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DUBLIN, Dec. 9, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Intragastric Balloon Market 2019-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global intragastric balloon market is predicted to grow at a CAGR of 12.33% during the forecasting period 2019-2028.

Intragastric ballooning is a procedure that requires no stitches and incisions. The entire process of placement of the balloon takes nearly 20 minutes and the patient can be discharged within two hours after the insertion. The recovery time is also very short, which has resulted in the rising adoption of intragastric balloon implantation. It is estimated that one-third of the total population of the world has excess weight, due to rapid urbanization, unhealthy diets and less physical activity.

The government across the world is implementing several initiatives to reduce the obesity rate by making huge investments towards R&D. However, short-term effects associated with the instragastric ballooning is impeding the global market growth. Besides, it is not a permanent weight loss treatment, and hence, the patients are required to maintain a proper lifestyle for long-term weight loss. Stomach ulcers are also another side-effect of this procedure.

REGIONAL OUTLOOK

The global market report covers the countries from North America, Europe, the Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East and Africa.

The Asia-Pacific market is expected to display the fastest growth in the global intragastric balloon market over the forecasted period. Due to the rapid changes in the living pattern of people, unhealthy diets and sedentary lifestyles, there is a high prevalence of obesity in the region. The majority of the obese population is subsequently affected by diabetes, hypertension, stroke and heart diseases. Therefore, there is an increasing need for weight loss procedures like instragastric balloon implantation. These factors are anticipated to push the growth of the market in the Asia-Pacific region over the upcoming years.

COMPETITIVE OUTLOOK

The major companies in the intragastric balloon market are Endalis, Silimed (Sientra Inc), Apollo Endosurgery Inc, BAROnova, Allurion Technologies Inc, Aspire Bariatrics, Obalon Therapeutics, ReShape Lifesciences Inc, Spatz FGIA Inc, Allergan (AbbVie), Helioscopie, MedSil, Districlass Medical and Medtronic

Allergan (AbbVie) is a global company specialized in the development, manufacturing, and marketing of medical aesthetics, pharmaceutical products, biosimilars, and OTC (over-the-counter) pharmaceutical products.

Besides, it offers products for medical aesthetics & dermatology, eye care, women's health, gastroenterology and urology. The BIB/Orbera intragastric balloon is a device provided by the company that lets endoscopist to insert the balloon inside the stomach via the mouth or esophagus. Allergan is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, and operates in the US, Europe, Asia, among other regions of the world.

Key Topics Covered:

1. Global Intragastric Balloon Market - Summary

2. Industry Outlook2.1. Market Definition2.2. Evolution and Transition of Intragastric Balloons2.3. Porter's Five Forces Model2.4. Covid-19 and Its Impact on Intragastric Balloon Market2.5. Industry Components2.6. Supply Chain Outlook2.7. Market Attractiveness Index2.8. Vendor Scorecard2.9. Key Insight2.10. Market Drivers2.10.1. Short Duration of Hospital Stay and Recovery Time2.10.2. Rising Obesity Worldwide2.11. Market Restraints2.11.1. Short-Term Effects Associated With Intragastric Ballooning2.11.2. Reimbursement Issue2.12. Market Opportunities2.12.1. Rise in the Government Initiatives Regarding Obesity2.12.2. Concerns Associated With Morbid Lifestyle2.13. Market Challenges2.13.1. Stringent Product Approval Procedure

3. Intragastric Balloon Market Outlook - by Component3.1. Single Balloon3.2. Dual Balloon3.3. Triple Balloon

4. Intragastric Balloon Market Outlook - by Filling Material4.1. Saline-Filled4.2. Gas-Filled

5. Intragastric Balloon Market Outlook - by Industry Verticals5.1. Clinics5.2. Hospitals5.3. Ambulatory Surgical Centers

6. Intragastric Balloon Market Outlook - by Region

7. Company Profile7.1. Allurion Technologies Inc7.2. Medsil7.3. Allergan Inc (Abbvie)7.4. Obalon Therapeutics Inc7.5. Apollo Endosurgery Inc7.6. Reshape Lifesciences7.7. Aspire Bariatrics Inc7.8. Baronova Inc7.9. Districlass Medical7.10. Endalis7.11. Medtronic plc7.12. Silimed Inc (Sientra)7.13. Helioscopie Sa7.14. Spatz Fgia

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ysxmwt

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [emailprotected]

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SOURCE Research and Markets

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PLAINSBORO, N.J., Dec. 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Novo Nordisk today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved an updated label for Saxenda(liraglutide) injection 3 mg for use in the treatment of obesity in adolescents (1217 years) with a body weight above 60 kg and an initial body mass index (BMI) corresponding to 30 kg/m2 or greater for adults, as an adjunct to reduced-calorie meals and increased physical activity. Saxenda was approved in 2014 for chronic weight management in adults with a BMI 30 kg/m2, or 27 kg/m2 with at least one weight-related comorbidity, as an adjunct to a reduced calorie meal plan and increased physical activity.1

Over the last 20 years, the global prevalence of children and adolescents with excess weight has doubled from 1 in 10 to 1 in 5.2Research also shows that when both parents have excess weight, 80% of their children will have obesity.3However, current treatment options for this population are limited, highlighting a considerable and growing need for additional treatment strategies.4

"New options to treat adolescents who live with obesity can bring much-needed hope to families and help address this growing epidemic," said Dr. Aaron Kelly, Professor of Pediatrics and co-director of the Center for Pediatric Obesity Medicine at the University of Minnesota. "With up to 90 percent of adolescents with obesity likely to have it as adults and thus at increased risk for developing weight-related complications, it's important to address weight care and offer support early on.3,5I'm encouraged that healthcare providers now have another tool in developing a personalized, complete care plan to help adolescents lose weight and keep it off."

