Why are fat people abused?
From BBC News:
Shouted at, spat at and even attacked, overweight people are campaigning for laws to protect them. Why is “fattism” seen by many as an acceptable prejudice? Verbal attacks are part of daily life for some of the overweight. From people commenting on the contents of their shopping trolleys to shouting abuse at them in the street. In extreme cases there can even be physical abuse. Why are many folk so intolerant of fat people? Discrimination on other grounds is widely frowned upon, so why is weight different? [Clicky to read more…]
Adverse effects of drugs are “neglected, restricted, distorted and silenced”
From DrBriffa.com:
When someone takes a medicine, it is generally in the hope that it will do some good. However, whether it does or doesn’t is only half of the story: even the seemingly most innocuous of drugs can have adverse effects on health. In an editorial in the Archives of Internal Medicine, Dr John Ioannidis of University of Ioannina School of Medicine in Greece, makes the point that adverse effects from drugs are “neglected, restricted, distorted, and silenced”
More reasons why Big Food deserves a special place in hell
Cereal manufacturers spend nearly 156 million dollars every year on marketing their cereals to children on television. They also market extensively on the Internet, in stores, through social media and on packaging, said the researchers. Lead investigator Dr Jennifer L Harris, director of marketing initiatives at the Rudd Center, told the press that:
“This research demonstrates just how far cereal companies have gone to target children in almost everything they do.”
The total amount of breakfast cereal marketing to children on television and computer screens, and at their eye-level in stores, combined with the appalling nutrient profile of the cereals most frequently marketed, is staggering,” she added. [Clicky to read more…]
Intestinal immunity
Breakthrough research describes a mechanism that links diet, gut bacteria and the immune system: GPR43, a molecule expressed by immune cells and previously shown to bind short chain fatty acids, functions as an anti-inflammatory receptor.
“The notion that diet might have profound effects on immune responses or inflammatory diseases has never been taken that seriously,” said Professor Mackay, the lead researcher. “We believe that changes in diet, associated with western lifestyles, contribute to the increasing incidences of asthma, Type 1 diabetes and other autoimmune diseases. Now we have a new molecular mechanism that might explain how diet is affecting our immune systems.”
Seriously guys? It never dawned on you that what you eat might make you sick or better?
Full story in Science Daily — bottom line (ha ha): eat more fibre, fruit and veg, yaddayadda the usual.
Ask a grownup first… eh, don’t bother
Fun photo from reader Lieke in the Netherlands, “Here is my 4-year-old nephew lifting my 26lb kettlebell (12k), while weighing in at about 35lb (16k) himself.” Not a bad coefficient, I’d say. Check it out ladies — if you’re still “toning” with those pink weights, consider that a 4-year-old child is lifting much more than you.
Endangered gym species
For too long you’ve ignored them, or wished they would drop a weight on their foot. Maybe you turned up your iPod to avoid them. Or perhaps you sneaked off a whey protein fart in their vicinity. Now things are different. The douchebags are mad as hell and they aren’t gonna take it any more, and that includes the jerkoff who does 500 sets of biceps curls in your squat rack!
Rant 53 November 2009: Swhiner baby
Hey! Apparently there is this thing called swine flu! And we are all going to die horribly from it! Instead of the Four Horsemen, the apocalypse will be wrought upon us by the Four Pigmen, who will arrive in a burst of porcine glory astride their mighty oinking and snuffling steeds!
Which Squat Helps Your Beatdown More?
From Stephan Kesting’s Grapplearts newsletter (no URL, so I’ve reprinted):
Re: the five most useful weight training exercises to develop a killer kneebar: “It’s no coincidence that the very first of those exercises is the barbell squat. If you can only do one weightlifting exercise then it should probably be the squat – it’s a great exercise for your legs, and the legs are so very important in jiu-jitsu and grappling….” [clicky to read more]
Toronto Olympic weightlifting workshop Nov 1
Ever wanted to learn the Olympic lifts? Then come check out the Sunday Nov 1 workshop at Bang Fitness!
Cleans!
Jerks!
Snatches!
Other things that sound dirty but aren’t!
Hosted by the guy who taught me how to hoist the bar when I was but a wee weakling. (I’m still wee but at least I’m less of a weakling.)
For more information and registration go to BangFitness.ca
I don’t know what this Twit thing is but the kids are crazy about it
Continuing my habit of being on the trailing cusp, I’ve finally joined Twitter. Find me at @stumptuous. I am only grateful that I beat my dad to this. (I’ve distracted him temporarily with the challenge of downloading a PDF file.)
