Can Exercising Reduce Your Risk of Breast Cancer?

A new study suggests that women who participate in vigorous exercise can lessen their risk of contracting breast cancer. The new research was conducted by the National Cancer Institute and gives post-menopausal women hope for healthier years ahead. The study followed more than 32,000 women who were enrolled in a Breast Cancer Detection Demonstration. Each woman provided answers to a questionnaire asking about their physical activity (including everyday tasks like housework, work related activity and leisure activity) over the course of a year. Researchers then performed statistical tests to estimate the relative risk of post-menopausal breast cancer linked to physical … Continue reading →

Motivating Your Kids to Move

These days that might be tougher than finding a TV commercial that’s not politically motivated. For millions of kids the idea of putting down video game controls and picking up a bike to ride is a foreign concept. This, despite the fact that the federal government recently announced new fitness recommendations for all Americans. The guidelines stipulate at least 60 minutes a day of moderate or vigorous activity for children ages 6 to 17. Federal officials also noted that parents should be creating opportunities for their children to be physically active and encouraging them to consistently participate in those activities. … Continue reading →

A New Way to Fight Childhood Obesity

Perhaps the American government could learn a lesson from South Korea… on how to curtail childhood obesity. In a plan that has shocked some families, South Korea’s health ministry officials recently announced that the government is planning to help parents of obese children pay for health club memberships and other activities that can help kids lose weight. The announcement comes on the heels of a new report, which reveals that the rate of childhood obesity in South Korea has tripled over the past three years due to a changing diet of fatty foods and a more sedentary lifestyle. According to … Continue reading →

Gyms Catering to Members with Health Issues

Are you getting the most out of your gym? When my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer a few years ago her doctor recommended she follow a regimented fitness program. She started going to a run-of-the-mill gym in her very small hometown and worked out with a trainer. However, she never quite felt comfortable with the exercise routine and she ended up canceling her gym membership less than a year later. I always thought that had she found a better gym (unfortunately there are only two gyms in the city she lives in) she would have stuck with the program. … Continue reading →

Fall Sports and Your Child

Now that school is back in session the number of sports related injuries is on the rise. Pediatricians say they are seeing a ton of ankle injuries among young athletes now that football and soccer season has gotten underway. Most include sprains and broken bones, and in most cases, doctors say the injuries could have been prevented. If your child is an avid athlete doctors recommend reviewing the following tips in an effort to avoid unwanted trips to the emergency room: BE PROACTIVE Shoes. Doctors recommend purchasing the proper shoe for the specific sport your child is participating in. Different … Continue reading →

Jump for Joy… and Stronger Bones

Here’s some news that will have you jumping for joy: A new study shows that simple jumping can significantly improve bone and muscle strength. The 8-month long study of 99 adolescents found boys that participated in a 10-minute workout consisting of tuck jumps, star jumps, side lunges and skipping significantly improved whole body bone mass while the girls’ in the study experienced improvements in the bone mass at the hip and spine. The teens’ results were compared to those of students who participated in a workout regime void of jumping. The kids in the jumping group gradually increased the complexity … Continue reading →

Avoiding Classic College Weight Gain

If your child just started classes at the University of California-San Diego he or she has a better chance of avoiding the dreaded “Freshman Fifteen.” At least that’s what school administrators maintain. For the first time ever the popular college is pulling out all the stops to help students avoid packing on the pounds while on campus. The school recently unveiled its Weight Loss Solutions program–a new wellness, weight-management and counseling program designed to get freshman moving. The program addresses the problems most students face when entering college and living on their own for the first time in their lives. … Continue reading →

New York Ramping Up Fitness for School Kids

School administrators in New York want to promote a “culture of fitness” among students, but the new program they have in place to do so is raising some eyebrows. Last year state lawmakers passed legislation (which went into effect this month) requiring public schools outside of New York City to collect and report a summary of students’ weights and body mass indexes (BMIs) as part of an effort to combat childhood obesity. According to the state health commissioner: “Whatever you can measure, you can improve and by requiring the measurement of body mass index, I think we’ll see some improvement.” … Continue reading →

Kids and Fitness—One Sport or Many?

It’s a question I pondered recently when enrolling my 4-year-old in soccer. She loves playing soccer, but she also loves tumbling, swimming, golfing, and shooting hoops. So do I have her stick with a single sport at an early age, which can lead to advanced skill level and potentially a college scholarship (or if I want to dream bigger… success akin to Olympic gold medal winning gymnast Shawn Johnson, who began tumbling when she was just 3 years old) or do I enroll her in several different classes to expose her to a variety of activities? There are pros and … Continue reading →

How to Get Your Kids in Shape

In a previous blog I detailed Olympic gold medallist Michael Phelps’ efforts to motivate kids to get moving. As part of his new mission to get kids interested in physical activity the swimming super star is making trips to community pools around the nation to highlight the value of fitness. Of course, the 23-year-old swimming phenom won’t be visiting every public pool in the United States so if you want to get your children off the couch and outside to burn off calories then you’re going to have to do some of the work yourself. This might be especially challenging … Continue reading →