Among the more prominent effects of Title IX -- a law passed by Congress nearly 40 years ago that ensures boys and girls receive equal treatment in all educational programs that receive federal funding -- was the way it revolutionized athletic programs for young American women.

Despite considerable progress on some fronts, when it comes to the health of female athletes, unfortunately, those glass ceilings remain intact, says Dr. Vicki Harber, a Canadian exercise physiologist who has developed The Female Athlete Perspective, a guide for parents, athletic administrators and coaches that addresses medical issues that affect the participation of women in sports.

To that end, Harber discovered female athletes often experience far greater rates of specific musculoskeletal injuries -- knee and shoulder issues plus an increased risk of re-injury -- and medical conditions -- osteoporosis, eating disorders and amenorrhea -- than do their male counterparts.

The difference in the number of injuries between young men and women can be as great as sixfold, according to the report, because countless training programs for female athletes are based on research using young adult males which doesn't take the biological differences between the sexes into account.

And that may largely explain why my injury-prone daughter never progressed as a competitive swimmer much beyond her middle school years too...

EurekAlert January 25, 2010 Free Full PDF Report

If you've ever wondered why those trips to the gym -- and all that exercise -- haven't yielded the benefits you expected, don't beat yourself up about it. For some of us wanting to get stronger and more fit but not having much luck, it may be determined in our genes.

Based on a genomewide association study, scientists discovered 29 genes that significantly predicted the body's ability to improve its aerobic response (how much oxygen your muscles burn or the amount of blood pumped by your heart) to exercise, specifically endurance training. Out of those, differences in 11 DNA sequences provided a predictable snapshot of a patient's true fitness potential.

First, researchers examined the DNA taken from muscle biopsies on nearly 500 sedentary patients, then assigned volunteers to customized, thrice-weekly endurance training sessions for 20 weeks. After the exercise period ended and new muscle biopsies were taken, as much as 20 percent of the participants experienced far smaller improvements than scientists expected.

Having this kind of information at hand, experts say, will allow physicians to more accurately determine a more beneficial personalized exercise program down the road. Until then, scientists warn folks not to stop exercising as their discovery only encompasses the genes that may affect endurance, and not cholesterol, heart rates or the body's regulation of insulin.

Journal of Applied Physiology February 4, 2010 Free Full Text PDF

USA Today February 4, 2010

MSNBC February 4, 2010

Ever wonder why programs like WeightWatchers, that encourage people to weigh in every week and attend regular meetings, are so popular and successful for so many? It may have a great deal to do with the "contagious" nature of self-control and following the good examples of others. Researchers came to those elegantly simple conclusions after completing a series of five studies with the help of nearly 400 volunteers at Duke University.

In fact, just watching or thinking about someone you know who exercises good self-control is enough to influence your own self-control for the better. Moreover, this behavioral benefit cuts across all kinds of basic decisions people make, meaning the self-discipline you exercise at your local Baskin-Robbins may be just as apparent in the choices you'll make about your personal finances and career.

Unfortunately, however, the reverse is also true. Watching poor self-control in action -- your brother-in-law devouring a 1-pound bag of potato chips in one sitting, for example -- can be equally contagious and potentially harmful to your health. So much so, that merely viewing the name of someone you know possessing good or bad self-control flashing on a screen for a tiny fraction of a second may influence your behavior positively or poorly.

Researchers are quick to point out that the benefits of this self-control may be enough to make you skip that extra cookie you don't need before dinner or go to the gym even when you're not in the mood, and that's potentially a very good thing. On the other hand, the effect on the negative side of the ledger -- you accept your co-worker's request to take home an extra piece of cake -- isn't strong enough to absolve you from making poor decisions either.

Which means, the Twinkie defense is still completely wrong and you're not getting away with it, no matter what...

Receive Daily Health Updates from CNCA Subscribe to Our Blog

Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin December 15, 2009

healthfinder.gov January 18, 2010

EurekAlert January 13, 2010

No matter how many New Years resolutions you've made about incorporating exercise into that healthier lifestyle you're wanting to lead, there's just something about waking up early on a pre-dawn, winter morning to make that icy trip to the gym that makes most of us want to forget about the whole thing and hibernate until spring time.

