Providing Workplace Wellness Centers Could Backfire
HBNS STORY | May 2, 2013
People who signed up for a workplace wellness center but then used it infrequently experienced declines in their mental quality-of-life, finds a new study in the American Journal of Health Promotion.

Unwilling to Pay Extra for Wellness
HBNS STORY | April 9, 2013
Although most overweight adults agree that health insurance benefits designed to promote weight loss are a good idea, they don’t want to pay extra for them, finds a new study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

School Grades Go Down When Health Risks Go Up
HBNS STORY | March 26, 2013
Academic performance is linked to risky health behaviors in children and teens, reports a new review in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

Latest Health Behavior News
PREPARED PATIENT BLOG | February 12, 2013 | Health Behavior News Service
This week in health behavior news: Effects of deployment on those left behind | Commuting style linked to weight gain | Drugs for fibromyalgia may do more harm than good | Accidental poisonings leading cause of deaths at home

Commuting to Work by Car Linked to Weight Gain
HBNS STORY | January 22, 2013
According to a study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, urban residents who drive to work gain more weight than those who do not commute by car.

Teen Physical Activity and Screen Time Influenced by Friends
HBNS STORY | December 13, 2012
The company a teen keeps can influence how much time they spend either in front of a screen or participating in healthy physical activity, finds a new study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Exercise Can Extend Your Life by as Much as Five Years
HBNS STORY | December 11, 2012
Adults who include at least 150 minutes of physical activity in their routines each week live longer than those who don’t, finds a new study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Cancer: Exercise Reduces Tiredness
HBNS STORY | November 15, 2012
Aerobic exercise can help relieve the fatigue often associated with cancer and cancer treatment, according to Cochrane researchers.

Less than 25 Percent of Americans Walk for More Than Ten Minutes
HBNS STORY | November 6, 2012
Many people in the U.S. do not walk, bike or engage in other forms of active transportation, missing an important opportunity to improve their cardiovascular health, concludes a new study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Regular Physical Activity May Help Ward Off Dementia Years Later
HBNS STORY | July 17, 2012
Older adults who engage in vigorous physical activity three or more times a week are less likely to be diagnosed with dementia later compared to adults who don’t, according to a new longitudinal study in American Journal of Health Promotion.

Logging On to Lose Weight May Be a Tough Sell for Employers
HBNS STORY | June 5, 2012
A new study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine examined whether a convenient web support program could help employees maintain weight loss after an intensive kick-off. It turns out that a challenge may be just getting them to log on.

People with Asthma Get the Green Light for Exercise
HBNS STORY | May 17, 2012
Not only is it safe for people with asthma to exercise, but doing so could reduce their risk of asthma symptoms or attacks, according to a new evidence review in The Cochrane Library.

Park Improvements Lead to Increased Vigorous Exercise, Not Just Greater Use
HBNS STORY | May 8, 2012
Refurbishing neighborhood parks may lead to improvements in community health. Increased visitors and higher rates of exercise were observed for more than one year when one community park provided new and varied amenities.

Students More Likely to be Fit When Physical Education is Mandatory
HBNS STORY | May 1, 2012
Fifth graders in California public school districts that comply with the state’s mandatory physical education requirement are more likely to have better fitness levels than students in districts that don’t comply, according to a new study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Parents Important in Steering Kids Away from Sedentary Activities
HBNS STORY | April 30, 2012
Parents can have a significant impact in steering young children away from too much time spent in sedentary pursuits.

Single Men Spend Weekends Sitting & Watching TV
HBNS STORY | March 13, 2012
Single, middle-aged people who live alone spend more time sitting. A new study, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine discovered that men tended to sit for longer periods watching TV on the weekends while women sat for longer periods doing activities such as reading or dining out.

Making Exercise Fun & Cool for At-Risk Teens
HBNS STORY | March 8, 2012
Motivating teens to exercise is often a tough sell, but a new study in the American Journal of Health Promotion finds that introducing culturally tailored activities, those that young people find fun and popular, can encourage some of the most at-risk teens to get active.

