Dr. John's Health Matters
Welcome to Dr. John's Health Matters blog.
The articles posted here are from various sources who are duly acknowledged. I would appreciate being immediately notified, if any copywritten material needs to be removed. This blog is not intended to replace the qualified advice of a licensed health practitioner. Readers should exercise their own judgment. Enjoy, subscribe, participate and tell others :)
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Posts tagged "sedentary"
Wednesday, Sep 2nd, 2009 ↓People Who Don't Own A Car And Live Near Fast Food At Greater Risk For Obesity →
Sept 2, 2009 (Sciencedaily.com)—Living without a car in close proximity to fast food restaurants is associated with excess body mass index and weight gain, according to a University of Pittsburgh study available online and published in the September issue of the Journal of Urban Health. Indeed, adults in areas with high fast food concentration who didn’t have a car were as much as 12 pounds heavier than those who lived in neighborhoods that lacked such restaurants.
“Owning a car is generally associated with a more sedentary lifestyle and excess weight gain because people spend more time in their cars and less time walking,” said Sanae Inagami, M.D., study lead author and assistant professor, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Yet, when Inagami and her colleagues looked at whether a high concentration of fast food restaurants impacted this association, they found that not owning a car in areas where fast food was more readily available increased the risk of obesity.
“Fast food may be specific to weight gain in particular populations and locations,” she said. “People who are less affluent don’t own cars and can’t go distances for healthier foods. As a result, they may end up opting for the lower-priced and high caloric foods available at fast food chains.”
For full article see link above.
Tags: car driving food fast fat obesity restaurant lifestyle sedentary weight gain walking risk overweight neighbourhood
Links Between Video-game Playing And Health Risks In Adults Found →
Aug 18, 2009 (Sciencedaily.com)—While video gaming is generally perceived as a pastime for children and young adults, research shows that the average age of players in the United States is 35. Investigators from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Emory University and Andrews University analyzed survey data from over 500 adults ranging in age from 19 to 90 in the Seattle-Tacoma area on health risks; media use behaviors and perceptions, including those related to video-game playing; and demographic factors. In an article published in the October 2009 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, they found measurable correlations between video-game playing and health risks.
Participants reported whether they were players or nonplayers, and weekly usage was collected. Internet usage was assessed, as was the relative importance of the Internet as a social support. The personal determinants examined in this study included self-assessments of depression, personality, health status, physical and mental health, body mass index (BMI), and poor quality of life. Immersion in media environments was evaluated using the participants’ estimates of the time they spent during a typical week surfing the Internet and watching TV, including videos and DVDs. The Seattle–Tacoma area was selected because of its size (13th largest US media market) and its Internet usage level is the highest in the nation.
A total of 45.1% of respondents reported playing video games. Female video-game players reported greater depression and lower health status than female nonplayers. Male video-game players reported higher BMI and more Internet use time than male nonplayers. The only determinant common to both female and male video-game players was greater reliance on the Internet for social support.
Writing in the article, Dr. James B Weaver III, PhD, MPH, National Center for Health Marketing, CDC, Atlanta, states, “As hypothesized, health-risk factors – specifically, a higher BMI and a greater number of poor mental-health days – differentiated adult video-game players from nonplayers. Video-game players also reported lower extraversion, consistent with research on adolescents that linked video-game playing to a sedentary lifestyle and overweight status, and to mental-health concerns. Internet community support and time spent online distinguished adult video-game players from nonplayers, a finding consistent with prior research pointing to the willingness of adult video-game enthusiasts to sacrifice real-world social activities to play video games. The data illustrate the need for further research among adults to clarify how to use digital opportunities more effectively to promote health and prevent disease.”
For full article see link above.
Tags: video game television tv depression adult movie internet overweight obesity BMI mental health sedentary lifestyle disease
TV And Computer Screen Time May Be Associated With High Blood Pressure In Young Children →
Aug 4, 2009 (Sciencedailycom)—Sedentary behaviors such as TV viewing and “screen time” involving computer use, videos and video games appear to be associated with elevated blood pressure in children, independent of body composition, according to a report in the August issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.
The recent trend in obesity is a major public health concern and its effect on blood pressure is of particular concern, according to background information in the article. “The clustering of cardiovascular disease risk factors in overweight youth suggests that risks may be immediate and not just indicative of potential future problems,” the authors write. Although elevated blood pressure is associated with genetic factors, healthy physical, dietary and sleep habits seem to be relevant contributors to blood pressure levels in children. However, there have not been any clear links between sedentary behavior and elevated blood pressure in children younger than age 9.
For full article see link above.
Tags: obesity children child kid tv video game television hypertension weight sedentary behaviour screen computer internet risk danger cardiovascular
Sitting may be hazardous to your health →
May 15 09 (Los Angeles Times) — By now everyone knows they should do 30 minutes or more of moderate to vigorous exercise a day to stay healthy. But are people who exercise as much as an hour or more moving enough throughout the day?
Maybe not, according to a new study that took an interesting angle on sedentary behavior. Researchers wondered if a connection existed between sitting for long periods of time and mortality, and discovered there was — even for people who engaged in leisure-time activity.
The study followed 17,013 Canadians ages 18 to 90 for an average of 12 years, men and women who were part of the 1981 Canada Fitness Survey. They were asked to rate how long each day they spent sitting, from “almost none of the time” to “almost all of the time.”
