Videogames get more physical as recession bites

by john gaudiosi, Reuters

RALEIGH, North Carolina (Reuters) - With the recession cutting out some family vacations, gym memberships, and personal trainers, a rash of new videogames designed to let people workout in their living room are hitting the shelves.

Electronic Arts has just released "EA Sports Active" for the Nintendo Wii which comes with a resistance band and a leg strap that lets players perform aerobic activities like virtual roller blading, jogging, or lunging.

"With today's economy, people can't always afford gym memberships and personal trainers," said Alison Sweeney, host of NBC's "Biggest Loser" reality TV series.

"EA calls this game a "trainer in a box" and it really is. The game teaches you the right way to work out."

The game has a built-in journal to track food intake and encourage an active lifestyle, including away from the Wii.

The trend of incorporating exercise into virtual entertainment will be showcased at next week's E3 Expo in Los Angeles, the largest videogame trade show in North America.

Sega has a new Wii game, "Daisy Fuentes Pilates" hosted by the former MTV personality, Namco Bandai has "Active Life: Extreme Challenge" for Wii, and Nintendo has "Wii Sports Resort."

Activision's "Tony Hawk: Ride" for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 adds physical play to the mix with a motion-sensor skateboard controller that translates 'gamers' physical moves into virtual tricks.

Exercise games have become an established genre for game publishers.

Konami Digital Entertainment introduced active games to the world with its "Dance Dance Revolution" game, which has sold over 11 million copies its 2001 launch.

Nintendo encouraged physical interaction with its Wii console and games like "Wii Sports" then took virtual exercise to another level last May with the "Wii Fit" which has sold over 14 million units worldwide, introducing gamers to yoga and mini-game workouts.

"Aside from the "Dance Dance Revolution" games, there have only been a handful of fitness games and, until the "Wii Fit" launched, none was particularly successful," said Michael Pachter, videogame analyst, Wedbush Morgan Securities.

He predicted strong sales for "EA Sports Active" and Sega's "Daisy 'Fuentes' Pilates."

Nintendo's Wii and "Wii Fit" have not only introduced more men to exercise but also paved a new avenue for female gamers.

"I've gotten e-mails from plenty of women who tell me that "Wii Fit" has helped them become more active, and it's clear that these women were not gamers to begin with," said Kristin Kalning, game editor and columnist, MSNBC.

Daisy Fuentes, the Cuban-born actress and model, said her pilates games that will be released this summer isn't exclusive to women.

"Pilates is able to equally cater to both men and women, especially for beginners. Since it was developed by a man and for a man's body, it focuses on many important aspects of men's fitness," she said.

"I'm excited for everyone to have the chance to feel what it's really like to experience the true feeling of skateboarding," said Hawk in a statement.

(Editing by Belinda Goldsmith)

Gestational Diabetes ( GDM )

What is gestational diabetes?

Pregnant women who have never had diabetes before but who have high blood sugar (glucose) levels during pregnancy are said to have gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes affects about 4% of all pregnant women - about 135,000 cases of gestational diabetes in the United States each year.

The placenta supports the baby as it grows. Hormones from the placenta help the baby develop. But these hormones also block the action of the mother's insulin in her body. This problem is called insulin resistance. Insulin resistance makes it hard for the mother's body to use insulin. She may need up to three times as much insulin.

Gestational diabetes starts when your body is not able to make and use all the insulin it needs for pregnancy. Without enough insulin, glucose cannot leave the blood and be changed to energy. Glucose builds up in the blood to high levels. This is called hyperglycemia.

Gestational diabetes affects the mother in late pregnancy, after the baby's body has been formed, but while the baby is busy growing. Because of this, gestational diabetes does not cause the kinds of birth defects sometimes seen in babies whose mothers had diabetes before pregnancy.

However, untreated or poorly controlled gestational diabetes can hurt your baby. When you have gestational diabetes, your pancreas works overtime to produce insulin, but the insulin does not lower your blood glucose levels. Although insulin does not cross the placenta, glucose and other nutrients do. So extra blood glucose goes through the placenta, giving the baby high blood glucose levels.

This causes the baby's pancreas to make extra insulin to get rid of the blood glucose. Since the baby is getting more energy than it needs to grow and develop, the extra energy is stored as fat.

This can lead to macrosomia, or a "fat" baby. Babies with macrosomia face health problems of their own, including damage to their shoulders during birth. Because of the extra insulin made by the baby's pancreas, newborns may have very low blood glucose levels at birth and are also at higher risk for breathing problems. Babies with excess insulin become children who are at risk for obesity and adults who are at risk for type 2 diabetes.

Treating gestational diabetes?

