Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Weight Loss Reduces Incontinence In Obese Women, UCSF Study Shows


Behavioral weight-loss programs can be an effective way to reduce urinary incontinence in women who are overweight or obese, according to a study led by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco.

Volunteer participants in the Program to Reduce Incontinence by Diet and Exercise (PRIDE) experienced both significant weight loss and a significant reduction in the frequency of their incontinence episodes, according to the study. Findings appear in the January 29, 2009 issue of the "New England Journal of Medicine."

The multi-center, randomized clinical trial was conducted at UCSF, Brown University and the University of Alabama in Birmingham.

The results support the inclusion of weight reduction as a first-line treatment for incontinence for overweight and obese women, according to Leslee L. Subak, MD, lead author on the study and associate professor in the obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences; urology, and epidemiology and biostatistics departments at UCSF.

"It has been well documented that behavioral weight-loss interventions decrease the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, improve control of high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and improve mood and quality of life," Subak said. "Our results suggest that a decrease in urinary incontinence can now be added to the extensive list of health benefits associated with weight loss."

Previous studies have indicated that obesity is a strong risk factor for urinary incontinence, a condition that affects more than 13 million women in the United States and accounts for an estimated $20 billion in annual health care costs, Subak said. The PRIDE research team sought to provide evidence of the beneficial effect of a weight loss program involving diet and exercise on urinary incontinence.

The study randomly assigned 338 overweight and obese women aged 42 to 64 years with at least 10 episodes of urinary incontinence per week to either an intensive 6-month weight-loss program that included group diet, exercise, and behavioral modification sessions, or to a control group who received weight loss information but no rigorous guidance. All participants received a booklet describing current methods for improving incontinence, including exercises for pelvic floor muscles.

Study participants in the weight-loss group lost an average of 17 pounds and reduced the weekly number of incontinence episodes by almost half (47 percent). In comparison, the control group lost an average of 3 pounds per person and had a 28 percent decrease in weekly number of incontinence episodes. The study also found that weight loss was more effective for stress incontinence (involuntary urine loss with coughing, sneezing, straining, or exercise) than urge incontinence (loss of urine associated with a strong urge to void).

Among women in the weight-loss group, a higher proportion achieved a clinically relevant reduction of at least 70 percent of total stress and urge incontinence episodes per week compared to the control group. Additionally, women in the weight loss group perceived greater improvement in the frequency of their urinary incontinence, lower volume of urine lost, less of a problem with incontinence and higher satisfaction with the change in their incontinence at 6 months, compared to women in the control group.

The research team will now examine additional data to determine whether the effect of weight loss can be maintained over an 18-month period.

"Improvement in urinary incontinence may be an additional way to motivate overweight women to make healthy lifestyle choices, such as weight loss and increased physical activity, impacting public health as well as an individual's health and quality of life," Subak said.

Other investigators and co-authors on the paper were Deborah Grady, MD, MPH, of UCSF and the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Rena Wing, PhD, Miriam Hospital and Brown University; Delia Smith West, PhD, University of Arkansas; and Frank Franklin, MD, PhD, University of Alabama in Birmingham. The study was supported by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and the Office of Research on Women's Health.

NIDDK is part of the National Institutes of Health and conducts and supports basic and clinical research and research training on some of the most common, severe and disabling conditions affecting Americans. The Institute's research interests include: diabetes and other endocrine and metabolic diseases; digestive diseases, nutrition, and obesity; and kidney, urologic and hematologic diseases.

ORWH serves as the focal point for women's health research at the NIH, including setting and monitoring policy; promoting, stimulating, and supporting research; and enhancing the recruitment and advancement of women in biomedical careers.

UCSF is a leading university dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care. For further information, visit www.ucsf.edu.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

The Ultimate Workout System For Busy Dads

Busy dads around the world are raving about the results they get from only 3 short Dad Fitness workouts a week. With the innovative exercise design found in the Dad Fitness workouts busy dads everywhere are finally losing that belly fat and building lean muscle in only 3 hours a week.

In addition to 8 workout and nutrition bonuses that is included with the Dad Fitness System, for these 3 days only Dad Fitness will be including 3 new free bonuses such as The Dad Fitness Home Workout that can be done in the comfort of your own home with little equipment.



Sean Barker, a busy dad himself as well as a fitness expert to busy dads everywhere realizes that in these shaky economic times the best investment you can make is your health. "The only thing they can lose with the Dad Fitness System is that dangerous heart attack fat" that maybe robbing them out of years of healthy living that they owe to themselves and to their families.

Thanks to Dad Fitness, overweight dads around the globe can get instant access to effective workouts and proper nutrition information with just a click of a mouse.

