Tag Archives: physical activity

Physical Activity Reduces Risk of Dementia and Alzheimer’s

After just writing about the importance of seeing fitness as something that encompasses body, mind and spirit, I wasn’t surprised to read about research just published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, which indicate that regular exercise may help prevent cognitive problems.  Specifically it’s found that those who remain physically fit during the mid-life years were almost 40% less likely to develop Alzheimer’s or dementia. Previous research has found that regular exercise can prevent a host of other health problems, such as arthritis, certain types of cancer and stroke. It’s also been found that an individual’s level of health during … Continue reading →

Get Up and Get Moving

In the world of fitness and health, there is a lot of talk about the need to remain physically active.  So you might think that as long as you’re getting in half an hour of exercise everyday, physical activity levels are being met. Not so fast.  There may be more to it than this.  In fact, a new study looks at women in particular and finds that despite exercising; too much sitting doesn’t reduce the risk of certain health conditions.  In other words, you are no better off in lowering the chance of diabetes, premature death, obesity and cardiovascular diseases. … Continue reading →

Curbing Obesity In Children

I read an article today that said that in a study of 8717 children between the ages of 4 and 9 showed higher rates of obesity in girls from single parent families. They said those same girls watched more televisions, ate more foods high in fat and sugar and less fruits and vegetable than girls in dual parent households. They authors of this study were quick to point out that this doesn’t mean single parents are doing a bad job, just that this is the result of the stress of single parenting, especially single parenting girls. Girls overall are more … Continue reading →

TV: Worse Than We Thought

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Those darn scientists are at it again. It seems that ever since I was a kid, the scientific community has been on a crusade to do away with television. For the record, I definitely do not think a parent should use “Dora the Explorer” as a babysitter for their young ones. On the other hand, I also do not think your child will turn into a zombie if he happens to watch one cartoon. For what it’s worth, a recent study of 1,300 Canadian toddlers maintains that TV viewing is more harmful to a child’s developing brain than what was … Continue reading →

Obesity Affecting Our Police Force

Obesity has become such a problem in America that it’s even affecting our police force. I recently read a story about police officers who are failing their physicals, having to retake them. To be honest, considering what we expect from police officers I was very surprised. Their physical is not that difficult, in light of what we expect them to do for our cities and towns, in protecting us. These fitness exams consisted of push-ups, one and a half mile run, obstacle course and a flexibility test. For someone who is going out to serve and protect, this really doesn’t … Continue reading →

Gardening With Your Preschooler: Supplies

Are you planning to garden with your preschooler this summer? Gardening can seem like an activity that requires a lot of supplies. What supplies are actually necessary to have a fun time in the garden with your preschooler? Very few, actually. We like to bring a small trowel into the garden. Preschoolers like to dig, and you can set your child to work digging up a garden bed, moving small rocks, and looking for worms. The worms, woodbugs and soil are the main attraction here. Watering cans are also very popular. Choose a child-sized one with very small holes or … Continue reading →

Is My Pet Overweight?

I’m not a vet, and I don’t play one on TV. But I do work with cats, live with dogs and cats, and read and write a lot about animals. One question that comes up over and over is this: “Is my pet overweight?” I get asked that at least once a week at the cats-only boarding facility. And I worry about it for my own pets, too! My dog Lally regulates her eating well — she only eats when she’s hungry. If I left food out all the time, she probably wouldn’t gain a pound. My dog Moose, on … Continue reading →

The Right Scent May Help Fight Obesity

Your nose may be key in helping fight obesity. Aromatherapy isn’t anything new. For centuries, people have been using scents to affect mental and physical health! When it comes to your stomach, the right scent can stimulate appetite or help ease digestive issues. The wrong scent can put you off your feed, so to speak. A new study from NIZO Food Research in the Netherlands has found that scents may also help trigger a feeling of fullness in your brain — and that might just help curb overeating. Some scents are better than others at triggering that full feeling. Scents … Continue reading →

Do Your Kids Need More Exercise?

Health experts would answer that question with a rousing “yes,” and now they have even more evidence to support their assertions. A new study found that more than half a million 4-year-olds are obese. Even more disturbing, according to researchers, is the finding that nearly a third of American Indian children are obese. The study’s lead author noted that the findings are “of major concern” among children so young given that obese individuals are at very high risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, cancers, joint diseases and other health problems. If you are concerned that your child may be … Continue reading →

Obesity a Problem with Preschoolers, New Study Says

A new study was released that shows that one out of every five four-ear-olds is obese. This information is startling even to the researchers. Furthermore, there was a lot of disparity with obesity and race, even at this early preschool age. Here is what the researchers found. More than half a million four-year-olds are obese Obesity is the most common in American Indian children, who are twice as likely to be obese as are white children. Obesity is also prevalent among four-year-olds who are of Hispanic or black heritage. The study is an important one because obesity in early childhood … Continue reading →