Light physical activity reverses the damage of sedentary behavior in children
“Light physical activity has the potential to reverse the risks associated with increased cholesterol levels caused by sedentary childhood lifestyles, according to a study led by Dr. Andrew Agbaje from the University of Exeter.”
Moderate Intensity Exercise May Improve Cognition Following a Night of Poor Sleep
“Moderate intensity exercise may improve cognitive performance (CP) after a poor night of sleep, according to research published in Physiology and Behaviour. Although exercise could be used as a positive intervention for individuals who do not get adequate sleep, more research needs to be done. “We know from existing research that exercise improves or maintains our cognitive performance, even when oxygen levels are reduced. But this is the first study to suggest it also improves CP after both full and partial sleep deprivation, and when combined with hypoxia,” said Joe Costello, PhD, from the School of Sport, Health & Exercise Science (SHES) at the University of Portsmouth, in a press release.”
Minimizing stress and maximizing health can make the holiday season more jolly
“Between economic struggles, political division and life’s everyday pressures, the year has already been stressful enough for many people. And now, here come the holidays: food and beverage temptations, crowded airports and traffic jams, and family gatherings, which can be great but maybe not always. “The holidays can be a source of joy and wonder,” said Dr. Alan Koenigsberg, a psychiatrist in private practice and a volunteer clinical professor of psychiatry at the UT Southwestern Medical School in Dallas. “But they can also be a source of pain and stress.” Before the holiday season, said Dr. Christopher Bauchman, a clinical psychologist in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, “I like to give people homework exercises, things that they can practice. So if something does pop up, you feel like you’re more prepared.””
Task Force Recommends Exercise to Prevent Falls in Older Adults
“Dec. 14, 2023, News Staff —Family physicians are encouraged to comment on drafts of an updated recommendation and evidence review on preventing falls in older people by Jan. 8, 2024. The draft recommends, at a “B” level, offering exercise interventions to prevent falls in community-dwelling adults age 65 years or older who are at increased risk for falls. It also recommends, at a C level, that clinicians individualize the decision to offer multifactorial interventions to prevent falls in this population. Clinicians should talk with their patients and take into account factors such as a history of and reasons behind previous falls, comorbidities, and the patient’s values and preferences.”
US employers hire virtual providers as weight-loss drug gatekeepers
“Dec 13 (Reuters) – U.S. employers facing surging costs from paying for Novo Nordisk’s (NOVOb.CO) Wegovy and similar obesity drugs are hiring virtual healthcare providers like Teladoc (TDOC.N) to implement weight-loss management programs, a dozen consultants, pharmacy benefit managers, analysts, and providers told Reuters. These programs may require diet and exercise before granting access to the medicines, and in some cases will become employees’ sole covered option for medications like Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s (LLY.N) rival therapy Zepbound, which have list prices of more than $1,000 a month.”
I added a two-minute power pause into my day—this is what happened to my stress levels
“Like most people, I struggle to put aside time for myself, especially since becoming a parent. Making time for my own self-care sometimes feels like another task on my lengthy to-do list. I know that finding time to decompress can help with wellbeing, but it’s simply impossible for me to do an hour-long meditation every day. However, research shows that even brief mindful moments can improve mood and attention span. Could a two minute breather really make a meaningful difference to my day? Here’s what I found.”
Your Brain Is Nicer to Others When You’re Under Less Stress
“KEY POINTS – In stressful situations our brains focus more on self-preservation than societal benefit. Calming and mindfulness practices can help our brains stay grounded in the present. Less stress allows us to focus on behaviors that benefit others.”
Late-night eating linked to higher cardiovascular disease risk, study suggests
“Human bodies have physiological cycles that span approximately 24 hours, termed circadian cycles. These include fasting/eating cycles that set peripheral clocks in various tissues, and the latter, in turn, help regulate the working of the heart and blood vessels. A new study seeks to throw more light on this topic by exploring how alterations in the timing of eating and fasting affect the incidence of CVD.”
US adults eat a meal’s worth of calories of snacks in a day
“COLUMBUS, Ohio – Snacks constitute almost a quarter of a day’s calories in U.S. adults and account for about one-third of daily added sugar, a new study suggests. Researchers analyzing data from surveys of over 20,000 people found that Americans averaged about 400 to 500 calories in snacks a day – often more than what they consumed at breakfast – that offered little nutritional value.”
