Medical Health Center

Scientists Measure Connection Between The Built Environment And Obesity In Baby Boomers

Does your neighborhood have a lot of fast food outlets, few sidewalks, and no parks? If yes, your physical neighborhood may be hampering your ability to be physically active and placing you at increased risk for obesity. According to a research study conducted in Portland, Oregon by scientists at Oregon Research Institute (ORI), neighborhoods with lower mixed-land use and higher densities of fast-food outlets were more likely to have residents who were overweight/obese. In contrast, residents living in neighborhoods with higher mixed-land use, high street connectivity, better access to public transportation, and more green and open spaces were more likely to engage in some form of neighborhood-based walking.

The study was unique in that it focused on the pre-Baby Boom/early-Baby Boom generations (ages 50-75) which will become the major demographic related to healthcare utilization in the next 20 years. By 2030, 36% of the total U. S. population (compared to 24.9% currently), will be over 50, and the numbers of those over 60 will more than double from current levels (ranging from an 82% increase in people aged 60-64 to a 126% increase in those aged 85+). Results from the study, funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, are reported in the July issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

“Findings from this study suggest the significant role that built environment plays in either positively or negatively impacting our health and/or lifestyle,” notes study lead Fuzhong Li, Ph.D. “34% of U.S. adults aged 20 and over are obese. Part of the rise in this disease may be attributed to our surroundings — for example, increased accessibility to unhealthy foods. The built environment is also creating barriers for our ability to exercise: many neighborhood areas lack parks and other recreational facilities and suburbs are often designed to discourage neighborhood walking. Simply focusing on encouraging people to change their lifestyles - to eat better and to get more exercise — is insufficient. Measures are also needed to improve features of the built environment, which are often modifiable (e.g., via changes in city zoning, development policies), to support people in making such changes.” says Li.

ORI scientists studied the built environment characteristics (land-use mix, density of fast-food outlets, street connectivity, & public transit stations, and the presence of green & open spaces) of 120 neighborhoods in Portland, Oregon. Over 1200 residents of the neighborhoods provided the researchers information on their age, gender, education, race/ethnicity, household income, alcohol & tobacco use, general health status, Body Mass Index (BMI), and eating habits. The residents’ levels of physical activity were also measured, including neighborhood walking, walking for transportation (to catch a bus), walking for household errands, and moderate or vigorous exercise. All participants were between the ages of 50 and 75.

The results showed significant associations among built-environment factors and the prevalence of overweight/obesity and various forms of physical activity in middle-aged and older adults. These findings suggest the need for public health and city planning officials to consider how modifiable neighborhood-level, built-environment characteristics can create more livable residential communities and promote active, healthy lifestyles.

Founded in 1960, Oregon Research Institute is a non-profit behavioral research center with offices in Eugene & Portland, Oregon and in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Oregon Research Institute

Massage Your Muscles To Recover After Exercise

Researchers testing the long-held theory that therapeutic massage can speed recovery after a sports injury have found early scientific evidence of the healing effects of massage.

The scientists have determined that immediate cyclic compression of muscles after intense exercise reduced swelling and muscle damage in a study using animals.

Though they say it’s too soon to apply the results directly to humans in a clinical environment, the researchers consider the findings a strong start toward scientific confirmation of massage’s benefits to athletes after intense eccentric exercise, when muscles contract and lengthen at the same time.

“There is potential that this continuing research will have huge clinical implications,” said Thomas Best, a professor of family medicine at Ohio State University and senior author of the study. “If we can define the mechanism for recovery, the translation of these findings to the clinic will dictate how much massage is needed, for how long, and when it should be performed after exercise.”

Anecdotal evidence suggests massage offers many health benefits, but actual testing of its effects at the cellular level is more difficult than one might think. In this study with rabbits, the researchers used one mechanical device to mimic movements associated with a specific kind of exercise, and a second device to follow the exercise with a simulated consistent massaging motion on the affected muscles. They compared these animals to other animals that performed the exercise movements but did not receive simulated massage. All animals were sedated during the experiments.

