Archive for the ‘Health and Fitness’ Category
4 Examples Of Misleading Health Ads
Posted: June 6, 2012 at 11:16 am
Advertising the health benefits of a product like pomegranate juice is one thing, but when you start claiming that it can reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease and impotence you'd better have the scientific data to back it up. This is a lesson that Pom Wonderful recently learned the hard way when a federal judge ordered the company to halt its current advertising campaign after finding that it lacked sufficient evidence to support any of its juice's purported benefits.
However, while POM Wonderful may be the latest company in the health industry to be convicted of misleading its customers, it certainly isn't the guiltiest. Since the dawn of civilization, product pushers have inflated the medical benefits of their products to woo the self-conscious and the hypochondriacal. For instance, here are five recent examples of egregiously misleading health and fitness ads.
Reebok's EasyTone ShoesIn 2009 and 2010, Reebok ran a series of ads for its EasyTone and RunTone shoes featuring lithe and toned models professing the benefits of the footwear's special toning soles. The ads claimed that laboratory tests had found that Tone shoes were "proven to work your hamstrings and calves up to 11% harder and tone your butt up to 28% more than regular sneakers just by walking!" Apparently, the special uneven sole of the shoe forced you to use more muscles when you moved. The LA Times reported that an FTC investigation found the only thing that EasyTone shoes actually did was make it uncomfortable to walk. As a result, Reebok was forced to refund more than $25 million in purchases.
Airborne Herbal SupplementFor a while, Airborne seemed like a classic American success story. The result of a second grade teacher's research, the herbal supplement became a national phenomenon after it appeared to finally provide the cure/prevention for the common cold that science had yet to figure out. For 10 years it reigned as the leading cold prevention supplement on the market - and then the FTC got interested. According to npr.org, a federal investigation found that the anecdotal benefits of Airborne were just another example of the placebo effect. In reality, the tablets did absolutely nothing to boost the immune system or prevent colds. This incited a class-action lawsuit against the company that Airborne finally settled in 2008 for $23.3 million.
Dannon Activia YogurtJamie Lee Curtis might be enthusiastic about the health benefits of Dannon's Activia line of yogurts, but the FTC isn't. In 2009, a federal judge found that Dannon's claims that a daily serving of Activia would relieve irregularity and help expedite the digestion process were totally unsubstantiated. It turned out the company had been charging a 30% premium on the "probiotic" yogurts over other brands when in reality the contents in the cups were all the same. As a result, the company was forced to pay out $35 million to consumers in a 2009 class-action lawsuit and another $21 million to the FTC a year later, as reported by ABC News.
Extenze"Male enhancement" products are a dime-a-dozen these days, but none have enjoyed as much success as Extenze. Manufactured by California-based Biotab Nutraceuticals, the little purple pill has been a staple of late-night television ads with its innocuous theme song and pep talks by NFL personality and former Dallas Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson. According to the National Council Against Health Fraud, in a ruling that surprised nobody, the Orange County District Attorney's office found in 2010 that Biotab completely fabricated all of its scientific and clinical evidence regarding the "enhancive capabilities" of Extenze. Biotab was forced to pay out $6 million in damages and offer another $6 million in Extenze Racing merchandise as a refund to its customers.
The Bottom LineLooking at the amount of misleading advertisements that pervade modern media, consumers should be wary any time they hear that a product is "scientifically proven" to work. Unless the , there's no reason to trust any purported medical benefits of any piece of merchandise, whether it's shoes or cold medicine. Often, these health and fitness products are just modern interpretations of the snake oil that bankrupted early settlers in the Wild West. So the next time you're tempted to buy a product that looks too good to be true, just save your money because it probably is.
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Health & Fitness File, June 6
Posted: at 11:16 am
Stroke Detection Plus
STROKE SCREENING: This mobile vascular screening company uses ultrasound technology to find blockages in the bodys blood vessels that could lead to a stroke. 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday. Dr. John Bryant Center, 601 21st St. Fees: $135 for a complete wellness profile or $45 for individual tests. Appointments are required, call (877)732-8258.
