Welcome

Welcome to the Center for Physical Activity & Health located in The Department of Exercise, Sport, and Leisure Studies at The University of Tennessee. The Center is dedicated to promoting physical activity and helping individuals enhance their health, fitness and quality of life.

Weight and Waist Measurement: Tools for Adults

Exercise Science Distinguished Alumni Award:  Dr. Michael Hogan was presented with the Exercise Science Distinguished Alumni Award in the spring of 2008.  Dr. Hogan earned M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.  His mentors were Dr. Edward Howley and Dr. Hugh Welch.

Dr. Hogan currently holds the position of Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Diego.  Dr. Hogan is a prolific scholar with a strong history of NIH funding. Dr. Hogan’s primary research interests are in the areas of oxygen dependence of skeletal muscle function, bioenergetics of contracting skeletal muscle, mechanisms of fatigue in skeletal muscle, and photometric methods in cell physiology.

TV Viewing and Obesity:
Studies have shown that when children reduce TV viewing their leisure-time physical activity and enjoyment of the physical activity increase.  Studies are inconclusive in regards to adults.  Drs. Hollie Raynor, David Bassett and Dixie Thompson are conducting an 8-week pilot study to investigate the effects of 2 different approaches to reducing sedentary behavior in overweight adults. 

All participants in the study will receive a reduced caloric prescription (1200-1500 kcal) and fat gram prescription (<30% of kcal from fat).  One group will be given an activity goal for the week (200 minutes/week of moderate intensity exercise), while the other group will receive a TV watching goal (no more than 10 hours/week).  Participants will be evaluated on measures of dietary intake, exercise, amount of TV viewing, enjoyment of physical activity, and weight.  This study will evaluate whether adults can be given activity prescriptions similar to children in hopes of increasing caloric expenditure due to increased physical activity, as well as decreasing overall caloric intake.

Dr. Dixie L. Thompson, the director of...The Center for Physical Activity and Health and the President of the Southeastern chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine is also the author of the Fitness Focus section of the Health and Fitness Journal which is published bi-monthly.

Membership to the Center...The Center is now accepting memberships for the 2008-2009 school year for those interested in taking advantage of the many tools and educational information provided to help you meet your health and fitness goals. For more information please click on the membership page.