Set a Goal But Didn't Follow Through? Tips to Resetting Habits
Los Angeles Times, Jessica P. Ogilvie (April 23, 2013)
Patience is a virtue, frustration a spoiler. Set small goals on the road to larger ones and know that it takes 21 days on average to form a new habit. We all have habits that we could stand to break. But desire isn't everything, and it can be difficult to know where to start and frustrating to carry on through setbacks, temptation and outright failure.

Basal Metabolic Rate Changes as You Age
Washington Post, Gabriella Boston (March 22, 2013)
Going on a crash diet to shed the pounds fast? Think again. Although the pounds will dwindle, so will your metabolic rate and most likely your lean body mass — which in the end is exactly what you don’t want.

Mediterranean Diet Can Cut Heart Disease
Orange County Register, Gina Kolata (The New York Times) (February 26, 2013)
About 30 percent of heart attacks, strokes and deaths from heart disease can be prevented in people at high risk if they switch to a Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil, nuts, beans, fish, fruits and vegetables, and even drink wine with meals, a large and rigorous new study has found.

Really? Timing of Meals Affects Weight Loss
New York Times, Anahad O'Connor (February 4, 2013)
In The New England Journal of Medicine last week, a prominent researcher noted that much of the conventional wisdom about weight loss has little basis in science. Is your waistline affected by when you eat, or is a calorie always just a calorie whenever you eat it? To seasoned dieters, the claim that eating late can spell trouble is nothing new. But the idea has lacked evidence from credible human studies. Most of the research to date has shown that eating late is linked to weight gain.

Obesity Myths Exposed: Can Sex Really Help Shed the Pounds?
The Daily News, Associated Press (January 31, 2013)
Fact or fiction? Sex burns a lot of calories. Snacking or skipping breakfast is bad. School gym classes make a big difference in kids' weight. All are myths or at least presumptions that may not be true, say researchers who reviewed the science behind some widely held obesity beliefs and found it lacking. Their report in Thursday's New England Journal of Medicine says dogma and fallacies are detracting from real solutions to the nation's weight problems.

Obesity Grows Everywhere
Orange County Register, Dallas Morning News (January 27, 2013)
Clogged arteries and sedentary lifestyles have replaced germs as the world's leading killers. Where hunger once held much of the world in its grip, the 1.6 billion overweight and obese now outnumber the malnourished by nearly 2-to-1.  The United States clearly has a weight problem. The World Health Organization says a third of American adults were obese in 2008, and 69.4 percent were overweight.

Calorie Bombs Wins 'Awards'
Orange County Register, Landon Hall (January 24, 2013)
The average adult should consume about 2,000 calories, 20 grams of saturated fat and 1,500 milligrams of sodium a day. Eating just one meal on a public advocacy group's new Xtreme Eating Awards list would wreck that diet in an instant.

Hard to Resist
Orange County Register, Helena Oliviero (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution) (January 10, 2013)
Forget fancy workout gear. One of the hottest trends of 2013 suggests you need nothing more than your own body weight. Body weight training includes back-to-basics exercises — pushups, planks, pullups, squats and more — and using the body as resistance is a leading trend this year. A survey recently released by the American College of Sports Medicine says among fitness trends, body weight training appears in the top 10 for the first time.

Your Medical Chart Could Include Exercise Minutes
Orange County Register, Lindsey Tanner (AP) (January 7, 2013)
Some patients may not be aware that research shows physical inactivity is riskier than high blood pressure, obesity and other health risks people know they should avoid. As recently as November a government-led study concluded that people who routinely exercise live longer than others, even if they're overweight.

Shaping a Habit
Orange County Register, Julie Deardorff (Chicago Tribune) (January 3, 2013)
Establishing new fitness habits isn't easy. Habits – unlike resolutions – last. The behaviors become wired so deeply into our brains that they occur without thinking, possibly freeing up the old noodle for other matters. And though habits take longer to establish and change, they are worth the patience and work.

The Best Move
Orange County Register, James Fell (Chicago Tribune) (December 27, 2012)
What if you have Type 2 diabetes? The first step is to optimize medications to jump-start treatment quickly, said Dr. Tim Church, a professor at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Louisiana. And it's never too late to cut back on sugar intake, but it turns out that exercise is a much more critical component of fighting this life-threatening condition.