Among causes of death during the study period, 759 were from cardiovascular disease, 547 from cancer, and 526 from other causes, such as respiratory disease, injuries and violence, and digestive system disorders. Those who died tended to have a higher body mass index and were less physically active. More importantly, increased sitting time was linked with death rates from all causes except cancer.
That association was seen among those who did and did not exercise, as well as all BMI levels. That’s right — even people who exercised but remained sedentary for much of the day had a higher mortality risk.
“This is an important observation because it suggests that high amounts of sitting cannot be compensated for with occasional leisure time physical activity even if the amount exceeds the current minimum physical activity recommendations,” wrote researchers from the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, La., and the Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute in Ottawa. The study appears in the May issue of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.
Resistance, Aerobic Exercise Best for Sedentary, Abdominally Obese Adults →
February 5, 2009 (Medscape) — Combined resistance and aerobic exercise may be the best exercise strategy for simultaneously improving insulin resistance and functional limitation in previously sedentary, abdominally obese older adults, according to the results of a study reported in the January 26 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
For full medical article, see link above.
Preschoolers More Sedentary than Thought →
COLUMBIA, S.C., Feb. 6 09 (medical news) — Preschoolers are not necessarily the nonstop dynamos of their reputation, even when they’re playing outside, researchers here said.
In a cross-sectional study, kids spent 89% of their days at daycare centers doing sedentary activities, William H. Brown, Ph.D., of the University of South Carolina, and colleagues reported in the January/February issue of Child Development.
For full medical article, see link above.
7 (Bad) Habits of Highly Stressed People
During these tough financial times, many people feel they have to push themselves to unhealthy levels in order to succeed. But high-pressure jobs and long hours take a real toll on their immediate and future health. Whether running for president, moving up the corporate ladder, or juggling the family’s activities, success may come at a hefty cost. The 7 worst habits of these workaholics include: Forgetting to relax: Some stress can be good because it keeps you alert and motivated; too much stress, however, will take its toll on your body.[1] Eating on the go: Who has time to sit down for a healthy lunch? But beware of frozen meals, fast, and processed food that can be high in sodium, calories, and fat.[2] Putting off sleep for work: Lack of sleep can cause irritability, difficulty concentrating, memory problems, poor judgment, and obesity.[3] Not making time for exercise: Humans were not designed to sit at desks for 8 hours a day. Exercise has been shown to reduce the risk for nearly every major disease and to help fight anxiety and depression.[4] Working when sick: 3 common-sense reasons to stay home: avoid spreading the infection, you’ll be less productive, and you need your rest to get better. Drinking (too much): Moderate alcohol consumption has some proven health benefits , but excessive drinking can lead to alcoholism, liver disease, and some forms of cancer.[5] Neglecting Wellness and maintenance Care: Depending on age, family history, and lifestyle, and the combination of all of the above, many people are walking time bombs. Eventually, something’s going to give. Also If you keep burning the candle at both ends, the flame will burn out faster. But, if you maintain a healthy balance, you will be happier and healthier overall. As the chinese proverb says: “if you don’t make time for your health, you will have to make time for illness”. References Wilbert-Lampen U, Leistner D, Greven S, et al. Cardiovascular events during World Cup soccer. N Engl J Med. 2008;358:475-483. Abstract McNaughton SA, Mishra GD, Brunner EJ. Dietary patterns, insulin resistance, and incidence of type 2 diabetes in the Whitehall II Study. Diabetes Care. 2008;31:1343-1348. Abstract Knutson KL, Van Cauter E. Associations between sleep loss and increased risk of obesity and diabetes. Ann NY Acad Sci. 2008;1129:287-304. Abstract Berlin AA, Kop WJ, Deuster PA. Depressive mood symptoms and fatigue after exercise withdrawal: the potential role of decreased fitness. Psychosom Med. 2006;68:224-230. Abstract O’Keefe JH, Bybee KA, Lavie CJ. Alcohol and cardiovascular health: the razor-sharp double-edged sword. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2007;50:1009-1014. Abstract Iglar K, Katyal S, Matthew R, Dubey V. Complete health checkup for adults: update on the Preventive Care Checklist form(C). Can Fam Physician. 2008;54:84-88. Abstract
Active People Less Likely to Develop Cancer →
Dec 09 08 (NaturalNews) People with physically active lives are less likely to develop cancer, according to a study conducted by researchers from Japan’s National Cancer Center and Public Health Center, and published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.
While a number of prior studies have suggested such a link, the current study is the first carried out on a non-Western population.
“There are a lot of physical differences between Asians and our Western counterparts,” researcher Manami Inoue said. “Asians are usually leaner, with a lower body mass index.”
For full article, see link above.
Prevent Fatty Liver Disease with Regular Exercise →
Nov 11 08 (NaturalNews) A press release by the University of Missouri reports that a new study shows that it doesn’t take long for someone who stops exercising and becomes more sedentary to develop symptoms of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (hepatic steatosis). This study, “Cessation of Daily Exercise Dramatically Alters Precursors of Hepatic Steatosis in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) Rats,” was published in The Journal of Physiology. This is bad news for the many people who are in the habit of yo-yo dieting and exercising.
For full article, see link above.
