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Featured Article Academic Journal Main Category: Sports Medicine / Fitness Also Included In: Cardiovascular / Cardiology;Diabetes Article Date: 31 May 2012 - 2:00 PDT

Current ratings for: 'Exercise May Be Bad For Some'

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Claude Bouchard, a professor of genetics and nutrition in the Human Genomics Laboratory at Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in the US, was lead author of the study, which was published online in PLoS ONE on 30 May.

Bouchard and colleagues write in their background information that public health guidelines suggest adults should do 150 minutes a week of moderate intensity physical activity, or 75 minutes a week of vigorous intensity activity.

However, it is now well established that different people respond differently to exercise in terms of cardiorespiratory fitness and cardiometabolic and diabetes risk factors.

But the question that still remains, is whether there are people for whom the effect of regular exercise on these risk factors could be harmful.

For their study, Bouchard and colleagues analyzed data from six rigorous studies that looked at the effect of exercise in a total of 1,687 adults.

These studies were the HERITAGE Family Study, the DREW Study, the INFLAME Study, and the STRRIDE Study, plus cohorts from two other studies, one from the University of Maryland and another from the University of Jyvaskyla.

They looked to see how many of the participants experienced an adverse response to exercise, which they defined as an "exercise-induced change that worsens a risk factor beyond measurement error and expected day-to-day variation".

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Exercise May Be Bad For Some

ScienceDaily (May 30, 2012) Women in their seventies who exercise and eat healthy amounts of fruits and vegetables have a longer life expectancy, according to research published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

Researchers at the University of Michigan and Johns Hopkins University studied 713 women aged 70 to 79 years who took part in the Women's Health and Aging Studies. This study was designed to evaluate the causes and course of physical disability in older women living in the community.

"A number of studies have measured the positive impact of exercise and healthy eating on life expectancy, but what makes this study unique is that we looked at these two factors together," explains lead author, Dr. Emily J Nicklett, from the University of Michigan School of Social Work.

Researchers found that the women who were most physically active and had the highest fruit and vegetable consumption were eight times more likely to survive the five-year follow-up period than the women with the lowest rates.

To estimate the amount of fruits and vegetables the women ate, the researchers measured blood levels of carotenoids-beneficial plant pigments that the body turns into antioxidants, such as beta-carotene. The more fruits and vegetables consumed, the higher the levels of carotenoids in the bloodstream..

Study participants' physical activity was measured through a questionnaire that asked the amount of time the spent doing various levels of physical activity, which was then converted to the number of calories expended.

The women were then followed up to establish the links between healthy eating, exercise and survival rates.

Key research findings included:

* More than half of the 713 participants (53%) didn't do any exercise, 21% were moderately active, and the remaining 26% were in the most active group at the study's outset.

* During the five-year follow up, 11.5% of the participants died. Serum carotenoid levels were 12% higher in the women who survived and total physical activity was more than twice as high.

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Exercise and a healthy diet of fruits and vegetables extends life expectancy in women in their 70s

Could exercise be bad for some healthy people?

Researchers, including one who helped write the scientific paper justifying national guidelines that promote exercise for all, say the answer may be a qualified yes.

By analyzing data from six exercise studies involving 1,687 people, the researchers found about 10 percent got worse on at least one of the measures related to heart disease: blood pressure and levels of insulin, HDL cholesterol or triglycerides.

About 7 percent got worse on at least two measures.

And the researchers say they do not know why.

"It is bizarre," said Claude Bouchard, lead author of the paper, published Wednesday, May 30, in PLoS One, and a professor of genetics and nutrition at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, part of the Louisiana State University system.

Dr. Michael Lauer, director of the Division of Cardiovascular Sciences at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the lead federal research institute on heart disease and strokes, was among the experts not involved in the provocative study who applauded it.

"It is an interesting and well done study," he said.

Others worried about its consequences.

"There are a lot of people out there looking for any excuse not to exercise," said William Haskell, emeritus professor of medicine at the Stanford Prevention Research Center. "This might be an excuse for them to say, 'Oh, I must be one of those 10 percent.' "

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Exercise bad for some healthy people, study finds

SAN DIEGO, May 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --American Council on Exercise (ACE) announced the results of an independent study evaluating the effectiveness of eight triceps exercises commonly used by people trying to sculpt and tone their arms. Researchers found that of the exercises tested, triangle push-ups, triceps kickbacks and dips registered the highest levels of muscle activation.

In keeping with ACE's mission to educate and empower Americans on how to safely and effectively exercise, the organization spearheaded the study in response to fitness professionals who reported receiving requests from female clients on ways they can tone their arms, specifically the often hard-to-target triceps.