Taking a Stand for Better Health
Orange County Register, Steve Lohr (New York Times) (December 24, 2012)
The health studies that conclude that people should sit less, and get up and move around more, have always struck me as fitting into the “well, duh” category.

But a closer look at the accumulating research on sitting reveals something more intriguing, and disturbing: The health hazards of sitting for long stretches are significant even for people who are quite active when they're not sitting down. That point was reiterated recently in two studies, published in The British Journal of Sports Medicine and in Diabetologia, a journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes.

Fifty Ways to Live to 100
Daily Mail, Louise Atkinson (December 11, 2012)
Live on a hill, read a magazine upside down and 48 other ways to live longer

How Did We Get So Fat?
San Diego Union-Tribune, Scott Laffee (November 26, 2012)
We eat too much. We eat badly. We don’t get enough exercise.

WalkStyles, Inc. Announces Agreement with Johns Hopkins HealthCare
Sacramento Bee, PRNewswire Press Release (November 26, 2012)

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/26/5011277/walkstyles-inc-announces-agreement.html#storylink=cpy

Health care experts from The Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System along with health care faculty from The Johns Hopkins University are developing and writing health content including an information module called the Johns Hopkins Wellness Corner^(sm), which features timely and topical interactive online chats, monthly video blog posts, and video commentaries for WalkStyles, Inc. 

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/26/5011277/walkstyles-inc-announces-agreement.html#storylink=cpy

Good Night's Sleep Key to Good Health
San Diego Union Tribune, Sally Mathiesen (November 20, 2012)
Patterns may change as we age, but the overall amount needed remains the same.

Weight Gain During the Holidays Is Hard to Undo
The Seattle Post, Timi Gustafson RD (November 14, 2012)
Millions of Americans will again become heavier over the holidays. For many it’s an experience as reoccurring as the Season itself. It seems almost inevitable that we overeat too often and exercise too little this time of the year. While the resulting weight gain is not always dramatic, getting rid off the extra pounds afterwards can be a real challenge.

Study: Looking Old May Be a Sign of Heart Risks
USA Today, Associated Press (November 6, 2012)
Want a clue to your risk of heart disease? Look in the mirror. People who look old — with receding hairlines, bald heads, creases near their ear lobes or bumpy deposits on their eyelids — have a greater chance of developing heart disease than younger-looking people the same age, new research suggests.

Belly Fat Most Harmful, Study Says
Orange County Register, Meredith Cohn (The Baltimore Sun) (October 31, 2012)
Someone with a lot of belly fat has a higher risk of death than those who are obese, a new study suggests. “We knew from previous research that central obesity is bad, but what is new in this research is that the distribution of the fat is very important even in people with a normal weight,” Dr. Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, senior author on the study and a cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic, said in a statement. “This group has the highest death rate, even higher than those who are considered obese based on BMI. From a public health perspective, this is a significant finding.”

Try This: Bringing Fluidity Back
Los Angles Times, Melinda Fulmer (October 27, 2012)
Sitting in front of a computer all day can take a toll on the back. This flowing sequence helps to restore the mobility and ease to your spine using some of the same stretches your pets use. Do it in the middle of the afternoon when you need to release stiffness and get energized.

Hiking With Kids
Chicago Tribune, Deborah Way (McClatchy Newspapers) (October 17, 2012)
Hiking is a wonderful way to reconnect with your family. Not only are you getting exercise, you're also getting away from the distractions of TV and computers. It's satisfying to watch your children's eyes refocus on the world around them. But if the prospect of persuading your kids to walk anywhere, let alone in the wilderness, seems daunting, don't worry. These ideas can make the experience fun and low-stress.

7 Mind-Blowing Benefits of Exercise
U.S. News & World Report HEALTH; Deborah Kotz, Angela Haupt (October 10, 2012)
Think exercise is all about toned abs and weight loss? It also makes you happier and smarter. "Exercise is the single best thing you can do for your brain in terms of mood, memory, and learning," says Harvard Medical School psychiatrist John Ratey.

Do Exercise Programs Help Children Stay Fit?
New York Times, Gretchen Reynolds (October 3, 2012)
Getting children to be more physically active seems as if it should be so simple. Just enroll them in classes and programs during school or afterward that are filled with games, sports and other activities. Although the benefit of the guided activity sessions is unclear, what is clear is  that active children are much more likely to be active adults and that physically active children also are far less likely to be overweight. A convincing, if separate body of scientific evidence has shown that the most physically active and fit children are generally the least heavy.

