Bent out of shape over viewer-health analysis and fitness projects

Photo by Marie Theresa Hernandez

Washington Post

"For every additional two hours that people spend glued to their television sets on a typical day, their risk of developing type-2 diabetes increases by a whopping 20 percent, and their risk of heart disease rises by 15 percent.That’s according to an analysis of eight studies on the subject published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association and brought to our attention by Health.com."

Too Much TV Linked to Earlier Death - from Health.com

"Each additional hour spent in front of the TV increased the risk of dying from heart disease by 18% and the overall risk of death by 11%, according to the study, which was published today on the website of Circulation, an American Heart Association journal. (The study will appear in the Jan. 26 print edition.)

The pattern held even after the researchers took into account the education level and overall health of the participants—their age, whether they smoked, and their cholesterol and blood pressure,"

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Young People can have high cholesterol - Read Below -

Simple steps can cut deadly risk of heart disease, study finds

By Shari Roan ,Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

..."Boy, most Americans aren't very healthy," said Urman, who wasn't involved in the research. However, he added, "on a more positive note, the study confirms that individuals can take control of their health. Incremental changes can make a huge difference."

The changes, dubbed Life's Simple Seven, were laid out in January as part of an American Heart Assn. campaign to guide people toward "ideal cardiovascular health." They include:

• At least 150 minutes of moderate exercise, or 75 minutes of intense exercise, a week.

• Having a body mass index of less than 25.

• Being a nonsmoker for at least one year.

• Meeting four out of five of the association's key components for a healthy diet.

• Keeping total cholesterol below 200 milligrams per deciliter of blood.

• Maintaining blood pressure below 120/80 millimeters of mercury.

• Having a fasting blood sugar level below 100 mg/dL of blood."

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