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Narek
Narek
Instructed by:
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
1. Define Fitness.
7. (Reserved)
11. Identify the healthy body fat levels for males and females.
Define Fitness
The ability to carry out daily tasks with vigor and alertness, without undue fatigue, and
with ample energy to enjoy leisure-time pursuits and respond to emergencies. Physical fitness
includes a number of components consisting of cardio-respiratory endurance (aerobic power),
skeletal muscle endurance, skeletal muscle strength, skeletal muscle power, flexibility,
balance, speed of movement, reaction time, and body composition. 1 (For the purposes of this
class, fitness is comprised of flexibility, dynamic strength and aerobic fitness.)
1 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services 2 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1600 Clifton Rd. Atlanta, GA 30333,
USA,
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/FASTATS/lcod.htm (accessed 5/15/2009)
Leading Causes of Death (Data are for the U.S.)2
The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans2 describes the major research
findings on the health benefits of physical activity:
• Regular physical activity reduces the risk of many adverse health outcomes.
• Some physical activity is better than none.
• For most health outcomes, additional benefits occur as the amount of physical activity
increases through higher intensity, greater frequency, and/or longer duration.
• Most health benefits occur with at least 150 minutes (2 hours and 30 minutes) a week
of moderate-intensity physical activity, such as brisk walking. Additional benefits occur with
more physical activity.
• Both aerobic (endurance) and muscle-strengthening (resistance) physical activity are
beneficial.
• Health benefits occur for children and adolescents, young and middle-aged adults,
older adults, and those in every studied racial and ethnic group.
• The health benefits of physical activity occur for people with disabilities.
• The benefits of physical activity far outweigh the possibility of adverse outcomes.
2 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services page vi
3 Ibid, page vii
• All adults should avoid inactivity. Some physical activity is better than none, and
adults who participate in any amount of physical activity gain some health benefits. •
For substantial health benefits, adults should do at least 150 minutes (2 hours and 30
minutes) a week of moderate-intensity, or 75 minutes (1 hour and 15 minutes) a week of
vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity, or an equivalent combination of moderate- and
vigorous-intensity aerobic activity. Aerobic activity should be performed in episodes of at
least 10 minutes, and preferably, it should be spread throughout the week.
• For additional and more extensive health benefits, adults should increase their aerobic
physical activity to 300 minutes (5 hours) a week of moderate-intensity, or 150 minutes a
week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity, or an equivalent combination of
moderate- and vigorous-intensity activity. Additional health benefits are gained by engaging
in physical activity beyond this amount.
• Adults should also do muscle-strengthening activities that are moderate or high
intensity and involve all major muscle groups on 2 or more days a week, as these activities
provide additional health benefits.
The American Heart Association has identified several risk factors. Some of them can
be modified, treated or controlled, and some can't. The more risk factors you have, the greater
your chance of developing coronary heart disease. Also, the greater the level of each risk
factor, the greater the risk. For example, a person with a total cholesterol of 300 mg/dL has a
greater risk than someone with a total cholesterol of 245 mg/dL, even though everyone with a
total cholesterol greater than 240 is considered high-risk.
The risk of heart disease in people who drink moderate amounts of alcohol (an
average of one drink for women or two drinks for men per day) is lower than in nondrinkers.
One drink is defined as 1-1/2 fluid ounces (fl oz) of 80-proof spirits (such as bourbon, Scotch,
vodka, gin, etc.), 1 fl oz of 100-proof spirits, 4 fl oz of wine or 12 fl oz of beer. It's not
recommended that nondrinkers start using alcohol or that drinkers increase the amount they
drink.5
Define what constitutes good physical fitness for law enforcement officers
In 1968, Dr. Kenneth Cooper published Aerobics. It provided a specific plan for people
to assess their fitness levels and a plan to become fit. His work was not specific to the military
or emergency services. Fitness and health is not job specific, it is a life style. Since 1970, Dr.
Cooper and the Cooper Institute in Dallas Texas has become an international center for the
science of fitness and wellness.
