Physical Activity

Individuals who have a genetic mutation associated with high body mass index (BMI) may be able to offset their increased risk for obesity through physical activity, according to the results of a study.

Every time I try to tell a patient to exercise they moan and complain, but when I say get more physical activity they all ask “what’s that. This week Gwen Stubenhofer, RN, BSN, ACLS-Instructor explains what that means and how she encourages patients to get more of it. You can …

In a case-control study among Hispanic women, physically active breast cancer survivors were 60% less likely to have diabetes compared with a physically inactive control group, Maureen Sanderson, Ph.D., of the University of Texas-Houston School of Public Health at Brownsville, reported at the Department of Defense Era of Hope meeting.

Physical activity may help counter the adverse effect diabetes seems to have on breast cancer risk in Hispanic women’

Sedentary older people at risk of developing diabetes showed significant improvement in the function of their insulin-making beta cells after just one week of exercise.

Wake up and smell the coffee. Engaging in physical activity for at least 3 hours per week was associated with a decrease in mortality risk of 27%, according to the results of a prospective study. 

Eating a Mediterranean diet and following national recommendations for physical activity are each associated with a reduced risk of death over a five-year period, according to two reports.

The mind-body connection

From the American Heart Association and the American college of sports medicine, comes new recommendations for physical activity, which also includes resistance exercise. These recommendations are not just for patients, but for medical professionals as well. 

Even small amounts of physical activity — approximately 75 minutes per week — can improve cardiorespiratory fitness levels of sedentary overweight individuals, a study shows.