Thursday 14th February 2008 - Its Valentines Day

Well for those that have read my blogs over the last few days, you will know that I am single (by choice currently), so today has less impact on me either emotionally or financially. To those that are celebrating love - shine on.

Now that I have acknowledged the event I want to get back on point to the Human ECO System and issues of the heart (and diseases).

I often get angry when I see the reported results of ground-breaking "stupid research" and know that our tax paying dollars are responsible for some moron telling me the obvious. I have included a few of the precious facts below. Seriously are you telling me that no one knew these facts ?

Weight loss by diet or exercise benefits heart
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Shedding excess pounds may restore some of the heart's youth, whether the weight loss comes from eating less or exercising more, the results of a small study suggests. It did not appear to matter whether the weight loss was achieved through diet changes or exercise, the researchers report in the American Journal of Physiology.

New Study Shows Fitness Trumps Fatness in Determining Risk of Cancer Death in Men
DALLAS, Jan. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- The Cooper Institute, a research and education nonprofit located at the world-renowned Cooper Aerobics Center in Dallas, announces a new study published in Obesity showing that fitness trumps fatness in determining risk of cancer mortality among men. Cancer is the second leading cause of death among U.S. men.

Obesity Linked To Reduced Productivity At Work
Employees who are moderately to extremely obese have reduced productivity on the job, even compared to overweight or mildly obese workers, reports a study in the January Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, official publication of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM).

Then we have the financial costs associated with these preventable conditions. I am talking about Diabetes type 2 and Coronary Heart Disease through obesity related conditions. The numbers below of statistical problems is incredible and the financial cost is enormous.

Diabetes' Health Toll Hits $174 Billion Annually - Costs climbed 32% since 2000
FRIDAY, Jan. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Diabetes-related medical and economic costs in the United States hit $174 billion in 2007, a 32 percent increase from 2002, a new study shows. The research, commissioned by the American Diabetes Association (ADA), found medical care costs for people with diabetes were about $116 billion, and a disproportionate percentage of those costs resulted from the treatment and hospitalization of people with diabetes-related complications. About one out of every five health-care dollars in the United States is spent caring for someone with diagnosed diabetes. Last year, diabetes caused more than 284,000 deaths in the United States.

Scottish Government Allocates Additional 40m Pounds To Tackle Obesity Epidemic
Diabetes UK Scotland welcomes the recent announcement from Nicola Sturgeon, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing that additional funding is to be given to tackle Scotland's obesity epidemic. In the Scottish Parliament, the Government announced an £40 million package over the next three years to drive through health improvements, with a particular focus on obesity.