Mexico"s sugar tax leads to fall in consumption for second year running

Mexico’s sugar tax appears to be having a significant impact for the second year running in changing the habits of a nation famous for its love of Coca-Cola, and will encourage countries troubled by obesity and contemplating a tax of their own.

An analysis of sugary-drink purchases, carried out by academics in Mexico and the United States, has found that the 5.5% drop in the first year after the tax was introduced was followed by a 9.7% decline in the second year, averaging 7.6% over the two-year period.

Mexico has high rates of obesity – more than 70% of the population is overweight or obese – and sugar consumption. More than 70% of the added sugar in the diet comes from sugar-sweetened drinks. Coca-Cola is particularly popular and holds a place in the national culture, while former president Vicente Fox was the regional head of the company.

Health experts worldwide have been watching the progress of the Mexican tax closely because it could potentially lower the rates of obesity-related diseases and type 2 diabetes in a country with a population of more than 122 million.

The scientists cannot yet calculate the effect on health. But they write in the journal Health Affairs: “These reductions in consumption could have positive impacts on health outcomes and reductions in healthcare expenses in Mexico.”

The Mexican tax, if successful, may pave the way for taxes in other countries. “At the global level, findings on the sustained impact over two years of taxes on the beverages in Mexico may encourage other countries to use fiscal policies to reduce the consumption of unhealthy beverages … to reduce the burden of chronic diseases,” they say.

Mexico is a nation famous for its love of Coca-Cola.
Photograph: Alamy

The study has been carried out by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Gillings School of Global Public Health and the Mexican Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública (National Institute of Public Health). They found that the tax, which is just 1 peso (4p) per litre of sugary drink, had its biggest impact on the poorest households, where the decline in purchases was 18.8ml per person per day in 2014 and 29.3ml in 2015.

Purchases of other untaxed drinks went up on average by 2% over the two years, although the second year showed a decline. There is evidence from other data, however, of an increase in the production of still bottled water two years after the tax began, which the authors say may suggest some consumers are turning to water instead.

“Overall the results from our study contradict industry reports of a decline in the effect of the tax after the first year of its implementation. We found a greater reduction in purchases of sugar-sweetened beverages in 2015 than in 2014. Moreover, both the absolute and relative reductions were highest among households at lower socioeconomic levels,” said the paper.

Barry Popkin, distinguished professor in the department of nutrition at Gillings and one of the authors, looked forward to collecting data on the health impact. “It will be important for us to continue to monitor this tax and see how this actually will affect overall diets, diabetes prevalence and other biological markers of the many noncommunicable diseases linked with excessive sugary beverage consumption,” he said.

Adam Briggs, of the Nuffield department of population health at Oxford University, said the results of the study were “really encouraging, particularly from a UK perspective where the sugar-sweetened beverages levy is due to be introduced in just 12 months’ time.

“These are very important data for policymakers considering implementing soft drink taxes and it will be fascinating to see how sales continue over time … measuring independent health outcomes of such isolated policies is really challenging but, as the authors say, these reductions in consumption would likely have important population-level health benefits in terms of diabetes and obesity-related diseases.”

The UK planned levy is different to the Mexican tax in its design and structure, he said. “However, the principle that price change leads to sustained behaviour change remains important.”

Gavin Partington, director general of the British Soft Drinks Association, said: “Given their fervent belief in the principle of taxing soft drinks we should at least be encouraged that the authors accept causality cannot be established in terms of the impact of the tax in Mexico and the claimed falls in consumption. Nevertheless, while it seems obvious that price can have an impact on sales levels, it is far from clear that the tax on soft drinks in Mexico has had any impact on levels on obesity.”

Sugar tax graphic

A new report from Euromonitor International said that 19 countries had so far introduced what it called “sin taxes” on food and drinks and more would do so in the near future, with the aim of reducing sugar consumption by 20% in line with guidance from the World Health Organisation.

Euromonitor suggested the Mexican tax may be too low to have the desired effect and that the higher tax of 33 US cents per litre introduced in Berkeley, California, has been a bigger success. Berkeley “is said to have reduced SSB [sugar-sweetened beverage] consumption by 21% and increased water consumption by 63%. In comparison, other cities in the US reported a 4% increase in SSB consumption, and only 19% increase in water consumption in that time,” said the report.

It pointed to countries that might want to introduce “sin taxes” in the near future. “According to the NHS in the UK, consumers should not exceed more than 70g of fat and have no more than 90g of total sugar a day. Euromonitor’s Passport Nutrition data shows that 37 of the 54 (69%) researched countries exceed the fat intake recommendation, and 38 (70%) exceed the sugar recommendation. The top three sugar consumers are Chile, the Netherlands and Belgium, while the top three fat consumers are Germany, Sweden and Austria,” it said.

