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The Cost of Obesity (Higher for Women vs. Men)

Sep22

Below is part of an interesting article that I found relative to obesity. When people slap on a price of being obese, they normally relate that to the money spent on food – there’s more to it. The interesting part is that there’s a difference between men and women.

George Washington University researchers added in things like employee sick days, lost productivity, even the need for extra gasoline — and found the annual cost of being obese is $4,879 for a woman and $2,646 for a man.

That’s far more than the cost of being merely overweight — $524 for women and $432 for men, concluded the report being released Tuesday, which analyzed previously published studies to come up with a total.

Why the difference between the sexes? Studies suggest larger women earn less than skinnier women, while wages don’t differ when men pack on the pounds. That was a big surprise, said study co-author and health policy professor Christine Ferguson.

Two-thirds of Americans are either overweight or obese, and childhood obesity has tripled in the past three decades. Nearly 18 percent of adolescents now are obese, facing a future of diabetes, heart disease and other ailments.Looking at the price tag may help policymakers weigh the value of spending to prevent and fight obesity.

A major study published last year found medical spending averages $1,400 more a year for the obese than normal-weight people. Tuesday’s report added mostly work-related costs — things like sick days and disability claims — related to those health problems.

It also included a quirky finding, a study that calculated nearly 1 billion additional gallons of gasoline are used every year because of increases in car passengers’ weight since 1960.

Source:  Chicago Tribune

Kelly Brook Unveils Her Near-Naked Reebok Billboard

Aug4

Model Kelly Brook unveiled a nude billboard of herself to promote Reebok EasyTone trainers. The 30-year-old, who used to date Jason Statham and Billy Zane, launched the daring ad outside Battersea Power Station in south London. The huge billboard shows her lying down wearing nothing but a pair of trainers.

Reebok EasyTone trainers promise to tighten and tone the bottom half of your body by simply walking in these shoes.

On the Horizon – Footlong Cheeseburgers?

Jul19

Foot-long hot dog – you now have a buddy.

Burger chains Carl’s Junior and Hardee’s are testing a foot-long cheeseburger. It has three burgers and three slices of cheese, and that adds up to 850 calories.

Weird, I thought America was straying towards the healthy path by cutting down sodium and sugar regulated by the FDA! 

Source:  ABC News

Does the 5 Second Rule Still Apply?

Jul16

The controversial “five-second rule” — the one that allows us to eat dropped food if it’s quickly scooped off the floor has been proven to be invalid, according to Clemson University food scientist Paul Dawson, who stirred up the long-debated issue in this month’s National Geographic.

Dawson and his students made a strong case for the “zero-second rule.” They found that salmonella and other bacteria can live up to four weeks on dry surfaces and be immediately transferred to food.

The zero-tolerance standard, however, conflicts with the findings of two Connecticut College student researchers who sprinkled apple slices and Skittles candies in the college dining hall and snack bar for five, 10, 30 and 60-second intervals. The apple slices picked up bacteria after one minute; nearly five minutes elapsed before the Skittles attracted any.

Still, most researchers agree that the critical thing is not time, but location. For example, the pavement is cleaner than the kitchen floor in terms of the types of germs that cause illnesses, said Dr. Harley Rotbart, a professor of microbiology and pediatric infectious diseases at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

“The kitchen floor, however, is probably a zero-second zone because the bacteria from uncooked meat and chicken juices are more hazardous than the ‘soil’ bacteria outside,” said Rotbart. The bathroom floor is another zero-second zone because “it’s a great potential source of bacteria and shorter-lived viruses that can cause gastrointestinal illness if ingested,” said Rotbart, the author of “Germ Proof Your Kids.”

  • 100 billion: The number of bacteria in our mouths
  • 100 trillion: The number of bacteria in our gastrointestinal tracts
  • 2.5 billion: The number of bacteria found in one gram of garden soil
  • 7.2 billion: The number of germs in the average kitchen sponge
  • 25,000: The number of germs, per square inch, on an office telephone
  • 49: The number of germs, per square inch, on a toilet seat

Source: Chicago Tribune

How FAT is YOUR STATE?

