Archive for August 2012
Diabetes Rates Expected to Soar
According to the American Diabetes Association, 25.8 million people in the United States have diabetes—8.3% of the total population. By 2025, says a study in Population Health Management (2012; 15, 1–7), that number will be dwarfed.
Read MoreEye Contact Increases Feelings of Connection
As a fitness professional, do you make eye contact with each of your class members? Humans, like other social beings, have an important need to feel they are part of a group—and a recent study conducted at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, found that something as simple as eye contact (as opposed to being ignored) can make people feel more connected.
Read MoreMore Evidence That Physical Activity Lessens Cognitive Decline
New research, published in Neurology (2012; [78], 1323–29), adds to the growing evidence that physical activity can reduce cognitive decline and slow progression of Alzheimer’s disease. The significance of this particular study is that it measured total daily activity using actigraphy instead of relying on self-reporting by study subjects. Self-reporting is not always accurate, whereas…
Read MoreTrainers: 30 Ways to Make More Money
As IDEA’s editors, we’ve learned a thing or two about profit centers as we’ve read and shepherded countless articles from the best minds in the industry. To celebrate IDEA’s 30th Anniversary, we decided to collect the best (somewhat passive) revenue stream ideas, all in one place.
We hope these ideas will inspire you and launch you into the next three decades with a new perspective on how success can be yours without it eating up all of your time, energy and financial resources.
Sell a Membership Model and Adopt Auto-Payment
Read MorePhysical Education Compliance in Schools
A great deal of discussion has taken place regarding the importance of physical education (PE) in schools. Fortunately, many districts throughout the United States are required by law to offer PE, but are they compliant? A study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine (2012; 42 [5], 452–59) focused attention on California schools, where…
Read MoreFinancial Benefits of Daily Deal Sites
Have you ever wondered if partnering with daily deal sites is worth the investment? According to Bloomspot, one of many daily deal companies, the answer is yes.
The organization analyzed customer transaction data from about 2,000 participating businesses in core markets. Here are a few highlights:
Read MoreWeight Issues Among Older Females
When it comes to eating disorders and body image issues, teenagers or young women might come to mind. However, a new study shows that these problems are also common among older women.
Read More“Good” Cholesterol Not Always Good?
High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), commonly referred to as “good cholesterol,” may not be all it’s cracked up to be, according to a new report.
Read MorePost Office Promotes Physical Activity
In support of improving physical activity levels, the United States Postal Service (USPS) recently unveiled a new series of forever stamps. The four stamps show a young child learning to ride a bike with training wheels, a commuter riding to work, a road racer and a BMX rider.
Read MoreFitness Industry Booms
It’s a good time to be in the fitness industry. According to IBISWorld, an independent source of industry and market research, revenue has increased over the past 5 years in just about all sectors.
Read MoreFitness Facilities Get Creative
Fitness industry revenue may be up (see “Fitness Industry Booms”), but that shouldn’t stop facility owners and managers from finding creative ways to draw new business and keep current members inspired. Here are some unique ideas for driving traffic, courtesy of HealthyWages.com:
Read MoreMotorized Transportation and Weight Gain
It’s well known that sedentary living is associated with health risks. Now, researchers have been looking at motorized transportation dependence and its correlation with body fat and waist circumference.
Read More“Extreme” Exercise Hurts Hearts
In the July–August issue of IDEA Fitness Journal, we reported on a study that found participation in endurance activities like marathons was not harmful to health. A new study suggests the opposite may be true.
Read MoreBody Weight Bias Starts Early
Children are often thought of as “clean slates” when it comes to interpersonal relationships. However, researchers from Ryerson University in Toronto have found that children as young as 21/2 years old seem to have developed a bias against overweight children. The researchers told stories to 42 boys and girls aged 21/2–5 years. Two were about…
Read MoreQualities of Top Teachers
Ideally, every exercise professional has had at least one extraordinary teacher. When you think about why that unforgettable teacher made such a lasting impression on you, do you wonder whether you can do the same for your own clients?
Read MoreSassy Sea Kelp “Noodle” Salad With Peanut–Red Pepper Dressing
The last day of summer may be just around the corner, but this savory and spicy salad’s complex flavor layers and satisfying crunch will help you hold onto the last rays of sunshine well into autumn. Try this as a stand-alone lunch salad or as a crunchy side to a lean grilled protein. Sea kelp…
Read MoreTwo New Anti-Obesity Drugs Approved by FDA
In late June, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a new prescription weight loss drug for the first time in 13 years. Lorcaserin—to be marketed in the U.S. under the name Belviq®—was approved as an addition to a reduced-calorie diet and exercise for chronic weight management, according to an FDA press release. On its heels in mid-July came a second approval—for Qsymia™—another prescription drug for weight loss.
Read MoreFood Journals Can Help Women Lose Weight
It’s not exactly a new strategy for aiding weight loss, but if you aren’t currently using food journals with clients who are trying to shed pounds, recent research suggests that perhaps you should be. Scientists from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center summarized the following from their study, which appeared in the July 16 online edition of the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: women who want to lose weight should faithfully keep a food journal and should avoid skipping meals and eating in restaurants—especially at lunch.
Read MoreAsk the RD
Answer
Most people have heard the health warnings about trans fats. They raise LDL (artery-clogging) cholesterol and lower HDL (good) cholesterol, increasing the risk for heart disease and stroke. Trans fats are easier to spot now that the amount is listed on the Nutrition Facts Panel of food labels. However, it is still important to scan the ingredients list for sources of trans fats (hidden as partially hydrogenated oils) because the U.S.
Read MoreAmuse-Bouche
“The very fact that we are having a national conversation about what we should eat, that we are struggling with the question about what the best diet is, is symptomatic of how far we have strayed from . . . the simple act of eating real, whole, fresh food. When it becomes a revolutionary act to eat real food, we are in trouble.”
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