Return to the Source Parkour Camp

For those who are interested in natural movement training, this summer my friend Rafe Kelley will be hosting an interesting three-day event near Bellingham, WA called "Return to the Source".  Rafe is skilled in a variety of movement disciplines and is the co-founder of the Seattle parkour gym Parkour Visions.  Parkour is a very fun sport that hones our natural ability to skillfully navigate physical obstacles, but it's usually done in an urban context.

The camp will take place from August 23-25.  Here's a description from the Parkour Visions site:

"This summer, return to the source of human movement with Parkour Visions as we explore the natural environment in and around Bellingham, WA. Rafe Kelley will introduce you to the benefits of training and playing in nature. You will learn how to adapt your technique and movement to moving effectively through woods, over rocks, and in trees during this unique, 3-day experience."

Watch this video if you want to see what you're in for.

Knowing Rafe, it will be fun and productive.  You can sign up through this page.

Health Tips for New Dads

Although being a new dad can be incredibly stressful, there is no reason that weight loss should be impossible.

It used to be that men were having children younger so, by their mid 30s, the heavy lifting of raising children was mostly over. Therefore, by the time the body begins to wear down, the majority of physical activity had ceased.

Today, more and more couples are choosing to have children later in life. The result is men with babies who are already on a physical decline and perhaps in need of a gastric bypass NJ. From a biological standpoint, raising and chasing children is something that should be done by younger men.

For many men, the result of reproducing later in life is poor health combined with higher stress and less time to exercise. Their priority becomes their children instead of their physical well-being.

To prevent weight gain as a new dad, keep the following in mind:

Develop the Right Mindset

It can be hard to plan exercise time during a busy day. Most people believe that one hour of exercise a day is enough to maintain their health. This is a huge misconception. Instead, new dads should try to remain active throughout the day instead of exercising one hour a day and sitting around for the rest of day.

Focus on Calories Burned Instead of Minutes Exercising

Most people aren't aware of the number of calories they burn every day. Because new dads are so busy, it can be a challenge to budget time. Some fathers won't be able to schedule time away to be at the gym. If this is the case, taking a few minutes to do jumping jacks, squats, push-ups, etc. can be done at any time.

Countless minutes are wasted every day while waiting for dinner to be made or the shower water to heat up. These minutes can be used to do a quick 5 minute workout. If these time slots are utilized, it can be shocking how much exercise can be obtained.

Take Advantage of Unconventional Exercises

If there is one thing that parents know about, it is living on very little sleep. Working on little sleep is hard enough but working out is almost impossible. Even more impossible is finding time to go to the gym.

Coming up with exercises can help dads to stay in shape while going about their daily activities. Car seat curls are an excellent exercise as are lunges while holding the baby.

Have a Nutritious Diet

There is no denying that many baby foods are delicious. Who doesn't like chocolate milk, crackers, chicken nuggets, and fruit snacks? These foods are high in calories and that is just fine for a growing child but are certainly not necessary for an adult.

Having a child not only means that parents have high calorie foods around the house but also that they have little time to cook healthy dinners. Oftentimes, new parents resort to takeout foods or get fast food, neither of which are good for any dad's waistline.

Derek is an active fatherhood blogger. When he is not working and attempting to balance out his life equally, he enjoys spending time with his family and coaching his son's football team. The article above is for gastric bypass nj.

15 Minute Workouts

   For many men there are an array of excuses they will use to justify why they don’t work out or keep themselves in the shape that they perhaps should. Time is often cited as one of the primary reasons – as men become adults, their job will necessitate they don’t have as much free time as they did whilst they were students, and starting a family will similarly mean that any free time that becomes available is no longer exclusively their own. Cost is another excuse as men will often say they don’t have the spare cash to join a gym or buy exercise equipment for the home. Thankfully, it is actually easy to circumnavigate both of these problems by simply putting aside fifteen minutes every two days – something as simple as not pressing snooze on your alarm should cover it!

   The following exercises require only appropriate clothing, a pair of trainers and a pair of lightweight dumbbells to do and focus or improving tone across a number of muscle groups, primarily the core and abs, including those that are often neglected by men who think a workout simply entails lifting heavy weights to focus on the biceps and triceps.  It is suggested also that beginners should do each of these four exercises for fifteen reps and a day should be taken off in between doing sets of these. Those who work out more often can increase the intensity by adding additional sets and reps to their regime.

   The first exercise in the routine is called the squat press and can be challenging for beginners. The exercise begins with the individual stood upright with the back and spine kept as straight as possible, with feet placed roughly as wide apart as the shoulders. Whilst holding a dumbbell at both ends in front of your chest, the next step is to begin to bend the legs until the thighs become parallel with the floor; it is important here that the back is kept straight and, upon reaching squatting position, the straight back posture must be maintained so as to avoid injury. From here, slowly push the dumbbell out from your chest and then upwards until it is held aloft above your head. After a brief moment holding this position, begin to return the dumbbell back to the space in front of your chest and then straighten the legs until you are stood back in an upright position. Repeat this for fifteen steps to begin with but feel free to add extra reps and sets once you are used to this.

   The second, and potentially more difficult, exercise is a modified version of the classic press-up and begins with the exerciser in the same position as a traditional push-up. Hold the abs tight and keep the back straight whilst in this position and lift one leg off of the floor so it is roughly in a straight line with your back. This is the new position to conduct push-ups in; with the body’s weight distributed over three points rather than four which, in turn, increases the intensity and hardship to a large degree. Once fifteen reps have been done with one leg in the air, swap which leg is held off the ground and complete fifteen more reps.

   Lunging with a lateral rise is the third exercise and is pretty self-explanatory. This requires the exerciser to hold both of their dumbbells in his hands and begins in a standing position. From here, take one step forward whilst keeping the hind leg still. With the weights kept by your side, dip your front leg so that the thigh is parallel to the ground, and bend your hind legs knees so that your shin dips towards the ground. From this position, lift the dumbbells upwards so that both of your arms run parallel to each other in a straight line across the shoulder and hold this position for a few seconds. After returning to the starting position, conduct another fourteen repetitions of this on the same leading foot and then repeat the exercise by swapping which of your legs is to become the trailing leg.

   The final exercise, perhaps the most difficult, is called the single leg bent over-row; it will again require both dumbbells, this time held in an underhand fashion. Lifting one leg off the floor, bend the other one at the knee and hold this position. Once balance has been established, bend forward at the hips so that the torso becomes as straight as possible with the weights close to your ankles. From here, begun to pull the dumbbells back towards your chest; this should cause the shoulder blades to pull together. After this, return to the starting position and repeat this fifteen times.

Get In Shape For The Christmas Party

As autumn becomes winter, it’s getting harder to avoid the thought that the Christmas party season is well and truly on its way. There is no denying that Christmas is the time of year to celebrate with family and friends and for many of us December is one long social calendar of corporate parties, nights out with friends, festive lunches with the family and, of course, the big day itself. As the season approaches, the shops become full of sparkling party wear – colourful shirts, sequinned dresses, embellished tops and figure hugging pencil skirts – but if you are hoping to really shine at those upcoming Christmas parties by losing a few pounds, now is the time to get started and the right weight loss pills could help.

