It can be very difficult to separate quality sources of health and fitness information from misleading or untruthful information used for manipulation or product promotion. One of the primary reasons is because sources of quality information and sources of mediocre information both use scientific data to make their information come across as more factual or compelling.

Scientific studies are very useful for supporting or refuting theories and claims, but they are also problematic, because data can be easily manipulated by anyone who wants to use the information to their personal advantage. Data manipulation has become widespread in all fields, but it seems especially prevalent in health and fitness, because scientific claims are effective for promoting and selling products like exercise equipment, supplements, and diets programs.

Even when scientific data is presented accurately, marketers still make misleading claims that are not supported by the studies they cite. Sometimes this is done on purpose, but it also happens because the people citing the studies frequently don’t understand the research or even basic scientific methodology. Surprisingly, this is more common than you might believe and it happens in all forms of media.

As a result, scientific studies end up being used to promote ideas or products that are never supported or even discussed in the original research. Another problem is the person citing the scientific data may form his or her own conclusions from the data, even if they are in direct conflict with those of the original researchers. The reality is that whenever scientific data is presented, you will not necessarily have all the information you need.

Of course, when companies use scientific information in advertisements, they only show the information that supports their products or services and any conflicting data is withheld. People realize this happens, but seeing or hearing scientific data still influences the way we think about things, because scientific information is thought of as being more factual than other information. In many ways this is true, but only if the information is presented fairly and accurately.

The simple truth is you can find scientific data to support practically any product or viewpoint, especially if you are not concerned about maintaining the integrity of the information. Some companies even hire researchers specifically to conduct studies that will support their products. In these situations, the researchers are motivated to create specific outcomes, so the research is biased and often inaccurate.

Research is critical for the advancement of knowledge, but you really have to watch out for the questionable ways many health and fitness companies use this information. For example, advertisements often make statements like “the group using product A improved 3 times more than group using product B,” but the changes in both groups may be so small that they are inconsequential. Therefore, the fact that one group improved more than the other doesn’t suggest that product A is any better than product B, but the information is presented in a way that makes you think it is.

This is just one of many examples of how scientific information is misused in health and fitness and it reinforces the point that you shouldn’t automatically accept scientific data as fact, especially when it is part of an advertisement or presentation. If you are interested in a product, it is best to look up some information on your own, ideally from sources other than the company selling the product. If other sources agree with the initial information, then you can be more confident that the science is sound and not just another case of data manipulation.

By: Ross Harrison

About the Author:

“It has been rightly said that “Life is an attitude of the mind!”

Our ability to be happy and positive in life is largely dependent on how we feel inside. A negative mindset can bring you down and prevent you from leading a healthy and fulfilling life.

Have you ever asked yourself why you feel tired and drained of energy most of the day?

One of the most common causes of fatigue and tiredness is lack of regular exercise and fitness regime. To experience a sense of complete wellbeing in the mind, body and soul, it is imperative to follow a healthy, fit and happy lifestyle.

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By: Casey McConnell

About the Author:

Most of the advice pumped out in the health/fitness industry is much more heavily geared to FITNESS goals, as opposed to HEALTH goals. What we have to differentiate between is that what might help you achieve a certain level of fitness is not necessarily healthy for you.

For example, many workout programs offer a diet that will help you build muscle or lose fat. But, virtually every one of these programs does not actually take health into consideration THAT MUCH.

Newer people, and often even more experienced people, will freely relay advice or talk about how this or that program is the best because it helped them to do achieve their fitness goals. What they don’t realize is their advice might actually be detrimental to someone who values health over fitness.

I have had many people give me the most awful advice for building muscle, such as eating ridiculous amounts of fast food. The rationale was that since I burned fat so easily, I could get away with eating all this junk and it would help me to gain mass. Now, although this practice might actually help me to put on muscle when combined with a workout routine, it is absolutely horrendous health advice. Anyone telling you to eat fast food is just wrong from the get-go…it doesn’t matter who they are.

People often assume that everyone has the same goals as them and give advice freely, without realizing that what the other person wants might be completely different. And more importantly, why would you ever want to value fitness over health? Some people rationalize that being temporarily unhealthy while achieving a certain fitness goal is acceptable, and then once it is reached you can start being healthy again. However, this attitude stems from the belief that health and fitness cancel each other out, or that it is not enjoyable to do healthy things.

To value fitness over health means that you are trying to impress someone, straight up. That is the ONLY REASON that you would ever do things you know are detrimental to your health (unless you’re in some kind of sport or competition that requires you to have a certain level of fitness). When having a six-pack is more important than a healthy cardiovascular system, then you have committed the worst kind of betrayal to yourself. And what makes it even more twisted, is that people will tell themselves that they’re doing it for their own benefit as they think things like, “Oh, all the girls will think I’m hot!”.

Hahaha, wow…but let’s not get off-topic!