Taoist Tai Chi Societyof the United States
TAI CHI BEGINNER CLASSES: Beginner classes last three months, during which students learn the complete sequence of the Taoist Tai Chi set, which incorporates stretching and turning within a sequence of movements that improve the health of body, mind and spirit. Diligent practice can reduce tension, improve circulation and balance and increase strength and flexibility. 5:30-6:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays starting June 11 and 13. Prospective students can attend their first class at no obligation. Monthly fees: $40 adults, $25 seniors. DeKoven Center, assembly hall, 600 21st St. (enter on Wisconsin Avenue side of property). Call (262) 902-0725.
BloodCenter of Wisconsin
BLOOD DRIVES: Donors must be in good health, weigh at least 110 pounds and have a photo ID. To schedule an appointment, go to http://www.bcw.edu or call (877) 232-4376.
June 11. Tichigan Lake Civic Center, 6710 Highway F, Tichigan, 2-6 p.m.
June 12. Aurora Memorial Hospital of Burlington, 252 McHenry St., 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
June 16. Family Video Racine, 2065 Lathrop Ave., 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
June 19. Atonement Lutheran Church, 2915 Wright Ave., 2-7 p.m.; Veterans Terrace, 589 Milwaukee Ave., Burlington, 2-7 p.m.
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Health & Fitness File, June 6
Orexigen® Therapeutics and Sharecare® Announce Partnership for WeightMate™, a Comprehensive Weight Management Program
Posted: at 11:16 am
SAN DIEGO and ATLANTA, June 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc. (OREX), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the treatment of obesity, and Sharecare an interactive health and wellness social platform providing people with access to expert-developed answers, information and programs to live their healthiest life, announce their partnership for WeightMate, a comprehensive weight management program developed for participants in the Light Study. Delivered through an internet-based platform by accredited health and fitness professionals, WeightMate provides a convenient, progressive nutrition and exercise program with goal setting and tracking tools. The Light Study (www.lightstudy.com) is a long-term research study designed to assess the cardiovascular health outcomes associated with an investigational drug, Contrave (naltrexone SR/bupropion SR), which is being evaluated as a new treatment for obesity.
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"WeightMate provides participants in the Light Study with a robust coaching and information platform that is designed to help them make changes in their diet and lifestyle to help them lose weight," said Dr. Mike Clark, Chief Science Officer of Sharecare. "We are excited to work with Orexigen to launch WeightMate, which combines Sharecare's digital expertise in providing expert health knowledge and interactive fitness programs with Orexigen's focus on developing safe and effective new treatments for obesity, which is one of the biggest health care problems facing the United States."
"At Orexigen, we believe weight loss medicines should be used with an effective behavior modification program that is designed to help people make the necessary changes in their lifestyle and diet and provides them with the opportunity to optimize their weight loss," said Michael Narachi, CEO of Orexigen. "We partnered with Sharecare to build WeightMate for all participants in the Light Study to provide comprehensive and personalized weight management tools to assist study participants in achieving their health goals. We are very excited to be partnering with Sharecare on WeightMate."
About the Light Study The Light Study (www.lightstudy.com) is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled cardiovascular outcomes trial evaluating the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients participating in the study. An interim analysis and NDA resubmission is planned once approximately 87 MACE events have occurred, which is anticipated to be less than two years from the start of the trial. If marketing approval is received for Contrave, the trial will continue toward the final analysis in the post-approval setting. It is expected to enroll up to 10,000 study participants at approximately 300 research sites nationwide.
About ContraveContrave (naltrexone SR/bupropion SR) is an investigational medication being evaluated for weight loss. Contrave has been studied to date in clinical trials enrolling more than 4,500 people and was developed by Orexigen to reduce appetite, help control cravings, increase metabolism and improve control over eating behaviors. Contrave has been shown to help people lose weight and keep it off for up to one year. In previous clinical trials, 53 percent of study participants taking Contrave and 21 percent of those taking placebo lost five percent or more of their body weight over the 12 month trial duration. Those who took Contrave for six months, combined with a structured weight management program, lost an average of 25 pounds, compared with 17 pounds for those using the weight management program and receiving placebo. Many patients saw noticeable improvements in cholesterol levels, and blood sugar control, as well as smaller waistlines. Those who combined Contrave with diet and exercise experienced the most reduction in body weight. There is no guarantee that Contrave will make patients lose weight.
