Rise up: Creating a Culture of Health in Georgia

Since 2012, Georgia SHAPE has been helping schools teach kids to live happier, healthier and more active lives. Led by Governor Nathan Deal, the Georgia SHAPE initiative is dedicated to improving Georgia’s future by improving child health and wellness in a program that is rooted in research. [READ MORE +]...

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How to Separate Reputable Health, Fitness, and Nutrition Information from Myth and Hype

It’s easy to be overwhelmed or confused by the vast amount of information on health, fitness and nutrition - much of it with claims seem too good to be true. So how can you tell between fact and fiction, between sound science and marketing hype? Read more to learn how to objectively evaluate the validity of various sources of health information....

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Vision Screenings Are Key to Academic and Athletic Success in Students

Imagine trying to learn or play sports with blurry vision. Would you know the difference between a circle and a square if you could not see a square's sharp corners? Could you accurately throw or hit a ball if you couldn’t see it or see the target? Poor vision can have a detrimental effect on a child’s success in all areas....

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Is There an Association Between Low Vitamin D Levels and Depression? The Cooper Center Longitudinal Study

Low serum vitamin D (SVD) levels are associated with numerous medical conditions, including neurologic disorders. In a joint study by The Cooper Institute and The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, researchers examined the association between SVD levels and depression. Read on to learn more....

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Research Study Summary: The Connection Between Heart Health and Brain Health

Mental health is a hot topic across the country. We know that exercise can ward off depression and heart disease, but can a single measure of aerobic capacity at midlife predict the risk of both in later life?...

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Can Being Fit Decrease Your Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death?

Sudden cardiac death is a common cause of death in the United States, but little is known about the risk factors for it. Could having a moderate to high level of fitness decrease your risk of sudden cardiac death even if you have hypertension or are overweight? Recent data from Cooper Clinic patients helps to answer that important question....

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Power Training is for Everyone

Muscular strength refers to the maximum amount of weight lifted at one time; power is proportional to the speed at which you can apply this maximum force. While many attributes of power such as speed, acceleration, and deceleration come to mind when thinking about sports, they are equally as important in activities of daily living such as standing up, stopping a fall, jumping, pushing a door, etc. Because power plays a crucial role in sport and everyday activities, it is imperative that all individuals, young and old alike, train this skill-related component of fitness. Follow these Fit Tips to enhance your performance in sports, fitness, and activities of daily living....

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The 10 Minutes of Aerobic Exercise Rule: Does it Still Apply?

Can you really get fit in only 10 minutes? For nearly a decade, we’ve heard that we can improve our fitness by incorporating moderate to vigorous aerobic activity throughout the day in as little as 10 minutes at a time. A recent paper in the Journal of the American Heart Association examined whether or not this ‘10 minute rule’ was still valid....

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Does Physical Activity Impact the Risk of Musculoskeletal Injuries in Women? The Women’s Injury Study (WIN)

While virtually everyone agrees that regular physical activity is good for you, musculoskeletal injuries (MSI) can sometimes result. Surprisingly little is known regarding MSI related to physical activity versus MSI which occur unrelated to physical activity. With this in mind, researchers from The Cooper Institute and the University of North Texas developed and reported on the Women’s Injury Study. Read on to learn more!...

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50 Years of the Cooper 12-Minute Run

Did you know that June 6 was National Running Day? There are many ways to measure cardiorespiratory fitness outside of a laboratory setting, but the most well-known and widely used method is the Cooper 12-Minute Run Test. As we approach our 50 year anniversary, let’s discuss the origin of the test, who uses it, and how it’s administered....

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Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Cognitive Function: What’s the Connection?

We’ve known for decades that regular physical activity is good for our cardiovascular system. More recent evidence points towards maintenance of good brain health as an additional benefit of PA. In a recent paper from the Cooper Clinic Longitudinal Study (CCLS), our researchers at The Cooper Institute examined the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and cognitive function in a sample of older Cooper Clinic patients. Read on to learn more!...

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Vitamin D and exercise may protect against age-associated loss of cognition

As the average life expectancy continues to rise in the U.S., there is an increasing need to identify modifiable risk factors that contribute to the cognitive and physical deterioration associated with aging. The Cooper Institute research team found that in generally healthy people, vitamin D and cardiorespiratory fitness were significantly associated with cognitive function. Read more to learn what preventive measures you can take to protect from cognitive decline as you age....

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