Jim Cherrington and Jack Black from Sheffield Hallam University in the UK join the Series to discuss their new edited collection, 'Sport and Physical Activity in Catastrophic Environments'. We discuss the role of sport around the world in rebuilding after catastrophe, the relationship between nature and technology, and mountain biking. The weird and eerie also feature. 

(Note: This podcast uses sound from freesound: "Bike ride" by crooner (https://freesound.org/s/42539/) licensed under CC0 1.0.)

Episode 42 – Jim Cherrington and Jack Black: Sport and Nature in Catastrophic Times

In this episode, Dr. Luisa Giles (University of the Fraser Valley) speaks about the effects of air pollution on our bodies, ways we can protect ourselves and minimize our exposure to wildfire smoke, how we can continue to keep ourselves active even when air quality is poor, and how recreation leaders can support their communities during smoke events.

The Balance is recorded and produced by BCAHL’s Communications Manager on the traditional, unceded territories of the syilx Okanagan Nation. 

Thank you so much for listening.

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Physical activity in poor air quality

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Ice Baths & Cold Water Therapy

In this special episode, Alison Jane is in conversation with six members of the Psychology Department at the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay: Dr. Ryan Martin, Dr. Georjeanna Wilson-Doenges, Dr. Jason Cowell, Dr. Thomas Gretton, Dr. Abigail Neubauer, and Dr. Chelsea Wooding on the topic of thriving in academia. Tune in to find out about this and more!

Episode 143: Special Episode: Thriving in Academia (w/6 members of the UWGB Psychology Department)

Sometimes life can feel like it’s coming at you. It can be overwhelming.  

If you want to get back to feeling more in alignment, more at ease, and more connected, in this episode we share 9 unexpectedly powerful self-care tips that are not practitioner-dependent, meaning you can do them yourself without help from someone else. 

You can do these on your own whenever you feel you need them, so you can feel your best faster!

The Group Frequency Calibration® (GFC) associated with this episode will help you to reset to your own sense of time so you can better stay centered in the present moment.

If you would like an opportunity to ask me questions in real time, join me when I go live on YouTube. Subscribe to the Spherical Luminosity YouTube channel and click the reminder bell to be notified when I am live: bit.ly/SL-YTSubscribe

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Episode 215 - 9 Unexpectedly Powerful Tips To Feel Your Best, Fast

Welcome to the podcast where we dive deep into the world of mental health and well-being. In today's episode, we explore the powerful connection between physical activity and mental well-being with renowned mental health expert Matthew Danchak. Join us as we discuss practical tips for enhancing your mental health through exercise, including choosing activities you enjoy, setting realistic goals, and incorporating mindfulness. Discover how regular exercise can boost your mood, reduce stress, and improve your overall well-being. Tune in to learn from Matthew Danchak's insights and start your journey to a healthier mind and body today.

Matthew Danchak Tips For Boosting Your Mental Health Through Exercise

BUFFALO, NY- January 22, 2025 – A new #research paper was #published in Aging (listed by MEDLINE/PubMed as "Aging (Albany NY)" and "Aging-US" by Web of Science) on December 12, 2024, Volume 16, Issue 22, titled “Arginase-II gene deficiency reduces skeletal muscle aging in mice.”

Researchers Matteo Caretti, Duilio Michele Potenza, Guillaume Ajalbert, Urs Albrecht, Xiu-Fen Ming, Andrea Brenna, and Zhihong Yang from the University of Fribourg found that removing a specific gene, called arginase-II (Arg-II), can slow down muscle aging in mice. Their research showed that older mice lacking this gene stayed more active and had healthier skeletal muscles compared to normal aging mice. This discovery could lead to new treatments to help people maintain muscle strength and mobility as they become older.

As people age, their muscles naturally get weaker, leading to reduced physical activity and overall quality of life. This condition, known as sarcopenia, occurs because of muscle fiber loss, inflammation, and scar tissue buildup. The study found that the Arg-II gene contributes to this process.

The research team compared normal mice with mice lacking the Arg-II gene and discovered that in general, the mice without the gene had improved muscle health, reduced inflammation, and fewer signs of age-related muscle decline. It was also found that older male mice deficient in the Arg-II gene were more active, particularly during their peak nighttime activity. These mice had stronger muscles and performed better in physical tests. Interestingly, the benefits of Arg-II gene removal were more pronounced in male mice compared to females, suggesting that hormonal or genetic differences might play a role in age-related muscle loss.

“The improved phenotype of arg-ii-/- mice in aging is associated with reduced sarcopenia, cellular senescence, inflammation, and fibrosis, whereas age-associated decline of microvascular endothelial cell density, satellite cell numbers, and muscle fiber types in skeletal muscle is prevented in arg-ii-/- mice.”

ARG-II protein was not found in muscle fibers but instead in surrounding cells such as fibroblasts and blood vessel cells, which makes scientists believe this gene influences muscle aging indirectly. Independently of that, the findings suggest that targeting the Arg-II gene could help slow down age-related muscle deterioration and improve muscle function in older adults. 

"[...] we demonstrate an increased arg-ii gene expression level in aging skeletal muscle and found Arg-II protein expression in endothelial cells and fibroblasts, but not in skeletal muscle fibers, macrophages, and satellite cells."​

While these results are promising, further research is needed to determine whether blocking the Arg-II gene in humans could provide similar benefits. Furthermore, understanding why male and female mice responded differently to the gene removal will be essential before personalized treatments for age-related muscle loss. If future studies confirm these findings in humans, targeting Arg-II could become a valuable strategy to help adults maintain muscle strength, mobility, and overall quality of life as they age.

DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.206173

Corresponding authors - Andrea Brenna - andrea.brenna@unifr.ch, and Zhihong Yang - zhihong.yang@unifr.ch

Video short - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDxSCO2Y7-w

About Aging-US

The mission of the journal is to understand the mechanisms surrounding aging and age-related diseases, including cancer as the main cause of death in the modern aged population.

The journal aims to promote 1) treatment of age-related diseases by slowing down aging, 2) validation of anti-aging drugs by treating age-related diseases, and 3) prevention of cancer by inhibiting aging. (Cancer and COVID-19 are age-related diseases.)

Please visit our website at https://www.Aging-US.com​​.

MEDIA@IMPACTJOURNALS.COM

Aging (Aging-US)

Arginase-II Deficiency Slows Skeletal Muscle Aging in Mice

Dr Binh Nguyen from the School of Public Health is examining the long term patterns of physical activity and how these effect the health span of midlife women. Find out more about how quality of life measures a person's perceived well being and functioning, and relates to healthy aging and population health. Read the transcript: https://www.sydney.edu.au/medicine-health/news-and-events/podcast.html

Dr Binh Nguyen on physical activity and women’s health

BUFFALO, NY — July 8, 2025 — A new #research paper was #published in Aging (Aging-US) Volume 17, Issue 6, on May 30, 2025, titled “Impact of waist-to-hip and waist-to-height ratios on physical performance: insights from the Longevity Check-up 8+ project.”

In this study, researchers led by first author Anna Maria Martone and corresponding author Elena Levati from the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “Agostino Gemelli” IRCCS and Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore found that adults with higher waist-to-hip and waist-to-height ratios tend to have poorer physical performance. These simple body shape measures emerged as important tools for assessing strength and mobility, which are essential for maintaining independence as people age.

The analysis included data from more than 10,000 Italian adults aged 18 to 98 years who participated in the Longevity Check-up 8+ project, a nationwide health initiative aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles and raising awareness of cardiovascular risks. Researchers measured participants’ waist-to-hip (WHR) and waist-to-height (WHtR) ratios and assessed their physical function using the five-repetition chair stand test, a standard evaluation of lower body strength and mobility.

“Among 10690 participants (mean age 57.0 ± 14.8 y; 54% females), men exhibited higher WHR and WHtR and a higher prevalence of abnormal values (61% and 71%).”

The results showed that individuals with higher waist-to-hip and waist-to-height ratios took longer to complete the test, reflecting reduced physical function. Even after adjusting for lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise habits, and cardiovascular health, these ratios remained strongly linked to poorer performance. The waist-to-height ratio, in particular, proved to be a more effective predictor of physical ability across different age and gender groups.

These findings highlight how abdominal fat, already tied to serious health risks like heart disease and diabetes, may also impair mobility and independence as people age. Monitoring waist measurements could help identify individuals at risk of functional decline, offering a simple tool to support public health in aging populations.

The waist-to-height ratio is especially valuable because of its simplicity and practicality. Requiring only waist and height measurements, it can be easily used in clinical settings and community health programs to screen for potential mobility issues. Encouraging healthy waist sizes through balanced diets and regular exercise could help preserve physical performance and delay age-related decline. These findings may guide future prevention strategies. By identifying individuals at higher risk, healthcare professionals can implement targeted interventions to support long-term health and independence.

DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.206260

Corresponding author - Elena Levati - elena.levati01@icatt.it

Video short - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqGlZ1qGZPI

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Keywords - aging, physical performance, body composition, waist-to-hip ratio, waist-to-height ratio, chair-stand test

To learn more about the journal, please visit our website at https://www.Aging-US.com​​ and connect with us on social media at:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AgingUS/
X - https://twitter.com/AgingJrnl
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MEDIA@IMPACTJOURNALS.COM

Abdominal Fat Linked to Reduced Strength and Mobility in Adults

Matthew Danchak, a passionate individual with a decade of nursing experience dedicated to mental health advocacy. Matthew Danchak's love for cats and dogs reflects his nurturing nature, adding a compassionate touch to his character. Matthew Danchak extensive professional background in nursing attests to his unwavering commitment to healthcare. Photography is not just a hobby but a passion for Matthew, who has documented over 1000 waterfalls across the globe. Balancing a caring profession with an adventurous spirit, Matthew brings a unique blend of empathy, resilience, and a love for exploration to his multifaceted life.

Psychology and Stuff is a podcast out of Phoenix Studios at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and hosted by Dr. Alison Jane Martingano.  It includes interviews with psychologists on a host of psych-related topics and... of course... other stuff.

Aging-US is dedicated to advancing our understanding of the biological mechanisms that drive aging and the development of age-related diseases. Our mission is to serve as a platform for high-quality research that uncovers the cellular, molecular, and systemic processes underlying aging, and translates these insights into strategies to extend healthspan and delay the onset of chronic disease.

Read about the Aging (Aging-US) Scientific Integrity Process: https://aging-us.com/scientific-integrity

Welcome to The Big Feed Up HQ Podcast. 

A podcast about Nutrition / Movement / Outdoor Experiences. 

Hosted by Matt Gardner Performance Nutritionist (SENr) . Nutritional Therapist (mBANT)

If you enjoy the show please share it with someone, it is the only real way the show will grow thank you.

In each episode of this podcast we explore how frequencies shape our world and begin to remove the patterns that keep us stuck so we can realize our greatest potential.

The Balance is BCAHL’s podcast platform that aims to promote and discuss chronic disease prevention research, campaigns, and programs with leading thinkers and researchers. It is a space to ask questions, talk about policy and emerging issues and hear health promotion success stories.

The Media Sport Podcast Series features interviews with researchers from around the world about the significance of sport in media, politics, society and culture, as well as the growing role of sport in the popular communication of environmental issues and concerns.

Brett.Hutchins@monash.edu or via the links below.

New tracks tagged #PhysicalActivity