The safety and efficacy of Saxenda as a treatment for adolescents with obesity is supported by data from a phase 3a trial published earlier this year in the New England Journal of Medicine. The 56-week clinical trial investigated the effects of Saxenda compared to placebo for weight management in 251 patients aged 12-17 living with obesity as an adjunct to lifestyle therapy, defined as counselling in healthy nutrition and physical activity for weight loss. In the trial, the primary endpoint was change from baseline in Body Mass Index (BMI) Standard Deviation Score (SDS) at week 56.6

The data demonstrated a significant reduction in BMI-SDS, as well as reductions in BMI, mean body weight, and other weight-related endpoints vs. placebo in adolescents with obesity when using Saxenda as an adjunct to lifestyle therapy. Adverse events seen in an adolescent population were similar to those observed in adults. The most common adverse reactions were gastrointestinal events, including nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.6

"The rise in adolescent obesity is contributing to a public health crisis, and it poses a real challenge for healthcare professionals due to the limited treatment options available," said Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, executive vice president and chief scientific officer of Novo Nordisk. "We are proud to be able to offer a new treatment option for adolescents with obesity and their families in the US, as the FDA approval marks another significant milestone for Saxenda."

What is Saxenda?

Saxenda (liraglutide) injection 3 mg is an injectable prescription medicine used for adults with excess weight (BMI 27) who also have weight-related medical problems or obesity (BMI 30), and children aged 12-17 years with a body weight above 132 pounds (60 kg) and obesity to help them lose weight and keep the weight off. Saxenda should be used with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity.

Important Safety Information

Do not share your Saxenda pen with others even if the needle has been changed. You may give other people a serious infection or get a serious infection from them.

What is the most important information I should know about Saxenda?Serious side effects may happen in people who take Saxenda, including:

Possible thyroid tumors, including cancer. Tell your health care professional if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath. These may be symptoms of thyroid cancer. In studies with rats and mice, Saxenda and medicines that work like Saxenda caused thyroid tumors, including thyroid cancer. It is not known if Saxenda will cause thyroid tumors or a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in people.

Do not use Saxenda if you or any of your family have ever had MTC, or if you have an endocrine system condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN2).

Who should not use Saxenda?Do not use Saxenda if:

Before taking Saxenda, tell your health care provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

Tell your health care provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Saxenda slows stomach emptying and can affect medicines that need to pass through the stomach quickly. Saxenda may affect the way some medicines work and some other medicines may affect the way Saxenda works. Tell your health care provider if you take diabetes medicines, especially insulin and sulfonylurea medicines.

How should I use Saxenda?

What are the possible side effects of Saxenda?Saxenda may cause serious side effects, including:

The most common side effects of Saxenda in adults include nausea, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, injection site reaction, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), headache, tiredness (fatigue), dizziness, stomach pain, and change in enzyme (lipase) levels in your blood. Additional common side effects in children are fever and gastroenteritis.

Please see Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for Saxenda at http://www.novo-pi.com/saxenda.pdf.

About the phase 3 trial (NCT02918279)

The trial investigated the effect of Saxenda (liraglutide 3.0 mg or maximum tolerated dose) compared to placebo for weight management in 251 adolescents (aged 12 to <18 years) living with obesity as an adjunct to lifestyle therapy.6 The trial included a 12-week run-in period of lifestyle therapy, a 56-week treatment period (including dose escalation over 4 to 8 weeks) on Saxenda or placebo and a 26-week follow-up period without Saxenda or placebo.6 All participants received lifestyle therapy beginning with the run-in period and during the 56-week treatment period and 26-week follow-up period.6 The phase 3a trial was a post-marketing requirement of the FDA under the Pediatric Research Equity Act (PREA), which aims to ensure treatments are safe and effective for children and adolescents.7,8

About SaxendaSaxenda (liraglutide) injection 3.0 mg is a once-daily glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist with 97% similarity to naturally occurring human GLP-1, a hormone that is involved in appetite regulation and food intake.1 Like human GLP-1, Saxenda is believed to work in areas of the brain involved in appetite regulation, including the hypothalamus.1Saxenda for use in adults with obesity was evaluated in the SCALE (Satiety and Clinical Adiposity Liraglutide Evidence) clinical trial program. Since launch in 2015, more than 1.5 million patients have been treated with Saxenda globally.7

Saxenda is already indicated in the US for chronic weight management in adults with a BMI 30 kg/m2, or 27 kg/m2with one or more weight-related comorbidities, as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie meal plan and increased physical activity.1