Because gestational diabetes can hurt you and your baby, you need to start treatment quickly. Treatment for gestational diabetes aims to keep blood glucose levels equal to those of pregnant women who don't have gestational diabetes. Treatment for gestational diabetes always includes special meal plans and scheduled physical activity. It may also include daily blood glucose testing and insulin injections. You will need help from your doctor, nurse educator, and other members of your health care team so that your treatment for gestational diabetes can be changed as needed.

For you as the mother-to-be, treatment for gestational diabetes helps lower the risk of a cesarean section birth that very large babies may require. Sticking with your treatment for gestational diabetes will give you a healthy pregnancy and birth, and may help your baby avoid future poor health.

Gestational diabetes -- Looking ahead

Gestational diabetes usually goes away after pregnancy. But once you've had gestational diabetes, your chances are 2 in 3 that it will return in future pregnancies. In a few women, however, pregnancy uncovers type 1 or type 2 diabetes. It is hard to tell whether these women have gestational diabetes or have just started showing their diabetes during pregnancy. These women will need to continue diabetes treatment after pregnancy.

Many women who have gestational diabetes go on to develop type 2 diabetes years later. There seems to be a link between the tendency to have gestational diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Gestational diabetes and type 2 diabetes both involve insulin resistance. Certain basic lifestyle changes may help prevent diabetes after gestational diabetes.

Losing weight

Are you more than 20% over your ideal body weight? Losing even a few pounds can help you avoid developing type 2 diabetes.

Making healthy food choices

Follow simple daily guidelines, like eating a variety of foods including fresh fruits and vegetables, limiting fat intake to 30% or less of daily calories, and watching your portion size. Healthy eating habits can go a long way in preventing diabetes and other health problems.

Exercising

Regular exercise allows your body to use glucose without extra insulin. This helps combat insulin resistance and is what makes exercise helpful to people with diabetes. Never start an exercise program without checking with your doctor first.

DIABETES

WHAT IS DIABETES ?

Your body changes carbohydrates that you eat to glucose. Glucose is a kind of sugar that your cells use as a source of energy. Normally, when glucose is metabolised, a hormone called insulin helps cells get the glucose they need. Insulin is produced by the pancreas (an organ near the stomach).

Diabetes happens when your body doesn't produce enough insulin or is resistant to insulin action. When this happens, glucose cannot get into cells. It remains trapped in the blood and results in high blood glucose level.

HOW GLUCOSE IS REGULATED IN

YOUR BODY?

Normal Glucose Regulation

Insulin enables glucose to enter cells.

Impaired Glucose Regulation

When Insulin is not available, or doesn't work properly, glucose can't get to the cells.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF DIABETES?

§ Excessive thirst

§ Frequent urination

§ Abrupt weight loss despite increasing appetite

§ Fatigue

§ Frequent infections

§ Having sores or wounds that are slow to heal

§ Numbness/tingling in the hands or feet

§ Blurred vision

§ Irritability

WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF DIABETES?

Type 1 or insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

• There is an absolute shortage of insulin
• This can be the result of the failure of the pancreas to produce insulin. This, in turn, is caused by:
• Virus or toxic chemicals
• Physical injuries to the pancreas?
• Usually occurs at a younger age (<30>
• Must be controlled with insulin shots, along with proper diet and regular exercise.

Type 2 or non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

• There is a relative shortage of insulin or an insulin resistance*
• This can be the result of the pancreas failing to produce sufficient insulin or the body is resistant to insulin
• Usually occurs at older age (>35 years old).
• Can be managed with proper diet and exercise. Sometimes, oral medication may be needed to stimulate production of insulin from the pancreas or increasing the action of insulin.
• Daily insulin shots may be needed in uncontrollable cases.

*Insulin resistance is a condition where insulin is available in the blood, but cells are not sensitive or responsive to it.

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM)

GDM is another type of diabetes which usually occurs during pregnancy and ends after delivery.

During pregnancy, hormones produced by the placenta for the baby's development may block the normal action of insulin in the body. This makes it harder for the mother's body to use insulin.

Women who have had GDM are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Therefore, it is important to perform a blood glucose test between 28 to 32 weeks of pregnancy to determine if you have GDM.

COMPLICATIONS

If not managed properly, diabetes can cause life-threatening complications. So beware.

· Nerve Disease and Amputations (neuropathy)

About 70% of people with diabetes have mild to severe forms of nerve damage which, in severe forms, can lead to lower limb amputations. In fact, diabetes is the most frequent cause of lower limb amputations.

· Blindness (retinopathy)

Diabetes can cause disease of the eyes (retinopathy). In fact, it is one of the leading causes of new cases of blindness.