The affiliates of The Cooper Institute (Fitness Intervention Technologies and FitForce)
have conducted validation studies for over 180 federal, state, and municipal agencies. A
summary of those validation studies was reported in Police Chief Magazine (Collingwood,
Hoffman, and Smith, March 2004, pages 32-37). The studies defined specific job-related
fitness standards for each agency. There was a range of scores defined as standards for the
various agencies. In other words, different standards were validated (identified) for each
agency. However, the range was not very large. Here is the range of standards recommended
for each test for 180 federal, state, and municipal agencies combined:
5
American Heart Association website; http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?
identifier=4726 (accessed
5/15/2009)
Test Range4
1.5 mile run 14:40 -15:54 min
Push-up 25 – 34
Sit-up 30 – 38
The Cooper Institute recognized the need for standards for law enforcement and
emergency services in general. The Cooper institute has published the following as a
standard for law enforcement without regard to age or gender.
Dietary Guidelines for Healthy Nutrition Adequate nutrients within calorie needs
4 The Cooper Institute, Common Questions Regarding Physical Fitness Tests, Standards And
Programs For Public Safety, www.Cooperinstitute.org (accessed 5/18/2009)
• Consume a variety of nutrient-dense foods and beverages within and among the basic
food groups while choosing foods that limit the intake of saturated and trans fats, cholesterol,
added sugars, salt, and alcohol.
• Meet recommended intakes within energy needs by adopting a balanced eating
pattern, such as the USDA Food Guide or the DASH Eating Plan.
Weight management
• To maintain body weight in a healthy range, balance calories from foods and beverages
with calories expended.
• To prevent gradual weight gain over time, make small decreases in food and beverage
calories and increase physical activity.
Physical activity
• Engage in regular physical activity and reduce sedentary activities to promote health,
psychological well-being, and a healthy body weight.
o To reduce the risk of chronic disease in adulthood: Engage in at least 30 minutes of
moderate-intensity physical activity, above usual activity, at work or home on most days of
the week.
o For most people, greater health benefits can be obtained by engaging in physical
activity of more vigorous intensity or longer duration.
o To help manage body weight and prevent gradual, unhealthy body weight gain in
adulthood: Engage in approximately 60 minutes of moderate- to vigorous-intensity activity
on most days of the week while not exceeding caloric intake requirements.
o To sustain weight loss in adulthood: Participate in at least 60 to 90 minutes of daily
moderate-intensity physical activity while not exceeding caloric intake requirements. Some
people may need to consult with a healthcare provider before participating in this level of
activity.
• Achieve physical fitness by including cardiovascular conditioning, stretching exercises
for flexibility, and resistance exercises or calisthenics for muscle strength and endurance.
• Consume a sufficient amount of fruits and vegetables while staying within energy
needs. Two cups of fruit and 21/2 cups of vegetables per day are recommended for a reference
2,000-calorie intake, with higher or lower amounts depending on the calorie level.
• Choose a variety of fruits and vegetables each day. In particular, select from all five
vegetable subgroups (dark green, orange, legumes, starchy vegetables, and other vegetables)
several times a week.
• Consume 3 or more ounce-equivalents of whole-grain products per day, with the rest
of the recommended grains coming from enriched or whole-grain products. In general, at
least half the grains should come from whole grains.
• Consume 3 cups per day of fat-free or low-fat milk or equivalent milk products.
Fats
• Consume less than 10 percent of calories from saturated fatty acids and less than 300
mg/day of cholesterol, and keep trans fatty acid consumption as low as possible.
• Keep total fat intake between 20 to 35 percent of calories, with most fats coming from
sources of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, such as fish, nuts, and vegetable
oils.
• When selecting and preparing meat, poultry, dry beans, and milk or milk products,
make choices that are lean, low-fat, or fat-free.
• Limit intake of fats and oils high in saturated and/or trans fatty acids, and choose
products low in such fats and oils.
Carbohydrates
• Consume less than 2,300 mg (approximately 1 tsp of salt) of sodium per day.
• Choose and prepare foods with little salt. At the same time, consume potassium-rich
foods, such as fruits and vegetables.
Alcoholic beverages
• Those who choose to drink alcoholic beverages should do so sensibly and in
moderation—defined as the consumption of up to one drink per day for women and up to
two drinks per day for men.