The Dad Fitness System is available as an instant download so busy dads can get started right away on the New Year-New Dad Fitness Giveaway.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Health & Fitness Clubs Can Save Up To 30% On Fitness Equipment Parts

 

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SPORTSMITH™ is proud to announce the release of the 2009 SPORTSMITH™ Winter Edition Catalog, featuring the industry's largest selection of Fitness Equipment Parts, Treadmill Running Belts, Decks, Rollers, Strength Equipment and Fitness Products, all with express same-day shipping and Best Price Guarantee.

The 160-page catalog features additional savings on OEM and SPORTSMITH™ Brand Treadmill Running Belts, Decks and Rollers for popular brands such as Life Fitness, Star Trac, Precor and many more.

Each catalog is packed full of Maintenance Charts, Equipment Diagrams, Fitness Equipment Parts, Fitness Products and Maintenance Information for the most popular brands of fitness equipment including Life Fitness, Star Trac, StairMaster, Schwinn, Precor, Landice and many others.

The SPORTSMITH™ Winter Edition Catalog further offers expanded selections of Sports Performance Training items including Agility Dots, Agility Domes, Mini Hurdles, Agility Ladders, Lateral Power Trainer and Nutrition featuring Zola Acai Super Fruit Juice™.

Functional training items include Fitness Boxing, Balance & Stability, Exercise Mats, Speed & Agility, Sports Specific Training, Fitness Assessment, Audio Accessories, Resistance Tubing & Bands, Weighted Resistance and more.

SPORTSMITH Indoor Cycling Products include parts for Schwinn, Star Trac V2™, V-Bike™ and RevMaster™.

Innovative strength training products feature Cybex Classic and VR2 Upholstered Pads, Cable Attachment Bars, Hardware and Accessories, Kettlebells, Dumbbells, Racks and International Bars.

A variety of the most popular group exercise products include Polar® Heart Rate Monitors, SportStep, the Original Health Club Step™, SPORTSMITH Resistance Bands, Medicine and Stability Balls, Yoga and Exercise Mats.

“The SPORTSMITH mission is to supply the most popular fitness equipment parts, and personal training products in the fitness industry with the benefits of hassle-free customer service, 24/7 online ordering, express same-day shipments and Best Price Guarantee,” reported Brad Schupp, President.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Shy Teens at Higher Risk of Substance Abuse

While shyness is often thought to be relatively harmless, it can in fact have damaging effects on young people. Dr. Bernardo Carducci, Director of the Shyness Research Institute at Indiana University Southeast, finds that shy male teens, who may turn to drugs and/or alcohol to help deal with stressful social situations, are at a higher risk than their peers to develop substance abuse.

One way to help shy teens avoid these potential dangers is to encourage them to get part-time jobs at which they are forced to interact with customers.

Monday, January 19, 2009

Thyroid Awareness Month: Check Your Neck, Change Your Life

Some health experts estimate that upwards of 60 million Americans are suffering from thyroid disease -- but because thyroid problems can be tricky to recognize and diagnose for patients and doctors -- the majority of sufferers are not yet even diagnosed. In the past year, one of America's most famous celebrities, Oprah Winfrey, even went public about her own thyroid problem and resulting 40-pound weight gain.

According to thyroid patient advocate and author Mary Shomon, "Millions of people have an undiagnosed thyroid disorder, and don't realize that it is the source of the other health challenges they face. Obesity, depression, fatigue, high cholesterol, infertility, low sex drive, and many other conditions are often the direct result of undiagnosed and untreated thyroid conditions."



To help these undiagnosed thyroid sufferers finally get the help they need, Shomon, the New York Times best-selling author of "The Thyroid Diet" and popular patient-directed books, web sites, and thyroid newsletters, has put together the "Check Your Neck, Change Your Life" campaign, along with a free downloadable ebook -- all designed to help educate and empower people about how to get a proper thyroid diagnosis.






The free ebook, titled "The Thyroid Awareness Month Guide to Thyroid Disease," is available at the Thyroid Awareness Month campaign website

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Health Departments React with Alarm to New CDC Surveillance Data


Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released national sexually transmitted disease (STD) surveillance data for 2007. The report shows persistent and staggeringly high rates of STDs as well as a disproportionate burden of infections on youth, minorities, and women. Upon the release of this information, the National Coalition of STD Directors called for a renewed commitment from Congress and President-elect Obama to fight the STD epidemic in the U.S.

In 2007, more than 1.1 million Chlamydia cases were reported, which is the largest number of cases ever reported to CDC for any condition. Rates of primary and secondary (P & S) syphilis increased by 15% from 2006, and 65% of all P & S syphilis cases were among men who have sex with men (MSM). In addition, the report shows persistent and growing racial disparities in Chlamydia, Syphilis, and Gonorrhea infections. In 2007, Blacks were 19 times more likely to become infected with Gonorrhea than whites.