About obesityObesity is a chronic, progressive and misunderstood disease that requires long-term medical management.9,10 One key misunderstanding is that this is a disease of willpower, when in fact there is underlying biology that prevents people from achieving long-term weight loss.11 Obesity is influenced by a variety of factors, including genetics, appetite signals, behavior and the environment.11 It is a gateway disease and is associated with at least 60 other health conditions.12 The current COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted that obesity also increases the risk for severe illness and hospitalization due to COVID-19.13,14In the United States, more than 42% of adults live with obesity.15

About adolescent obesityAdolescents with obesity are also more likely to develop weight-related diseases, like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, at a younger age.16Just like other chronic diseases, obesity requires long-term management.9,10 Research shows that when both parents have excess weight, about 80% of their children will have obesity.3 Globally, more than 124 million children and adolescents have obesity.17In the United States, nearly 1 in 5, or about 13.7 million, children and adolescents have obesity.18,19

About Novo Nordisk Novo Nordisk is a global healthcare company that's been making innovative medicines to help people with diabetes lead longer, healthier lives for 95 years. This heritage has given us experience and capabilities that also enable us to help people defeat other serious diseases including obesity, hemophilia and growth disorders. We remain steadfast in our conviction that the formula for lasting success is to stay focused, think long-term and do business in a financially, socially and environmentally responsible way. With U.S. headquarters in New Jersey and production and research facilities in six states, Novo Nordisk employs nearly 6,000 people throughout the country. For more information, visitnovonordisk.us, Facebook, Instagramand Twitter.

References

1US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Saxenda Prescribing Information. December 2020.

2UNICEF. The state of the world's children 2019. Available at: https://www.unicef.org/media/60806/file/SOWC-2019.pdf. Last accessed: November 2020.

3Lifshitz F. Obesity in Children. J Clin Res Pediatr Endocrinol.2008 Dec; 1(2): 5360

4Cardel M, Jastreboff A, Kelly A. Treatment of Adolescent Obesity in 2020. JAMA. 2019; 322:17071708.

5Gordon-Larsen P, The NS, Adair LS. Longitudinal Trends in Obesity in the United States from Adolescence to the Third Decade of Life. Obesity. 2010; 18 (9): 1801-1804

6Kelly A, Auerbach P, Barrientos-Perez M. A Randomized, Controlled Trial of Liraglutide for Adolescents with Obesity. Available at: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1916038. NEJM. 2020;DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1916038

7Novo Nordisk. Data on File.

8Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Pediatric Research Equity Act. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/development-resources/pediatricresearch-equity-act-prea. Last accessed: November 2020.

9American Medical Association. A.M.A Adopts New Policies on Second Day of Voting at Annual Meeting. Obesity as a Disease. Available at: http://news.cision.com/american-medical-association/r/ama-adopts-new-policies-on-second-day-of-voting-at-annual-meeting,c9430649. Last accessed: November 2020.

10Bray GA, Kim KK, Wilding JPH. World Obesity Federation. Obesity: a chronic relapsing progressive disease process. A position statement of the World Obesity Federation. ObesRev. 2017;18(7):715-723. doi:10.1111/obr.12551.

11Wright SM, Aronne LJ. Causes of obesity. Abdom Imaging. 2012;37(5):730-732.

12Bays HE, McCarthy W, Christensen S, et al. Obesity Algorithm, presented by the Obesity Medicine Association. Available at: https://obesitymedicine.org/obesity-algorithm/. Last Accessed: November 2020.

13Finer N, Garnett SP and Bruun JM. COVID-19 and obesity. Clin Obes. 2020; 10:e12365.

14Ryan DH, Ravussin E and Heymsfield S. COVID 19 and the Patient with Obesity - The Editors Speak Out. Obesity. 2020; 28:847.

15Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Adult Obesity Facts. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html. Updated June 29, 2020. Last accessed: November 2020.

16World Health Organization. Childhood overweight and obesity. Available at: https://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/childhood/en/. Last accessed: November 2020.

17World Health Organization. Obesity and overweight. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight. Last accessed: November 2020.

18Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Childhood Overweight and Obesity. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/index.html. Updated September 11, 2018. Last accessed: November 2020.

19Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Childhood Obesity Facts. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/childhood.html. Updated June 24, 2019. Last accessed: November 2020.

SOURCE Novo Nordisk

http://www.novonordisk-us.com

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FDA approves Saxenda for the treatment of obesity in adolescents aged 12-17 - PRNewswire

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Dr. Brian Kelly

By Dr. Brian Kelly

In the United States, 30 million adults ages 18 and older are living with diabetes and 84 million contend with prediabetes. And the numbers are growing. That makes this an important public health problem. As such, there are suitable screening tests, which are important as an early asymptomatic stage exists. Early treatment during the asymptomatic stage improves the long-term outcome.

Diabetes is actually a vascular disease that causes buildup of plaque in the blood vessels which is known as atherosclerosis. This process is caused by irritation and inflammation in the vascular beds (or blood vessel systems). This can result in heart attack, stroke or infection/inflammation of the lower extremities due to plaquing in the small arteries of the lower legs, depending on which vascular bed is affected. It also causes retinopathy, which is a disease of the eyes due to clogged blood vessels in the retina as well as neuropathy due to problems with the blood vessels involved with nerves.

