As amazing as it may seem, people (even some Physicians, unfortunately) STILL continue to claim that “running is bad for your knees.”  Please note – this is FALSE.  A peer-reviewed, long-term research and epidemiological study out of Stanford Medical School found that after 20 years, the knees of distance runners were actually HEALTHIER than those of a control group.  And a 2011 study by the American College of Sports Medicine concluded that “physical activity [including running] is BENEFICIAL, rather than detrimental, to join health” (here’s the study if interested:  http://www.npr.org/assets/news/2011/03/28/effect-of-physical-activity-on-knees.pdf).  The only exception to that is if you already have an injured knee, then running on it without correcting the cause could result in further injury, of course.  

Two new studies by researchers at the University of Rhode Island are providing additional insights into the role that eating rate plays in the amount of food one consumes. The studies found that men eat significantly faster than women, heavier people eat faster than slimmer people, and refined grains are consumed faster than whole grains, among other findings. Kathleen Melanson presented her research at the annual meeting of The Obesity Society in Orlando this month. The second study, which examined the characteristics associated with eating rates, found a close association between eating rate and body mass index (BMI), with those individuals with a high BMI typically eating considerably faster than those with a low BMI. The study also found that the test … MORE→

Many complications of diabetes, including kidney disease, foot problems and vision problems are generally well recognized. But the disease’s impact on the brain is often overlooked. For the past five years, a team led by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) neurophysiologist Vera Novak, MD, PhD, has been studying the effects of diabetes on cognitive health in older individuals and has determined that memory loss, depression and other types of cognitive impairment are a serious consequence of this widespread disease. Now, Novak’s team has identified a key mechanism behind this course of events. In a study published in the November 2011 issue of the journal Diabetes Care, they report that in older patients with diabetes, two adhesion molecules – sVCAM and sICAM … MORE→

For the first time, scientists report a link between eating nuts and higher levels of serotonin in the bodies of patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS), who are at high risk for heart disease. Serotonin is a substance that helps transmit nerve signals and decreases feelings of hunger, makes people feel happier and improves heart health. It took only one ounce of mixed nuts (raw unpeeled walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts) a day to produce the good effects. The report appears in ACS’ Journal of Proteome Research.  Symptoms of MetS include excess abdominal fat, high blood sugar and high blood pressure, which increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Dietary changes may help patients shed the excess weight and … MORE→

Regular physical activity is associated with a lower risk of suffering depression in old age. This is shown by one of the largest studies on elderly Europeans to have been carried out, by researchers at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, among others. Research also shows that self-determined motivation and perceived competence are important factors in persuading elderly people to exercise more. In a recently published study Lindwall, together with research colleagues, has studied 17,500 elderly people with an average age of 64 from 11 European countries who are taking part in the large EU-funded population study Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement (SHARE). The subjects in the study were followed up over a period of two and a half years, among … MORE→

A new national study of eating out and income shows that fast-food dining becomes more common as earnings increase from low to middle incomes, weakening the popular notion that fast food should be blamed for higher rates of obesity among the poor. “There is a correlation between obesity and lower income, but it cannot be solely attributed to restaurant choice,” said J. Paul Leigh, professor of public health sciences at UC Davis and senior author of the study, which is published online in Population Health Management. “Fast-food dining is most popular among the middle class, who are less likely to be obese.”    

The genetic predisposition to obesity due to the ‘fat mass and obesity associated’ (FTO) gene can be substantially reduced by living a physically active lifestyle according to new research by a large international collaboration, led by Ruth Loos from the Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit, in Cambridge, UK, and published in this week’s PLoS Medicine. The researchers found that the effect of the FTO gene on obesity risk is nearly 30% weaker among physically active than in physically inactive adults. This finding holds an important public health message relevant to health care professionals and the wider public as it challenges the widely-held view that obesity ‘is in my genes’ and not amenable to lifestyle changes. On the contrary, this study shows … MORE→

Newswise — Failing to get back on a healthy eating plan soon after the big holiday feast can lead to serious weight gain and most likely a New Year’s resolution to get in shape. “Most of us will eat snacks and sweets the week leading up to Thanksgiving or Christmas, then continue for days and weeks afterwards,” said Gaye Lynn Hicks, R.D., L.D., a dietitian with the Methodist Weight Management Center in Houston. “This often leads to a whole season of eating and before you know it you have put on a lot of weight in a short amount of time.” Hicks said this type of behavior can spiral out of control very quickly, so adopting a healthy lifestyle becomes more important … MORE→

Many folks assume the best they can do to improve their results on exams is to “try harder.”  But research now bears out some specific tips to maximizing your outcomes when it comes to those exams.  First – sleep is critical – up to 4 full days before the exam.  While the all-nighter is a popular study habit, the habit is actually linked to LOWER grades and then it further impairs reasoning and memory for that noted 4 days.  In addition, do not wake up earlier than normal to study as this could interfere with the rapid-eye-movement sleep that aids memory.  It’s also valuable to review the toughest material just before you turn out the lights.  Then there’s food.  Just … MORE→

A lower sodium diet in combination with a potassium-rich diet is associated with a reduced risk of death from ALL causes, according to a study reported in the July 11th, 2011 American Medical Association journal (Archives of Internal Medicine).  This study, which involved over 12,000 participants, showed that those with the highest sodium-potassium ratio had a 46% greater risk of dying from any cause after adjusting for other variables.  How do you change your ratio?  77% of sodium is contained in processed foods (another 11% from the salt shaker when cooking or eating).  Reduce these and combine that step with increasing potassium-rich fruits and vegetables (Butternut Squash, Spinach, Brussels Sprouts, Cucumber, Cantaloupe, Bananas all have over 400 mg of Potassium … MORE→

The Most Sleep-Deprived Cities list is based on an independent analysis of individual sleep habits as reported in an annual study of more than 350,000 adults by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The data reveals the following ten cities as America’s most sleep-deprived: 1. Detroit, MI  2. Birmingham, AL  3. Oklahoma City, OK  4. New Orleans, LA  5. New York, NY  6. Cincinnati, OH  7. Louisville, KY  8. Raleigh, NC  9. Columbus, OH  10. Boston, MA.  The GOOD news is that with the time change coming up in early November, we ALL have the perfect opportunity to easily shift our sleep pattern to include an extra 30 minutes or more each night with no adjustment period needed!

