Positive Fitness Research Articles

Colonoscopy quality improvement after initial training: A cross-sectional study of intensive short-term training.

Background and study aims High-quality is crucial for the effectiveness of colonoscopy and can be achieved by high-quality training and verified with assessment of key performance indicators (KPIs) for colonoscopy such as cecum intubation rate (CIR), adenoma detection rate (ADR) and adequate polyp resection. Typically, trainees achieve adequate CIR after 275 procedures, but little is known about learning curves for KPIs after initial training. Methods This cross-sectional study includes work-up colonoscopies after a positive screening test with fecal occult blood testing (FIT) or sigmoidoscopy, performed by either trainees after 300 training colonoscopies or by consultants. Outcome measures were KPIs. We assessed inter-endoscopist variation in trainees and learning curves for trainees as a group. We also compared KPIs for trainees and consultants as a group. Results Data from 6,655 colonoscopies performed by 21 trainees and 921 colonoscopies performed by 17 consultants were included. Most trainees achieved target standards for main KPIs. With time, trainees shortened cecum intubation time and withdrawal time without decreasing their ADR, reduced the proportion of painful colonoscopies, and increased the adequate polyp resection rate (all P < 0.01). Compared to consultants, trainees had higher CIR (97.7 % vs. 96.3 %, P = 0.02), ADR after positive FIT (57.6 % vs. 50.3 %, P < 0.01), and proximal ADR after sigmoidoscopy screening (41.1 % vs. 29.8 %; P < 0.01), higher adequate polyp resection rate (94.9 % vs. 93.1 %, P = 0.01) and fewer serious adverse events (0.65 % vs. 1.41 %, P = 0.02). Conclusions Trainees performed high-quality colonoscopies and achieved international target standards. Several KPIs continuously improved after initial training. Trainees outperformed consultants on several KPIs.

The Turkish Version of The Mentor Behavior Scale: Validity and Reliability Study

Aim: University is a stressful and worrying period for students who have just started their university education, as it requires struggle on many issues such as the increase in the expectation of academic success from the students, their adaptation to the new social environment, becoming more individual, and the responsibilities of their relations with their same sex and opposite sex. Therefore, students have difficulty in coping with sources of stress. Mentoring practice has an important place in learning new skills, adapting to new behaviors, acquiring new attitudes, establishing connections between practice and theory, and providing psychological and social support and guidance for student nurses. Peer mentoring includes peers with similar conditions supporting each other in the learning process. It is defined as educational and social activities carried out by experienced upper-class students, who are not professional instructors, together with lower-class students, and that enable students to develop in terms of knowledge, attitudes and skills. It has been determined that there are not enough scales to evaluate the behaviors of mentors in the practice of peer mentoring in nursing education in our country. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Mentor Behavior Scale.Methods: It was designed as methodological study. It was applied at a nursing faculty in Turkey, which engages in the peer mentorship application. A total of 547 students, who are mentees, participated in the mentorship application study. Data were collected with the “Student Introductory Questionnaire Form”, the “Mentor Behavior Scale” and the “Peer Mentor Assessment Scale”. The language, scope, criterion and structural validity, invariability and internal consistency reliability analyses were made for providing validity and reliability.Results: The translation to Turkish and back translation to English of the Mentor Behavior Scale were made for language validity. The Scope Validity Index values varied between 0.80-1.00. Confirmatory Factor Analysis was made for structural validity, and it was found that the model data fit was rather high. The Cronbach’s Alpha Coefficient of Reliability was found to be α=0.937. The Cronbach’s Alpha Coefficients of Reliability for the sub-dimensions of mentorship relationship structure, participation-relationship, autonomous support and adequacy support were obtained at α=0.976, α=0.957, α=0.860 and α=0.960, respectively. A positive and significant fit was observed according to the Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient in the test-retest analysis.Conclusions: The Turkish version of the Mentor Behavior Scale is a valid and reliable tool for the evaluation of mentors by mentees.