Contrave was generally well tolerated in clinical trials. In the Contrave clinical development program, the most frequent adverse events on Contrave were nausea, constipation, headache, vomiting, dizziness, insomnia, dry mouth, and diarrhea. These were mostly mild to moderate in severity and short in duration.
About WeightMateWeightMate is a comprehensive weight management program developed in partnership by Orexigen and Sharecare. Delivered through an internet-based platform by accredited health and fitness professionals, WeightMate provides a convenient, progressive nutrition and exercise program with goal setting and tracking tools designed to help users achieve their health goals.
About Orexigen Therapeutics Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the treatment of obesity. The Company's lead product candidate is Contrave, which has completed Phase III clinical trials and for which a New Drug Application has been submitted and reviewed by the FDA. The Company has also reached agreement with the FDA on a Special Protocol Assessment for the Light Study, the Contrave cardiovascular outcomes trial. The Company's other product candidate, Empatic, has completed Phase II clinical trials. Further information about the Company can be found at http://www.orexigen.com.
About SharecareLaunched in 2010 and based in Atlanta, GA, Sharecare is an interactive, social Q & A platform that allows people to ask, learn and act upon questions of health and wellness. Created by Jeff Arnold and Dr. Mehmet Oz, in partnership with Harpo Studios, Remark Media (MARK), Sony Pictures Television, and Discovery Communications, the company's innovative approach provides the consumer access to a wide array of health and wellness experts ranging from hospitals to doctors, specialists to non-profits, to healthcare companies and active health consumers, creating a thriving community where healthcare knowledge is built, shared and put into practice.
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Orexigen® Therapeutics and Sharecare® Announce Partnership for WeightMate™, a Comprehensive Weight Management Program
June-Marie Raw Food and Fitness Health Ironing outside in Nature with my pets 007 – Video
Posted: June 5, 2012 at 2:14 pm
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June-Marie Raw Food and Fitness Health Ironing outside in Nature with my pets 007 - Video
Ask your pressing health and fitness questions here! – Video
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Ask your pressing health and fitness questions here! - Video
Free fitness classes to be offered on City Hall Plaza; Mayor Menino launches program today
Posted: at 2:14 pm
By Colin A. Young, Globe Correspondent
As part of his recently launched Boston Moves for Health campaign, Mayor Thomas M. Menino joined public health officials and fitness instructors this morning to kick off Fitness on the Plaza, a summer series of free weekly fitness classes on City Hall Plaza.
Menino joined Dr. Barbara Ferrer, executive director of the Boston Public Health Commission, to launch the series of free classes, which includes classes run by instructors from Beantown Bootcamp, Health Yoga Life, South Boston Yoga, and The Sports Club/LA.
Summer is right around the corner, and its one of the best times for people to get out and get active in our city, Menino said in a statement. The classes that were offering every week on City Hall Plaza are a great way to get your exercise in before work and start your day off on the right foot. Whether youre pumping up with boot camp or unwinding with yoga, we want to give everyone a chance to get moving this summer.
The classes will take place on City Hall Plaza on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday mornings until the end of August, according to the mayors office. Health Yoga Life will offer classes every Wednesday from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. until July 25. South Boston Yoga and the Sports Club/LA will team up for yoga classes every Thursday from 7 to 8 a.m. between July 12 and Aug. 30.
Beantown Bootcamp will lead classes from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. on Fridays between July 6 and Aug. 31. Beantown Bootcamp will also provide a family-friendly class between 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. on Fridays. No registration is required for the classes.