· Kidney Disease (nephropathy)

Diabetes may cause kidney malfunction and affects protein filtration. As a result, protein is excreted through urine. This is one cause of end-stage renal disease.

Diabetes may also cause inefficient nerve conduction making the bladder not function properly. This causes urine to remain in the bladder resulting in bacteria collecting there. These bacteria could cause kidney damage.

· Heart Disease and Stroke

People with diabetes are more likely to have heart disease because it increases their tendency to develop clogged and hardened blood vessels (atherosclerosis). Diabetes is also associated with high blood pressure (hypertension).

PREVENTING METHOD

DO YOU HAVE A HEALTHY BODY WEIGHT?

Obesity may make your body more resistant to insulin, which may increase your risk of getting diabetes. In fact, 50% of type 2 diabetics are obese.

Therefore, maintain a healthy body weight to minimise your risk.

Use the BMI Calculator to assess whether you are in the healthy weight range or not. (Healthy weight range = BMI: 18.5 to 24.9)

If you are overweight or obese, you should aim for a healthier weight by reducing your calorie consumption and increasing your physical activity.

STAYING PHYSICALLY ACTIVE

When you are physically active, your cells use more glucose from the blood for energy production. This helps regulate blood glucose.

So get active. Besides, physical activity burns off extra calories and helps you reach your healthy weight range. All it takes is just 20-30 minutes a day, 3 times a week. So start today for a healthier you.

ARE YOU EATING HEALTHILY?

"Don't eat too much sweet foods or you'll get diabetes." You've probably heard of this before.

The truth is, no causal relationship has been established between diabetes and sugar intake. However, an unhealthy diet coupled with sedentary lifestyles could lead to obesity which increases your risk of diabetes.

Therefore to prevent diabetes:

• Reduce overall fat intake: (eg reduce intake of deep fried foods and foods high in fat),
• Increase fibre consumption: (eg increase intake of legumes, fruits, vegetables and whole grain cereals), and
• Eat a variety of foods in balanced diet
• Get right consultation by dietician

Source : Persatuan Diabetes Malaysia

BMI Calculator

Body weight is a major influence on health throughout life. Obese people are generally less healthy and are more prone to illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, heart diseases, gall bladder diseases and arthritis. Weigh yourself regularly and know your desirable body weight. Weigh yourself at least twice a month at the same time of the day wearing light clothing.You can calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI) by using the following formula:

BMI = Weight (kg) / [Height (m) x Height (m)]

You can check your weight status by using the BMI Calculator below. The desirable BMI range for adult (aged 18 and above) is between 18.5 and 25.

If Your BMI is Less than 18.5, you are underweight
If Your BMI is 18.5 to less than 25, your weight is desirable
If Your BMI is 25 to less than 30, you are overweight
If Your BMI is 30 or more, you are obese

However, the above value is not true if you are adolescent (aged 9-17.9 years). Thus, the BMI-for-Age value have been used for this age group. The following BMI calculator is a combination of both BMI and BMI-for-Age, which make it possible to be use by both adolescents and adults.

"makan sebelum lapar dan berhenti sebelum kenyang"

Islam itu Indah

Info Kesihatan

Al-Quran Juga ada mengajar kita menjaga kesihatan spt membuat
amalan spt:-

Mandi Pagi sebelum subuh @ sekurang kurangnya sejam sebelum matahari naik. Air sejuk
yang meresap kedalam badan boleh mengurangkan lemak mengumpul. Kita boleh saksikan orang mengamal mandi pagi kebanyakan badan tak gemuk.

Rasulullah mengamalkan minum segelas air sejuk (bukan air ais) setiap pagi. Mujarabnya Insayallah jauh dari penyakit (susah nak kena sakit).

Waktu sembahyang subuh disunatkan kita bertafakur (iaitu sujud sekurang kurangnya seminit selepas membaca doa). Ia boleh mengelak dari sakit pening atau migrin. Ini terbukti oleh para saintis yang membuat kajian kenapa dalam sehari perlu kita sujud. Ahli-ahli sains telah menemui beberapa milimeter ruang udara dalam saluran darah di kepala yg tidak dipenuhi darah. Dengan bersujud maka darah akan mengalir keruang berkenaan.

Nabi juga mengajar kita makan dengan tangan dan bila habis hendaklah menjilat jari. Begitu juga ahli saintis telah menjumpa bahawa enzyme banyak terkandung di celah jari jari, iaitu 10 kali ganda terdapat dalam air liur. (enzyme sejenis alat percerna makanan, tanpanya makanan tidak hadam)

Sama2lah kita mengamalkannya. ......