Exercise and Fitness

Adult obesity rates have grown in 23 states. None of the states out of the 50 have shown a drop in obesity rates. Mississippi leads the race as Americans are getting fatter. Childhood obesity rates are flat, but they remain alarmingly high. Fitness and regular exercise are needed daily. Busy individuals can take 10 minutes at a time to do fitness.

These statistics on U.S. growing obesity trends came from The Trust for America's Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The reports also suggest that the percentage of fat people above the age 65 can increase soon.

It seems like there are as many different types of athletic shoes as there are people to wear them. So how do you know which one is right for you and your activities? Is it the cool style or the vibrant colors that should attract you to a shoe? Or is it the fit, function and structure of a shoe?

There is nothing stupid about Project Natal 360 for Xbox. It is more than a game. It is a great way to get up and move, while spending memorable time with the family. Sitting around punching a controller is restricting, which makes Project Natal more than just a game, it can serve as an exercise and fitness tool as well.

By the time they reach ninth grade, most adolescents abandon the physical activities they enjoyed in seventh grade; and the more vigorous the activity, the more likely they are to drop it.

Although some older adolescents rekindle their interest, it still does not return to seventh-grade levels, according to a study in the July issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Charlotte, N.C., ranked as the 34th fittest of America’s most populous metropolitan areas according to the American College of Sports Medicine’s (ACSM) American Fitness Index (AFI). ACSM unveiled the 2009 rankings and released the AFI data report, “Health and Community Fitness Status of the 50 Largest Metropolitan Areas,“ during the organization’s Annual Meeting in Seattle. The report, produced in partnership with the WellPoint Foundation, is a snapshot of the state of health and fitness in America’s 50 most populous metropolitan areas.

The Rockland County Department of Health and the Steps to a Healthier Rockland program announce that Wednesday, May 20th is Employee Health & Fitness Day and urge employers to take part in the “Healthier Worksites, Healthier Workers” program to promote a healthy work environment.

In order to be safe, you have to be seen. That’s the advice the Southwest Injury Prevention Network (SWIPN) are urging walkers, runners, cyclists and others to follow when they use roadways to keep physically active in the coming months. With spring in the air and summer right around the corner, SWIPN launched its Be Safe Be Seen campaign this week.

An exercise program that burns a lot of calories reduced cardiac risk factors better than standard cardiac rehabilitation in overweight coronary patients, researchers report in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

Results of a new study show that vibration plate exercise machines can trim harmful belly fat, combined with exercise and calorie restriction. Researchers compared four groups of people. Dieters who used vibration plate exercise machines lost enough weight to improve health. The findings showed that vibration plate exercise machines help dieters trim belly fat when used properly.

Major League baseball (MLB) began banning steroid use in 1191, but did not begin testing its players until 2003. Over time time they have slowly gotten tougher with their testing and penalties. Currently, players such as Mani Ramirez are given a 50 game ban for their first offense. After a third positive test for a performance enhancing drug (PED), the player is banned for life.