Fitness Level Effects Likelihood Of Falling

"whoopsie Daisy"

Every year about 19,000 people die from falls and an estimated eight million seek treatment in emergency rooms annually. Researchers explored the protective effect of exercise by analyzing data from people taking part in the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study from 1970 to 1989 and in a follow-up survey conducted in 1990. The survey asked whether they had fallen in the past year and, if so, what they were doing when they fell. Participants also took a treadmill test and answered questions about how much aerobic exercise they got per week.

Twenty percent of the 10,615 participants, aged 20 to 87, reported falling in the previous year. Of those, 15 percent fell while walking. In general, findings indicate that people need about two hours of exercise a week to reduce the risk of falls. Women were especially prone to fall while walking, and their fitness levels appeared to make little difference. Fitness levels in men were important, however: Men with low fitness levels were 2.2 times more likely to fall than men with high fitness levels.

Check out some of the great functional training exercises that our Personal Trainers can teach you that will help you avoid long-term injuries.

http://worcesterfitness.com/personal-training.php

Center for the Advancement of Health, June 8, 2010, news release.

Which Came First – the Depression or the Weight Gain?

A new study investigated whether, over time, obesity is associated with change in depressive symptoms or if baseline symptoms of depression are associated with change in body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference. Using latent growth curve modeling to examine data from years 5, 10, 15, and 20 of the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study, researchers assessed depressive symptoms with the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale. People who reported symptoms of depression, like feeling sad or hopeless, gained weight more rapidly over a 15-year period and accrued more belly fat than those who appeared to be happier.  Those who were obese initially may have been depressed but did not become more depressed over time.

Depression can cause fatigue and lead to inactivity and increased food consumption. Researchers say there could be some third underlying factor that is actually causing both the depression and the obesity. Chronic stress is the mediator – chronic stress arousal leads to depressed affect, which then leads to excess weight gain. The stress hormone cortisol, for example, stimulates and promotes fat storage, especially in the abdominal area, since the body has evolved to store calories during times of stress.

Needham BL, Epel ES, Adler NE, Kiefe C. (2010). Trajectories of change in obesity and symptoms of depression: the CARDIA study. American Journal of Public Health. 100(6):1040-6.

Exercise May Be Effective Addiction Treatment

Diseases like alcoholism disrupt normal daily circadian rhythm, which leads to disrupted sleep patterns. For this study, researchers tested the effect that exercise (in the form of wheel-running) had on hamsters’ alcohol intake. The more the hamsters ran, the less they consumed alcohol. Hamsters that ran less had a greater craving for and consumption of alcohol, suggesting that exercise may be an effective, beneficial, and non-pharmacologic treatment option for alcoholism or other forms of addiction, researchers claim. Exercise seems to reduce alcohol consumption by stimulating brain reward pathways (dopamine) in a manner similar to alcohol. Researchers suggest that, like all rewards, exercise should be used in moderation, and not interfere with an individual’s normal daily functioning.

(2010). Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.

Older Adults Weight-Struggle Could Mean Diabetes Diagnosis

Nearly 70 percent of adults over age 60 are overweight or obese, putting them at higher risk of diabetes and other diseases, a new study indicates. The study followed more than 4,000 men and women for 18 years and found that those who were overweight, measured by a body mass index (BMI) of 25-29, or obese, with a BMI of 30 or higher, were more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.

(2010). Journal of the American Medical Association.