ScienceDaily: Fitness News

New study recommends using active videogaming ('exergaming') to improve children's health

Fri, 17 May 2013 08:58:58 EDT

Levels of physical inactivity and obesity are very high in children, with fewer than 50 percent of primary school-aged boys and fewer than 28 percent of girls meeting the minimum levels of physical activity required to maintain health. Exergaming, using active console video games that track player movement to control the game, has become popular, and may provide an alternative form of exercise to counteract sedentary behaviors.

Getting fit in middle age can reduce heart failure risk

Wed, 15 May 2013 16:50:50 EDT

Already being fit or getting into shape during middle age can reduce future heart failure risk. Low fitness is an independent, modifiable risk factor for heart failure.

Cholesterol-lowering drug may reduce exercise benefits for obese adults

Wed, 15 May 2013 15:19:19 EDT

Researchers found that simvastatin, a generic type of drug typically prescribed to lower cholesterol and prevent heart disease, hindered the positive effects of exercise for obese and overweight adults.

Body fat hardens arteries after middle age

Wed, 15 May 2013 08:53:53 EDT

Having too much body fat makes arteries become stiff after middle age, a new study has revealed.

Cardio and weight training reduces access to health care in seniors

Tue, 14 May 2013 18:53:53 EDT

Forget apples -- lifting weights and doing cardio can also keep the doctors away, according a new study.

Become a marathon runner with the protein PGC-1alpha

Tue, 14 May 2013 11:27:27 EDT

Even with a greater muscle mass, a sprinter cannot win a marathon. His specially-trained and strengthened muscles will fatigue faster than the endurance-trained muscles of a long distance runner. Medical researchers have now shown that during endurance exercise the protein PGC-1alpha shifts the metabolic profile in the muscle.

Serotonin mediates exercise-induced generation of new neurons

Mon, 13 May 2013 11:09:09 EDT

Mice that exercise in running wheels exhibit increased neurogenesis in the brain. Crucial to this process is serotonin signaling. Surprisingly, mice lacking brain serotonin due to a genetic mutation exhibited normal baseline neurogenesis. However, in these serotonin-deficient mice, activity-induced proliferation was impaired, and wheel running did not induce increased generation of new neurons.

Nobody likes a 'fat-talker,' study shows

Thu, 09 May 2013 15:45:45 EDT

Women who engage in "fat talk" -- the self-disparaging remarks girls and women make in relation to eating, exercise or their bodies -- are less liked by their peers, a new study from the University of Notre Dame finds.

Providing workplace wellness centers could backfire

Wed, 08 May 2013 21:30:30 EDT

People who signed up for a workplace wellness center but then used it infrequently experienced declines in their mental quality-of-life, finds a new study.

Differences between 'marathon mice' and 'couch potato mice' reveal key to muscle fitness

Wed, 08 May 2013 10:26:26 EDT

Using "marathon" and "couch potato" mouse models, researchers have discovered that microRNAs link the defining characteristics of fit muscles: The abilities to burn fuel and switch between muscle fiber types. They also found that active people have higher levels of one microRNA than sedentary people.

5,000 steps a day to avoid paying higher health insurance costs? When money talks, people walk

Wed, 08 May 2013 09:24:24 EDT

Faced with a choice between higher insurance prices or exercising, people who were obese enrolled in and stuck with Internet-tracked walking program for a year.

Optimal workout partner encourages less to motivate more

Tue, 07 May 2013 10:30:30 EDT

The best workout partner may be one who understands that silence is golden, according to a new study.

Exercise-related changes in estrogen metabolism may lower breast cancer risk

Tue, 07 May 2013 06:11:11 EDT

Physical activity may reduce breast cancer risk by altering estrogen metabolism. Women who did aerobic exercises had an increased ratio of "good" to "bad" metabolites of estrogen.

Teen girls who exercise are less likely to be violent

Mon, 06 May 2013 09:54:54 EDT

Regular exercise is touted as an antidote for many ills, including stress, depression and obesity. Physical activity also may help decrease violent behavior among adolescent girls, according to new research.