Of course not, but a recent study from the Journal of Consumer Research demonstrates that while we may not “say” it does, our actions indicate otherwise.  Consumers who feel powerless will choose larger size food portions in an attempt to gain status.  Many cultural norms associate larger products with greater status—for instance, the size of a vehicle, house, or TV. The authors tested whether or not consumers used the size of food products to express their status.  In one of the authors’ experiments, they confirmed that consumers equate larger sizes of food options with greater status. For example, participants perceived that consumers who chose a large coffee had more status than someone who chose medium or small, even when the … MORE→

“Achieving these seven simple lifestyle factors gives people a 90 per cent chance of living to the age of 90 or 100, free of not only heart disease and stroke but from a number of other chronic illnesses including cancer,” says Dr. Clyde Yancy, a professor of medicine and chief of cardiology at the Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. He is also the past-president of the American Heart Association. You can achieve optimal health, says Dr. Yancy, by following these steps: 1- GET ACTIVE: Inactivity can shave almost four years off a person’s expected lifespan. People who are physically inactive are twice as likely to be at risk for heart disease or stroke. 2- KNOW AND CONTROL CHOLESTEROL LEVELS: … MORE→

We know sleep influences many things in life, but caloric intake? Indeed. A study at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital demonstrated that women who only got 4 hours of sleep/night ate 329 more calories and an astounding 31 more grams of fat than when they slept well. But it doesn’t end there. Night owls, even when sleeping 7 hrs, ate an average of 248 more calories than those who went to bed early (Northwestern University study).

According to a recent UCLA study, dieters who ate pistachios daily brought down their BMI and their Triglycerides more than those who ate an identical number of calories but snacked on pretzels instead. So if you’ve been cutting out nuts because you thought they were too high in fat, it may be time to reconsider your snacks.

A retrospective examination (Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology, Oct 2011) was conducted of injuries, physical fitness, and their association among Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) new agent trainees. Injuries and activities associated with injuries were obtained from a review of medical records in the medical clinic that served the new agents. A physical fitness test (PFT) was administered at Weeks 1, 7 and 14 of the 17-week new agent training course. The PFT consisted of push-ups to exhaustion, 1-minute bent-leg sit-ups, 300-meter sprint, a 1.5-mile run, and pull-ups to exhaustion. Among both men and women, higher injury incidence was associated with lower performance on any of the physical fitness measures.

SAN DIEGO, Sept. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — The American Council on Exercise (ACE), America’s leading authority on fitness and the world’s largest nonprofit fitness certification, education and training organization, today announced the results of an independently conducted, academic study on Vibram FiveFingers, a sock-style shoe designed to simulate the effect of running barefoot while still protecting the foot. The study found that while the shoes may be beneficial for those who suffer from chronic running injuries, using Vibramsand barefoot-style shoes for running can pose additional risks if runners do not adopt the correct foot-to-ground strike style. ACE commissioned the study to determine what happens when runners switch from their traditional running shoes to wearing minimalist running shoes like VibramFiveFingers. Advocates … MORE→

A study in the Oct. 1, 2011 issue of the journal SLEEP showed that children who went to bed late and got up late were 1.5 times more likely to become obese than those who went to bed early and got up early. Furthermore, late-nighters were almost twice as likely to be physically inactive and 2.9 times more likely to sit in front of the TV and computer or play video games for more hours than guidelines recommend. “The children who went to bed late and woke up late, and the children who went to bed early and woke up early got virtually the same amount of sleep in total,” said co-author Carol Maher, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow with the … MORE→

High cholesterol has been found to contribute to a loss of bone density in two ways, according to researchers at Duke University Medical Center. It blocks formation of new bone cells and it encourages the activity of mechanisms responsible for breaking down bone. “In the current study in mice, we showed that a high-cholesterol diet alone significantly decreased bone quality,” said Erik Nelson, PhD, a postdoctoral research associate in the McDonnell laboratory. However, they noted that only when cholesterol was converted to 27-hydroxycholesterol did it negatively impact bone. Without estrogen, which occurs in postmenopausal women, the 27-hydroxycholesterol continued signaling through liver X receptor, which decreased the amount of bone. In the meantime, the data we have generated thus far suggest … MORE→

Adding another incentive to exercise, scientists at Duke University Medical Center have found that physical activity improves arthritis symptoms even among obese mice that continue to chow down on a high-fat diet. The insight suggests that excess weight alone isn’t what causes the aches and pains of osteoarthritis, despite the long-held notion that carrying extra pounds strains the joints and leads to the inflammatory condition. Published Sept. 27, 2011 online in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism, the findings are now being tested in people. “What’s surprising is that exercise, without substantial weight loss, can be beneficial to the joints,” said Farshid Guilak, Ph.D., professor of orthopaedic surgery at Duke and senior author of the study. “Ideally, it would be best … MORE→

If you’re not quite ready for a treadmill desk like the one we featured through TrekDesk? How about starting with a stand-up desk, which offers many of the same benefits? These tips from adjustable desk-maker Anthro will help you get started… 1. Be sure to make proper adjustments to your keyboard, screen, etc to fit you, not your co-worker. What’s comfortable for one person may be torture for another. The best posture is the next one. No one position is sustainable for long periods, so change positions often. Optimally, you would shift through a range of motions, mainly sitting, standing, or perching on a high stool. Maybe you’ll decide to hold one position for emailing, another for paperwork, and still … MORE→

University of Missouri researchers have found evidence that shows those who quit smoking show improvements in their overall personality. In the study, MU researchers compared people, aged 18-35, who smoked with those who had quit smoking. They found that individuals who smoked were higher in two distinct personality traits during young adulthood: Impulsivity (acting without thinking about the consequences) and Neuroticism (being emotionally negative and anxious, most of the time). The study found that those who quit smoking had the biggest declines in impulsivity and neuroticism from ages 18 to 25. The study, “Smoking Desistance and Personality Change in Emerging and Young Adulthood,” has been accepted by the journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research. The study was co-authored by Kenneth J. … MORE→

Adults, middle-aged and up, can cut their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by as much as 80% by adhering to a combination of just five healthy lifestyle habits, a new analysis from the National Institutes of Health. Those 5 factors and their impact are as follows: Healthy diet and Exercise combined accounted for a 28-29% risk reduction. Not Smoking for at least 10 years reduced it an additional 4%. Moderate alcohol consumption carved off another 7-24% of the risk and having a Body Mass Index (see the BMI tool in your journal to check) of 18.5 – 24.9 reduced it another 27 – 33%. 26 million Americans were diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 2010.

