In The News! Obesity, Mental Health, Exercise Guidelines!
OBESITY AND THE BRAIN: Recent research may give a clue for one reason it is so difficult to lose weight (this study was done in mice, but the researchers felt a similar process occurs in humans): eating a high fat, high sugar diet switched ON a particular gene in the mouse brain. This gene then triggered a generalized increase in the level of inflammation in the mouse’s body, which then caused the mouse to become less responsive to the hormone leptin. In humans, leptin makes us feel full. So if we respond less to leptin, then even if we eat too much, we won’t feel full…and a vicious cycle can result…another reason to avoid a diet with too much fat or sugar.
One goal we should have is to cut the level of inflammation in our bodies. Scientists feel that a state of chronic inflammation can lead to such serious problems as diabetes, atherosclerosis, and even various cancers.
ECONOMIC BAILOUT BILL AND MENTAL HEALTH: With the current level of financial distress in the world, more of us may want to seek out psychological help, but are held back because of the cost, and that our insurance doesn’t cover mental health problems as well as physical problems. But that will change now, at least for employees in plans with over 50 workers. Added to the “bailout” bill just passed is a provision to finally require insurance parity for mental and physical health problems. It is good news that this long battle in Congress has been won, and read here for more details.
GOVERNMENTAL EXERCISE GUIDELINES: If you exercise daily you will probably not only live longer, but have a much higher chance of getting your 90s dancing and without disability. Besides cutting your risk of heart disease and diabetes, daily exercise cuts your risk of various cancers, bone fracture, and depression (some studies point to daily aerobic exercise as possibly as effective as an anti-depressant).
Now the Department of Health and Human Services has come out with new recommendations for the weekly amount of exercise, and the type. They recommend, for adults, a minimum of 2 ½ hours of moderate exercise per week, to include muscle-strengthening exercise at least twice a week (to help keep both your muscles AND bones strong). And, sensibly, these new HHS guidelines stress that you don’t need to go to the gym, but just find some physical activities you like to do, and keep them up, faithfully. The important thing to remember is: keep moving as much as you can!
