Eat more -- but have less body fat!

Active women who walk the most steps per day have less body fat, lower BMI, and smaller waist circumference. They also have lower insulin levels and other risk factors for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and obesity than less active women even though the more active women consume more calories, protein and carbohydrates. 

PositiveTip: Walking is a great weight control tool, and every step you take throughout the day counts.

Where you carry the fat is less important than being overweight in general.

Are "apple-shaped" bodies, or "pear-shaped" bodies at greater risk for cardiovascular disease? Turns out that simply being overweight, whatever the shape, increases risks for heart disease. Researchers looked at data from a very large study of 221,934 people and found that body-mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio and waist circumference all equally predicted the 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease when added to blood pressure, diabetes history and lipid measurements. 

PositiveTip: Losing extra weight, no matter how or where you carry it, is important for your health.

Lower your diabetes risk by getting 10,000 steps per day.

Australian research has revealed that 10,000 steps per day (about 5 miles) not only reduces the risk of diabetes, but it also decreased their body mass index (BMI). At the start of this study the steps walked by almost 600 participants were measured. Then 5 years later they were again tested. Those who increased their step counts over the study life experienced the greatest improvements!

PositiveTip: Lifestyle changes as simple and readily available as daily walking pay great dividends for good health.

Parental feeding practices significantly influence preschool children's eating patterns.

Researchers in Australia analyzed longitudinal questionnaire data completed by mothers of 2-4 year olds. After controlling for age, gender, maternal age, education and BMI, parental pressure to eat predicted decreased interest in new foods up to 12 months later. However, parental modeling of healthy eating predicted more interest in new foods and less picky eating. These eating practices did not predict body weight 12 months later, though.

PositiveTip: If you model healthy eating to your children, it will lead to better eating behaviors, even in preschoolers!

Sleep problems likely contribute to excess weight gain.

A number of studies have shown that sleep-deprived children and adults are more likely to gain excess weight. Finnish researchers followed 7322 men and women age 60 and over for seven years. After adjusting for confounding factors, they found that 1/3 of women who experienced frequent sleep problems gained at least 11 pounds.

PositiveTip: To make consistently wise choices, we need regular and consistent rest and sleep.

Obesity impairs the body's ability to remember how to fight the flu.

Obesity is seen as an independent risk factor for the H1N1 flu virus.

New research in obese mice strongly suggests they are far more susceptible to secondary infections (i.e. pneumonia). It seems that the excess weight interferes with the immune system's ability to "remember" how to fight off previous similar infections. This kind of "memory" is essential for vaccine effectiveness, too.

PositiveTip: Attaining and keeping a healthy weight may significantly influence the likelihood of severe flu as well as secondary infections.

Every one unit of BMI greater than 25 reduces odds for healthy survival to 70 by 12%!

Being overweight or obese raises the risk of chronic disease and premature death. Investigators have now examined the relationship of healthy survival to old age and weight in early adulthood and midlife. Data from 17,000 women enrolled in the Nurses' Health Study reveals that for every one unit of BMI greater than 25, the odds for healthy survival to 70  decreased by 12%! Healthy survival was defined as free from major chronic diseases, including myocardial infarction, cancer, and stroke.

Expanding waistlines associated with increased prevalence of asthma!

With a rising prevalence of asthma in the US, who would have guessed it might be associated with expanding waistlines? A study of more than 88,000 women teachers in California found that those who were overweight had a 40% higher risk for asthma compared to normal weight women. Interestingly, after adjusting for smoking, age, and ethnicity women with waist measurements larger than 35.2 inches had significantly higher risk for asthma--even if they were normal weight. Visceral fat is associated with inflammatory processes, and asthma is an inflammatory condition of the airways.

PositiveTip: Go easy on the high-calorie foods and be physically active daily. It could help reduce your risk of asthma!

Moderate weight in both men and women assures the lowest death rates--not too heavy and not too thin!