Physical Activity News and Research

RSS

Report on childhood obesity calls for more investment, leadership and commitment

A report by the the National Academies' Institute of Medicine (IOM) released this week on childhood obesity, says that despite the public and media focus on obesity, not a great deal of progress appears to have been made.

18 Sep 2006

Physical activity increases breast cancer survival

Women who reported the highest levels of physical activity in the year before they were diagnosed with breast cancer may have higher survival, according to a new study.

11 Sep 2006

Claims that the discovery of a gene could help prevent diabetes may raise unrealistic expectations

Earlier this year, scientists discovered that a variant of the TCF7L2 gene was associated with type 2 diabetes. In subsequent media coverage, they claimed this could lead to a diagnostic test to identify people who carry the variant gene and that people who knew of their extra risk would then be motivated to avoid the lifestyle habits that lead to diabetes.

7 Sep 2006

Record your electrocardiogram wearing a shirt

World Congress of Cardiology Report - A shirt capable of recording the electrocardiogram (electrical activity of the heart) has been developed and tested in a European research project (WEALTHY, Wearable Health Care System), funded by the European Community.

5 Sep 2006

Cardiovascular disease prevention program for Chile

World Congress of Cardiology Report - Fifty-five percent of the Chilean adult population is at risk of a cardiovascular event with a high rate of morbidity and mortality affecting mainly a productive population, between 35 and 74 years of age. This risk is 1.4 times greater for men.

5 Sep 2006

Juice lowers Alzheimer's risk

In a large epidemiological study, researchers found that people who drank three or more servings of fruit and vegetable juices per week had a 76 percent lower risk of developing Alzheimer's disease than those who drank juice less than once per week.

4 Sep 2006

The latest big thing - Obesity!

As the obesity fanfare continues researchers in Britain say a person's body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference are the easiest ways of predicting health risks due to excess weight, particularly amongst older men.

31 Aug 2006

Preventive home visits postpone mortality: a controlled trial with time-limited results

Old people are less likely to die if they receive regular home visits from health professionals.

31 Aug 2006

Human body is designed to strongly resist attempts to lose weight

Research confirming the human body is designed to strongly resist attempts to lose weight will be presented at an international gathering of obesity experts hosted by QUT this week.

30 Aug 2006

Excessive exercise and eating disorders go hand in hand

A study in the United States has found that one of the warning signs of an eating disorder is excessive exercise.

30 Aug 2006

Study aims to lower diabetes risk in youth

As schools across the country reopen their doors this fall, hundreds of sixth graders in 42 middle schools will begin taking part in a study sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

30 Aug 2006

Fat people shorten their lives

A new study has found that being obese is not just unhealthy, it can in fact seriously increase the risk of death.

24 Aug 2006

People in China getting fatter

People in China are becoming overweight and obese at an alarmingly fast rate, according to an editorial in this week's British Medical Journal.

17 Aug 2006

Lack of outdoor play is health time bomb for children

Unless more suitable outdoor play opportunities are provided for children and young people, a physical and mental illness time bomb is likely to explode, an international conference in Bristol was told.

15 Aug 2006

Some brains wired to encourage fidgeting

Some brains may be wired to encourage fidgeting and other restless behaviors that consume calories and help control weight, according to new research published by The American Physiological Society.

14 Aug 2006

That extra can of soda each day equals 15 pounds extra in weight

A scientific review says what they are drinking is what is making Americans obese.

10 Aug 2006

Impact of adolescent overweight on adult mortality

Researchers found that being overweight at age 18 is associated with an increased risk of premature death in younger and middle-aged women.

6 Aug 2006

New method to predict dementia risk

A team of researchers have developed a new method to predict dementia risk that could help to identify individuals who might benefit from intensive lifestyle consultations and drug interventions.

3 Aug 2006

Women more likely to categorize themselves as overweight than men

Study suggests our media and cultural obsession with achieving a certain weight does little to convince couch potatoes of any size to abandon their favorite sofa cushions and get active.

3 Aug 2006

Vigorous exercise helps kids perform better in class

Middle school students who perform more vigorous physical activity than their more sedentary counterparts tend to do better in school, according to a study published today.

3 Aug 2006