Newswise Weight loss and increased physical fitness nearly halved the decline in mobility in overweight or obese adults with type 2 diabetes, according to four-year results of the Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes) trial funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The results are published in the March 29, 2012, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

The largest and longest-running study of its kind, this research confirms how important losing weight and increasing physical activity are in the treatment of mobility-related problems among people with type 2 diabetes as they age, said lead author Jack Rejeski, Ph.D, Thurman D. Kitchin Professor of Health and Exercise Science at Wake Forest University. The weight loss and physical activity goals promoted in the study are well within the reach of most Americans. Future research is needed to determine if this sort of intervention can be translated into public health interventions, particularly in light of possible effects on health care costs.

Look AHEAD is a multi-center, randomized clinical trial designed to determine the long-term effects of intentional weight loss on the risk of cardiovascular disease in overweight and obese individuals with type 2 diabetes. Beginning in 2001, a total of 5,145 Look AHEAD participants were randomly assigned to either an intensive lifestyle intervention (ILI) group or a usual care, or Diabetes Support and Education (DSE) group. The ILI treatment involved group and individual meetings to achieve and maintain weight loss through decreased caloric intake and increased physical activity. The DSE group attended three meetings each year that provided general education on diet, activity, and social support.

Being able to perform routine activities is an important contributor to quality of life, said Griffin P. Rodgers, M.D., director of the NIHs National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), which oversaw the study.

To assess mobility, Look AHEAD participants rated their ability to carry out activities with or without limitations. Included were vigorous activities such as running and lifting heavy objects and moderate ones such as pushing a vacuum cleaner or playing golf. Participants also separately rated their ability to climb a flight of stairs; bend, kneel or stoop; walk more than a mile; and walk one block. Both groups were weighed annually and completed a treadmill fitness test at baseline, after year one, and at the end of four years.

After four years of the study, Look AHEAD participants in the intensive lifestyle group experienced a 48 percent reduction in mobility-related disability compared with the diabetes support and education group.

This is the first long-term study to demonstrate that by participating in an intensive lifestyle intervention, overweight or obese adults with type 2 diabetes can reduce decline in mobility as they age, Rejeski said.

Overweight and obesity affects more than two-thirds of U.S. adults age 20 and older. More than one-third of adults are obese. Many factors contribute to the problem, including genetics and lifestyle habits. Excess weight can lead to type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and certain cancers. Nearly 26 million Americans have diabetes, and more than 7 million of them do not know it.

With nearly two-thirds of participants reporting mild, moderate, or severe restrictions in mobility when Look AHEAD began, it is critical to address to this problem, said Mary Evans, Ph.D., project scientist for Look AHEAD. This study of mobility highlights the value of finding ways to help adults with type 2 diabetes keep moving as they age. We know that when adults lose mobility, it becomes difficult for them to live on their own, and they are likely to develop more serious health problems, increasing their health care costs.

Co-authors of the study are Edward Ip, Wake Forest University School of Medicine; Alain Bertoni, Wake Forest University School of Medicine; George Bray, Pennington Biomedical Research Center of the Louisiana State University System; Gina Evans, Baylor College of Medicine; Edward Gregg, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and Qiang Zhang, Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

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Weight Loss and Exercise Help Overweight Adults Retain Mobility

Kendal-Crosslands celebrated the groundbreaking of their new Health and Wellness Center last week. For Phil DeBaun, Executive Director of Crosslands, this is an expansion to our community that weve always imagined and now we celebrate it.

For the residents of Crosslands, this will be a new center featuring the latest in health center designs with private rooms, a house like setting, bright and airy spaces, and a small household concept vs. a medical model in design. It will also be home to our new Wellness Center with a new indoor pool, fitness room, a day care facility, and physical and occupational rehab services, says DeBaun. We will showcase many garden spaces, patios, and horticulture aspects as well which fits naturally with our almost 500 acre arboretum-like campus.

Senator Pileggi, State Representative Ross, Pennsbury Township officials, construction management staff, and architects were all together with residents and staff celebrating this long awaited project. And, unique to this endeavor, our residents raised 1.85 million dollars to help build their new center, said DeBaun.

For over 40 years, Kendal~Crosslands is a non-profit provider of programs and services that advocates for and empowers older adults to achieve their full potentials. Nestled on close to 500 acres in the Kennett area, Kendal~Crosslands is a continuing care retirement community and partners with area neighbors.

