Study: Morbidly obese sedentary for more than 99 percent of day

"A new study appearing in Clinical Cardiology examines the average fitness level of the morbidly obese (body mass indexes between 40.0 and 49.9). The findings show that the tested population was sedentary for more than 99 percent of the day and, on average, walked less than 2,500 steps per day – far below healthy living guidelines of 10,000 steps per day. The results provide important links between obesity, poor fitness and cardiovascular disease. The study used a precise body sensor to continually measure physical activity, caloric expenditure and movement minute-by-minute over a 72-hour period within their home environments. Following collection of the data, structured cardiorespiratory fitness testing was performed on each subject" - EurekAlert

Longer bouts of exercise deter childhood obesity (Canada)

Children who exercise in bouts of activity lasting five minutes or longer are less likely to become obese than those whose activity levels are more sporadic and typically last less than five minutes each, Queen's University researchers have discovered. Led by Kinesiology and Health Studies professor Ian Janssen, the new study supports Canada's Physical Activity Guidelines for Children and Youth, which call for children to accumulate at least 90 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity over the course of the day, in bouts of at least five to 10 minutes' duration. Until now there has been no scientific evidence to support the recommendation of sustained, rather than sporadic exercise. 'Even in 60-minute physical education classes or team practices, children are inactive for a large portion of the time and this would not necessarily count as sustained exercise,' says Dr. Janssen. 'When children engage in longer periods of sustained physical activity, there is a smaller likelihood that they will be overweight or obese.' The findings appear in the May issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. - redOrbit

Britons 'in denial' over heart risk from obesity and smoking

Britons at high risk of heart attack are 'in denial' and ignoring doctors' advice to change their lifestyle, says a new survey. More than three-quarters are obese or overweight - with dangerously big stomachs - and most smokers have refused to give up. More than half have out-of-control blood pressure and 40 per cent have high cholesterol levels. Two out of three refuse to accept they are more at risk than other people their age - despite being given warnings by their GP and lots of prescription drugs. The findings from a major European survey are published in the European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation. Around one in three middle-aged Britons is at high risk of heart disease because of factors such as obesity, diabetes, family history, high cholesterol and blood pressure levels. Mail

Fat people cost GBP75 more to bury (UK)

Fat people will cost more to bury than those who are thinner, it has emerged after a British council said it would charge an extra GBP75 to bury the obese because they take up more space in a cemetery. Relatives of those with bigger bodies will have to pay GBP194 instead of the usual GBP129 fee in Houghton Regis, Beds, the Mirror reported. Chairman of the council's burial committee Cllr Linda Walmsley described the charge as "unfortunate". She told the Mirror: "There was a request from the funeral directors who asked what the charge would be for a larger person. I think it is unfortunate. I couldn't say everybody would be willing to pay." It is the first area in the country to vary burial fees according to the dead person's weight. - Telegraph