Britain is the fattest nation in Europe

Obesity rates are rising rapidly across Europe but the UK rate of 26.1 per cent is more than twice that in France, at 12.9 per cent, according to a strudy by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Only Hungary outranks Britain with an obesity rate of 28.5 per cent. More than half of Europeans are overweight or obese, according to the report on health across the 27-nation OECD.

Obesity is more prevalent in women than men in most countries – but fat men outnumber fat women in Norway, Iceland and Malta. The problem is worse among the poorer and less well educated. Diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, asthma, arthritis and some forms of cancer are increased by obesity.

Many countries have stepped up efforts to tackle obesity. There have been taxes on foods high in fat and sugar, and several countries including Denmark, France, Finland and Hungary have passed legislation aimed at changing eating habits.

While obesity is rising, smoking and alcohol consumption are falling. Even so, the EU has the highest alcohol consumption in the world at 10.7 litres of pure alcohol per adult. Life expectancy in the EU was 79 years in 2010.http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/britain-is-the-fattest-nation-in-europe-8324262.html

Exercise facts for men and women

Exercise is Good for Women

A large-scale, six-year study involving 39,372 American women over age 44 confirms that exercise reduces the risk of coronary heart disease in women.

The study found that the more energy women spent exercising, the lower their risk of developing heart disease, including heart attacks, regardless of other factors.

Among the approximately 23,000 women who did not engage in any vigorous activity, women who walked as little as one hour per week had about half the risk of more sedentary women of developing heart disease.

Intensity was less of a factor than the total amount of time spent walking.

Exercise is Good for Men.

Men who exercise have a reduced risk of dying from both cardiovascular disease and cancer.

And, according to a new report from researchers in Finland, being out of shape increases the risk of premature death as much as commonly known risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and smoking.

These findings, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, are based on a 10-year study of nearly 1,300 men.

At the start of the study, none of the participants, whose average age was 52, had cardiovascular disease, lung disease or cancer.

Researchers found that those who performed well on a maximum oxygen uptake test and could exercise longer were more likely to be alive at the end of the study.

Conversely, men who performed poorly were three times more likely to die from any cause.

Exercise Essentials

During a recent  survey over 36,000 certified Fitness Professionals were asked to name their single most important exercise items.

Some answers were obvious (my body), while others were more abstract (daily goals, plenty of space).

Here are their top 12 exercise essentials

          Good shoes

                      Fun or appropriate music

                      Free weights

.                   A positive attitude

                      Comfortable clothing

                      Fresh, clean air and/or sunshine

                      A supportive sports bra

                      Safe, well-made equipment (e.g., cardio machines, heart-rate monitors

                      Weight-training gloves

1                  Enough time

                       A workout partner

                       Lots of water

But How Much Water is Too Much?

While dehydration is a more common concern for exercisers, some experts think the public should be aware of the danger of drinking too much water, which can lead to a potentially fatal condition called hyponatremia.

Characterized by an abnormally low blood concentration of sodium, it is most often seen at extremely high-endurance events such as ultra-marathons.

Hyponatremia is more common among women than men, and was responsible for the death of a 43-year-old woman running in the Chicago Marathon last year.

Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness, headache and disorientation, and bloating in the face and hands.

Research suggests that drinking about two cups of fluid two hours before exercise and another six to eight ounces every 20 minutes can help optimise performance.

Some exercisers may opt to measure the amount of fluid they lose by weighing themselves before and after exercise to determine the number of pounds lost through perspiration. For every pound lost, experts recommend drinking one pint of fluid during exercise.

Sports drinks may also be a good choice because they help replace lost sodium and have been shown to enhance performance during prolonged exercise.

Fitness Myths

Top Six Fitness Myths

Don,t you find it overwhelming when you start reading all the suggestions and advice and do's and dont's about what you should do with your body.

With so much health and fitness information coming from so many different sources, it's no wonder people are confused.

What does it take to get fit? Will crunches get rid of my spare tire? What’s the best way to lose weight? These are the types of questions numerous certified Fitness Professionals hear on a daily basis.

In a recent survey around the globe more than 1,500  certified Professionals responded to our request for the most pervasive myths and misconceptions about exercise.

And here are  their top six responses which makes interesting reading.

1. Women who lift weights will get bulky muscles.
2. 
   

If you exercise, you can eat whatever you want.

Exercise requires a hefty time commitment.

1. Spot reducing is possible.
2. 
   
3. No pain, no gain.
4. 
   
5. There’s a magic bullet (quick fix) out there somewhere.

Simple ways to get healthy

We’re all less physically active than we used to be, mainly because of the sort of jobs we do. Regular exercise, playing sport or taking some form of physical activity for 30 minutes at least five days a week will have a positive effect on your health.

Regular exercise can help increase your energy levels, reduce stress and burn fat to keep your weight down. It can also keep organs, like your heart, healthy.

You could go to a gym, join a class or go for a swim. You can join in with teamsports, such as football or netball. If you’re short of time, why not keep fit by riding a bike or walking briskly instead of driving or taking the bus.

There are many ways to get fit and do some simple daily and weekly exercise and the aim of this blog is to educate, inform and encourage you to look after your body.

I will recommend activities, food and  drink that are vital for good health, I will post interesting articals on general health, both mental and physical and recommend books, digital information, health courses and a wide range of health and fitness advise all tailored to help you stay healthy to look after yourself and your body to enjoy and live a long healthy life.

My own passion is health and fitness and I want to share my passion with others who care about their bodies.