Full Without Food: Drug Therapy May Someday Replace Obesity Surgery
Claire Ainsworth

We're now starting to realize that the gut plays a bigger role in appetite and blood-sugar regulation than previously thought. Several groups are trying to develop drugs that enable people to get the effects of surgery without having to undergo any operation.

Oh, My Aching Knees!
Live Right Live Well

Will taking glucosamine and chondroitin supplements help my aching knees?

Fitness: Walk the Nordic Way
Live Right Live Well: Fitness

'Trying to ski on asphalt?' I laugh. By now I've heard all the jokes. Sometimes it's 'Where's the snow?' I can't blame these people. After all, walking with two long poles, one in each hand, does look goofy. But if they knew the benefits of Nordic walking, I doubt they'd be so quick to laugh.

Fitness: Workout With Your Better Half
Live Right Live Well: Fitness

Everyone knows working out with a buddy can help you stick with exercise, but when that buddy is also your spouse, the rewards can be even more gratifying. Interested in making your partner your exercise buddy? Make it work by following these seven strategies

Can Video Games Count as Exercise?
Live Right Live Well: Fitness

Not long ago, playing video games provided good exercise for kids' thumbs -- and not much else. Now, a new generation of more active video games, like Wii Sports, is changing all that. The big question on everyone's mind: Can these new active video games help you, your spouse and your kids get (or stay) fit?

Get Strong With Olympic Lifts
Ethan Boldt - Men's Life Today

Just because you're not ski-jumping, speed skating, luging or curling, doesn't mean you can't train like an Olympian. We're talking weighlifting techniques called Olympic lifts -- a routine that well-respected exercise physiologists and personal trainers swear by for everyday gym warriors. Just a few of these classic moves go a long way to build strength, speed and agility.

Fitness: Are You Getting Enough Exercise?
Wendy Korn Heppt - Live Right Live Well

Exercise will keep you healthy. Any activity is better than none, and more activity is better than a little. To maximize overall health, the CDC recommends at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity five or more days a week. To get the most benefit with the least time and effort, consider these six ways to crank up your workout routine.

Fitness: Do Exercise Machines Lie?
Stacey Colino - Live Right Live Well

You've just had a hard-core tryst with a stair-climber. The machine informs you that you've burned 250 calories. Is it telling the truth? Maybe not! Researchers are discovering hidden factors that can cause exercise machines to report less-than-accurate results. In fact, the margin for error can be as high as 30 percent

Fitness: Picking a Gym
Michael Castleman - Live Right Live Well

Resolving to exercise is especially important if you have heartburn, since extra pounds and excess stress can aggravate symptoms, and exercise can help with both. Unfortunately, some people don't stick with their gym -- and wind up wasting money. To increase your chances of reaching your goals, it's important to pick a health club that's right for you. Here's 15 questions and tips to help decide

Fitness: How to Lose a Gut and Keep It Off!
John Hanc - Live Right Live Well

So you've put on a few pounds and gotten yourself a beer belly. Even worse, it's making your heartburn worse! Forget fat-burning pills and belly-reducing gadgets. The real secret to losing that tummy lies not in a bottle or some magical exercise machine, but between your ears. Here's how you really bust a gut

Fitness: Best Ways to Beat Exercise-related Heartburn
Karen Asp - Live Right Live Well

You're trying to stick with a regular exercise program, but every time you work out, you get heartburn. The pain is so bad that it's hard for you to stay physically active. In fact, you're tempted to kick the exercise habit completely. Not so fast. With a few tweaks to your lifestyle habits and exercise choices, you can work up a sweat without working up your heartburn.

The Ready-for-anything Workout
Ethan Boldt - Men's Life Today

Want to be fit enough to conquer Tibet's highest mountains? Or maybe 'just' pass a fireman's fitness test? All you have to do is master this exercise regimen.