For the residents of Crosslands, this will be a new center featuring the latest in health center designs with private rooms, a house like setting, bright and airy spaces, and a small household concept vs. a medical model in design. It will also be home to our new Wellness Center with a new indoor pool, fitness room, a day care facility, and physical and occupational rehab services, says DeBaun. We will showcase many garden spaces, patios, and horticulture aspects as well which fits naturally with our almost 500 acre arboretum-like campus.

Senator Pileggi, State Representative Ross, Pennsbury Township officials, construction management staff, and architects were all together with residents and staff celebrating this long awaited project. And, unique to this endeavor, our residents raised 1.85 million dollars to help build their new center, said DeBaun.

For over 40 years, Kendal~Crosslands is a non-profit provider of programs and services that advocates for and empowers older adults to achieve their full potentials. Nestled on close to 500 acres in the Kennett area, Kendal~Crosslands is a continuing care retirement community and partners with area neighbors.

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Kendal Crosslands breaks ground for new facility

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26-03-2012 14:29 Learn how you can apply your knowledge of health and find chances to exercise in the American workplace. You'll be amazed by how fit you will be in no time at all. Also included are scenes from "The Health Table," a new hit talk show, explaining how fitness can be applied in the workplace. Enjoy!

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Health and Fitness in the Workplace - Video

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yozy3BKUXuA

26-03-2012 20:19 Oxygen Health & Fitness is a Kiama Personal Training business which will help you to design, implement and improve your Kiama Fitness Program.

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Oxygen TV Episode 9 - Maximizing Metabolism - Video

Be Well Woburn is hosting a Health and Wellness Expo on March 31, 2012. Spring into Health will be held at Woburn Memorial High School from 10am-2pm and will feature free health screenings, healthy cooking demonstrations and interactive physical activities. The American Red Cross will be participating by conducting a community blood drive starting at 9am and concluding at 2pm. The Woburn Fire Department will be offering Hands Only CPR Classes and AED demonstrations. The Woburn Host Lions Eye Mobile will be on site to conduct free vision screenings.

Spring into Health will present local exhibitors sharing information on many health topics such as asthma, diabetes, mental health, tobacco cessation, hypertension, food allergies, sun safety, oral health and insurance coverage. Fitness demonstrations and interactive physical activities for all ages will be ongoing throughout the day and health screenings will be offered to all attendees. Healthy meal planning and samplings will be included.

Spring into Health is a free event open to Woburn residents of all ages. The Be Well Woburn Committee encourages everyone to mark your calendars and come be part of this important health and wellness event.

Be Well Woburn is a citywide initiative that encourages community members to strengthen their health and well-being through educational programming and wellness activities. The mission of Be Well Woburn is to promote community wellness by enhancing opportunities to make healthy lifestyle choices. The focus of Spring into Health is to bring together the wellness resources in our community and increase health awareness through education and prevention.

2012 Homenewshere.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Be Well Woburn promotes health and wellness Saturday

Posted: Tuesday, March 27, 2012 10:00 am | Updated: 10:05 am, Tue Mar 27, 2012.

Children's laughter filled the air as they and their parents learned about health and fitness through numerous activities, Monday night.

The first annual College of Health and Human Sciences Family Fitness Fair, located in the North and South Ballrooms of the Union, had around 150 to 200 participants, some even being Purdue students.

Judy Schumaker, director of advancement for the College of Health and Human Sciences, said the fitness fair was heavily promoted in preschool programs, which seemed to work.

"I am not sure why many Purdue students didn't come," she said. "Next year, we are looking at a different focus, which could bring more students in; it is just a possible future direction."

The families had manyopportunities to educate themselves about health and fitness. There were tables set up bordering the ballrooms with poster boards filled with information. The families were able to make their own healthy trail mix with raisins, nuts and whole-wheat cereals, learn how to zumba dance, go through an obstacle course and more.

Leslie Koepl, a junior in the College of Health and Human Sciences, thought the fair was fun to work at because the children were having fun. She said her favorite part was watching and interacting with them.

"I really liked how the little kids and parents got involved," she said. "It is cute to see the children happy."

The fair is part of a string of events sponsored by the new College of Health and Human Sciences under the "Life Inspired" theme. Carol Dehaven, Professor of Physical Education, said the theme represents the focus of the college by showcasing the various departments and research the faculty and students are conducting.