Effects of Multicomponent Physical Exercise Programs on Physical Fitness in People with Intellectual Disabilities: A Systematic Review

People with intellectual disabilities (ID) have high rates of overweight and obesity, heart and metabolic diseases, and low motor development. These factors compromise functional independence and autonomy in activities of daily living. The objective of this study was to clarify the design and implementation of multicomponent physical exercise programs (MPEPs) and evaluate their effects on physical fitness in people with ID. A search for scientific articles in English published before 2022 was conducted using Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Science Direct databases. Scientific papers describing the effects of MPEPs on physical fitness in people with ID were considered. A total of 374 articles involving people with ID were included. Positive physical fitness outcomes were found in interventions with MPEPs in its morphological components and to a lesser extent in the motor, muscular, metabolic, and cardiorespiratory aspects in people with ID. Further research is needed to standardize and elucidate the effects of the MPEP on other functional dimensions of physical fitness to use them as a physical activity alternative to reduce sedentary behavior in people with ID.

A Study on the Development of Elementary School Teacher Professional Growth Scale

&lt;p&gt;教師專業是提升教育品質的關鍵，也是教育成功的基礎，然而目前國內的專業成長量表多是著重在教師自己認知目前專業成長的程度，並非強調是參加專業發展活動或研習後的專業成長程度，因此量表可能有侷限性，不符合使用。所以，本研究目的在以實踐取向為依歸，編制一套適合衡量教師在參加專業發展活動後的專業成長量表。本研究透過探索性因素分析、驗證性因素分析、聚斂效度、區別效度以及測量恆等性等步驟，編製教師專業成長的量表，量表內涵在文獻探討時一共包含專業知能（以教學工作為主軸）、專業倫理與態度（包含教師理念、反思等）、專業實踐（強調學習是否能實際應用在教學上，並且以關注學生學習為焦點），三個構面。經過14位學者專家的修訂，以及314樣本進行量表預試分析與因素結構探索，建構出四個構面分別為專業倫理、專業實踐、專業知能以及專業反思。而後以656名正式樣本進行量表之驗證性因素分析、聚斂效度、區別效度以及年資測量恆等性等各項考驗。研究結果顯示，本量表建構的二階四因素模式具有良好的契合度，且本量表模式更具有跨樣本的穩定性，同時適用不同年資群組的分析。整體而言，本研究量表具有實務應用之參考價值。&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;It is the key element to improve the quality of education as well as the foundation of educational success by improving teachers&amp;rsquo; teaching profession. However, the current scales used for professional growth are mostly focused on teachers&amp;rsquo; personal perception of their professional growth level, rather than the profession degree after participating in the professional development activities or studies. Therefore, the scale may be limited and unsuitable for use in that case. Thence, the purpose of this research is to develop a set of Professional Growth Scales which is suitable for measuring the degree of teachers&amp;rsquo; professional growth after participating in professional development activities based on practice orientation. Via the steps of exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, convergent validity, discriminant validity, and measurement invariance, this research has developed a scale for teachers&amp;rsquo; authentic participation in professional learning communities. There are three dimensions considered and discussed in the literature review to be the connotation of this scale. They are professional knowledge and ability which focus on teaching tasks, professional ethics and attitude including teachers&amp;rsquo; teaching philosophy and reflection, and professional practice with emphasizing on practical teaching skills to assist students&amp;rsquo; learning needs. After revision by 14 scholars and experts with 314 samples for pre-test analysis of the scale and exploration of factor structure, four dimensions were constructed. They are professional ethics, professional practice, professional knowledge and professional reflection. Then, 656 formal samples were employed to test the scales&amp;rsquo; confirmatory factor analysis, convergent validity, discriminant validity and the identity of seniority measurement. The research results show that the second-order with four-factor model which constructed by this scale made a positive model fit, and it is applicable to analysis the different seniority groups. Overall, this research scale makes valuable reference for practical application.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;

Association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and the physical fitness of young-adult cadets: a retrospective case–control study

ObjectivesTo determine the association of symptomatic and asymptomatic mild COVID-19 and the SARS-CoV-2 viral load with the physical fitness of army cadets.DesignA retrospective case–control study.SettingOfficers’ Training School of the Israel...

Colonoscopy completion following positive FIT results in uninsured patients.