Weight Loss Isn't About Fads and Hype
Orange County Register, Barbara Quinn (Monterey County Herald) (September 19, 2012)
Don't believe in magic. There is no secret formula or food that will make weight fall off your body without effort. Be especially careful if a diet plan eliminates an entire food group, such as fruit or grains. Pay attention to calories. They really do count. It doesn't make sense, for instance, to avoid a 100-calorie baked potato in favor of a 900-calorie steak.

Get Busy and Move
Orange County Register, Jane Glenn Haas (September 11, 2012)
Dr. Mike Moreno, is a general practitioner with Kaiser Permanente in San Diego. Moreno is also the author of “The 17 Day Plan to Stop Aging,” just released by Simon and Schuster. He says to stop aging, go back to the basics. “There's more technology available today than there ever has been,” Moreno said. “But people are also more unhealthy than they ever have been. “The basics are something we all learn. We know it means being active and running around. Technology has enhanced our lives but also created a sedentary environment.”

Keep Workout Fresh and Healthy
San Diego Union-Tribune, Dr. Jan Fronek (September 4, 2012)
Starting an exercise routine, or resuming one after a long hiatus, can be difficult, especially after an injury. Vigorous physical activity is a must for cardiovascular and overall health. But muscles and tendons can’t go from 0 to 60 overnight. Good conditioning is a gradual process.

Calorie Limits Don't Extend Life Span but Might Keep You Healthier
Los Angeles Times, Rosie Mestel (August 30, 2012)
This could be considered encouraging, "In the ideal scenario, we'd stay healthy to a relatively decent age and then we'd suddenly fall over at the appropriate time. That would be a good thing. What we don't want is people living longer and longer in worse and worse health."

What's a Successful Weight Losers' Secret?
Orange County Register, Ellen Warren (Chicago Tribune) (August 22, 2012)
“There's hope for all those people who have tried to lose weight and have not achieved long-term success,” says J. Graham Thomas, who has studied the habits of “successful losers” through the National Weight Control Registry at Brown University Medical School ( nwcr.ws).Writing in the American College of Sports Medicine's Health & Fitness Journal, Thomas boiled it down to “Seven Habits of Successful Weight Loss Maintainers.”

Nutrition Program Steers Detroit Kids Toward Healthy Decisions
The Detroit News, Mark Hicks (August 20, 2012)
This summer, Tiffany Stockman has been working out her mind and body. Through iCount/KidsCount, a wellness outreach program aimed at helping youths improve their lives with healthier decisions, the Detroiter, 13, and some 250 other area youngsters each week counted their footsteps, exercised and learned the benefits of nutritious foods


Take a Stand, Literally, for Your Longevity
Orange County Register, Jane Glenn Haas (July 25, 2012)
Have you ever thought of sitting as a disease? As an activity, or lack of activity, that shortens your life?
A new study says sitting fewer than three hours a day would add two years to the life of most Americans.
And the study – published in the online medical journal BMJ Open – also found that American life expectancy could be extended by 1.38 years if TV viewing was limited to fewer than two hours a day.

Don’t Underestimate Impact of a Pet on Health, Well Being
San Diego Union-Tribune, Lori Delagrammatikas & Janice Yuwiler (July 2, 2012)
Did you know that Mom’s cat, Uncle Gene’s dog, even your elderly neighbor’s fish offer significant health benefits for their owners? It’s true. Pets enhance health in oh-so-many ways. Fifteen to 30 minutes with a pet – even watching fish – decreases cortisol, a hormone associated with stress, and increases serotonin, a chemical associated with well-being. These physical changes actually improve mood and reduce stress

High-Protein Diet Is Linked to Heart Risks
New York Times, Nicholas Bakalar (July 2, 2012)
A low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet may increase the risk for cardiovascular disease, according to a large study in Swedish women. The study, published in the journal BMJ, was based on a random sample of 43,396 women ages 30 to 49, each of whom completed a dietary questionnaire. The researchers used the data to create a 20-point scale, with higher scores indicating a lower ratio of carbohydrates to protein.