• Alcoholic beverages should not be consumed by some individuals, including those who
cannot restrict their alcohol intake, women of childbearing age who may become pregnant,
pregnant and lactating women, children and adolescents, individuals taking medications that
can interact with alcohol, and those with specific medical conditions.
• Alcoholic beverages should be avoided by individuals engaging in activities that
require attention, skill, or coordination, such as driving or operating machinery. 5
There is now a re-emphasis on overall calorie intake vs. calorie expenditures. Whole
grains and cereals have relatively high calorie levels compared to fruits and vegetables. Fruits
and vegetables are now on the lowest level and a corresponding adjustment for the
carbohydrates contained in whole grains and cereals.
Thus, vigorous-intensity physical activity for a 26-year-old person will require the
heart rate remains between 135 and 164 bpm during physical activity.
Heart rate is simply an indicator of exertion or intensity. There are several formulas
that are used to estimate maximum heart rate in relation to age. The estimates above are to
provide a guideline to estimate the intensity of your workout. The current CDC
recommendation is 150 minutes of exercise and 2 or more days of strength training all muscle
groups (legs, hips, back, abs, chest, shoulder, and arms) each week. These are minimal
recommendations especially if the exertion or intensity levels are low.
However, an effective training program that includes aerobic fitness, strength, and
flexibility will improve fitness over time. As your fitness level improves, heart rate and
respirations my increase, but perceived exertion may moderate allowing or extended periods
of exercise at higher energy levels.
• Sedentary individuals (someone who does little or no regular exercise) can lose up to
30% of their muscle between ages of 20 and 70, averaging several pounds of muscle per
decade.
• Muscle is an active tissue. A pound of muscle burns 30 to 50 calories per day just to
maintain itself. Add three pounds of muscle and burn 630 to 1,050 extra calories per week. A
pound of fat only burns 3 calories per day. So you can see by lifting weights and gaining
muscle you will burn more calories every day.
• Strength training can increase your muscle mass and this can happen at any age.
10
University of Michigan Health Systems website
http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/aha/umfit07.htm (accessed
5/15/2009)
• Personal appearance
Besides aerobic activity, you need to do things to strengthen your muscles at least 2
days a week. These activities should work all the major muscle groups of your body (legs,
hips, back, chest, abdomen, shoulders, and arms).
There are many ways you can strengthen your muscles, whether it's at home or the
gym. You may want to try the following:
• Lifting weights
• Working with resistance bands
• Doing exercises that use your body weight for resistance (i.e., push-ups, sit ups)
• Heavy gardening (i.e., digging, shoveling)
• Yoga
32-41%+ 26-37%+
The proportion of lean weight to fat is an element in assessing a healthy weight for
someone. Suggested weight to height tables were established by life insurance companies to
assess longevity. Those tables have been replaced with the BMI (Body Mass Index).
Statistically, the BMI accounts the percentage of body fat to lean mass. Body composition is
difficult to assess. There are a variety of methods and calculations to establish the percentage
of body fat, all are to some degree an estimate. The table to the right is the American Council
on Exercise assessment of percentages of body fat. The problem remains, how does one assess
body fat percentages.
Hydrostatic weighing compares the weight of the patient’s body on dry land
and the patient’s completely submerged underwater with the air in the lungs expelled. Those
two weights are compared with the density of water and an estimate of body composition and
percentage of body fat can be estimated.
Other methods include calipers that measure the width of a pinch of fat on various
locations on the body. Those measurements are then used in a formula to compute your body
fat percentage. Still another is electrical impedance. The amount of measure electrical
impedance between two electrodes positioned on the body is used in a formula to estimate
your fat to lean mass percentage.
If your blood pressure, resting heart rate, cholesterol (HDL and LDL), glucose, resting
heart rate, are in normal levels; and you routinely participate in recommend levels of physical
exercise, then the BMI Table may not recognize your superior physical conditioning.
Statistically, unless you have specifically worked to add pounds of muscle over the years, the
BMI table is a good and reasonable estimate of a healthy weight. The insurance companies
have invested money based on the BMI table, and despite the problems with other financial
intuitions, the life insurance business is still a money maker. The CDC recommends the BMI
Table below to estimate a healthy weight.