Playing Team Sports Encourages Young Girls to Stay Physically Active
HBNS STORY | March 6, 2012
Good news for soccer moms: Girls who join organized team sports at age 11 are more likely to stay physically active as they get older, according to a new study in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

Signs Prove Effective in Prompting People to Use Stairs Instead of Elevator
HBNS STORY | January 17, 2012
Signs that read, “Burn Calories, Not Electricity” posted in lobbies of New York City buildings, motivated more people to take the stairs?and continue to use them even months later, according to a study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Family Support Motivates Mexican-Americans to Adopt Healthy Habits
HBNS STORY | January 5, 2012
Encouragement from family members helps motivate Mexican-American adults to eat more fruits and vegetables and to engage in regular exercise, according to a new study in the current issue of American Journal of Health Promotion.

Daily Exercise, Minimized Computer Time for Optimal Sleep in Teens
HBNS STORY | November 8, 2011
Daily exercise improves a teenager’s chances of a good night’s sleep, while excess computer time has the opposite effect, according to a new study.

Dieting Beats Exercise for Diabetes Prevention, Combination Is Best
HBNS STORY | August 30, 2011
A new study suggests that to prevent diabetes in postmenopausal women, dietary weight loss alone is effective while exercise alone is not effective, and both together are best of all.

Strength Training Curbs Hip, Spinal Bone Loss in Women With Osteoporosis
HBNS STORY | July 12, 2011
An updated review of studies confirms that compared to staying sedentary, strength exercises boost bone density in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

Losing Weight, Keeping It Off Might Require Distinct Skill Sets
HBNS STORY | July 5, 2011
Practices that help people lose weight and practices that help them keep it off do not overlap much.

Obese Mexican-Americans Lack Diet, Exercise Advice From Doctors
HBNS STORY | June 30, 2011
Only half of obese Mexican-American adults receive diet and exercise advice from their physicians, although obesity is on the rise for this group.

Community-Wide Programs to Encourage Exercise Might Fall Short
HBNS STORY | April 13, 2011
Programs that encourage communities to get more active are one strategy for stemming the global tide of obesity. Yet, a new review of studies says the evidence backing the effectiveness of these programs is poor.

Exercising to Government Standards Could Lower Your Death Risk
HBNS STORY | April 5, 2011
Following federal government recommendations on exercise might lead to a longer life for all adults, according to a new study nearly 250,000 Americans.

When Bosses Are Exercise Friendly, Workers Get Their Move On
HBNS STORY | February 28, 2011
Employees at exercise-friendly workplaces get more total moderate-to-vigorous physical activity than do others.

Want to Go for a Walk? Your Neighborhood Might Play a Part
HBNS STORY | February 28, 2011
Making a 30-minute walk part of your daily routine could come down to the positive features that exist in your neighborhood, says a new Australian study.

Pre-Teens Make Their Own Decisions on Diet, Exercise and Weight-loss
HBNS STORY | February 24, 2011
Eleven-year olds definitely have their own opinions about diet, exercise and weight-loss; and it is mostly their opinions — not those of their parents — that affect their lifestyle changes.

Teen’s Best Friend: Young Dog Owners More Physically Active
HBNS STORY | February 8, 2011
They’re furry, fun loving and could be the key to getting your sedentary teen off the couch, finds a new study on dog ownership and adolescent physical activity.

Desk Jobs Could Derail Health, Review Suggests
HBNS STORY | September 7, 2010

More Walking, Cycling Linked to Healthier Weights Worldwide
HBNS STORY | August 24, 2010

Watched, Loved and Now Desired by Millions
PREPARED PATIENT BLOG | July 20, 2010 | Dorothy Jeffress
If popular culture provides clues to social trends then all signs point to an American public captivated by red velvet, carrot, lemon, and raspberry. Fabric, fruits and vegetables? No cakes whether of the cup variety or fancy full-size versions.

Tai Chi and Qigong Show Significant Health Benefits
HBNS STORY | June 30, 2010

Sedentary Behavior Puts White Women at Greatest Risk for Obesity
HBNS STORY | June 29, 2010

Exercise Preserves Freedom of Movement After Breast Cancer Surgery
HBNS STORY | June 15, 2010

Another Exercise Benefit: You Won’t Fall as Much
HBNS STORY | June 8, 2010

Consider Teen Activity Options When Choosing Where to Live
HBNS STORY | May 27, 2010

Exercise-based Rehab for Heart Failure Can Improve Quality of Life
HBNS STORY | April 13, 2010

Teen Girls Look to Peers to Gauge Weight Goals
HBNS STORY | March 15, 2010

Women With Partner, Baby Gain More Weight Than Single Women
HBNS STORY | January 5, 2010