Early this month, the Department of Health and Human Services released an update to the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. The recommended amount of physical activity needed to maintain good health really hasn't changed. Children should get 60 minutes of physical activity a day and most of it should be moderate to vigorous aerobic activity (i.e., increased heart rate, hard to carry on a conversation) and they need muscle strengthening exercises, too. Little children, and their caregivers, should stay active throughout the day. That is subjective, but it means less screen time!
The amount of moderate to vigorous physical activity and strength training that adults need is still 150 to 300 minutes of aerobic activity a week, less if it's vigorous (like running at a 10 m/m pace or faster), and twice a week weight training. The Guidelines say that this amount of physical activity is beneficial, but to really improve health and prevent disease MORE is necessary. That goes for strength training (e.g., lift weights), too. The least amount Americans need to do is twice a week for 20 minutes. Older adults, say 50+ should consider weight training imperative, as it will slow age related muscle loss (i.e., sarcopenia). Read more from the DHHS here. And for an announcement on the changes from NPR, read here.
So what has me all riled up... so much so I am writing a blog post when I have pretty much stopped making time for them? Well, the Guidelines now claim that any large muscle motor activity/movement can count toward your aerobic goal. So if you walk from your car to a building and it takes 5 minutes, good for you!! Only 295 more to go. If you mop the floor for 10 minutes - you are AWESOME, 285 more to go. And so forth.
As I perceive it, that is not exercise. And here is why I think the DHHS wants to say it is. Because, as a nation, we have been woefully behind in meeting the PAGA (physical activity guidelines). According to the CDC, less than 1/4 (25%!) meet the combined aerobic and strength training minimum goal. But if the government says all those little things DO count, then when they ask people about meeting the per week aerobic goal, more can say yes. So the next time the CDC reports results form a survey, the percent of the population meeting the aerobic goal might jump from 50% to 75%, only because the definition has changed, not because people became more active.
Imagine our trend lines - there could be a sudden spike in the number of Americans who meet the goals, but it won't be because people are exercising more, it will be because they are counting things that probably shouldn't count. Be wary when looking at trend data when the definition of the behavior being tracked or the question being asked, has changed.
I absolutely 100% believe we need to move more and sit less and that by doing so, we will be healthier, but come on. If you get up and go to the toilet at night, can you count that too?!? Lowering the standards is not going to reduce chronic illnesses related to sedentary behavior.
Showing posts with label deirdre dingman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label deirdre dingman. Show all posts
Saturday, November 24, 2018
Friday, May 4, 2018
It is happening!
It has been eight years, but the National Restaurant Menu Labeling Law (part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act) will be in effect on Monday. Restaurant chains with over 20 locations will be required to post the calorie content of their standard offering on menu boards and print menus. The goal is to raise awareness of the amount of calories in the items we choose - and to do so before we make that choice. This law has the potential to change our behavior as consumers as well as the behavior of those providing us with food and beverages. Will the calories available to purchase decline? Will we purchase AND consumer fewer calories? If the answers are yes, will the country's obesity rate plateau or decline? I sure hope so - but that's a lot of ifs.
Meanwhile, the recommended changes to the Nutrition Facts Panel have been delayed to 2020 - here we go again. The main change on those labels is an emphasis on total calories and added sugar and a de-emphasis on total fat.
On a personal note, sorry I don't post much anymore, but my students require a substantial amount of my time!
Meanwhile, the recommended changes to the Nutrition Facts Panel have been delayed to 2020 - here we go again. The main change on those labels is an emphasis on total calories and added sugar and a de-emphasis on total fat.
On a personal note, sorry I don't post much anymore, but my students require a substantial amount of my time!
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
A Blog Decision
On Thursday I will take the oral component of my comprehensive exams. I am enrolled in a Public Health doctorate program. As you might have deduced, my area of interest is public health law and reducing obesity by changing the food environment.
I am interested in conducting research on laws and strategies that are meant to reduce the availability and consumption of foods that are calorically dense and nutrient poor - aka junk foods. I am not out to BAN them or tell anyone that they cannot eat them. My hope is that through policy, we can make nutritious foods the majority preference. I think that this would happen if better for you foods were less expensive, more convenient, tasted better, were universally available, were what you saw advertised on TV and were what your friends and family were eating.
This post - the one I don't want to write - should be my last for a while. Here is why.
First I should study hard for my exams. If I do not pass my exams that would indicate that writing the blog was probably not a good use of my time!
If I do pass them, the next part of my program involves 1) writing a proposal for my dissertation (research experiment)- 2) defending my ideas and getting my professors to approve my plan and then 3)conducting my research, analyzing my data, writing two papers about the study, and 4) defending my study and the results in front of faculty, family and friends.
So if I don't pass - I have to study hard and retake my exams and if I do pass, I will have a whole lot of work to do!
No matter what happens on Thursday, I have several end of the semester projects to complete- but they are all very interesting.
Of course, I am leaving off the part where I work with faculty in order to have my tuition paid covered.
The last consideration for continuing the blog is a rather disappointing review of the blog analytics. With one or two fantastic exceptions, my readership for the blog is quite low. I understand. There are millions of Bloggers competing for readers.
My You Tube channel is faring much better. I have over 240 subscribers from all over the world. As my cooking and physical activity videos are relatively popular, I will continue to create and post them.
You can visit my You Tube Channel here.
I have tried to stop blogging before - it is hard because I enjoy it so much and some of my readers are loyal and especially important to me. It just makes sense to stop now....for a while.
I am interested in conducting research on laws and strategies that are meant to reduce the availability and consumption of foods that are calorically dense and nutrient poor - aka junk foods. I am not out to BAN them or tell anyone that they cannot eat them. My hope is that through policy, we can make nutritious foods the majority preference. I think that this would happen if better for you foods were less expensive, more convenient, tasted better, were universally available, were what you saw advertised on TV and were what your friends and family were eating.
This post - the one I don't want to write - should be my last for a while. Here is why.