Diet Pills

The range of diet pills available is quite vast and they work in a variety of different ways, including pills that help your body burn extra fat, boost your metabolic rate and even suppress your appetite, so take some time to find the best diet pills to suit your style of weight loss. Once you do, complimenting healthy eating choices and regular exercise with the right diet pills can be the best way to lose weight and give you visible results, fast.

Nutritional Diet

However, it helps to remember that weight loss pills aren’t just an excuse to do nothing. The right slimming tablets will only work at their best when used alongside a nutritional diet and if you participate in regular exercise. Start to make healthier choices for your daily meals, choosing low fat options and avoiding sugary snacks. Try to incorporate more fruit and vegetables and meals that will keep you fuller for longer and help give you energy for exercising. Changing your attitude to food will really help your chosen diet pills work and will hopefully stay with you even once you reach your target weight.

Keep Exercising

Don’t skimp on exercise either – try to a fitness class to get inspired by others, or if you’re self-conscious try a video in the comfort of your own home. Adding exercise in to your routine at least three times a week can make a real difference to your weight loss. Combined with exercise, diet pills that work fast means you’ll be ready to sparkle and shine at this year’s Christmas party.

Written by James Smith a personal trainer and blogger on all things healthy.

An Encouraging Trend

I was in the Seattle/Tacoma airport today, and I noticed quite a few people taking the stairs even though they're flanked by escalators.  It's been my impression lately that more people are using stairs than even five years ago.  I used to be the only weirdo on the stairs, but today I shared them with about ten other people.  I know Seattle isn't necessarily representative of the nation as a whole, but I (optimistically) think of it as the vanguard in this respect.

One of the healthiest things a person can do is build exercise into daily life.  You don't have to be Usain Bolt or Lance Armstrong to reap the benefits of exercise.  In fact, evidence is accumulating that moderate exercise is healthier than extreme exercise.  Taking the stairs instead of the elevator/escalator, walking or jogging even a modest amount, or standing for part of the day, can have an immediate, measurable impact on metabolic health (1).

Maybe it's macho, but I'll feel defeated the day I need a giant energy-guzzling machine to take me up a 15 foot incline.  I have legs, and I intend to use them.  Escalators are good for people who are disabled or have very heavy bags, but the rest of us have an opportunity to use our bodies in a natural and healthy way.  Part of the problem is how buildings are designed.  Humans tend to take the path of least resistance, and if the first thing we come across is an elevator, and the stairs are grimy and tucked away down some side hallway, we'll tend to take the elevator.  Architects in some places are building in more prominent stairways to encourage gentle exercise throughout the day.

Popular Modern Diets

Over the years diet and exercise has changed a lot. Even in recent years there has been a rise in the number of diets that have hit the market. If you are interested in learning about what some of these diets are, here are three of the most popular modern diets:

1. HCG drops diet- One of the most popular modern day diets is the HCG drops diet. This diet was invented several years ago, but in the last few years it has become very popular. The diet utilizes the HCG hormone which can be found in women during pregnancy. By combining this hormone with a low calorie diet, the dieter will be able to lose a significant amount of fat in a short period of time. One of the best parts about this diet is that the hormone will work to reset your metabolism so that after you finish the diet you can keep the weight of.
2. Detox diets- If you are looking for some of the most popular modern diets, then the detox diet may be right for you. Detox diets are all about cleansing you from any bad substances that you may have inside right now. Most detox diets will last anywhere from a week to 10 days. While you are on your detox diet, you will most likely only be allowed to drink the special liquid that is prescribed in the diet. Even though you can lose a lot of weight while you are on the diet, many people have trouble with this diet because they feel that returning to your normal habits afterwards will cancel any results that you achieved. Another problem that some people have with the detox diet is that most people experience some pretty intense hunger pains while on it.
3. Carb free- One of the most popular diets to hit the scene in recent years is the no-carb diet. The idea of this diet is to completely cut out all of the carbs in your diet and eat mostly protein. What this means is that you are going to have to refrain from bread and many of the other things that you normally enjoy. The good news is that you will be able to eat all of the steak, chicken, and fish that you can dream of. If you are a meat lover, then this may be the diet for you. After a few weeks you should start to notice some great weight loss results.

If you are considering trying one of these diets to lose some of your unwanted fat then you should speak with your primary health care provider and make sure that there will be no problems with any existing medical conditions that you may have.

Micah is a freelance writer for TransformYou, a company that helps people achieve weight loss goals through healthy diet and exercise.

Calories and Carbohydrate: a Natural Experiment

In the lab, we work hard to design experiments that help us understand the natural world. But sometimes, nature sets up experiments for us, and all we have to do is collect the data. These are called "natural experiments", and they have led to profound insights in every field of science. For example, Alzheimer's disease is usually not considered a genetic disorder. However, researchers have identified rare cases where AD is inherited in a simple genetic manner. By identifying the genes involved, and what they do, we were able to increase our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of the disease.

The natural experiment I'll be discussing today began in 1989 with the onset of a major economic crisis in Cuba. This coincided with the loss of the Soviet Union as a trading partner, resulting in a massive economic collapse over the next six years, which gradually recovered by 2000.

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Delicious But Worst Summer Foods

Hot Dogs:

As they are full of salt, these people zap drinking h2o through children' bodies-and upward children's chances of drying. Additionally, people mathematicians tend to be stocked fats, which is a aspect in creating heart disease, even tiny hearts. 

Pepperoni Pizza: 

A single cut delivers practically 3 hundred calories from fat, and your munchkin might prefer mere just a few a few moments. There's also gobs associated with saturated fats and dehydration-promoting sodium, about Seven-hundred mg for each piece.

Sports Drinks:

You may think those electrolyte-replacing -ades are exactly what kiddos requirement for enjoyable in the sunshine, however they really include high levels of sugars, that researchers have associated with considerable extra weight. A single study found that every additional serving regarding sweet drinks a day boosts the children's danger regarding being overweight up to 60%. 

Ice Pops: 

Like sporting activities beverages, they support bare calories from fat that will trigger putting on weight. So when relaxing as they may seem, they're actually filled up with glucose or perhaps large fructose corn syrup, synthetic flavors and also chemical fabric inorganic dyes. 

Ice Cream:

Depending on the brand name, any one-cup information associated with simple vanilla ice cream includes more than 400 calories from fat as well as Forty gr of glucose. That's a weighty load regarding itsy-bitsy bodies in order to be able for you to help make when they're not as mixed up in summer time. Additionally , it may have got up to Sixteen grms of saturated fats, a big issue since high-fat foods may leave youngsters minus the energy they have to play outside.

Potato Chips:

Not only can all of that sodium cause lack of fluids, nonetheless it also can fast kids to satisfy their own chip-spurred being thirsty having sweet beverages, states Manley. In addition, chips are usually high in fat. 

Cookies: 

Sure, they are the particular go-to nibbles with regard to wet summer nights, yet apart from being filled with fat as well as glucose, they're very easy you can eat plan whilst children perform on-line on-line games or view tv.

