time2exercise

Dec. 15, 2011 -- Older men who walk at least 3 miles an hour need not fear the Reaper. They stay ahead of him and tend to outlive guys who move along at a slower pace, new research reveals.

In the study, published in the Christmas issue of the journal BMJ, Australian scientists attempted to nail down the Grim Reaper's walking speed. (The usually straitlaced journal loosens up this time of year with offbeat scientific papers like this one.).. read more

MANY Australian children are too inactive, with more than half of the primary students and almost three-quarters of the high school students in a survey spending more than the recommended time each day in front of a TV, computer or other screen.

As well, the ability to carry out basic physical skills correctly, such as jumping and throwing a ball, has declined since 2004, the survey of more than 8000 students found... read more

BRAVING the crowds at the annual Sculpture by the Sea is an early summer ritual for tens of thousands of Sydneysiders. But not everyone is enjoying the view on the crowded cliffside paths between Bondi and Tamarama, and conflicts between determined joggers, dog-walkers and art-lovers may be inevitable. But one group keeps getting singled out.

''We do get a handful of complaints each show from members of the public about joggers,'' said the founding director of Sculpture by the Sea, David Handley... read more

Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA) is against a new proposal by the Victorian division of general practice to award Medicare rebates to patients working out with personal trainers... read more

RUNWAY shows are expensive illusions, transporting the front row to a fantasy world of immaculately groomed women gliding effortlessly in lavish lace or sleek leather.
All it takes is a single model to stumble on her stiletto heel for the illusion to be shattered. It's the moment the ready-to-wear shows turn into an episode of Funniest Home Videos.

Last week in Tokyo a model became runway roadkill during Sara Arai's show, losing her grip on the catwalk's smooth surface... read more

Teenagers who go to bed early are much less likely to be obese and have a better chance of being physically fit, compared to peers go to sleep late, researchers from the University of South Australia reported in the journal Sleep. The authors added that teenagers who go to bed later but sleep the same number of hours each day as those who put their heads down earlier have a higher risk of becoming overweight and unfit... read more

CHILD-sized gyms with weight benches, treadmills and rowers for those as young as three are being set up in family homes and childcare centres.

But mini-gyms for tots - the latest salvo in the fight against childhood obesity - have been criticised as going too far and potentially dangerous if not monitored, The Daily Telegraph reported.

Childcare centres are setting up gym rooms, some charging a small membership fee for toddlers, fitness equipment companies say... read more

KEEPING fit is a high priority for Katharine Crowe-Mai, with the Sydney bar manager finding time to exercise almost every day.

But when the 21-year-old began taking on more graveyard shifts about a year ago, she felt her body needed an extra boost.

"I work out a lot and I was worried I wasn't getting everything I need from my diet. Even when your diet is balanced, you can't eat everything you're supposed to eat every day," she said.

"Because I work long hours and night shifts, I was always tired so I started taking vitamins to supplement whatever I wasn't getting (from food).".. read more

They may live in the lucky country but Australians are in denial about their ever-expanding waistlines and claim to be the most unhappy in the world.

The findings came from an international health survey which also revealed that Australians were among the world's biggest drinkers, coming in just behind their British cousins.

The survey by health insurer BUPA showed that while 64 per cent of Australians said they were in relatively good shape, there were some worrying trends... read more

THE caffeine hit relied on by so many people to make it through the day could be all in the mind, new research out of Britain shows.

In a series of tests designed to measure mental performance, reaction times and mood, volunteers were lied to when given a cup of decaffeinated coffee, being told it contained caffeine.

The results suggest that a coffee hit could be due at least in part to consumer anticipation, said researchers, whose findings were published in the journal Appetite and replicated in British newspaper The Daily Telegraph... read more

OBESE people are more likely to suffer from bad planning and decision-making skills, putting them in a vicious cycle of being unable to lose weight, a controversial study suggests.

Researchers from the University of New South Wales said a review of 38 studies of obesity and cognitive function found a strong association between obesity and weakness in the executive part of the brain, which controls problem-solving, decision-making, reasoning, planning, organisational skills and achievement of complex goals... read more