Know your BMI: Docs urged to screen for obesity
Orange County Register, Lauren Neergaard (AP Medical Writer) (June 26, 2012)
Chances are you know your blood pressure. What about your BMI? Body mass index signals if you're overweight, obese or just right considering your height. Some doctors have begun calling it a vital sign, as crucial to monitor as blood pressure.

Sold on the Feeling, if Not the Benefits to Health
New York Times, Gina Kolata (June 18, 2012)
Almost everyone has gotten the message that exercise is important for health. Yet most who start exercise programs stop. Perhaps, researchers say, the way to persuade more people to exercise is to study those rare individuals who love it. What makes someone a committed exerciser? And how motivating are the much vaunted improvements to health?

Baby Steps
Orange County Register, Courtney Perkes (June 13, 2012)
Health writer Gretchen Reynolds describes America as the “most sedentary society that has ever existed.”
And she's suggesting that designation can be reversed with as little as a 20-minute walk every day. Reynolds, who writes the popular column Phys Ed in The New York Times, is the author of the new book “The First 20 Minutes.” She covers research showing that the greatest benefits from exercise occur at the beginning of activity and that small amounts of movement are enough to dramatically improve health.

Take a Hike!
Orange County Register, Suki Reed (June 11, 2012)
The healing properties of nature have long been recognized by past generations and are being rediscovered by modern science.

Does Exercise Raise Heart Risk in Healthy People?
San Diego Union-Tribune, Gary Robbins (May 31, 2012)
We need to keep in mind that there is no "one size fits all" for anything---nutrition, medications, or exercise. But any negatives of exercise in a small number of people (which are not serious) are greatly overshadowed by overriding benefit.

He Touts Weight Training for the Brain
Orange County Register, Jane Glenn Haas (May 23, 2012)
What if you spent a week eating the right diet, exercising and stimulating your brain with fun-to-do mind games?mHow about adding some stress-reduction techniques? What if you did all this and, at the end of the week, got proof your brain was healthier? And suppose you saw these benefits no matter what age you started – 40, 60, even 80?

Diabetes on the Rise Among Teenagers
New York Times, Roni Caryn Labin (May 21, 2012)
Nearly one in four American adolescents may be on the verge of developing Type 2 diabetes or could already be diabetic, representing a sharp increase in the disease’s prevalence among children ages 12 to 19 since a decade ago, when it was estimated that fewer than one in 10 were at risk for or had diabetes, according to a new study.

Healthy Eating Can Cost Less, Study Finds
Orange County Register, Sam Hananel (May 17, 2012)
An Agriculture Department study released Wednesday found that most fruits, vegetables and other healthy foods cost less than foods high in fat, sugar and salt.

42% of American Adults Will be Obese by 2030, Study Says
Los Angeles Times, Melissa Healey (May 8, 2012)
The ranks of obese Americans are expected to swell even further in the coming years, rising from 36% of the adult population today to 42% by 2030, experts said Monday. Kicking off a government-led conference on the public health ramifications of all those expanding waistlines, the authors of a new report estimated that the cost of treating those additional obese people for diabetes, heart disease and other medical conditions would add up to nearly $550 billion over the next two decades.


Study Warns of Teen-diabetes Outcome
Orange County Register, Alicia Chang (April 30, 2012)
New research sends a stark warning to overweight teens: If you develop diabetes, you'll have a very tough time keeping it under control. A major study, released Sunday, tested several ways to manage blood sugar in teens newly diagnosed with diabetes and found that nearly half of them failed within a few years and 1 in 5 suffered serious complications. The results spell trouble for a nation facing rising rates of “diabesity” – Type 2 diabetes brought on by obesity. The message is clear: Prevention is everything.

Cancer Society Urges Diet and Exercise for Survivors
Orange County Register, Mike Stobbe (April 27, 2012)
A cancer diagnosis often inspires people to exercise and eat healthier. Now the experts say there's strong evidence that both habits may help prevent the disease from coming back.

Weight Loss Tip for Moms: Be a Kid Again!
Orange County Register (April 19, 2012)
When you were a kid, exercise was natural throughout the day because you were having fun outside. Just because we are adults doesn't mean we can't indulge in some outdoor fun with the kiddos, while toning muscles and burning calories.