Protect Your Skin In The Winter

Winter is usually hard on skin, but there is considerably you could do to defend against the assaults with the season. Facing the FrostThe largest wintertime concern is dehydration.

In colder climates, you absolutely need to raise the protection quotient. �You ought to over-treat skin to maintain it hydrated,� says Barbara Schumann-Ortega, vice president of Wilma Schumann Skin Care in Coral Gables, Florida. That implies a shift from lighter skin care solutions made use of during warmer months to winter-weight goods, this kind of as thicker, cream-based cleansers and moisturizers. These will deliver more powerful barriers against the harsh surroundings of winter months.

Skincare In Winter

�When it is cold, you shed blood flow to the skin,� says Schumann-Ortega. The outcome is really a dry, dull tone. Facial remedies can maximize circulation and rejuvenate a healthful glow. But, Schumann-Ortega cautions, be cautious with peels and resurfacing treatment options during the winter, as they can do a lot more damage than very good with skin that is previously taxed in the harsh environmental conditions.

This is the season to slather hands with hefty, oil-rich cream at night and cover them with gloves. And do not overlook feet: in addition they call for exactly the same special care. Take into consideration a moisturizer for them within the evenings and rest with socks on. While in the morning, your feet and hands will feel soft and moisturized.

Relax and Get pleasure from It In winter, and all seasons, stress can disrupt even the top skin. Joy can have an impact on body chemistry.

Some last suggestions:

1. Drink water. Even when there�s a chill in the air and thirst isn�t overwhelming, water consumption demands to become higher to combat the dry air.

2. Steer clear of goods with a large percentage of synthetic substances (propylene glycol, petroleum), chemical detergents (sodium laurel sulfates), and artificial colors and fragrances.

3. Make use of quality skin care merchandise suited for your skin form.

4. Check your drugs. Illness and ongoing pharmaceuticals can upset pH stability.

Winter does not really need to take its lengthy, hard toll on your skin. Ask your skin care pro about hydrating items and circulation-enhancing treatments to ease the prolonged, dry months of winter. Soon after all, spring is just across the corner.

Avoide Back Ache Problem

Pay attention to your posture:
This cannot be said enough. Slouching, sitting on sofas which do not offer firm support to the back and sleeping in an awkward position may give you a stiff back the next morning. Reclining in a chair without support to the lower back in the form of a cushion is a no-no. Sleeping on the side in the foetal position is the best way to take the pressure off a weak back.

Maintain optimum weight:
When you put on more weight than your frame can carry, you put pressure on the muscles of the back and abdomen which were not designed to be overloaded. This kind of backache is simply the muscles protesting against the added burden.

Avoid direct pressure on the spine:
When someone other than a professional offers to give you a back massage they may put pressure directly over the spine. This is a wrong technique and may further compound the problem. The best way is to massage on both sides of the spine in a symmetrical fashion with circular motions.

Increase exercise reps slowly and steadily:
Many people injure their backs while working out in the gym because of lack of correct instruction. Overdoing abdominal crunches, using heavier weights than you are used to and increasing your reps drastically will land you with a bad back. You land up with a muscle strain and then have to ease off or avoid the workout altogether.

For an acute backache:
Put up your feet and get some rest. Use ice packs a few times a day for the first two days, then switch over to heat in the form of hot compresses or a hot water bag.

Stretch a sore back:
Stretching is a great way to relieve backache. While lying flat on the bed, bring your knees slowly to your chest and put a little pressure then relax and repeat. This is helpful for lower back pain.

Get out of bed right:
When the alarm clock rings every morning the first thought is to hurry out of bed. Resist the thought and take your time. First roll over to the edge of the bed and lie flat on your back. Then bring your feet down to the floor and bend your upper body sideways. Do not get up vertically and sit in bed as that puts a lot of pressure on the back.

Medication:
An aspirin a day can help chronic backaches, which last for days together due to their anti-inflammatory effect. An alternative is ibuprofen or another NSAID. Before starting on medication, check with your doctor first.

Physical Activity & Health

  Your Health and Physical Activity

Live longer and Better

Surely you appreciative that practicing approved concrete action is all-important and acceptable health, but how physically alive can help? If you're an actuality alive enough...

You accept an abundant advantage; active body�s alive best and better. Try to accumulate this addiction throughout life.

There are analytical times for the abandonment, gluttonous abutment and solutions at the moment: change of academy or educational stage, acting illnesses acknowledgment to work, accident of concrete limitations ... In these times can additionally admonition advance a appearance alive life: use the car beneath and airing or bike move, aggressive stairs, comedy with accoutrement ...

If you're not alive abundant / to ... What can admonition you physically active?

• Improve your bloom and anticipate disease: abbreviation the accident of alike to get affection ache and aerial claret pressure, accept diabetes and you admonition control, lowers cholesterol, reduces the accident of osteoporosis, helps to anticipate constipation.
• In the aged slows the abatement of mind, improves anatomic accommodation and decreases the accident of falls.

• Exerts a bashful action in preventing breast cancer, colon and prostate.
• Improve fitness: endurance, strength, flexibility, agility, breathing, circulation.
• Next to the diet is capital in authoritative your anatomy weight.
• Facilitates you to chronicle with others.
• Improve your faculty of able-bodied actuality and reduces stress. Prevents and helps advance the depression.
• Increase your self-esteem and advance your mood.
• Improve your bookish performance.

The minimum and essential:

It would be � hours of abstinent concrete action (being apparent to access the beating amount and sweating) 5 days a week. This � hour can be accumulated throughout the day beneath periods of time. Alpha boring and gradually increase. The adolescence at atomic one hour.

Recommendation:

Moderate concrete action 5 days a week including one hour here also activities of circadian alive (commuting to assignment or abstraction center, walking the dog, booty the kids to school, up and bottom ward stairs ...). You can complete this affairs accomplishing contest to advance backbone and addition 2 days a week.

What I can convenience activity?

Perhaps you've anytime anticipation that this concrete action is article aloof for the adolescent or to athletes and to be taken beneath appropriate conditions. You may anticipate you accept to suffer, or that generates affliction or that you cannot do. Error! Anyone at any age can admit a abstinent concrete activity. The anatomy consistently welcome.

You can alpha demography an active lifestyle. Change your circadian habits: airing whenever you can, use your car less, absolute TV time or sitting sofa, arena with the children, put music to do appointment and booty the befalling to move added ... Accomplish it with a pedometer (step meter) can be challenging, advance is to 10,000 accomplish a day.

Find an action you accept a good time and accomplish abiding you accept a good time performing it, either by free

(Walking, swimming, cycling, gym ...) or directed (courses in gymnastics, dance, aerobics, tennis, activities in a club or gym ...) there are lots of options, prices, schedules ... sure

There is an action that fits you.

Where I can acquisition admonition or advice?

If you accept questions or would like to admonish you seek admonition from your ancestors doctor and you can go to your board account marina, breadth you will be abreast of the activities accessible in your area.

