Even a small pot belly can increase the risk of heart disease

Getting fit and reducing your body mass index alone are not enough to reduce risk of heart disease. Many people take regular gentle exercise in the hope that they ward of heart disease, however recent research suggests that even a small pot belly / beer belly can increase the risk of developing heart disease. "Research from the University of Texas found large waist measurements, relative to hip size, were linked to early signs of heart disease. This confirms other research that waist size, rather than overall body weight, is a key indicator of heart disease. The study of 2,744 people suggests that a waist size of 32ins (81cm) for a woman and 37ins (94cm) for a man represents a "significant" raised risk. The report was published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology." Abdominal fat risks: "And waist-to-hip ratio was more closely linked to these early signs of heart disease than either body mass index (BMI) or waist circumference alone. BMI is widely used to assess relative body weight, and is calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in metres. Even a waist circumference of 32in (81.3cm) for a woman, and 37in (94cm) for a man represents a "significant" raised risk." So, the key is to ensure that you reduce your belly fat, and to get your waist circumference to below 94cm if you are a man, and 81cm if you are a woman. To get started in reducing you waist circumference, read this article on how to lose belly fat

Lack of regulation of online pharmacies is putting people at risk from fake medicines

The BBC reports that a lack of regulation of online pharmacies is putting people at risk from fake medicines, research suggests. "Analysis of more than 3,000 sites found medicines for sale without a prescription and some that were likely to be counterfeit or out of date. Industry fraud advisers MarkMonitor also found half of the sites did not safeguard customer details. The Royal Pharmaceutical Society is planning to roll out a logo scheme to help consumers identify genuine sites. But experts warned against buying medicines online." "The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), a watchdog which oversees the quality of medicines available in the UK, can only close down British-based sites which break the law, because it has does not have jurisdiction over those based abroad." This means that many website traders selling illegal, or poorly produced medicines, can easily supply the UK market, and there is nothing that can currently be done to stop this trade. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) advises that "patients considering purchasing medicines via the internet should be encouraged to verify the website is operated from a registered retail pharmacy. This is to ensure their medicines are obtained from a reputable source and accurate and appropriate advice in relation to their medicines is received." MarkMonitor - Making the Internet Safe For Business

Half are smoking less since the ban on smoking in indoor public spaces

Research carried out by Ciao Surveys since the ban on smoking in public places in the UK has revealed that approximately 33% of smokers now smoke less when out in bars and clubs, and more than 10% said they smoked less altogether. However, only 1.8% said they had quit since the ban. About 20% said the ban had not made any difference to their smoking even though they wanted to quit. "The government hopes the ban, which began in England on 1st July, will help smokers to quit as well as protect people from the dangers of passive smoking and discourage children from taking up the habit." A spokeswoman from the Department of Health said: "We estimate that a complete smoking ban might reduce smoking rates by 1.7%; taking smoking from 24% now, down to 22%. This will mean around 600,000 fewer smokers in the long term. However the primary aim of the legislation is to reduce the risk from exposure to second-hand smoke." Doctors estimate second-hand smoke kills more than 600 people a year. About 10 million UK adults - a quarter of the population - smoke cigarettes. Polls suggest about 70% of smokers would like to quit. For advice on quitting smoking, visit QUIT: The UK Charity that helps smokers stop or the NHS Go Smoke Free The NHS Smoking Helpline: 0800 169 0 169

Lose Your Belly Fat for Good - Trans fats, Sleep and Stress

AOL Body have some good advice on reducing belly fat. They give three ways to reduce belly fat: Three ways to blast the belly fat: Avoid Trans Fats Get More Sleep Manage Your Stress "1. Don't Get Trapped by Trans Fats What you don't eat is just as important to your waistline as what you're eating. A recent study done at Wake Forest University has concluded that trans fat, which has been shown to increase the risk of heart disease, may also increase dangerous belly fat. Trans fat is formed during a hydrogenation process in which vegetable oil is converted into a solid to increase shelf life of a food. As of this year, manufacturers were required to list trans fat on the labels of their products. 2. Get More Z's Studies have shown that those who get less than four hours of sleep per night are more than 70 percent more likely to be obese than those who get seven to nine hours. Sleep deprivation lowers leptin, a protein that suppresses appetite and tells the brain when the stomach is full. Not catching enough Z's also inhibits the production of insulin, which regulates blood sugar. So, if you're constantly burning the midnight oil, you're interfering with your body's ability to burn off extra calories. 3. Managing Stress The "Fight or Flight" response has been around for millions of years, but it could also be adding unwanted inches to your waistline. When faced with stressful situations, our bodies release a hormonal cocktail of adrenaline, cortisol and insulin. Not only have high cortisol levels been associated with increased appetite and fat production, but the fat has been shown to typically deposit itself in the belly area." Source: AOL Body So, as well as the all important exercise and healthy diet, reducing stress, getting plenty of rest, and avoiding trans fats can all help towards reducing belly fat.

Fitness Training Logs / Diaries Now Online

We have now added fitness training journals to our website. Here you can set up your own exercise log to keep track of your fitness progress, and also comment on other people's fitness logs. The aim of this site is to enable users to share advice more easily, and to keep a personal record of their training online, so that personal trainers and friends can monitor their progress. So set up an account and start tlogging today. One we have a good selection of use blogs/tlogs we will publicise a blog of the week. We plan to make some enhancements to the site in the future, and hope to include tables and charts for logging times, weights, distances etc.