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AFTNews, Commonwealth Games, Features Australia/NZ

Women’s sport celebrated at Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games

International Working Group on Women and Sport calls for more to be done to drive global gender equality

August 4, 2022 via PRNews/GIG – Key figures from sport, media and politics have gathered to celebrate the success of women’s sport at the Commonwealth Games at a special event at New Zealand House. The event, staged in partnership with the International Working Group (IWG) on Women & Sport, was also an opportunity for global leaders to discuss what more can be done to achieve gender equality in sport and the benefits of doing so.

Birmingham 2022 is the first major multi-sport event in history to award more medals to women than men, while the debut of women’s T20 cricket has proved one of the success stories of the competition so far. 

The event at New Zealand House, which is part of the official handover of the IWG from Aotearoa New Zealand to the United Kingdom, saw CGF President Dame Louise Martin DBE, IWG Co-Chairs Annamarie Phelps CBE OLY and Raewyn Lovett ONZM, Minister for Sport Nigel Huddleston and New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister, Grant Robertson come together to celebrate the growing success of women’s sport. It was also an opportunity to reflect on the work still to be done to bring about true equality given:

  • Only 7% of Chairs and Presidents in Olympic and Paralympic sport are women ;
  • According to Forbes, only one of the top 50 highest paid athletes in 2020 was a woman;
  • In 2018 the Lancet Global Health found that more than a quarter of adults globally are insufficiently physically active and across most countries, women are less active than men which means that millions of women globally are missing out on physical health, mental health and social rewards of taking part in sport and activity.

Established almost 30 years ago in Brighton, the IWG is the world’s largest network dedicated to advancing gender equality in sport and physical activity. The network is committed to leading positive change which aligns to the UN Sustainable Development Goal to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

The IWG is currently hosted by New Zealand; with the 8th IWG World Conference on Women & Sport taking place in Auckland on 14-17 November 2022.

The UK will then receive the hosting baton for the quadrennial period of 2022-2026, with the 9th IWG World Conference taking place in Birmingham in four years’ time.
The event at New Zealand House helped to profile the upcoming conference in New Zealand, as a Graphic Illustrator captured discussions for a piece of artwork that aims to showcase the rise of women and sport, while outlining hopes for the future of gender equality.

CGF President Dame Louise Martin DBE said: “A key focus of our Games is women’s sport. 

“In that respect, Birmingham 2022 is quite special as the first major multi-sport event in history to have more medals for women than men. We can be so proud of the progress we have made and we have come a long way towards gender equality in sport, but there is still much more to be done.

“So, while today is a celebration of women’s sport, it is also a chance for us to look ahead and to continue to collaborate to bring about further progress.

“To that end, we are proud to help promote the work of the International Working Group on Women & Sport as they continue to advance gender equity and equality in sport across the world.” 

IWG Co-Chair Annamarie Phelps CBE OLY said: “In the week when England won the women’s Euros, helping to catapult women’s sport into the spotlight like never before, it’s the perfect time to be pushing to achieve gender equality across the globe. 

“The IWG network is a platform to both advocate for change and share insights and learnings to help advance gender equality, harnessing the knowledge and momentum from within the IWG movement.”

New Zealand Co-Chair of the IWG, Raewyn Lovett said: “It’s been an honour and a privilege to have been kaitiaki – to have been the guardian – of the world’s largest network dedicated to advancing gender equity and equality in sport, physical education and physical activity. 

“Today, we opened the circle, with IWG UK taking over Secretariat leadership globally. IWG New Zealand will continue to lead delivery of the 8th IWG World Conference on Women & Sport through to its staging in Auckland this November: where we will close the circle and complete the handover.

“The people and organisations in the room today have extraordinary power and influence and the ability to positively impact the lives of women and girls the world over. We issued them with an invitation to bring this expertise to the table in Auckland, to help us drive change through sport.”

Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston said: “It’s been a seismic week for women’s sport with the Lionesses’ stunning victory at Wembley and many incredible performances at Birmingham 2022.  

“While women’s sport continues to go from strength to strength, we know there is more to be done to support women both on and off the field of play.

“The handover of the IWG is an incredible opportunity to build on the success so far and to push for true gender equality in sport.” 

CEO of UK Sport, Sally Munday, said: “The handover of the IWG from New Zealand to the UK is an opportunity that goes far beyond the four years that we will host it.

“The important thing is that we are consciously making decisions which nurture a strong legacy for gender equality globally. Being part of the world’s largest network that is devoted to achieving gender equality in sport means we all have a responsibility to inspire positive change. The impact that this change will have on the next generation of sport is in our hands.

