Welcome to Fitmodo, your regular weekly round up of the news you need to know to keep your earthly form in top shape — from fitness advice to breakthroughs in medical research.
This week: We review the Fitbit Alta, take a look at the science of erections and discover Australian research that shopws tracking your steps gets you moving more.
Fitbit Alta Review: This Is Why People Like Fitness Trackers
It’s tempting to call this the first Fitbit with fashion in mind: it’s got well publicized choices. There’s a nice black option, pink leather choice, three pastels in plastic, and a very attractive stainless steel band that I’d covet if it didn’t cost $169 (Australian) sans tracker.
But this isn’t the first Fitbit focused on fashion — it’s just the first one to not treat fashion like an afterthought. From the clasp (a little annoying to use) to the levers to take the band off, this thing is clearly thinking “style” every step of the way.
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Baboon Survives Nearly Three Years With A Pig’s Heart And Humans Might Be Next
Using genetic techniques and a chemical cocktail, scientists managed to sustain a pig’s heart inside a baboon for 945 days, establishing a new benchmark for cross-species transplantation. If extended to humans, the technique could be used to ease the ongoing organ shortage.
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Australian Research Confirms Tracking Your Steps Gets You Moving More
South Australian researchers have confirmed that by taking an additional 3,500 steps and spending an extra 45 minutes on the move each week can reduce weight and lead to better wellbeing and long-term health, and one of the easiest ways to do that is with the aid of technology.
Researchers have drilled into the results of “Stepathon” — an online exercise program popular in workplaces — showcasing the potential of using technology to reach millions of people to help reduce heart disease, diabetes and obesity rates around the world.
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More People Are Obese Than Underweight
The world is getting fatter. But now a study by researchers from Imperial College London suggests we’ve reached a new milestone, with more people in the world being classified as obese than underweight for the first time.
The finding is based on the study of the BMI data from nearly 20 million people in 186 different countries, recorded between 1975 to 2014. Extrapolating obesity rates from their data, the researchers claim that the number of obese people has risen from 105 million in 1975 to 641 million in 2014. Meanwhile, the number of underweight people has grown from 330 million to 462 million.
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Keeping It Up: The Science Of Erections
For many men, getting an erection is as simple as breathing. But it’s an incredibly complex process involving a precise sequence of psychological and physiological events that can easily go wrong. Here’s how erections work — and how science is helping millions of men keep it up.
Back in 1992, the U.S. National Institutes of Health organised a conference on impotence. One of it’s primary recommendations was to do away with the term itself, replacing it with the now standard “erectile dysfunction,” or just ED.
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Also catching our eye:
- Computer giving you eyestrain? Lifehacker Australia has a cool infographic to help relieve it.
- Highlighting the importance of organ donation, Business insider Australia has a heart-wrenching story about a mother meeting the recipient of her son’s heart.
- Popsugar Australia takes a look at food stabilisers. Why are they in what we eat? Read this and you’ll find out.