Archive for obesity
Flexible Fitness: Walking is par for the course
Posted by: | CommentsAs the spring approaches, golfers start feeling that excitement of returning to a couple hours on the course, challenging their skill and hoping for a great season ahead.
The majority of amateur golfers choose to ride a golf cart when playing a round of golf. This season make it your goal to walk the course more often to take full advantage of the many health benefits of playing golf.
The American Heart Association recommends all individuals increase their physical activity in an effort to fight against obesity, diabetes, cancer, stroke, heart disease, osteoporosis and high blood pressure.
One method to monitor your physical activity level, endorsed by the AHA, is to achieve 10,000 steps per day. Research has shown that walking a typical 18-hole golf course is the equivalent of 10,000 to 11,000 steps and is about five miles. This means that even walking a nine-hole course gets you at least 5,000 steps and 2-1/2 miles. It is estimated that golfers who drive carts burn around 200 to 400 calories per 18 holes whereas walkers can burn 700 to even 1,000 calories.
Walking while golfing can strengthen the heart muscle, lower blood pressure and lower bad cholesterol levels. In addition, it increases your lung capacity which delivers more oxygen to your muscles producing more energy to hit the ball.
Full Article – http://www.dailynewstribune.com/lifestyle/columnists/x1514353812/Flexible-Fitness-Walking-is-par-for-the-course
Exercise ‘cuts risk of developing painful gallstones’
Posted by: | CommentsDoing lots of exercise drastically cuts the risk of developing painful gallstones, UK researchers have found.
Gallstones are common but only 30% of cases have symptoms and complications.
A University of East Anglia study of 25,000 men and women found those who were the most active had a 70% reduced risk of those complaints.
The team, writing in the European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, said one reason might be reduced cholesterol levels in the bile.
They said exercise also raised levels of “good” cholesterol and help improves movement through the gut, all of which could contribute to the lowered risk.
Full Article>>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8500827.stm
The Numbers on Canadian Fitness are in, and They’re Ugly
Posted by: | CommentsStatistics from the recently released Canadian Health Measures Survey (see details below) stating that Canadians are fatter and less fit than they were 25 years ago shouldn’t have come as any surprise. News of our expanding girth and couch-potato lifestyle has been circulating for years. Trouble is, we’ve done very little to curtail what is often referred to as an obesity epidemic.
Fast food and convenience store outlets have multiplied, time spent in front of a screen has increased, spontaneous play has all but disappeared and urban sprawl has resulted in a greater reliance on the car than on more active forms of transportation like walking or cycling.
Read more: http://www.nationalpost.com/life/story.html?id=2487440#ixzz0dp6f8kaA