First I should study hard for my exams. If I do not pass my exams that would indicate that writing the blog was probably not a good use of my time!
If I do pass them, the next part of my program involves 1) writing a proposal for my dissertation (research experiment)- 2) defending my ideas and getting my professors to approve my plan and then 3)conducting my research, analyzing my data, writing two papers about the study, and 4) defending my study and the results in front of faculty, family and friends.
So if I don't pass - I have to study hard and retake my exams and if I do pass, I will have a whole lot of work to do!
No matter what happens on Thursday, I have several end of the semester projects to complete- but they are all very interesting.
Of course, I am leaving off the part where I work with faculty in order to have my tuition paid covered.
The last consideration for continuing the blog is a rather disappointing review of the blog analytics. With one or two fantastic exceptions, my readership for the blog is quite low. I understand. There are millions of Bloggers competing for readers.
My You Tube channel is faring much better. I have over 240 subscribers from all over the world. As my cooking and physical activity videos are relatively popular, I will continue to create and post them.
You can visit my You Tube Channel here.
I have tried to stop blogging before - it is hard because I enjoy it so much and some of my readers are loyal and especially important to me. It just makes sense to stop now....for a while.
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Monday, July 30, 2012
Fast Food Customers - Walk Ins vs Drive Throughs
About a year before the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act was amended to include menu labeling, researchers associated with Yale and led by Christina Roberto conducted several studies to explore the effects of menu labeling on purchasing behavior. They were able to use NYC for some of these tests because NYC had added mandatory menu labeling in 2008. Other scientists have also reviewed these policies.
As the details of the national law were being negotiated, restaurant owners suggested that drive through menu boards be exempt from the calorie disclosures. Instead they suggested that a notice be placed on the boards that informed customers about nutrient information that was available in side or on line. There were problems with this idea. First, studies had already shown that customers rarely noticed information or made use of it if it was not directly at the point of sale. Because of this, it was likely that some proportion of fast food customers would not benefit from the law if it exempted drive through order boards.
Roberto, et al observed customer traffic at 8 different fast food establishments during specific time periods for a total of 39 separate observations. (in Connecticut) They categorized over 3500 customers as either inside or drive through orderers. The results of their study likely impacted the final menu labeling rule. In total, across all the restaurants, 57% of the customers used the drive through. Curiously, the lowest drive through rate was at Kentucky Fried Chicken (36%) and the highest was at Dairy Queen (70%) followed by Taco Bell (63%).
You might think, well, those were CT restaurants. This is true, but it is likely that similar numbers would be found in other states. The researchers' conclusion that menu labeling is needed on the drive through boards as well as inside makes good sense to me.
At last check, the legislation does include the drive through boards. I am hoping to find some time this week to review the status of the vending and menu laws. The FDA (through the secretary of Health and Human Services) is responsible for explaining to restaurant and vending owners exactly what they have to do, when they have to do it, what the penalty will be for not doing it, and when the FDA will begin enforcement. The last I read, all is delayed, but the final rule may come out this fall.
The study that I referenced is available here.
As the details of the national law were being negotiated, restaurant owners suggested that drive through menu boards be exempt from the calorie disclosures. Instead they suggested that a notice be placed on the boards that informed customers about nutrient information that was available in side or on line. There were problems with this idea. First, studies had already shown that customers rarely noticed information or made use of it if it was not directly at the point of sale. Because of this, it was likely that some proportion of fast food customers would not benefit from the law if it exempted drive through order boards.
Roberto, et al observed customer traffic at 8 different fast food establishments during specific time periods for a total of 39 separate observations. (in Connecticut) They categorized over 3500 customers as either inside or drive through orderers. The results of their study likely impacted the final menu labeling rule. In total, across all the restaurants, 57% of the customers used the drive through. Curiously, the lowest drive through rate was at Kentucky Fried Chicken (36%) and the highest was at Dairy Queen (70%) followed by Taco Bell (63%).
You might think, well, those were CT restaurants. This is true, but it is likely that similar numbers would be found in other states. The researchers' conclusion that menu labeling is needed on the drive through boards as well as inside makes good sense to me.
At last check, the legislation does include the drive through boards. I am hoping to find some time this week to review the status of the vending and menu laws. The FDA (through the secretary of Health and Human Services) is responsible for explaining to restaurant and vending owners exactly what they have to do, when they have to do it, what the penalty will be for not doing it, and when the FDA will begin enforcement. The last I read, all is delayed, but the final rule may come out this fall.
The study that I referenced is available here.
Roberto CA, Hoffnagle E, Bragg MA, Brownell KD.
Public Health Nutr. 2010 Nov;13(11):1826-8. Epub 2010 Mar 18.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Heat, Hydration and Exercise Amounts
Heat, Hydration and Muscles This goes into the “learned the hard way” category. Maybe you can learn from my experience. As you may recall,
I had some pain in my calf a few weeks ago. Both the physical therapist and later the MD asked me
if I had been running when it was very hot.
I had. It was when NC was having
the high heat index days and I was blogging about code red air
quality. The PT said that I was probably
tired and hot leading my muscles to cramp and stay sort of knotted up. I kept trying to run – thinking – well surely
those knots will let go. Instead, it got
worse and Monday a week ago, the pain was intense enough to send stress fracture alarm bells ringing and I have not run since (sad
me). I saw the sports medicine doctor on
Thursday. He told his assistant, “It’s the heat. Remember all the runners that have been
coming in with pulled muscles? They get
dehydrated and injured.” So dehydration was the cause. Dehydration (when you sweat out more than you
drink in) impairs muscle functioning.
The muscles have less blood flowing to them, are not as flexible and
elastic as usual and are prone to stresses.