“We tried to mimic Swedish massage because anecdotally, it’s the most popular technique used by athletes,” said Best, who is also co-medical director of the OSU Sports Medicine Center and a team physician for the Department of Athletics. “A review of the research in this area shows that despite the existing anecdotal evidence – we know athletes use massage all the time – researchers don’t know the mechanism of how massage improves recovery after exercise and injury.”

Swedish massage combines long strokes, kneading and friction techniques on muscles and various movements of joints, according to the American Massage Therapy Association.

After the experimental exercise and massage were performed in the study, the researchers compared the muscle tissues of all of the animals, finding that the muscles in animals receiving simulated massage had improved function, less swelling and fewer signs of inflammation than did muscles in the animals that received no massage treatment after exercise.

The research is published in a recent issue of the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.

The research focused on eccentric exercise, which creates a motion similar to the way in which quadriceps in human thighs are exercised during a downhill run. In the study, the scientists focused on the tibialis anterior muscle, located on the front of the shin in humans. The simulated exercise involved continuous flexing and pointing of the toes to exert the muscle during seven sets of 10 cycles, with two minutes of rest between each set.

“It’s hard to describe exactly how the exercise intensity would be matched in a human, but this was considered a significant amount of exercise that would likely cause muscle soreness and possible damage,” Best said.

Immediately following the exercise, the affected muscle was subjected to 30 minutes of simulated massage, called compressive loading. The researchers used mathematical equations to determine the appropriate amount of force to apply to the animal muscle, which was intended to match the force Swedish massage typically places on a patient’s spine. The device used to simulate the stroking motion for the research was designed by Yi Zhao, assistant professor of biomedical engineering at Ohio State and a co-author of the study.

“We know biological tissues are sensitive to the magnitude of frequency, duration and load, so we controlled the force, frequency and time spent on massage,” Best said.

The exercise-massage cycle was repeated for four days, after which the animals’ muscle strength and tissue were examined.

The massaged muscles recovered an estimated 60 percent of the strength after the four-day trial, compared to restoration of about 14 percent of strength in muscles that were exercised and then rested.

Similarly, the massaged muscles had fewer damaged muscle fibers and virtually no sign of white blood cells, the presence of which would indicate that the body was working to repair muscle damage, when compared with the rested muscles. The massaged muscles weighed about 8 percent less than the rested muscles, suggesting that the massage helped prevent swelling, Best said.

“One fundamental question is how much of a role does inflammation play in repair to a muscle? Are we preventing inflammation and therefore improving recovery? We haven’t proven that yet,” Best said.

He is collaborating with a variety of experts across the university to continue this line of research, and hopes to cooperate with Ohio State’s Center for Integrative Medicine on future clinic-based work.

“Our goal is to use this model to understand the biological mechanisms of massage as a guide to preclinical trials to test the effects of massage on muscle recovery after exercise,” he said. “A trial in humans could look at optimal indications for massage.

“Ultimately, we could also find out how massage helps not just exercise-induced muscle injury, but swelling and pain associated with other medical conditions, as well.”

Additional co-authors on the study were Timothy Butterfield, a former postdoctoral researcher at Ohio State now with the University of Kentucky Department of Rehabilitation Sciences; Sudha Agarwal of the Ohio State College of Dentistry’s Section of Oral Biology; and Furqan Haq of Ohio State’s Division of Sports Medicine in the Department of Family Medicine.

The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Ohio State University Pomerene Chair in Family Medicine, held by Best.

Running Is Good, But Careful When Exercising In Summer Heat

Today a new study from the Stanfod University says that running is good for your health, slows aging and prolongs life. However, this does not mean you can just get out and run in summer heat. title=”Summer Run” alt=”Summer Run and Health”>

Train Like An Olympian

The 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics conjure up images of fantastically fit athletes from all over the world going for the gold. Although the United States is a sports-crazed nation, increasing obesity rates indicate that most Americans would rather be spectators than participants.

