Research

        Sweat more: So are you feeling proud of yourself for getting in your recommended 30 minutes of cardio every day? Before your head gets too big, a researcher in Alabama is suggesting that your RDA of exercise be upped to 80 minutes a day to prevent weight gain.

        Dr. Roland Weinsier, a professor of nutrition sciences at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, led a study in which physical inactivity accounted for more than 75 percent of weight gain for female participants. That means Americans need to work out more, not less, according to Dr. Weinsier's article in the March edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

        “We need to add more physical activity to the daily lives of the general population to fight the rising prevalence of obesity in America,” he said.

Just in

        Multiple factors: Obesity isn't just a matter of consuming more calories than you burn, says this month's Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource. Genetic, social, cultural, behavioral and metabolic factors also influence weight. A family history increases the odds of being overweight by 30 percent. For some of us, that's because of eating and exercise patterns learned at home. For others, certain genes may increase the susceptibility to gain weight.

        Some viruses have been blamed for weight gain in lab mice, but diet and exercise are still the cure even if a virus is the culprit. A deficiency in dopamine, a brain chemical, has been blamed for addictive behaviors and could be the culprit in certain eating disorders.

        Your metabolism probably isn't to blame. Less than 2 percent of obesity is related to metabolic or hormonal causes.

        Bottom line, according to the folks at the Mayo Clinic: Lifestyle plays a big part in overriding whatever's at the root of a weight problem. Exercise and careful diet can help counteract genetics and other factors.

Calendar

        Benefit walk: Registration is open for the May 4 Walk for Celiac at Sharon Woods. Preregistration fee is $15 (860-4419). The walk begins at 10 a.m. Organizers are the Cincinnati Celiac Support Group for people with celiac disease or gluten intolerance and their families.

Siting

        Updated site: The Cincinnati Rowing Club has updated its Web page, www.cincinnati.rowing.com, to include more information on sweep and sculling, rowing technique, contact information and upcoming regattas.

        Walk this way: Check out www.racewalk.com for tips and news about race walking. The site includes “how-to” information, news and maps of upcoming races, a newsgroup, bulletin board and links to USA Track and Field sites.

Shelf help

        Guide: Relax Into Stretch (Dragon Door Publications; $34.95) by Pavel Tsatsouline offers an illustrated guide to 36 stretching techniques, promising super flexibility to readers.

        Contact Peggy O'Farrell by phone: 768-8510; fax: 768-8330; e-mail: pofarrell@enquirer.com.

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