How Exercise Could Lead to a Better Brain
New York Times Magazine, Gretchen Reynolds (April 18, 2012)
For more than a decade, neuroscientists and physiologists have been gathering evidence of the beneficial relationship between exercise and brainpower. But the newest findings make it clear that this isn’t just a relationship; it is the relationship.

Weight Loss Study: Fads Not as Helpful as Exercising, Eating Less
Chicago Tribune, Karen Kaplan, Los Angeles Times/For the Booster (April 10, 2012)
Nearly two-thirds of Americans who are obese try to lose weight, and about 40% of them actually succeed. How did they do it? The old-school way: By eating less, exercising more and switching to more healthful foods, according to a new study.

Walking Can Offset the Tendency to Become Obese
Los Angeles Times, Shari Roan (March 20, 2012)
So you have fat genes, huh? OK, but your genes aren’t your destiny. A new study shows that people who are genetically prone to obesity can offset that influence by half by walking briskly one hour a day.

Can Lifestyle Changes Prevent Alzheimer's Disease?
Alzheimer's Disease & Dementia, Melissa Repko (March 9, 2012)
The artice is not saying you can guarantee you'll never get Alzheimer's disease, but what it is saying is there is a possibility that we can delay the onset of symptoms through the healthy lifestyle approach.

Getting Fat but Staying Fit?
New York Times, Gretchen Reynolds (March 7, 2012)
Does being physically fit counteract some of the undesirable health consequences of being overweight? That question, of pressing interest to those of us who exercise while carrying a few extra pounds, prompted an important new study that focused on aerobic fitness and weight swings.

No Pain, But Still a Gain
Orange County Register, Ellen Warren (February 29, 2012)
You've got to love a fitness expert whose exercise mantra is “make it short and sweet.”
How short? Twenty minutes, three times a week. But even less at first. For those of us who are, shall we say, exercise-averse, this is magical.

Staying Slim Over Long Term
Orange County Register (February 22, 2012)
Forget all the latest fads, gimmicks and “miracle” diets. The only way to lose weight – and keep it off – is to eat less and exercise more. It's not complicated, but it does require discipline.

Job Corps Students use 'ICount to' Stay Healthy
Ottumwa Courier, Cindy Toopes (February 18, 2012)
They know how to count and they do it everywhere on the Job Corps campus at Ottumwa Airport.
ICount is a health and wellness program that’s part of the everyday life at Job Corps.

Nutrition: Options Play a Role in Healthier Choices
New York Times, Nicholas Bakalar (February 13, 2012)
Some studies have shown that calorie labels at fast-food restaurants have little effect on consumption, so scientists at Duke University tried something different.

Love Your Heart
Orange County Register, Molly Zisk (February 8, 2012)
It's estimated that 80 million American adults have some form of cardiovascular disease. You can greatly reduce your risk through lifestyle changes, and in some case, medication. While some risk factors, such as genetics cannot be changed, the article lists the ones you can control.

For Weight Loss, Cutting Back on Calories Matters Most
Seattle Times, Timi Gustafson RD (February 5, 2012)
People who swear by a particular diet to lose weight may be fooling themselves, according to a recent study by scientists at Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. There is no real evidence that low-carb, low-fat or high-protein diets make as big a difference as overall calorie reduction when it comes to weight loss, according to Dr. George Bray who worked on the study.

US Obesity Epidemic Shows No Hint of Shrinking
Deseret News, Lindsey Tanner, Associated Press (January 18, 2012)
America's obesity epidemic is proving to be as stubborn as those maddening love handles, and shows no sign of reversing course. More than one-third of adults and almost 17 percent of children were obese in 2009-2010, echoing results since 2003, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported this week.

Gyms Often Alienate the Obese
Los Angels Times, Julie Deardorff (Chicago Tribune) (January 16, 2012)
Overweight clients often feel they don't fit in at health clubs. Some new gyms are trying to address that. One gym user says she quit going to her health club in part because she sensed she didn't fit in. People always seemed to be staring at — and silently judging — her 280-pound body.

First Steps to a 'New You'
Orange County Register, David Whiting (January 10, 2012)
It's less than two weeks into the New Year, and chances are that you've promised yourself better fitness in 2012 or at least you're thinking about such a promise. Perhaps you've decided to put things off until after the Valentine's Day chocolate. Then again, maybe you'll start on the new you after the Easter candy. Of course, there's also the awesome Memorial Day barbecue – start after that, right? Here are tips to help you get or stay fit. First, set a goal......

