Campaign to tackle UK obesity

A campaign by organisations representing doctors has begun to tackle the rising levels of obesity in the UK.
The campaign will begin by reviewing the case for fat taxes, promoting exercise and restricting some food advertising.

Almost 1 in 4 adults in the UK are obese and predictions indicate that half of children will be obese or overweight by 2020.
This could result in a more severe health issue than those created by HIV and swine flu.

The Royal medical Colleges and faculties represent  200,000 doctors and have described the united campaign as unprecedented.
The doctors groups plan to spend the next three months looking at different solutions and devising a plan to combat the rising obesity problem.

It is not believed that exercise alone will be enough to curb the rise in obesity, as it can take an hour on the treadmill to combat the calories of a single Mars bar.

It is most likely that a similar campaign as that used to deter smoking will be used to push the idea of healthy eating. This could involve a change in the way that people are exposed to advertising and marketing of unhealthy/ junk food and snacks. A tax on certain foods could also be introduced as this has proved to have some success with reducing smoking.

'Never did me any harm...'

Let Them Eat Dirt: How Clean Environments May Set Kids Up for Immune Problems.

With modern plumbing and hygiene, the number of nasty microbes we are exposed to has plummeted, while the rate of auto-immune diseases and allergies has shot up. Are those related?
Proponents of the hygiene hypothesis think so: our immune system is supposed to develop by encountering microbes, so being too clean throws it out of whack as the immune system overreacts to minor insults.

A new study found that mice raised germ-free had especially high numbers of invariant natural killer T cells (iNKT) in their colons and lungs—the mouse versions of inflammatory bowel disease and asthma, respectively. Most evidence supporting the hygiene hypothesis has just been in observed correlations, so this research that identifies a plausible molecular mechanism is good evidence for how over-cleanliness might cause immune dysfunction.

Interestingly, microbial exposure only affected immune system development during a critical period in childhood. Microbial exposure had no effect on the iNKT cells of adult germ-free mice, but it did restore iNKT levels to normal in the offspring of pregnant germ-free mice exposed just before birth.

Kidney cancer on the rise

The number of people diagnosed with kidney cancer each year is at a record high - partly fuelled by obesity, figures show.
Kidney cancer cases hit more than 9,000 in 2009, treble the figure of just under 3,000 in 1975. It is now the eighth most common cancer in Britain, climbing from 14th place in 1975.

After smoking, obesity is the most preventable risk factor for developing the disease, increasing the risk by 70%.
Cancer Research UK, estimates that about a quarter of kidney cancer cases in men and 22% in women are linked to being overweight.

Overweight people produce higher levels of some hormones which can help fuel cancer. In 2009, almost a quarter of adults in England were obese. A further 44% of men and 33% of women were overweight.

While some of the increase in cases could be down to better detection of kidney tumours, evidence suggests there has also been a rise in the number of advanced kidney cancer cases - suggesting other factors are also in play.

Foreman vs Ali - Rumble in the Jungle

Ali vs Frazier III - Thrilla in Manilla

Spartan Race

Looking for something to motivate your training?
Why not enter a Spartan Race - there are events right across the country throughout the year so you can plan your training to coincide with an event.

Why Spartan? Because the Spartans were tough as nails.
Why race? Because we all thrive under pressure, survival of the fittest - we train harder and better when we have a deadline.
Non-specific goals like just losing some weight or getting a bit fitter allow you to easily lose focus and drift back to your old habits. Having a challenging competition in your calendar, focuses your attention and keeps you pushing to ensure you can cross the finishing line.
Adding a friend to compete against just makes that victory even sweeter.

The goal is simple... to get you off your couch, throw you in the mud & trails, and feed you one tough endurance event day that will be the adrenalin rush of your life.

Enter '2toughenup' during registration to get a 10% discount

Fitness Tips

Workout Tips Getting the most from your workout is essential.
Make sure you squeeze the maximum from your workout with these tips.Use a Workout Log
If you aren’t logging your workouts, how can you track your progress?Set Goals
To perform effectively you need to know why you’re working out when you don’t feel like it! Setting a deadline makes it easier to get focused and stay on track.Stay Hydrated
Most of your body is made up of water, don’t let yourself get depleted during your workout or you won’t be able to perform at your best.Plan your Workout
If you haven't got a routine to work through you will wander around the machines using any that are available without focusing on any particular muscle groups.Don't overdo it
You have heard the saying "It's not quantity, it's quality" That definitely applies here. Why spend 3 hours in the gym when you can increase the intensity and get a great workout in only 30 minutes?Warm up correctly
Training from cold or without a proper warm up will reduce the effectiveness of your session and leave you more prone to injuries.Stretch after exercise
Stretching helps the body to recover post exercise, reduce muscle soreness and promote better posture and flexibility.Spice it up
Mix up your workout sessions, join a class, try a new machine, change your strength days, change workout partners.
Don't let your body get used to the same old routine. New exercises will make your muscles work harder and boost your gains.