Any exercise that gets the heart pumping may reduce the risk of dementia and slow the condition’s progression once it starts, reported a Mayo Clinic study published in the September issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings. The researchers broadly defined exercise as enough aerobic physical activity to raise the heart rate and increase the body’s need for oxygen. Examples include walking, gym workouts and activities at home such as shoveling snow or raking leaves. The researchers note that brain imaging studies have consistently revealed objective evidence of favorable effects of exercise on human brain integrity. Also, they note, animal research has shown that exercise generates trophic factors that improve brain functioning, plus exercise facilitates brain connections (neuroplasticity).

Current research suggests prolonged sitting is unhealthy, even for people who exercise when they aren’t in a chair. “We have engineered activity right out of people’s lives,” said Ray Browning, a Colorado State University professor in the school’s Health and Exercise Science department. One simple solution: Stand (or even walk) while working more. Among other things, standing burns more calories than sitting. But the benefits stem from more than just potential weight loss. Research is showing that muscle contraction and stimulation, which happens naturally in the legs when people are upright, promotes health, Browning said. When muscles are comparatively dormant for long periods of time, the benefits of muscle exertion are lost. It’s important to ease into the process over … MORE→

The connection between our diet and hormones is significant, yet widely ignored, even though our hormones directly impact our health. The most basic link between diet and hormones is this: consuming too much refined flour and sugar disrupts hormonal balance. It is imperative to keep blood sugar stable in order to balance hormones. How do we do this? By eating every few hours, managing carbohydrates, consuming helpful fats and avoiding harmful ones, sticking with high-quality foods and avoiding too much processed foods. Eat small meals every 2-3 hours that consist of a lean protein – chicken, turkey, fish, nuts – and a complex carbohydrate – a vegetable or high-fiber fruit. Consume carbohydrates that rate low on the glycemic index such … MORE→

Lack of adequate sleep is costing the average U.S. worker 11.3 days, or $2,280 in lost productivity every year, according to a study in the September 1 issue of the journal Sleep. As a nation, the total cost is 252.7 days and $63.2 billion. Americans are not missing work because of insomnia. They are still going to their jobs but accomplishing less because they’re tired. In an information-based economy, it’s difficult to find a condition that has a greater effect on productivity.” The results were computed from a national sampling of 7,428 employees, part of the larger American Insomnia Study, which was led by Kessler.

McMaster researchers have found one more reason to exercise: working out triggers influential stem cells to become bone instead of fat, improving overall health by boosting the body’s capacity to make blood. The body’s mesenchymal stem cells are most likely to become fat or bone, depending on which path they follow. Using treadmill-conditioned mice, a team led by the Department of Kinesiology’s Gianni Parise has shown that aerobic exercise triggers those cells to become bone more often than fat. The exercising mice ran less than an hour, three times a week, enough time to have a significant impact on their blood production, says Parise, an associate professor. In sedentary mice, the same stem cells were more likely to become fat, … MORE→

In May 2009, a sample of 2,500 New Zealand women aged 40 to 50 years was randomly selected from the nationwide electoral rolls. After adjusting for age, smoking status, menopause status, thyroid condition, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and physical activity, BMI statistically significantly increased by 2.8% (95% confidence interval: 1.5% to 4.1%; P

Here’s a list worth review of the top 10 Back to School foods: 1. Organic Milk – the list comes from the Horizon Organic Milk company – what did you expect ;- ) but the calcium is important 2. Whole Grain Bread 3. Trail Mix Fixings (read the contents or make yourself – not all are healthy) 4. Nut Butter 5. Hummus 6. Granola Bars (again – read the contents carefully – some are just candy bars in disguise) 7. Turkey Breast 8. String Cheese 9. Fruit, Fruit, Fruit (and more fruit) 10. Veggies, Veggies, Veggies (and even more veggies!)

The Wall Street Journal today focused in on various studies today around “coffee breaks” and their benefit (or lack thereof) to performance. They found that performance on memory and attention tests improved by 20% after subjects paused for a walk through an arboretum. When the same people strolled down a busy street, no cognitive boost was found. Interestingly, a 10 minute break in a quiet room to look at pictures of a nature scene had similar (but not as significant) results, while looking at pictures of a city street in the same quiet room did not. And the coffee itself? Men who drank more than their usual amount of coffee actually performed worse when working on a group assignment.

When it comes to improving bone health in postmenopausal women (and people of all ages, actually) a recent study published in the British Journal of Nutrition found a simple, proactive solution to help prevent fractures and osteoporosis: eating dried plums. “All fruits and vegetables have a positive effect on nutrition, but in terms of bone health, this particular food is exceptional,” said lead researcher Armjandi. Over a 12-month period, the first group was instructed to consume 100 grams of dried plums (about 10) each day, while the second was told to consume 100 grams of dried apples. The group that consumed dried plums had significantly higher bone mineral density in the ulna and spine, in comparison with the group that … MORE→

Aerobic exercise is your best bet when it comes to losing that dreaded belly fat, a new study finds. When Duke University Medical Center researchers conducted a head-to-head comparison of aerobic exercise, resistance training, and a combination of the two, they found aerobic exercise to be the most efficient and most effective way to lose the belly fat that’s most damaging to your health. This isn’t the fat that lies just under your skin and causes the dreaded muffin top. Belly or abdominal fat — known in scientific communities as visceral fat and liver fat — is located deep within the abdominal cavity and fills the spaces between internal organs. It’s been associated with increased risk for heart disease, diabetes, … MORE→

Exercise can be as effective as a second medication for as many as half of depressed patients whose condition have not been cured by a single antidepressant medication. As published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, it was found that both moderate and intense levels of daily exercise can work as well as administering a second antidepressant drug, which is often used when initial medications don’t move patients to remission. It is one of the first controlled investigations in the U.S. to suggest that adding a regular exercise routine, combined with targeted medications, actually can relieve fully the symptoms of major depressive disorder.

