Idea #197 for September 3rd, 2009: Baby Fat or Fit Mothers Produce Healthier Children

Here’s a story with a very unexpected result: a study is showing that mothers who undergo weight-loss surgery before pregnancy are less likely to have obese children. It’s odd because you wouldn’t expect gastric bypass surgery to have any affect on the offspring of the patient. The study looked at women who had children before and after weight-loss surgery, and found that children born after the surgery were smaller at birth and were also three times less likely to become obese later in life. They also had improved cardiovascular health, including lower cholesterol.

This study and previous research have shown that overweight mothers’ intrauterine environments is different than those of normal-weight mothers, and that has a negative effect on developing children. The mothers’ metabolic problems will also be present in the child in those cases, research suggests. The important thing to take away from this information is that women should try to lose weight before deciding to have children, whether through weight-loss surgery or through conventional means. Not only will the health of the mother improve, but also that of her children.

Read more about this study here.

Idea #166 for August 3rd, 2009: Breaking the Fall or Dangers of Physical Education Class

Physical education in schools may encourage more physical activity among children, which is a positive, but gym class has also been the cause of many injuries over the past few years. In fact, the number of injuries increased by 150% from 1997 to 2007, a study has found. And just in the years from 2004-2007, the rate of injuries doubled. Phys ed has become more dangerous than many remember.

The majority of injuries occurred during running, basketball, football, volleyball, gymnastics, and soccer. Some speculate that more vigorous activity and complex equipment is to blame. Others think the trend is a result of understaffed schools that don’t have proper nursing staffs or enough phys ed teachers. The researchers point out that some schools do not require gym teachers to be certified to teach phys ed, and their inexperience could lead them to miss some potentially dangerous situations. Still, the researchers believe the good outweighs the bad when it comes to physical education, and that taking steps to ensure safety can slow the injury trend.

Read about this in the news here and here.

Idea #165 for August 2nd, 2009: Keeping Fit in the Golden Years or For Elderly Cancer Survivors, Fitness is Important

Out of the approximately 11 million cancer survivors in the US, about half are over age 65. Evidence shows that only a fraction of those elderly survivors are engaged in physical activity and diet habits that are considered healthful. A new study out of Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York looked at the habits of 750 overweight elderly cancer survivors and found that maintaining healthy habits resulted in significant improvements in their lives.

About half of the study group reported exercising only about 10 minutes per week, whereas the recommended amount for that population is 150 minutes per week. Further, only 7% of the group consumed a diet that is considered healthful. The minority of the group who were active and ate well had improved outcomes and quality of life. Physical activity is linked to increased survival and decreased recurrence rates in breast and colon cancers, but the role of diet is less understood. At any rate, maintaining physical fitness and proper diet is always a great idea, and especially, it seems, for elderly cancer survivors.

Read more about this study here and here.

Idea #144 for July 12th, 2009: Walk This Way or Changing The Way City-Dwellers Commute

Americans’ obesity problem is partly rooted in our sedentary lifestyles. Changing our commuting habits is one way to fit exercise into busy work days. A survey found that only 17% of respondents walked or biked any portion of their commute. That might seem logical, given that many Americans live in suburbs where using their legs to get all the way to work is unreasonable. However, that survey asked only workers who live in cities. People who commuted via bike or walking scored better on fitness tests, the study also found.

Some of the reasons for our commuting habits are infrastructure-related. Cities sometimes don’t provide adequate sidewalks or bike paths, making those activities difficult or dangerous. Even zoning laws can affect ease of commute, as forcing businesses to be separated from residences can make commutes longer. Companies should provide incentives and accommodations for bikers like showers, lockers, and bike parking areas. Encouraging a more active lifestyle among employees could lower health insurance rates for the employer.

Of course, there are other variables that the study doesn’t account for, like weather and travel distances. But considering that European cities where biking and walking rates are highest have the lowest incidence of obesity, Americans should make efforts to change their individual commuting behavior and cities should be focused on making the journey for those commuters as easy as possible.

See coverage in USA Today.

Idea #139 for July 7th, 2009: Like Father Like Son or Parents Attitudes Towards Sports Linked to Children’s Activity Levels

Parental attitudes can certainly leave impressions on children, and a study out of Houston confirms that this holds true for fitness too. Fourth and fifth-graders whose parents were into high-intensity team sports were more likely to be active and less likely to spend time watching television than other children, the study found. High-intensity sports included activities like running, swimming, cycling, soccer, and basketball. High-intensity household chores were also accounted for, like heavy yard work and moving furniture.

The study also found that parents who had positive attitudes towards all types of sports — not just high-intensity ones — had boys who were more active than average, but their daughters showed no significant increase in activity. It’s thought that these parents encouraged their sons to play sports more than they encouraged their daughters. The lessons here are: parents can lead by example when it comes to having more physically active children, and young girls should be encouraged to partake in sports just as boys are, in order to promote better physical fitness.

Read the news story about this here.

Idea #81 for May 10th, 2009: Cutting The Red Tape or Encouraging Employee Wellness Programs

Employers have figured out that a healthful workforce is a more productive and less costly (in terms of insurance premiums) workforce. That’s why some companies offer employees incentives for adopting healthier lifestyles. It’s a win-win situation. Now Congress is considering changing laws to make those kinds of wellness programs easier for companies to implement.