Kennel, Bianca; Kubiak, Katelyn; Suresh, Sapna; Tieu, Emily; Sunada, Grant PhD, MPH; Douville, Douglas MD, MPH; Coombs, Jennifer PA-C, MPAS, PhD Author Information

Positive fitness effects help explain the broad range of Wolbachia prevalences in natural populations

Positive fitness effects help explain the broad range of Wolbachia prevalences in natural populations

Serrated Polyp Yield at Colonoscopy in Patients with Positive FIT, Positive mt-sDNA, and Colonoscopy Only: Data from the New Hampshire Colonoscopy Registry.

Stool-based screening with fecal immunochemical (FIT) or multitarget-stool DNA (mt-sDNA) tests is associated with increased colonoscopy polyp yield. mt-sDNA includes methylated markers, which improve detection of serrated polyps (SP) versus FIT. We compared SP detection in colonoscopies performed for positive FIT or mt-sDNA tests, as well as in colonoscopies without a preceding stool test, using the New Hampshire Colonoscopy Registry, a comprehensive statewide population-based registry. Across the three groups, we compared the frequency of clinically relevant SPs (CRSP: sessile SPs, hyperplastic polyps ≥10 mm, and traditional serrated adenomas). We also compared SP size, histology, number, and bulk (combined sizes). Our sample included 560 mt-sDNA+ (age ± SD: 66.5 ± 7.9), 414 FIT+ (age ± SD: 66.3 ± 8.8), and 59,438 colonoscopy-only patients (age ± SD: 61.7 ± 8.0). mt-sDNA+ patients were more likely to have a higher yield of CRSPs and CRSP bulk than FIT+ (P < 0.0001) or colonoscopy-only patients (P < 0.0001). More mt-sDNA+ patients had CRSPs without large adenomas or colorectal cancers (17.9% vs. 9.9% of FIT+ and 8% of colonoscopy-only patients). After adjusting for synchronous large adenomas, colorectal cancers, and other risk factors, mt-sDNA+ patients were more likely (OR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.18-2.85) than FIT+ patients to have CRSPs. mt-sDNA+ patients had a higher SP yield than FIT+ or colonoscopy-only patients, particularly in the absence of synchronous large adenomas or colorectal cancer. Our results suggest that screening with mt-sDNA tests could improve colorectal cancer screening by identifying more patients at increased risk from the serrated pathway.

A Global Multi-Scale Channel Adaptation Network for Pine Wilt Disease Tree Detection on UAV Imagery by Circle Sampling

Pine wilt disease is extremely ruinous to forests. It is an important to hold back the transmission of the disease in order to detect diseased trees on UAV imagery, by using a detection algorithm. However, most of the existing detection algorithms for diseased trees ignore the interference of complex backgrounds to the diseased tree feature extraction in drone images. Moreover, the sampling range of the positive sample does not match the circular shape of the diseased tree in the existing sampling methods, resulting in a poor-quality positive sample of the sampled diseased tree. This paper proposes a Global Multi-Scale Channel Adaptation Network to solve these problems. Specifically, a global multi-scale channel attention module is developed, which alleviates the negative impact of background regions on the model. In addition, a center circle sampling method is proposed to make the sampling range of the positive sample fit the shape of a circular disease tree target, enhancing the positive sample’s sampling quality significantly. The experimental results show that our algorithm exceeds the seven mainstream algorithms on the diseased tree dataset, and achieves the best detection effect. The average precision (AP) and the recall are 79.8% and 86.6%, respectively.

Fitness Landscape-Guided Engineering of Locally Supercharged Virus-like Particles with Enhanced Cell Uptake Properties.

Protein-based nanoparticles are useful models for the study of self-assembly and attractive candidates for drug delivery. Virus-like particles (VLPs) are especially promising platforms for expanding the repertoire of therapeutics that can be delivered effectively as they can deliver many copies of a molecule per particle for each delivery event. However, their use is often limited due to poor uptake of VLPs into mammalian cells. In this study, we use the fitness landscape of the bacteriophage MS2 VLP as a guide to engineer capsid variants with positively charged surface residues to enhance their uptake into mammalian cells. By combining mutations with positive fitness scores that were likely to produce assembled capsids, we identified two key double mutants with internalization efficiencies as much as 67-fold higher than that of wtMS2. Internalization of these variants with positively charged surface residues depends on interactions with cell surface sulfated proteoglycans, and yet, they are biophysically similar to wtMS2 with low cytotoxicity and an overall negative charge. Additionally, the best-performing engineered MS2 capsids can deliver a potent anticancer small-molecule therapeutic with efficacy levels similar to antibody-drug conjugates. Through this work, we were able to establish fitness landscape-based engineering as a successful method for designing VLPs with improved cell penetration. These findings suggest that VLPs with positive surface charge could be useful in improving the delivery of small-molecule- and nucleic acid-based therapeutics.

