This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Physical inactivity and poor nutrition are estimated to contribute to 300,000 premature deaths in America each year. Despite public health recommendations to increase physical activity and improve nutrition, Americans remain quite sedentary, and approximately two-thirds of U.S. adults are considered overweight or obese. Recent evidence suggests that the Internet may be a viable method for delivery of behavioral modification programs to enhance physical activity and reduce body weight. Our objective is to assess the efficacy of a user-friendly, interactive, fitness and nutrition computer software program for improving physical fitness and cardiovascular disease risk profile in men and women who have access to health/fitness club facilities. This software program is called the Personal Health and Fitness Wizard (PHFW). This program is designed to increase participation in regular aerobic and strength exercises, and also provide specific nutritional recommendations designed to increase consumption of fiber-rich foods and reduce consumption of total and saturated fat. We hypothesized that participants using the interactive computer-mediated health and fitness program will improve their aerobic capacity and muscular strength and fitness during an 8-month intervention period. We also hypothesized that participants using the PHFW will reduce their total body fat and improve their blood lipid profile (i.e., lower cholesterol and tryglycerides).
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