Health and Fitness Information Geared Toward Specific Audiences: An Analysis of the Journal of Exercise Physiology and Muscle and Fitness.
            Many people in this nation today are suffering from cancer, heart attacks, and other health related diseases, because they do not include physical activity and proper nutrition into their lifestyle. They have depended on exercise machines and "magic pills" displayed on televised commercials to help them lose weight and look their best. In reality, the majority of exercise machines and the so-called "magic pills" aren't effective in promoting weight loss or increasing muscle mass. If we expect ourselves to see the results of our progress, we all must break out from our sedentary lives and take part in various physical activities, as well as incorporate proper nutrition into the equation. Many of us aren't fully educated in nutrition and exercise but possess enough knowledge to help certain people achieve their desired fitness goals. People who assist other individuals in executing exercises properly or educating them in the basics of nutrition, clearly express their concerns toward the public's lifestyle.  For those of you who want to enter the career field of health and fitness and take part in assisting the public in improving their health or physical attributes, then I recommend exploring the Journals of Exercise Physiology and the Muscle and Fitness newsstand magazines.  
           The Journal of Exercise Physiology is published by the American Society of Exercise Physiologists (ASEP), a national non-for-profit organization that publishes Internet-based journals for free. Their purpose is to promote and support exercise physiology by unifying exercise physiologists to share and exchange information with other organizations involved in health promotion, athletic training, sports fitness, and rehabilitation. Their publication, the Journal of Exercise Physiology, contains articles based on scientific analysis on the several factors that affect the human body during exercise. These factors include the metabolic rate of an individual, their nutrition, the environment, and their consumption of athletic supplements. Each article explains itself in scientific detail, which may not be suited for people who do not possess the knowledge of exercise physiology.   
             One article in the Journal of Exercise Physiology of November 2001, displayed information about a survey that was conducted in sixteen different states to determine the percentages of cancer patients who experienced improvements in their well being (their moods) after exercise. These statistics were then later compared to the statistics of cancer patients in California. The results of the survey indicated an average of a ten to twenty percentage increase in many quality of life areas (their well being) between both groups. These areas include coping with everyday stress, their enjoyment of life rating, and mood rating. (Durak, Harris, Ceraile 25). The percentages varied among many individuals who worked out at different intensity levels. The people who exercised at high intensity levels experienced greater results in their physical appearance and mood than others who exercised at normal levels. This analysis has shown that exercise still reigns as one of the most vital tools for curing not only cancer patients, but prevent life-threatening diseases before they occur. What this article shows about the journal is the promotion of exercise and its effects, by displaying a survey that indicated an increase in the well beings of cancer patients when they participate in various physical activities.  The presentation of information in this particular article has clearly identified itself to be geared towards individuals in the field of exercise physiology. Their objectives and input of analyzed results in scientific terminology are just not adjusted to the comprehension of certain people who have little or no knowledge of this particular field. One particular example of these complex analyzed results is, "data was tabulated and analyzed using descriptive and Student's t-statistics on a Macintosh computer system. Alpha level was set at .05 level of significance." (Durak, Harris, Ceraile 23). Information obtained in these online journals may be useful in the future to many of us who wish to continue down this particular career field. 
             The Muscle and Fitness newsstand magazines provide information that is similar to the Journal of Exercise Physiology, but present its contents that are much more suited to the public audience. Their purpose is to make a profit by advertising sports supplements and exercise equipment in each of the issues they publish. They also draw in the public's attention to subscribe to their issues by including articles on proper execution of multiple exercises, nutrition, and reviews of sport supplementation to enhance physical attributes. These issues are published bi-monthly and cost up to $34.97 for 12 issues ($2.90 an issue).
           One article written by Gina K. Thornburg, in the Muscle and Fitness issue of June 2002, discussed dietary fats. She states that "dietary fats help the nerves, hormones, and joints function properly. Without them, individuals would experience a decrease in energy levels, dry skin, and food cravings." (Thornburg 220). For years people have been adapted to the low-fat diet craze in hopes of achieving the hard lean look. What they fail to realize is that not all fats are bad, just a few of them. Dietary fats such as monounsaturated and polyunsaturated (the good fats) are known as essential fatty acids (EFA's) because the body can't produce them. They are obtainable from consuming olive oil, peanut butter, and other fats that remain liquid at room temperature. Saturated and trans-fats (the bad fats) should be avoided at all cost, because the body already produces them and they are the number one cause of heart disease and cancer. These "bad fats" can be found in beef fat, butter, whole milk, fried foods, and many other fats that become solid at room temperature. Basically, the right amount of "good fats" taken each day will not make a person fat, but rather will improve the overall function of their body's immune system. But on the other hand, consuming any type of fat than what is recommended will result in the increase in body weight.(Thornburg)
             After analyzing both periodicals, Muscle and Fitness newsstand magazines prove to be much more informative than the Journal of Exercise Physiology. Their methods of presenting articles are easily comprehensible and geared towards the general public. The fact that they obtain their information from exercise physiology and other health related professional journals and translate their complex text into simplistic terms, has attracted and educated the public about physical fitness and nutrition in a whole new way.  
            In conclusion, both periodicals have helped me tremendously in my first assignment. They both displayed information that are geared toward specific audiences, and stated their purpose of publication. However, researching for information about health and fitness in the Journal of Exercise Physiology has proven to be much more complex and time consuming than the Muscle and Fitness newsstand magazines. This academic journal may prove to be useful in the later years of your college life if you or anyone has considered in majoring the field of exercise physiology.  
  
                                    Works Cited
Durak, Eric P., Jaime Harris, and Susan M. Ceraile. "The Effects of Exercise on Quality of Life Improvements in Cancer Survivors: The Results of A National Survey." Journal of Exercise Physiology Online. Vol. 4. No. 4. November 2001. <http://www.css.edu/users/tboone2/asep/Durak.doc>. 
Thornburg, Gina K. "The Skinny on Dietary Fat." Muscle and Fitness, June 2002: 219+.
Go Back to Home Page