Excuses, however, are a-dime-a-dozen. So if it's not the cold today, it'll be a lack of time tomorrow, or your child's Little League practices three months from now. No question, making the most out of exercise means being prepared to work it, and getting started in the winter time requires more prep time than usual, particularly if you want to do it outdoors.

What follows are a few of the best tips we've found to make that transition to a winter exercise program an easier one for you (hit the links below for the complete lists).

1. Consult with your doctor before undertaking any exercise plan on your own. And, don't be surprised if you receive a detailed exercise prescription from your doctor either.

2. Dressing for cold weather means protecting your extremities (a painful lesson I learned long ago walking nearly two miles a day, 12 months a year in downtown Chicago).

3. A winter workout begins the same way all others do, by warming up your muscles.

4. Maintain your intake of fluids, even when it's cold.

5. Because you may be able to finish your outdoor exercise during the day, wear reflective clothing.

6. Be mindful of your surroundings, for example, taking wind chill factors into consideration.

American Fitness Professionals & Associates

The Mayo Clinic November 1, 2008

Just like drinking an antioxidant-rich glass of wine daily helps female breast cancer patients, consuming a diet chock full of vitamins C and E may protect your muscles as you age.

Scientists surveyed more than 2,000 patients in their 70s about their eating habits over the long haul, in addition to measuring the strength of their grip at the beginning of the study and two years later. The latter measurement was important, researchers say, because muscle strength begins to wane for folks in their 40s and dramatically declines after age 60.

Seniors who consumed higher amounts of vitamins C and E in their diets over the course of the study enjoyed improved muscle strength, despite a patient's initial strength measurements.

Interestingly, among those who participated in the study, a patient's average intake of vitamin E (11 milligrams) was lower than the average RDA, prompting experts to urge folks to include more vitamin E-rich foods in their diets.

Sutter Health November 24, 2009

A consortium of American sports entities, including the NFL, NBA, NHL and the U.S. Olympic Committee, have joined forces with the United States Anti-Doping Agency to create Supplement Safety Now, a program created to put an end to "the dangerous and unscrupulous practices of rogue manufacturers within the nutritional supplement industry."

The timing of this rollout isn't surprising, in the wake of recent media reports about a second FDA recall connected to traces of steroids found in supplements produced by Florida-based IDS Sports.

Reactions to the Supplement Safety Now initiative among various industry groups have been mixed. Michigan-based NSF International applauded the program, calling products that contain steroids "illegal drugs masquerading as dietary supplements," says NSF's senior VP Dr. Lori Bestervelt. "These dangerous and illegal products pose a significant public health risk and more stringent enforcement and independent surveillance is needed to better safeguard consumers."

On the other hand, the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) and Natural Products Association (NPA) have expressed concerns about the initiative being more heavy-handed than useful or effective. For one, the CRN believes an FDA registry of products proposed in the Supplement Safety Now initiative wouldn't be effective. "We do not believe that companies that are illegally contaminating products would bother to register," says Steve Mister, CRN president and CEO.

And, CRN and NPA also agree with beefing up enforcement of existing laws on the books. "Boosting enforcement also proves a quicker way to get rogue companies out of the marketplace versus the much longer process of trying to pass new legislation and write new regulations that still may not be enforced," says John Gay, NPA's CEO and executive director.

NPI Center December 2, 2009

Although maintaining a healthy lifestyle may still be a mystery and very problematic for many long-term cancer patients, the advantages associated with exercise -- even for lymphoma patients on chemotherapy -- are definitely worth it.

Canadian researchers randomly assigned 122 patients with Hodgkin's or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma to one of two treatment groups. One participated in a 12-week exercise program emphasizing cardiovascular fitness (including flexible workout schedules, a good gym and frequent positive reinforcement by staff members), while the other was assigned to "usual care" and no exercise regimen.

Not surprisingly, lymphoma patients improved their cardiovascular numbers by more than 20 percent and reported better mental health, less fatigue, significantly better physical functioning and an improved quality of life. What's more, patients undergoing chemotherapy benefited just as much from exercise as did those who were off their treatments.

Additionally, some 47 percent of the patients on the exercise side experienced a "complete response" (no evidence of disease) versus nearly 31 percent of those in the usual care group.

If you've been wanting to start an exercise program, but don't know where to begin, take a minute to read our 10 tips worth considering before you take your first steps to better health.

Journal of Clinical Oncology, Vol. 27, No. 27, pp. 4605-4612, September 20, 2009

ScienceDaily November 7, 2009

You may believe folks living within a reasonable walking distance -- say a half-mile -- from grocery stores, fast-food restaurants and convenience stores would suffer more obesity-related problems, like cancer, than the average bear. Surprisingly, you'd be dead wrong about that!

After University of Utah researchers learned in previous research that patients were less prone to being obese or overweight when living in more densely-populated and pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods, their latest study compared the BMIs of some 450,000 Salt Lake County residents with food-related businesses in their localities.

Folks who lived in areas with a variety of food options nearby were 10 percent less likely to be obese compared to those with no options in their neighborhoods. And, in low-income areas, people with easy walking access to one or more healthy food options lowered their risks of obesity by a whopping 26 percent, as compared to low-income residents with no access to neighborhood food establishments.

The most surprising fact of all: A variety of neighborhood food venues was necessary for curbing obesity in non-low-income areas. The proximity of full-service restaurants to patients was linked to lower obesity rates, not grocery stores.

Social Science & Medicine, Vol. 69, No. 10, pp. 1493-1500, November 2009

EurekAlert October 27, 2009

If you've become a daily reader of this blog -- our readership exploded in October and continues to grow daily, thanks to your interest -- you've probably noticed the many reminders about our supplement giveaway, first announced during our appearance at the Livestrong Challenge Series last month in Austin.

Koleen, one of many fine folks who filled out our entry forms at the Austin event, was the grand prize winner and will receive $300 in CNCA supplements. Many congratulations Koleen!

Take a minute to be inspired as we were on that picturesque October weekend in Austin by watching snippets of personal stories shared by folks who have been touched in one way or another by cancer like you, captured beautifully on video by the always awesome Amanda Hoel-Green.

A consortium of some 40 processed food manufacturers led by Sara Lee, Coca-Cola, Kraft, General Mills, Mars and PepsiCo and organizations like the Grocery Manufacturers Association and American Dietetic Association Foundation have joined forces to launch the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation (HWCF), a group whose primary goal is to reduce obesity levels, particularly among young children.

Pledging to be "aggressive" and as "proactive and visible as possible," members of the HWCF have committed $20 million to a three-pronged attack on obesity in schools, the marketplace and workplace.

Are you impressed by the collective efforts of the food industry and various public interest groups to curb the epidemic of obesity or just a bit skeptical, considering the recent announcement of the Smart Choices Program?

Fortunately, according to the Los Angeles Times, one non-profit group -- the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation -- will spend part of its $500 million budget devoted to fighting childhood obesity by being an independent watchdog of various HWCF's marketplace programs.

Los Angeles Times October 5, 2009

NutraIngredients-USA.com October 5, 2009

Supermarket News October 6, 2009

Not unlike the losing battle of the bulge -- Americans talking more about preventing obesity than doing anything about it -- the same applies to most older long-term cancer survivors.Scientists had good reasons to review the data of 753 seniors (age 65 and older) who had survived five years or longer from various cancers (prostate, colorectal and breast). Few studies have documented the health habits of this age group that encompasses more than half of the 11 million cancer survivors in America.

Although all patients were interested in participating in the study, most had generally poor health habits, for example, reporting only 10 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise each week, a fraction of the 150-minute national recommendation. Only 7 percent of the patients surveyed followed healthy diet guidelines.

The news was not completely bad, however. Patients who followed more nutritious diets and exercise plans felt better physically and had more vitality. And, even those cancer survivors who followed suboptimal health habits enjoyed a better quality of life, both physically and mentally, that exceeded those usually reported by seniors.

Learn more about surviving and thriving after cancer with these great tips from the American Cancer Society.

Cancer (Journal) July 27, 2009

MSN Health & Fitness July 27, 2009

Science Daily July 28, 2009

With concerns about soaring health care costs in America -- leading to heated debate about serious reforms at the federal level -- more sectors of conventional medicine are realizing how dietary supplements can be an inexpensive and important part of a healthy lifestyle, the theme of a lecture presented by William Cooper, MD, an assistant professor of cardiothoracic surgery at Emory University's School of Medicine at a recent meeting of the Congressional Dietary Supplement Caucus.

Cooper's talk underscored the importance of taking dietary supplements, in concert with exercise and good nutrition, focusing the discussion on preventative care as a way to avoid becoming one of his cardiac patients. "When you get to me," Cooper says, "you really don't want to buy what I'm selling."

"As a nation, we are consistently inconsistent. But there are simple things that all of us every day to better our health -- and that includes taking dietary supplements." In fact, the first step toward true health care reform will happen, Cooper adds, "when you and I change our habits to be healthier."

Cooper's talk was well received by Reps. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) and Jared Polis (D-Colo.), who co-chair the caucus. "I know that these products provide so much benefit for consumers. I'm a product of it," Chaffetz says.

Nutraceuticals World June 16, 2009

NPI Center June 15, 2009

Here's one more crucial reason why obesity rates have exploded by a staggering 5.5 million during the past year alone in America: Most people do understand how they need to maintain and optimize their cardiovascular health, but more are talking the talk, than doing the real walking, according to a new study.

Researchers tracked and compared the health data on more than 15,000 people (ages 40-74) who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 1988-94 and 2001-06. During the span of nearly two decades, many major indicators of good health -- exercise, eating habits, overall healthy habits -- fell sharply. Even more sobering, folks with a history of cardiovascular disease, hypertension and diabetes were no more willing to follow improved health habits than those who didn't suffer from them.

By the numbers:

1. Consumption of five or more vegetables daily dropped 16 percent.

2. The number of smokers stayed almost the same.

3. Moderate alcohol use rose 11 percent.

4. The average body mass index (BMI) of patients increased 8 percent.

5. Physical activity (12 or more times a month) fell 10 percent.

The worst and potentially most fatal statistic of the bunch: The number of participants in the study who maintained a healthy lifestyle based on the parameters listed above plummeted by nearly half to 8 percent.

American Journal of Medicine, Vol. 122, No. 6, p. 493-494

American Journal of Medicine, Vol. 122, No. 6, p. 528-534

Forbes.com May 27, 2009

WebMD May 29, 2009

Here's another reason exercise is so important, especially for men: Physical activity among black men in their 20s and 30s may contribute to lowering their risk of prostate cancer later in their lives.

Some 160,000 white men and 3,600 black men were polled in 1996 about their exercise habits, including the number of hours they spent weekly on moderate to vigorous activity. Over the next seven years, more than 350 black men and 9,600 white males were diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Although exercise was not a factor among white males, the same wasn't true for black men. In fact, blacks who spent at least four hours exercising during their 20s were less prone to suffer from prostate cancer by 35 percent. And the percentages among black males who exercised more than seven hours weekly were linked to a 41 percent drop.

These falling numbers are the key statistics, considering the incidence of prostate cancer among black men is as much as 50 percent higher and the mortality rate associated with this disease is double that of white males.

Medscape Today June 1, 2009 Registration Required

The documented benefits of exercise are many and varied, even for cancer survivors. The good news: Many standard cancer therapies don't affect the overall cardiovascular fitness level of cancer survivors, according to an observational study of women who attended a fitness clinic monitored by physicians.

Researchers evaluated 49 women with the help of a three-minute step test that better measures a patient's exercise tolerance and cardiovascular fitness, serves as a reality check for folks who believe they are more physically fit than they really are.

Although a third of the women monitored were considered sedentary, 71 percent of the participants overall completed the step test. What's more, age, treatment or body mass index (BMI) had no effect on a woman's ability to complete the step test or on her heart rate recovery.

While the side effects of some cancer therapies may hinder physical activity, scientists were quick to point out that many standard treatments played no role in doing so.

Science Daily June 3, 2009