Jun29

According to a new study, adult obesity rates increased in 28 states in the past year, and declined only in the District of Columbia (D.C.), according to F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America’s Future 2010, a report from the Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). More than two-thirds of states (38) have adult obesity rates above 25 percent. In 1991, no state had an obesity rate above 20 percent.

The report highlights troubling racial, ethnic, regional and income disparities in the nation’s obesity epidemic. For instance, adult obesity rates for Blacks and Latinos were higher than for Whites in at least 40 states and the District of Columbia; 10 out of the 11 states with the highest rates of obesity were in the South — with Mississippi weighing in with highest rates for all adults (33.8 percent) for the sixth year in a row; and 35.3 percent of adults earning less than $15,000 per year were obese compared with 24.5 percent of adults earning $50,000 or more per year.

“Obesity is one of the biggest public health challenges the country has ever faced, and troubling disparities exist based on race, ethnicity, region, and income,” said Jeffrey Levi, PhD, executive director of TFAH. “This report shows that the country has taken bold steps to address the obesity crisis in recent years, but the nation’s response has yet to fully match the magnitude of the problem. Millions of Americans still face barriers – like the high cost of healthy foods and lack of access to safe places to be physically active – that make healthy choices challenging.”

To read the complete study, click here.

See State by State Adult Obesity Rankings below:

1.Mississippi*** (33.8%); 2. (tie) Alabama (31.6%); and Tennessee*** (31.6%); 4. West Virginia (31.3%); 5. Louisiana* (31.2%); 6.Oklahoma*** (30.6%); 7. Kentucky* (30.5%); 8. Arkansas* (30.1%); 9. South Carolina (29.9%); 10. (tie) Michigan (29.4%); and North Carolina*** (29.4%); 12. Missouri* (29.3%); 13. (tie) Ohio (29.0%); and Texas* (29.0%); 15. South Dakota*** (28.5%); 16. Kansas*** (28.2%); 17. (tie) Georgia (28.1%); Indiana* (28.1%); and Pennsylvania*** (28.1%); 20. Delaware (27.9%); 21. North Dakota** (27.7%); 22. Iowa* (27.6%); 23. Nebraska (27.3%); 24. (tie) Alaska (26.9%); and Wisconsin (26.9%); 26. (tie) Illinois* (26.6%); and Maryland (26.6%); 28. Washington*** (26.3%); 29. (tie) Arizona (25.8%); and Maine** (25.8%); 31. Nevada (25.6%); 32. (tie) Minnesota (25.5%); New Mexico*** (25.5%); and Virginia (25.5%); 35. New Hampshire* (25.4%); 36. (tie) Florida** (25.1%); Idaho (25.1%); and New York (25.1%); 39. (tie) Oregon (25.0%); and Wyoming (25.0%); 41. California* (24.4%); 42. New Jersey (23.9%); 43. Montana*** (23.5%); 44. Utah* (23.2%); 45. Rhode Island* (22.9%); 46. Vermont*** (22.8%); 47. Hawaii** (22.6%); 48. Massachusetts* (21.7%); 49. District of Columbia. (21.5%); 50. Connecticut (21.4%); 51. Colorado (19.1%)

 

Bad News for Short People

Jun9

Short people are at greater risk for heart disease than tall people, according to a new study.

Tuula Paajanen of the University of Tampere in Finland analyzed 52 studies involving more than 3 million people and found that short adults were about 1.5 times as likely to develop heart disease and to die from it than tall people. This was true for both men and women, the researchers reported in the European Heart Journal.

Anyone shorter than 5-foot-3 was considered short. Anyone taller than 5-foot-7 was considered tall.