Alert: You're Pushing Yourself Too Hard
Ethan Boldt - Men's Life Today

It's not just macho to push yourself to the limit -- it's considered cool. But how do you know if you're about to take your body beyond that limit and into dangerous territory? Especially in hot weather, there are risks you should you know about. As long as you can read your body's signs, you can prepare for pushing it without going over the top. Here, your body's warning signs and what to do

Walk Away the Pregnancy Pounds
Karen Asp - Live Right Live Well

Pregnancy pounds. Baby weight. No matter what you call it, it's probably on your mind if you're a new mom. And while many exercise options can help you get back in shape, few offer the triple benefits of stroller walking. Want to try it? Here's how to get started

Under the Microscope: The Nutrition - Gene Connection
Victoria Shanta Retelny, R.D., L.D.N.

When it comes to how the body processes nutrients, each person's unique genetic makeup determines how their cells respond to what they eat. Genes can explain a number of nutritional phenomena, such as why some people can adhere to a low-saturated fat and high-plant food diet, yet still be prone to high blood cholesterol levels

Recommended Exercises for Knee Pain Depend on Cause of Pain
Matthew Butters, M.D., Mayo Clinic

What are the best exercises for sufferers of knee pain? While I can recommend some general exercises and activities the most beneficial regimen will depend on the cause of the knee pain. Knee pain has numerous causes. Two of the most common are osteoarthritis and patellofemoral pain syndrome. Here's a look at exercises for osteoarthritis and patellofemoral pain syndrome

 

Health Benefits

Picking Through the Latest Science on Berries and Health Benefits
Sharon Palmer, R.D.

The health halo that crowns berries--the original 'superfruit'--hasn't slipped a bit over the years. Ever since it was discovered that berries have very high total antioxidant capacity, the public has had a veritable love fest with berries, making them its favorite fruit. Here's a guide to the health benefits of berries

Healthier Living: Strive for Fitness of Mind and Body
Randy Boyer and Andrea Donsky

Working out more and eating healthier are typical New Year's resolutions, but healthier living isn't just about your body - it's also about a healthier state of mind. Resolving to be healthier in both mind and body is an admirable goal, and it's within anyone's reach. The first step toward a healthier mind and body is ...

Losing Weight is a Group Effort
Lisa Tsakos

If you've given up on your New Year's pledge to better manage weight and eating habits, it could be because you're taking the process too personally. Lifestyle and diet changes occur when you're ready for them. Getting the support of those around you is critical when you're trying to lose weight.

 

Fitness

Fitness: Get a Healthier Body and Mind
Andrea Donsky and Randy Boyer

There's nothing like a new year to pack gyms across the country. Working out more and eating healthier are typical New Year's resolutions, but healthier living isn't just about your body - it's also about a healthier state of mind.

Fitness: Gastric Banding Not Stand-Alone Weight Loss Solution
Mayo Clinic

Bariatric surgery is a general term used to describe operations that help a person lose weight more consistently and effectively. The two most common types of bariatric surgery performed in the United States are adjustable gastric banding -- sometimes called lap band surgery -- and gastric bypass surgery.

Five Easy Healthy Diet Eating Habits to Adopt
Andrea Donsky and Randy Boyer

As the New Year begins and while motivation is high, this is the perfect time to establish a few new healthy habits. Begin with your current lifestyle and either change a negative pattern, add a positive one, or both. Drastic changes in lifestyle or diet don't usually stick, but these new practices are worth a try

 

Simple Sopa Azteca (Chicken Tortilla Soup)

Recipes for Health: Can What You Eat Stave Off the Flu?
John La Puma, M.D.

My patient Rachel is taking a bite out of the flu. Now, with most of the flu season past, she wanted to know: Are there really foods she could load up on to help her avoid the flu and not make her gain weight? The answer is yes -- my Chicken Tortilla Soup recipes really does have healing properties and is also low in calories.

Cardiac Rehab Boosts Heart Health
Harvard Health

After having a heart attack or heart surgery, one of the best things you can do for your heart and your long-term health is to go through a cardiac rehabilitation program

Fitness: Six-Pack Abs for Less
Joan Goldwasser

Losing weight and getting in shape are common New Year's resolutions. But before you commit to a pricey gym membership that you might rarely use, try a few on for size, read their contracts carefully, and ask lots of questions. Otherwise, the only thing that might get thinner is your wallet.

Are Isometric Exercises Safe For the Heart
Richard Lee, M.D. - Harvard Health

Long ago, I was told that isometric exercises, like weight lifting, shouldn't be done by anyone with a heart condition. Is that still the prevailing wisdom?

Fitness - Swimming: A Sport For All Seasons
Harvard Health

It's no surprise that swimming is one of the most popular ways to retain -- or regain -- physical and psychological fitness.

The Official Mayo Clinic Diet Program
Donald Hensrud, M.D.

Physicians and researchers at Mayo Clinic have developed a dietary program that we can endorse. We believe there's enough evidence in the scientific literature and enough experience with it here at Mayo Clinic that we feel comfortable putting Mayo's name on this program. This is the official Mayo Clinic Diet.

Congress Fights Obesity With Healthcare Bills
Kent Garber

In 2018, more than half the adults in Oklahoma, Mississippi, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, and South Dakota could be obese. That's just one of many alarming projections in a study released last week by Kenneth Thorpe, and it comes, appropriately, as Congress is grappling with how to best reform a healthcare system that is becoming wildly and unsustainably expensive.

How to Avoid Weight Gain During the Holidays
Lisa Tsakos

'Tis the season of decadent foods, overeating and weight gain. Many folks will put on anywhere from three to seven pounds in December alone. Why is it the holidays always seem to interfere with our best eating intentions? Rather than allowing food to ruin the festivities, these simple tips can help you maintain control of your diet and health

Careful Food Choices Can Lower Your Cholesterol
Harvard Health

It's easy to eat your way to an alarmingly high cholesterol level. The reverse is true, too. Changing what you eat can lower your cholesterol and improve the armada of fats floating through your bloodstream. Doing this requires a two-pronged strategy ...

Workout Wisdom for Those Over 40
Katherine Hobson

Whether you're planning to bike cross-country after you retire or you haven't put on sneakers since you were 6, there are things you need to know about exercising. Get comfortable. Find activities that are right for you. It's not all about aerobics. Start slowly, and embrace recovery. Switch it up. Mind old injuries. Don't underestimate yourself.

Exercise and dieting aside, behavior and biology appear to have a real influence on weight
Sarah Baldauf

Weight loss depends largely on getting the balance right between calories consumed and calories burned. Yet, as evidenced by individuals' struggle to control weight and also by the nation's alarmingly increased rate of overweight and obese residents in recent decades, mastering this seemingly simple formula is no small task. Here are factors that may be working against your efforts to control your own weight

Want to Age Well? Avoid Midlife Weight Gain
Deborah Kotz

Being overweight in middle age reduces your likelihood of gliding into your 70s without any health problems like diabetes, heart disease, or cancer. It also reduces your odds of being able to walk up a flight of stairs or get through your day without crying. Certainly, body weight plays a role in long-term health, but it doesn't tell the whole story ...

Do Your Genes Determine Which Diet Means Weight-Loss Success?
Katherine Hobson

The more science learns about the marvelous diversity among human beings -- fueled by genetic, environmental, and other factors -- the clearer it becomes that a one-size-fits-all approach to diet is bound to fail

Counting Every Step You Take
Pedometer Powerful Exercise Motivator
Harvard Health Letters

Research has shown that pedometers are a good motivational tool, although maybe not by themselves. Several randomized trials show that it's the combination of wearing a pedometer and having a goal that's most effective. A common one is 10,000 steps a day, which is equivalent to about five miles, depending on the length of your stride

Fitness: Strength Training A Healthy Addition to Your Exercise Regimen
Harvard Health Letters

Physical activity guidelines say all American adults should be doing muscle-building exercises at least twice a week. These exercises are supposed to be of moderate or high intensity and involve all major muscle groups. They would most commonly involve a light weight-lifting program of some kind.