"When evaluating the study results, it was imperative to take into consideration which exercises can be performed safely by exercise enthusiasts at any fitness level, and the level of difficulty in maintaining proper form while completing the exercise," said ACE Chief Science Officer Dr. Cedric X. Bryant. "After careful review of the study, ACE recommends triangle push-ups and triceps kickbacks as safe exercises to incorporate into workout routines that focus on toning the arms, and they can effectively help women achieve their fitness goals."

The study was conducted by a team of exercise scientists from the Exercise and Health Program at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, and was designed to determine which triceps exercises stimulated the muscle the most. A test group of 15 healthy females, ranging in age from 20 to 24, were enlisted, all of whom had prior weight training experience. That qualification was necessary to ensure the use of proper form. Participants were required to abstain from weight training for 48 hours prior to the test period to prevent muscle fatigue.

Researchers began by measuring the maximum amount of weight each subject could use for one repetition while maintaining proper form (one repetition max) for triceps kickbacks, overhead triceps extensions, bar push-downs, rope push-downs, closed-grip bench press and lying barbell triceps extensions. Dips and triangle push-ups, while also evaluated during the study, were excluded from this round as these exercises utilize body weight instead of free weights for resistance.

Once the one repetition max was determined, participants returned for the second day of testing, where they were outfitted with electromagnetic (EMG) electrodes on the triceps to record real-time muscle activity. Participants completed seven repetitions of each of the eight exercises in random order with a five minute rest period between exercises. Subjects lifted 70 percent of their previously determined one repetition max for the bulk of exercises; body weight was used for the dips and triangle push-ups.

Results calculated from EMG records indicated triangle push-ups registered the most muscle activity among the group. Triceps kickbacks and dips also activated the muscle at higher levels than the remaining exercises. While the bench dip exercise elicited high levels of muscle activation, safety concerns exist due to its potential to place excessive force on the shoulder joint.

"Our goal at ACE is to empower Americans to live their most fit lives by including exercise as part of their daily routines in a safe and effective manner," Bryant said. "Triceps kickbacks and triangle push-ups not only produced high levels of muscle activation, but these exercises can be safely performed by the vast majority of exercisers, require little to no equipment and a relatively short amount of time to produce a positive result when included in a regular fitness routine. These exercises are the perfect example of how fitness can be achieved, no matter how limited on time or access to equipment an individual may be."

Proper form is critical to any exercise. For step-by-step instructions for performing these triceps exercises and more, visit ACE's Exercise Library.

About ACEAmerican Council on Exercise (ACE), America's premier fitness and personal trainer certification, continuing education, and training organization, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the benefits of physical activity and protecting Americans against unsafe and ineffective fitness products and instruction. ACE sponsors university-based fitness and exercise science research studies and is the world's largest nonprofit fitness certifying organization. For more information on ACE and its programs, call (800) 825-3636 or visit the ACE website at http://www.acefitness.org. AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EXERCISE, ACE and ACE logos are Registered Trademarks of the American Council on Exercise.

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American Council on Exercise Study Highlights Most Effective Tricep Exercises

A new study found that the single biggest influence on kids' physical activity levels was the exercise habits of their six closest friends.

Martin Barraud / Getty Images

Peer pressure can be a powerful force, and sometimes a positive one. For example, hanging out with active peers may lead kids to exercise more, making a childs social network a potential vehicle for promoting healthy habits and reducing obesity.

Thats what researchers led by Sabina Gesell, a research assistant professor in pediatrics at Vanderbilt School of Medicine, and her colleagues are reporting in the journal Pediatrics. The scientists studied networks of friends in an after-school program involving students aged 5 to 12. Using a pedometer-like device that recorded minute muscle movements, the researchers tracked kids physical activity levels over a period of 12 weeks.

At the start of the program, none of the children knew one another well, so the researchers were able to track how the youngsters made and dropped friends, and what effect these changing relationships had on their physical activity level.

(MORE: Why Active Video Games Dont Make Kids Exercise More )

Turned out, it was a big one: during the time the children spent in the program, the strongest factor influencing how much time they spent engaged in moderate to vigorous physical activity was the activity level of their four to six closest friends. In fact, children changed their exercise level about 10% to better match those in their circle; children who hung out with more active students were more likely to increase their physical activity levels, while those who befriended more sedentary children became less active.

We see evidence that the children are mirroring, emulating or adjusting to be similar to their friends, says Gesell. And thats exciting because we saw meaningful changes in activity levels in 12 weeks.

The results are encouraging also because they suggest a potentially inexpensive and effective way to change childrens behavior. Rather than relying only on organized exercise programs or drowning kids in messages to get moving, perhaps a subtler approach introducing sedentary kids to more active ones might help more kids get off the couch. From a public health perspective, that would mean seeding groups like after-school programs or community groups with children who like to exercise, so that by emulating them, others may become more active by association.