Colleen Greene, wellness coordinator with MFit, the University of Michigan Health System’s health promotion division, says there are many ways you can get off the couch and get moving without hurting yourself — even during commercial breaks. If the Olympic frenzy has inspired you to start a new fitness routine, Greene offers these tips:

Speak with a professional. By working with a personal trainer, you can learn the best ways to perform your workouts to prevent injury. A trainer can also perform a fitness assessment, which provides baseline data — such as cardiovascular capacity, percent body fat, flexibility and strength — that can help you set challenging, realistic fitness goals. Also be sure to speak with your doctor if you have any health issues; he or she can provide insight title=”Train Like An Olympian” alt=”Train Like An Olympian”>

Running Improves Elderly Health, Slows Aging

In 1984 everyone was very attracted to running and jogging. Even older people began actively to exercise and run for health. At that time, health care professionals expressed concern about elderly health, saying that they might suffer arthritis and orthopaedic injuries because of being too active. Now research shows that runnin can slow aging.

To understand how running can affect elderly health researchers from the University of California at Stanford examined 284 members of a nationwide running club and compared them with 156 healthy adults who were not involved in running activities. All participants were aged 50 and older. They were categorized by age, sex, smoking habits and Body Mass Index criteria to count running effects title=”Runnin” alt=”Running and Aging”>

Everlast Cross Conditioner XV Gives Complete Body Fitness

C Systems came up with a new exercise equipment called Everlast Cross Conditioner XV, which is claims to provide total body fitness system.

The company press releases reads that ithe Everlast Cross Conditioner XV exercise equipment was the buzz of the National Strength & Conditioning Association title=”Everlast Cross Conditioner XV” alt=”Everlast Cross Conditioner XV Fitness Equipment”>

People Who Are Obese May Carry Asthma Trait

A new study suggests that people who are obese with asthma may carry a specific trait or phenotype that causes them to have poorer asthma control than people who are not obese with asthma.

Researchers from Quebec, Canada compared pulmonary function changes, methacholine challenge scores, sputum induction cell counts, symptom perceptions, BMI/waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio of 44 obese subjects with asthma with 44 nonobese subjects with asthma.

Compared with those who were not obese, those who were obese had poorer asthma control, as well as lower total lung capacity, expiratory reserve volume, functional residual capacity, and residual volume.

Blood serum C-reactive protein and fibrinogen levels also were higher in obese subjects than nonobese subjects. Bronchial and systemic inflammatory characteristics and patterns of pulmonary function changes suggest that obese patients may have a different phenotype of asthma.

This study is published in the August issue of the journal CHEST.

About CHEST

CHEST is the official publication of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP). Each month it features cutting edge original research in the multidisciplinary specialties of chest medicine, such as pulmonology, critical care, sleep medicine, cardiorespiratory interactions, thoracic surgery, transplantation, airways disease, and more. CHEST also features Recent Advances, Topics in Practice Management, Medical Writing Tips, Pearls, Chest Imaging and Pathology for Clinicians, Contemporary Reviews, and much, much more. Editorials and communications to the editor explore controversial issues and encourage further discussion by physicians dealing with chest medicine. More than 30,000 readers worldwide turn to CHEST each month to keep up-to-date on the latest in chest-related medicine.

CHEST

Young People Who Sleep Less Have More Risk Of Being Overweight

Young people who sleep less may be more likely to be overweight,especially if they spend less time in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep,according to a report released on August 4, 2008 in Archivesof General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

The obesity epidemic in the United States is well recognized, and hasbeen occurring even in children. According to the backgroundinformation in the article, the obesity rate in children between 6 and11 years old has more than tripled in the last 30 years, and about 17%of the adolescents in the population are classified as obese oroverweight presently. Obesity is generally caused by an uneven caloricintake and energy use balance, but there are many factors that couldpotentially affect obesity that are not well understood. Previously, anassociation has been suggested between fewer hours of sleep and ahigher body mass index (BMI) in both adults and children.

