Results were presented at the Third AACR Conference on The Science of Cancer Health Disparities, held Sept. 30 to Oct. 3, 2010.

“People often want to know what they can do to reduce their risk of disease, and we have found that just two or more hours of vigorous activity per week can made a difference in one’s risk of developing breast cancer,” said the lead researcher Vanessa Sheppard, Ph.D., a cancer control scientist and assistant professor in the department of oncology at the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center.

In this study, more than two hours of aerobics, running or similar activity over the span of a week counted as vigorous activity.

“We also know from other studies that being physically active can have benefits in other diseases that occur at high rates in African-American women, such as diabetes and hypertension,” Sheppard said.

Full Post…

Jill Ouikahilo struggled with an eating disorder until she found drumming.

“It totally changed my life,” she says. Now the Syracuse woman teaches drumming at Wacheva Cultural Arts. She says it’s an activity that would appeal to athletic people, and those who are sensitive to the mind-body connection.

“It really aligns you, and relaxes you. It’s great,” she says. “When you run or you are physically active like that, there’s that meditative rhythm. When you’re playing the (drum) rhythm, it’s like the same thing. You get this repetitive feeling inside.

Full Post…

“Children and parents associate these drinks with a healthy lifestyle despite their increased amount of sugar and lack of nutritional value,” said Nalini Ranjit, Ph.D., principal investigator and assistant professor of behavioral sciences at the UTHealth School of Public Health. The study will be published in the October issue of Pediatrics.

Researchers examined the association between sugar-sweetened beverage consumption, unhealthy and healthy foods and physical activity levels of 8^th and 11^th grade Texas students to determine the relationship between beverage consumption and other behaviors.

Full Post…

“Long-term weight loss maintenance is uncommon without regular exercise,” said Shana Warner, a doctoral student in the MU Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology. “It is very important to address other things that can be done to maintain health as opposed to focusing solely on body weight. Our research indicates that following a consistent exercise program can help maintain certain aspects of metabolic health, even in those who experience weight regain.”

The study consisted of two phases, meant to simulate real-life weight loss and regain. In the first phase, overweight and obese participants lost 4 to 6 percent of their initial body weight by following an eight to 12-week regimen of diet and aerobic exercise.

Full Post…