Biologic Regulation of Physical Activity

Professional reference text for exercise physiologists, health educators, neurophysiologists, social scientists, and health clinicians interested in studying the obesity epidemic, physical activity adherence, and sedentary behaviors.

Table of Contents:
Part I. Surveying the Evidence Chapter 1. Nature of Physical Activity Measuring Physical Activity Categorizing Physical Activity Chapter 2. Physical Activity Through the Life Span Human Beings Physical Activity of Animals Chapter 3. Effects of Sex Sexual Maturation Sex Differences in Infancy Chapter 4. Neurochemical Models Dopamine Other Neurochemical Mediators Chapter 5. Perturbations of Brain Function Lesions in Animal Brains Craniopharyngioma Anorexia Nervosa Restless Legs Syndrome Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Chapter 6. Organized Variability Animal Circadian Rhythms Human Circadian Rhythms Other Variability Chapter 7. Genetic Influences Familial and Twin Studies Animal Selection Genetic Markers Epigenetic Influences Chapter 8. Physical Activity Play Function of Physical Play Neurological Basis Part II. Rationale and Mechanisms Chapter 9. Activity Regulation and the Need for Energy Balance Energy Balance as a Biological Need Role of Physical Activity in Energy Balance Biologic Origin of Other Contributors to Energy Balance Parallel Decline With Aging Compensatory Responses in Energy Balance Chapter 10. Mechanisms for Biologic Control Feedback Systems Proposed Biologic Control System for Habitual Physical Activity Activity-Stat Versus Energy-Stat Part III. Implications of Biologic Regulation of Activity Chapter 11. Responses to Activity Interventions Compensatory Changes in Physical Activity Compensatory Changes in Caloric Intake Long-Term Changes in Physical Activity Habits Implications for Health Promotion Chapter 12. Understanding Obesity: The Biologic Perspective First Law of Thermodynamics Obesity as an Error in Energy Balance Behavioral Explanations for Energy Imbalance Genetic Explanations for Energy Imbalance Implications for Treatment and Prevention Chapter 13. Altering the Biologic Control of Activity Plasticity of Biologic Set Points Can Cognitive Will Override Biologic Control? Can Hedonistic Behavior Override Biologic Control? Role of Spontaneous Physical Activity and NEAT Pharmacological Manipulation of Physical Activity Regulators

About the Author :
Thomas W. Rowland, MD, is a pediatric cardiologist at the Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Massachusetts. He is a professor of pediatrics at Tufts University School of Medicine and was a past adjunct professor of exercise science at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. A graduate of the University of Michigan Medical School, Rowland is board certified in pediatrics and pediatric cardiology by the American Board of Pediatrics. Rowland, who has had more than 150 journal articles published, is the author of three books: Children's Exercise Physiology, Second Edition; Tennisology: Inside the Science of Serves, Nerves, and On-Court Dominance; and The Athlete's Clock. He has served as editor of the journal Pediatric Exercise Science and president of the North American Society for Pediatric Exercise Medicine (NASPEM) and was on the board of trustees of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). He is past president of the New England chapter of the ACSM and received the ACSM Honor Award in 1993. Rowland is a competitive tennis player and distance runner. He and his wife, Margot, reside in Longmeadow, Massachusetts.