To investigate this relationship in children, Xianchen Liu, M.D.,Ph.D., of the University of Pittsburgh School ofMedicine Department of Psychiatry and Western Psychiatric Institute andClinic of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and colleaguesstudied a total 335 children between the ages of 7 and 17 years. Thesubjects were observed using polysomnography for three nights in a row.Once sleep time, time spent in REM sleep, the time it took to fallasleep and other variables were observed, they were compared to a BMIcalculation made using weight and height.
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The researchers found that 14.6% of participants (49 youths) were atrisk for becoming overweight, while 13.4% (45 youths) were alreadyoverweight. Comparing these children with those who had normal weights,the higher weight children slept approximately 22 fewer minutes pernight. Additionally, their sleep efficiency, defined as the percentageof time that the subject remained asleep, was lower, their REM sleeptime was shorter, they had less REM activity even in REM sleep, andtook longer to reach their first REM sleep periods.

In all, one hour less of total sleep was associated with twice the riskof being overweight. Having one hour less of REM sleep was associatedwith three times the risk.

The authors note that there are many possible explanations for thisassociation: “Although the precise mechanisms are currently underinvestigation, the association between short sleep duration andoverweight may be attributed to the interaction of behavioral andbiological changes as a result of sleep deprivation.” For one, hormonelevels may fluctuate differently when someone experiences loss ofsleep, which could affect hunger. Additionally, the fatigue associatedwith sleep loss could lead to fatigue which reduces the amount ofexercise experienced, thereby reducing the energy expenditure of theperson.

The authors conclude that by improving sleep in this age group, some ofthe obesity experienced in this age group might be mitigated. “Giventhe fact that the prevalence of overweight among children andadolescents continues to increase and chronic sleep insufficiencybecomes more prevalent in modern society, family- and school-basedsleep interventions that aim to enhance sleep hygiene and increasesleep duration may have important public health implications for theprevention and intervention of obesity and type 2 diabetes inchildren,” they say.? “Furthermore, our results demonstrate animportant relationship between REM sleep and high BMI and obesity,suggesting that the short sleep”obesity association may be attributedto reduced REM sleep time and decreased activity during REM sleep.”

Rapid Eye Movement Sleep in Relation to Overweight in Childrenand Adolescents
Xianchen Liu, MD, PhD; Erika E. Forbes, PhD; Neal D. Ryan, MD; DanaRofey, PhD; Tamara S. Hannon, MD; Ronald E. Dahl, MD
Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2008;65(8):924-932.
ClickHere For Abstract

Written by Anna Sophia McKenney
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

Intensify Fitness With Xvest and XVest X2

AliMed sent us this review of XVest & XVest X2 that help intensify any fitness program, by strengthening core muscles and improving spinal bone density. Adjusts in length and depth- resulting in perfect alignment with center of gravity. Adjustable shoulder straps with hook and look closure improve fit and stability for proper placement of weights. Individual weight pockets reduce migration, movement, and risk of injury. Add or remove 1-lb. cylinder weights as needed.

Vests are constructed of 400 Denier Nylon and treated with antibacterial and antimicrobial agents. Sized XVest is available in 20-, 40- or 84-lb. models. Expanded quad-lateral elastic hook and loop torso straps provide a firm fit and further secure weights. XVest X2 model is a one size fits all 20-lb. capacity vest and includes 12-lbs. of weight with narrower shoulders and body panels. Neoprene torso straps with hook and loop closure secure vest in place. Includes an instructional DVD and exercise poster.

Sizing for XVest: Measure waist circumference.
X-Sm. fits 22″-28″, Sm. fits 26″-32″, Med. fits 30″-36″, Lg. fits 34″-40″, X-Lg. fits 38″-44″.

XVest (X2020) Vest: 20-lb. capacity/weights: includes 20-lbs. Beginner to intermediate vest for weight loss, sports, fitness and amateur athletes.

XVest (X4040) Vest: 40-lb. capacity/weights: includes 40-lbs. Intermediate to advanced vest to increase endurance, strength, and quickness in professional and amateur athletes.

XVest (X8484) Vest: 84-lb. capacity/weights: includes 84-lbs. Recommended for The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Joint Fire Service Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) Training. Also used for military and high altitude training and mountaineering. For advanced and professionals only.

XVest X2 w/12-lbs.
One size fits all.