Personal Trainer: Walking - DS
David Thomas, Crispy Gamer

In case you missed this oddball trifle from Nintendo, the basic idea is that you walk around with a small digital pedometer in your pocket or clipped to your purse, and every day you sync the little doodad with your Nintendo DS. A creepy Mii then gives you fitness advice, shows you a graph of how many steps you have taken, and describes your walking pattern in terms of an animal.

Hamstrung! How to Prevent and Help Heal Hamstring Injuries
Katherine Hobson

This season, hamstring injuries have benched at least four members of the New York Mets. Then it got personal: my boyfriend started hobbling after one of our outdoor workouts, having suffered his own mild hamstring pull. What is this injury, anyway? And what makes everyone from pro athletes to weekend warriors susceptible to it?

Why You Should Think Twice Before Using Alli or Other Weight Loss Aids
Deborah Kotz

When it comes to losing weight, we'd all love that quick fix: a pill, shake, heck, even surgery to ease our efforts. Unfortunately, weight-loss aids -- even when approved by the Food and Drug Administration -- come with risks as well as benefits.

13 Ways to Add Fruits and Vegetables to Your Diet
Harvard Health Letters

Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables is a cornerstone of good health. It helps control blood pressure and cholesterol, keeps arteries flexible, protects bones, and is good for the eyes, brain, digestive system, and just about every other part of the body. But many of us have trouble putting that knowledge into practice and getting five or more servings per day.

Need To Lose Weight? 10 Ways to Conquer Emotional Eating
January W. Payne

Do you blindly turn to food as a source of comfort when you're feeling upset? Since emotional overeating doesn't provide any lasting satisfaction and can lead to health problems, it's far better to find other ways to deal with the stresses of daily life. That's the premise of a book out this month ...

Smart Choices Program Aiming to Improve Food Purchasing Decisions
Katherine Hobson

The Smart Choices program puts a green check on the front of products produced by participating manufacturers as long as the foods meet certain nutritional standards. (It also shows calories and serving size.) The program replaces the individual guidance systems that some companies had used.

Foods Surprisingly High in Added Sugar
Sarah Baldauf

Added sugars, which are sprinkled on and processed into packaged foods and beverages, have become all too common in the American diet, says the American Heart Association. The group argues that sugar bingeing is helping drive the uptick in metabolic changes in the American population, including the exploding obesity rate, and has now recommended an upper limit on daily consumption ...

Snacks Can Be Part of a Healthful Diet
Katherine Hobson

It used to be that someone who wanted to lose weight was advised to stick to three square meals a day. For adults, at least, snacking was considered an unnecessary source of extra calories, and if you were hungry between meals, well, tough; you'd just have to wait for the next one. Nowadays, it's a rare diet plan that doesn't include planned snacks.

Nutrition 101: Good Eating for Good Health

Good eating is not a punishment, but an opportunity. If you know why it's important and what to do, you'll find it enjoyable and satisfying. And if you establish an overall pattern of healthful nutrition, you'll have plenty of wiggle room to savor the treats that matter most to you.

Natural Cuisine From Around the World
Andrea Donsky and Randy Boyer

It's no secret that people who follow traditional styles of eating are generally healthier than those of us who've adopted a Western-style diet. Cultures that enjoy diets that are based on natural foods, whole grains, fish, and limited unhealthy fats continue to reap the health rewards.

6 Reasons Your Athletic Performance May Be Lagging
Katherine Hobson

Athletic performance decline has a variety of possible explanations, most temporary and fixable but some more serious. Here's a field guide to what might be keeping you from doing your best.

5 Lessons for Over-35 Athletes From Olympic Swimmer Dara Torres
Katherine Hobson

Dara Torres is a role model for those who aspire to athletic success over the age of 35. Torres took up that mantle during the run-up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics and still holds it a year later. As Dara's profile rose, people clamored to know her secrets. They want to know about how she trains, what she eats, how she managed to compete in last week's world championships against people less than half her age -- and, yes, how she has that body after giving birth to a child.