Mexico"s sugar tax leads to fall in consumption for second year running

NHS admin staff keep services running - but we"re being hit by cuts

Secretaries, waiting list and medical records clerks, clinical audit facilitators, business analysts and IT technicians and other support staff pull together to keep essential lifesaving NHS services running smoothly. To a staff nurse, the help of a ward clerk to retrieve a patient’s medical history can be just as crucial as that of a senior consultant. Data quality officers ensuring patients are properly admitted and discharged on computer systems can have an immeasurable impact on the management of bed capacity.

Yet those of us in NHS support services work in less-than-ideal circumstances. I work in an office that is a converted ward. Save for wheeling out most of the medical equipment, it remains an abandoned clinical area. I’m always wary when manoeuvring around our cramped kitchenette – imagine the embarrassment of accidentally leaning on one of the emergency call buttons and having the rapid response CPR team come crashing in.

Plates and cutlery stand stacked precariously atop the tiny dining table and fridge (kindly donated by another admin department, who were throwing it out). A locked walk-in cupboard adjacent to the kitchen would be ideal for storing these. However, due to budget and staff restrictions, logging a job with estates to get a new Yale lock installed has proven fruitless on several occasions. Jobs deemed non-essential are often cancelled. With a leaking radiator pipe, broken window and an unexplained beep from above the ceiling tiles failing to see a quick response, reporting anything else can make one feel rather hypercritical.

The already cramped office still holds a partly dismantled bed hoist, condemned imaging machines and a box of surgical tubing, seemingly forgotten. We have jokingly discussed eBaying the lot to raise funds to buy desk lamps; dim strip lighting doesn’t quite work in an office.

I was lucky enough to suffer a full-scale-beyond-repair PC meltdown one day, so IT had no choice but to provide me with a reconditioned model from their storeroom. However, some of my colleagues are working on machines so old they take upwards of 20 minutes to boot up in the morning. The high-pitched whine of the struggling fans is maddening. Stretched IT staff struggle to keep up with demand. While problems with direct patient impact understandably take priority, waiting three days for a simple but essential fix is excessive.

For a team dependent on computers for their jobs, this can mean time wasted recording information on paper, only to have to transfer it to a digital source once systems are back up and running. It’s easy to see how this can contribute to huge backlogs and missed deadlines. Panicked managers pleading staff to take budget-stretching overtime is often the result.

Cheap or outdated equipment with a tendency to crash or throw up errors only adds to the problem. False economy reigns supreme, when an inadequate version is eventually replaced with the one we should have had all along. An ancient printer once cost my department half a day of productivity, as IT spent hours searching for a withdrawn ink cartridge so we could run off essential documents.

A friend in another department is responsible for requesting essential office supplies. To ensure he’s not buying luxury items the trust can’t afford, all orders are approved by executive-level staff. A recent attempt to gain a few pencil sharpeners saw 12 members of staff told to share three. Mouse mats are definitely off limits.

Understaffing is not just a problem on the frontline. Although there have been cuts and restrictions to what is made available, access to support and training for admin staff is still admittedly good, and it’s not uncommon to hear of a new recruit using NHS resources to gain experience and qualifications before handing in their notice to take a similar role in the private sector. Vacancies are often not re-advertised. While the wary jump ship, those left behind are expected to absorb the roles of colleagues, often without a wage increase.

I am proud to say I work for the NHS. It means much more to me than private sector benefits like a shiny new Apple Mac to work on or an all-expenses paid Christmas do. I enjoy knowing that I am, albeit in an indirect way, contributing to saving people’s lives. There is a sense of community in the health service I don’t sense in corporate organisations; we still join unions, strike together, are aware of each other’s problems.

Yet, just like the healthcare professionals feeling the stress and strain of the continued NHS cuts, we support staff feel we can do only do our best when we’re comfortable at work and morale is high. Since beginning my NHS career, although I’ve advanced and been promoted, I also feel that things are sliding backwards. While frontline medical staff are still undoubtedly in the most direct line of fire, we feel the impact under the surface too and there’s a definite feeling that things are getting worse.

• Some details have been altered to protect the identity of the writer

If you would like to write a blogpost for Views from the NHS frontline, read our guidelines and get in touch by emailing sarah.johnson@theguardian.com.

Join the Healthcare Professionals Network to read more pieces like this. And follow us on Twitter (@GdnHealthcare) to keep up with the latest healthcare news and views.

NHS admin staff keep services running - but we"re being hit by cuts

Running shoes with less cushioning can reduce injury, study shows

Runners who wear trainers with no cushioning and land on the ball rather than the heel of the foot significantly reduce the risk of injury, according to a study.

