouts per minute had minimal effects on the mean VO2 and heart rate response to hydraulic resistive exercise. In experiment 2, nine subjects underwent three different 9 min exercise circuits using exercise:rest protocols of 2:1, 1:1, and 1:2 while work and VO2 were simultaneously measured. Surprisingly, increases in work were not necessarily accompanied by corresponding increases in VO2.

Routine anthropometry and arm radiography in assessment of nutritional status: its potential.

Elementary anthropometric and radiographic techniques, carefully executed and routinely employed in definitive surveys of healthy persons, are of potential value in assessment of patients, and provide the following: 1. Formulas to compute mean "ideal body weights" of young adults from stature (W = kh1.7). 2. A "unit size-weight" index (uS-W) with a mean value of 100 or nearly identical to 100 for all mean "ideal weights" relative to stature. 3. The distribution of values of the uS-W index for 80 and 90% of the population of young adults around the mean. 4. Conversion of body girths and stature to ponderal equivalents such that component A reflects fatness (if present) and component B, leanness and muscularity. 5. Conversion of skeletal diameters and stature to a relative "frame" size weight, designated component C, and employed as a "reference weight" (Ref W) for the calculation of lean body weight (LBW) in the male, and "minimal weight" as well as LBW in the female. 6. Conversion of skinfold thickness to estimates of body fat by means of a surface area formulation where: Weight of fat = SA x skinfold widths x k(fat). 7. The introduction of comprehensive arm radiography to reveal presumptive estimates of body fat from SA and of the amount of bone and muscle in the arm to LBW. 8. The visualization of body shape in the somatogram, and the value of photography under strictly controlled conditions.

Breast volume and anthropomorphic measurements: normal values.

Fifty-five consecutive female volunteers were evaluated. Linear measurements of the breast and nipple position were determined to fixed points on the chest wall. Volume determination was done by a standard chest-wall casting technique. A highly significant difference was found between left and right breasts in the axilla-to-nipple distance and nipple-to-midline measurements. A significant difference was also found in the distance from the lowest point of the breast (patient upright) to the nipple. Analysis of the volumetric difference between right and left breasts did not achieve statistical significance.

The effect of aerobic exercise on self-esteem and depressive and anxiety symptoms among breast cancer survivors.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of 10 weeks of aerobic exercise on depressive and anxiety symptoms and self-esteem of breast cancer survivors. DESIGN: Experimental, crossover. SETTING: Midwestern university town. SAMPLE: Twenty-four breast cancer survivors (mean time following surgery 41.8 months; ranging from 1 to 99 months) recruited via mail and cancer support groups. The mean age of the sample was 48.9 years. METHODS: Subjects were assigned randomly into exercise (EX), exercise-plus-behavior modification (EX + BM), and control groups. EX and EX + BM groups exercised aerobically four days/week at > or = 60% of age-predicted maximum heart rate for 10 weeks. Data were collected pretest, post-test, and crossover (12 weeks following post-test). Because pretest or post-test scores showed no statistical differences between EX and EX + BM groups, data were combined to form one group. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: Aerobic exercise (four days/ week; 30-40 minutes/session), depression, (Beck Depression inventory), anxiety (Speilberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), and self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Inventory). FINDINGS: Pre- to post-test analyses revealed that women who exercised had significantly less depression and state and trait anxiety over time compared to controls. After the crossover, the control group demonstrated comparable improvements in both depressive and state anxiety scores. Self-esteem did not change significantly. Subjects who received exercise recommendations from their physicians exercised significantly more than subjects who received no recommendation. CONCLUSIONS: Mild to moderate aerobic exercise may be of therapeutic value to breast cancer survivors with respect to depressive and anxiety symptoms but not to self-esteem. A physician's recommendation to exercise appears to be an important factor in a patient's exercise adherence. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: To Improve depressive and anxiety symptoms following breast cancer surgery, healthcare professionals should consider recommending mild to moderate exercise.

The body composition profile. Techniques of measurement and applications.

The body composition profile of an athlete permits a detailed analysis of the body's major structural components--muscle mass, fat, and bone. This article concentrates on two major areas. One is techniques for assessing body composition, including hydrostatic weighing, anthropometry, ultrasound, and radiographs. The other is applications of measurement. The authors also focus on the use of computer technology in the body profile analysis.