Tag Archives: physical activity

If You Don’t Trust the Mirror, Take a Good Look at Your Dog!

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We all know that people tend to find pets who are similar to them in some way. I have a Rhodesian Ridgeback who likes to lay around all day, refuses to be rushed and will tear the stuffing out of anybody or any thing that threatens our family. I guess I’m a little bit like that. You see, we love to compare ourselves and our pets’ good qualities but what we often overlook are the other qualities. Some of us (not me) have such high self-esteem that we don’t actually see what is in the mirror. We see the picture … Continue reading →

Breast Cancer Risk Linked to BMI

First things first: obesity is bad for you. But now, the good news: research from Harvard Medical School is showing that women who are heavier as young adults have a lower risk of developing breast cancer before they hit menopause. More bad news? After menopause, that extra weight can be one of the strongest indicators of breast cancer looming in your future. Research shows that postmenopausal women can reduce their risk of breast cancer by losing weight. Postmenopausal women can have a very hard time losing weight — even more bad news. The Harvard Medical School research helps confirm previous … Continue reading →

Your kids may NOT live as long as you

What are your kids eating? Pizza? Hamburgers? How often are they eating these things? If your child is eating lunch at school, he or she may be eating these things much more often than you think—perhaps even every day. It may surprise you to know that 1 in 5 schools in the Unites States currently serves at least one brand name fast food menu. This means, even if you’re telling your child to make good choices at school, they may in fact be eating Taco Bell, McDonald’s or something similar—and likely their choices don’t include the new “healthy” options. Childhood … Continue reading →

The Health Problem with Cooking Shows

You may be surprised I am going into food issues on a health blog, however so much of our health depends on the way we fuel our bodies. It is no secret that we are eating worse than ever, and more of it than any other generation has in the past. Home cooked meals are becoming more rare, but when they do occur even the home cook can make crucial mistakes when trying to prepare a healthy meal. Cooking shows can inspire these mistakes by labeling something “healthy”, when indeed it is not! Cooking shows have been out there for … Continue reading →

Burger King Causing A Whopper Of A Health Problem In Spain

Here’s something you don’t hear everyday: government officials are trying to force a famous fast food giant to yank a commercial–for health reasons. Spanish authorities are asking Burger King to abandon an ad campaign for its monster XXL burger – the caloric equivalent of eating 10 fried eggs – because it violates a Spanish initiative against obesity. According to the country’s Health Ministry, the fast food chain has been warned for more than a week that its commercials for the massive burger go against an agreement signed by the Spanish Federation of Hoteliers and Restaurateurs, of which Burger King is … Continue reading →

Breast Cancer and Obesity Connection

While most people know that obesity is dangerous when it comes to diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and stroke, many women are unaware that obesity has also been linked to breast cancer. The greatest risk indicator is for women that carry excess weight around the tummy and in the upper body region. Today, experts have identified that approximately 50% of all women (and men) with breast cancer are obese. One of the reasons this is believed to be true is that being able to identify lumps or abnormalities in the breasts of someone overweight is far more difficult than someone of … Continue reading →

The Effects of Obesity in Pregnancy

Obesity is a health risk, before, during and after pregnancy. According to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, obesity during pregnancy carries several risks for the mother and baby. For this reason, it is recommended that women control their weight prior to pregnancy and maintain a healthy weight gain during pregnancy. During pregnancy, there are several negative effects of obesity. Obese women have a higher rate of miscarriage than women within a healthy weight range. Complications are more common in overweight women during pregnancy. These complications include gestational diabetes and pre eclampsia. Complications are more common during delivery for … Continue reading →

Fat Cells May Prevent Cancer Fighting Mechanism

We have known for a long time now that obesity increases our cancer risk. New studies have found though that fatty tissue actually decreases the body’s ability to fight cancer. This study was performed in mice, and by decreasing their percentage body fat (with surgery or by running three to five km a day on training wheels) made them more able to fight skin cancer. Researchers at Rutgers University performing this study on mice suggest that fat cells could potentially be secreting compounds that counteract the body’s main anti-tumour defense systems. This system is called apoptosis and is pretty much … Continue reading →

Is Lap Band Surgery Safe?

In the past two years, we have been hearing about a new type of weight loss surgery called the “lap band”. For years, gastric bypass was the only surgery option that seemed to work. However, gastric bypass also comes with some high risks to infection, heavy scarring, and even death. Considered a highly invasive surgery, people who struggle with obesity have turned to gastric bypass trying to create a healthier life. Now, it appears the lap band system may be a better alternative, also successful but without as high as risks. The difference between the two surgeries is dramatic. For … Continue reading →

Excessive Weight and Driving

As I battle this slight bulge around my waistline, I started to think about how it affects me, especially how it affects other parts of my body. The truth is your body is affected by excess weight. For instance, your knees have to carry around more weight than designed to handled, which causes pain, swelling, and sometimes, problems that are more serious. The interesting thing is that in addition to excessive weight and other parts of the body, too much weight could actually be influenced by the amount of time spent in the car. At first, this seemed like a … Continue reading →