Making Good on Fitness Resolutions
San Diego Union-Tribune, R.J. Ignelzi (January 4, 2012)
Getting in shape is probably near the top of many people’s New Year’s resolutions lists. However, for lots of folks, that’s as far as it goes – a well-intentioned aspiration that never makes it past the middle of February.
This article offers some tips to help make your fitness resolutions a reality.

One Path to a New Year of Health
Orange County Register, Suki Reed (January 2, 2012)
Getting in shape is one of the 10 most popular resolutions. Our digital conveniences have led to a more sedentary lifestyle for both young and old, resulting in health conditions that range from obesity to heart disease. Develop a routine that includes spending time outdoors, healthy exercise and good eating habits. Consistency is key to weight loss and long-term success; if life's little emergencies get in the way, don't panic. Simply get back on the path to health as soon as possible. The article highlights eight easy steps to a healthier lifestyle and new body.

Men Who Walk Faster May Be Able to Outpace the Grim Reaper
Chicago Tribune, Jeannine Stein (Los Angeles Times) (December 19, 2011)
Australian researchers used the mythical character as a device to determine what walking speeds allow older men to outpace death. The results were published recently in the British Medical Journal's Christmas issue.


Maintain Muscle Tissue with Regular Exercise
San Diego Union-Tribune (December 6, 2011)
It’s important to note that the news is not all bad when it comes to muscle deterioration with age. Certainly maintaining an active lifestyle and a “multimodal” approach, including both endurance- and strength-based exercise, can thwart the loss of muscle with age or increase it in the already aged.

Real-World Holiday Weight-Control Advice
Washington Post, Jennifer LaRue Huget (December 6, 2011)
One of the article's subjects attributes much of her weight loss to having started walking, just 30 minutes a day at first. “Walk for 15 minutes away from your house and then 15 minutes back,” she says. “It’s one thing that anybody can do, pretty much,” even during this busy month. In fact, they all intend to at least maintain their regular exercise routines during the holidays.

How Exercise Benefits the Brain
New York Times, Gretchen Reynolds (November 30, 2011)
To learn more about how exercise affects the brain, scientists in Ireland recently asked a group of sedentary male college students to take part in a memory test followed by strenuous exercise.

A Hard Turn: Steering Away From Bad Diets
New York Times, Abby Ellin (November 21, 2011)
After driving hundreds of miles, the last thing a truck driver from Denton, Tex. wanted to do was exercise. After a day trapped in the cab, stopping only to gorge on greasy fare at truck stops, who could think of working out? But once he ballooned to 405 pounds, he knew he had to make a change.

Cut Your Risk of Type II Diabetes
Everyday Health, Madeline Vann, MPH (November 14, 2011)
These simple strategies can help keep diabetes at bay.

The Pull to Exercise Outdoors
Los Angeles Times, James S. Fell (October 31, 2011)
Much has been written about the biomechanical and metabolic differences between running on treadmills and running outdoors, and the general consensus is that both types of workouts are essentially the same. However, the people outside like it more and work harder without realizing it

Do We Have a Set Point for Exercise?
New York Times, Gretchen Reynolds (October 19, 2011)
Does exercising at one point during the day make you less active the rest of the time? The question of whether humans have an innate set point for movement, a so-called activitystat, is of increasing interest and controversy among scientists.

A Little Exercise is Good Medicine
San Diego Union-Tribune, Dr. James McCallum (October 18, 2011)
Physical exercise plays a key role in managing a person’s blood glucose (sugar) and is a highly effective way to treat diabetes. In fact, it can be as good or better than prescribed medications when it comes to helping keep blood glucose levels in check.

Unhealthy U.S. Workers' Absenteeism Costs $153 Billion
Gallup, Dan Witters and Sangeeta Agrawal (October 17, 2011)
Full-time workers in the U.S. who are overweight or obese and have other chronic health conditions miss an estimated 450 million additional days of work each year compared with healthy workers -- resulting in an estimated cost of more than $153 billion in lost productivity annually.