Individuals, who fall into the BMI range of 25 to 34.9, and have a waist size of over 40
inches for men and 35 inches for women, are considered to be at especially high risk for
health problems. The higher the BMI corresponds with an increased risk for a variety of
health problems (and early death – The Life Insurance Company’s interest). Waist size as a
measurement for body fat has been quantified in waist to hip ratios and waist to height ratios.
There is an obvious theme, regardless of the technique; the BMI is a close estimate. Athletes
may range higher (emphasis on more muscle) and older people tend to lose muscle as they age
and may score too low.
BMI Weight Status
Below 18.5 Underweight
18.5 – 24.9 Normal
25.0 – 29.9 Overweight
30.0 and Above
Obese
Benefits of Stretching
Most aerobic and strength training programs inherently cause your muscles to contract
and flex. That's why regular stretching is a powerful part of any exercise program. Consider
this:
Stretching essentials
• Target major muscle groups. When you're stretching, focus on your calves,
thighs, hips, lower back, neck and shoulders. Also stretch muscles and joints that you
routinely use at work or play.
• Warm up first. You may hurt yourself if you stretch cold muscles. Warm up by
walking while gently pumping your arms, or do a favorite exercise at low intensity for five to
10 minutes. Better yet, stretch after you exercise — when your muscles are warm and more
receptive to stretching.
• Pace yourself. It takes time to lengthen tissues safely. Hold each stretch for about
30 seconds, and then repeat on the other side. Do each stretch three or four times.
• Don't bounce. Bouncing as you stretch can cause small tears in the muscle. These
tears leave scar tissue as the muscle heals, which tightens the muscle even further — making
you less flexible and more prone to pain.
• Focus on a pain-free stretch. Expect to feel tension while you're stretching. If
it hurts, you've gone too far. Back off to the point where you don't feel any pain, then hold
the stretch.
• Relax and breathe freely. Don't hold your breath while you're stretching.
How often you stretch is up to you. As a general rule, stretch whenever you exercise.
If you don't exercise regularly, you might want to stretch at least three times a week to
maintain flexibility. If you have a problem area, such as tightness in the back of your leg, you
might want to stretch more often.
Some studies indicate that stretching helps prevent athletic injuries as well. However,
this finding remains controversial. Other studies don't support stretching as a way to prevent
injury.
Aerobic activity or "cardio" gets you breathing harder and your heart beating
faster. From pushing a lawn mower, to taking a dance class, to biking to the store – all types
of activities count. As long as you're doing them at a moderate or vigorous intensity for at
least 10 minutes at a time.
For most people, light daily activities such as shopping, cooking, or doing the laundry
doesn't count toward the guidelines. Why? Your body isn't working hard enough to get your
heart rate up.
If you want to do more vigorous-level activities, slowly replace those that take
moderate effort like brisk walking, with more vigorous activities like jogging.
• Jogging or running
• Swimming laps
• Riding a bike fast or on hills
• Playing singles tennis
• Playing basketball
You can do moderate- or vigorous-intensity aerobic activity, or a mix of the two each
week. A rule of thumb is that 1 minute of vigorous-intensity activity is about
the same as 2 minutes of moderate-intensity activity.
Some people like to do vigorous types of activity because it gives them about the same
health benefits in half the time. If you haven't been very active lately, increase your activity
level slowly. You need to feel comfortable doing moderate-intensity activities before you
move on to more vigorous ones. The guidelines are about doing physical activity that is right
for you. Health benefits include greater endurance, enhanced circulation, and lower blood
pressure.
The following activities do not require the presence of others for the purpose of an
exercise routine. Law enforcement has varied hours and days off. You may not be able to
engage in teams sports with sufficient regularity to gain the benefit of regular exercise.
However, regular independent exercise will keep you sufficiently fit to participate in team
sports or other recreational activities.
There is a supportive element to building a routine with independent exercise. The
routine supports the program. Mowing the lawn, gardening, team sports do not provide the
supportive routine for a life-long habit of exercise and fitness.
The following exercises are the “basic aerobic activities.” You can assess your effort by
monitoring your heart rate and sustaining at a training level for 30 minutes or more.