In light of the relatively long asymptomatic period that exists, screening tests are very important. These tests include glycated hemoglobin (hemoglobin A1 C) which is a buildup of glucose on the red blood cell. We can also use fasting glucose and the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) which is a two-hour test following administration of 75 grams of sugar water. These tests are all available at Powell Valley Healthcare. Early identification of diabetes allows interventions to prevent or limit cardiovascular disease.

Other factors which may amplify the risk of diabetes mellitus include family history of diabetes as well as hypertension and high cholesterol. There are scoring systems for risk factor assessment that have been established by the CDC and the American Diabetes Association.

Lifestyle intervention programs aimed at weight loss and increased activity levels, and medications such as metformin, reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes in high risk individuals. Here at PVHC we have providers who can screen for diabetes as well as treat diabetes and we have diabetes education, which is very important to prevent the complications associated with the disease.

Our diabetes educators are hosting their second Prevent T2 program beginning in March 2021. If you have prediabetes, this program can help you reverse the full onset of diabetes and ultimately prevent cardiovascular health problems in the future.

For more information on the Prevent T2 program, please call Tina Braet-Thomas at 307-754-2267, extension 3604.

(Dr. Brian Kelly is a cardiologist at Powell Valley Healthcare.)

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You may be used to drizzling honey over oatmeal or in your tea. However, the trend today is to slather it on your face. Really.

People are searching for ways to use honey for face wash, and you can find how-to videos for honey face masks on TikTok and Instagram.

It may seem odd at first. You may be wondering why you would put something super sticky and full of sugar on your skin. Wouldnt that lead to breakouts (and a mess in your bathroom)?

Well, according to some, using honey on your face may lead to smooth, moisturized, blemish-free skin.

We dove into the research and talked to expert dermatologists to find out: Should everyone start using honey for face wash?

Whether its a tried-and-true skin care regimen, how often you wash your hair, or the cosmetics youre curious about, beauty is personal.

Thats why we rely on a diverse group of writers, educators, and other experts to share their tips on everything from the way product application varies to the best sheet mask for your individual needs.

We only recommend something we genuinely love, so if you see a shop link to a specific product or brand, know that its been thoroughly researched by our team.

Using honey as face wash isnt something beauty bloggers invented. People have used honey for its skin benefits for ages.

Legend has it, Cleopatra used a mask made of milk and honey on her face. Indigenous tribes in Burkina Faso also use honey to clean their skin.

Many other cultures use honey topically to treat wounds, eczema, and other skin conditions. This includes Ayurvedic medicine, Persian traditional medicine and Quranic medicine.

All of these people were and are on to something. Honey has many powerful properties, says New York City-based cosmetic dermatologist Michele Green, MD. According to research, honey has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and humectant (moisturizing) properties.

The antibacterial properties make it good as both treatment and prevention for acne, Green explains. This is credited to the hydrogen peroxide in honey, although the amount varies among honey types.

Honeys anti-inflammatory powers come from antioxidants that help calm irritated skin, says Konstantin Vasyukevich, MD, a facial plastic surgeon and rejuvenation expert based in New York City.

And since honey has humectant effects, it may help keep skin looking younger, or at least smoother.

Lastly, honey contains natural enzymes that help remove dead skin cells and reduce redness, Green says.

Its important to note that most cosmetic products contain only up to 10 percent honey.

That doesnt seem like much, but it may still have an effect. As a natural remedy, honey is certainly not as effective in the treatment of medical skin conditions as a prescription medicine would be. However, it can be an effective remedy for someone with a mild skin condition or as a preventative treatment, Vasyukevich says.

It is generally safe to use honey on your skin, since it is great for people with acne [or] eczema. It is even safe for patients with sensitive skin, Green says.

However, consider testing the honey or product on a small area of your skin before applying it all over your face.

If you notice any redness, itching, or swelling when testing it, wash the honey or product off with soap and water. Then, Green recommends applying a topical hydrocortisone cream. Do not continue using the honey or product.

You may be having an irritant or allergic reaction to the honey itself or another ingredient. Consider contacting the manufacturer of the product to learn exactly what it contains. This can help you identify the culprit.

If you are curious about using honey on your face, you have options. Some users swear by applying raw honey directly to their skin and letting it sit for 510 minutes before washing it off.

Others prefer to create a face mask by mixing the honey with other ingredients, such as yogurt, matcha tea powder, or oats. Green shares this honey face mask recipe:

Finally, you can find a variety of skin care products (such as those below) that contain honey. The concentration of honey in these may be very low. So, it may be hard to tell if any benefits you experience are due to the honey or other ingredients.

If you wish to DIY your skin care, keep in mind that each variety of honey has different levels of antioxidants and other beneficial compounds. So, you may see different results depending on which honey youre using.

That said, many recommend Manuka honey, which has been shown to have higher antibacterial activity compared to other types of honey. Many brands add cane sugar or corn syrup to their honey. In a 2018 study of 118 honey samples, 27 percent were of questionable authenticity.

Consider buying local honey. Or use the True Source Honey tool to look up the UPC of a product and verify if its certified as pure.