Were fortunate in Boston to have fantastic resources to help people lead an active, healthy lifestyle, but access and affordability are often issues, Ferrer said in a statement. Thats why partnerships like these are crucial to the success of Boston Moves for Health. As a free and convenient program, we hope that Fitness on the Plaza will encourage more people to incorporate physical activity into their daily lives.
Boston Moves for Health, launched in April, encourages Bostonians to shed a collective 1 million pounds over the next year. The mayors call to action includes a challenge for residents to walk 10 million miles collectively during the yearlong campaign.
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Free fitness classes to be offered on City Hall Plaza; Mayor Menino launches program today
Health & Fitness calendar, June 3, 2012
Posted: at 2:14 pm
TUESDAY
Swim clinic: Two-time Olympic swimming champion and native San Antonian Josh Davis will host a three-hour stroke technique clinic for youth swimmers. 8:30-11:30 a.m. Thousand Oaks YMCA, 2263 Thousand Oaks Drive. Contact Gabe Jones at gabej@ymcasatx.org or 210-494-5292 to register.
UPCOMING
Sleep problems: Three experts will address issues of sleep problems, including sleep apnea, insomnia and nocturia, and solutions from different angles. 6-7:30 p.m. June 14, Cancer Therapy & Research Center, 7979 Wurzbach Road. http://www.ctrc.net. Free.
ONGOING
Sports camp: The Providence Catholic School's athletic department will hold summer camps in basketball, volleyball, soccer and softball for girls in 4th through 11th grade. Visit http://www.providencehs.net for camp description, times and fees.
Youth flamenco: Registration is open through May 20 for free community classes for kids between 6 and 11 years old. EntreFlamenco Dance Space, 5407 Bandera Road, Suite 107. Call 210-842-4926 or www. entreflamenco.com for more information.
Food addicts: Are you having trouble controlling your eating? Regular meetings of Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous can be found at http://www.foodaddicts.org. Call 210-561-1809 or 210-310-4609 for more information.
Daily exercise: The Lions Field Adult Center, 2809 Broadway, offers a free daily exercise class 9 to 10 a.m. Monday through Friday. The class incorporates stretching, toning, floor exercises and some dance. Call 210-826-9041 for more information.
Diva program: This nutrition and exercise program for women with breast cancer is designed to reduce side-effects during treatment. It includes tai chi, zumba, nutrition counseling, yoga and aerobics. For a complete schedule, go to http:/thrivewell.org/diva/.
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Health & Fitness calendar, June 3, 2012
Too Much Screen Time May Harm Kids' Fitness
Posted: at 2:14 pm
FRIDAY, June 1 (HealthDay News) -- Spending too much time in front of computers and other electronic screens may cause American children's heart and lung fitness levels, or "cardiorespiratory" fitness, to decline, a new study suggests.
Cardiorespiratory fitness involves the body's ability to transport oxygen to muscles during exercise.
The study included more than 2,000 children who were followed from ages 11 to 13. Each child reported their screen time and completed shuttle run laps to assess their fitness level.
Children who reported more screen time completed fewer shuttle run laps, the investigators found. This association was strongest in children with mid-to-high cardiorespiratory fitness levels, and was independent of physical activity levels.
The study was published in the June issue of the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.
"The results are interesting and add to the evidence that spending too much time sitting is hazardous to children's health," study lead author Jonathan Mitchell, who conducted the research while at the Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, said in a news release from the American College of Sports Medicine.
"If children limit the amount of time spent sitting in front of a screen, then this could help to combat declining levels of cardiorespiratory fitness in youth," he added.
While the study uncovered an association between more screen time and less cardiorespiratory fitness, it did not prove a cause-and-effect relationship.
-- Robert Preidt
Copyright 2012 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
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Too Much Screen Time May Harm Kids' Fitness
MapMyFITNESS Secures $9M in Series B Funding Led by Austin Ventures and Milestone Venture Partners
Posted: at 2:14 pm
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Posted June 5, 2012
Leader in online and mobile fitness applications poised to accelerate growth through latest round of funding and new strategic business partnerships with Competitor Group, Inc. and run.com, the e-commerce platform for The Running Specialty Group, LLC
AUSTIN, Texas -- MapMyFITNESS, a health and fitness technology company powering the Internet's largest and fastest growing community of fitness enthusiasts, today announced $9 million in Series B funding led by Austin Ventures and Milestone Venture Partners. Strategic business partners Competitor Group, Inc. and The Running Specialty Group, LLC also announced their participation in the funding as part of larger business partnerships.
