Physical Activity Can Reduce The Genetic Predisposition To Obesity By 40 Percent

On September 1, 2010, in Featured, Health | Fitness, by Christopher Fisher, PhD
man excercising outdoorsw

Although the whole population can benefit from a physically active lifestyle, in part through reduced obesity risk, a new study shows that individuals with a genetic predisposition to obesity can benefit even more. The research, carried out by Dr. Ruth Loos from the Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit in Cambridge, United Kingdom, and colleagues, published in this week’s PLoS Medicine suggests that the genetic predisposition to obesity can be reduced by an average of 40% through increased physical activity. Check the end of the report to download the freely available open-access study.

Brain Imaging Shows That Walking Boosts Brain Connectivity And Function

senior citizen excercising

A group of “professional couch potatoes,” as one researcher described them, has proven that even moderate exercise – in this case walking at one’s own pace for 40 minutes three times a week – can enhance the connectivity of important brain circuits, combat declines in brain function associated with aging and increase performance on cognitive tasks.

Prior Stress Could Worsen Premenstrual Symptoms

On August 24, 2010, in Biofeedback, Mental Health, by Christopher Fisher, PhD
close up of a pretty women

Women who report feeling stressed early in their monthly cycle were more likely than those who were less stressed to report more pronounced symptoms before and during menstruation, according to a study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health and other institutions. The association raises the possibility that feeling stressed in the weeks before menstruation could worsen the symptoms typically associated with premenstrual syndrome and menstruation.

Children Who Walk To School May Have Reduced Stress And Risk Of Heart Disease

On August 16, 2010, in Health | Fitness, by Christopher Fisher, PhD
a young female walking in nature

A simple morning walk to school could reduce stress reactivity in children during the school day, curbing increases in heart rate and blood pressure that can lead to cardiovascular disease later in life, according to a new University at Buffalo study. The results are published in the August 2010 issue of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.

Light To Moderate Physical Activity Reduces The Risk Of Early Death

On August 13, 2010, in Health | Fitness, by Christopher Fisher, PhD
father and child riding bicyles

A new study by researchers from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), Cambridge University, and the Karolinska Institute in Sweden has found that even light or moderate intensity physical activity, such as walking or cycling, can substantially reduced the risk of early death. The study was published this week by the International Journal of Epidemiology.

Building Muscle Does Not Require Lifting Heavy Weights

On August 12, 2010, in Health | Fitness, by Christopher Fisher, PhD
dumbell weight

Current gym dogma holds that to build muscle size you need to lift heavy weights. However, a new study conducted at McMaster University has shown that a similar degree of muscle building can be achieved by using lighter weights. The secret is to pump iron until you reach muscle fatigue. The findings are published in open access journal PLoS ONE. Check the end of this report to download the freely available study.

Nonintense Physical Activity Reduces Depression And Boosts Recovery Of Stroke Patients

On July 10, 2010, in Mental Health, Stroke, by Christopher Fisher, PhD
Dart game

You do not always need to build up a big sweat to reap the healing benefits of physical activity. Research has found that even a low-intense exercise program can reduce depression symptoms and boost physical therapy results in recovering stroke patients. “The power of physical activity to raise the spirits of recovering stroke patients is stronger than anyone suspected,” Heart and Stroke Foundation researcher Dr. Jocelyn Harris told Canadian Stroke Congress, co-hosted by the Canadian Stroke Network, the Heart and Stroke Foundation, and the Canadian Stroke Consortium.

Excercise Impacts Regulation Of Brain Stem Cells

Stem Cells

Stem cells in the brain remain dormant until called upon to divide and make more neurons. However, little has been known about the molecular guards that keep them quiet. Now scientists from the Salk Institute for Biological Studies have identified the signal that prevents stem cells from proliferating, protecting the brain against too much cell division and ensuring a pool of neural stem cells that lasts a lifetime. The study will be published in the July 1 issue of Cell Stem Cell.

Teenage Physical Activity Reduces Risk Of Cognitive Impairment In Later Life

Women who are physically active at any point over the life course (teenage, age 30, age 50, late life) have lower risk of cognitive impairment in late-life compared to those who are inactive, but teenage physical activity appears to be most important. This is the key finding of a study of over nine thousand women published today in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society ….

Some Types Of Arousal Can Lead To Unhealthy Choices

Chocolate Snacks

You might want to avoid food shopping right after a heavy workout or drinking after an intense day of high-powered negotiations, according to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research. In three studies, the authors found that arousal interfered with the effects of positive mood to influence resistance to tempting food.

Body-Image Distortion Predicts Onset Of Unsafe Weight-Loss Behaviors

Janet M. Liechty (Credit: L. Brian Stauffer)

Normal weight and underweight teenage girls who falsely believe they are overweight are at significantly greater risk of succumbing to unnecessary and unsafe weight-loss behaviors than girls who can accurately assess their weight status, according to new research by a University of Illinois expert in eating disorders and body-image perception.

Liability Issues Limit Recreational Use Of Public School Facilities

Golf Course

Encouraging physical activity is vital to positive health outcomes and is a worthwhile public health goal. Although most public schools have some recreational facilities that could be used outside of regular school hours, concerns over liability have limited their use. In a study in the July issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, researchers [...]

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