Jing Debunked; Sexual Activity Shown to Aid Life Expectancy
San Diego Union-Tribune, Mario Garrett (October 11, 2011)
In 2011 Howard Friedman using data gathered from a group of 1,500 California students in the 1920s and following them throughout their lives, Friedman was able to correlate their sexual activity to longevity.

Study: Alpine Skiing Will Keep You Young
San Diego Union-Tribune, Gunnar Mossberg (October 11, 2011)
The main findings of the study showed that alpine skiing two to three times per week for 12 weeks leads to a significant increase in aerobic capacity, leg muscle power and strength in older, average-trained men and women.

Hula Hoop a Great Workout, Trainers Say
Chicago Tribune, Joan Cary (October 5, 2011)
An average hoop aerobics participant burns 210 calories in a half-hour class, according to an American Council on Exercise study at the University of Wisconsin at La Crosse. Researchers studied 16 women, ages 16 to 59, and found that an aerobic routine using a weighted hula hoop burns as many calories as step aerobics or very brisk walking.


Study Links Pre-hypertension to Serious Risk
San Diego Union-Tribune (October 4, 2011)
Young and middle-aged persons should check their blood pressure regularly through scheduled visits to their physician, as well as on their own if possible. If they do fall into the higher range of pre-hypertension, they should take specific steps to modify their lifestyle. Reduce salt intake. Exercise. Maintain normal weight.

Excercise Counteracts Aging Effects
Los Angels Times, Amanda Mascarelli (September 21, 2011)
As we age, our bodies change in ways that challenge athletic ability. But exercise also can slow down — and in some cases even prevent — some of the physiological ravages of time

How to Get More Out of Your Walks
Daily Press, Alison Johnson (September 19, 2011)
Walking is great exercise, but falling into a rut - same route, speed and form - can stall your progress. Kick into higher gear with these tips.

Why Even the Most Resolute Dieters Fail
New York Times, Jane E. Brody (September 19, 2011)
It is often said that increasing one’s physical activity does not have much, if any, effect on weight loss. But evidence cited in this article suggests otherwise.

Healthier Living Could Cut 2.8 Million Cancer Cases
Reuters, Kate Kelland (September 7, 2011)
Global health experts say many deaths from NCDs, including around a third of all common cancers, could be prevented by curbing excessive alcohol intake, improving diets, discouraging smoking and promoting more physical activity.

Prescribing Exercise to Treat Depression
New York Times, Gretchen Reynolds (August 31, 2011)
Can a stroll help ease depression? That question preoccupied Dr. Madhukar H. Trivedi, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, after several of his patients, all suffering from serious depression, mentioned that they felt happier if they went for a walk.

For Beating Belly Fat, Aerobics Tops Resistance Training
The Washington Post, Jennifer LaRue Huget (August 29, 2011)
It seems like common sense that combining aerobic exercise with resistance training would be the best program to help whittle your belly and improve your health.  But new research comes to the surprising conclusion that, at least for one subset of people, aerobics alone is best not only at promoting overall weight loss but also whittling away the visceral belly fat that’s linked to so many negative health conditions.

Half of Adults in the U.S. Could be Obese by 2030
Los Angeles Times, Jeannine Stein (August 26, 2011)
If obesity rates continue to climb in the U.S. as they've done in the past, about half of all men and women could be obese in 20 years, adding an extra 65 million obese adults to the country's population.


In-Your-Face Fitness: Vanity Can Be a Healthy Asset
Los Angeles Times, James S. Fell (August 22, 2011)
Vanity can be great for physical well-being because of the myriad health benefits that come with regular exercise. It's a common reason why people hit the gym or running trails.

Good Health May be Just 15 Minutes Away, Study Says
The Christian Post, R. Leigh Coleman (August 16, 2011)
It’s still no excuse to slack off, but after all of the hubbub about how much daily exercise we need there is growing evidence that just 15 minutes a day can reap amazing health benefits. Current health recommendations call for adults and children to do at least 150 minutes, or a total of 1.5 hours, of physical activity weekly.

In-Your-Face Fitness: Use Exercise to Squash Killer Stress
Los Angeles Times, James S. Fell (August 8, 2011)
Casually flipping through a 2006 copy of the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, I learned that exercise is the key to combating the stress of modern life.