What Causes Insulin Resistance? Part VII

In previous posts, I outlined the factors I'm aware of that can contribute to insulin resistance. In this post, first I'll list the factors, then I'll provide my opinion of effective strategies for preventing and potentially reversing insulin resistance.

The factors

These are the factors I'm aware of that can contribute to insulin resistance, listed in approximate order of importance. I could be quite wrong about the order-- this is just my best guess. Many of these factors are intertwined with one another.
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What Causes Insulin Resistance? Part VI

In this post, I'll explore a few miscellaneous factors that can contribute to insulin resistance: smoking, glucocorticoids/stress, cooking temperature, age, genetics and low birth weight.

Smoking

Smoking tobacco acutely and chronically reduces insulin sensitivity (1, 2, 3), possibly via:

1. Increased inflammation
2. Increased circulating free fatty acids (4)

Paradoxically, since smoking also protects against fat gain, in the very long term it may not produce as much insulin resistance as one would otherwise expect. Diabetes risk is greatly elevated in the three years following smoking cessation (5), and this is likely due to the fat gain that occurs. This is not a good excuse to keep smoking, because smoking tobacco is one of the most unhealthy things you can possibly do. But it is a good reason to tighten up your diet and lifestyle after quitting.

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Book Review: The Primal Blueprint

Mark Sisson has been a central figure in the evolutionary health community since he began his weblog Mark's Daily Apple in 2006. He and his staff have been posting daily on his blog ever since. He has also written several other books, edited the Optimum Health newsletter, competed as a high-level endurance athlete, and served on the International Triathlon Union as the anti-doping chairman, all of which you can read about on his biography page. Mark is a practice-what-you-preach kind of guy, and if physical appearance means anything, he's on to something.

In 2009, Mark published his long-awaited book The Primal Blueprint. He self-published the book, which has advantages and disadvantages. The big advantage is that you aren't subject to the sometimes onerous demands of publishers, who attempt to maximize sales at Barnes and Noble. The front cover sports a simple picture of Mark, rather than a sunbaked swimsuit model, and the back cover offers no ridiculous claims of instant beauty and fat loss.

The drawback of self-publishing is it's more difficult to break into a wider market. That's why Mark has asked me to publish my review of his book today. He's trying to push it up in the Amazon.com rankings so that it gets a broader exposure. If you've been thinking about buying Mark's book, now is a good time to do it. If you order it from Amazon.com on March 17th, Mark is offering to sweeten the deal with some freebies on his site Mark's Daily Apple. Full disclosure: I'm not getting anything out of this, I'm simply mentioning it because I was reviewing Mark's book anyway and I thought some readers might enjoy it.

The Primal Blueprint is not a weight loss or diet book, it's a lifestyle program with an evolutionary slant. Mark uses the example of historical and contemporary hunter-gatherers as a model, and attempts to apply those lessons to life in the 21st century. He does it in a way that's empowering accessible to nearly everyone. To illustrate his points, he uses the example of an archetypal hunter-gatherer called Grok, and his 21st century mirror image, the Korg family.

The diet section will be familiar to anyone who has read about "paleolithic"-type diets. He advocates eating meats including organs, seafood, eggs, nuts, abundant vegetables, and fruit. He also suggests avoiding grains, legumes, dairy (although he's not very militant about this one), processed food in general, and reducing carbohydrate to less than 150 grams per day. I like his diet suggestions because they focus on real food. Mark is not a drill sergeant. He tries to create a plan that will be sustainable in the long run, by staying positive and allowing for cheats.

We part ways on the issue of carbohydrate. He suggests that eating more than 150 grams of carbohydrate per day leads to fat gain and disease, whereas I feel that position is untenable in light of what we know of non-industrial cultures (including some relatively high-carbohydrate hunter-gatherers). Although carbohydrate restriction (or at least wheat and sugar restriction) does have its place in treating obesity and metabolic dysfunction in modern populations, ultimately I don't think it's necessary for the prevention of those same problems, and it can even be counterproductive in some cases. Mark does acknowledge that refined carbohydrates are the main culprits.

The book's diet section also recommends nutritional supplements, including a multivitamin/mineral, antioxidant supplement, probiotics, protein powder and fish oil. I'm not a big proponent of supplementation. I'm also a bit of a hypocrite because I do take small doses of fish oil (when I haven't had seafood recently), and vitamin D in wintertime. But I can't get behind protein powders and antioxidant supplements.

Mark's suggestions for exercise, sun exposure, sleep and stress management make good sense to me. In a nutshell: do all three, but keep the exercise varied and don't overdo it. As a former high-level endurance athlete, he has a lot of credibility here. He puts everything in a format that's practical, accessible and empowering.

I think The Primal Blueprint is a useful book for a person who wants to maintain or improve her health. Although we disagree on the issue of carbohydrate, the diet and lifestyle advice is solid and will definitely be a vast improvement over what the average person is doing. The Primal Blueprint is not an academic book, nor does it attempt to be. It doesn't contain many references (although it does contain some), and it won't satisfy someone looking for an in-depth discussion of the scientific literature. However, it's perfect for someone who's getting started and needs guidance, or who simply wants a more comprehensive source than reading blog snippets. It would make a great gift for that family member or friend who's been asking how you stay in such good shape.

Book Review: S.P.E.E.D.

This book was sent to me by Matt Schoeneberger, who co-authored it with Jeff Thiboutot. Both have master's degrees in exercise science and health promotion. S.P.E.E.D. stands for Sleep, Psychology, Exercise, Environment and Diet. The authors have attempted to create a concise, comprehensive weight loss strategy based on what they feel is the most compelling scientific evidence available. It's subtitled "The Only Weight Loss Book Worth Reading". Despite the subtitle that's impossible to live up to, it was an interesting and well-researched book. It was a very fast read at 205 large-print pages including 32 pages of appendices and index.

I really appreciate the abundant in-text references the authors provided. I have a hard time taking a health and nutrition book seriously that doesn't provide any basis to evaluate its statements. There are already way too many people flapping their lips out there, without providing any outside support for their statements, for me to tolerate that sort of thing. Even well-referenced books can be a pain if the references aren't in the text itself. Schoeneberger and Thiboutot provided appropriate, accessible references for nearly every major statement in the book.

Chapter one, "What is a Healthy Weight", discusses the evidence for an association between body weight and health. They note that both underweight and obesity are associated with poor health outcomes, whereas moderate overweight isn't. While I agree, I continue to maintain that being fairly lean and appropriately muscled (which doesn't necessarily mean muscular) is probably optimal. The reason that people with a body mass index (BMI) considered to be "ideal" aren't healthier on average than people who are moderately overweight may have to do with the fact that many people with an "ideal" BMI are skinny-fat, i.e. have low muscle mass and too much abdominal fat.

Chapter 2, "Sleep", discusses the importance of sleep in weight regulation and overall health. They reference some good studies and I think they make a compelling case that it's important. Chapter 3, "Psychology", details psychological strategies to motivate and plan for effective weight loss.