Researchers compared how quickly the force acts when runners’ feet hit the ground – known as the loading rate – which has been shown to influence injury risk.

The study of 29 runners, published in the Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise journal, found significantly lower loading rates for those who wore so-called minimal trainers and landed on the ball of their foot, compared with people in normal running shoes, regardless of whether the latter landed on the heel or ball of the foot.

The lead researcher, Dr Hannah Rice of the University of Exeter, said: “So many people use running as a means of reducing the risk of chronic diseases, but about three-quarters of runners typically get injured in a year.

“Footwear is easily modifiable, but many runners are misguided when it comes to buying new trainers. This research shows that running in minimal shoes and landing on the balls of your feet reduces loading rates and may therefore reduce the risk of injury.”

Running continues to grow in popularity but injury rates have not fallen despite decades of research aimed at reducing them.

Runners in cushioned footwear tend to land on the heel – known as a “rearfoot strike” – while those who run barefoot are more likely to land on the ball of the foot – a “forefoot strike”.

Rearfoot strike runners experience an abrupt vertical impact force each time the foot hits the ground. The impact force is often missing when running with a forefoot strike, but previous research has shown that forward/backward and sideways forces can be higher with a forefoot strike, meaning the total force is similar.

Total force seems to be similar between foot strikes if wearing modern, cushioned trainers. “This seems to suggest that, for runners in traditional, cushioned running shoes, foot strike pattern may not matter for injury risk.

“However, we suspected that the same may not be true of runners who regularly use minimal shoes, which don’t have the cushioning provided by traditional running shoes,” Rice said.

“Our research tells us that becoming accustomed to running with a forefoot strike in shoes that lack cushioning promotes a landing with the lowest loading rates, and this may be beneficial in reducing the risk of injury.”

Any transition to new footwear or to a different foot strike pattern should be undertaken gradually and with guidance, she said.

The research was conducted at the Spaulding National Running Center at Harvard Medical School.
“We found that when running in trainers with no cushioning and landing on the ball of the foot, the loading rate is lower than when running in cushioned shoes, however you land,” Rice said.
“The loading rate is a useful measure, as it tells us how fast the forces are acting, and higher values have been associated with running injury. So in summary, our paper found that running in shoes that have no cushioning and landing on the ball of your foot may reduce the risk of injury in runners.”
Minimal shoes, Rice said, have very little or no cushioning, a heel-toe drop of less than or equal to 4mm (0.16 inches), and a stack height of less than or equal to 16mm. “This is information which manufacturers and footwear shops should be able to provide,” she said.

Running shoes with less cushioning can reduce injury, study shows

Running Or Walking, Which Is Better For Your Health?

While it is common knowledge that running is a great way to stay in shape, walking is also great exercise. Some people often dismiss walking but the truth of the matter is that walking is just as beneficial as a form of exercise. Particularly for the elderly or those who have suffered an injury, walking on a regular basis is a great way to stay in shape.

So which is better, running or walking? While running is a more rigorous exercise, you are also more apt to injure yourself. It might be hard to get your heart rate up while walking but it doesn’t put undue pressure or strain on your body. So how does one decide?

Which exercise is best for someone who is serious about getting into shape?

The Final Verdict

The truth is that both are great exercise routines to follow and for those who are wondering which to choose, the answer is to do both. By alternating between running and walking you give your body a much-needed rest at regular intervals. It can also give you a refreshing change once in a while and for those who are cross training, walking is an excellent work-out option.

First time runners are often encouraged to start off with interval training, which involves both walking and jogging. In this way, beginner runners are able to become familiar with a steady pace before they pick up the speed. If a runner starts feeling winded or fatigued during a run, they always slow down to a steady walk, taking the time to catch their breath without completely losing momentum. By walking, they are able to catch their breath while they exercise. Moderate exercise like walking is also great for boosting your nitric oxide levels and overall health.

Walking Secrets

Many people automatically assume that running burns more calories than walking, simply because you are moving faster. However, when it comes to walking it is a good idea to remember the old story about the Tortoise and the Hare. While runners do tend to burn more calories, a walker who maintains a quick and steady walking pace will also burn just as many calories. In fact, an interesting study at Duke University revealed that the weight loss of runners and walkers was almost identical.

Walking is a very effective option for people who suffer from joint or muscle pain since runners have a greater risk of getting injured than walkers. While runners definitely burn calories quicker, walkers also burn calories and can maintain a healthy and well-toned body.

The final verdict is that both walking and running are needed for good health. For those who can manage both, it is a good idea to incorporate them into your training schedules. Just because walkers seem to be moving slower does not mean they aren’t burning calories or working up a sweat.

Burning fat and blasting calories should be the first on the list of things to do. The best way to do that is to choose a cardiovascular workout that you can do, and commit to doing it every day. Exercise machines have come a long way and can be a great place to start.