MapMyFITNESS is an online and mobile platform that helps over nine million active users plan workout activities, measure their fitness and track their progress both in real-time and over time. The company leverages a fast-growing business model that has doubled revenue each of the past four years and is projected to nearly triple in 2012. This investment will help MapMyFITNESS continue to advance its leadership position in the global online and mobile fitness application markets and further develop its offerings.
"Austin Ventures' continuing enthusiasm is a great validation of our success to date. We're also thrilled to leverage Milestone Venture Partners' unique expertise on healthcare technology services, and to deepen our business partnerships with Competitor Group and run.com, the e-commerce platform for The Running Specialty Group," said Richard Jalichandra, chief executive officer of MapMyFITNESS. "This Series B funding allows us to continue innovating and improving our tools for people of all levels to improve their fitness, nutrition and overall health."
"MapMyFITNESS has built the leading fitness activity tracking technology platform for consumers and enterprise alike," said Mike Dodd, partner at Austin Ventures and MapMyFITNESS board member. "The company has also proven its ability to build the business, with growth in audience and revenue far exceeding expectations."
"The connected health space is rapidly expanding, and the MapMyFITNESS team has established a solid early leadership position," said Todd Pietri, partner at Milestone Venture Partners.
"MapMyFITNESS' amazing growth of one of the largest audiences of runners, walkers, cyclists and active people has tremendous synergy with what we're doing at Competitor with events like the Rock N Roll race series," said Scott Dickey, president and chief executive officer at Competitor Group, Inc.
"The MapMyFITNESS team has created one of the most engaging utilities for fitness enthusiasts, one that complements what we're trying to do with our new website, run.com," said Ken Gart, President of The Running Specialty Group.
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MapMyFITNESS Secures $9M in Series B Funding Led by Austin Ventures and Milestone Venture Partners
Gazette.Net: Maryland kicks off wellness initiative for employees
Posted: at 2:14 pm
Maryland is rolling out a new program to keep state employees in good health, and study the most effective fitness strategies employed by state agencies.
The State of Maryland Employee Wellness Initiative, led by the state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, will develop best practices for state agencies to promote healthy lifestyles among their employees, said Fran Philips, the departments deputy secretary for public health.
The initiative eventually will use Marylands StateStat data-collection system to track the health of state employees and promote sound eating, exercise and avoiding tobacco. Research shows that living by those three principles can prevent 80 percent of heart disease, stroke and diabetes and 40 percent of some cancers, according to DHMH.
It is our responsibility as employers to provide our employees opportunities to improve their health while at the same time improving the bottom line for our businesses, our government and our communities, said Gov. Martin OMalley (D) in a statement.
The program was announced Friday at a workplace health and wellness symposium in Linthicum, and the first phase will include a series of state-sponsored activities in the coming months, including promotion of healthy recipes, physical activity in the workplace and Maryland Quitline, a free hot line and website for people who want to quit smoking.
Because there can be a difference in the levels of physical activity between jobs employees at the Department of Corrections, for example, face different physical challenges than park rangers agencies will be given the freedom to adopt the policies that best suit their needs, Philips said.
Next year, the state will begin examining data, such as which policies have been adopted and how many employees have gotten flu shots, to measure whats been most effective, Philips said.
Increasing basic exercise, such as walking for 30 minutes per day, is particularly important for those whose daily life isnt active, said Dr. Brit Saksvig, professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of Maryland, College Park.
Reducing that sedentary time can have great benefit, she said.
Good dietary choices, particularly avoiding sugary drinks such as sodas, also are crucial, Saksvig said.
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Gazette.Net: Maryland kicks off wellness initiative for employees