Published July 28th, 2007
in Weight Loss and Health Studies.
If someone you consider a friend becomes obese, your chances of becoming obese yourself increase by 57 percent, according to new research from Harvard and the University of California, San Diego. “Mutual friends” more than triple each other’s obesity risk: if one of the two become obese the risk to the other increases by 171 percent!
According to researchers, weight gain appears to be “socially contagious,” spreading among people in a social network.
Lead researcher Nicholas Christakis of Harvard Medical School states:
“What appears to be happening is that a person becoming obese most likely causes a change of norms about what counts as an appropriate body size. People come to think that it is okay to be bigger since those around them are bigger, and this sensibility spreads.”
James Fowler of UC San Diego adds:
“This is about people’s ideas about their bodies and their health… Consciously or unconsciously, people look to others when they are deciding how much to eat, how much to exercise and how much weight is too much.”
Fortunately, the study also found that you have a greater chance of losing weight if your friends lose weight.
According to Fowler:
“If you’re going on a diet, then you want to convince them to go on a diet. If you want to start to run or to change your exercise behavior, you also want to encourage your friends to engage in those behaviors.”
Related:
Obesity is ’socially contagious’
Published July 20th, 2007
in Anti-Aging and Health Studies.
Having lower levels of the hormone insulin in your brain may help you live longer, according to a new study from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Researchers found that mice who lacked a gene that affects insulin lived 18% longer than normal mice… even though they were bred to over-eat, be fat, and show symptoms of diabetes!
And the best way to lower “brain” insulin levels, according to the experts?
Diet and exercise.
According to lead researcher Dr. Morris White:
“This study provides a new explanation of why it’s good to exercise and not eat too much… Diet, exercise and lower weight keep your peripheral tissues sensitive to insulin.”
Higher insulin sensitivity means that the body has to produce less insulin. Less insulin production equals lower levels of the powerful hormone in the brain. So, in the end, this study just further confirms — and helps to explain — the powerful anti-aging effects of regular exercise and healthy diet.
Related:
New clue into how diet and exercise enhance longevity
15 Ways to Live Longer
Published July 9th, 2007
in Asthma.
A 40-year old breathing technique — known as the “Papworth Method” — can help to reduce asthma symptoms by a third, according to a new study from University College London. Despite its long history of use, this is the first time a controlled scientific study has proven the benefits of the method, which involves a sequence of breathing and relaxation exercises.
If you suffer from asthma you may want to incorporate the Papworth Method — or other similar techniques, such as the Buteyko Method — into your daily routine!
Learn more: Breathing exercises can cut asthma symptoms by a third
According to a new report from the US, taking echinacea may cut the risk of developing a cold and may also reduce symptoms significantly if you’ve already got a cold. One study showed that a combination of echinacea plus vitamin C cut the risk of getting a cold by 86 percent. Although this conflicts with other recent research that showed no beneficial effect when taking the popular herbal cold remedy, some experts believe that echinacea may help to boost the immune system when taken for short periods of time.
According to researchers from the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy:
“An analysis of the current evidence in the literature suggests that echinacea has a benefit in decreasing the incidence and duration of the common cold… However, large-scale randomised prospective studies controlling for variables such as species, quality of preparation and dose of echinacea, method of cold induction and objectivity of study endpoints evaluated are needed before echinacea for the prevention or treatment of the common cold can become standard practice.”
Learn more: Echinacea ‘can prevent a cold’
Published June 18th, 2007
in Exercise and Health Studies.
Performing yoga may help people suffering from depression or anxiety disorders, according to a new study from the Boston University School of Medicine. The popular exercise, which involves special postures, stretching, controlled breathing, and meditation elements, seems to be able to boost levels of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric (GABA). Low levels of this neurotransmitter are associated with depression and anxiety.
According to lead researcher Dr. Chris Streeter:
“I am quite sure that this is the first study that’s shown that there’s a real, measurable change in a major neurotransmitter with a behavioral intervention such as yoga… We showed a 27 percent increase in the brain GABA levels of those doing yoga — a really significant increase.”
Researchers believes that other mind-body practices — such as Tai Chi — may provide similar benefits.
Learn more: Yoga May Help Treat Depression, Anxiety Disorders