Encouraging healthy living among workers can really put a dent in the massive amounts of money our nation spends on healthcare. Chronic conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity account for a tremendous amount of health spending, yet they are mostly preventable. Additionally, employee smoking cessation programs can help thwart the many illnesses associated with cigarette smoking. Lawmakers have recognized the benefits of employee wellness programs and are now taking action.

One possible Congressional proposal focuses on giving tax credits to employers that use health screenings and wellness counseling. There are also plans to cut the red tape that’s making it unnecessarily burdensome for companies to adopt wellness programs. Things like complex tax rules and insurance laws are getting in the way of companies implementing ideal programs. Anything Congress can do to make these types of programs more prevalent can really help our health — and our health spending.

See the story in the New York Times.

Idea #68 for April 27th, 2009: The Video Game Diet or Physical Fitness Through Wii

In the past, the only calories you could expect to burn while playing video games were those expended by moving your thumbs rapidly. Gaming has long been synonymous with inactivity, but the Nintendo Wii changed that when it was launched in the US in late 2006. Instead of relying on traditional game controllers, the Wii uses motion-sensing controllers and, for some games, a balance board that captures gamers’ movements. Thus, playing video games on the Wii involves some level of physical exertion.

With childhood obesity a major concern in this country, it is encouraging to hear that kids are burning calories while playing video games. While the health benefits don’t rival those of actual sports, active games like those for the Wii, do make kids expend three times the energy of normal games, a 2007 study showed. Also, a popular game called “Wii Fit” encourages users to become more healthful through tracking of BMI and other statistics.

Hopefully, the commercial success of these games will compel video game makers to produce more consoles and games that are wellness-centered. Schools or community centers can employ these systems to promote physical activity for children who would otherwise have no interest in fitness. Eventually, video gamers might be tempted to enjoy real fitness activities outdoors or in the gym, but until then, mimicing sports onscreen is certainly better than sedentary gaming.

Read more about Wii and your health in Time Magazine and Forbes Magazine.

Idea #63 for April 22nd, 2009: Fit Cities or Community Wellness Programs

There’s an interesting experiment in community health going on right now: a Massachusetts city has undertaken an ambitious plan to increase its citizens’ health, and it seems to be working. Started seven years ago in Somerville, MA in collaboration with Tufts University and the CDC, the program originally took aim at childhood obesity. At the time, 44% of their elementary school children were overweight or at risk of becoming overweight.

Under the program, unhealthy foods served at schools were replaced with more nutritional offerings, and some modifications were made to the city’s roadways to make them more bike and pedestrian friendly. Education was also stressed, including teaching kids about healthy eating choices and activities. Within a year, the schoolchildren in the study had gained 15% less weight than their counterparts in the control group.

After the program’s initial success, the scope of the movement expanded beyond the elementary school age group. All the city’s residents now enjoy more bike lanes, community gardens, improved parks, restaurants that serve more nutritious fare, and low-cost fitness classes. Dozens of other cities in the nation are following in Somerville’s footsteps, implementing their own wellness programs.

All this costs money, of course. But inactivity and poor diets are costing our nation tremendous amounts of money through obesity and all of its related ailments. The experiment in Somerville is evidence that funding projects to promote wellness can really change the culture of a community. It should serve as a model for future government spending in wellness and prevention.

See news stories about this city’s program in USA Today and the Boston Globe, and on the Tufts University site.

Idea #61 for April 20th, 2009: Web Fitness or Online Personal Trainers

The LA Times today highlights a good idea that’s making it easier to stay fit: online personal trainers. There are a number of websites now that allow you to hire a personal trainer for online fitness coaching. Web sessions are generally less expensive than face-to-face training, and allow for greater flexibility in scheduling.

It works like this: you enroll in a training program online, you submit fitness data that will be updated as the training progresses, you may possibly meet your trainer in-person for an initial evaluation and session, and subsequent sessions are conducted through phone or email communications. You need not belong to a gym for this type of training; it’s possible to conduct sessions from your home or outdoors. Plus, you can enroll with friends for group sessions, which are even more cost effective.

If you’ve wished you could train under a professional fitness instructor but haven’t had the time, this method could be for you. Now everyone has one less excuse for not being fit.

See the LA Times story here.

Idea #47 for April 6th, 2009: It Pays to be Fit or Employee Incentives for Healthy Living

Many Americans struggle with health problems, and many employers struggle to pay insurance premiums for their workforce. It stands to reason that improvements in the health of workers would benefit not just themselves, but also their employers. For that reason, a number of companies are making efforts to improve employee wellness, and in some cases are offering rewards for participation in wellness programs.

Targeting obesity can have substantial effects on healthcare costs, as it is associated with other diseases like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. Similarly, smoking cessation can also drastically lower the occurrence of health problems. Companies are increasingly implementing workplace wellness programs, which may include education, screening, and interventions to keep employees and their families healthier. Employers that have started such programs have seen their healthcare costs drop 26%, according to the CDC.

But sometimes people need prodding to make lifestyle changes. Accordingly, companies are seeing employee participation in wellness programs increasing when incentives are offered, says one study’s findings. Incentives usually include rewards like gift cards for reaching certain wellness goals.

Aside from lower healthcare premiums, employers can expect a corresponding increase in job satisfaction and otherwise positive employee attitude about their job, as well as fewer missed days. This is a win-win situation. Given proper incentive, workers will take steps to improve their health, saving money for the company — and most importantly — employees’ lives.

To read more about wellness programs, see this LA Times article, and this press release from Humana.