Running Or Walking, Which Is Better For Your Health?

Running at Night – the Why and the How

Night is not exactly the time when most people have fitness on their mind. However, when the cheery crowds visit bars and clubs, the night owls descend from their nests, looking for one particular type of prey: a night sweat fest. They are eager to give it their all and live a healthy life on a different kind of schedule. Indeed, running at night is quite a special experience every time you hit the pavement. Apart from that, there are many surprising benefits waiting to be reaped in the hours of darkness.

Fitness night club

At the end of a long workday, watching TV seems like a more inviting activity than breaking a sweat. It is not easy to sacrifice your social life, but the reward comes in the pristine joy of immersing in nocturnal adventures. Also, for a bulk of people with day jobs, it is easier to fit in a jog during the night. Hence, during the evening and night, they decide to hit a special kind of club in the evening, the health and fitness one.

Now, I count myself among those who have more energy during the night. The crack of dawn is not the time I feel like a morning lark. Besides, when the night falls, the streets and roads are empty, and serve as a solitary witness to your endeavors. You can avoid the peak morning rush and the daily hustle and bustle that way. And if you prefer the treadmill, there will be fewer people waiting in line, if any.

Also, there is this anything-goes vibe of the night many people adore. All cats are gray at night, you know, and this freedom is something that drives more and more people to outdoor fitness. Running is one of the best activities to melt the stress away and let go of frustrations accumulated during a tough day. Furthermore, one can steer clear of scorching sun rays, and run much more comfortably after the heat starts to vanish.

Safety concerns

Alas, that is also the reason why caution is prescribed. You have to suit up well and stay aware of your surroundings at all times. It is a good idea to start with a shorter trail, familiarize yourself with the terrain, and then go an extra mile. When it is black as a skillet, you are better off carrying a torch with you. Dimly lit trails can be dangerous, but if you take precautions such as having a phone around, you should be fine.

One other thing you need to note is that although traffic is not as busy as during the day, limited visibility can prove to be perilous. Fortunately, wearing reflective clothing tape and bright clothing helps drivers notice runners, allowing them to stay on the safe side. In any event, it would not be wise to explore uncharted territory or go through problematic neighborhoods alone.

Dream on

You might have heard that late exercise gives rise to insomnia and other sleeping problems. The body releases endorphins and other stimulants that prevent the body from feeling sleepy. Well, for some people this makes sense, but many studies have confirmed that night exercise increases sleeping times as well as the quality of sleep.  Namely, it turns out that night running catalyzes deep sleep, reducing the number of times you wake up at night.

Furthermore, there are some other amazing benefits of nighttime workouts. First off, research has found that muscular functions and strength go up as the sun climbs down the horizon. What is more, rich evidence suggests that oxygen uptake and utilization is enhanced in the evening. All in all, you are better warmed up, supplied with essential nutrients, and in the best shape to run. Just bear in mind that it is advisable to keep an eye on the watch, and leave some time between jogging and bedtime.

Under the veil of darkness

When the sun goes down, the stage is set for one peculiar type of people, the night running birds that do not have to fight the crowd and cope with traffic or heat. So, do not hesitate to join them, embrace the darkness, rewind, and de-stress. After that, you will be able to drift away to dreamland seamlessly and wake up bustling with energy. If the morning mojo works to your advantage, you should keep it going, but otherwise, give nighttime running a try and run like a dashing wind.

Running at Night – the Why and the How

Death By Running: It really is The Heat And Not The Heart

The developing popularity of marathons and other extreme sports has sparked worries about the likely dangers of these pursuits. The well-liked press and health-related research have both targeted on the chance of cardiac arrest and other heart rhythm problems. But  that concern might be misdirected. A new study from Israel published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology finds that a considerably a lot more significant danger may be heat stroke, which is defined as a core body temperature over 104 or 105 degrees connected with multiorgan dysfunction.

Researchers retrospectively reviewed data from far more than 137,000 runners who participated in endurance races in Tel Aviv. They identified only 2 significant cardiac situations: one heart attack and one arrhythmia. Serious circumstances of heat stroke, nonetheless, occurred in 21 runners. Two of the situations had been fatal and twelve had been existence threatening.

The Israeli researchers explained that the diagnosis of heat stroke can be missed and mistaken for a cardiac disorder unless the core temperature– which can only be reliably obtained with a rectal measurement– is taken quickly. They raise the chance that many situations that have been imagined to be cardiac in nature may possibly actually be triggered by heat stroke:

…social-cultural conceptions and logistic issues may possibly stop the implementation of immediate rectal temperature assessment following collapse in a race, particularly in urban regions. Unheralded collapse with documented ventricular fibrillation could be the mode of presentation of heat stroke. In this setting, the right diagnosis will be missed if, as usually takes place, the rectal temperature is not measured promptly.

