FitPro News
News for Fitness Professionals

A new way of taking vitamins has arrived in the form of an injection, with promises of prolonged energy boosts to boot. 

The B12 injection offers 500% of the recommended daily allowance and has a similar effect to caffeine, combating lethargy and fatigue. Vitamins A, C, K and B12 are also available.

The shots aren’t a long-term solution, however, with health professionals refusing to administer the injections repeatedly, because if a patient returns with similar symptoms each time it’s more likely to be the result of lifestyle choices.

The injections come with a health warning, as overdosing on certain vitamins can lead to side effects. Overdosing on Vitamin A can result in cramps, nausea and an increased susceptibility to osteoporosis. Consulting with a health professional is advised before any decision is made.

Like this? Read the full article on vitamin injections.

A controversial weight-loss pill developed by scientists may help people who do not exercise to lose weight.

The “exercise” pill, which is still being tested, claims to build muscle, increase stamina and burn fat.

So far, tests on mice have revealed dramatic results, with the rodents running 44% further when given the pill.

The pill could have enormous benefits for people with conditions such as diabetes, who benefit greatly from exercise.

Controversy remains, however as the pill could improve endurance training for professional athletes, giving them an unfair advantage. It could also potentially replace exercise for those who don’t particularly enjoy doing physical activity.

Experts deny this is the objective of this pill as heart rate, blood pressure and aerobic capacity have yet to be fully tested following administration of the pill.

References

1. Knapp G. (2008) Exercise in Disguise
2. BBC Health

The face of sport is slowly changing, with more and more women turning professional.

The UK Sport and the English Institute of Sport (EIS) has recognised this and recently launched the Girls4Gold campaign with the 2012 Olympics in mind.
World cycling champion Victoria Pendleton and Olympic silver medallist Shelley Rudman joined the drive, which aims to uncover hidden talent with the potential to rise to the podium at London 2012 and beyond.

This is a female-specific campaign that hopes to build on the enormous success of Sporting Giants, which attracted over 3,800 applicants but with a female-to-male ratio of 1:4. Girls4Gold comes at a time when British cycling and the other targeted governing bodies are looking to enhance their squads and help fill some of the talent gaps within specific disciplines in their sports.

Athletic women aged 17-25 who have competed at county level or above in any sport are invited to apply at www.uksport.gov.uk/girls4gold. Successful girls will be invited to Olympic Talent Assessment events over the summer to identify those individuals who have a higher probability of podium success. The EIS talent identification scientists will then work closely with elite coaches from the beneficiary sports, to provide the short-listed athletes with the opportunity to discover their potential in a world-class training environment.

A recently released study has shown that taking supplements can increase your risk of an early death.

The 2007 study, released by the Danish Cochrane Library, has renewed debate about whether antioxidant supplements are actually needed. The study, conducted by Copenhagen University researchers, reviewed 68 studies on 230,000 healthy people and found “no convincing evidence” that any of the antioxidants helped to prolong life expectancy.

The study concentrated on vitamins A, E and C, plus beta-carotene and selenium, and it was discovered that some of these antioxidants could interfere with the natural workings of the body and might result in earlier mortality.

The review found that beta-carotene produced an approximate 7% increased risk of death, vitamin E a 4% increase and vitamin A a 16% increase. However, with vitamin C and selenium the risk of death was unchanged. There was also no evidence to suggest that vitamin C helped ward off disease. Millions of people take vitamin C daily to try to avoid catching a common cold.

By eating correctly you are able to get all the vitamins and minerals you need without having to take supplements. The Department of Health said people should try to get the vitamins they need by eating a balanced diet and advised care in taking large doses of supplements.

Source: Goran Bjelakovic MD Dr Med Sci, Dimitrinka Nikolova MA, Lise Lotte Gluud MD Dr Med Sci, Rosa G Simonetti MD, Christian Gluud MD Dr Med Sci, Mortality in Randomized Trials of Antioxidant Supplements for Primary and Secondary Prevention, JAMA, 2007

A dynamic athletic dance workout based on cheerleading formations, moves and drills that result in a stunning cheerleading performance.

Click here to view the routine in motion

A new diet drug could soon hit the market after a recent announcement that it was ready for human trials. The drug, which could be as effective as weight-loss surgery, has been developed by Imperial College London and offers an alternative to gastroplasty, or stomach stapling.

Obesity figures continue to rise, with one in four Britons now classed as obese and one in three 10-year-olds is either overweight or obese. Scientists believe this drug, which creates a false “full” feeling could be a breakthrough in the treatment of obesity.

It has been developed by university medical professor Steve Bloom, who has produced a synthetic version of a hormone called oxyntomodulin, which is known to help obese patients reduce their food intake.

Source: The Daily Telegraph

Tone up and improve flexibility with Fitness Ballet, the fun workout for all ages.

Click here  to view the routine in motion

People who start weight training later in life could find they reverse the ageing process. Recent tests have shown that pensioners who are regularly using weights have nearly the same energy levels as people in their 20s and 30s. Researchers have found gentle weight training over a period of six months can greatly improve the condition of aged muscles. Drs Simon Meloy and Mark Tarnopolsky conducted the study at the McMaster University in Canada. A group of men and women over 65 spent an hour at the gym twice a week, performing strength-building exercises and lifting weights. Within six months the group were considerably stronger than before. It also appeared that the ageing process had reversed within the muscle groups. The same group was tested four months later and had still retained their muscle mass, even though they had stopped going to the gym. Dr Tarnopolsky said: “They were still strong, they still had the same muscle mass. This shows that it’s never too late to start exercising – and that you don’t have to spend your life pumping iron at the gym to reap benefits.”

Now offering a choice of two workshops, don’t forget to book your space on the FitPro Pre-Con. Book by February 23 for a great early bird discount.

1. PREVENTION & REHABILITATION
   Paul Wright (Aus)
   London City University
2. FUNCTIONAL EXERCISE TRAINING
   Gary Gray (Aus), Chuck Wolf (USA) & Michol Dalcourt (Can)
   Loughborough University

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For further information contact Business Development on 08705 133 434 or email: busdev@fitpro.com

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Contact
For further information contact Business Development on 08705 133 434 or email: busdev@fitpro.com