Chapter 4, "Exercise", provides an exercise plan for weight loss. The main message: do it! I think they give a fair overview of the different categories of exercise and their relative merits, including high-intensity intermittent training (HIIT). However, the exercise regimen they suggest is intense and will probably lead to overtraining in many people. They recommend resistance training major, multi-joint exercises, 1-3 sets to muscular failure 2-4 days a week. I've been at the higher end of that recommendation and it made my joints hurt, plus I was weaker than when I strength trained less frequently. I think the lower end of their recommendation, 1 set of each exercise to failure twice a week, is more than sufficient to meet the goal of maximizing improvements in body composition in most people. My current routine is one brief strength training session and one sprint session per week (in addition to my leisurely cycle commute), which works well for me on a cost-benefit level. However, I was stronger when I was strength training twice a week and never going to muscular failure (a la Pavel Tsatsouline).

Chapter 5, "Environment", is an interesting discussion of different factors that promote excessive calorie intake, such as the setting of the meal, the company or lack thereof, and food presentation. While they support their statements very well with evidence from scientific studies, I do have a lingering doubt about these types of studies: as far as I know, they're all based on short-term interventions. Science would be a lot easier if short-term always translated to long term, but unfortunately that's not the case. For example, studies lasting one or two weeks show that low glycemic index foods cause a reduction in calorie intake and greater feelings of fullness. However, this effect disappears in the long term, and numerous controlled trials show that low glycemic index diets have no effect on food intake, body weight or insulin sensitivity in the long term. I reviewed those studies here.

The body has homeostatic mechanisms (homeostatic = maintains the status quo) that regulate long-term energy balance. Whether short-term changes in calorie intake based on environmental cues would translate into sustained changes that would have a significant impact on body fat, I don't know. For example, if you eat a meal with your extended family at a restaurant that serves massive portions, you might eat twice as much as you would by yourself in your own home. But the question is, will your body factor that huge meal into your subsequent calorie intake and energy expenditure over the following days? The answer is clearly yes, but the degree of compensation is unclear. Since I'm not aware of any trials indicating that changing meal context can actually lead to long-term weight loss, I can't put much faith in this strategy (if you know otherwise, please link to the study in the comments).

Chapter 6, "Diet", is a very brief discussion of what to eat for weight loss. They basically recommend a low-calorie, low-carb diet focused on whole, natural foods. I think low-carbohydrate diets can be useful for some overweight people trying to lose weight, if for no other reason than the fact that they make it easier to control appetite. In addition, a subset of people respond very well to carbohydrate restriction in terms of body composition, health and well-being. The authors emphasize nutrient density, but don't really explain how to achieve it. It would have been nice to see a discussion of a few topics such as organ meats, leafy greens, dairy quality (pastured vs. conventional) and vitamin D. These may not help you lose weight, but they will help keep you healthy, particularly on a calorie-restricted diet. The authors also recommend a few energy bars, powders and supplements that I don't support. They state that they have no financial connection to the manufacturers of the products they recommend.

I'm wary of their recommendation to deliberately restrict calorie intake. Although it will clearly cause fat loss if you restrict calories enough, it's been shown to be ineffective for sustainable, long-term fat loss over and over again. The only exception is the rare person with an iron will who is able to withstand misery indefinitely. I'm going to keep an open mind on this question though. There may be a place for deliberate calorie restriction in the right context. But at this point I'm going to require some pretty solid evidence that it's effective, sustainable, and doesn't have unacceptable side effects.

The book contains a nice bonus, an appendix titled "What is Quality Evidence"? It's a brief discussion of common logical pitfalls when evaluating evidence, and I think many people could benefit from reading it.

Overall, S.P.E.E.D. was a worthwhile read, definitely superior to 95% of fat loss books. With some caveats mentioned above, I think it could be a useful resource for someone interested in fat loss.

The Body Fat Setpoint, Part IV: Changing the Setpoint

Prevention is Easier than Cure

Experiments in animals have confirmed what common sense suggests: it's easier to prevent health problems than to reverse them. Still, many health conditions can be improved, and in some cases reversed, through lifestyle interventions. It's important to have realistic expectations and to be kind to oneself. Cultivating a drill sergeant mentality will not improve quality of life, and isn't likely to be sustainable.

Fat Loss: a New Approach

If there's one thing that's consistent in the medical literature, it's that telling people to eat fewer calories does not help them lose weight in the long term. Gary Taubes has written about this at length in his book Good Calories, Bad Calories, and in his upcoming book on body fat. Many people who use this strategy see transient fat loss, followed by fat regain and a feeling of defeat. There's a simple reason for it: the body doesn't want to lose weight. It's extremely difficult to fight the fat mass setpoint, and the body will use every tool it has to maintain its preferred level of fat: hunger, reduced body temperature, higher muscle efficiency (i.e., less energy is expended for the same movement), lethargy, lowered immune function, et cetera.

Therefore, what we need for sustainable fat loss is not starvation; we need a treatment that lowers the fat mass setpoint. There are several criteria that this treatment will have to meet to qualify:

1. It must cause fat loss
2. It must not involve deliberate calorie restriction
3. It must maintain fat loss over a long period of time
4. It must not be harmful to overall health
   

I also prefer strategies that make sense from the perspective of human evolution.

Strategies: Diet Pattern

The most obvious treatment that fits all of my criteria is low-carbohydrate dieting. Overweight people eating low-carbohydrate diets generally lose fat and spontaneously reduce their calorie intake. In fact, in several diet studies, investigators compared an all-you-can-eat low-carbohydrate diet with a calorie-restricted low-fat diet. The low-carbohydrate dieters generally reduced their calorie intake and body fat to a similar or greater degree than the low-fat dieters, despite the fact that they ate all the calories they wanted (1). This suggest that their fat mass setpoint had changed. At this point, I think moderate carbohydrate restriction may be preferable to strict carbohydrate restriction for some people, due to the increasing number of reports I've read of people doing poorly in the long run on extremely low-carbohydrate diets (2).

Another strategy that appears effective is the "paleolithic" diet. In Dr. Staffan Lindeberg's 2007 diet study, overweight volunteers with heart disease lost fat and reduced their calorie intake to a remarkable degree while eating a diet consistent with our hunter-gatherer heritage (3). This result is consistent with another diet trial of the paleolithic diet in diabetics (4). In post hoc analysis, Dr. Lindeberg's group showed that the reduction in weight was apparently independent of changes in carbohydrate intake*. This suggests that the paleolithic diet has health benefits that are independent of carbohydrate intake.

Strategies: Gastrointestinal Health

Since the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is so intimately involved in body fat metabolism and overall health (see the former post), the next strategy is to improve GI health. There are a number of ways to do this, but they all center around four things:

1. Don't eat food that encourages the growth of harmful bacteria
2. Eat food that encourages the growth of good bacteria
3. Don't eat food that impairs gut barrier function
4. Eat food that promotes gut barrier health

The first one is pretty easy: avoid refined sugar, refined carbohydrate in general, and lactose if you're lactose intolerant. For the second and fourth points, make sure to eat fermentable fiber. In one trial, oligofructose supplements led to sustained fat loss, without any other changes in diet (5). This is consistent with experiments in rodents showing improvements in gut bacteria profile, gut barrier health, glucose tolerance and body fat mass with oligofructose supplementation (6, 7, 8).