Skip the Gym Membership, Get the Pedometer
Chicago Tribune, Ellen Warren (August 3, 2011)
I traded in the costly exercise equipment and instead bought a piece of plastic half the size of a deck of cards. It's a pedometer, a little low-tech gizmo you wear on your hip to count your steps. And it might be the only piece of exercise gear you really need.

Lack of Sleep Could Lead to Weight Gain
Washington Post, Jennifer LaRue Huget (August 2, 2011)
Getting too little sleep can have all kinds of negative consequences, including making you cranky and impairing your driving. A growing body of evidence suggests an addition to that list might be in order: Lack of sleep might also make you fat.

Grasping for Any Way to Prevent Alzheimer’s
New York Times, Pam Belluck (July 25, 2011)
The new study, by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, estimated how many Alzheimer’s cases might be attributable to certain behaviors or conditions: physical inactivity, smoking, depression, low education, hypertension, obesity and diabetes.

Study: Healthy Living Can Help Prevent Alzheimer's
Boston Globe, Marilynn Marchione, AP Medical Writer (July 19, 2011)
Taking care of your body just might save your mind. Millions of cases of Alzheimer's disease worldwide could be prevented by curbing risk factors such as high blood pressure, smoking, obesity and lack of exercise, new research suggests.

Makers of Food, Drinks Marketed to Children Propose Their Own Rules
Los Angeles Times, Andrew Seidman (July 15, 2011)
In an effort to forestall proposed government regulation of food and beverage products that can be advertised to children, some of the biggest companies in the industry have put forth their own, self-imposed measures.



Even With Exercise, Long Periods Spent Sedentary are Deemed a Health Risk
Washington Post, Lenny Bernstein (July 12, 2011)
Generally speaking, guidelines call for 30 minutes of moderate intensity cardio (a brisk walk will do) five days a week, two or three weekly sessions of resistance training (usually weightlifting), plus stretching and balance exercises. But now comes sobering news from the American College of Sports Medicine that it might not be enough. For the first time, the world’s largest exercise and sports science organization is singling out our sedentary lifestyle as a health risk factor, regardless of whether we’re getting the proper amount of exercise.

Even Infants Can Exercise, Say New Guidelines in U.K.
Los Angeles Times, Marissa Cevallos, HealthKey / For the Booster Shots blog (July 11, 2011)
Young children have no excuse not to exercise—even if they can’t walk yet. That’s the gist of the new exercise guidelines released Monday by the U.K. health department, which urge parents to make sure their 1- to 5-year-olds get at least three hours of physical activity per day.

Weekly Challenge: Get Moving on Those Low-Energy Days
Boston Globe, Deborah Kotz (July 11, 2011)
When you’re feeling low-energy, tired, or stressed out, exercise is often the last thing you want to do, but guess what? It’s probably one of the healthiest ways of boosting your energy and lifting you out of the doldrums. Research suggests sweating for 30 minutes of more induces a rise in “soothing” brain chemicals such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine that helps reduce stress and increase your energy.

When Fatty Feasts Are Driven by Automatic Pilot
New York Times, Tara Parker-Pope (July 11, 2011)
“Bet you can’t eat just one” (as the old potato-chip commercials had it) is, of course, a bet most of us end up losing. But why? Is it simple lack of willpower that makes fatty snacks irresistible, or are deeper biological forces at work?

Obesity Report: We Keep Getting Fatter
Orange County Register, Landon Hall (July 7, 2011)
The new report, which examines data from 2008 to 2010, is rosy by comparison: Only 16 states had an increase since the 2010 report. And although 38 states reported that 1 in 4 adults was obese, the number of states saying that was unchanged from 2010. Dr. Anthony Iton says “We’re as fat as we can get, so there’s nowhere to go but down,” he added. “You could argue that we’re plateau-ing, but we’re so far from where we need to be, it’s not an argument for slowing down our efforts. If anything, it’s an argument for doubling down.”

Exercise Builds Brain Health
University of California - Irvine; Mind Matters, Carl W. Cotman, Ph.D. (July 1, 2011)
Increasingly, it seems, we are besieged in the print media, television and the Internet by advertisements for products to enhance mental and physical health in a relatively fast and painless fashion though miracle elixirs, computer based training, game programs or brief exercise programs. While there is little convincing evidence for the efficacy of such claims, one that is well-documented in the scientific literature is the benefit of physical activity and exercise on cognitive and physical health.