Although there have been previous studies indicating that short people might be at increased risk for heart disease, the new analysis is the first systematic review of the medical literature. The researchers hope the findings will spur more research to try to explain why short people may be at increased risk. It could be because they have smaller arteries supplying blood to their hearts, which get clogged more easily.

Whatever the explanation, the researchers say the findings suggest that doctors should include shortness as another risk factor for heart disease, similar to obesity.

Source:  Washington Post

Super Stressed? Check Your Surroundings.

May20

I know many people who tend to stress about everything, myself included, occassionally. Somtimes you may feel like there is no way to escape the stress in your world, but frankly, the minute details of your every day life can be tweeked to push you towards a stress free life. Check out the article I found below, the author made some great points!

Studies suggest that one in three people in the U.S. are living with extreme stress and an estimated 67 percent of all doctor visits are stress-related. The best way to reduce the stress in your life is to evaluate your environment. Heidi Herald, who is an employee wellness consultant for Highmark, suggests reconsidering these five areas to see how you can lessen the stress in your world.

Sounds:

Too many background noises can contribute to the stress and tension of your day (ringing phones, workplace chatter, television volume, computer games). If the sounds at work or home are causing you stress, take control. Begin by turning down your own sounds and noises like cell phones, chatter and radios, and kindly ask others to do the same.

Sights:

Poor lighting can cause eye strain and increase fatigue. Better lighting can be an instant mood booster. Experiment with full spectrum bulbs at your desk or try working by a window, if possible. Also, try to get some daily exposure to the sun.

Surroundings:

A cluttered, messy or disorganized work or home space can be stressful and distracting. Take the time to develop a system that works for you. Try to create a relaxing, inviting and pleasant vibe in both places. This will not only keep you calm, but will be welcoming and tranquil for any guests.

Systems:

We all know that systems and technology can make life easier, but often offer too many interruptions, information overload and stressful accessibility. Make sure to give yourself a technology break on a regular basis, take a walk outside, chat with a friend or co-worker or practice some quiet meditation. Log off and disconnect whenever possible.

Space:

Find a space at home, work or in between where you can breathe deeply, mediate, visualize or practice other stress management techniques. Spending time in nature, even looking at nature pictures, has been shown to reduce stress levels.

Source:  Chicago Tribune

Provenge – the FIRST FDA Approved Cancer Vaccine

Apr30

How exciting! I just read an article this morning which introduces Provenge, a vaccine that helps the immune system fight tumors, specifically related to prostate cancer. Read up below!

WASHINGTON: A first-of-a-kind prostate cancer treatment that uses the body’s immune system to fight the disease received federal approval Thursday, offering an important alternative to more taxing treatments like chemotherapy.

Dendreon Corp.’s Provenge vaccine trains the immune system to fight tumors. It’s called a “vaccine” even though it treats disease rather than prevents it.

Doctors have been trying to develop such a therapy for decades, and Provenge is the first to win approval from the Food and Drug Administration.

“The big news here is that this is the first immunotherapy to win approval, and I suspect within five to ten years immunotherapies will be a big part of cancer therapy in general,” said Dr. Phil Kantoff, an oncologist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute who helped run the studies of Provenge.

Experimental vaccines to treat other cancers — including the deadly skin disease melanoma and an often fatal childhood tumor called neuroblastoma — are already in late-stage development.

These are the main points I took from the article ….

  • Provenge offers an important fourth approach by directing the body’s natural defense mechanisms against the disease.
  • The treatment is intended for prostate cancer that has spread elsewhere in the body and is not responding to hormone therapy.
  • It will serve as an addition to current medical practice, not a replacement.
  • Company studies showed that taking Provenge added four months to the lives of men with advanced prostate cancer.
  • Dendreon said Thursday the drug will cost $93,000 per patient.
  • Analysts expect the product to reach blockbuster sales status — over $1 billion — by 2016, as the company expands production capacity.
  • Each regimen of Provenge must to tailored to the immune system of the patient using a time-consuming formulation process.
  • Doctors collect special blood cells from each patient that help the immune system recognize cancer as a threat. The cells are mixed with a protein found on most prostate cancer cells and another substance to rev up the immune system. The resulting “vaccine” is given back to the patient as three infusions two weeks apart.
  • About 192,000 new cases of prostate cancer were diagnosed in 2009, and 27,000 men died of the disease, according to the FDA.
  • Prostate cancer most often affects older men.
  • Side effects of Provenge are relatively mild, such as chills, fatigue, fever, and headache.
  • By comparison, side effects of chemotherapy typically include hair loss, nausea, anemia and diarrhea.