If you’ve ever made your own smoothie, packing it with fruit, spinach, flax seed oil, protein powder, coconut milk, chia seeds and all sorts of healthy items, then you know how easy it is to add a plethora of health to your daily fueling plan. In fact, there may be no better way to start off your day on a healthy note than to compliment your morning workout with a homemade (or office made) smoothie for breakfast. But it gets better! What if you were to make a little larger smoothie each morning and then set aside one glass or water bottle full in the refrigerator for your afternoon snack? Granted, it won’t be quite as tasty as it was … MORE→

Older adults who lead sedentary lifestyles and consume a lot of sodium in their diet may be putting themselves at risk for more than just heart disease. A study led by researchers at Baycrest in Toronto has found evidence that high-salt diets coupled with low physical activity can be detrimental to cognitive health in older adults. The finding, which appears online today in the journal Neurobiology of Aging, may have significant public health implications, emphasizing the importance of addressing multiple lifestyle factors that can impact brain health. While low sodium intake is associated with reduced blood pressure and risk of heart disease, this is believed to be the first study to extend the benefits of a low sodium diet to … MORE→

Symptoms of weight gain, mood swings, insomnia, vaginal dryness, hot flashes and achy joints tied to menopause? This article provides some specific steps to ease those through nutritional options. Sometimes hormone replacement therapy is appropriate, but the following tips may reduce the dependence on the hormones. The tips that follow are good for everyone, but this balanced diet is especially therapeutic for women with menopause symptoms: http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/30392349.html?page=all&prepage=3&c=y#continue

1. High-carbohydrate diets lower HDL cholesterol and raise triglycerides, which greatly increases your risk of heart disease. 2. Carbohydrates raise insulin, which makes you fat and increases your risk of type II diabetes. 3. A high intake of carbohydrates and sweetened beverages is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. 4. Carbohydrates eaten in excess raise levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, which increases risk of heart attacks and strokes. 5. Eating too many carbohydrates makes LDL cholesterol smaller and denser, which in turn raises risk of heart and artery disease. Interested in the other five? Here you go: http://www.weightandwellness.com/id45.html

Reuters covered a large study from Taiwan’s National Health Research Institute (Wen, et al) today that shows dedicating even 15 minutes/day to a moderate form of exercise like brisk walking, will benefit anyone. Some people struggle to stick to the standard guideline of 30 minutes a day of exercise, five days a week. While that may be optimal, this study demonstrates consistency with just 15 min/day can make a significant difference. The study, which tracked 416,000 people over 13 years found an increase in life expectancy of three years compared with those who remained inactive.

While some past studies have shown that persons carrying a few extra pounds in their 70s live longer than their thinner counterparts, a new study that measured subjects’ weight at multiple points over a longer period of time reveals the opposite. Research recently published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society showed that men over 75 with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 22.3 had a 3.7-year shorter life expectancy, and women over 75 with a BMI greater than 27.4 had a 2.1-year shorter life expectancy. The study looked at 6,030 adults who never smoked and who were free of major chronic diseases at enrollment. It then examined only those adults who maintained a stable weight.

Let’s face facts: More than half of all nurses are fat. Obese even. There may be a medical reason why your workday sends you to the fridge. Psychologically, you may be the kind of person who cares for others too much, and that’s causing you to overeat to compensate for not caring for yourself. Physically, your heightened stress levels (hey, you’re a nurse…it’s a common problem) could be upsetting your biochemical balance, which is in turn making you fat. If you’re the kind of nurse who is overeating because you are an uber-caregiver, you’ll find solutions in this article to deal with that and more: http://scrubsmag.com/eatstress/

A new University of Colorado Boulder study shows that a small amount of physical exercise could profoundly protect the elderly from long-term memory loss that can happen suddenly following infection, illnesses or injury in old age. “Our research shows that a small amount of physical exercise by late middle-aged rats profoundly protects against exaggerated inflammation in the brain and long-lasting memory impairments that follow a serious bacterial infection,” said Ruth Barrientos of the psychology and neuroscience department. The results of the study will appear in the Aug. 10 edition of The Journal of Neuroscience. Past research has shown that exercise in humans protects against declines in cognitive function associated with aging and protects against dementia.

Chewing food 40 times instead of a typical 15 times caused study participants to eat nearly 12 percent fewer calories, according to results published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Jie Li and colleagues from Harbin Medical University in China gave a typical breakfast to 14 obese young men and 16 young men of normal weight to see if there were differences in how they chewed their food. The researchers also looked to see whether chewing more would lead subjects to eat less and would affect levels of blood sugar or certain hormones that regulate appetite. In the current study, the team found a connection between the amount of chewing and levels of several hormones that “tell the brain … MORE→

More individuals are learning the importance of reading food labels, but there is one key factor that cannot be forgotten – the serving size (which may not represent “your” actual serving size). Canned soup presents a dramatic example of how unrealistic the stated serving sizes are, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). Labels for Campbell’s Chunky Classic Chicken Noodle soup indicate a serving is 1 cup (a little less than half a can) and has 790 milligrams of sodium—a hefty amount by any standard and about half the sodium most adults should consume in a whole day. But according to a national telephone survey commissioned by CSPI, 64 percent of consumers would eat the whole … MORE→

Even people who set aside time for exercise regularly but are otherwise sedentary, may not be active enough to combat chronic diseases such as diabetes. Inactivity, in addition to the availability of high-caloric food has led to an increased rate of metabolic dysfunction in Americans. “If people spend the majority of their time sitting, even with regular periods of exercise, they are still at greater risk for chronic diseases,” Thyfault said. “If people can add some regular movement into their routines throughout the day, they will feel better and be less susceptible to health problems. In the long term, they may not see big changes in the mirror, but they will prevent further weight gain.” 10,000 steps/day is a good … MORE→

A recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM) found that the greater an individual’s total muscle mass, the lower the person’s risk of having insulin resistance, the major precursor of type 2 diabetes. Insulin resistance, which can raise blood glucose levels above the normal range, is a major factor that contributes to the development of diabetes. Previous studies have shown that very low muscle mass is a risk factor for insulin resistance, but until now, no study has examined whether increasing muscle mass to average and above average levels, independent of obesity levels, would lead to improved blood glucose regulation. In this study, researchers examined the association of skeletal muscle mass … MORE→

When you decide what to eat, not only does your brain need to figure out how it feels about a food’s taste versus its health benefits versus its size or even its packaging, but it needs to decide the importance of each of those attributes relative to the others. And it needs to do all of this more-or-less instantaneously. A previous study (see Rangel and Hare in Science, 2009) showed that a specific area of the brain, the dlPFC, comes to life when a person is using self-control during decision making. The new study (July 27 issue of Journal of Neuroscience) goes a step further, showing that there seem to be ways to help kickstart the dlPFC through the use … MORE→

What is protein? How much protein do we need? Is it possible to eat too much protein? These are important questions for people following a low carb way of eating, who usually are replacing part of their carbohydrate intake with protein. Protein is one of the basic building blocks of the human body, making up about 16 percent of our total body weight. Muscle, hair, skin, and connective tissue are mainly made up of protein. However, protein plays a major role in all of the cells and most of the fluids in our bodies. If you’ve got questions about protein, one of our Coaches found this excellent introductory article you’ll likely enjoy: http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/nutrition/a/protein.htm?r=et

