In the USA over 6 billion dollars a year are spent on diet foods. Close to a billion cans of low calorie “diet sodas” were sold in 2010 alone. In Finland, we are following this trend. Up to half of Finns have stated that they are trying to lose weight, and one fifth of Finns are using some sort of...
The models of the health and wellness business are images of dazzling perfection. Sharp shadows are cast by the light bouncing off of glimmering oiled muscles and the fitness machine’s lofty being justifies its confident and goal-oriented smile. The bronzed statue is covered by tight clothing that does not leave any room to imagine what might be below it. The message of...
Overweight is no longer a valued ideal but a prevailing condition. Ideals have changed. The worshiping of a round belly has given way to a craving to lose weight and be thin. These changes have made overweight a favorite topic in the health and wellness sector and an extremely important part of health marketing. People want to lose weight. Thankfully,...
Basically, weight gain is the result of an imbalance between energy consumption and energy expenditure. This balance is partly regulated by our genetics, our environment, and psychosocial factors. One, or many of these factors, has gotten members of our society to consume more than we expend, or to expend less than we consume. At the same time we have noticed...
The increase in overweight is predicted to minimize the many health benefits of e.g. reducing or quitting smoking and for the first time in history, life expectancy is expected to decrease despite advances in medicine and technology. This energy crisis is no longer about deficits, it is about abundance. Here are the facts: - The population of overweight individuals has more than...
Take a seat, please! This polite invitation offers a chance to take a load off your feet, rest for a moment and settle in. That politeness might shock you, especially when you read what I plan on writing here next. This statement might seem weird or disgusting and for a moment you might even think I am spewing some sort...
The daily physical activity revolution is not some miraculous prescription for diet or exercise. This blog will not help you achieve quick results or teach you any magic tricks that will make you healthier. This blog will not discuss any magic tricks for health, because they simply do not work. This blog will teach you to respect the normal function of your body. It...
I will admit, I sit most of the time that I am writing this blog. You are probably sitting as you read it. Hopefully, however, you will stand up after reading a few paragraphs. Traditionally, the solution to the problem of passive living has been exercise, however, perfectly planned, goal-oriented, encouraging and colorful training plans have not inspired the vast majority of...
During my university studies, I encountered a question on an exam that asked what elements make up “physical activity”. In part, due to my lack of knowledge, and in part because I was feeling a bit rebellious, I answered indifferently: “Who cares, as long as we participate more in physical activity”. After the exam, I remembered that our textbook stated...
We sit everywhere. We sit at home, at school, while studying, on business trips, at work. Sitting is a significant part our daily lives. Rest, on occasion, is good for you and is a well-deserved way to reward yourself for a job well done.Sitting as much as we do on a daily basis, however, has surpassed our bodies’ level of tolerance....