Smart Snacking Key to Combating Obesity
Deborah Kotz

Big news today: We're getting fatter. Obesity rates in adults increased in 23 states and didn't decrease in a single state over the past year. Here's some types to help us all from the temptations of snacking.

Check Nutrition Labels Before You Buy
Lisa Tsakos

Manufacturers are required to declare the nutrition (both good and bad) in each serving of their product. Nutrition Facts are broken down into easy-to-read sections. They are listed and explained as follows ...

Tai Chi Health Benefits
Harvard Fitness Health Watch

This gentle form of exercise can prevent or ease many ills of aging and could be the perfect activity for the rest of your life.

Tai chi is often described as meditation in motion, but it might well be called medication in motion.

 

5 Lessons From the Nation's Obesity Report Card
Katherine Hobson

We're still getting fatter, albeit at a slightly slower rate. That's the chief takeaway from a yearly report on the U.S. obesity epidemic, which found that rates of obesity rose in 23 states (last year, rates rose in 37 states). Almost two thirds of states now have adult obesity rates above 25 percent, according to the report

Common Queries About Weight Loss
Lisa Tsakos

While we know there's no such thing as a quick fix that amounts to permanent weight reduction, there are right and wrong approaches. The right approaches involve replacing unnecessary calories with natural, nutrient-dense foods and increasing physical activity

Weight Loss Drugs & Diet Pills Have Many Drawbacks
Mary Pickett, M.D.

I wish we had a diet pill that could help people lose weight easily. None of the medicines on the market are worth using, if you ask me

Exercise Boosts Your Brainpower; Intensity May Matter
Katherine Hobson

In an attempt to hang on to your cognitive function as you age, you may do crossword puzzles, join a book club, or keep up friendships to stay connected. But to do all you can to maintain your mental abilities, you really should be exercising.

3 Tips for Boosting Your Fitness as You Age: One Triathlete's Advice
by Katherine Hobson

It's easy to think that athletic improvement after age 40 is something reserved for those who can afford to spend the time and money it takes to train full time. Debi Bernardes, a swimming and triathlon coach in King George, Va., was asked what she's done to keep improving after three decades of competition. Here's what she thinks makes a difference, plus how you can apply it to your own training.

Smart Fitness for Grown-Ups: Tips for the Over-40 Exerciser
By Katherine Hobson

Whether you're looking forward to riding your bike across the country after you retire or you haven't put on sneakers since you were 6, there are things you need to know about exercising after the age of 40.

Swimming: Take the Plunge for Your Heart
Health, Fitness & Exercise

Any kind of exercise is better for your heart than no exercise at all. Walking isn't necessarily the best exercise for the heart and general good health, but it's the best option for the greatest number of people. More vigorous activities do even more for the heart than walking. The lion's share of research has focused on running. Two new studies from the Cooper Clinic in Dallas, Texas, highlight the health benefits of swimming.

JUKARI Fit to Fly Workout
Reebok & Cirque du Soleil Partnership Creates Innovative Gym Workout

In 1989, Reebok revolutionized women's fitness with the creation of Step Reebok.

Today, the company revealed its new launch of an innovative gym workout - JUKARI Fit to Fly.

JUKARI Fit to Fly makes fitness fun again by introducing a new way to move in a gym workout and is accessible to all women, regardless of fitness levels.

 

Walking A Step in the Right Direction

Walking is one of the easiest ways to be physically active. A brisk-paced walk can help you feel better, increase energy, and pick up your spirits.

Walking is a simple and flexible way to improve your health, and it�s practically free. You can walk alone or with friends, indoors or outdoors, on a city sidewalk or a country trail, any time of the year. Brisk walking can help control your weight, lower cholesterol, strengthen your heart, and reduce the likelihood of serious health problems in the future.