A positive outlook on life might lower your risk of having a stroke, according to new research reported in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association. In an observational study, a nationally representative group of 6,044 adults over age 50 rated their optimism levels on a 16-point scale. Each point increase in optimism corresponded to a 9 percent decrease in acute stroke risk over a two-year follow-up period. “Our work suggests that people who expect the best things in life actively take steps to promote health,” said Eric Kim, study lead author and a clinical psychology doctoral student at the University of Michigan. Optimism is the expectation that more good things, rather than bad, will happen. Previous research has shown … MORE→

The recent issue of the British Journal of Pharmacology included a study showing that caffeine reduces muscle activity in the Fallopian tubes that carry eggs from a woman’s ovaries to her womb. “Our experiments were conducted in mice, but this finding goes a long way towards explaining why drinking caffeinated drinks can reduce a woman’s chance of becoming pregnant,” says Sean Ward, professor of physiology and cell biology, at the University of Nevada School of Medicine, who conducted the study. It was found that caffeine stops the actions of specialized pacemaker cells in the wall of the tubes. When inhibited, the eggs can’t move down the tubes as effectively.

Many women indicate losing or even maintaining weight after menopause is difficult, and now a study from Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge sheds light on why. Scientists have found that women have a lower metabolism after menopause. The research shows that postmenopausal women burned 100 to 150 fewer calories a day just resting and doing everyday activities, and they were less physically active, for an overall average decrease of 200 calories a day burned after menopause. The lower metabolism could be tied to lower estrogen levels, not muscle loss, says lead researcher Jennifer Lovejoy, formerly with Pennington. And it looks as if lower estrogen may increase appetite and cause cravings for carbohydrates and fats, she says. So watch … MORE→

A new study, lead by researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that neutralizing sodium’s impact on the heart isn’t just tied to cutting intake. Rather, they found that it’s important to increase consumption of a key mineral found in many fruits and vegetables: potassium. Potassium has been found to offset sodium’s impact on blood pressure. The study found that people with the highest ratios were more than twice as likely to die from a heart attack compared with those with the lowest ratios. They also were 46% more likely to die from a heart-related death compared with those with the lowest ratios.

Endurance athletes have known for years that additional sleep enhances recovery and thus overall performance. Now, a new study in the July 1st, 2011 journal SLEEP confirms it extends further. It demonstrated that sleep extension is beneficial to athletic performance, reaction time, vigor, fatigue and mood in collegiate basketball players. The study is the first to document sleep extension and the athletic performance of actively competing athletes. Objective measurements included accuracy (9% improvement in both free throw and 3 point percentage) as well as sprint times. Ratings of physical and mental well-being during practices and games was also enhanced.

The latest review of obesity (BMI > 30) rates, broken down by state are now available. Where is your state? 1. Mississippi (34.4%); 2. Alabama (32.3%); 3. West Virginia* (32.2%); 4. Tennessee (31.9%); 5. Louisiana (31.6%); 6. Kentucky** (31.5%); 7. Oklahoma** (31.4%); 8. South Carolina* (30.9%); 9. Arkansas (30.6%); 10. Michigan* (30.5%); 11. Missouri* (30.3%); 12. Texas** (30.1%); 13. Ohio (29.6%); 14. North Carolina (29.4%); 15. Indiana* (29.1%); 16. Kansas** (29.0%); 17. (tie) Georgia (28.7%); and South Dakota (28.7%); 19. Pennsylvania (28.5%); 20. Iowa (28.1%); 21. (tie) Delaware (28.0%); and North Dakota (28.0%); 23. Illinois** (27.7%); 24. Nebraska (27.6%); 25. Wisconsin (27.4%); 26. Maryland (27.1%); 27. Maine** (26.5%); 28. Washington (26.4%); 29. Florida** (26.1%); 30. (tie) Alaska (25.9%); and Virginia … MORE→

Evidence in both humans and animals points to emotional benefits from exercise, both physical and mental. Now, in recent experiments with mice, scientists have traced the stress-buffering effect of activity to a brain circuit known to be involved in emotional regulation as well as mood disorders and medication effects. The finding is a clue to understanding the neurological roots of resilience, key to developing new means of prevention and treatment for stress-related illness. This study, conducted by Lehmann and Herkenham, appeared in the Journal of Neuroscience 31:6159-6173, 2011

In a study published in Diabetologia (Lim & Hollingsworth, et al), it was found that type 2 diabetes could be reversed in 8 weeks with a 600 calorie/day intervention. Normalization of both beta cell function and hepatic insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes was achieved by dietary energy restriction alone. This was associated with decreased pancreatic and liver triacylglycerol stores. The abnormalities underlying type 2 diabetes are reversible by reducing dietary energy intake.

If you’ve been trying to lose weight and suspect your body’s working against you, you may be right, according to a University of Illinois study published in the journal Obesity. “When obese persons reduce their food intake too drastically, their bodies appear to resist their weight loss efforts. They may have to work harder and go slower in order to outsmart their brain chemistry,” said Gregory G. Freund, a professor in the U of I College of Medicine and a member of U of I’s Division of Nutritional Sciences. He particularly cautions against beginning a diet with a fast or cleansing day, which appears to trigger significant alterations in the immune system that work against weight loss. “Take smaller steps … MORE→

The most recent Journal of the American Heart Association included a study showing that an exercise training program worked better than a commonly used beta blocker. It significantly improved — even cured — patients with a debilitating heart syndrome, according to research published in Hypertension: Journal of the American Heart Association. Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) — called “The Grinch Syndrome” because most patients have a heart that’s “two sizes too small” — affects about 500,000 Americans, primarily young women. POTS is characterized by a rapid increase in heartbeat of more than 30 beats per minute or a heart rate that exceeds 120 beats per minute when patients change from lying down to standing within 10 minutes. The heart rate … MORE→

A recent Purdue study found that fat substitutes actually do lead to weight gain, confirming the findings of a previous study. Synthetic fat substitutes used in low-calorie potato chips and other foods could backfire and contribute to weight gain and obesity, according to a study published by the American Psychological Association. The study, by researchers at Purdue University, challenges the conventional wisdom that foods made with fat substitutes help with weight loss. “Our research showed that fat substitutes can interfere with the body’s ability to regulate food intake, which can lead to inefficient use of calories and weight gain,” said Susan E. Swithers, PhD, the lead researcher and a Purdue psychology professor. The study was published online in the APA … MORE→

