Could ADHD Play a Role in Obesity?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common behavioral disorder in children, affecting three to five percent of that age group, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

ADHD results in problems with inattention, hyperactivity and impulsiveness, which can affect social interactions, work or school productivity and self-esteem. Research suggests that attention deficit disorder may be also linked with another rising disorder — obesity.

A new study in the Western Journal of Nursing Research suggests the possibility of screening anyone with a chronic weight issue for ADHD since one in five adults who were obese turned out to have multiple symptoms of it, compared with around one in thirty in the general adult population. Previous studies have also found that children and adults with ADHD are significantly more likely to be overweight.

According to Psychology Today, “The link between ADHD and poor eating habits isn't surprising when you consider that it is a disorder of executive function, a set of cognitive skills which act as our brain manager. Executive function impacts almost every aspect of living, encompassing our ability to self-regulate, organize, plan, prioritize and anticipate the future. Eating is only one of many facets of ordinary life influenced by ADHD, yet typically flies under the radar.”

What can be done?

·    Set a good example for your family.  Children emulate their parents.  If you make healthy food choices so will your kids.

·    When having dinner as a family, don’t eat in front of the TV.  This way, you and your children will know exactly how much you are consuming.  Talk during dinner and place your utensils on your plate when you are speaking.  This will encourage you – and your family – to eat more slowly and actually participate in conversation.

·    Children are easily distracted – especially kids with ADHD.  If you don’t want your children consuming junk food out of boredom or low self-esteem, don’t keep junk food in your pantry.  Treat chips, cake and cookies as a treat for special occasions or a weekend indulgence.

·    Don’t use food to calm an agitated child.  Young kids will learn to connect food with their emotions and, later in life, could use food to try to ward off sadness and, thus, creating weight issues.

·    Establish healthy eating – and exercise – habits from an early age.  As I wrote about in my blog, “Exercise Helps Children with ADHD,” regular, half-hour sessions of aerobic activity before school helped young children with symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder become more attentive.  So, make exercise fun!  Rake leaves, walk around the neighborhood or play tag in the backyard as a family.  Not only will you burn calories and help your family members with ADHD lessen their symptoms, you will create lifelong memories together and teach your children the value of an ongoing healthy, active lifestyle.

To learn how Fitness for Health helps children and adults with ADD and ADHD improve their cognitive abilities through exercise, visit www.FitnessForHealth.org or call 301-231-7138 to schedule a free tour of our facility.

Are Diabetes and Depression Linked?

We all know that how you feel physically affects how you feel mentally - and vice-versa.

Do you have diabetes?  Are you depressed?  Ongoing research suggests that people with either health condition are at higher risk of developing the other.

Numerous studies have explored the link between diabetes and depression but scientists are still unsure if diabetes causes depression or depression causes diabetes. The latest research suggests the influence may go both ways, although depression seems less likely to lead to diabetes.

Because caring for diabetes can be stressful and overwhelming, it may lead to anxiety and depression.  On the other hand, if you are depressed, you may not be taking care of yourself – not eating healthily and not exercising - which, ultimately, can lead to diabetes.

According to Sara Foster, RN, MPH, “A recent review of 16 studies with nearly 500,000 participants found that people with type 2 diabetes were more likely to have depression than those without the disease. Past research reported a 24 percent higher risk for depression in people with type 2 diabetes. Those younger than 45 may be at particular risk for depression or type 2 diabetes if they already have the other condition.”

Proper treatment for both can make a difference. A recent study in the Annals of Family Medicine found that, “by treating diabetes and depression at the same time patients fared better. In fact, study participants who were given such integrated care had better blood sugar control and fewer symptoms of depression.”

If you think that you may be depressed, try exercise.

Scientists have found that regular participation in aerobic exercise has been shown to decrease overall levels of tension, elevate and stabilize mood, improve sleep, and improve self-esteem. Even five minutes of aerobic exercise can stimulate anti-anxiety effects.

To learn how Fitness for Health can help you improve your mind-body connection utilizing state-of-the-art fitness technology, visit www.FitnessForHealth.org or call 301-231-7138.

Exercise Helps Children with ADHD

Have you heard?  Exercise can help children with ADHD.

As many of you know, I have ADD and created Fitness for Health because I wanted to help children faced with the same challenges and assist them in achieving their maximize potential via physical fitness.

I wrote about “Exercise as Medicine for ADD and ADHD” in my blog on January 29, 2014.  And, a study published on Tuesday in the Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology confirms that exercise can treat the symptoms of ADHD.