This makes the muscles weaker, increases cramping, and injury risk. As I recall, I may have run over a root on a
trail on one of those super hot days. The muscles that stabilize the ankle couldn’t handle the contraction
needed to balance me. I did not feel any
sharp pains – I only felt tightness the next day. My doctor used an ultrasound to evaluate my injury and found some tears in the perineum – one of the many calf muscles. I do not have a stress fracture and all my joints and muscles are strong. I did learn that the muscles most susceptible to
injury during dehydration are the hamstrings, quadriceps and calf. I thought I was prepared for the. I wore a fuel belt with electrolyte water , but I guess I
needed two bottles not one. BAH. Well – I am unhappy but as you’ll see in the
exercise chart below – I am NOT sedentary.
Exercise Amounts
I have added totals to the excel sheet that I use to make my chart. When considering my weekly total, I should not count the 80 minutes of cycling for transportation. It does not really meet the definition of exercise. That leaves me with a total of 678 minutes for the week. Within that total is my time spent on resistance or strength (weights) training. The PAG (physical activity guidelines) specify time for resistance workouts (at least 20 min 2x a week) apart from the recommendations for aerobic activity. So I should also subtract my 60 minutes of weight training form the 678 total. That leaves me with 618 minutes spent on walking, running, swimming or cycling in seven days. I averaged almost an hour and a half each day. Believe it or not, the PAG suggest that the more one exercises the better the benefit.
My change due to injury is somewhat noticable in the chart below and will be more so next week. I have added more cycling for fitness (including dirt trails) and and extra day of swimming. For the extra day of swimming (oh my gosh I used to hate one and now its three!) I am doing pool running with a jog belt. If you are interested in that, Google has some video links.
Remember you can make your own chart by modifying the excel document I made. It is available here. link to scribd
Are you still reading? Great. Let me add that I understand that the majority of people have trouble meeting the 150 minutes of aerobic activity per week, none the less 300 minutes. But it is true, the more you do the better off you'll be (for most people). Below is the statement from the PAG document itself. You can check out the guidelines in full here. There are special sections for people who are disabled or over the age of 65. However, no one gets away with being sedentary!
The benefits continue to increase when a person does more than the equivalent of 300 minutes a week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity. For example, a person who does 420 minutes (7 hours) a week has an even lower risk of premature death than a person who does 150 to 300 minutes a week. Current science does not allow identifying an upper limit of total activity above which there are no additional health benefits.
Friday, July 20, 2012
Brains to Keep
One of my professors is an avid bicyclist. He uses his bicycle for transportation and fitness and rides during all seasons of the year. His example encouraged me to purchase a used bike as soon as I came back to NC two years ago. I wanted to be able to commute to campus on my bike. This is something I did not do any of the other times I went to college. (yes, I know - I am a frequent student).
When he was my professor in the past (master's program in public health), I came to appreciate cycling as a way to conserve energy, sustain the planet and burn energy. I also learned to do all of this safely, by following road rules and wearing a helmet. Readers are aware of my feelings about and observations of helmet use.
I also worked with my professor in assessing the amount of helmet use in our town. The overall percentage of use was low, but it was higher in the over age 26 group. I am over age 26 and so is my professor. Several reasons exist for why people do not wear helmets. They can be silly, "it messes up my hair" or serious "I don't think I will crash." You can fix your hair, but you cannot so fix your skull and ANYONE can crash - anywhere - at any speed - into a vehicle or onto the ground.
My professor had such an accident about two weeks ago. He was going at a good clip and hit raised pavement. I do not remember if it was a speed bump or a curb. He hit hard enough to fly over his handle bars. He landed in three places. His hip, shoulder and head. One part of his body was protected - his head. It is the only one of those three places that is not broken. He is in rehab now. He will be okay, but the surgery on his bones required pins to keep him together.
You could use this story to make a case not to cycle, but it makes better sense to use it to promote safer cycling. Wear a helmet and watch where you are going.
When he was my professor in the past (master's program in public health), I came to appreciate cycling as a way to conserve energy, sustain the planet and burn energy. I also learned to do all of this safely, by following road rules and wearing a helmet. Readers are aware of my feelings about and observations of helmet use.
I also worked with my professor in assessing the amount of helmet use in our town. The overall percentage of use was low, but it was higher in the over age 26 group. I am over age 26 and so is my professor. Several reasons exist for why people do not wear helmets. They can be silly, "it messes up my hair" or serious "I don't think I will crash." You can fix your hair, but you cannot so fix your skull and ANYONE can crash - anywhere - at any speed - into a vehicle or onto the ground.
My professor had such an accident about two weeks ago. He was going at a good clip and hit raised pavement. I do not remember if it was a speed bump or a curb. He hit hard enough to fly over his handle bars. He landed in three places. His hip, shoulder and head. One part of his body was protected - his head. It is the only one of those three places that is not broken. He is in rehab now. He will be okay, but the surgery on his bones required pins to keep him together.
You could use this story to make a case not to cycle, but it makes better sense to use it to promote safer cycling. Wear a helmet and watch where you are going.
 |
| One of these riders appears to have a brain they'd like to keep. |
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Odds and Ends
ABA and Self Regulation
The American Beverage Association is airing promotional messages in which they highlight efforts to limit sugar consumption. I imagine that this is a strategy to push back against SSB taxation. The ad I saw mentioned more "no" and "low" calorie beverage offerings as well as reduced sizes.
Subway at the 7-11
A friend texted me in disgust yesterday afternoon. She had just eaten an "800 calorie monstrosity." She made her choice without the benefit of a menu label and once she got home and looked it up, she realized why I was so passionate about them. I do not know why there were not labels at the Subway, unless the convenience stores are exempt from the legislation and franchise owners can decide whether or not they are going to participate. I told my friend that her lunch was half the calories I eat in a whole day when its a high exercise day - AND I eat no less than 7 times a day! (LED)
Gaming and Mental Health
A study which needs replication, showed that youth who played special video games vs youth who received "talk" therapy, did as well or better in reducing their depression. I would love to see this study used to compare video games and medication because the side effects of psychotropic medications are pretty significant. Of course, we already have evidence that exercise works as good as medicine for some people, but I guess video games are more enticing.
5 Hr Energy Drink
These commercials are everywhere. I see them when I am watching TV shows on line, when I watch the news, listen to Pandora and even NPR! Today I heard another which specifically promoted a contest for work sites that use 5 hour energy. Let me just say - caffeine in coffee has been found to have health benefits, but it's a dose response that is not linear. In other words, caffeine to a certain point is helpful and over that point, it starts to cause harm. There is NO research on the benefits of these caffeine drinks. Also - if one wants to improve work performance - activity breaks should be policy!
Alzheimer's and Exercise
Guess we can't say it enough this week. Get Moving. Not only does what you eat matter, so does what you do. Persons who exercise on a regular basis (several times a week) appear to be less likely to suffer from Alzheimer's Type dementia than those who do not exercise. My theory would be that exercise increases oxygen flow which helps to transport free radicals and cholesterol out of the system. This could reduce plaque build up in the brain- which is one suspected cause of AD.
The American Beverage Association is airing promotional messages in which they highlight efforts to limit sugar consumption. I imagine that this is a strategy to push back against SSB taxation. The ad I saw mentioned more "no" and "low" calorie beverage offerings as well as reduced sizes.
Subway at the 7-11
A friend texted me in disgust yesterday afternoon. She had just eaten an "800 calorie monstrosity." She made her choice without the benefit of a menu label and once she got home and looked it up, she realized why I was so passionate about them. I do not know why there were not labels at the Subway, unless the convenience stores are exempt from the legislation and franchise owners can decide whether or not they are going to participate. I told my friend that her lunch was half the calories I eat in a whole day when its a high exercise day - AND I eat no less than 7 times a day! (LED)
Gaming and Mental Health
A study which needs replication, showed that youth who played special video games vs youth who received "talk" therapy, did as well or better in reducing their depression. I would love to see this study used to compare video games and medication because the side effects of psychotropic medications are pretty significant. Of course, we already have evidence that exercise works as good as medicine for some people, but I guess video games are more enticing.
5 Hr Energy Drink
These commercials are everywhere. I see them when I am watching TV shows on line, when I watch the news, listen to Pandora and even NPR! Today I heard another which specifically promoted a contest for work sites that use 5 hour energy. Let me just say - caffeine in coffee has been found to have health benefits, but it's a dose response that is not linear. In other words, caffeine to a certain point is helpful and over that point, it starts to cause harm. There is NO research on the benefits of these caffeine drinks. Also - if one wants to improve work performance - activity breaks should be policy!
Alzheimer's and Exercise
Guess we can't say it enough this week. Get Moving. Not only does what you eat matter, so does what you do. Persons who exercise on a regular basis (several times a week) appear to be less likely to suffer from Alzheimer's Type dementia than those who do not exercise. My theory would be that exercise increases oxygen flow which helps to transport free radicals and cholesterol out of the system. This could reduce plaque build up in the brain- which is one suspected cause of AD.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Keep the Breast - Lose the Cookie
I want to put this into context but to be fair, the details are sketchy. I do not know where the actual awards show took place only that this particular "mock" advertisement was created in Korea. I do not know if many food companies were involved or only Kraft. The contest and ad were in reference to Oreo cookies which are made by Nabisco - a part of Kraft. The Oreo cookie is celebrating its 100th birthday and this event could be part of the festivities regarding "milk's favorite cookie."
The ad of note was entered into a contest (with no expectation of becoming a true advertisement). It showed an infant breast feeding. It showed the child sucking from a woman's nipple. The infant was holding an Oreo cookie.
The public outrage is over the display of breast feeding and I suppose, the showing of a woman's breast.
To this, once again, I must say...."REALLY?" That is what's wrong?!!
Breastfeeding for most mothers and children is health promoting and natural. It provides numerous benefits to both parent and child. One of these benefits deserves specific mention here, breast fed infants are at less risk of becoming overweight or obese as children AND adults.
So what do I find scandalous? Giving an infant a sugar laden, highly processed cookie. The misplaced outrage (over a breast) might explain why the USA has an obesity problem. I am not saying that children should never have cookies, but I am saying that if sugar addictions or food preferences are real and started in childhood - is this the message we need to send parents?
Some information on breast feeding:
Breast milk is widely acknowledged as the most complete form of nutrition for infants, with a range of benefits for infants' health, growth, immunity and development.
-- Healthy People 2010, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
Link to a nice brochure that was put together by the California Department of Public Health.
Friday, April 20, 2012
The High Price of Whole Foods
I made dinner for a group this week. My goal for the meal was to highlight a nutritious low calorie vegetable - prepared in a way the maintains the nutrition, tastes good and does not add calories.
My choice this month was kale, fresh kale. I discovered kale about a year ago when my sister steamed it for me with some fish. It was delicious. Its a meaty green - but less 'meaty' than chard. It needs to be fresh or it does not taste the same.
My preferred method of preparation, after rinsing it well in the sink and cutting off several inches of each stem, is to season with cumin and simmer with a bouillon cube (vegetarian or chicken).
I have purchased kale at Walmart, but it scares me a little (enough not to want to risk it when serving to others). I have also bought it at an upper end grocer, Harris Teeter. (I would buy it at a farmer's market in a second if one were near by).
I was headed to Harris Teeter Tuesday when I noticed that the new Whole Foods store had opened. I went in to get my vegetarian proteins (usually cheaper) and also scoped out the kale. It was locally grown, as it is at the other store, and was being sold in bunches. The kale was priced at 2.49 a bunch. I had to feed 25 people. I couldn't do it, too expensive.
I went over to Harris Teeter and the kale was loose and priced at 1.99 a pound. I filled two huge bags which cost less than one bunch at Whole Foods.
That my friends - is ridiculous.
My choice this month was kale, fresh kale. I discovered kale about a year ago when my sister steamed it for me with some fish. It was delicious. Its a meaty green - but less 'meaty' than chard. It needs to be fresh or it does not taste the same.
My preferred method of preparation, after rinsing it well in the sink and cutting off several inches of each stem, is to season with cumin and simmer with a bouillon cube (vegetarian or chicken).
I have purchased kale at Walmart, but it scares me a little (enough not to want to risk it when serving to others). I have also bought it at an upper end grocer, Harris Teeter. (I would buy it at a farmer's market in a second if one were near by).
I was headed to Harris Teeter Tuesday when I noticed that the new Whole Foods store had opened. I went in to get my vegetarian proteins (usually cheaper) and also scoped out the kale. It was locally grown, as it is at the other store, and was being sold in bunches. The kale was priced at 2.49 a bunch. I had to feed 25 people. I couldn't do it, too expensive.
I went over to Harris Teeter and the kale was loose and priced at 1.99 a pound. I filled two huge bags which cost less than one bunch at Whole Foods.
That my friends - is ridiculous.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
First I would like to direct anyone who missed it back to the 4-18-12 post (yesterday). The slide show presentation that is accessible here describes low energy density and the creation of my You Tube channel. The channel teaches people how to apply the Dietary Guidelines for Americans to real, every day life.
Second, I want to share two of my recent actions/activities with you. I do this to encourage you to be the one - wherever you are - to speak up, get involved, be the change agent.
1st Scenario: I am continuing to use the indoor pool on campus. This semester I have been able to swim once a week. The other day I finished up a bottle of shampoo and didn't want to put it in the trash can. My university is pretty forward thinking about sustainability and our chancellor has committed to becoming carbon neutral. It seemed that a recycling bin in the locker room would be expected. I searched around on our website, not sure which department or person I should contact. I found the recycling department and here are the emails that followed:
Hello
I am writing to request a recycle "can" in the Rosenthal Pool locker rooms, esp the women's. There is no place for us to recycle our plastic shampoo, body wash, etc etc bottles.
Thanks so much
Deirdre
It was there today! Isn't that cool? I made that happen - I have agency. I am empowered. Feels good.
2nd Scenario: I belong to a campus listserv (a listserv is basically an email bulletin board. A group that shares an interest sends out email updates about upcoming events, speakers, opportunities etc). The listserv to which I refer is for the Office of Leadership and Student Learning, OLSL. Last week the 'mail' included a call for volunteers for the OLSL plots in the campus community garden. I offered to help - why not!? Today I planted sun flower seeds, Brussels sprouts, spinach, okra (yuk), squash and more. This summer I will be around to help water the plants.
I was easily 20 years older than the 3 or 4 others that showed up to help today. The thing is, I did not have the confidence and self esteem to volunteer for anything (without knowing that my friends would be there too) when I was young. I am making up for that now. I embrace opportunity. I hope that you will do the same. If your young, don't wait. If your older, don't wait. :)
Second, I want to share two of my recent actions/activities with you. I do this to encourage you to be the one - wherever you are - to speak up, get involved, be the change agent.
1st Scenario: I am continuing to use the indoor pool on campus. This semester I have been able to swim once a week. The other day I finished up a bottle of shampoo and didn't want to put it in the trash can. My university is pretty forward thinking about sustainability and our chancellor has committed to becoming carbon neutral. It seemed that a recycling bin in the locker room would be expected. I searched around on our website, not sure which department or person I should contact. I found the recycling department and here are the emails that followed:
Hello
I am writing to request a recycle "can" in the Rosenthal Pool locker rooms, esp the women's. There is no place for us to recycle our plastic shampoo, body wash, etc etc bottles.
Thanks so much
Deirdre
Deirdre,
Sorry for the delay, busy time of year for us. A recycling container for each locker room will be delivered by the end of the week.
Cheers,
BenIt was there today! Isn't that cool? I made that happen - I have agency. I am empowered. Feels good.
2nd Scenario: I belong to a campus listserv (a listserv is basically an email bulletin board. A group that shares an interest sends out email updates about upcoming events, speakers, opportunities etc). The listserv to which I refer is for the Office of Leadership and Student Learning, OLSL. Last week the 'mail' included a call for volunteers for the OLSL plots in the campus community garden. I offered to help - why not!? Today I planted sun flower seeds, Brussels sprouts, spinach, okra (yuk), squash and more. This summer I will be around to help water the plants.
I was easily 20 years older than the 3 or 4 others that showed up to help today. The thing is, I did not have the confidence and self esteem to volunteer for anything (without knowing that my friends would be there too) when I was young. I am making up for that now. I embrace opportunity. I hope that you will do the same. If your young, don't wait. If your older, don't wait. :)
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
You Tube and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans
I am attempting to embed a power point presentation into my blog. Consider this a test. I am using a hosting site call Scribd. Using the blog or the host site means that you do not have to download the presentation or have any special program to view it.
The power point itself - the slide show - has links to the internet that you can click on while viewing.
[I do not think the presentation will show up in an email message so if you receive this blog in email format, you will have to come to the Your Health Educator website just click on the hyperlink in your mail message].
Below is the presentation I entered in the Graduate Student Creativity Expo at my university . If the slide show is not here - or fully operating (there are over 20 slides) then click on the You Tube for Weight Control link above it and that should take you to the hosting site. That is If you want to see the presentation. IF you don't care to see it just come back tomorrow and I will have found something else to talk about :)
You Tube for Weight Control
The power point itself - the slide show - has links to the internet that you can click on while viewing.
[I do not think the presentation will show up in an email message so if you receive this blog in email format, you will have to come to the Your Health Educator website just click on the hyperlink in your mail message].
Below is the presentation I entered in the Graduate Student Creativity Expo at my university . If the slide show is not here - or fully operating (there are over 20 slides) then click on the You Tube for Weight Control link above it and that should take you to the hosting site. That is If you want to see the presentation. IF you don't care to see it just come back tomorrow and I will have found something else to talk about :)
You Tube for Weight Control
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Hazardous to all Living Things
Have you seen the commercial where a person is going to put flea and tick treatment on his dog so he dresses up in a plastic suit and puts on a face shield and gloves? I believe the 'wife' comes home and gives him a flea and tick product that comes in a special tube. This tube allows the treatment to be directly applied to the dog's skin without one drop touching the human.
