Big weight-loss study

Let's hope it yields valuable insights. A DNA-testing company will invite participation from its 1.3 million customers in a project to find correlations between weight loss and their DNA patterns.

• 23andMe's customers get health and ancestry information from analysis of their DNA. The company thinks it can "create predictive models that provide tailored weight loss advice as part of its consumer genetic reports." This would help the company go beyond typical nutrition advice that's not specific to individual needs.
• For example, customer "receive a prediction of their body mass based on their genes, a report telling them whether they have an inborn tendency to be heavier or thinner. The problem is 23andMe can’t yet tell them what to do about it, making the results mostly irrelevant."

The goals appear noble, but here are some considerations when using DNA testing services. If you're thinking of using one of these services for, say, analyzing your health, read the terms of use and decide if you're OK with them. After all, there's no such thing as a free lunch. You may get some services for free, but most likely, the firm has found a way to make money off your data.

Nordic walking improves hormonal concentrations in senior women

A study of postmenopausal women whose body mass index (BMI) was greater than 30.5 showed the benefits of Nordic walking in improving their health indicators. The parameters studied during the 10-week study included:

• Growth hormone (GH) (related to growth and repair)
• Luteinizing hormone (LH) (related to the pituitary gland)
• C-reactive protein (produced in response to inflammation)
• Total cholesterol
• Low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (bad cholesterol)
• High density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (good cholesterol)
• Triglycerides (type of fat linked with fatty buildups in artery walls)

The outcomes showed improvements in all the parameters. In general, "improvement in muscle integrity and nutritional and inflammatory states, suggesting chronic, regular exercise as an effective tool in protecting against menopause-related catabolic [breaking down complex substances to release energy] processes."

This happens because Nordic walking engages more muscles. It's a full-body form of exercise, and involving more muscles increases fitness.

Happy New Year!

Take time to reflect on the year ahead. Just because you didn't make resolutions before January 1st doesn't mean you can start thinking about improvement. Improvement is an ongoing process and isn't bound to the days on a calendar.