Women/Women's Health Issues Articles

You have likely heard your fair share of excuses from clients regarding why they don’t eat healthy foods more consistently. Most of us certainly have made a few such excuses ourselves. newsletter_teaser: You have likely heard your fair share of excuses from clients regarding why they don’t eat healthy foods more consistently. Most of us certainly have made a few such excuses ourselves.

In a study published in the February 20 issue of the Medical Journal of Australia (2012; 196 [3], 184–88), researchers looked at pregnancy outcomes among obese and overweight women. The scientists analyzed data from 75,432 women who gave birth at the Mater Mothers’ Hospital in Brisbane, Queens­land, between January 1998 and December 2009. Approximately 32.7% of the women were classified as overweight or obese. The researchers noticed that women with higher body mass indexes (BMIs)—and their children—tended to have more health-related issues than those with “normal” BMIs.

When you’re developing weight loss programs for niche populations, it may be important to understand the role that environment plays in successful outcomes. One example comes from the Journal of Black Psychology (2012; 38 [1], 81–103). The study’s primary goal was to determine compliance among 55 overweight or obese African American women entering obesity treatment. For 13 weeks, 36 of the women were involved in a program held in churches; the other 19 attended a program in a university setting. Each woman was weighed and completed a physical fitness test.

Overweight women aged 65–80, take heed: Excess fat significantly impairs ambulation and leg strength, say researchers from the University of New Hampshire. The researchers separated 25 women into a normal-weight group and an overweight group. The women were tested for strength and rate of torque development in the knee extensors and flexors and the ankle plantarflexors and dorsiflexors. Then, during walking tests at standard and maximal speeds, the scientists measured muscle-activation, spatiotemporal and kinetic-gait variables.

Attracting and maintaining a client base can be a struggle. To be successful, it helps to understand what types of exercise appeal to specific populations. For middle-aged women, the experts suggest keeping the intensity moderate. The study, reported at the North American Menopause Society meeting in Washington, DC, included 134 women aged 40–60. The goal was to determine whether vigorous-intensity exercise and moderate-intensity exercise had different psychological effects on the women.

According to the 2011 10Q Report: Advancing Women’s Heart Health Through Improved Research, Diagnosis and Treatment, heart disease causes an estimated 8.6 million deaths among American women annually and is the leading cause of death for women in the United States. Nearly 50% of women are expected to die from heart disease or stroke.newsletter_teaser: According to the 2011 10Q Report: Advancing Women’s Heart Health Through Improved Research, Diagnosis and Treatment, heart disease causes an estimated 8.6 million deaths among American women annually and is the leading cause of death for women in the United States. Nearly 50% of women are expected to die from heart disease or stroke.

I vividly remember the day, 4½ years ago, when my best friend learned she had breast cancer. It seemed completely unbelievable—she was only 36 and still nursing her 7-month-old baby! The subsequent weeks and months were a labyrinth of doctors’ visits, tests, treatment decisions, surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and ongoing drug therapies to prevent recurrence. I had heard much about breast cancer, but watching someone close to me undergo aggressive cancer treatment made me wonder if anything could be done to mitigate the challenging side effects. newsletter_teaser: Check out this great article from the IDEA Online Library, and learn how exercise results can be improved with proper use of a heart rate monitor. As an IDEA member, all of the articles in our library are free to you.

Having mom stay active while pregnant can be good for both mom and baby. A recent study suggests that a mom’s fitness endeavors can have a positive impact on her baby’s heart health. The goal of the study was to determine whether a mom’s physical activity during pregnancy would have lasting positive effects on her child. According to the data, a newborn whose mother was physically active during pregnancy would reap rewards from that activity for up to 1 month after birth.