Here is the question. If the stuff is so toxic it requires a hazmat suit,why in the world would you put it on your pet?
Here is the question. If the stuff is so toxic it requires a hazmat suit,why in the world would you put it on your pet?
Monday, April 16, 2012
Drug Trial Information
I attended a brief lecture today that was presented by a statistician who works for a pharmaceutical company. The statistician was Dr. Imogene Grimes.
As I have mentioned the FDA and its UK counterpart in several posts, as overseers of new drug applications and approvals, I wanted to share a couple of highlights from today's talk.
This is not all new information (I have talked about the different phases before, for example) but it may be a more detailed explanation or in one case, a correction of past postings.
I will start with the correction. I thought in order to have a new drug approved, the new drug had to treat a condition that was not being treated at all, or treat a condition better than an existing drug, OR treat the condition similarly but with less side effects or less inconvenience. That is NOT true - in the USA. I do think that Europe has a different rule. Dr. Grimes did say that one deterrent for not creating a new drug just to add it to the market is because doctor's don't like to switch patients to new drugs for no reason.
What IS true is that the new drug has to show a benefit. The benefit has to be measurable. This measurement has to be identified in the protocol. The drug company has to say how the effect will be measured and what outcome from the drug is considered success. For example, a new drug will lower cholesterol by at least 3 mg/dL which will be determined by a blood test. Or a drug will reduce depression as measured by the average score a person gets on a test that measures feelings.
The research has to include a risk to benefit analysis and proof that it is safe and effective.
We have talked about phase 1-3 trials before - but I think I left out a stage. Actually I referred to Phase 1 as the non human participant part, but the stage that does not include human subjects is called the Pre Clinical phase.
In the pre clinical stage, the drug is created and tested in the lab with test tubes, petree dishes and animals.
Clinical trials are the ones that include people.
Phase 1 includes healthy volunteers who do not have the condition that the drug is supposed to treat. The scientists just want to know how the drug works in the body and what happens when different doses are tried.
Phase 2 is the main efficacy stage - does it work? Risk is also assessed in this stage, but efficacy is the main concern. The drug is tested in people who have the condition.
Phase 3 is the large full scale trial that is specifically intended to capture the risk profile. As Dr. Grimes said - chemicals always DO something - the drug does things we want it to do and things that we do not want.
Before a drug can be approved, the scientists also have to prove adequate exposure. There have had to have been enough people in the various phases to assess the effect and risk. There is a standard.
The process of testing - pre clinical, phase 1-3 and FDA assessment can take 12-16 years and cost a billion dollars.
New term:
"biocreep" - the term for when less effective drugs get approved - some fault of the system when a drug does not have to be compared to a placebo.
Types of Studies:
A superiority study attempts to prove that the new (investigative) drug is better at treating a condition than a placebo.
A non inferiority study is intended to show that the investigative drug is at least as good as an existing drug (for that condition).
As I have mentioned the FDA and its UK counterpart in several posts, as overseers of new drug applications and approvals, I wanted to share a couple of highlights from today's talk.
This is not all new information (I have talked about the different phases before, for example) but it may be a more detailed explanation or in one case, a correction of past postings.
I will start with the correction. I thought in order to have a new drug approved, the new drug had to treat a condition that was not being treated at all, or treat a condition better than an existing drug, OR treat the condition similarly but with less side effects or less inconvenience. That is NOT true - in the USA. I do think that Europe has a different rule. Dr. Grimes did say that one deterrent for not creating a new drug just to add it to the market is because doctor's don't like to switch patients to new drugs for no reason.
What IS true is that the new drug has to show a benefit. The benefit has to be measurable. This measurement has to be identified in the protocol. The drug company has to say how the effect will be measured and what outcome from the drug is considered success. For example, a new drug will lower cholesterol by at least 3 mg/dL which will be determined by a blood test. Or a drug will reduce depression as measured by the average score a person gets on a test that measures feelings.
The research has to include a risk to benefit analysis and proof that it is safe and effective.
We have talked about phase 1-3 trials before - but I think I left out a stage. Actually I referred to Phase 1 as the non human participant part, but the stage that does not include human subjects is called the Pre Clinical phase.
In the pre clinical stage, the drug is created and tested in the lab with test tubes, petree dishes and animals.
Clinical trials are the ones that include people.
Phase 1 includes healthy volunteers who do not have the condition that the drug is supposed to treat. The scientists just want to know how the drug works in the body and what happens when different doses are tried.
Phase 2 is the main efficacy stage - does it work? Risk is also assessed in this stage, but efficacy is the main concern. The drug is tested in people who have the condition.
Phase 3 is the large full scale trial that is specifically intended to capture the risk profile. As Dr. Grimes said - chemicals always DO something - the drug does things we want it to do and things that we do not want.
Before a drug can be approved, the scientists also have to prove adequate exposure. There have had to have been enough people in the various phases to assess the effect and risk. There is a standard.
- At least 100 people have had to been on the drug for at least a year,
- between 300 and 600 have had to been on it for 6 months, and
- 1500 people have had to have had at least one dose.
The process of testing - pre clinical, phase 1-3 and FDA assessment can take 12-16 years and cost a billion dollars.
New term:
"biocreep" - the term for when less effective drugs get approved - some fault of the system when a drug does not have to be compared to a placebo.
Types of Studies:
A superiority study attempts to prove that the new (investigative) drug is better at treating a condition than a placebo.
A non inferiority study is intended to show that the investigative drug is at least as good as an existing drug (for that condition).
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Odds and Ends
I certainly do not have 3 days worth of O&E this week - just 4 blurbs (finals are approaching and I have been writing papers for days).
Cashing in on Diabetes - I read an article in which a stock analyst recommended that people consider investing in companies that will be treating diabetes. In the article, it was noted that countries outside of the USA may not be in as much health care debt and will be spending money to treat this epidemic rise of diabetes (related to obesity) in their populations. In other words, the rates of diabetes are going up everywhere, and in emerging markets the governments haven't had to try and get a grip on spending, so there is a profit to be made. Scandalous.
Swinburn Speaks - I always listen. He is my hero. He gave his thoughts in regards to the goal of dietary interventions, programs and policies. Dr. Swinburn said that a change in behavior, not a change in weight, should be the focus. Especially, he said, in regards to youth. I strongly agree. The behavior change I would like to encourage is choosing foods that are lower in calories and higher in nutrients. If a person fills their plate with items that are low in energy density, a healthy weight should follow.
Robots for Our Own Good - Ford Motor Co is using robots in its plants to do things that human cannot do well, cannot do safely, or cannot do efficiently. The use of robots will also reduce environmental pollution. This is a plus side of automation. I understand there is a downside.
Calorie Burn & Intensity - I just realized that I had a bit of data that could be used for an example - a teaching moment if you will. It regards the intensity and duration of exercise within the same subject and the caloric expenditure difference between levels. I.e. this controls for height and weight because it is the same person - me.
'We' know that running burns more calories than walking because it is of higher intensity, higher METs. We think that if we walk twice as long as we run, the caloric expenditure will be the same (or close). My little experiment is that I ran three miles and then I walked three miles - same route, day, and body! (I went to meet my Saturday walking buddy, but I got there early and did this short run first. I kept my Garmin device on for both).
Calorie monitoring devices are prone to inaccuracies so the amount that it says I burned for each activity is a broad estimate. The difference between the two amounts is the point of this post. So the 30 minute 3+ mile run burned 238 calories and the 1 hour 3- mile walk burned 159 calories. Not the same no matter how you look at it and I walked twice as long as I ran.
Cashing in on Diabetes - I read an article in which a stock analyst recommended that people consider investing in companies that will be treating diabetes. In the article, it was noted that countries outside of the USA may not be in as much health care debt and will be spending money to treat this epidemic rise of diabetes (related to obesity) in their populations. In other words, the rates of diabetes are going up everywhere, and in emerging markets the governments haven't had to try and get a grip on spending, so there is a profit to be made. Scandalous.
Swinburn Speaks - I always listen. He is my hero. He gave his thoughts in regards to the goal of dietary interventions, programs and policies. Dr. Swinburn said that a change in behavior, not a change in weight, should be the focus. Especially, he said, in regards to youth. I strongly agree. The behavior change I would like to encourage is choosing foods that are lower in calories and higher in nutrients. If a person fills their plate with items that are low in energy density, a healthy weight should follow.
Robots for Our Own Good - Ford Motor Co is using robots in its plants to do things that human cannot do well, cannot do safely, or cannot do efficiently. The use of robots will also reduce environmental pollution. This is a plus side of automation. I understand there is a downside.
Calorie Burn & Intensity - I just realized that I had a bit of data that could be used for an example - a teaching moment if you will. It regards the intensity and duration of exercise within the same subject and the caloric expenditure difference between levels. I.e. this controls for height and weight because it is the same person - me.
'We' know that running burns more calories than walking because it is of higher intensity, higher METs. We think that if we walk twice as long as we run, the caloric expenditure will be the same (or close). My little experiment is that I ran three miles and then I walked three miles - same route, day, and body! (I went to meet my Saturday walking buddy, but I got there early and did this short run first. I kept my Garmin device on for both).
Calorie monitoring devices are prone to inaccuracies so the amount that it says I burned for each activity is a broad estimate. The difference between the two amounts is the point of this post. So the 30 minute 3+ mile run burned 238 calories and the 1 hour 3- mile walk burned 159 calories. Not the same no matter how you look at it and I walked twice as long as I ran.
Side Effects that Make You Giggle
That isn't really fair, maybe not true - the side effects didn't make me laugh as much as the blog title from a Motley Fool post did.
In case you haven't heard, two drugs made by Merck - one for baldness and the other for an enlarged prostate - are getting label revisions. Additional side effects that did not present themselves in the original drug approval trials appear to be common enough to warrant this label change. Interestingly, the new message involves a sexual triple threat - loss of desire, premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunction.
I link you to an article from the AFP that gives more details and also the financial post that I thought quite clever. In the latter, Brian Orelli notes the quandary related to Propecia, the male baldness drug. Apparently, the drug does work with regard to preventing or reversing hair loss. Mr. Orelli notes that men usually take the drug because good hair is a relationship plus thus the title of his post, "More Hair, Less Reason for It," and my giggle.
BTW - and again I say to you, we are an over medicated society and drugs have side effects. Of course, you know what the drug industry and the doctor will say to the guy suffering from ED from his prostate or hair loss drug - "Here, take some Viagra." And what of those side effects?
Well, There is a pill for that too and every thing under the sun.
In case you haven't heard, two drugs made by Merck - one for baldness and the other for an enlarged prostate - are getting label revisions. Additional side effects that did not present themselves in the original drug approval trials appear to be common enough to warrant this label change. Interestingly, the new message involves a sexual triple threat - loss of desire, premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunction.
I link you to an article from the AFP that gives more details and also the financial post that I thought quite clever. In the latter, Brian Orelli notes the quandary related to Propecia, the male baldness drug. Apparently, the drug does work with regard to preventing or reversing hair loss. Mr. Orelli notes that men usually take the drug because good hair is a relationship plus thus the title of his post, "More Hair, Less Reason for It," and my giggle.
BTW - and again I say to you, we are an over medicated society and drugs have side effects. Of course, you know what the drug industry and the doctor will say to the guy suffering from ED from his prostate or hair loss drug - "Here, take some Viagra." And what of those side effects?
Well, There is a pill for that too and every thing under the sun.
Friday, April 13, 2012
Probabilities
I have just returned from a wake - saying goodbye to an outstanding community member who touched my life in a way that can never be forgotten - or undone. I am blessed by having known her.