Health and fitness are two DISTINCT things. The idea is to formulate goals and create action plans that take both of these into consideration, whenever possible. If one has to be sacrificed for the other, then you sacrifice fitness…not health. Get used to having to make significant corrections to most popular diet advice. Seek information that is grounded in hard evidence concerning HEALTH and then find how you can tailor that to your fitness goals.

By: Mark Swan

About the Author:

Being a Health and Fitness Professional, it is my job to understand terms and definitions which are commonplace to this industry, as well to keep abreast of evolving trends. Through my experience, I have found that a number of terms deserve a little more clarification than that which they are granted.

Aside from clarifying the definition of Health Related Fitness, this article intends to shed some light on a few of the associated terms, and to show their respective distinctions.

Is it simply all in a name?

The fitness world seems to use the concept Health Related Fitness like a generic fitness principle – interchangeable with others like “Physical Fitness”, “Health and Fitness” or simply “Fitness.”

While all of these terms can be included under the broad term Health and Physical Fitness, they individually refer to different aspects – both generic and specific. Unfortunately, references to these and other fitness-related terms are often vague, while consistency in their intended use is meager at best; there is a kind of “generally accepted” use for them, but individuals often rely on own interpretation, and this can lead to confusion.

With that said, does Health Related Fitness simply infer fitness by means of good health? Not quite. That is why we need to understand a little more behind these words before digesting the definition.

How did the term Health Related Physical Fitness come about?

That is a good question. One could probably ask what is this concept all about – can we not simply use the terms “Fitness” or “Physical Fitness” instead?” Why Health “Related”?

The main reason stems from the fact that most health and fitness terms are used inconsistently and often refer to different concepts or notions. Subsequent to the 1996 report from the US Surgeon General (Physical Activity and Health; a report of the Surgeon General), there was a move to try and address the alarming rise in obesity levels among the general American public. Studies and initiatives required standardization among clinicians, health practitioners and fitness trainers to grapple with the task at hand. Enter “Health Related Physical Fitness”, a working term to address the general state of health among the public.

The definition of Health Related Fitness

According to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the main authority in this field, ineffective definitions with unclear and subjective wordings, as well as definitions containing terms which themselves require defining, have contributed to confusing the term “Physical Fitness.”

There exists no reliable guide for Health and Fitness Professionals to measure “Physical Fitness”, because the term has been so loosely and inconsistently defined. It is therefore that one should consider the concept of Health Related Fitness. The definition therefore centers on the 5 Components of Physical Fitness which relate to “good health.” These Components are:
Cardiorespiratory Fitness Body Composition Flexibility Muscular Strength Muscular Endurance On the other hand, Skill Related Fitness Components are:
Balance Reaction Time Coordination Agility Speed Power According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the definition of Physical Fitness emphasizes the difference between Health Related Physical Fitness and Athletic Ability Physical Fitness. Its point-of-departure is the “health” of the US nation, which is often referred to as the “public health perspective.” In that respect, the 5 Health Related Fitness Components are more important than those related to Athletic Ability (or Skill Related Components).

Although the concept of Health Related Fitness has an integral association with “good health”, the 5 Components are addressed individually by health professionals to allow for their measurement.

Now that we have a deeper understanding of the term, what purpose does it serve?

Continuing from where the definition left off, the objective of measuring the 5 Components is to advise clients about their own particular Health Related Fitness, and to use data obtained from the tests to design appropriate exercise programs which can then be evaluated.

The 5 Components contribute evenly to make up a holistic Health Related Fitness, which is of direct interest to the health of the ordinary citizen, in that the concept is normative. In other words, it is a standard which allows for consistent application.

It is therefore important for those working in the health and fitness industry not to mistake “overall physical fitness” with “Health Related Physical fitness.”

To conclude, let us consider this distinction between Physical Fitness and Health Related Fitness

One needs to bear in mind that regular physical exercise can improve overall Physical Fitness, as well as Health Related Fitness. However, overall fitness is a generic term and is up to subjective interpretation, while Health Related Fitness can be assessed.

The distinction therefore, between these two terms, exists in that Health Related Physical Fitness can be measured according to a set of established comparative norms.

This is where the “rubber hits the road.” The guidelines set out by the ACSM enable health professionals to work with clients to assess and measure their response to exercise and prescribe appropriate exercise programs. A client’s progress can then be monitored and adjusted where necessary in order to obtain the desired fitness goals.

By: Cleto Tirabassi

About the Author:

Health fitness involves exercising and working out to look and feel better. Your physical and mental well being depend on it. Exercising can reduce your chances of heart disease and diabetes. It can also reduce the effects of depression and eliminate stress. The physical and mental benefits of health fitness are well worth the efforts. They will ensure you are able to live a healthier, happier life. Do you want to just live your life or do you want to enjoy your life? The choice is yours.

Health fitness involves finding activities that are going to improve your current fitness level. Everyone’s current level of fitness is different so improving your fitness level can be walking for 10 minutes and for someone else it can be jogging an extra

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