The potentially lasting implications of day-to-day couple conflict on physical and mental well-being are revealed in a study published today in the journal Personal Relationships (June 17, 2011). The study found that all participants across the sample as a whole experienced sleep disruption after conflict. Conflict was also found to have repercussions for next-day mood. The results of this study have significant implications for the greater understanding of how routine relationship experiences influence emotional and physical health over time. “We already know from prior research that people in stable, happy marriages experience better overall health than do those in more conflicted relationships,” said Professor Hicks. “We can now further conclude from our current research that individuals who are in insecure … MORE→

Powerful video – might be that little extra encouragement needed to make today the day… (here’s the cut/paste in case your screen isn’t showing the link — http://youtu.be/iWpVTKbk8-U)

Older people who regularly exercise at a moderate to intense level may be less likely to develop the small brain lesions, sometimes referred to as silent strokes, that are the first sign of cerebrovascular disease, according to a new study published in the June 8, 2011, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN). “These ‘silent strokes’ are more significant than the name implies, because they have been associated with an increased risk of falls and impaired mobility, memory problems and even dementia, as well as stroke,” said study author Joshua Z. Willey, MD, MS, of Columbia University in New York and a member of the American Academy of Neurology.

Fascinating! In a study involving 27 year olds, brain function increased more than 50% from the baseline following the introduction of a consistent exercise program. Then, as soon as the exercise was stopped, the brain function began dropping again immediately. The reference for the study is below, but before looking it up, maybe it’s a good time to get up and take a walk? ;- ) Here’s the source: Harada, T. et al (2004) Jogging improved performance of a behavioral branching task: implications for prefrontal activation. Neuroscience Research 49: 325 – 337

Prescription drugs are known to include a number of potential side effects. We now know what that number is. Researchers from the Regenstrief Institute and the Indiana University School of Medicine found an average of 70 reactions per drug, a number that can overwhelm physicians trying to select suitable treatments for their patients. In the study, appearing in the May 23, 2011 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, the researchers also found that more commonly prescribed drugs averaged around 100 side effects. The upper range was as many as 525 reactions. The study involved analysis of more than 5,600 drug labels and more than half a million labeled effects.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently addressed the topic of “Energy” (ie, Red Bull, Monster, etc) and “Sports” (such as Gatorade, Powerade, etc) drinks for children and adolescents. Their advice? Generally speaking, water is the best choice. Sports drinks may occasionally be appropriate for those engaged in prolonged, vigorous physical activity, but only at those times. Energy drinks are never appropriate for children or adolescents, said Dr. Schneider and Dr. Benjamin. They contain stimulants not found in sports drinks that have been linked to a number of harmful health effects in children, including effects on the developing neurologic and cardiovascular systems. Bottom line? Avoid “Energy” drinks entirely, and reach for a Sports drink only when correlated with very high activity … MORE→

The NY Times (May 26th, 2011) reported that the shift in the labor force since 1960 is closely correlated to the obesity epidemic in the US. Jobs requiring moderate physical activity, which made up 50% of the labor market in 1960, now account for just 20%. This translates to 120-140 calories/day, obviously a considerable figure over time. For those in a position considered sedentary, individuals must now take personal responsibility for this differential, either through their leisure choices or in their food selection.

Eating more fish is a smart move for your heart, right? Well – yes and no. In a study reported in Circulation: Heart Failure (American Heart Association Journal), it was found that the risk of developing heart failure was lower for those who ate baked or broiled fish. However, eating FRIED fish one or more times per week was associated with a 48 percent higher risk of heart failure compared to those who ate fried fish infrequently. So make it a priority to include more fish in your diet (especially dark fish such as salmon), but be sure to stay away from the fried version!

A University of Missouri researcher has found that eating a healthy breakfast, especially one high in (healthy) protein, increases satiety, reduces hunger throughout the day and can be a simple strategy for improving appetite control and preventing overeating. The researchers decided to target ‘breakfast-skipping’ teens for two reasons, Leidy said. First, breakfast skipping has been strongly associated with unhealthy snacking, overeating (especially at night), weight gain and obesity. Second, approximately 60 percent of adolescents skip breakfast on a daily basis. The higher protein (healthy protein, such as waffles with protein powder) breakfast led to even greater changes in appetite, satiety and reward-driven eating behavior compared to the normal protein breakfast.

The generic guideline around sleep has historically been to aim for 8 hours. Now a significant research recently covered in the NY Times Magazine backs up that data. Those who had eight hours of sleep hardly had any attention lapses and no cognitive declines over the 14 days of the study. Those in the four- and six-hour groups had P.V.T. results that declined steadily with almost each passing day. Though the four-hour subjects performed far worse, the six-hour group also consistently fell off-task. By the sixth day, 25 percent of the six-hour group was falling asleep at the computer. By the end of two weeks, the six-hour sleepers were as impaired as those who, in another Dinges study, had been … MORE→

Do you want to be happier? According to the authors of a new review article published in Perspectives on Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, pursuing happiness for happiness sake can actually make people feel worse. The tools often suggested for making yourself happy aren’t necessarily bad—like taking time every day to think about things you’re happy about or grateful for, or setting up situations that are likely to make you happy. “But when you’re doing it with the motivation or expectation that these things ought to make you happy, that can lead to disappointment and decreased happiness,” Gruber says. Indeed, psychological scientists have discovered what appears to really increase happiness. “The strongest predictor of happiness … MORE→

The Mayo Clinic recently provided their Top 10 Tips for better health. Among the list was eating fruits and veggies, taking a daily walk, including fiber in your diet, volunteering, enjoying a pet, having an attitude of gratitude, regular stretching and strengthening and being optimistic. What would you add to the list? Here’s a link to the article if you’d like to read additional details. Link :: http://tinyurl.com/42dbo3y

A study of older married couples that gives new meaning to the matrimonial adage “for better or worse” finds that spouses have a much greater impact on their partner’s health than previously known. The study, published in the current issue of the American Psychological Association’s journal Health Psychology, finds strong associations between the physical and emotional health of older married couples – and provides important new information on the psychological toll of physical limitations in old age. Researchers from the University of British Columbia and Pennsylvania State University tracked the emotional and physical histories of more than 1,700 older couples over a 15-year period, using data from a major U.S. survey. Participants ranged in age from 76 to 90 and … MORE→