Not interested in a DIY project? Consider these skin care products that contain honey. Each has at least a 4.5-star rating on Amazon.

Price: $

Appropriate for use on your face, chest, neck, and hands, this moisturizer with Manuka honey and beeswax is super silky not sticky. Its made to absorb well without leaving you greasy.

Buy the LOreal Age Perfect Hydra-Nutrition All-Over Honey Balm online.

Price: $

Peanuts and honey arent only good ingredients for making a sandwich. The two pack antioxidants and moisturizing benefits into this lotion.

Buy the Mario Badescu Honey Moisturizer online.

Price: $$

The charcoal in this mask is said to help relieve clogged pores while the honey moisturizes. The formula contains no parabens, phthalates, sodium lauryl sulfate, propylene glycol, mineral oil, DEA, petrolatum, paraffin, polyethylene beads, or formaldehyde.

Buy the Origins Clear Improvement Charcoal Honey Mask to Purify & Nourish online.

Price: $$

Farmacy uses a blend of honey, propolis, and royal jelly (all compounds made by bees) in this mask. However, if you have sensitive skin, the company warns that the warming sensation may cause irritation.

Buy the Farmacy Honey Potion Renewing Antioxidant Hydration Mask online.

Using honey for face wash or as a face mask is not only popular. It may also benefit your skin. Thanks to honeys antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties, it may help prevent acne, calm irritation, and maintain hydration.

If used properly, washing [your] face with honey can help keep the skin looking younger, improve radiance and smoothness, and mitigate irritation and acne flare-ups, Vasyukevich says.

However, be mindful to use pure honey if you are going to DIY a treatment.

As with any skin care regimen, if you notice irritation, stop using the product or honey. If your skin seems fine, be patient and try your honey routine for at least a week to see if you notice any difference.

Brittany Risher is a writer, editor, and digital strategist specializing in health and lifestyle content. Shes written for publications including Elemental, Mens Health, Womens Health, and Yoga Journal.

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Honey for Face Wash: Should You Use It? - Healthline

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Gov. Tom Wolf announced the latest rounds of restrictions on Thursday due to COVID-19, and among the businesses that have to cease indoor operations and close for three weeks are gyms and fitness facilities.

This is the second ordered shutdown for such businesses. They were among the non-essential businesses ordered to close in March, and stay closed for months.

The restrictiosn go into place at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday and remain in effect until 8 a.m. Jan. 4.

For Steve Kindler Jr., president of National Fitness Partners, a midstate company that owns a number of Planet Fitness franchises in the Harrisburg area, there was one word that summed up his reaction to the governors latest restrictions: disappointed.

Obviously were just really disappointed with the direction the governor went, he said.

Kindler said that of the 113 Planet Fitness locations in the state, theres not one case of COVID-19 infections as far as the company knows. He said this latest setback wont only impact his gyms.

Were highly disappointed in, unfortunately, another blow to the industry, he said.

Its devastating for small business, said Brittany Holtz of Studio B Power Yoga. Its devastating for my small business and for all of my friends that have small businesses. We all have done our part.

She said that when fitness centers had to close previously, she thought they were closed longer than they had to be and her business still continues to be affected.

Since then we have been operating at a small capacity, which continues to cut into our revenue, she said.

Holtz said that many of her clients are teachers and healthcare workers who depend on her services for their own health.

What they shared with me is our services have helped them stay healthy these last few months, she said.

And its not just about improving someones physical health. She said that yoga helps with mental health as well.

Its devastating from an economic standpoint and from a mental health standpoint, she said.

The latest restrictions for gyms and fitness centers are part of a long list of restrictions that Wolf ordered on Thursday that also include prohibiting indoor dining in addition to closing casinos for nearly three weeks.

Today I am announcing additional, temporary COVID-19 protective mitigation measures in the commonwealth, Wolf said. With these measures in place, we hope to accomplish three goals: First, stop the devastating spread of COVID-19 in the commonwealth. Second, keep our hospitals and health care workers from becoming overwhelmed. And third, help Pennsylvanians get through the holiday season and closer to a widely available vaccine as safely as possible. This is a bridge to a better future in Pennsylvania.

The National Federation of Independent Business in Pennsylvanias state director, Gordon Denlinger, said that his group is concerned about the consequences of these latest restrictions.

While acknowledging the serious nature of the ongoing COVID emergency, we again raise concern over the harm these actions will have on Pennsylvanias small businesses and their employees, Denlinger said in a statement. These steps will result in another wave of business failures and the loss of all the jobs that go with it.

While indoor gyms and fitness centers will have to close, outdoor facilities and outdoor classes can continue as long as participants wear face coverings in accordance with the Secretary of Healths updated order requiring universal face coverings and physical distancing guidelines.

You can follow Daniel Urie on twitter @DanielUrie2018 and you can like him on Facebook.

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Gyms, fitness centers will have to close again across Pa.: Its devastating, one owner says - PennLive

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BOSTON (CBS) Bill Belichick is getting two more years on President Trumps Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition. The President announced his intent to appoint the Patriots head coach and several other sports figures to the council on Friday.