Oligofructose is similar to inulin, a fiber that occurs naturally in a wide variety of plants. Good sources are jerusalem artichokes, jicama, artichokes, onions, leeks, burdock and chicory root. Certain non-industrial cultures had a high intake of inulin. There are some caveats to inulin, however: inulin and oligofructose can cause gas, and can also exacerbate gastroesophageal reflux disorder (9). So don't eat a big plate of jerusalem artichokes before that important date.

The colon is packed with symbiotic bacteria, and is the site of most intestinal fermentation. The small intestine contains fewer bacteria, but gut barrier function there is critical as well. The small intestine is where the GI doctor will take a biopsy to look for celiac disease. Celiac disease is a degeneration of the small intestinal lining due to an autoimmune reaction caused by gluten (in wheat, barley and rye). This brings us to one of the most important elements of maintaining gut barrier health: avoiding food sensitivities. Gluten and casein (in dairy protein) are the two most common offenders. Gluten sensitivity is widespread and typically undiagnosed (10).

Eating raw fermented foods such as sauerkraut, kimchi, yogurt and half-sour pickles also helps maintain the integrity of the upper GI tract. I doubt these have any effect on the colon, given the huge number of bacteria already present. Other important factors in gut barrier health are keeping the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats in balance, eating nutrient-dense food, and avoiding the questionable chemical additives in processed food. If triglycerides are important for leptin sensitivity, then avoiding sugar and ensuring a regular source of omega-3 should aid weight loss as well.

Strategies: Micronutrients

As I discussed in the last post, micronutrient deficiency probably plays a role in obesity, both in ways that we understand and ways that we (or I) don't. Eating a diet that has a high nutrient density and ensuring a good vitamin D status will help any sustainable fat loss strategy. The easiest way to do this is to eliminate industrially processed foods such as white flour, sugar and seed oils. These constitute more than 50% of calories for the average Westerner.

After that, you can further increase your diet's nutrient density by learning to properly prepare grains and legumes to maximize their nutritional value and digestibility (11, 12; or by avoiding grains and legumes altogether if you wish), selecting organic and/or pasture-raised foods if possible, and eating seafood including seaweed. One of the problems with extremely low-carbohydrate diets is that they may be low in water-soluble micronutrients, although this isn't necessarily the case.

Strategies: Miscellaneous

In general, exercise isn't necessarily helpful for fat loss. However, there is one type of exercise that clearly is: high-intensity intermittent training (HIIT). It's basically a fancy name for sprints. They can be done on a track, on a stationary bicycle, using weight training circuits, or any other way that allows sufficient intensity. The key is to achieve maximal exertion for several brief periods, separated by rest. This type of exercise is not about burning calories through exertion: it's about increasing hormone sensitivity using an intense, brief stressor (hormesis). Even a ridiculously short period of time spent training HIIT each week can result in significant fat loss, despite no change in diet or calorie intake (13).

Anecdotally, many people have had success using intermittent fasting (IF) for fat loss. There's some evidence in the scientific literature that IF and related approaches may be helpful (14). There are different approaches to IF, but a common and effective method is to do two complete 24-hour fasts per week. It's important to note that IF isn't about restricting calories, it's about resetting the fat mass setpoint. After a fast, allow yourself to eat quality food until you're no longer hungry.

Insufficient sleep has been strongly and repeatedly linked to obesity. Whether it's a cause or consequence of obesity I can't say for sure, but in any case it's important for health to sleep until you feel rested. If your sleep quality is poor due to psychological stress, meditating before bedtime may help. I find that meditation has a remarkable effect on my sleep quality. Due to the poor development of oral and nasal structures in industrial nations, many people do not breathe effectively and may suffer from conditions such as sleep apnea that reduce sleep quality. Overweight also contributes to these problems.

I'm sure there are other useful strategies, but that's all I have for now. If you have something to add, please put it in the comments.


* Since reducing carbohydrate intake wasn't part of the intervention, this result is observational.

Malocclusion: Disease of Civilization, Part VII

Jaw Development During Adolescence

Beginning at about age 11, the skull undergoes a growth spurt. This corresponds roughly with the growth spurt in the rest of the body, with the precise timing depending on gender and other factors. Growth continues until about age 17, when the last skull sutures cease growing and slowly fuse. One of these sutures runs along the center of the maxillary arch (the arch in the upper jaw), and contributes to the widening of the upper arch*:

This growth process involves MGP and osteocalcin, both vitamin K-dependent proteins. At the end of adolescence, the jaws have reached their final size and shape, and should be large enough to accommodate all teeth without crowding. This includes the third molars, or wisdom teeth, which will erupt shortly after this period.

Reduced Food Toughness Correlates with Malocclusion in Humans

When Dr. Robert Corruccini published his seminal paper in 1984 documenting rapid changes in occlusion in cultures around the world adopting modern foodways and lifestyles (see this post), he presented the theory that occlusion is influenced by chewing stress. In other words, the jaws require good exercise on a regular basis during growth to develop normal-sized bones and muscles. Although Dr. Corruccini wasn't the first to come up with the idea, he has probably done more than anyone else to advance it over the years.

Dr. Corruccini's paper is based on years of research in transitioning cultures, much of which he conducted personally. In 1981, he published a study of a rural Kentucky community in the process of adopting the modern diet and lifestyle. Their traditional diet was predominantly dried pork, cornbread fried in lard, game meat and home-grown fruit, vegetables and nuts. The older generation, raised on traditional foods, had much better occlusion than the younger generation, which had transitioned to softer and less nutritious modern foods. Dr. Corruccini found that food toughness correlated with proper occlusion in this population.

In another study published in 1985, Dr. Corruccini studied rural and urban Bengali youths. After collecting a variety of diet and socioeconomic information, he found that food toughness was the single best predictor of occlusion. Individuals who ate the toughest food had the best teeth. The second strongest association was a history of thumb sucking, which was associated with a higher prevalence of malocclusion**. Interestingly, twice as many urban youths had a history of thumb sucking as rural youths.

Not only do hunter-gatherers eat tough foods on a regular basis, they also often use their jaws as tools. For example, the anthropologist and arctic explorer Vilhjalmur Stefansson described how the Inuit chewed their leather boots and jackets nearly every day to soften them or prepare them for sewing. This is reflected in the extreme tooth wear of traditional Inuit and other hunter-gatherers.

Soft Food Causes Malocclusion in Animals

Now we have a bunch of associations that may or may not represent a cause-effect relationship. However, Dr. Corruccini and others have shown in a variety of animal models that soft food can produce malocclusion, independent of nutrition.

The first study was conducted in 1951. Investigators fed rats typical dry chow pellets, or the same pellets that had been crushed and softened in water. Rats fed the softened food during growth developed narrow arches and small mandibles (lower jaws) relative to rats fed dry pellets.