The study found, “regular, half-hour sessions of aerobic activity before school helped young children with symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder become more attentive and less moody.”  Other research found that a single bout of exercise improved students’ attentions and academic success.

“This is the first large-scale demonstration of improvements in ADHD symptoms from aerobic physical activity using a randomized control trial methodology,” said Betsy Hoza, lead author of the study and professor of psychological science at the University of Vermont.  “This shows promise as a new avenue of treatment for ADHD but more work needs to be done before we know for sure if it really is.”

If you or a loved one have ADD or ADHD, the daily demands of school, work and family can seem overwhelming. But, by using exercise as a “medicine,” you can become more organized, better able to concentrate and use your newfound focus to tackle new challenges.

To learn how Fitness for Health helps children and adults with ADD and ADHD improve their cognitive abilities through exercise, visit www.FitnessForHealth.org or call 301-231-7138 to schedule a free tour of our facility.

The State of American Obesity

Have you heard? Washington, DC, is the third least obese “state.”

The Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation released its annual report on obesity this week.  According to the latest data, adult obesity rates increased in six states (Alaska, Delaware, Idaho, New Jersey, Tennessee and Wyoming) over the last year.  Mississippi and West Virginia have the highest rates of obesity at 35.1 percent, while Colorado has the lowest rate at 21.3 percent. The report further states,” Twenty states have rates at or above 30 percent, 43 states have rates of at least 25 percent and every state is above 20 percent.”  Obesity rates did not decline in a single state.

“Until we start moving more and think more about the quality of the food we’re eating, we’re not going to fully reverse this epidemic,” said Jeffrey Levi, PhD, executive director of the Trust for America's Health (TFAH), in a press conference, reported TIME. He attributed the historic number to bad eating habits, lack of physical activity, fast-food chains, and scarcity of affordable nutritious foods in many areas.

The silver lining? While cheap sugary treats and lack of exercise still put kids at risk, especially those in the black and Latino communities, the prevalence of obesity among all American children has leveled off.  Last February, the CDC reported that childhood obesity rates in the U.S. dropped 43 percent from 2003 to 2012.

Do you prefer to work out with a friend in order to make fitness more fun?  Fitness for Health offers a one-hour, group exercise program utilizing exergaming fitness equipment which is cutting edge and state-of-the-art.  Call us at 301-2131-7138 to learn about our Tuesday/Thursday group program from 11am – 12pm. 

Is Your Child Scared of Gym Class?

It is back-to-school time!  And, that means the return of the sometimes dreaded gym class.

Physical education (PE) classes at school cause fear and anxiety for many children. If your child is nervous at gym class time, these tips will help your child address his/her anxieties and learn to manage anxious situations.

Some kids love PE and look forward to burning off energy during gym class, but for others, PE is the most dreaded time of the school day. They may be embarrassed about their lack of athletic ability or self-conscious about their weight.

As I’ve seen firsthand many times, fear of gym class can keep kids from enjoying school, social activities and prohibit them from achieving a healthy lifestyle now and later in life.

Here are three tips for parents of children nervous about PE:

·    Be proactive.  Find out which sports/physical activities your child will play in gym class. Practice ahead of time with your child so he/she won’t be as self-conscious when playing those games with peers at school. Kick the soccer ball around the backyard, shoot baskets in the driveway or work on serving for volleyball.

·     If you are unable to practice with your child, contact a children’s gym to register him/her for fitness or sports classes.  Children’s gyms can be a fun transition into PE class because the child can learn that fitness can be enjoyable and that all sports skills can be learned with dedication and hardwork over time.  It also gives the child positive reinforcement while working at his/her own pace and the self-confidence to try new skills without the fear of peer ridicule. 

·    Help your child laugh at himself/herself. Playing with your child is a great time to demonstrate how to make light of your personal, athletic weaknesses. Keep the games lighthearted and fun and don’t forget to ensure that your child understands that gym class doesn’t need to be taken so seriously.

·    Encourage your child to embrace a lifelong, healthy active lifestyle. There are many ways to stay fit, not just team sports. Give your child the opportunity to try out different activities, from swimming to hiking to dance to flag football. Some kids may like working out at a fitness center while others may like to take a jog around the neighborhood while taking that time to reflect on the day’s events.

It’s hard to watch your child suffer. But, PE class can offer a teachable moment by allowing your child to learn to overcome difficult situations with grace and determination.  A child won’t like every sport played in gym class, but maybe he/she will find a new physical activity that will be loved into adulthood!