Belichick was initially appointed to the council by President Trump in 2018. The objective of the council is to increase sports participation among youth of all backgrounds and abilities and to promote healthy and active lifestyles for all Americans, according to its website.

Former New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, former Olympic beach volleyball star Misty May-Treanor and former star NFL running back Herschel Walker serve as the three co-chairs of the council. Former Red Sox outfielder Johnny Damon is also among the council members.

Belichick does have a few football minds to chat with during the councils yearly meetings, with former college football coach Urban Meyer and NFL VP of football operations Troy Vincent also on board.

President Trump has always spoken fondly of Belichick, and earlier this year, he even said that hed seek military advice from the New England coach. The Patriots visited President Trump at the White House in 2017 following the teams Super Bowl LI victory over the Atlanta Falcons.

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President Trump To Re-Appoint Bill Belichick To Council On Sports, Fitness And Nutrition - CBS Boston

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Ohio State former head coach Urban Meyer comes back to Ohio Stadium with Fox Sports before the game against Wisconsin on Oct. 26. Ohio State won 38-7. Credit: Amal Saeed | Lantern File Photo

Urban Meyers expertise will be called on once again, but this time it wont be as a head coach or an analyst.

According to a Friday press release from the White House Press Secretarys Office, President Donald Trump announced his intention to appoint the former Ohio State football coach to a two-year term on the Presidents Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition. Meyer joins other notable sports figures such as New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and former Heisman running back Herschel Walker in receiving the appointment.

According to its website, the council aims to increase youth participation in sports and promote healthy lifestyles. Council members serve as advisors to the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Meyer was hired as Ohio States football coach in November of 2011. He retired from coaching in 2018.

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Urban Meyer appointed to President's Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition - OSU - The Lantern

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Many of us are in the same boat these days. With the coronavirus killing more people by the day, we are increasingly stress-eating and drinking more alcohol. At the same time, with gyms shut down, we are sitting around more and glued to screens.

So you may be wondering what Im wondering: How is the pandemic affecting my body? Because we cant easily leave the house to see doctors for nonemergencies, we are largely left to figure this out on our own.

Enter the Halo, a new fitness-tracking bracelet from Amazon with a novel twist: It claims that by using a smartphone app to scan images of your body, it can tell you how much body fat you have much more precisely than past technologies. The bracelet also has a microphone to listen to your tone of voice and tell you how your mood sounds to other people. (The masochist inside me said, Sign me up!)

The Halo is Amazons foray into so-called wearable computers that keep an eye on our health, following in the footsteps of Apple and Fitbit. Amazon is selling the Halo for $65 on an invitation-only basis, meaning you have to get on a waiting list to buy it. I volunteered to be a guinea pig and received mine in October.

When the Halo arrived, I installed the app, removed my T-shirt and propped up my phone camera. Heres what happened next: The Halo said I was fatter than I thought with 25 percent body fat, which the app said was too high.

I was skeptical. Im a relatively slim person who has put on two pounds since last year. I usually cook healthy meals and do light exercises outdoors. My clothes still fit.

I felt body-shamed and confused by the Halo. So I sent my Halo data and body scans to Dr. Lawrence Cheskin, a professor of nutrition and food studies at George Mason University and founder of the Johns Hopkins Weight Management Center.

After reviewing my results, Dr. Cheskin jotted down my height and weight to calculate my body mass index, which is a metric used to estimate obesity. A man my age (36) with my body mass index, he said, is highly unlikely to have 25 percent body fat.

Unless you were a couch potato and ate a very poor diet, I have my doubts about the Halos diagnosis, he said.

Dr. Cheskin encouraged me to gather more data by measuring my body fat with other devices, and to do the same with at least one other person. So I did and found that the Halos body fat readings consistently skewed higher than other tools for myself and my test subject.

I concluded that the Halos body analysis was questionable. More important, it felt like a negative experience that failed to motivate me to get fit. Ive had much more uplifting experiences with other products like the Apple Watch and Fitbit bands, as laid out below.

Body fat measurement can be complicated because the traditional methods available to consumers are not always accurate.

Smart bathroom scales that measure body fat use bioelectrical impedance analysis, which sends a small current through your bare feet. Skin calipers, a more dated method, are essentially rulers that pinch down on skin folds to measure thickness.

These techniques are not perfectly reliable. If people step on smart scales at different times of day or with different levels of hydration, their results may vary. Calipers can measure skin folds incorrectly if you pinch in the wrong areas.

Amazon said the Halos technology was much more precise. To scan your body, you use the smartphones front-facing camera to take photos of your body from the front, sides and rear. Then Amazon stitches the images together into a 3-D model to analyze your body composition and calculate the percentage of fat.

I decided to record consistent body fat measurements for myself and a friend using the Halo, a Fitbit bathroom scale and a highly rated skin caliper. In November and December, I took early-morning measurements with the Halo and bathroom scale; my wife pinched my skin folds in four areas with the caliper. I measured my test subjects body fat once with each device.

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Dec. 11, 2020, 6:16 p.m. ET

Our results were remarkably similar for two men with very different body compositions:

The Amazon product estimated that my friend, a 6-foot-3 man weighing 198 pounds, had 24 percent body fat, the Fitbit scale read 19 percent, and the skin-fold measurements added up to 20 percent.