Staying up late every night and sleeping in is a habit that could put you at risk for gaining weight. People who go to bed late and sleep late eat more calories in the evening, more fast food, fewer fruits and vegetables and weigh more than people who go to sleep earlier and wake up earlier, according to a new Northwestern Medicine study. Late sleepers consumed 248 more calories a day, twice as much fast food and half as many fruits and vegetables as those with earlier sleep times, according to the study. They also drank more full-calorie sodas. The late sleepers consumed the extra calories during dinner and later in the evening when everyone else was asleep. They also … MORE→

A study in the May 1 issue of the journal Sleep describes how changes in sleep that occur over a five-year period in late middle age affect cognitive function in later life. The findings suggest that women and men who begin sleeping more or less than 6 to 8 hours per night are subject to an accelerated cognitive decline that is equivalent to four to seven years of aging. A change to a shorter sleep duration was associated with lower scores at follow-up on three of the six cognitive tests, with reasoning, vocabulary and global cognitive status all being affected adversely. “The main result to come out of our study was that adverse changes in sleep duration appear to be … MORE→

A study that will soon be published in the American Journal of Public Health reveals something that will likely come as no surprise to anyone who has participated in an employee wellness program. It found that – at least with employees in the 40-68 years old age group, participation and outcomes were significantly better when the program went beyond simple web-based tools and included personal coaching. In fact, there was an impressive 36% difference in participation between the web-only program and the program that combined web tools with personalized coaching! More proof that relationships really do matter…

Research published recently in the National Academy of Sciences indicates just that. The study focused on mice that were genetically programmed to age faster than normal. Then, some of the mice exercised (treadmill) and the others were inactive. 5 months later, the mice who exercised were still young and their organs and brains functioned normally. By comparison, the sedentary mice had begun to age, go bald, were less active and had weakened organs. If you like details, it came down to the mitochondria (power center of cells that generates energy) and the exercising mice had fewer signs of damage to their mitochondria. Very interesting…

Under the heading of “Did You Know,” here’s an interesting one… When you’re ordering the new Starbucks “trenta” you’re not only getting a massive drink (31 ounces) but massive calories (up to 600) – with the potential to pack on more than 60 extra pounds in one year. “An extra 200 calories per day will lead to a weight gain of about 2 pounds per month, or 21 pounds per year, so an extra 600 calories could mean an increase in weight of upwards of 63 pounds in a year,” said Jessica Bartfield, MD, internal medicine and medical weight-loss specialist at Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, part of the Loyola University Health System. “The new “trenta” will offer 4 – 5 cups … MORE→

Take a step back and think for a moment. During your last meal (or even snack), did you choose to eat? Or did you decide to fuel? Eating involves consuming. That consumption is the ultimate goal. There is no “next step” in mind when the choice is to “eat.” Think of a trash compactor. It’s goal is to consume the trash – to put it away as quickly and efficiently as possible. That’s exactly what eating involves – consume as efficiently as possible, with no eye on the future. A plethora of calorie dense, “fast” options make that the easy choice. On the other end of the spectrum is to fuel. Fueling is always done with a purpose in mind. … MORE→

In the spirit of the Olympics, I cued up the movie “Miracle” (about the 1980 Olympic Hockey Team) while in the basement on the bike the other day.  Exceptional movie, and worth seeing (again).  Many valuable lessons and classic scenes.  But one in particular may provide some insights for all of us this month.   The “team” had been together for months, training and playing exhibition games.  The coach had originally asked them three things back in training camp:  Name…Where From… and Who Do You Play For.  Each player went through and answered the question accordingly with first/last name, their hometown and the College for whom they’d played.  But the team wasn’t really a team.  Rather, it was a group … MORE→

WASHINGTON — In its effort to overhaul health care, Congress is planning to give employers sweeping new authority to reward employees for healthy behavior, including better diet, more exercise, weight loss and smoking cessation. To read the full article from the NY Times, see this link…

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – A single bout of exercise helps obese individuals boost their body’s fat-burning rate and improve their metabolic health, results of a small study confirm. “This means that exercising, even without losing weight, can benefit individuals in terms of metabolic health,” Andrea Cornford, a graduate student researcher from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, told Reuters Health. “By exercising to increase their ability to burn fat and store fat as triglycerides in muscle, which is beneficial, people reduce their insulin resistance and their likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes,” Cornford explained. To read the rest of the story, see the following link.

Breakfast is well known as the most important meal of the day.  It helps set your metabolism in motion.  But – the value is only there when the contents of the meal are worth eating.  And from the article below, that’s clearly not the case in far too many cereals… WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Some breakfast cereals marketed to U.S. children are more than half sugar by weight and many get only fair scores on nutritional value, Consumer Reports said on Wednesday.   A serving of 11 popular cereals, including Kellogg’s Honey Smacks, carries as much sugar as a glazed doughnut, the consumer group found.   And some brands have more sugar and sodium when formulated for the U.S. market than … MORE→

Impressive outcomes on this study out of Harvard University and reported in Reuters:  Women who heed common sense health messages about smoking, diet and exercise can cut their risk of premature death in half, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday. Here’s the link to the full article: http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSN1650682620080917?feedType=nl&feedName=ushealth1100

Very interesting.  The finding of a gene that was related to obesity has been found to be insignificant in the face of physical activity. According to the study, “Vigorous physical activity can help even people genetically prone to obesity keep the weight off, U.S. researchers said on Monday. They said a study (published in the Archives of Internal Medicine) among a group of Amish people found those who had an obesity-related gene called FTO but were very physically active weighed about the same as others who did not carry the gene.” For the full article, see this link:  http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSN0846769020080909?feedType=nl&feedName=ushealth1100

In an interview with Forbes Magazine, John McCain had the following to say about employee wellness: “They should pay dollar one for prevention, because if you have this person for a sustained period, that’s the cheapest way to deliver the care. Don’t let them get into the acute-care system. Keep them out, pay for prevention, pay for wellness–that’d be a much better insurance design to match the kind of health initiatives that everyone thinks [are]necessary, including us.” Here’s a link to the entire article:  http://www.forbes.com/businessinthebeltway/2008/07/22/mccain-economy-holtzeakin-biz-wash-cx_0723adviser.html

In the midst of the busiest 2 weeks of the political year, a new website was launched to assist employers, employees and other interested parties to stay up on the latest news in regards to the potential law that will provide a tax credit to employers who implement an employee wellness program. Interested in reading more?  Here’s a link to the site:  www.WellnessTaxCredit.com  

Employee Wellness obviously isn’t about high energy at all costs.  The impact of high caffeine drinks has now been shown to have a clearly negative impact, as demonstrated in this article from Reuters: “Just one can of the popular stimulant energy drink Red Bull can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke, even in young people, Australian medical researchers said on Friday. The caffeine-loaded beverage, popular with university students and adrenaline sport fans to give them “wings”, caused the blood to become sticky, a pre-cursor to cardiovascular problems such as stroke.   “One hour after they drank Red Bull, (their blood systems) were no longer normal. They were abnormal like we would expect in a patient with cardiovascular disease,” … MORE→

A diet loaded with omega-3 fatty acids from fish may prevent atherosclerosis over a lifetime, researchers found. Higher intake of marine-derived omega-3 fatty acids appeared to entirely account for the lower intima-media thickness and coronary artery calcification seen among Japanese men living in Japan compared with Japanese-American and Caucasian-American men, according to an observational study published in the Aug. 5 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. The results suggested that diet, rather than genetics, accounts for the two-fold lower coronary heart disease mortality in Japan than in the U.S.  Here is the complete article:  http://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/DietNutrition/tb/10300

While the research demonstrates consistently that 1-2 small glasses of wine can provide many positive health and wellness benefits, it’s very important to stop there.  Consuming more alcohol than recommended by U.S. Dietary Guidelines — more than two drinks a day for men and more than one for women — increases the risk of metabolic syndrome by 60%, researchers here said. Here’s the full article for details:  http://www.medpagetoday.com/Cardiology/MetabolicSyndrome/tb/10342

While it’s not a surprise, it is good to see that employee or corporate wellness programs are at the top of the list (#2) among the top 7 workplace trends.  Here is the article if you’d like to read more… http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/career-articles-the_corporate_crystal_ball_future_workplace_trends-452

Business owners must find ways to prevent costly health-care problems such as heart disease and diabetes now, medical experts said Tuesday. Otherwise, companies are prime targets to lose thousands of dollars in revenue and experience an increased rate of absenteeism among their employees. “As a small-business owner or employee, you can’t control health-care costs,” said Jason Bandermann, business referral services manager at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. “But there are ways to control an employee’s exposure to a destructive lifestyle.” Employee Wellness programs are clearly the solution.  Here’s the link to the full article http://www.semissourian.com/article/20080723/NEWS01/917802708/-1/news01

Doctors are now urging that peers diagnose and treat the condition known as “Pre-Diabetes.”  The article, linked below from the USA Today, states “If physicians do not recognize and treat pre-diabetes, diabetes will continue to inflate at great personal health and financial cost,” says Daniel Einhorn, vice president of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-07-22-prediabetes-recommendations_N.htm

Here’s another article featuring the value of a company that realizes there’s a difference between complaining about annual increases in health care, disability, sick time and energy levels and a company that actually does something about it.  Kudos! http://www.pjstar.com/business/x1816436522/Wellness-is-good-for-business

The Washington Post provided the following story that demonstrates clearly that prevention in the form of organized health and wellness programs provides a much higher ROI than simply focusing on treating illnesses:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/17/AR2008071700990.html?hpid=moreheadlines The article stresses that while many people believe Wellness is a long term investment, this study demonstrated clearly that the ROI actually occurs within a very short horizon of time.

Here’s an interesting study that shows as the population as a whole becomes more overweight, less people are recognizing they themselves have a problem:  http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/114858.php This is clearly a wake-up call to physicians, legislators and employers (among others) to provide the tools and resources for individuals to understand the extreme health concerns – and associated costs – tied to elevated BMI levels.  Interestingly, something as simple as an online BMI calculator – when tied to an organized follow-up mechanism – can help employees and others to realize where they stand and start taking steps in the right direction to correct the situation.

Very good to see – a strong majority of employers now offer health and wellness incentives to their employees.  Here’s the article if you’d like to see details:  http://www.aishealth.com/Bnow/hbd071608.html There are many options when it comes to incentives, and the article mentions a few of them.  As part of our development process, Wellness Nation will provide you with various options that may be most valuable to your specific organization to produce the best possible long-term outcomes.

Here’s an interesting study that shows very clearly that between the ages of 9 and 15, the amount of physical activity drops dramatically (an annual decrease of 38 minutes per day!).  Here are the details:  http://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/ExerciseFitness/tb/10128

Here’s a story out of Milwaukee that’s similar to many of the programs developed by Wellness Nation (www.wellnessnation.com).  It’s clear in demonstrating that combining wellness programs with reasonable incentives provide a significant pay-off for organizations of all sizes. http://www.todaystmj4.com/features/yourhealth/25466499.html

Smaller sized snack packages were supposed to help individuals limit their calories.  It turns out from this study that the opposite may be occuring.  http://www.bakeryandsnacks.com/news/ng.asp?n=86469&c=9EU3KtLmkBCjxVBPM4%2FOaQ%3D%3D  

Unfortunately no – unless you’re using the TV as a way to sneak in a yoga, Pilates or other beneficial workout in the comfort of your family room.  The average person watched 127 hours of television during the month of May, and added almost 30 hrs of non-work internet time to the mix.  Here’s the story:  http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?id=1006415&src=article1_newsltr And to think – just focusing 10% of this time would do wonders for your health.  But then again, most people “don’t have time” to exercise, right?

Here’s another article highlighting the immense increase in health care costs:  http://www.theolympian.com/stateworkers/story/506158.html Unfortunately, it’s just another discussion about “how to pay” for it, rather than how to start fixing the actual core of the problem.  It’s good to see that more and more companies and organizations understand that new payment plans and strategies do nothing regarding the actual problem, but that an effective employee health and wellness strategy actually does.  Someday, we’ll see everyone there…

Major U.S. employers using incentives to promote employer-sponsored health and wellness programs rose from 62 percent to 71 percent between 2007 and 2008, according to a report released by the ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC), the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and IncentOne Inc. This is the second year the survey was conducted to determine employer adoption of incentives for health and disease management programs, and to assess the nuances of incentives they are using: the types of incentives currently used, the programs they use them for and the amount they are paying. The survey also sought to understand employer expectations for program ROI and challenges employers faced in implementing and operating these programs. The survey found that: There was a … MORE→

Here’s the link to the article if you’d like to see the details.  Not surprisingly, those who keep a regular food diary lost TWICE as much weight as those who don’t over a 6 month period:  http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-07/kpdo-kps062308.php