To learn how Fitness for Health can help your child improve his or her gym class fundamentals by participating in fun, fitness programs designed specifically for children and teenagers, visit www.FitnessForHealth.org or call 301-231-7138 to schedule a free tour of our children’s fitness facility.

Walk Away the Calories

Looking for an inexpensive way to enjoy the dwindling, warm days while exercising?  Try walking.

According to Natural Health, “Walking is the simplest, cheapest and most convenient way to exercise. But if your goal is to lose weight, an easy stroll isn't going to cut it.”  A 150-pound person burns less than 100 calories on a leisurely half-hour walk.

So, turn up the intensity of a walk and burn more calories with these three simple habits:

·    Walk faster.  People often wonder how you might burn more calories per mile at slow speeds. This is because you are basically stopping and starting with each step and your momentum isn't helping to carry you along. Your body walks more efficiently at moderate speeds. Meanwhile, at very high walking speeds you are using more muscle groups with arm motion and with a racewalking stride. Brisk walking, at a pace that makes it tough to talk, which means at least two miles in 30 minutes, is a good way to lose weight. Your goal should be to work out at about 75 percent of your maximum heart rate. (To calculate your target heartbeats per minute, subtract your age from 220, and then multiply that number by 0.705.)

·    Add incline.  Walk up a hill or stairs to add cardiovascular conditioning to your workout.  This not only increases your calorie expenditure but also tones the muscles in your buttocks and thighs because it demands more from your legs.

·    Walk for a longer time.  Many people think that walking three times a week for 30 minutes at a time is the magic weight-loss formula. Although, researchers found that people who were successful at weight loss burned the number of calories that you would by walking about an hour a day, almost every day of the week.

Regular exercise – especially walking - is beneficial for people of all ages.  Exercise helps to improve muscle and joint flexibility and keeps your heart healthy.  It also can improve sleep and helps to maintain a healthy weight.

To learn more about Fitness for Health’s customized fitness programs for children through senior citizens, visit www.FitnessForHealth.org or call 301-231-7138.

Youth Concussions

Consumers should beware of dietary supplements that claim to treat a concussion, the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations said yesterday.

"Exploiting the public's rising concern about concussions, some companies are offering untested, unproven and possibly dangerous products that claim to prevent, treat or cure concussions and other traumatic brain injuries," the agency said in a post on its website.

The beginning of the school year signals the beginning of fall sports season.  Are you worried about your young athlete receiving a concussion?

Youth concussion rates are on the rise.  Approximately 40% of emergency department visits for sports-related concussions in young athletes occurred in children aged 8-13 years, based on data from concussion-related hospital visits in the United States between 2001 and 2005.

Many parents, coaches, teachers and other adults feel that because these athletes are so young, they could not possibly get seriously hurt, but, of course, this is not the case. There are roughly half a million ER visits for concussions occurred among 8- to 19-year-olds and the number of elementary and middle school-aged athletes treated in hospital ERs (for concussions they got while playing on sports teams) has doubled in just a decade.

Why is the rate of concussions in younger children doubling?  Lisa L. Bakhos, MD, Brown University pediatric emergency medical specialist, said, “We don't really know why this is.  We know that kids are bigger now than they were in the past, which could be contributing to this trend. And, sports seem to be more competitive."

Is the answer to ban your child from sports until he/she is older and physically bigger?  In my opinion, the answer is no.  Sports are a great way to reinforce the importance of physical fitness in young kids while also teaching valuable lessons in sportsmanship, cooperation, listening skills and responsibility.  These lessons learned at a young age can help create a foundation of building blocks that kids can expand upon as they age.

Parents and coaches need to actively monitor and listen to their athletes though.  If a child is injured, ensure the child is taken out of the game and not allowed to play on the team until he/she has fully recovered.  One way to know that recovery has occurred is to ask the child.  But don’t solely take the child’s word for it.  Check with a reputable physician and have the child receive a medical physical. 

Over the past couple of years, the news has reported numerous children who have died on the field because they were playing in games after receiving concussions or playing after receiving multiple concussions within a short timeframe.  This is heartbreaking because these deaths could – and should - have been prevented by not allowing the child to participate in sports so soon. 

As adults, it is our responsibility to keep kids safe – and healthy – as they pursue their passion for sports and athletic endeavors this school year. 

Is your child ready to take his or her athletic training to the next level and train like a professional athlete?  Call Fitness for Health at 301-231-7138 to learn how we can help you become stronger, faster and more explosive.