“Why It Was Easier to Be Skinny in the 1980s” – The Atlantic, September 30, 2015
A new medical study just found that it’s harder for adults today to maintain the same weight as those 20 to 30 years ago did, even at the same levels of food intake and exercise. The conclusion: People today are about 10 percent heavier than people were in the 1980s, even if they follow the exact same diet and exercise plans. There are three possible reasons why this is the case: 1.) exposure to chemicals; 2.) prescription drugs; and 3.) changes in the microbiome. Read More
“8 Cities That Show What the Future Will Look Like”- Wired, October 2015
This is an intensely enjoyable article about eight cities that reveal what the urban future will look like. Los Angeles, Shanghai, Medellin, Eindhoven, Mecca, Nairobi, San Francisco and Dubai are each making use of high-tech materials, sensor networks, new science and better data to let architects, designers and planners work smarter and more precisely. In the process, they are getting more environmentally sound, more fun and more beautiful. Read More
“The Price We Pay for Sitting Too Much” – The Wall Street Journal, September 28, 2015
This article reviews some of the medical literature and research that devise formulas for how long a typical office worker should spend sitting and standing. According to Alan Hedge, a professor of ergonomics at Cornell University, “The key is breaking up your activity throughout the day. Sitting all day and standing all day are both bad for you.” Read More
“Keeping Active After A Cancer Diagnosis Could Lower Death Risk” – The Huffington Post, September 24, 2015
According to a new analysis of more than 70 existing research studies, the risk of cancer death falls as physical activity rises. This supports the current World Health Organization recommendation of moderate physical activity to combat the risk of chronic disease. Read More
“A Toxic Work World” – The New York Times, September 18, 2015
The author of the forthcoming Unfinished Business: Women Men Work Family worries about stress becoming a U.S. epidemic. This is particularly affecting women who realize that what was once a manageable and enjoyable work-family balance can no longer be sustained. Read More