Factors associated with fitness injuries: a case-control study

Introduction: Fitness is one of the most popular sport domains worldwide and plays an important role in counteracting the major public health issue of physical inactivity. However, besides all positive health effects fitness introduces a health risk in the form of exercise-related musculoskeletal injuries. The number of fitness injuries is high, with almost a million fitness injuries reported per year in the Netherlands (17% of all injuries), ranking this sport second behind soccer (22% of all injuries).

Housework-based exercise versus conventional exercise on health-related fitness of adolescent learners

Background and Study Aim. There is a void in the literature comparing the fitness effects of housework-based exercise (HBE) and conventional exercise (CE), including studies that adapt housework into an exercise program. This study examines the effectiveness of HBE and CE on adolescent learners' health-related fitness (HRF) and compares the effectiveness of the two exercises.&#x0D; Material and Methods. This study uses a parallel-group, randomized controlled trial with 120 adolescent learners; 60 are in the HBE group, and 60 are in the CE group. The participants in the HBE group exercised using housework activities, while the participants in the CE group exercised by doing push and pull, squats, lunges, leaps and jumps, planks, etc. The participants in both groups trained for at least an hour every weekday for 12 weeks under the supervision of qualified fitness instructors.&#x0D; Results. The findings show that HBE improves the fitness levels of adolescent learners, albeit it has no significant improvement in their BMI. Furthermore, HBE significantly improves the cardiorespiratory fitness of females more than males. Finally, CE outperforms the HBE in producing more significant and favorable fitness effects.&#x0D; Conclusions. When planned, implemented, and monitored carefully as an exercise program, doing housework is just as good as doing traditional exercise for keeping or improving adolescent learners’ fitness. Furthermore, the findings indicate that HBE may be more appropriate for females because it involves household-related tasks that they traditionally perform.However, CE produces more positive and significant fitness effects. Thus, teachers can use HBE in the remote exercise activities of their learners along with CE.

S251 Serrated Polyps in Patients With Positive FIT or Mt-sDNA, or Colonoscopy Only: Data From the New Hampshire Colonoscopy Registry

S251 Serrated Polyps in Patients With Positive FIT or Mt-sDNA, or Colonoscopy Only: Data From the New Hampshire Colonoscopy Registry

Harnessing academic-community partnerships to improve colorectal cancer screening rates in medically underserved communities.

166 Background: Colorectal cancer continues to be very common, and a widening racial disparity has been demonstrated. Wisconsin’s Comprehensive Cancer Control Program which is a program of the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center partnered with nine Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) on this five-year program to increase colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. Methods: This project was funded by the CDC and was a partner of a state’s comprehensive cancer control program and a variety of community health centers. Activities included clinical and environmental assessment and baseline data review of CRC screening, identification of a CRC screening team at each clinic, selection and implementation and evaluation of a panel of evidence-based interventions (EBI) per the The Community Guide to Preventive Services. Ongoing implementation data tracking and monitoring strategies were used to create opportunities for data-informed decisions at each clinic. Results: FIT kits were the preferred CRC screening modality. The preferred EBI were patient reminder systems, provider reminders, reducing structural barriers, professional education, EMR improvements and small media. Screening rates for CRC increased by 17% over the course of the project with a peak weighted average of screening at 51.8% for eligible average risk adults, which was up from a baseline of 34.8%. Over 9,000 take-home stool kits were distributed, and a 60.7% completion rate was achieved. The positivity rate for the FIT kits across all centers was 7.6%. A subset of the patients with a positive FIT (n = 97) were reviewed and 53.7% (n = 51) did not have a documented colonoscopy in their electronic medical record. Conclusions: This project of an academic-community partnership was successful in increasing CRC screening in medically underserved communities in Wisconsin. The positivity rate in this high needs population was higher than expected based on prior publications. Further efforts should focus on decreasing the gap between positive FIT testing and completion colonoscopy.[Table: see text]

Understanding the relationship between interpersonal trauma and disordered eating: An extension of the model of psychological adaptation.

