Archive for the ‘Studies and Interesting Findings’ Category
May 15th, 2011 | 
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On May 26, 2009, Robert Lustig gave a lecture called “Sugar: The Bitter Truth,” which was posted on YouTube the following July. Since then, it has been viewed well over 800,000 times, gaining new viewers at a rate of about 50,000 per month, fairly remarkable numbers for a 90-minute discussion of the nuances of fructose biochemistry and human physiology.
Posted in Studies and Interesting Findings
Energy Drinks Pose Serious Health Risks for Young People
Emma Hitt, PhD
February 14, 2011 — A lack of research and regulation associated with energy drinks, combined with reports of toxicity and high consumption, may result in potentially dangerous health consequences in children, adolescents, and young adults, according to a review of scientific literature and Internet sources.
Sara M. Seifert, BS, and colleagues from the Department of Pediatrics and the Pediatric Integrative Medicine Program at the University of Miami, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine in Florida, reported their findings in a report published online February 14 and in the March print issue of Pediatrics.
According to the review, self-report surveys indicate that energy drinks are regularly consumed by 30% to 50% of children, adolescents, and young adults. The current trial questions the use of energy drinks in these young populations, as they provide no therapeutic benefit and are associated with risks for serious adverse health effects.
Posted in Studies and Interesting Findings
Childhood obesity is running rampant in our country, and increasing by the month. We, as the adults in this community we call America, need to band together to fight this monster. Of course the only way to combat something like this is the acquisition of knowledge. The following study can REALLY help us on the way to protecting our children. Read on…..Let me know what you think.
Early Introduction of Solid Foods Linked to Risk for Early Childhood Obesity
Laurie Barclay, MD
February 7, 2011 — Early introduction of solid foods is linked to a risk for early childhood obesity, according to the results of a prospective prebirth cohort study reported online February 7 in Pediatrics.
"Parental feeding practices during early infancy, such as the timing of solid food introduction, may be 1 key modifiable determinant of childhood obesity," write Susanna Y. Huh, MD, MPH, from the Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Children’s Hospital Boston in Boston, Massachusetts, and colleagues. "Data suggest that the introduction of solid foods earlier than 4 months of age is associated with increased body fat or weight in childhood or with greater weight gain during infancy, which itself predicts later adiposity. Other studies have found no association between the timing of solid food introduction and body fat or an association between delayed introduction of solid foods after 6 months and greater adiposity."
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This may seem a little redundant, but the horse ain’t dead yet, soooo here it is….
Michael O’Riordan
February 28, 2011 (London, United Kingdom) — There is yet another reason to stay away from soft drinks, sweetened fruit juices, and sugar-loaded sports drinks: a new study has shown that there is a direct association between fructose and glucose intake and increases in blood pressure and that these sugar-sweetened beverages are associated with significant increases in systolic and diastolic blood pressures [1].
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Higher Exercise Capacity Equals Improved Survival in Older Adults
Michael O’Riordan
August 17, 2010 (Washington, DC) — Exercise capacity is inversely associated with all-cause mortality in older men, according to the results of a new study [1]. The survival benefit was observed among individuals able to participate in moderate daily exercise, such as brisk walking, report investigators.
"Most health benefits are evident at fitness levels of greater than 5 [metabolic equivalents] METs," lead investigator Dr Peter Kokkinos (Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC) told heartwire. "Now, those benefits are graded, so that the more exercise you do, the greater the survival benefit."
Posted in Studies and Interesting Findings
Staying Active Lessens Age-Related Weight Gain, Especially in Women
December 14, 2010 (Chicago, Illinois) — Staying active in young adulthood appears to help individuals lessen the fattening effects of time, with results of a new study showing that physically active young adults do not put on as much weight as their less active counterparts [1]. While some weight gain appears inevitable–even the most active individuals had increases in weight and waist circumference over a 20-year period–maintaining high activity levels lessens the weight gain as people move into middle age, report investigators.
"Preventing weight gain can be something that is appropriate for people who are overweight, normal weight, or obese, so it crosses weight classes," lead investigator Dr Arlene Hankinson (Northwestern University, Chicago, IL) told heartwire . "And like many prevention strategies, it’s usually easier to prevent something from happening than to treat it after you’ve already developed the problem."