"The whole idea of the 'Life Inspired' theme is to receive and give information of how to make healthy choices in life," she said. "The goal is to teach children that it can be fun to be active."

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College of Health and Human Sciences hosts fitness fair

Public release date: 27-Mar-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Judy Letourneau judy.letourneau@nrcresearchpress.com Canadian Science Publishing (NRC Research Press)

Ottawa, Canada (March 27, 2012) In response to an urgent call from public health, health care, child care, and fitness practitioners, the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP), with assistance from multiple partners, has developed two important sets of guidelines directed at improving the health and activity levels of infants and toddlers. The Canadian Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines for the Early Years (aged 0-4 years) and the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines for the Early Years (aged 0-4 years) are presented in the April 2012 issue of the journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism (APNM).

"The development and publication of the first evidence-informed guidelines for the early years represents an important public health advancement in Canada," says Mark Tremblay, Director of Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research (HALO) at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Research Institute, Chair of the CSEP Guidelines Steering Committee and lead author of the published papers. "The guidelines are based on the best available evidence, input from researchers, clinicians and care-providers and harmonized with international initiatives."

"As leaders in physical activity, we aim to increase the Canadian public's awareness, adoption and implementation of the new Guidelines for the Early Years," says Earl Noble, President of CSEP. "We've worked with numerous partners, including the HALO Research Group, to develop these Guidelines. CSEP is proud to provide this scientific-based guidance to assist promoting physical activity and discouraging sedentary behaviours in young Canadians."

Caregivers are advised to minimize the time infants, toddlers and preschoolers spend during waking hours sitting or being restrained (e.g., stroller, high chair). For those under 2 years, screen time (e.g., TV, computer, electronic games) is to be avoided. For children 2-4 years, screen time should be limited to less than one hour per day, and less is better. The guidelines for physical activity recommend that infants should be active several times daily through interactive floorbased play. Toddlers and preschoolers should accumulate at least 180 minutes of physical activity throughout the day.

More activity, they advise, provides greater benefits.

"Research on Canadian school-aged children has shown that obesity is rampant, physical fitness is declining, and activity levels are at an all time low. The time for early intervention has arrived," says Terry Graham, Editor, APNM. "These new Guidelines are an essential foundation for the health and ongoing development of our children."

The Guidelines for the Early Years (aged 0-4 years) are presented in French and English in the journal APNM at http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/apnm

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Health experts recommend you set your toddlers free

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25-03-2012 11:48 Koi fish Please do not forget to eat plenty of raw organic fruit (focusing on the fruit) Vegetables (especially dark leafy greens) nuts ad seeds also plenty of exercise is very important for our bodies to function properly try doing to hours a day every day of exercise or try walking two miles a day everyday to be at your healthiest

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June-Marie Raw Food and Fitness Health Koi Fish - Video

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25-03-2012 20:48 Healthy Communities - Health and Fitness program for Youth - Jaku Konbit The Health Fitness for Youth and Seniors (HFFYS) project engages youth and seniors of black and other visible and/or ethnic minority backgrounds in healthy lifestyle activities. These activities include: healthy eating, physcial activities along with business and health. Participants include 1st generation and later generations of youth from across the City of Ottawa, along with senior participants from the Caribbean and multicultural communities. All participants will have a heightened awareness of good nutrition, the value of healthy food, and the benefits of physical activities. Filmed and edited by Garmamie Garmamie@hotmail.com March 2011 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Jaku Konbit

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Healthy Communities - Health and Fitness program for Youth - Jaku Konbit - Part 1 of 2 - Video

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25-03-2012 23:10 Healthy Communities - Health and Fitness program for Youth - Jaku Konbit The Health Fitness for Youth and Seniors (HFFYS) project engages youth and seniors of black and other visible and/or ethnic minority backgrounds in healthy lifestyle activities. These activities include: healthy eating, physcial activities along with business and health. Participants include 1st generation and later generations of youth from across the City of Ottawa, along with senior participants from the Caribbean and multicultural communities. All participants will have a heightened awareness of good nutrition, the value of healthy food, and the benefits of physical activities. Filmed and edited by Garmamie Garmamie@hotmail.com March 2011 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Jaku Konbit http://www.jakukonbit.com

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Healthy Communities - Health and Fitness program for Youth - Jaku Konbit - Part 2 of 2 - Video