Even kids in day care can stand to benefit: a recent study found that children in day care are active only about 2% to 3% of the time they are there. Gesell says the results could help in providing a much-needed new tool for confronting the obesity epidemic.

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The Upside of Peer Pressure: Social Networks Help Kids Exercise More

Kids can pass a lot of things around to each other -- germs, colds, a bad case of the giggles. Now, new research suggests that their activity levels, too, may be contagious.

A study from Vanderbilt University found that when children have friends that are more active they themselves are also likely to be more active.

Moreover, when children have close friends that regularly engage in vigorous activity they will try to keep up.

Eighty-one children between the ages of 5 and 12 were enrolled in two afterschool programs and followed over 12 weeks. During that time children were asked with whom they were friends, and their level of activity was measured using a device called an accelerometer.

The findings showed that when kids were playing with others who had higher level of activity, they were more likely to increase their own levels of physical activity.

"They have conducted hundreds of trials across the nation that has not changed kids eating behavior," said Sabina Gesell, professor of pediatrics at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, Tenn. and lead study author.

"We needed a new novel approach... In order to move our intervention against obesity to a new level," Gesell said. "Now we have the evidence to move forward."

Other pediatric experts agree with these findings.

"I've noticed that the more active a social network kids have, the more likely they are to be physically active," said Keith Ayoob, associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. "Socializing is a happy thing for kids and it prevents boredom."

Dr. Malissa J. Wood, assistant professor of medicine Harvard Medical School, is an expert in the effect of social connections on healthy behaviors. She said that the study suggests a plan of action for parents who would like to see their children adopt healthier behaviors.

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Active Pals Key to Kids' Exercise

A new study found that the single biggest influence on kids' physical activity levels was the exercise habits of their six closest friends.

Martin Barraud / Getty Images

Peer pressure can be a powerful force, and sometimes a positive one. For example, hanging out with active peers may lead kids to exercise more, making a childs social network a potential vehicle for promoting healthy habits and reducing obesity.

Thats what researchers led by Sabina Gesell, a research assistant professor in pediatrics at Vanderbilt School of Medicine, and her colleagues are reporting in the journal Pediatrics. The scientists studied networks of friends in an after-school program involving students aged 5 to 12. Using a pedometer-like device that recorded minute muscle movements, the researchers tracked kids physical activity levels over a period of 12 weeks.

At the start of the program, none of the children knew one another well, so the researchers were able to track how the youngsters made and dropped friends, and what effect these changing relationships had on their physical activity level.

(MORE: Why Active Video Games Dont Make Kids Exercise More )

Turned out, it was a big one: during the time the children spent in the program, the strongest factor influencing how much time they spent engaged in moderate to vigorous physical activity was the activity level of their four to six closest friends. In fact, children changed their exercise level about 10% to better match those in their circle; children who hung out with more active students were more likely to increase their physical activity levels, while those who befriended more sedentary children became less active.

We see evidence that the children are mirroring, emulating or adjusting to be similar to their friends, says Gesell. And thats exciting because we saw meaningful changes in activity levels in 12 weeks.

The results are encouraging also because they suggest a potentially inexpensive and effective way to change childrens behavior. Rather than relying only on organized exercise programs or drowning kids in messages to get moving, perhaps a subtler approach introducing sedentary kids to more active ones might help more kids get off the couch. From a public health perspective, that would mean seeding groups like after-school programs or community groups with children who like to exercise, so that by emulating them, others may become more active by association.

Even kids in day care can stand to benefit: a recent study found that children in day care are active only about 2% to 3% of the time they are there. Gesell says the results could help in providing a much-needed new tool for confronting the obesity epidemic.

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Peer Pressure and Exercise: Could it Make Kids Healthier?

Study: Obesity Doesn't Always Predict Heart Risks

Obese people aren't necessarily at greater risk of heart disease, a new study suggests. "The people really at risk are the ones who have obesity in combination with other metabolic health risk factors," study author Mark Hamer, a research associate at University College London, told Reuters. "People with good metabolic health are not at risk of future heart diseaseeven if they are obese." Metabolic health refers to normal levels of markers like blood pressure, blood sugar, HDL cholesterol, and C-reactive protein, which measures inflammation in the body. People who aren't obese but in poor metabolic shape face as much risk of heart disease as unhealthy obese people, according to findings published today in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. The study suggests that metabolic factors may be a more important indicator of a person's risk of cardiovascular disease than excess body weight itself.

Exercise Is Healthy, but Does It Make You Live Longer?

As 10,000 baby boomers a day turn 65, health officials are bracing themselves for a tsunami of chronic ills, from arthritis to osteoporosis. Yet a growing body of evidence shows that regular exercise can delay or prevent many age-related ailments, even among longtime couch potatoes.