Gene variant appears to predict weight loss after gastric bypass

Thu, 02 May 2013 13:19:19 EDT

Researchers have identified a gene variant that helps predict how much weight an individual will lose after gastric bypass surgery, a finding with the potential both to guide treatment planning and to facilitate the development of new therapeutic approaches to treating obesity and related conditions like diabetes.

Genetic factor predicts success of weight-loss surgery

Thu, 02 May 2013 13:18:18 EDT

A genome-wide association study reveals that the amount of weight loss after gastric bypass surgery can be predicted in part by a DNA sequence variation found on chromosome 15. The findings explain why the success of gastric bypass surgery varies so widely and could help clinicians identify those who would benefit the most from this type of surgery.

Regular, moderate exercise does not worsen pain in people with fibromyalgia

Thu, 02 May 2013 11:55:55 EDT

For many people who have fibromyalgia, even the thought of exercising is painful. Yet a new study shows that exercise does not worsen the pain associated with the disorder and may even lessen it over time.

Exercise proves to be ineffective against care home depression

Thu, 02 May 2013 08:17:17 EDT

Researchers have shown that exercise is not effective in reducing burden of depression among elderly care home residents.

Possible alternative to bariatric weight loss surgery

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:15:15 EDT

An experimental procedure successfully tested in obese laboratory rats may provide a less-invasive alternative to bariatric weight-loss surgery. Scientists used a catheter to redirect the flow of bile from the bile duct into the small intestine, producing the same metabolic and weight-loss benefits as bariatric surgeries such as gastric by-pass.

Obesity in early 20s curbs chances of reaching middle age

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 21:09:09 EDT

Young men who are obese in their early 20s are significantly more likely to develop serious ill health by the time they reach middle age, or not even make it that far, suggests research.

People with congenital heart disease need physical activity, study suggests

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:48:48 EDT

People born with a heart defect need physical activity. Some irregular heart beat conditions may require activity restrictions but for most patients physical activity is unlimited.

Weight loss programs via virtual reality

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 11:56:56 EDT

There are many barriers that can interfere with weight loss. For those attending face-to-face weight loss programs, barriers can include travel, conflict with work and home, need for childcare, and loss of anonymity. In a new study investigators continue to explore alternative weight management delivery methods to eliminate some of these barriers. The solution they are investigating -- virtual reality for weight loss and weight maintenance.

Cardio could hold key to cancer cure

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 07:38:38 EDT

Regular exercise has been proven to reduce the chance of developing liver cancer in a world-first mice study that carries hope for patients at risk from hepatocellular carcinoma.

Forced exercise may still protect against anxiety and stress

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 16:02:02 EDT

Being forced to exercise may still help reduce anxiety and depression just as exercising voluntarily does, according to a new study.

Metabolic disorders predict the hardening of the arterial walls already in childhood

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:14:14 EDT

Metabolic disorders, such as excess abdominal fat, raised blood pressure, higher levels of insulin, glucose and triglycerides and lower levels of the beneficial HDL cholesterol can be found in children as young as 6 to 8 years of age, according to a new study. These metabolic risk factors often accumulate in overweight children and, in the newly published study, this accumulation was linked with mild artery wall stiffness.

Dietary medium chain triglycerides prevent nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:11:11 EDT

The incidence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) associated with obesity is increasing rapidly and is a major source of liver pathology. A new study suggests dietary substitution of saturated fat in the form of medium chain triglycerides (MCT) for polyunsaturated fats can prevent progression of NAFLD-associated liver injury and that MCT containing oils could be a new NAFLD therapy.

Scientists advance understanding of human brown adipose tissue and grow new cells

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 17:58:58 EDT

Scientists have reported significant findings about the location, genetic expression and function of human brown adipose tissue (BAT) and the generation of new BAT cells.

Alternative therapies may help lower blood pressure

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 17:57:57 EDT

Alternative therapies such as aerobic exercise, resistance or strength training and isometric hand grip exercises could help people reduce blood pressure. Biofeedback and device-guided slow breathing reduced blood pressure a small amount. Due to their modest effects, alternative therapies can be used with -- not as a replacement for -- standard treatment.

