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How many times during a week do clients tell you they want to lose weight or talk about what they are doing to change their body weight? Among 48,026 U.S. residents over the age of 20 who answered the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2015–2016, 42% responding said they were actively trying to lose weight.
The average American Heart Association healthy-diet score for U.S. adults improved between 2003–2004 and 2015–2016, according to the AHA Statistical Update 2020. Two scales were used to measure diet quality. On one of them, scores for a poor diet decreased from 56% to 47.8%; on the second, poor diet prevalence dropped from 43.7% to 36.4%.
Among 250 healthy, overweight adults participating in a randomized controlled study, more than half (55%) went for IF (restricting intake 2 days a week), while 27% chose the Mediterranean diet (emphasizing whole grains, fruit and vegetables), and 18% opted to go Paleo (modified to allow some legumes and dairy). Participants also chose whether to try high-intensity interval training or a standard exercise regimen. After a brief educational session on their chosen diet, they completed assessments of their food intake, biometric measures and physical activity; these assessments were repeated at intervals.
Which came first? High carb diets or expanding waistlines? Since the birth of the recommendation to reduce fat and increase carbohydrate in the American diet, the incidence of obesity has increased. While much of this uptick in weight is linked to increased portions and total caloric intake, recent survey data suggests that individuals view carbs as the culprit with over a third of individuals voicing their belief that they should be eating fewer carbs.
According to a study in Endocrinology, soybean oil may cause genetic changes that lead to neurological conditions such as autism, Alzheimer’s disease, anxiety and depression. Researchers compared mice that were fed three different diets high in fat: soybean oil, soybean oil modified to be low in linoleic acid, and coconut oil. Results showed that a…
Active-duty males involved in the U.S. Army Special Forces Assessment and Selection course who had higher Healthy Eating Index (HEI) scores—used to assess compliance with the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans—performed better on the demanding Army Physical Fitness Test and were up to 75% more likely to be selected for the elite unit than those with the lowest diet-quality scores, according to a study in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.
Here’s another good reason to embrace the trend of eating more plants: A cohort study in Nature Communications involving 56,048 adults in Denmark found that people who over a 23-year period habitually consumed moderate to high amounts of foods rich in flavonoids—naturally occurring chemical compounds found predominantly in plant-based foods—were less likely to die from cancer or heart disease.
For years, nutrition and health experts have been telling us to cut back on our intake of red meat. Now, a controversial new analysis says this advice was largely unwarranted.
While extremely low-carbohydrate diets like fat-forward keto can aid in short-term weight loss, they have mixed effects on other health markers, according to a scientific statement issued by the National Lipid Association and published in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology.
Sports drinks, energy gels and bars can help athletes keep up the pace, but frequent use may land them in the dental chair. According to a study published in the British Dental Journal, regular consumption of these products is likely a major reason why professional athletes have higher rates of tooth decay than the general public, despite eating a healthy diet overall and practicing good oral hygiene, like twice-daily brushing. The sugar content and acidity of energy products can expedite gum inflammation and tooth decay, leading to poor oral health.
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IDEA Fitness Journal
Current Issue:
December 2019
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