They even more mentioned that “the risk of heat stroke is not limited to endurance races,” and is “an essential lead to of death between substantial college and school football players, who train and compete wearing hefty protective products.”

The study might also have crucial implications for the ongoing debate more than no matter whether pupil athletes ought to be screened prior to participating in sports activities, the authors mentioned. In an accompanying editorial, Brian Olshansky and David Cannom write that “heat stroke has no predictive clinical profile that a screening examination may uncover and can only be diagnosed at the onset of the episode.”

Death By Running: It really is The Heat And Not The Heart

Wild mice in fact appreciate running on physical exercise wheels | @GrrlScientist

In accordance to a newly published study, wild mice often and voluntarily run on an exercise wheel if presented entry to them in nature, even in the absence of a food reward. Further, the length of operating bouts by wild mice matched people of captive mice. These findings dispel the concept that wheel running is an artefact of captivity, indicative either of neurosis or a mindless repetitive behaviour (stereotypy) that may possibly be connected with poor welfare or close confinement.

Action wheels come in a range of sizes and styles, but their simple objective is to supply confined animals with the possibility to workout, as you see these adorable dwarf hamsters doing here:

Reading through on a mobile device? Here is the video hyperlink.

Which is an amusing video, and the hamsters seem to be enjoying themselves, but are they genuinely? And how may possibly you figure this out?

I ran across an fascinating minor research paper that addresses a basic — and controversial — question in exercising physiology: is operating in an exercising wheel an artefact of captivity as exhibited by small pets, like hamsters, mice and rats? Why do they do it? Is it intended to alleviate stress or neurosis brought on by near confinement, is it a repetitive and invariant behaviour that is devoid of any apparent goal or function (stereotypy), this kind of as cage-pacing observed in some zoo animals, or may possibly it signify some thing else?

“When it comes to stereotyped behaviour, there are competing theories. One problem, as an example, is no matter whether stereotyped behaviour is a symptom of negative welfare that must be prevented, or whether or not it is a coping technique that in fact increases welfare”, explained the study’s co-author, Yuri Robbers, in email.

Mr Robbers, who works as a grammar college biology teacher, has a master’s degree in animal behaviour and is presently researching animal behaviour, theoretical biology and ecology as he performs towards his PhD underneath the mentorship of neurophysiologist Johanna H. Meijer, a professor in the Department of Physiology at the Leiden University Healthcare Center in The Netherlands.

The controversy swirling close to running on an exercise wheel worried the Dutch researchers so much that they developed numerous experiments to clarify the basis of this behaviour. Particularly, they desired to check whether or not wheel operating fulfills the criteria for a stereotypy: (one) it happens only in captive animals, (two) it is repetitive, invariant and devoid of obvious objective or function, (three) if it consists of all-natural behavioural elements, these factors take place at larger rates and for longer durations than located in nature, and (four) it is partially or not at all dependent on external stimuli.

Will wild mice use a operating wheel if a single is supplied in nature?

Popular animal behaviourist Konrad Lorenz once remarked that rodents that had either escaped or been launched will enter and run on physical exercise wheels if one particular is accessible to them (as cited here: doi:10.1126/science.155.3770.1623). Intrigued, Professor Meijer and Mr Robbers decided to comply with up on this observation by going one stage even more: they asked whether cost-free-residing animals that had in no way prior to observed an activity wheel would voluntarily use a single if it was accessible to them.

They made a cage that exclusively excluded large animals (so they would not knock more than the workout wheel set up). Within this cage, which could be freely accessed by little animals, they placed a operating wheel along with some foods intended to appeal to mice. These exclosures had been set up in nature at two various discipline sites a green urban location (Professor Meijer’s back garden) and a dune region that was inaccessible to the public (see below):

Setting up the products in the dunes area website. (Left to proper: Eva Koster, Yuri Robbers, Doortje Krijbolder, Joke Meijer.)
Picture: Jan Janse, with permission.

Every single pay a visit to to the experimental set-up was recorded by a evening-vision camera, employing passive infrared movement detection. At evening, the camera relied upon infrared light (infrared light is invisible to mice), which did not interfere with movement detection.

Wheel working and motion detection kit.
Image: Johanna H. Meijer and Yuri Robbers, with permission.

Data have been collected for far more than 3 years utilizing this experimental set-up (green urban location information had been collected from October 2009 to February 2013, and dune area information had been collected from June 2011 to January 2013 figure two):

Figure 2. Various animals use running wheels, even though mice are by far the most widespread. Breakdown by species in (a). Note that the vertical axis has been broken to accommodate mice, which accounted for 88% of wheel working. Also note that birds visited the recording gear occasionally, but by no means ran in wheels. Species recognized employing video recordings. Stills taken from these recordings present examples of a mouse (b), a frog (c) and a slug (d) using the wheel.