To read the complete article, click here.

Study: Chocolate Could Reduce Risk of Heart Attack or Stroke by 40%

Mar30

Yes, my eyes lit up too when I saw the title of this article!

LONDON – German researchers followed nearly 20,000 people over eight years, sending them several questionnaires about their diet and exercise habits.

They found people who had an average of six grams of chocolate per day – or about one square of a chocolate bar – had a 39 percent lower risk of either a heart attack or stroke. The study is scheduled to be published Wednesday in the European Heart Journal.

Previous studies have suggested dark chocolate in small amounts could be good for you, but this is the first study to track its effects over such a long period of time. Experts think the flavonols contained in chocolate are responsible. Flavonols help the muscles in blood vessels widen, which leads to a drop in blood pressure.

“It’s a bit too early to come up with recommendations that people should eat more chocolate, but if people replace sugar or high-fat snacks with a little piece of dark chocolate, that might help,” said Brian Buijsse, a nutritional epidemiologist at the German Institute of Human Nutrition in Nuthetal, Germany, the study’s lead author.

The people tracked by Buijsse and colleagues had no history of heart problems, had similar habits for risk factors like smoking and exercise, and did not vary widely in their Body Mass Index.

Doctors also warned that eating large amounts of chocolate could lead to weight gain, a major risk factor for heart problems and strokes.

9 Foods That Reduce Stress Levels

Mar25

Reach for these items next time you’re feeling under pressure, under the weather, or just too close to that breaking point. Munching on these stress-free foods will help pull you back into the game.

Oranges

A German study in Psychopharmacology found that vitamin C helps reduce stress and return blood pressure and cortisol to normal levels after a stressful situation. Vitamin C is also well-known for boosting your immune system.

  

 

Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes can be particularly stress-reducing because they can satisfy the urge you get for carbohydrates and sweets when you are under a great deal of stress. They are packed full of beta-carotene and other vitamins, and the fiber helps your body to process the carbohydrates in a slow and steady manner.

Dried Apricots

Apricots are rich in magnesium, which is a stress-buster and a natural muscle relaxant as well.

Almonds, Pistachios & Walnuts

Almonds are packed with B and E vitamins, which help boost your immune system, and walnuts and pistachios help lower blood pressure.

Turkey

Turkey contains an amino acid called L-tryptophan. This amino acid triggers the release of serotonin, which is a feel-good brain chemical. This is the reason why many people who eat turkey feel relaxed, or even tired, after eating it. L-Tryptophan has a documented calming effect.

 

Spinach

A deficiency in magnesium can cause migraine headaches and a feeling of fatigue. One cup of spinach provides 40 percent of your daily needs for magnesium.

Salmon

Diets high in omega-3 fatty acids protect against heart disease. A study from Diabetes & Metabolism found that omega-3s keep the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline from peaking.

Avocados

The monounsaturated fats and potassium in avocados help lower blood pressure. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute says that one of the best ways to lower blood pressure is to consume enough potassium (avocados have more than bananas).

Green Vegetables

Broccoli, kale, and other dark green vegetables are powerhouses of vitamins that help replenish our bodies in times of stress.

 

More stress-busting tips:

- Exercise reguarly

- Drink an energy shake for breakfast

- Eat small meals throughout the day, which will keep your blood sugar stable (when blood sugar is low, mental, physical, and emotional energy decreases, and stress increases).