Interpersonal trauma is a nonspecific risk factor for disordered eating (DE). Studies have begun to examine mechanisms that explain the relationship; however, few have tested comprehensive theoretical models. The Model of Psychological Adaptation (McCann, Sakheim, & Abrahamson, 1988) posits that trauma exposure results in core schema disruptions that are associated with varying psychological response patterns, or psychological adaptations, that are also established predictors of DE, such as interpersonal and affective problems. The model has been successfully applied to symptoms of other psychological disorders, such as PTSD and depression, but has not previously been extended to predict DE. The current study addressed this gap in the literature by assessing an extension of the Model of Psychological Adaptation to DE. A sample of 371 undergraduate women completed an online survey. Using structural equation modeling, the results of the current study demonstrated positive fit for a model that represents the extension of the Model of Psychological Adaptation to DE. These findings corroborate the link between interpersonal trauma and DE, thus demonstrating the potential importance of assessing for DE symptoms among clients who have survived interpersonal trauma and attending to trauma history among clients who have DE. In addition, it highlights mechanisms that may be relevant to the conceptualization and treatment of DE among survivors of interpersonal trauma. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Bacterial supergroup-specific "cost" of Wolbachia infections in Nasonia vitripennis.

The maternally inherited endosymbiont, Wolbachia, is known to alter the reproductive biology of its arthropod hosts for its own benefit and can induce both positive and negative fitness effects in many hosts. Here, we describe the effects of the maintenance of two distinct Wolbachia infections, one each from supergroups A and B, on the parasitoid host Nasonia vitripennis. We compare the effect of Wolbachia infections on various traits between the uninfected, single A‐infected, single B‐infected, and double‐infected lines with their cured versions. Contrary to some previous reports, our results suggest that there is a significant cost associated with the maintenance of Wolbachia infections where traits such as family size, fecundity, longevity, and rates of male copulation are compromised in Wolbachia‐infected lines. The double Wolbachia infection has the most detrimental impact on the host as compared to single infections. Moreover, there is a supergroup‐specific negative impact on these wasps as the supergroup B infection elicits the most pronounced negative effects. These negative effects can be attributed to a higher Wolbachia titer seen in the double and the single supergroup B infection lines when compared to supergroup A. Our findings raise important questions on the mechanism of survival and maintenance of these reproductive parasites in arthropod hosts.

SP9.1.4 Performance and Cost-Effectiveness of a Virtual Consultation Clinic for 2-Week-Wait Colorectal Cancer Referrals – A Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract Aims Measure performance and cost effectiveness of a Virtual Consultation (VC) clinic, compared to face-to-face (FF) clinic, for 2-week-wait (2WW) colorectal cancer (CRC) referrals, which did not meet the criteria for nurse-led Telephone Assessment Service. Methods 2WW CRC referrals were triaged by a colorectal surgeon to either a doctor-led VC or FF clinic. Demographics, referral indications, and primary outcome measures (time to clinic/results; investigation type; cancer detection rate) were compared pre-pandemic (November 2019–January 2020) and during the pandemic (May–June 2021). Results 158 (pre-pandemic) and 160 (pandemic) consecutive patients were analysed, with no difference in age (74 vs. 75 years, p=0.936). During the pandemic, patients were referred with an increased number of positive FIT tests (29 vs. 13%, p&amp;lt;0.001), were more likely to have computerised tomography (65 vs. 45%, p=0.003), had a longer time from referral to clinic assessment (10 vs. 8 days, p=0.002), but were informed of results more promptly (59 vs. 138 days, p&amp;lt;0.001) than pre-pandemic patients. During the pandemic patients were assessed earlier via VC than FF clinics (9 vs. 11 days, p=0.049). There were no significant differences in cancer detection rate pre or during the pandemic (12 vs. 8%, p=0.187), or between VC and FF clinic during the pandemic (6 vs. 12%, p=0.294). Cost effective analysis showed £15,000 per annum saving with doctor-led VC clinic. Conclusion Virtual consultation for 2WW CRC referrals may improve efficiency without compromising the cancer detection rate, as well as reducing risk of Covid-19 transmission and being more cost effective.