“What we have witnessed both at the women’s Euros and over the last week here in Birmingham reflects what an exciting time this is for female athletes and all of us involved in sports administration to be promoting change. The scope for progress in this space is immense and I am looking forward to seeing women and girls in sport thrive in the future.”

Tim Hollingsworth, CEO of Sport England, said: “The UK taking the baton as hosts of the IWG could not be coming at a better time as we look to capitalise on the incredible success of so many of our brilliant female sporting stars. 

“Their achievements are a reminder that the work to break down the barriers that stop so many women and girls from participating fully in sport must continue to be a huge focus for us all. 

“Becoming hosts of the IWG provides an important and exciting catalyst for this work, and we must ensure that we use its potential to bring decision-makers and influencers together to create lasting change.”

Dame Janet Beer, Chair of the Sport and Recreation Alliance said: “I am delighted that the collaborative work led by the Sport and Recreation Alliance for the last two years has now officially reached the stage when the Secretariat for this prestigious group moves to the UK. As a part of the Alliance’s strategic commitment to support the improvement of equality, diversity and inclusion, the most influential, impactful and diverse voices from sport and recreation were convened to make this happen and we look forward to playing our part as leaders from across the global sporting stage.”

New Zealand Olympic Committee CEO Nicki Nicol: “New Zealand’s female athletes have contributed to New Zealand’s proud Olympic and Commonwealth Games History and at Birmingham 2022 we have, for the first time, more women than men in the team. Their feats of strength, speed, resilience and commitment contribute to building our nation’s identity. Their potential to connect with and inspire new generations of young boys and girls cannot be understated and we are delighted to be supporting conversations and progress around women in sport.”

Ends.

About the CGF
The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) is the organisation that is responsible for the direction and control of the Commonwealth Games, and for delivering on the vision of the Commonwealth Sports Movement: through sport, we build peaceful, sustainable and prosperous communities across the Commonwealth. 

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AFT Features, AFTNews, Events, Features Australia/NZ, What's On ?

Academy-award nominated filmmaker Baz Luhrmann joins Vivid Sydney line-up at ideas talk & Sydney premiere of ELVIS

The visionary filmmaker joins Aaron Sorkin, Gretchen Carlson & Troye Sivan as headline talent for Vivid Ideas.

Vivid Sydney 2022 presents renowned filmmaker and global storyteller Baz Luhrmann at Vivid Ideas: The Business of Baz followed by the highly anticipated Red Carpet Gala premiere of ELVIS – fresh from its World Premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. Both events will take place at the iconic State Theatre in Sydney on 5 June 2022.

The Business of Baz is an intimate, one-of-a-kind conversation hosted by acclaimed journalist and podcaster Marc Fennell. Baz will discuss his remarkable career, the power of storytelling, creativity in chaos and his multi-faceted partnerships with Catherine Martin and Craig Pearce, enthralling audiences with behind-the-scenes tales from the filming of Elvis.

Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis will be released across most Asia Pacific cities on 23 June, 2022. More dates here.

I am delighted that Baz Luhrmann, one of our nation’s greatest cultural luminaries, will be part of Vivid Sydney 2022. His dynamic artistic talents traverse film, television, opera, theatre, music, and recording. His insights into the fashion and art worlds make him incredibly interesting and highly relevant for the Vivid Ideas program.

A seat at an audience with Baz will be one of the hottest tickets in town. This is a one-off opportunity to get first-hand insight into the genius behind his art, his career and of course, his latest movie Elvis. Culminating in the Sydney premiere of his highly-anticipated biopic about another cultural icon–the first time in the festival’s history we have included a film premiere.

Minister for Enterprise, Investment and Trade, Minister for Tourism and Sport and Minister for Western Sydney, Stuart Ayres

Baz Luhrmann joins a powerful, thought-provoking Vivid Ideas line-up for 2022, as a Global Storyteller alongside Aaron Sorkin, Gretchen Carlson & Troye Sivan. Baz is a creative visionary with a body of work that embodies everything Vivid Ideas is about–celebrating those who push creative boundaries, tell stories that challenge the status quo and drive change for good. Both he and Catherine Martin personify Sydney style and creativity.

Vivid Sydney 2022 Festival Director, Gil Minervini

Coming from a very small town about four hours north of Sydney, it’s not an exaggeration that David Williamson’s description of it as the Emerald City was spot on, for I always looked toward Sydney on my journey down the yellow brick road. From growing up on the northern beaches, opening The Bond Theatre Company and creating experimental opera, during my time at NIDA, and throughout the development and shooting of my first film, Strictly Ballroom, