Pedometer - a perfect gift for motivating physical activity.

A review of 8 randomized controlled trials and 18 observational studies with a total of 2767 participants was carried out to evaluate the association of pedometer use with physical activity and health outcomes, according to an article in JAMA.

The study found that pedometer users in RCTs significantly increased their physical activity by 2491 steps per day more than control participants while those in observational studies 2183 steps per day over baseline. The pedometer users significantly decreased their body mass index by 0.38, the intervention participants significantly decreased their systolic blood pressure by 3.8 mm Hg. However, whether these changes are durable over the long term is undetermined.

A pedometer counts steps a person takes and the distance he/she has walked and has become popular as an everyday exercise motivator - a perfect Christmas gift for someone who wants to increase physical activitity and improve health.

Source : "Using Pedometers to Increase Physical Activity and Improve Health - Systematic Review" JAMA. 2007;298(19):2296-2304. (abstract only)

Childhood obesity has lifelong effects

According to 2 studies published in this week's NEJM, children worldwide are gaining excessive weight that causes serious health problems in their adulthood.

The studies found that high body mass index in childhood increases the risk of coronary heart disease in adulthood. The authors said that healthy food and physical activities are the keys to prevent this health problem, but a national strategy involving parents to help these children to maintain an appropraite weight to reduce the future risk of heart disease is urgently needed.

Source:"Childhood Body-Mass Index and the Risk of Coronary Heart Disease in Adulthood" NEJM 357(23):2329-2337 (free full text)


"Adolescent Overweight and Future Adult Coronary Heart Disease" NEJM 357(23):2371-2379
(free full text)

Prostate cancer may be missed in obese men

A new study found dcotors may be missing a large number of cancer in obese men because the test for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is unreliable. It may explain why obese men tend to have more aggressive cancer.

Researchers said doctors must take body weight into account when reading test results for prostate cancer because higher body mass index (BMI) is linked to higher plama volume that can lead to dilution of PSA.

Source: "Obesity-Related Plasma Hemodilution and PSA Concentration Among Men With Prostate Cancer" JAMA. 2007;298(19):2275-2280

Cancer fears for overweight women

According to an article published in the BMJ, researchers matched body mass index (BMI) against cancer incidence to identify the risk of being overweight among UK women and found that obesity and overweight raised the risk of developing and dying from a range of cancer.

The study also found that the cancer risk was dependent on a woman's stage in life.


Source: "Cancer incidence and mortality in relation to body mass index in the Million Women Study: cohort study" BMJ, doi:10.1136/bmj.39367.495995.AE (published 6 November 2007)