News round up

Recently, there has been a lot of health news around so I have tried to pick out the most interesting parts.  As I and many of you have, no doubt, been reflecting on the terrible events inflicted by nature over the last few weeks life can often seem very random but, there is much we can also do to control aspects of our lives and longevity.  Indeed, according to the Journal of Gerontology although life expectancy has increased the time we spend in good health has decreased- a 20 year old today can expect to live one less healthy year compared to a 20 year old a decade ago though the chance of surviving to 85 has actually doubled. As the authors point out we have done little to stop getting diseases though treatments have improved at great cost. Diabetes and other chronic diseases linked to the obesity epidemic and poor lifestyle choices mean we get ill and stay ill more often and for longer.  As we age remember how important it is that we keep our mobility/flexibility for everyday movements such as sitting/standing, reaching up for objects and getting on/off the loo!

Official figures also point to the growing cost of an obese population as the number of patients needing urgent treatment because they are overweight has risen tenfold in a decade. Around 10,571 people were admitted to hospital last year as doctors feared they were so fat that their health was in immediate danger, a further 7,214 needed weight loss surgery and another 1,450 were put on an anti-obesity drug. These figures released by the NHS information centre do not take in to account numbers referred with heart disease, strokes, type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure caused by being over weight. Obesity now costs the NHS around £4.2 billion a year with a quarter of adults in the UK now classed as obese with 60% classified as either obese or over weight. Cost of obesity to the UK economy- £16 billion, cost of prescriptions £47 million and 14 the age of the youngest person to have surgery due to obesity. A good time to reflect on your exercise programmes and nutrition. If you are gaining weight around your middle this is a sign of poor sugar/insulin management and is linked with diabetes and heart disease.

Talking of fat the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reports that while fat consumption has further reduced by 3% in the last 10 years obesity has more than doubled. Carbohydrate intake has increased by 4% and protein levels are slightly down.  Generally, it is not fat that makes you fatter but over consumption of refined carbohydrates, sugars and processed food. Quality fats are vital for our health and brain function and can promote fat burning especially flax oil. Be careful of low fat, healthy option foods which are often sugar rich and nutrient poor as they are over processed.

As one in ten people now take some form of medication three times a week to help them sleep, take some time to think about what may be stopping you getting to sleep. Sleep is vitally important and a lack of sleep is now strongly linked to obesity, poor insulin management, certain cancers, diabetes and high blood pressure for a variety of reasons. Recovery (breaks and sleep) are vital for human health and performance and indeed the benefits of exercise are only gained whilst we rest. 7-8 hours a night may seem a lot but the costs of not doing so are greater- try to get to bed early at least once a week if you can and reduce distractions down an hour before sleep.

Finally, in the respected Cochrane review taking zinc supplements can reduce the severity and duration of colds. However, although zinc is important for the immune system be careful on the dosage and really zinc should be taken with a multi-vitamin and vitamin c supplement for best effect.

Take a moment to reflect on what is important to you.

Move a lot and stop often.

Kevin- March 2011.