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Fitness News - May 2010
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Monday, 31 May 2010The 57 million Americans currently living with “pre-diabetes” could benefit from a group weight loss program, like Weight Watchers, according to a new study published in this month’s American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. Researchers found that after a 6-month Weight Watchers group program, overweight or obese adults who attended at least two thirds of the weekly sessions, not only lost weight, but also significantly reduced fasting glucose and insulin levels – important indicators of diabetes risk.
Sixty-one overweight or obese men and women participated in a 6-month Weight Watchers study that included education on a lower calorie diet (a food plan), exercise (an activity plan) and weekly group support sessions. Not surprisingly, the researchers found that participants who attended the most sessions, had the most success, reinforcing the importance of group support in lifestyle change. In fact, those who attended at least twenty of the twenty-four sessions, lost an average of 14 pounds and had the most dramatic change in glucose and insulin levels associated with diabetes risk, compared to those who attended few sessions.
“We know that previous research programs have successfully reduced diabetes risk using intensive lifestyle treatment,” said Kathleen Melanson, PhD, RD, LD study co-author. “But what we didn’t know is that a program that costs appreciably much less than specially-designed diabetes prevention programs would have a profound impact on the same risk factors for type 2 diabetes. These findings could have important public health potential.”
Type 2 diabetes is closely tied to obesity – and both conditions have increased dramatically over the past 20 years. There are now more than 23 million Americans living with type 2 diabetes in this country. Combined with those who have pre-diabetes, a condition that will likely lead to diabetes without any intervention, the toll on our healthcare system is extensive. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the total cost of treatment of diabetes in the United States exceeds $200 billion, making treatment and prevention a priority for healthcare experts. Yet, the gold standard study on diabetes prevention, the Diabetes Prevention Program Trial (DPP), found that individual lifestyle interventions could reduce the risk of developing diabetes by more than fifty percent.
“Individual lifestyle intervention is obviously successful in reducing the risk for diabetes, but it comes at a high cost, and may not be realistic for all Americans,” said Karen Miller-Kovach, RD, chief scientific officer for Weight Watchers International. “We’re encouraged that the Weight Watchers program, already successful for helping millions of Americans lose weight, could also have the potential to reduce disease risk and even help reduce healthcare burden, for as little as about forty dollars per month, per person.”
According to the American Diabetes Association, “structured programs emphasizing lifestyle changes including moderate weight loss (7% body weight) and regular physical activity (150 min/week), with dietary strategies including reduced calories and reduced intake of dietary fat, can reduce the risk for developing diabetes.”
Source: www.businesswire.com
Friday, 28 May 2010A national survey of U.S. women ages 40 and older revealed good news and bad news about women’s overall knowledge of breast health and how to reduce their risk of cancer. Seventy-four percent indicated they have had a mammogram with 66 percent indicating they get mammograms on a regular basis. That’s the good news in the face of concerns that controversial breast screening guidelines issued by th e U.S. Preventive Services Task Force would discourage women from getting regular mammograms. The bad news is that 95 percent of women ages 40+ do not know their breast density and nearly 90 percent did not know it increases the risk of developing breast cancer.
Compounding the issue was the fact that doctors have spoken to less than one in 10 women ages 40+ (9%) about breast density. The low awareness of breast density and the fact that doctors are not talking to patients about its link to increased cancer risk is particularly troublesome to breast cancer survivor turned advocate Nancy M. Cappello, Ph.D., founder of Are You Dense, (www.areyoudense.org), a non-profit organization dedicated to informing the public about dense breast tissue.
“Prior to finding out I had advanced breast cancer, I had annual mammograms, I ate healthy and exercised, and didn’t have a first-degree relative with breast cancer. But I didn’t have all the information I needed,” said Cappello. “What I didn’t know was that I have dense breast tissue and like two-thirds of pre-menopausal women and one quarter of post menopausal women, I have a much lower chance of having breast cancer detected by a mammogram. The survey underscores the need for women to have more information about their risk and what they can do to find cancer at its earliest stage when it is most treatable.”
The national survey of 599 adult women ages 40 and older was conducted online from April 28-30, 2010, by Harris Interactive®, a global market research and consulting firm. It was commissioned by U-Systems, the leader in developing automated breast ultrasound systems and the sponsor of the SOMO•INSIGHT study, a nationwide multi-center clinical study designed to evaluate whether digital mammography in combination with the Automated Breast Ultrasound System is more accurate than a routine screening mammogram alone in detecting breast cancer in women with dense breast tissue.
A growing body of research demonstrates a strong link between breast density and increased cancer risk of 4-6 times. One study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine (356:227-236), showed 35 percent of breast cancer goes undetected by mammography in women with dense breasts as density masks appearance of tumors. Since both dense breast tissue and cancer appear white on a mammogram, it is difficult to detect cancer when there is a lot of dense breast tissue. Analogous to looking for a specific cloud in a cloudy sky, as breast density goes up, the accuracy of the mammogram goes down.
Rachel Brem, MD, SOMO•INSIGHT principal investigator, and professor of radiology, Breast Imaging and Interventional Center, The George Washington University Medical Faculty Associates in Washington, DC, agrees that while breast density is a major health issue, there is good news out there as well.
“Mammography is an effective modality for screening for breast cancer, and women aged 40 and above should have annual screening mammograms. However in women with dense breasts, the breast density can obscure a cancer. This is particularly problematic as women with dense breasts have an increased risk of breast cancer. Therefore, we need additional approaches to improving breast cancer detection in women with dense breasts.
“Several studies have shown that for women with dense breast tissue, supplementing mammograms with ultrasound can increase detection from 48 to 97 percent. While ultrasound is a proven tool throughout the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, it has not typically been used during the screening process. Establishing a solid scientific basis for the use of breast ultrasound as a cancer screening tool in certain populations, like women with dense breasts, is one of the primary reasons we’re conducting the SOMO•INSIGHT study,” added Dr. Brem.
When asked whether they would consider having an ultrasound exam or other additional imaging testing if they had increased breast density, nearly one-third (32%) of women ages 40+ indicated they would. Despite the fact that only five percent of women ages 40+ knew their own breast density prior to the survey, a significant number indicated that it is important for women over 40 to know their breast density (26%) and want to know their own breast density (23%).
Source: www.businesswire.com
Thursday, 27 May 2010The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) is pleased to announce that New Jersey reporter Brian Thompson has become one of its “Ambassadors Who Care.”
Thompson is well-known to viewers in the New York and New Jersey area for his dogged reporting with WNBC 4 New York, where he regularly breaks major news stories. But it is his commitment to raising awareness and educating others tha t is making an impact on the food allergy community. Thompson, whose daughter Nikki has food allergies, served as the emcee for FAAN’s Walk for Food Allergy in Long Branch, N.J. last year, and he is now one of FAAN’s Ambassadors Who Care.
“Because of the efforts of FAAN and others, there is increasing awareness and sensitivity to food allergies,” Thompson said. “The challenge, of course, is that since allergies aren’t about to go away, this sort of outreach needs to be continuous, so that each generation … never loses sight of the dangers.”
As an Ambassador Who Cares, Thompson will participate in FAAN’s food allergy awareness and education programs.
“We are happy to have Brian on board to assist us with our ongoing efforts to ensure that Americans are well-informed about food allergies,” said FAAN CEO Julia Bradsher. “Three million children in the U.S. have food allergies, and educational programs help to keep them safe.”
Source: www.businesswire.com
Wednesday, 26 May 2010Stayfitcentral.com's mission is to help you buy the right products to help you achieve your personal health and fitness goals. The way they help you is with their online content that includes: product reviews, buyers guides, and interviews with health and fitness experts. The types of products covered run the gamut from nutritional supplements to fitness equipment, apparel, books, and workout pro grams. Stayfitcentral.com currently features hundreds of articles which continues to grow with updates every week.
"Buying nutritional supplements and fitness products is a daunting and oftentimes confusing task. This is because customers often have trouble understanding just what a product can or cannot do for them due to the number of products available and confusing advertisements," says Stayfitcentral.com's Curt Pedersen. "Our concise and to the point content gets right to the point to help you get the best product for your needs. Whether you are looking to lose weight, build muscle, improve your health or performance in and out of the gym, we can help."
Source: www.pr.com
Tuesday, 25 May 2010Zumba Fitness is a Fat-Burnig Workout. It is tested and proven to burn from 500 to 1000 calories in just one-hour sessions.
Now, let's see how this Zumba Fitness works to dance off fat.
The first dvd is called Zumba steps in this dvd you will learn every move, step by step, that appear in the workout videos. Beto breaks down the classic Zumba moves into simple, easy to follo wsteps that everyone can do. Wse this video first and you'll amaze yourself at how quickly you learn a whole new way to move.
In the second dvd- Zumba beginners get ready to sweat! A 30 minute workout that will burn calories and tone you up! This video is a great introduction to Zumba and the rhythms will keep you moving.
In Disc 3 Zumba Advanced- When you have mastered Zumba Beginners, you can really turn up the heat with this 60 minute workout. This is the ultimate Zumba workout. Master this video and you will cange the way you move and feel, and find a whole new level of energy. You'll work out to music so hot that you just have to move.
The last dvd Zumba Rapido is designed to be a quick fix, Zumba workout for those mornings when you only have a little bit of time. This 15 minute workout is a complete head-to-toe workout that will help keep you fit when time is short.
Source: www.prlog.com
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