"There's compelling data that older individuals participating in exercise programs show dramatic improvement in function and abilities," says Cedric Bryant, chief science officer for the American Council on Exercise in San Diego. In fact, experts suggest that many ills once attributed to normal aging are now being viewed as a result of chronic inactivity.

Despite this promising message, fewer than 5 percent of seniors follow the recommended guidelines for physical fitness (30 minutes of moderately intense exercise on most days). "Levels of activity in people 65 and older haven't budged in decades," says Miriam Nelson, director of the John Hancock Research Center on Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Obesity Prevention at Tufts University in Medford, Mass.

Even if they've never exercised, the middle-aged and older can still benefit by beginning now. Experts say sedentary people will actually fare better in percentage gains relative to active people, since they're starting from zero. "It doesn't matter how old you are," says Colin Milner, founder and CEO of the International Council on Active Aging in Vancouver, British Columbia. "It's never too late to start exercising." [Read more: Exercise Is Healthy, but Does It Make You Live Longer?]

Your Guide to Exercising Through the Ages

What's the golden ticket to living well into your golden years? A lifelong exercise program, says Pamela Peeke, assistant professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Specifically, a program that adapts to your physiological needs as you age. "Exercise is age-specific," says Peeke, author of Fit to Live and Body-for-LIFE for Women. "And you want to start as young as possible."

If you wait until age 65 to start exercising, you'll still benefit somewhat: Research has shown that you can, indeed, take steps to reverse the effects of inactivity later in life, and with considerable success. But why take the hard route? Fitness is like retirement savings, Peeke suggests: Wait until later to start socking away "body currency," and you'll get much less bang for your buck. You'll be trying to amass strength and endurance just as your energy and lean muscle mass have dwindled.

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Health Buzz: Obesity Not Always Tied to Heart Risk

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire -05/24/12)- Can a daily walk improve your mood? Will riding your bike or signing up for a yoga class make you feel better both physically and mentally? Yes, according to most studies on exercise and depression, being mobile and engaging in fitness activities is good for everyone. But for some people with moderate to severe major depression, aerobic exercise may result in a substantial improvement of their symptoms in a short time, according to several studies.(i)

Whether it's the physiological benefits of exercise that include changes in the concentrations of biologically active molecules such as: cortisol, catecholamines, opioid peptides, and cytokine(ii) (iii) - all of which are associated with stress - or because the patients are taking an active role in trying to get better, it appears that brisk exercise for 30 minutes three times a week is good for both mind and body. This is especially true for older people.

IT'S EVERYONE'S CONCERN

With Canada's first national Mental Health Strategy stating: "When it comes to mental health and well-being we are all the same - there is no us and them," it recognizes that mental health is everyone's issue, not just for those who are diagnosed with depression. Families and friends are impacted as well, and it often falls upon family members to help their loved ones engage in fitness activities that will improve their health - both physically and mentally.

The Canadian Mental Health Association advises that, "Regular physical activity improves psychological well-being and can reduce depression and anxiety. Joining an exercise group or a gym can also reduce loneliness, since it connects you with a new set of people sharing a common goal." The World Health Organization says "exercise programs for seniors help to improve life satisfaction and positive mood and to reduce psychological distress and depressive symptoms.(iv)"

Full article available at: http://mobilizecanada.50plus.com/articles/get-moving-for-better-mental-health/.

About MobilizeCanada

MobilizeCanada is the national communications hub of the Canadian Orthopaedic Care Strategy Group. It informs the 45-plus age group about Canada's mobility crisis while offering practical solutions to maintain mobility and motivate healthy changes. The goal is to improve the quality of life as Canadians age while making the most efficient and beneficial use of our healthcare system. http://www.mobilizecanada.50plus.com

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Get Moving for Better Mental Health

PADUCAH - It's time to get that body moving just in time for summer, and we've got some great ways to do it cheap!

This Thrifty Thursday we focused on community exercise programs where you get a great work-out, but you don't have to pay out a lot of cash.

Marissa and Johnette participated in the community Zumba class which meets every Tuesday and Thursday at 4 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. at the old Cooper-Whiteside gym on South 6th St. in Paducah.

The class is led by certified zumba instructors Ayrie Crump and Clarissa White and only costs $1 or a canned good. The money and the food goes to the local food bank.

Also, the new Paducah Rec Center on MLK Drive has a brand new basketball court, yoga classes, belly dancing, league sports, etc. Your family can go to all the classes for just $5 for an entire year.

And if your joints can't stand it, you can Zumba in the water. Brooks Pool at Broadway United Methodist Church in Paducah has aquatic Zumba on Thursdays at 6 p.m. and Sundays at 5:15 p.m., and it only costs $2 or a canned good.

Also, read our question of the day post on Facebook for more ideas; lots of folks talking about the great programs in their area.

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Thrifty Thursday - Great exercise deals to get your body moving

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