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Want to get fit quickly? Then, enter a weight loss competition.

I'm not talking about getting on some reality TV show and dropping pounds ala "The Biggest Loser." Rather, instead of shedding weight in front of millions, consider entering one of the dozens of local weight loss contests being offered around the world.

A new study shows that weight loss competitions have become successful weapons in the battle against obesity. The study, conducted by researchers at The Miriam Hospital and Brown University, concluded that these types of challenges can produce weight loss in large numbers of people at minimal cost.

The study's authors suggest that team-based weight loss competitions can promote modest weight loss in large numbers of people, and they hope the study will encourage more people to enter similar programs. Researchers did note that some improvements could be made to basic weight loss contests, such as adding diet and exercise education, teaching ways to change behavior or offering access to health coaches.

One of the most popular weight loss contests offered in the United States is Shape Up Rhode Island, a statewide Internet-based weight loss competition, which has resulted in thousands of overweight individuals melting away unwanted pounds.

According to reports, Shape Up Rhode Island reduced the percentage of obese contestants from 39 percent to 31 percent. What's more, individual contestants learned that by increasing their activity, they could not only lose weight, but keep it off as well.

The contest is designed to include teams that compete for weight loss, pedometer steps and exercise minutes. The contest runs for approximately one year. Competitors pay $15 to register, and most of the contestants say they were able to get the fee paid by their employer.

In 2007 nearly 5,000 overweight individuals signed up to compete in the program. Of those participants, roughly 3,400 or 71 percent of participants completed at least 12 weeks of the study. Participants who were heavier at the start of the program lost the greatest amount of weight, though all of the contestants, who stuck with the program, noted that they had experienced some type of weight loss.

Have you ever participated in a weight loss competition?

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The May 2009 Health Gazette ezine edition has been published on schedule today, May first. Subscribers will find it in their inbox and can also read it online in the subscriber-only archive.

This month's edition provides a response to the hype surrounding the so-called swine flu. We have not seen so much media hype since the so-called bird flu marketing exercise of 2005. The main article, Swine Flu: Avoid the Hype, encourages calm in the face of this episode and provides a more rational perspective than the mainstream media and many health authorities which seem to be dancing to the hype pedlars' tune. Read the article to learn what is an appropriate response.

30 Apr 2009 12:27 PM

Given that you can't work out when you are sick, it's a good idea to do what you can to keep your immune system in tip-top shape.

In a previous blog I noted that germs can cause anything from a runny nose to a life-threatening disease. To avoid falling ill and compromising your regular fitness routine, consider the following tips to keep bacteria at bay:

Filthy Fridge

When was the last time you cleaned your refrigerator? Not just to throw out spoiled food, but to deep clean the frosty kitchen appliance from top to bottom? A recent survey found that 83 percent of Americans neglect to clean the seal around the refrigerator door, which studies show is a haven for all kinds of mold. What's more, those molds spread every time you open the fridge door, and contaminate food, which in turn can make you sick. To avoid this from happening, be sure to wipe your fridge seals with a diluted bleach solution or spray on a disinfectant, at least once a week.

Vicious Vacuums

Most people think that using their vacuum on a regular basis is a great way to cut down on dirt and bacteria, and stay healthy. Unfortunately, vacuums are huge hiding places for germs. In fact, a leading microbiologist once referred to vacuums as "meals-on-wheels" for bacteria, and that includes the bags and brushes.

It makes sense if you think about it. All those crumbs dropped on the carpet, plus the other foreign gunk left behind by your kids, continually spin around in the vacuum cleaner bag. This is one of the main reasons you should change the vacuum bag frequently, and do it outside if possible. Doing so will help bacteria from spreading around your home. In addition, consider purchasing vacuum bags with anti-bacterial linings. If you use a bagless vacuum, clean the cavity with diluted bleach and let it air dry.

Finally, don't forget to clean your vacuum brushes. A new study found that 13 percent of all vacuum cleaner brushes tested positive for E. Coli, which means you could be spreading around dangerous bacteria every time you use your vacuum.

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29 Apr 2009 12:10 PM

Most people take a break from their fitness routines when they are sick. Then, there are those who power through and risk getting even sicker. Ideally, you wouldn't get sick at all, but that's not reality. On the bright side, studies show that people who follow a regular fitness routine lower their risk of contracting colds and other common communicable diseases.

Still, germs are everywhere. While most are harmless, experts say, roughly one percent of germs can cause life-threatening infections. To avoid upsetting your fitness routine, consider the following simple steps to help you stay healthy:

Beware of Dirty Mats

Welcome mats house millions of unwanted guests. Most welcome mats are placed just outside the front door, which is one of the dirtiest spots in and around your home. A recent study found that nearly 96 percent of shoe soles carry traces of coliform, which includes fecal bacteria. Once the germs get into your mat, any time you walk on it, you give bacteria a free ride into your home. Ditto for shopping bags that are placed on the front mat while you fish around for your keys or balance kids on your hips. Those bags are then brought inside and placed on countertops, where germs then transfer and prosper. To avoid getting sick from these unwanted houseguests, remember to never to put your shopping bags on your countertops. You can eliminate bacteria on your welcome mat by spraying it once a week with Lysol or another disinfectant spray. Also, take your shoes off before entering your home.

Dish Towel Danger

A recent study found that about seven percent of kitchen towels are contaminated with a type of staph bacteria that can cause life-threatening skin infections. Dish towels also rate high for dangerous strains of E. Coli and other bacteria. That said, if you use dish towels as opposed to paper towels, you might consider making a switch. Experts recommend that you use paper towels to clean countertops, and save the towel to dry clean dishes. Even then, you should wash your dish towels in hot water and bleach at least twice a week to keep them germ-free.

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29 Apr 2009 10:34 AM

I once drove 120 miles to get my hands on a pair of discontinued running shoes. For some reason Nike constantly gets rid of the shoes that I perform best in. Seriously. Every single pair of Nike running shoes I've completed marathons in has been yanked from store shelves leaving me to scour the Internet for leftovers.

When it comes to exercise and footwear, most people are quite loyal to their stomps. However, I recently considered straying from my beloved Nikes to try out a pair of performance enhancing EasyTone shoes by Reebok. The popular show manufacturer recently debuted its version of the MBT Anti-Shoe, which is supposed to help you burn more calories per workout.

Reebok's website claims that by wearing the EasyTone shoes an exerciser can experience 28 percent more action in the gluteus maximus muscle, 11 percent more activation of the hamstring, and 11 percent more calf activation, and all you have to do is walk.

The reason: Balance Pods. The high-tech, built-in "pods" reportedly create instability with every step you take, so your muscles have to work harder. Think: walking on a sandy beach. The shoe will set you back about $110 and comes in a rainbow of colors. Fortunately for fitness fashionistas, the EasyTone doesn't look anything like a traditional orthopedic shoe.

The jury is still out on the effectiveness of Reebok's new addition. However, fitness experts, who have tested the new sneaker, say that unofficial studies show that the EasyTone mirrors some of the same benefits as the MBT, in that the shoes affect many small muscles crossing the ankle joint complex, as well as larger leg muscles.

I probably won't ditch my running shoes for a pair of EasyTones, unless someone discovers that the high-tech inserts have magical powers that would produce the same results as running six miles per day.

What about you? Would you be willing to drop $110 on a pair of EasyTones?

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