The operating wheels proved well-known with a range of cost-free-residing animal species. More than time period of above three years, Professor Meijer and Mr Robbers manufactured much more than 200,000 recordings of animal guests and analysed far more than 12,000 video fragments in which wheel movement was detected.

In the 1st 24 months, the urban green location resulted in 1011 animal visits (of which 734 were mice). The very first 20 months in the dunes resulted in 254 animal visits (of which 232 were mice). Even though the cage was baited with foods exclusively intended to appeal to mice, other animals — shrews, rats, snails, slugs, and frogs — also stopped in to do some running (or sliming?). Interestingly (to this ornithologist), even small birds popped in occasionally, although they were in no way recorded operating on the wheel.

“Our information signifies that wheel operating takes place in nature, getting performed by free-living wild animals”, said Mr Robbers. Hence, “captivity, extended or otherwise, can not probably be the cause of wheel operating”. Considering that all the professionals agree that stereotypical behaviours only occur in captivity, wheel operating does not match properly into the criteria.

In view of the broad variety of diet programs favored by these other species of animal guests, it would appear they had been not coming solely for the foods. So of course, Professor Meijer and Mr Robbers then asked what would occur if they stopped delivering any meals at all — might these animals still pop in for a run on the exercise wheel?

Will free of charge-residing animals use a running wheel with no a foods reward?

Though Professor Meijer and Mr Robbers stopped offering food in the urban area enclosures for far more than a year (October 2011–February 2013), animal visits continued. Professor Meijer and Mr Robbers observed 78 wheel working visits (62 mouse visits — 36 of which had been very little mice, indicating they had been as well youthful to know the cages had previously been baited with food).

The information exposed that the quantity of visits to the exercise wheel dropped drastically as quickly as the food was removed, but visits that incorporated wheel running really enhanced by 42 %, indicating that the animals (wild mice, mostly) were visiting the cage particularly to run on the action wheel, that workout is rewarding in itself. The experimental device acts as a type of neighbourhood mouse fitness center, it would seem.

Were action bouts comparable in between wild and lab mice?

Yet another test of regardless of whether wheel running fulfills a behavioural stereotypy was to examine wheel operating exercise among wild and lab mice. To get a clearer image of the animals’ exercise patterns, Professor Meijer and Mr Robbers in contrast wheel-working information from their wild mice to wheel-running data from laboratory mice that had been collected previously by another researcher (doi:10.1126/science.155.3770.1623, see figure 3):

Figure 3. Distribution of operating wheel bout lengths in 1 min bins. Urban spot (a), juvenile laboratory mice (b), 200 day previous lab mice (c) 400 day old lab mice. Note: juvenile lab mice have increased median bout lengths than wild mice but this big difference disappears in older mice. 200 day old lab mice run as considerably as wild mice, whilst older mice run much less. Information panels (b–d) based on [doi:10.1126/science.155.3770.1623].

The data reveal that most of the wheel working mice had been juveniles, and 20 % of them had bouts that lasted longer than one minute, with the highest bout lasting 18 minutes. This is comparable to activity bouts was reported for 200-day old lab mice that were closely confined.

The wild mice have been truly functioning tough, also: despite the fact that the common speed of running was slightly much less than for lab mice (one.3 versus
two.three km/h), the highest running velocity observed for wild mice was higher
than the highest for lab mice (five.7 versus five.1 km/h).

Why do wild mice voluntarily run on workout wheels?

This study displays that wheel working is voluntary in wild mice, is not dependent on a food reward, and takes place in bouts that are comparable to those recorded for captive mice, so it does not satisfy the established criteria for a stereotypical behaviour, as some scientists have argued. Of course, this raises the query: why do they do it?

“We’re considering perform behaviour as a viable explanation, and have started follow-up experiments to test that hypothesis”, said Mr Robbers.

Wheel operating looks rather uninteresting (suggestive of my least favourite piece of health club equipment, the treadmill), but probably these animals see an exercise wheel similarly to humans when given the choice to climb musical stairs as an alternative of riding an escalator, as we see in this video?

Reading on a mobile device? Here is the video hyperlink.

Why do we care about mice and their exercise wheels?

As anybody who reads the newspapers or listens to the radio knows, we are daily told to get much more workout. Fundamentally, everyday physical exercise slows ageing, reduces the incidence of many cancers, assists maintain a affordable physique weight, reduces the incidence of diabetes, heart assault and stroke, and improves brain function — and that is just to name a couple of benefits that I have read about this week. Investigation into the human wellness advantages of bodily activity depend upon the use of running wheels employed by lab animals. If this wheel running is a stereotypy, this could be problematic.