Exercise Pill is No Replacement for Exercise

MU expert lists benefits of exercise that were not tested in recent ‘exercise pill’ study.

Recently, researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, a research organization focused on biology and its relation to health, published a study in the journal Cell on the results of a substance that increased exercise endurance without daily exertion when tested in mice. Media reports have described this substance as an “exercise pill,” potentially eliminating the need for exercise. Frank Booth, a University of Missouri expert on inactivity, says the “exercise pill” study did not test all of the commonly known benefits of exercise and taking the pill cannot be considered a replacement for exercise.

In the Cell paper “Exercise Mimetics” the researchers demonstrated that AMPK-PPARδ pathways, which is a cellular messenger system, can be targeted by orally active drugs to enhance training adaptation or even to increase endurance without exercise. However, Booth cautions that some of the commonly known benefits of exercise were not tested in the Cell paper including:

· Decreased resting and submaximal exercise heart rate

· Increased heart stroke volume at all exercise work loads

· Increased maximal exercise cardiac output

· Lower blood pressure and arterial stiffness

· Increased aerobic capacity

A complete list of the 26 benefits not tested in the paper is included below.

The prevention of the increased risk of chronic disease produced by lifelong physical inactivity also was not tested in the Cell paper. According to Katzmarzyk & Janssen (Can J Appl Physiol 29:90, 2004), human physical activity decreases the risk of:

* Coronary artery disease (decreases risk by 45 percent)
* Stroke (decreases risk by 60 percent)
* Hypertension (decreases risk by 30 percent)
* Colon cancer (decreases risk by 41 percent)
* Breast cancer (decreases risk by 30 percent)
* Type 2 diabetes (decreases risk by 50 percent)
* Osteoporosis (decreases risk by 59 percent)

Until targeting AMPK-PPARδ pathways by drugs is shown to have all the above listed exercise benefits in humans, it is premature to use the term “exercise mimetics” from the very limited observations of the Cell paper, Booth said. Booth’s expectation, based upon his more than 40 years of research experience in exercise and physical inactivity adaptations, is that the drugs in the Cell paper will only partially imitate exercise. In order for any “exercise pill” to counter physical inactivity, the pill must be

polygenic, or control many genes at once; therefore the Cell drugs are not likely to provide all of the

benefits of comprehensive physical activity. In Booth’s opinion, the drugs used in the Cell paper were not conclusively proven to mimic exercise, contrary to media reports.

Booth has more than 40 years of research experience in physiological, biochemical, molecular and genetic adaptations that occur during exercise. He is a professor in the MU College of Veterinary Medicine and the MU School of Medicine and a research investigator in the Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center. He is a member of the editorial boards of Journal of Applied Physiology, American Journal of Physiology: Cell Physiology, Physiological Genomics and CardioMetabolic Syndrome.

Commonly known benefits of exercise not tested in the Cell paper were:

· Decreased resting and submaximal exercise heart rate

· Increased heart stroke volume at all exercise work loads

· Increased maximal exercise cardiac output

· Lower blood pressure and arterial stiffness

* Increased aerobic capacity
* Increased strength and cross-sectional area of skeletal muscle
* Delayed loss of muscle mass and strength with aging and physical frailty
* Improved balance and coordination
* Improved flexibility
* Reduced osteoporosis
* Reduced joint stress and back pain
* Decreased gallstone disease
* Improved endothelial function
* Decreased incidence of myocardial ischemia
* Less myocardial damage from ischemia
* Decreased oxidative stress
* Decreased inflammation
* Improved immune function
* Decreased liver steatosis and fatty liver disease
* Improved insulin sensitivity and reduced risk of type 2 diabetes
* Less likelihood of depression, anxiety, stress and poor psychological well-being
* Ameliorating hyperlipidemia: lower total cholesterol, higher HDL, and decreased blood triglycerides
* Improved cognitive function in the elderly
* Increased blood flow and neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus of the hypothalamus
* Prevention of the loss of brain volume in the elderly
* Delay in decline of physiological reserve in organ systems with aging