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It looks like the the medical community is finally starting to catch up to us forward thinkers. Let’s start to act, not re-act, everyone. If everything is treated symptomatically rather than with proactive measures we should just call it sick care, not health care. You’ll see below that they’re finally getting it.
From Medscape Medical News
New Guidelines for Exercise in Type 2 Diabetes
Fran Lowry
December 10, 2010 — New guidelines issued jointly by the American Diabetes Association and the American College of Sports Medicine stress the crucial role that physical activity plays in the management of type 2 diabetes.
They replace recommendations made in the American College of Sports Medicine Position Stand "Exercise and Type 2 Diabetes" that were issued in 2000.
Developed by a panel of 9 experts, the new guidelines are published concurrently in the December issue of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise and Diabetes Care.
"High-quality studies establishing the importance of exercise and fitness in diabetes were lacking until recently," the expert panel writes, "but it is now well established that participation in regular physical activity improves blood glucose control and can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes mellitus, along with positively affecting lipids, blood pressure, cardiovascular events, mortality, and quality of life."
Most of the benefits of exercise are realized through acute and long-term improvements in insulin action, accomplished with both aerobic and resistance training, the experts write.
For people who already have type 2 diabetes, the new guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes per week of moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise spread out at least 3 days during the week, with no more than 2 consecutive days between bouts of aerobic activity. These recommendations take into account the needs of those whose diabetes may limit vigorous exercise.
"Most people with type 2 diabetes do not have sufficient aerobic capacity to undertake sustained vigorous activity for that weekly duration, and they may have orthopaedic or other health limitations," said writing chair Sheri R. Colberg, PhD, professor of exercise science at Old Dominion University and adjunct professor of internal medicine at Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia, in a statement. "For this reason, the ADA [American Diabetes Association] and ACSM [American College of Sports Medicine] call for a regimen of moderate-to-vigorous activity and make no recommendation for a lesser amount of vigorous activity."
The panel specifically recommends that such moderate exercise correspond to approximately 40% to 60% of maximal aerobic capacity and states that for most people with type 2 diabetes, brisk walking is a moderate-intensity exercise.
The expert panel also recommends that resistance training be part of the exercise regimen. This should be done at least twice a week — ideally 3 times a week — on nonconsecutive days. The panel also recommends that people just beginning to do weight training be supervised by a qualified exercise trainer "to ensure optimal benefits to blood glucose control, blood pressure, lipids, and cardiovascular risk and to minimize injury risk."
Regular use of a pedometer is also encouraged. In a meta-analysis of 8 randomized controlled trials and 18 observational studies, people who used pedometers increased their physical activity by 27% over baseline. Having a goal, such as taking 10,000 steps per day, was an important predictor of increased physical activity, according to the expert panel.
Finally, the new guidelines emphasise that exercise must be done regularly to have continued benefits and should include regular training of varying types.
Physicians should prescribe exercise, Dr. Colberg said in a statement. "Many physicians appear unwilling or cautious about prescribing exercise to individuals with type 2 diabetes for a variety of reasons, such as excessive body weight or the presence of health-related complications. However, the majority of people with type 2 diabetes can exercise safely, as long as certain precautions are taken. The presence of diabetes complications should not be used as an excuse to avoid participation in physical activity."
Dr. Colberg and the other authors have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2010;2282-2303.
Posted in Studies and Interesting Findings
According to the following article that could be true! Read on and get in the know!
Waist Circumference Linked to All-Cause Mortality in Older Adults
From Medscape Medical News
Laurie Barclay, MD
August 9, 2010 — Waist circumference (WC) is a risk factor for mortality in older adults, regardless of body mass index (BMI), according to the results of a large US cohort study reported in the August 9/23 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
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What an awesome article. Reinforces everything I’ve been trying to teach…..especially to you Fit Challengers!
Higher-Protein/Low-GI Diet Best for Maintaining Weight Loss
Shelley Wood
From Heartwire
Posted in Studies and Interesting Findings
This is an article published online in the new york times. Short a sweet, but to the point. and if this type of exercise can help people with serious problems, think what it can do for those with no significant medical problems!
Posted in Studies and Interesting Findings