Self-Reported and Objective Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Planning, Compliance and Timeliness of a Diagnostic Colonoscopy after a Positive FIT Screening Result in the Flemish Colorectal Cancer Screening Program

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Flemish colorectal cancer (CRC) screening program (by fecal immunochemical test, FIT) was suspended and non-urgent medical procedures were discommended. This study estimates how this impacted diagnostic colonoscopy (DC) scheduling after a positive FIT and the interval between both in 2020. Methods: An online survey was sent to participants in the Flemish CRC screening program with a positive FIT but without a DC to explore the possible impact of COVID-19 on the scheduling of a DC. Self-reported survey results were complemented with objective data on DC compliance and the interval between FIT and DC. Results: In 2020, DC compliance was 4–5% lower than expected (for 3780 positive FITs no DC was performed). In February–March 2020, the median time between a positive FIT and DC significantly increased. Survey participants reported fear of COVID-19 contamination, perception to create hospital overload, delay in non-urgent medical procedures (on government advice) and not being sure a DC could be performed as contributing reasons. Conclusions: On top of a 3% lower participation, the COVID-19 pandemic further increased existing DC non-compliance and the positive FIT–DC interval. The survey confirmed the crucial role of COVID-19 in the decision not to plan a DC.

Selected Articles from This Issue

Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening has proven to be very effective in preventing this deadly disease. However, effectiveness can be improved, and costs can be reduced by using additional biomarkers for candidate selection. Arnau-Collell and colleagues developed a polygenic risk score and evaluated its effectiveness in determining which individuals should undergo a colonoscopy after a positive FIT result considering their CRC-associated genetic risk. The study highlights the potential application of these variants when applied to stratify people at a higher risk of CRC in the context of screening programs, while underlining the need to incorporate additional biomarkers.Breast cancer incidence is greater among non-Hispanic White and Black women compared to other women. In a large population-based study, Barnard and colleagues observed that the distributions of two breast cancer risk factors, body mass index (BMI) and mammographic density (MD) varied dramatically by race and ethnicity, with the highest MD among Asian women and the highest BMI among Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander women. Magnitudes of association between BMI and MD did not vary by race or ethnicity. Future efforts to reduce breast cancer incidence should consider the distributions of breast cancer risk factors to ensure equitable prevention strategies.Gastric cancer (GC) has a particularly high mortality rate in the US, as it lacks specific symptoms resulting in diagnosis at later stages. In and colleagues conducted a nested case-control study within the PLCO Screening Trial to examine the utility of pepsinogen as a predictor of incident GC. The authors found that pre-diagnostic pepsinogen sero-positivity was associated with 8.5-fold increased risk for GC. This suggests that despite the overall low incidence of GC in the US, serum pepsinogen holds potential to be used as biomarker to identify individuals at higher risk of GC for US-based targeted screening or interventions. 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs) are common medications among older men with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Conflicting results on 5-ARIs and prostate cancer mortality have led to debate about its effectiveness in primary chemoprevention. Vaselkiv and colleagues studied 38,000 men followed for 20 years and detailed information on screening and healthcare use. In the setting of regular screening, 5-ARI use was not associated with increased prostate cancer mortality, while it lowered risk of low-grade cancers. These findings together with those from other cohorts highlight the importance of framing risks and benefits of 5-ARIs in the context of real-world data and in light of the importance of clinical follow-up of men on 5-ARIs.

Feasibility and Perception of a Diet and Exercise Intervention Delivered via Telehealth to Firefighters.

Introduction:Firefighters have a high risk of cardiovascular incidence due to their poor health, fitness, and dietary habits. The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility of a diet and exercise intervention within firefighters delivered exclusively via telehealth to help reduce the risks of cardiovascular disease. Additionally, the firefighters' perception of their health was assessed.Methods:Fifteen firefighters participated in a six-week Mediterranean diet and a functional circuit exercise intervention with pre- and post-fitness testing and survey completion. The firefighters had weekly video calls with their telehealth coach.Results:Self-assessed health improved with the intervention from an average of 5.9 to 7.9 out of 10. Both weight and BMI significantly decreased with the intervention. Overall, firefighters had high adherence to both portions of the intervention.Discussion:Telehealth interventions may be efficacious in improving firefighter fitness levels and overall health as firefighters saw positive health and fitness improvements.