For myself 5-foot-6 and about 140 pounds the Halo said in November that I had 25 percent body fat, the Fitbit scale said 19 percent, and the skin-fold measurements added up to 20 percent. In December, the Halo said I had 26 percent body fat (alas, I had more Thanksgiving leftovers than usual), the Fitbit scale said 20 percent, and the skin-fold measurements added up to 21 percent.

Dr. Cheskin speculated that the Halo might have an overestimating bias in its algorithm because underestimating body fat for an obese person would be more problematic.

Dr. Maulik Majmudar, Amazons medical officer, who worked on the Halo, said people should expect the devices results to be different because the method was more accurate than body fat scales and calipers.

Amazon developed its body-measuring algorithm from a sample set of tens of thousands of images of peoples bodies from across a wide range of demographics, he said. Amazon then did internal tests measuring peoples body fat using the Halo scanner, smart bathroom scales and DEXA, a technique that uses X-rays to scan for bone density, which studies have found to be a reliable measure for body fat. It found that the Halo method was twice as accurate as bathroom scales.

Still, Dr. Cheskin was unconvinced by Amazons accuracy claims. He said a valid study would involve a clinical trial measuring body fat of many human subjects with each method the Halo, DEXA, bioelectrical impedance scales and calipers and comparing the results side by side.

Accurate or not, the most disappointing part of Amazons body fat analysis was that it lacked important context. Even though the app asked for my ethnicity, age and sex, it said my 25 percent body fat level was too high and well outside the Healthy zone (roughly 12 to 18 percent). It also said healthy results were associated with longer life and lower risks of heart disease.

Dr. Cheskin offered a more nuanced analysis. Body fat levels may have different health implications depending on your age, ethnicity, sex, cholesterol levels and family history. Waist circumference matters, too, because severe abdominal fat can be associated with health problems.

For an Asian man my age with a 34-inch waistline, whose family has not had a history of diabetes or heart problems, and whose blood tests recently showed normal cholesterol levels, even a 25 percent body fat reading would probably not be alarming, he said.

That context, combined with my body mass index along with the measurements taken with a body fat scale and caliper, led Dr. Cheskin to doubt Halos analysis.

He worried about the technologys potential consequences.

Does it potentially create eating disorders? he said. Youre taking a bunch of people with normal weight and B.M.I. and telling them theyre too fatty. What are they going to do with that? Some of them are going to be more compulsive and start doing things that are going to be inappropriate.

This experiment raised another question: What in the world was Amazon thinking releasing a product like this now? It has been impossible for us to move around as much as we used to this year. If anything, we should accept that our bodies will be imperfect during this time.

Dr. Majmudar said he felt the opposite. As a clinician, he said, he would encourage patients to mitigate the health risks of gaining weight and being more sedentary in the pandemic. The goal of the Halo was to drive behavioral change with education and awareness, he said.

The desire or intention was never to body-shame people, he added.

In my experience, there are better fitness-tracking products that offer more positive motivation.

The Apple Watch, for one, lets you set goals for how much you want to move or exercise each day, and those goals are symbolized by colorful rings that are shown on the watch face. Once a ring is completed, you have met your goal. Fitbit devices send notifications to your phone, egging you on when you are nearing your step goal. Neither device comes anywhere close to giving you body dysmorphia.

Another of Halos unique features is Tone, which uses the bracelets microphone to periodically listen in on your conversations to tell you what your mood sounds like. I turned the feature off after two days because it felt like a creepy invasion of privacy. But I left it on long enough to complain to my wife about what a bad idea it was.

After analyzing the conversation, the Halo app said I sounded irritated and disgusted. That, at least, was accurate.

Read the original post:
Amazon Halo Review: The Fitness Gadget We Dont Deserve or Need - The New York Times

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Two years ago, Jeffrey Scott left a 25-year career in financial services to open a gym on Minneapolis' North Side, where he went to high school.

Now, after a second state-ordered shutdown of fitness centers to fight coronavirus, Scott's gym is facing grim prospects. "It's once again devolving to the point where I honestly don't know whether we'll survive it," he said.

With Minnesota's 800 gyms closed at least through next week and Gov. Tim Walz expected on Monday to say whether they will stay closed into January many other fitness club owners and operators fear long-term damage.

When the coronavirus arrived this spring, Walz ordered businesses that draw large groups of people, like restaurants and fitness centers, to close from mid-March through early June. As virus cases surged last month, Walz on Nov. 18 ordered another closure for at least four weeks.

The Minnesota Department of Health's contact tracers in September began asking Minnesotans who tested positive for COVID-19 about their use of fitness centers. That research identified 48 outbreaks of coronavirus involving 734 gym members and three employees. The most cases, 80, were tied to a fitness center at the University of Minnesota, one of six college campus gyms with an outbreak.

While the numbers are small compared with the 242,000 Minnesotans who tested positive through Nov. 18, state health officials say they set a high bar for pegging a gym's involvement in spread of the virus. They believe the virus spreads through fitness centers at a greater rate than data captures.

"The longer you are near someone in a smaller space and if you're doing things that make you breathe harder, the chance of infections go up," Walz said on Dec. 1 as he acknowledged the inconsistency of closing health clubs while big retailers and liquor stores are open.