She did not die of natural causes. She died of Lung Cancer. I do not know what "caused" her cancer. We don't really know what causes anyone to end up with a disease because so many factors interplay.
A person can smoke and get lung cancer or not get lung cancer. A person can not exercise and stay healthy or exercise and stay mobile into their very late years. But it is not a crap shoot at all.
We have known risk factors and probabilities. It is possible to stack the deck in ones favor.
That being said:
She did not die of natural causes. She died of Lung Cancer. I do not know what "caused" her cancer. We don't really know what causes anyone to end up with a disease because so many factors interplay.
A person can smoke and get lung cancer or not get lung cancer. A person can not exercise and stay healthy or exercise and stay mobile into their very late years. But it is not a crap shoot at all.
We have known risk factors and probabilities. It is possible to stack the deck in ones favor.
That being said:
- maintain a normal weight
- exercise daily (including strength training on 2-3 days)
- limit saturated fats, sugars, salt and empty calories (and sometimes calories in general)
- add fruits, vegetables, fish, whole grains and healthy oils to your diet
- don't smoke
- limit radiation (sun and medical)
- avoid environmental toxins
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Is 64 the right number?
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) released a report today that suggests children need to reduce their caloric intake or increase their expenditure by an average (and not individual) amount of 64 calories or face a future where they are heavier by 4 pounds than the cohort that went before them.
WHEW:
Meaning that around 16% of adolescents were obese in 2007-08 and if things don't change, the obesity rate will rise to 20% for year 2020.
Things must change - this is not an acceptable outcome.
Children who are obese tend to remain obese and the consequences of obesity across a life span are significant and disabling.
Whether or not '64' is the magic number is questionable. It is derived from population wide averages - meaning it looks at the weights of children in aggregate and finds the average number that all kids would have to lower to prevent the rise in obesity for the group. However, some children are already obese and would have to lose weight before sustaining it (meaning a 100+ calorie deficit), and some children are NOT overweight (meaning a 0 calorie deficit).
Non white girls are heavier than white girls and boys are generally less heavy than girls. Living in a poor neighborhood also increases the risk of obesity - i.e. living in a food desert that lacks access to affordable, lower calorie foods.
That being said - what is 64 calories? It is easier to quantify as intake because expenditure depends on ones body weight, fitness, and intensity of exercise - so we really can't say -for instance, 63 cals= a 30 minute walk. We can say how much 64 calories is in food. For example, it is one and a half teaspoons of oil or pats of butter. It is the extra calories in 2% vs skim milk. Calories could easily be reduced if SSBs were cut out of schools (as RWJF suggests - NO SODA).
WHEW:
Meaning that around 16% of adolescents were obese in 2007-08 and if things don't change, the obesity rate will rise to 20% for year 2020.
Things must change - this is not an acceptable outcome.
Children who are obese tend to remain obese and the consequences of obesity across a life span are significant and disabling.
Whether or not '64' is the magic number is questionable. It is derived from population wide averages - meaning it looks at the weights of children in aggregate and finds the average number that all kids would have to lower to prevent the rise in obesity for the group. However, some children are already obese and would have to lose weight before sustaining it (meaning a 100+ calorie deficit), and some children are NOT overweight (meaning a 0 calorie deficit).
Non white girls are heavier than white girls and boys are generally less heavy than girls. Living in a poor neighborhood also increases the risk of obesity - i.e. living in a food desert that lacks access to affordable, lower calorie foods.
That being said - what is 64 calories? It is easier to quantify as intake because expenditure depends on ones body weight, fitness, and intensity of exercise - so we really can't say -for instance, 63 cals= a 30 minute walk. We can say how much 64 calories is in food. For example, it is one and a half teaspoons of oil or pats of butter. It is the extra calories in 2% vs skim milk. Calories could easily be reduced if SSBs were cut out of schools (as RWJF suggests - NO SODA).
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
What's Your Diet Style?
It appears that scientists conducted some type of survey research, but from the newsletter I do not know if this was on line, in person, through the mail or by telephone. I only have this statement:
"21,000 adults aged 45 and older completed a questionnaire containing 110 food items"
In the article, the reporter suggests that there is strong evidence that links gender, race, age and region to certain dietary styles. The research itself is not available - it has not been published, so it is hard to know what they consider strong evidence and whether or not I would also consider it strong.
We really need to know about the design of the study and who those 21,000 people were before judging or applying the evidence. So that stated - get your grain of salt and read about the 5 most common dietary styles here.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Odds and Ends (3 of 3)
Diet Pill Warning – why would ya?? I hope you wouldn’t. A certain batch of diet pills from Japan are said to contain a cancer causing agent called phenolphthalein.
Measuring Fatness – The BMI is an inaccurate measure of fatness, especially for individuals. It is the best we have right now for tracking the weight status of populations. Some researchers are calling for the use of a DEXA scan or a blood test instead. The BMI is a math calculation based on height and weight - i.e. it is basically free. We can get height and weight by self report (it may be inaccurate, but most people can tell you their numbers). Otherwise, why not use WHR - which tends to be more accurate than BMI. Here we would have to measure a persons waist and hip circumference because most people won't be able to articulate this in a phone interview. I can’t believe researchers would suggest the routine use of DEXA which costs 100s of dollars and offers some radiation exposure. Blood tests are also expensive and invasive.
What's the fuss – So Mary J Blige and BK got a lot of flack over her singing a song about chicken snack wraps, and the ads have been pulled, temporarily they say. Are these the same snack wraps I already reviewed for calorie and fat content? Not sure, so might as well do it again…Oh I think that was McDonalds. Anyways, BKs wraps have about 400 calories and 6 grams of sat fat. They are high in sodium also. I have a feeling that the 400 calories is for one wrap.
Death in Old Age – One of my favorite sayings , by Richard Doll, is "Death in old age is inevitable, but death before old age is not.” I think of that when I hear absurd statements like , “he died of natural causes” when someone is in their 50s, like Thomas Kinkade. It is much more likely that Mike Wallace died of natural causes at 93.
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