“Some scientists … have had a tendency to dismiss study findings based mostly on the use of operating wheels outright,” explained Mr Robbers in electronic mail. “This is rather much more challenging, now that our information is there to propose that wheel running can take place in totally free residing animals.”

Reading through on a mobile device? Here’s the video hyperlink.

Sources:

Meijer J.H. &amp Robbers Y. (2014). Wheel operating in the wild, Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 281 (1786) 20140210-20140210. DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2014.0210

Yuri Robbers [emails 17, 18, twenty &amp 21 May possibly 2014]

A lot of thanks of course to my twitter followers who kindly sent at lightning pace the PDF I requested @GOrizaola, @ConservResearch, @Rob0Sullivan, and @_inundata.

Also cited:

Sherwin C.M. (1998). Voluntary wheel running: a review and novel interpretation, Animal Behaviour, 56 (1) eleven-27. doi:10.1006/anbe.1998.0836

Science&amprft.artnum=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sciencemag.org%2Fcgi%2Fdoi%2F10.1126%2Fscience.155.3770.1623&amprft.volume=155&amprft.situation=3770&amprft.issn=0036-8075&amprft.spage=1623&amprft.epage=1639&amprft.date=1967&amprfr_id=information%3Asid%2Fscienceseeker.org&amprft.au=Kavanau+J.+L.&amprft.aulast=Kavanau&amprft.aufirst=J.+L.&amprfs_dat=ss.incorporated=1&amprfe_dat=bpr3.integrated=1bpr3.tags=Biology%2CPsychology”&gtKavanau J.L. (1967). Habits of Captive White-Footed Mice, Science, 155 (3770) 1623-1639. doi:10.1126/science.155.3770.1623 [Open access]

.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..

When she’s not doing work out in the fitness center or running up the stairs to her flat (located on the 13th floor), GrrlScientist can also be found here: Maniraptora. She’s very lively on twitter @GrrlScientist and occasionally lurks on social media: facebook, G+, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.

Wild mice in fact appreciate running on physical exercise wheels | @GrrlScientist

Is Strolling As Excellent A Work out As Running?

There are a lot of causes why individuals commence running: to remain slim, boost vitality, or snag that treadmill next to our longtime health club crush (please follow our gym etiquette tips before generating any moves although!). Running can help keep the heart healthy, improve mood, and stave off sickness plus recent research have located operating is a great way to get rid of and keep weight [1] [2]. But investigation suggests going full velocity isn’t the only route to very good well being [3].

Now Stroll (or Run?) It Out – The Need to have-to-Know

While strolling can supply numerous of the exact same overall health advantages connected with operating, recent investigation suggests running could be the much better bet for people seeking to shed some pounds [4] [5]. Unsurprisingly, folks expend two-and-a-half instances a lot more power running than strolling, no matter whether that’s on the track or on the treadmill [6]. So for a 160-lb particular person, operating burns about 800 calories an hour compared to about 300 calories walking. And that equates to a rather sizeable slice of pizza (who does not enjoy cheat day rewards?).

Far more fascinating, a recent research located that even when runners and walkers expended equal amounts of energy (which means walkers invested more time working out and covered greater distances), runners still misplaced far more weight [seven]. Not only did the runners commence the examine slimmer than the walkers they also had a far better possibility of maintaining their BMI and waist circumference. An additional recent examine supports the idea that running or brisk walking may well be the better bet. Researchers found speedier people have a tendency to be more healthy than the slowpokes, even if these going slowly commit far more time exercising [8]. (Of program, it’s attainable that less wholesome men and women are far more inclined to walk gradually in the 1st place.)

That difference could possibly be explained by an additional recent review, which suggests that operating regulates our appetite hormones much better than strolling [9]. Right after working or walking, participants have been invited to a buffet, exactly where walkers consumed about 50 calories a lot more than they had burned and runners ate almost 200 calories fewer than they’d burned. Runners also had higher amounts of the hormone peptide YY YY, which may possibly suppress appetite.

Beyond dropping bodyweight, walking may possibly still be super useful to our well being [ten]. Researchers looked at information from the National Runners’ Wellness Study and the National Walkers’ Health Review and located that people who expended the identical sum of calories — regardless of regardless of whether they were strolling or working — noticed quite significantly the exact same well being positive aspects. We’re talking a diminished risk of hypertension, higher cholesterol, and diabetes, and greater cardiovascular well being.

But even the most time-efficient athletes may possibly want to believe twice before sprinting away all the time. Running puts more stress on the body and increases the danger for injuries like runner’s knee, hamstring strains, and the dreaded shin splits (which plague even the most consistent runners). And of program, some individuals merely choose to take things slow.