Change diet, exercise habits at same time for best results, study says

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 10:13:13 EDT

Researchers have discovered that focusing on changing exercise and diet at the same time gives a bigger boost than tackling them sequentially. They also found that focusing on changing diet first -- an approach that many weight-loss programs advocate -- may actually interfere with establishing a consistent exercise routine.

Breast pain issue for one in three female marathon runners

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 11:06:06 EDT

One in three female marathon runners is likely to suffer breast pain (mastalgia) during the course of the event, suggests new research.

Social gaming promotes healthy behavior, reveals new research

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 10:01:01 EDT

Adding social gaming elements to a behavior tracking program led people to exercise more frequently and helped them decrease their body-mass index, according to new research.

Demanding physical work associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 10:01:01 EDT

Demanding physical work has a detrimental effect on an individual's risk of coronary heart disease, according to new research.

What really makes us fat? Article questions our understanding of the cause of obesity

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 21:47:47 EDT

If we are to make any progress in tackling the obesity crisis, we have to look again at what really makes us fat, claims a new article.

Aerobic exercise may protect cognitive abilities of heavy drinkers

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 16:18:18 EDT

Aerobic exercise may help prevent and perhaps even reverse some of the brain damage associated with heavy alcohol consumption, according to a new study.

High heart rate at rest signals higher risk of death even in fit healthy people

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 20:49:49 EDT

A high heart rate (pulse) at rest is linked to a higher risk of death even in physically fit, healthy people, suggests new research.

Vocal cord disorder often mistaken for asthma in elite athletes

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 19:24:24 EDT

Athletes with a vocal cord disorder that restricts breathing are more likely to be misdiagnosed and inappropriately treated for exercise-induced asthma.

Exercise or make dinner? Study finds adults trade one healthy act for another

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 13:22:22 EDT

American adults who prepare their own meals and exercise on the same day are likely spending more time on one of those activities at the expense of the other, a new study suggests.

Weight loss surgery not only shrinks waists but also affects genes

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 12:38:38 EDT

Gastric bypass surgery can drastically reduce the body weight of obese individuals in a short timeframe. For reasons that are not entirely clear, the surgery also leads to early remission of type 2 diabetes in the vast majority of patients.

Eating solid food early sets marmosets on path to obesity

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 13:14:14 EDT

Baby marmoset monkeys that began eating solid food earlier than their peers were significantly more likely to be obese at one year of age, scientists have found.

'Well-being risks' contribute to decreased productivity

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 09:09:09 EDT

In addition to health-related risk factors, some non-traditional "well-being risks" can have a significant impact on workers' productivity.

Couch potatoes may be genetically predisposed to being lazy, rat study suggests

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 18:47:47 EDT

Researchers were able to selectively breed rats that exhibited traits of either extreme activity or extreme laziness. They say these rats indicate that genetics could play a role in exercise motivation, even in humans.

Lift weights to lower blood sugar? White muscle helps keep blood glucose levels under control

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 13:29:29 EDT

Researchers have challenged a long-held belief that whitening of skeletal muscle in diabetes is harmful.

Walking can lower risk of heart-related conditions as much as running

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 17:02:02 EDT

Walking can lower the risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes as much as running. The more people walked or ran each week, the more their health benefits increased.

White blood cell enzyme contributes to inflammation and obesity

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 16:32:32 EDT

Researchers have discovered that an imbalance between the enzyme neutrophil elastase and its inhibitor, ±1-antitrypsin, causes inflammation, obesity, insulin resistance, and fatty liver disease.

Clinical trial finds improvement in cognitive function, but no difference between groups after physical, mental activity in older adults

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 18:13:13 EDT

A randomized controlled trial finds that 12 weeks of physical plus mental activity in inactive older adults with cognitive complaints was associated with significant improvement in cognitive function but there was no difference between intervention and control groups.

Is guided self-help effective in treating childhood obesity?

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 07:49:49 EDT

Initial research indicates that a self-help treatment program for overweight children and their parents, guided by clinical experts, may be an effective solution.