With executives from Minnesota-based chains Life Time, Anytime and Snap Fitness leading the way, the state's fitness executives and owners have waged a campaign to pressure Walz to let them reopen. They offered to adopt more stringent safety measures, including reducing occupancy to 10 from 25% and requiring people to wear masks as they work out.

They dispute the Health Department's view of the data and portrayal of the risks people face in gyms. And they note they're in the business of helping people fight obesity, diabetes and other risk factors for severe cases of COVID-19.

"There is gross negligence in the decisionmaking process," said Bahram Akradi, founder and chief executive of Chanhassen-based Life Time, which has 152 clubs nationwide and 23 in Minnesota. The firm filed a data practices request with the state about the spread or transmission of COVID-19 at fitness centers.

"We're in the health business," said Chuck Runyon, chief executive of Self-Esteem Brands, which operates Anytime Fitness. "This isn't just 'come work out and let's charge money.' We all have to take health seriously as club owners. We're taking COVID seriously."

John and Kelsey Schultz believe they've been responsible gym owners. They sold 13 pieces of equipment to make it easier to social distance at their Anytime Fitness gyms in Sartell and Sauk Rapids. They hired someone specifically to clean those two facilities and their yoga business in Sartell, called KPower Yoga.

Since reopening, three people have called the gym to say they'd tested positive for COVID. Because the clubs now require registration for classes, Kelsey Schultz said she could easily notify everyone in the class to get tested, even identifying those standing next to the infected member.

"In every case we quarantined them from the gym until they got tested and could wait some time out. None of those led to additional positive cases," she said. "You can say there's three cases, but it didn't come from the gym."

Brandon Reiter, owner of Plainview Wellness Center in Plainview, kept it open after the Nov. 18 closure order, which he called "a massive overreach that will harm a lot of small businesses." Attorney General Keith Ellison sued Reiter and, last week, a judge ruled in the state's favor.

"I respect the judge's decision, although I don't agree with it," Reiter said. "I knew it was going to be an uphill battle."

There's scant data about how the coronavirus spreads in gyms. Studies from the British journal Nature and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest that working out at gyms may be less risky than other activities, though researchers in both studies acknowledged limitations.

The International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA), a trade group, sponsored a study that found a "virus-to-visit" ratio of 0.002% out of 49.4 million gym visits between June and August. Some experts questioned the research, but the figures have been cited often by Minnesota's fitness leaders and the IHRSA, which stands by them.

"We understand that the risk of contracting COVID-19 is not and can never be zero for any business," IHRSA spokesperson Sami Smith said in an e-mail. "Overall, health and fitness clubs are not hot spots."

Minnesota health officials identified outbreaks at 10 Life Time locations, with two clubs tied to separate outbreaks. The clubs were linked to 198 confirmed coronavirus cases.

Life Time's corporate figures show an infection rate of less than 1% among 3.17 million visits to its Minnesota gyms since reopening. Mitigation efforts such as sophisticated air purification systems and massive cleaning protocols are working, Akradi said.

Akradi said his larger concern is the beating the industry has suffered at the hands of public officials who give the impression that clubs aren't safe.

In a video posted on Life Time clubs' social media pages and elsewhere, Akradi said the latest closings were "massively damaging" and leading to "consumer confusion."

"Health clubs are not the problem," he said in the video. "They are the solution to maintaining public health."

But even with Life Time operating at 25% capacity, the company is losing money, Akradi said in an interview. The company permanently laid off 300 people this summer.

"This is not about making money," he said. "Anybody who thinks I'm some business guy worrying about the financial damage and not making money, that's just so wrong. I have committed myself and this company to the health and well-being of our entire community."

Congress and the Legislature are debating whether to provide special financial relief to health clubs. A bipartisan bill introduced in Congress in early October would provide $30 billion in grants to club owners, capped at 10% of losses of the 2019 revenue, or $10 million.

For Scott, owner of the small gym in north Minneapolis, access to financial support will be key. This summer he considered selling off his equipment at ME & I Fitness and throwing in the towel.

As he built the business, Scott developed classes for seniors, worked with student-athletes and offered a diabetes prevention program. He lacks the deep pockets of corporate gyms and didn't apply for a federal forgivable loan because his seven personal trainers are independent contractors. He raised $2,000 on a GoFundMe page.

As lawmakers develop grants and loans to help small businesses, Scott fears a one-size-fits-all approach.

"They're making unilateral decisions and treating every business the same," said Scott, who has joined a coalition of small-gym operators called SWEAT Minnesota. "We're not all the same size."

Scott's elderly mother lives with him, so he understands measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus and mitigate risks to his business and loved ones. It frustrates him to see people out shopping or gathering in large groups, not wearing masks or not seeming to take the risk seriously.

"Change won't happen until the unaffected care," he said.

Staff writers Jessie Van Berkel and Jim Walsh contributed to this report.

Originally posted here:
Minnesota's fitness industry pushes state officials to let them reopen gyms - Minneapolis Star Tribune

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Home Workouts Just Got a Whole Lot Easier Thanks to Fitness Ally - TMZ

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