Physical activity epidemiology / Rod Dishman, Gregory Heath, Richard Washburn.

Includes index.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

PART I: Introduction to physical activity epidemiology -- 1.Origins of physical activity epidemiology:- Ancient history of physical activity and health--Modern history fo physical activity and health--Health goals for the nation--Summary--Bibliography--Web Sites -- 2. Concepts and methods in physical activity epidemiology:- Epidemiologic measures--Crude,specific, and standardized rates--Research design in Epidemiologic studies--Evaluating associations in epidemiologic studies--Models in physical activity epidemiology--Determining cause in epidemiologic studies--Criteria for causation--Summary--Bibliography--Web site -- 3. Measurement and surveillance of physical activity and fitness:- Why is behavioral epidemiology important?--What is physical activity?--Measures of physical activity--What is physical fitness?--Surveys and surveillance of physical activity--Summary--Bibliography--Web sites -- PART II:Physical activity and disease mortality: 4. All-cause and coronary heart disease mortality:- All-cause mortality--Cardiovascular disease mortality--Coronary heart disease mortality--Physical activity and coronary heart disease: The evidence--Summary--Bibliography--Web site -- 5. Cerebrovascular disease and stroke:- Magnitude of the problem--Risk factors for stroke--Etiology of stroke--Physical activity and stroke risk: the evidence--Strength of the evidence--Summary--Bibliography--Web sites -- PART III: Physical Activity and Risk Factors:- 6. Physical activity and Hypertension:- Magnitude of the problem--Treating Hypertension--Hypertension etiology--Autonomic nervous system--Physical activity and reduced hypertension risk: the evidence--Physical activity and treatment of hypertension: the evidence--Strength of the evidence--Summary--Bibliography--Web site -- 7.Physical activity and hyperlipidemia:- Magnitude of the problem--Hyperlipidemis etiology--Physical activity and lipoprotein levels: The evidence--Exercise training and lipoprotein levels: The evidence--Strength of the evidence--Summary--Bibliography--Web sites -- 8. Physical activity and obesity:-Magnitude of the problem--Treatment of overweight and obesity--Assessing and defining overweight and obesity--Etiology of overweight and obesity: Set point or settling point?--Physical activity and overweight or obesity: The evidence--Strength of the evidence--The ultimate goal: Weight loss or risk reduction?--Summary--Bibliography--Web sites -- PART IV: Physical activity and chronic disease: -- 9. Physical activity and diabetes:- Magnitude of the problem--Demographics of diabetes--Clinical features--Health burden of diabetes--Risk factors--Etiology of type 2 diabetes--Effects of physical activity on diabetes risk: The evidence--Strength of the evidence--Summary--Bibliography--Web site -- 10. Physical activity and osetoporosis:- Magnitude of the problem--Fractures and mortality--Sex differences--Etiology of Osteopenia and Osteoporosis--Risk factors--Dietary calcium and vitamin D--Hormone replacement therapy--Bone measurement techniques--Physical activity and osteoporosis: The evidence--Strength of the evidence--Summary--Bibliography--Web sites -- PART V: Physical activity,Cancer and Immunity:- 11. Physical Activity and Cancer--Magnitude of the problem--Etiology of cancer--Risk factors--Population studies of physical activity: Specificity of protection?--Colon and rectal cancer--Breast cancer--Prostate cancer--Bibliography--Web sites -- 12. Physical activity and the immune system:- An abridged history of immunology--The immune system--Immunomodulation by the nervous and endocrine systems--Physical activity and immunity: The evidence--Mechanisms of alterations in monocytes, granulocytes, and natural killer cells after acute exercise--Exercise and cytokines--Summary--Bibliography--Web sites -- PART VI: Physical activity and special concerns -- 13.Physical activity and mental health :- Depression--Magnitude of the problem--Etiology of depression--Brain neurobiology in Depression--Treatment of depressionm--Physical activity and depression: The evidence--Preventing depression: Population studies--Anxiety disorders--Magnitude of the problem--Etiology of anxiety disorders--Brain Neurobiology in anxiety disorders-treatment of anxiety disorders--Physical activity and anxiety: The evidence--Summary--Bibliography--Web site--14. Physical Activity and Disability:- Magnitude of the problem--Primary disabling conditions--Inactivity and aging--The disabling consequences of inactivity: conditions attributable to inactivity--Physical activity in the prevention of disability and complications--Summary--Bibliography--Web site--15. Hazards of Physical Activity:- Magnitude of the problem--Evaluating risk--Methods of research--The Injury definition problem--The denominator problem--Myocardial infarction and sudden death--Joint and muscle injury--Injury features--Risk of physical activity injuries: The evidence--Other medical hazards--Psychological hazards--Summary--Bibliography--Web sites--16. Adopting and Maintaining a Physically Active Lifestyle:- Barriers to physical activity--How do people decide to be active?--Environmental intervention and self-regulation--Intervention settings--Levels of intervention--Effectiveness of physical activity interventions--Recommendations for community interventions--Mediators of Physical activity interventions--Features of physical activity that promote adoption and maintenance--Perceived exertion--Summary--Bibliography--Web sites.

This volume looks into the occurrence and distribution of diseases in physical activity and how to control and prevent them. It provides the historical background and main concepts of epidemiology before moving on to discuss actual studies.