Other research groups have since repeated the findings in rodents, pigs and several species of primates (squirrel monkeys, baboons, and macaques). Animals typically developed narrow arches, a central aspect of malocclusion in modern humans. Some of the primates fed soft foods showed other malocclusions highly reminiscent of modern humans as well, such as crowded incisors and impacted third molars. These traits are exceptionally rare in wild primates.

One criticism of these studies is that they used extremely soft foods that are softer than the typical modern diet. This is how science works: you go for the extreme effects first. Then, if you see something, you refine your experiments. One of the most refined experiments I've seen so far was published by Dr. Daniel E. Leiberman of Harvard's anthropology department. They used the rock hyrax, an animal with a skull that bears some similarities to the human skull***.

Instead of feeding the animals hard food vs. mush, they fed them raw and dried food vs. cooked. This is closer to the situation in humans, where food is soft but still has some consistency. Hyrax fed cooked food showed a mild jaw underdevelopment reminiscent of modern humans. The underdeveloped areas were precisely those that received less strain during chewing.

Implications and Practical Considerations

Besides the direct implications for the developing jaws and face, I think this also suggests that physical stress may influence the development of other parts of the skeleton. Hunter-gatherers generally have thicker bones, larger joints, and more consistently well-developed shoulders and hips than modern humans. Physical stress is part of the human evolutionary template, and is probably critical for the normal development of the skeleton.

I think it's likely that food consistency influences occlusion in humans. In my opinion, it's a good idea to regularly include tough foods in a child's diet as soon as she is able to chew them properly and safely. This probably means waiting at least until the deciduous (baby) molars have erupted fully. Jerky, raw vegetables and fruit, tough cuts of meat, nuts, dry sausages, dried fruit, chicken bones and roasted corn are a few things that should stress the muscles and bones of the jaws and face enough to encourage normal development.


* These data represent many years of measurements collected by Dr. Arne Bjork, who used metallic implants in the maxilla to make precise measurements of arch growth over time in Danish youths. The graph is reproduced from the book A Synopsis of Craniofacial Growth, by Dr. Don M. Ranly. Data come from Dr. Bjork's findings published in the book Postnatal Growth and Development of the Maxillary Complex. You can see some of Dr. Bjork's data in the paper "Sutural Growth of the Upper Face Studied by the Implant Method" (free full text).

** I don't know if this was statistically significant at p less than 0.05. Dr. Corruccini uses a cutoff point of p less than 0.01 throughout the paper. He's a tough guy when it comes to statistics!

*** Retrognathic.

Malocclusion: Disease of Civilization, Part VI

Early Postnatal Face and Jaw Development

The face and jaws change more from birth to age four than at any other period of development after birth. At birth, infants have no teeth and their skull bones have not yet fused, allowing rapid growth. This period has a strong influence on the development of the jaws and face. The majority of malocclusions are established by the end this stage of development. Birth is the point at which the infant begins using its jaws and facial musculature in earnest.

The development of the jaws and face is very plastic, particularly during this period. Genes do not determine the absolute size or shape of any body structure. Genes carry the blueprint for all structures, and influence their size and shape, but structures develop relative to one another and in response to the forces applied to them during growth. This is how orthodontists can change tooth alignment and occlusion by applying force to the teeth and jaws.

Influences on Early Postnatal Face and Jaw Development

In 1987, Miriam H. Labbok and colleagues published a subset of the results of the National Health Interview survey (now called NHANES) in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Their article was provocatively titled "Does Breast-feeding Protect Against Malocclusion"? The study examined the occlusion of nearly 10,000 children, and interviewed the parents to determine the duration of breast feeding. Here's what they found:

The longer the infants were breastfed, the lower their likelihood of major malocclusion. The longest category was "greater than 12 months", in which the prevalence of malocclusion was less than half that of infants who were breastfed for three months or less. Hunter-gatherers and other non-industrial populations typically breastfeed for 2-4 years, but this is rare in affluent nations. Only two percent of the mothers in this study breastfed for longer than one year.

The prevalence and duration of breastfeeding have increased dramatically in the US since the 1970s, with the prevalence doubling between 1970 and 1980 (NHANES). The prevalence of malocclusion in the US has decreased somewhat in the last half-century, but is still very common (NHANES).

Several, but not all studies have found that infants who were breastfed have a smaller risk of malocclusion later in life (1, 2, 3). However, what has been more consistent is the association between non-nutritive sucking and malocclusion. Non-nutritive sucking (NNS) is when a child sucks on an object without getting calories out of it. This includes pacifier sucking, which is strongly associated with malocclusion*, and finger sucking, which is also associated to a lesser degree.

The longer a child engages in NNS, the higher his or her risk of malocclusion. The following graph is based on data from a study of nearly 700 children in Iowa (free full text). It charts the prevalence of three types of malocclusion (anterior open bite, posterior crossbite and excessive overjet) broken down by the duration of the NNS habit:

As you can see, there's a massive association. Children who sucked pacifiers or their fingers for more than four years had a 71 percent chance of having one of these three specific types of malocclusion, compared with 14 percent of children who sucked for less than a year. The association between NNS and malocclusion appeared after two years of NNS. Other studies have come to similar conclusions, including a 2006 literature review (1, 2, 3).

Bottle feeding, as opposed to direct breast feeding, is also associated with a higher risk of malocclusion (1, 2). One of the most important functions of breast feeding may be to displace NNS and bottle feeding. Hunter-gatherers and non-industrial cultures breast fed their children on demand, typically for 2-4 years, in addition to giving them solid food.

In my opinion, it's likely that NNS beyond two years of age, and bottle feeding to a lesser extent, cause a large proportion of the malocclusions in modern societies. Pacifier use seems to be particularly problematic, and finger sucking to a lesser degree.

How Do Breastfeeding, Bottle Feeding and NNS Affect Occlusion?

Since jaw development is influenced by the forces applied to them, it makes sense that the type of feeding during this period could have a major impact on occlusion. Children who have a prolonged pacifier habit are at high risk for open bite, a type of malocclusion in which the incisors don't come together when the jaws are closed. You can see a picture here. The teeth and jaws mold to the shape of the pacifier over time. This is because the growth patterns of bones respond to the forces that are applied to them. I suspect this is true for other parts of the skeleton as well.

Any force applied to the jaws that does not approximate the natural forces of breastfeeding or chewing and swallowing food, will put a child at risk of malocclusion during this period of his or her life. This includes NNS and bottle feeding. Pacifier sucking, finger sucking and bottle feeding promote patterns of muscular activity that result in weak jaw muscles and abnormal development of bony structures, whereas breastfeeding, chewing and swallowing strengthen jaw muscles and promote normal development (review article). This makes sense, because our species evolved in an environment where the breast and solid foods were the predominant objects that entered a child's mouth.

What Can We do About it?

In an ideal world (ideal for occlusion), mothers would breast feed on demand for 2-4 years, and introduce solid food about halfway through the first year, as our species has done since the beginning of time. For better or worse, we live in a different world than our ancestors, so this strategy will be difficult or impossible for many people. Are there any alternatives?

