Dr. Brad’s Weekly Health Update: Drinking water for weight loss & top causes of death in the U.S.
Does drinking water help you stay slimmer?
A study of nearly 10,000 adults suggests that water may be a secret weapon for weight loss. Investigators assessed water intake as adequate or inadequate based on urine samples and found that nearly one-third of those studied were inadequately hydrated. They also found that people who took in too little water daily had 50% greater odds for obesity than those who consumed more water each day. The study show that a diet that includes more water is likely associated with a healthier weight. Annals of Family Medicine, July 2016
Top causes of death in the United States.
Data from the National Center for Health Statistics reveals that the U.S. death rate has hit an all-time low, but heart disease and cancer continue to be the leading causes of death. The top ten causes of death are: heart disease (23.4% of all deaths), cancer (22.5%), chronic lung diseases (5.6%), accidents/unintentional injuries (5.2%), stroke (5.1%), Alzheimer’s disease (3.6%), diabetes (2.9%), influenza and pneumonia (2.1%), kidney disease (1.8%), and suicide (1.6%). National Vital Statistics Reports, June 2016
Job stress increases neck/shoulder pain risk.
After following over 29,000 vocationally active men and women for a decade, researchers found that those who were pain-free at the start of the study but who described their work as “almost always stressful” were 27% more likely to develop either chronic neck pain or chronic shoulder pain than those with less stressful careers. Researchers note the effect seems to be greater among men than women, and although exercise did not appear to reduce the risk of neck/shoulder pain among those with frequent stress, it did have a protective effect for those with lower stress jobs. International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health, July 2016
Risk factors for back pain in women.
Back pain causes greater disability worldwide than any other condition, and women are more likely to suffer from back pain than men. A new study investigated modifiable risk factors for back pain among middle-aged women and found that being overweight, recent weight gain, and depression are each independent predictors of back pain. On the other hand, the researchers observed that women who participate in vigorous physical activity have a lower risk for developing back pain. Arthritic Care & Research, July 2016
Pedal to reduce type 2 diabetes risk.
Bicycling may lower an individual’s risk for developing type 2 diabetes. In a new study of more than 50,000 men and women, researchers found that those who bike to work or regularly cycle for fun were less likely to develop diabetes than those who seldom or never ride a bike. Additionally, the more time the participants spent cycling, the lower their risk for type 2 diabetes. Study leader Dr. Martin Rasmussen adds, “Because cycling can be included in everyday activities, it may be appealing to a large part of the population. This includes people who, due to lack of time, would not otherwise have the resources to engage in physical activity.” PLOS Medicine, July 2016
Yours in health,
Dr. Brad Butler, DC