Power of Positive Thinking Is Psychology's Latest Focus
Lindsay Lyon

Positive psychology itself is a relatively nascent field. Formally founded a decade ago by the University of Pennsylvania's Martin Seligman, its emphasis on what goes right with people was a sea-change from psychology's traditional preoccupation with what goes wrong -- from depression and anxiety to mental illness of all flavors. ...

Drinking Coffee May Be Good for You
January W. Payne

Despite past concerns about coffee, tea, and other sources of caffeine being detrimental to health, recent research suggests that regular coffee consumption may reduce the risk of health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and liver cancer--and regular coffee drinkers might even live longer.

Energy Drinks Can Have a Variety of Adverse Effects on the Body
By Martha Grogan, M.D.- Mayo Clinic Medical Edge

Having an occasional energy drink isn't necessarily bad, especially those that contain about the same amount of caffeine as a cup or two of coffee and a similar amount of sugar as a can of soda. But many energy drinks contain much higher amounts of caffeine and other substances.

Health & Nutrition

The Integrated Approach to Weight Loss

Two-thirds of American adults are overweight and one in three are considered to be obese. An integrative approach can be an effective strategy for losing weight or maintaining a healthy weight.

Spring Into Health With WIN Fitness

Taking better care of yourself doesn't have to be a grueling process. People often associate healthy eating and exercise with pain and suffering. However, simple changes to your eating and physical activity habits can make the process easier. The Weight-control Information Network (WIN), a program that provides the general public, health professionals, the media and Congress with up-to-date, science-based information on weight control, obesity, physical activity and related nutritional issues, suggests these tips to put you on the fast track to better health.

Play it Safe When it Comes To Concussions

More than 38 million boys and girls between the ages of 5 and 18 participate in organized youth sports. And while sports can be a fun way to socialize and instill values such as teamwork, physical activity can also mean potential for injuries.

Fitness Programs Help Employees Shape Up

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is a challenge for millions of Americans. Between hectic work schedules, long commutes and juggling family and job responsibilities, most people say they cannot find time to exercise. In fact, according to a Physical Activity Survey recently conducted by AARP, 50 percent of people age 18 years and older said that lack of time prevents them from being active.

Create a Home Fitness Plan that Works

The Spinner Sport enables a low-impact, cardiovascular workout that burns as many as 500 calories in 40 minutes.

The Top 10 Places to Take a Walk

Love to walk? You might be living in one of the nation's 10 most walker-friendly cities. The American Podiatric Medical Association has released this year's list of top walking cities in the country.

30-Minute Circuit Training Program Saves Time and Burns Calories

In the age of 50-hour work weeks, it's easy to let fitness fall by the wayside. In fact, the number one reason why most people do not lead active lifestyles is because of a perceived lack of time. For this reason, 30-minute workouts are becoming increasingly popular.

Beat Aches & Pains with These Outdoor Activity Tips

When beautiful, sunny weather replaces the gray skies of winter, many take advantage by getting outside and participating in a variety of activities such as gardening, golfing and hiking. But after the fun is over, aches and pains can kick in which can considerably decrease your sunny, outdoor activities.

Help for Tired Muscles, Achy Joints

Fitness can really punish your body, especially your knees and other joints. This can be difficult to deal with, not only for athletes at the top of their game, but also for active seniors who enjoy such sports as golf or tennis.

Heading to the Gym? Follow These Hygiene Tips

After a workout, change out of your sweat-soaked clothes as soon as possible.

Nutrition Tops List of Consumer Concerns

As the baby boom generation turns 60 and beyond, health and wellness concerns are spiking. According to a recent survey, four in five consumers are more concerned about health, nutrition and fitness than they were a year ago, but nutrition beat out fitness as the top priority for the first time.

Make a Connection With Your Teen

Talking with teenagers about their health isn't always a parent's or a teen's favorite conversation. But parents have more influence on their teen's health than they think, according to researchers with the Prevention Research Centers (PRC) network.

Alcohol Health Benefit or Health Risk?

We've all heard the news about the potential heart-health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption. It's no wonder such stories grab headlines.