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New Guidance Says Doctors Should Discuss Vaping as One Option to Help Adults Quit Smoking

Quitting smoking is one of the best things a person can do for their health—but it's also one of the hardest habits to break. Many smokers make several attempts before they successfully quit, even when using medications or nicotine replacement products. Now, a panel of tobacco treatment experts is encouraging healthcare providers to expand the conversation about smoking cessation by discussing nicotine e-cigarettes as one possible option for adults who smoke cigarettes. The recommendations, published in JAMA , were developed by the Harm Reduction Work Group of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco’s Treatment Research Network. Rather than promoting vaping, the group says clinicians should focus on helping patients choose the quit-smoking method that best fits their individual circumstances. A Personalized Approach to Quitting Smoking cessation isn't the same for everyone. What works well for one person may not work for another, which is why the authors recommend mo...

Pedometer Based Walking for Weight Loss


Pedometer based walking programs are a sure fire way to help with weight loss. Every step you take increases your calorie expenditure. According to a study published in the January/February, 2008 issue of the Annals of Family Medicine, pedometer based walking programs can result in a modest amount of weight loss for sedentary adults.

Simply put, people who walk more are thinner than those who walk less. Researchers looked for studies in electronic databases,and contacted pedometer experts to find studies supporting the benefit of step monitors, without dietary interventions, to improve weight loss. They found nine studies, showing that those who used pedometers, lost 0.5kg/week, or one pound every ten weeks. Most people put on weight over a period of time, and it's alright to lose slowly. However, if you combine walking with dietary changes, you're sure to lose more.

You can perform your walks by either taking one long walk daily, or gradually increasing the duration of several short walks - either way will get results. The authors conclude: "Pedometer-based walking programs without a dietary intervention component do result in a modest amount of weight loss," the study authors conclude. "Pedometer-based walking programs also do increase step counts and thus can be expected to confer health benefits that are associated with both a modest decrease in weight and an increase in physical activity."

Clip your pedometer on your waist, and have fun watching your progress!

Ann Fam Med. 2008;6:69-77.



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