Parents like bottle feeding because it's convenient. Milk can be prepared in advance, the mother doesn't have to be present, feeding takes less time, and the parents can see exactly how much milk the child has consumed. One alternative to bottle feeding that's just as convenient is cup feeding. Cup feeding, as opposed to bottle feeding, promotes natural swallowing motions, which are important for correct development. The only study I found that examined the effect of cup feeding on occlusion found that cup-fed children developed fewer malocclusion and breathing problems than bottle-fed children.

Cup feeding has a long history of use. Several studies have found it to be safe and effective. It appears to be a good alternative to bottle feeding, that should not require any more time or effort.

What about pacifiers? Parents know that pacifiers make babies easier to manage, so they will be reluctant to give them up. Certain pacifier designs may be more detrimental than others. I came across the abstract of a study evaluating an "orthodontic pacifier" called the Dentistar, made by Novatex. The frequency of malocclusion was much lower in children who did not use a pacifier or used the Dentistar, than in those who used a more conventional pacifier. This study was funded by Novatex, but was conducted at Heinrich Heine University in Dusseldorf, Germany**. The pacifier has a spoon-like shape that allows normal tongue movement and exerts minimal pressure on the incisors. There may be other brands with a similar design.

The ideal is to avoid bottle feeding and pacifiers entirely. However, cup feeding and orthodontic pacifiers appear to be acceptable alternatives that minimize the risk of malocclusion during this critical developmental window.


* Particularly anterior open bite and posterior crossbite.

** I have no connection whatsoever to this company. I think the results of the trial are probably valid, but should be replicated.

Letter to the Editor

I just got a letter to the editor published in the journal Obesity. It's a comment on an article published in October titled "Efficiency of Intermittent Exercise on Adiposity and Fatty Liver in Rats Fed With High-fat Diet."

In the study, they placed rats on a diet composed of "commercial rat chow plus peanuts, milk chocolate, and sweet biscuit in a proportion of 3:2:2:1," and then proceeded to simply call it a "high-fat diet" in the title and text body, with no reference to its actual composition outside the methods section. We can't tolerate this kind of fudging if we want real answers from nutrition science. Rats eating the "high-fat diet" developed abdominal obesity, fatty liver and hyperphagia, but this was attenuated by exercise.

As I like to say, the problem isn't usually in the data, it's in the interpretation of the data. The result is interesting and highly relevant. But you can't use terminology that tars and feathers all fat when your diet was in fact high in linoleic acid (omega-6), low in omega-3 and high in sugar and refined grains. Especially when butter and coconut oil don't cause the same pathology. I pointed out in the letter that we need to be more precise about how we define "high-fat diets". I also pointed out that the study is highly relevant to the modern U.S., because it supports the hypothesis that a junk food diet high in linoleic acid and sugar causes metabolic disturbances and fatty liver, and exercise may be protective.

Exercise and Bodyfat

I'm a firm believer that exercise is part of a healthy pattern of living. Hunter-gatherers had a word for exercise: "life". Getting outdoors and moving is one of the few things that differentiate modern humans from lab rats.

That being said, there are some common misconceptions about the activity patterns of hunter-gatherers and healthy non-industrial groups. They aren't (usually) couch potatoes, but they don't necessarily exercise a lot either. They range from very active to positively lazy, depending on the culture, the season and the gender concerned. Yet overweight is rare in all of them.

Consider the Kitavans. According to Dr. Staffan Lindeberg, the only overweight person on the whole island is someone who left for several years to live in a city. An average Kitavan man has a BMI of 20, which is very lean. Women have an average BMI of 18! A BMI of 25 is considered overweight and 30 is obese. The average Swede has a BMI of 25, the average American, 28. Kitavans have the activity level of a moderately active Swede, nothing more. They do the minimum amount of work required to grow their starchy tubers and fruit, and catch fish, all of which are abundant year-round. They are not restricted in calories.

Then there are the Tokelauans. Between 1968 and 1982, residents of the Pacific atolls of Tokelau gained roughly 11 pounds (5 kg) on average. This corresponded with a shift in diet from traditional Polynesian foods to a partial reliance on white flour, sugar and other processed foods. During this period, men exercised progressively less due to the introduction of the outboard motor, but the activity level of women stayed roughly the same. Both genders gained weight. Calorie intake didn't trend in any particular direction during the same time period.

Tokelauans who migrated to New Zealand saw a particularly large weight gain, gaining 22 pounds (10 kg) over the same time period. Their diet became even more Westernized than their relatives who remained on Tokelau. The authors of the Tokelau Island Migrant study felt that "most of the migrants expend greater energy in their work than is currently the case in Tokelau."

The "paradoxes" keep rolling in. In this recent study, investigators compared the energy expenditure of Nigerian and African-American women, using direct measurement (respiratory gas exchange and doubly labeled water) rather than questionnaires and observation. Here's what they found:

Mean body mass index (in kg/m(2)) was 23 among the Nigerians and 31 among the African Americans; the prevalences of obesity were 7% and 50%, respectively. After adjustment for body size, no differences in mean activity energy expenditure or physical activity level were observed between the 2 cohorts.

Are you bored yet? Here's another one, just in case your eyes are still open. I'll quote from Stefansson's Cancer, Disease of Civilization, referring to traditional point Barrow Inuit women in wintertime. The section in quotes comes from the anthropologist Dr. John Murdoch:

"They are large eaters, some of them, especially the women, eating all the time..." ...during the winter the Barrow women stirred around very little, did little heavy work, and yet "inclined more to be sparse than corpulent"

One last example. Americans have gained weight continually over the last 40 years, despite increasing leisure-time exercise and an increased energy expenditure. Our calorie intake has increased over the same time period, and the quality of our diet has deteriorated.

I think it's clear that the relationship between exercise and weight is not very tight. In my opinion, diet has a much larger influence on weight than exercise. Doing low-intensity "cardio" on a treadmill is almost totally ineffective for weight loss.

So can exercise help a person reach or maintain a healthy weight? Absolutely, but the type of exercise is critical. Exercise plugs into some of the same metabolic pathways as a healthy diet, normalizing hormone levels and increasing stress resitance. All you have to do is pop over to Chris's Conditioning Research to see a number of studies that compared chronic cardio (as Mark Sisson would say) to high-intensity, intermittent training (HIIT). HIIT is the winner every time by virtually every measure. Even though a person burns fewer calories sprinting on and off for five minutes than she does running for 30, she will still lose more fat and gain more muscle sprinting because of the metabolic shift that type of training produces.

In one study Chris posted, investigators compared the effect of two different exercise styles on fat loss and metabolic parameters. One group was assigned to low-intensity steady-state exercise, while the other was assigned to short 8-second sprints (called HIIE in this study). Here's what they found after 15 weeks:

Both exercise groups demonstrated a significant improvement (P less than 0.05) in cardiovascular fitness. However, only the HIIE group had a significant reduction in total body mass (TBM), fat mass (FM), trunk fat and fasting plasma insulin levels.

I think exercise is part of the fat loss / maintenance toolkit, along with intermittent fasting. But nothing beats a good diet.