Monounsaturated fats reduce metabolic syndrome risk

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 12:51:51 EDT

Canola oil and high-oleic canola oils can lower abdominal fat when used in place of other selected oil blends, according to a new study. Researchers also found that consuming certain vegetable oils may be a simple way of reducing the risk of metabolic syndrome, which affects about one in three US adults and one in five Canadian adults.

Obesity leads to decreased physical activity over time

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 14:24:24 EDT

Obesity leads to a decrease in physical activity over time, researchers have confirmed. The exercise science team used accelerometers to measure the actual movement and intensity of activity for 254 female participants, 124 of which were obese. Over the course of 20 months, physical activity dropped by eight percent for the group of obese individuals.

Just 'weight' until menopause: How estrogen deficiency affects women's fat absorption

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 14:41:41 EDT

Women tend to carry excess fat in their hips and thighs, while men tend to carry it on their stomachs. But after menopause, things start to change: many women's fat storage patterns start to resemble those of men. This indicates that there's a link between estrogen and body fat storage. This connection is well documented, but the underlying mechanisms remained poorly understood until now.

New way to lose weight? Changing microbes in guts of mice resulted in rapid weight loss

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 14:41:41 EDT

New research has found that the gut microbes of mice underwent drastic changes following gastric bypass surgery. The transfer of these microbes into sterile mice resulted in rapid weight loss.

Hot flashes? Active days bring better nights

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 13:35:35 EDT

Getting a good night's sleep isn't always easy for women at menopause. Exercise may help, but women can have a tough time carving out leisure time for it. The good news from a new study is that higher levels of routine daily physical activity may be the more important key to a better night's sleep for many women who have hot flashes or night sweats.

Protein-rich breakfasts prevent unhealthy snacking in the evening, study finds

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 15:11:11 EDT

Eating a breakfast rich in protein significantly improves appetite control and reduces unhealthy snacking on high-fat or high-sugar foods in the evening, which could help improve the diets of more than 25 million overweight or obese young adults in the U.S., new research finds.

Vitamin D may lower diabetes risk in obese children and adolescents

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 12:17:17 EDT

Being obese puts individuals at greater risk for developing type 2 diabetes, a disease in which individuals have too much sugar in their blood. Now researchers found vitamin D supplements can help obese children and teens control their blood-sugar levels, which may help them stave off the disease.

Microorganisms detected via breath test linked to body mass, fat accumulation

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 09:50:50 EDT

The content of a person's breath may indicate how susceptible they are to weight gain, according to a recent study. People whose breath has high concentrations of both hydrogen and methane gases are more likely to have a higher body mass index and percentage of body fat, according to the findings. The combination of the two gases signals the presence of a microorganism that may contribute to obesity.

Physical activity during youth may help reduce fracture risk in old age

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 15:24:24 EDT

Get out there and regularly kick that soccer ball around with your kids, you may be helping them prevent a broken hip when they are older, say researchers.

Foods can help fight inflammation

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 15:40:40 EDT

Chronic inflammation can lead to chronic diseases, but it can be reduced naturally through the proper diet.

Serious mental illness no barrier to weight loss success

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 20:48:48 EDT

Through a program that teaches simple nutrition messages and involves both counseling and regular exercise classes, people with serious mental illness can make healthy behavioral changes and achieve significant weight loss.

Skimmed/semi-skimmed milk does not curb excess toddler weight gain, study finds

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 20:34:34 EDT

Switching to skimmed milk in a bid to curb excess toddler weight gain doesn't seem to work, new research indicates.

Community approach effective in fight against diabetes

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 10:47:47 EDT

New research shows that a diabetes prevention program led by community health workers is effective at reducing blood glucose and potentially reducing diabetes over the long term.

Vitamin D replacement improves muscle efficiency

Sun, 17 Mar 2013 22:14:14 EDT

New research shows for the first time a link between vitamin D levels and muscle efficiency. Vitamin D supplementation may also be effective in improving skeletal muscle function. The findings may explain the physical fatigue commonly experienced by patients with vitamin D deficiency, with broad implications for a large section of society.