Walk This Way — Your Action Program

When operating isn’t in the cards, walking with weights might be the next greatest answer to receiving in an energized exercise. 1 research showed strolling at a 4 mph on the treadmill with hand and ankle weights was comparable to jogging at 5 mph with out the extra poundage [eleven]. (And if any person appears twice, hand weights are completely in appropriate now, do not they know?)

No matter which speed feels correct, often make certain the entire body is prepared for action. Sixty % of runners knowledge an injury significant adequate to preserve them from being lively. So keep in mind that a sweat session could be too strenuous if talking to that exercise buddy leaves us gasping for air (aka the “talk test” FAIL). Listening to the body and finishing a appropriate warm–up and awesome down are all methods to prevent injuries, so remain informed and spend much more time working on the treadmill (and significantly less time working to the medical professional) [twelve].

Bored with each strolling and working? There are about, oh, a bazillion other techniques to maintain active, from yoga and pilates to bodyweight lifting and mountain biking, and pretty much every little thing in between. Do not be afraid to consider new pursuits to stay pleased and healthy!

The Takeaway

Typical cardio (at any speed) can assist preserve the body healthier, not to mention increase mood and energy amounts. But, lap for lap, operating burns about 2.five occasions more calories than walking. Working could also help manage appetite, so runners may possibly shed a lot more bodyweight than walkers no matter how far the walkers go. Even now, running is not for every person going complete-speed may well increase injury threat. Adding hand and ankle weights can support select up the intensity even though keeping a slower pace.

Photograph by Justin Singh

More From Greatist:

How to Run Your Greatest 5K Ever
88 Sudden Snacks Beneath a hundred Calories
Why Becoming Overweight May Not Matter as Considerably as You Think

Functions Cited

1. Better weight reduction from operating than walking for the duration of a 6.two-yr potential adhere to-up. Williams, P.T. Daily life Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA. Medicine and Science in Sports activities and Exercising 2013 Apr45(4):706-13.
   
   


2. Long-phrase effects of aerobic exercising on psychological outcomes. DiLorenzo, T.M., Bargman, E.P., Stucky-Ropp, R. Department of Psychology, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO. Preventative Medication, 1999 Jan28(one):75-85.
   
   


3. Walking Versus Running for Hypertension, Cholesterol, and Diabetes Mellitus Threat Reduction. Williams, P.T., Thompson, P.D. Lifestyle Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley Nationwide Laboratory, Berkeley, CA. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology 2013 Apr four. Epub ahead of print.
   
   


4. Walking Versus Running for Hypertension, Cholesterol, and Diabetes Mellitus Risk Reduction. Williams, P.T., Thompson, P.D. Daily life Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology 2013 Apr four. Epub ahead of print.
   
   


5. Higher bodyweight reduction from operating than strolling throughout a 6.two-yr potential comply with-up. Williams, P.T. Existence Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA. Medication and Science in Sports and Exercising 2013 Apr45(4):706-13.
   
   


6. Energy expenditure of walking and running: comparison with prediction equations. Hall, C., Figueroa, A., Fernhall, B., et. al., Division of Exercise Science, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY. Medication and Science in Sports and Physical exercise, 2004 Dec36(twelve):2128-34.
   
   


7. Greater weight reduction from running than strolling during a six.two-yr prospective follow-up. Williams, P.T. Existence Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercising 2013 Apr45(4):706-13.
   
   


8. The Romantic relationship of Strolling Intensity to Complete and Specific-Trigger Mortality. Outcomes from the Nationwide Walkers’ Well being Research. Williams, P.T., Thompson, P.D. Lifestyle Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley Nationwide Laboratory, Berkeley, California, USA. PLoS One 2013 Nov 198(eleven): e81098.
   
   


9. Influence of Working and Strolling on Hormonal Regulators of Appetite in Women. Larson-Meyer, D.E., Palm, S., Bansal, A. Division of Household and Client Sciences, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA. Journal of Weight problems 20122012:730490.
   
   


10. Strolling Versus Working for Hypertension, Cholesterol, and Diabetes Mellitus Risk Reduction. Williams, P.T., Thompson, P.D. Life Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley Nationwide Laboratory, Berkeley, CA. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology 2013 Apr 4. Epub ahead of print.
    
    


11. Intensity and energy price of weighted walking vs. running for men and ladies. Miller, J.F., Stamford, B.A., Journal of Utilized Physiology, 1987 Apr62(four):1497-501.
    
    


12. Warm-up and stretching in the prevention of muscular injury. Woods K., Bishop P., Jones E., Human Functionality Laboratory, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, Sports Medicine, 200737(twelve):1089-99.

Is Strolling As Excellent A Work out As Running?