"This report should serve as a wake up call to policymakers and the public that STDs remain a significant public health threat in the U.S., and a scaled up investment of funds are desperately needed for prevention and treatment," stated Don Clark, NCSD's Executive Director.

CDC estimates that approximately 19 million STD infections occur each year, and nearly half are among those aged 15-24 years. African American women between 15 and 19 are particularly hard hit, accounting for the highest rates of Chlamydia and Gonorrhea of any group. The consequences of untreated STDs include infertility, pregnancy complications, cervical cancer, pelvic inflammatory disease, birth defects and an increased risk of HIV transmission.

While rates of STDs have continued to increase, federal funding for CDC's Division of STD Prevention has steadily declined since Fiscal Year 2003. This has significantly hampered the ability of STD programs in state and local health departments to deliver critical prevention and treatment services, as well as conduct surveillance. "State and local health departments are responsible for controlling this epidemic and often are the medical providers of last resort for persons with STDs. There needs to be a systematic reinvestment in the public health infrastructure to provide the necessary clinical services to diagnose and treat STDs and contact exposed partners to insure that they are treated and further spread is prevented," stated Dr. Peter Kerndt, NCSD Board Chair and STD Program Director from Los Angeles County.

"In addition to the need for a greater investment of resources for CDC's Division of STD Prevention, NCSD strongly urges Congress and President-elect Obama to support evidence-based prevention programs to prevent STDs, particularly for young people," stated Don Clark. More than $1.6 billion in federal funds have been spent on abstinence-only-until-marriage programs, which have been unable to demonstrate effectiveness at delaying sexual activity, or reducing rates of STDs, including HIV/AIDS, or unintended pregnancy. Clark continued, "It is time to end these ineffective and harmful programs, and invest in science based approaches to STD prevention, including comprehensive sex education."

Friday, January 16, 2009

A World First In Gyms


With unemployment figures on the up and doom and gloom an everyday part of the job market, a gym chain popular with celebrities is bucking the trend in a most unusual way by employing five new members of staff as human weights. The 30% increase in the workforce is down to the launch of a new piece of weight training apparatus, the only one of its kind in the world, that uses real life people instead of dumbbells, being launched in GYMBOX's new gym in Bank, EC1.

The human weights, which enable users to flex and curl by 'pumping' human beings, which will be available from 19th January in GYMBOX Bank, are being introduced to motivate gym-goers by allowing them to visualise what they are lifting. Experts in sports psychology agree that visualisation is a significant factor in improving performance and human weights are as visual as it can get.

The human weights are the latest in a long line of unusual initiatives from GYMBOX, who's users include the likes of Orlando Bloom and Christian Slater. The gym were famous for introducing Boob Aerobics to the UK (the workout that can help increase bust size), Chav fighting (self defence for the modern world) and the WAG workout, a course on how to look every inch the trophy footballers wife (instructed by a real-life WAG).

Unlike regular dumbbells, the human weights will come with an optional 'motivation feature' where each human weight will shout words of encouragement to ensure muscles are worked to the max, at the gym goer's request. Otherwise they will just keep quiet and keep still as they are lifted.

For more Information Go To: GYMBOX


Thursday, January 15, 2009

More Americans Now Classified as Obese Than Overweight

The number of Americans classified as obese now outweighs the number of people defined as overweight, according to a report recently released by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Read More Here:
More Americans Now Classified as Obese Than Overweight

MyFitnessTrainer.com Gives Away 50 Free Memberships to Make New Year's Resolutions Come True in 2009

In stressful financial times, physical health and fitness are all the more important. MyFitnessTrainer.com strives to help with affordable online fitness training and a supportive web community. MyFitnessTrainer.com is awarding 50 free weight loss memberships to dieters nationwide this New Year.

The free 6-month memberships will be awarded to the first 50 people who share their weight loss goals and challenges on the MyFitnessTrainer.com fitness forum.


MyFitnessTrainer.com Gives Away 50 Free Memberships to Make New Year's Resolutions Come True in 2009

Coca-Cola Sued Over Deceptive VitaminWater Claims

"A class action lawsuit was filed late yesterday in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against the Coca-Cola Company alleging that Coca-Cola has used deceptive advertising in marketing its VitaminWater line of beverages. The plaintiff is represented by Whatley Drake & Kallas, LLC ('WDK'), Reese Richman LLP, and the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI)."

Read More Here:
Coca-Cola Sued Over Deceptive VitaminWater Claims: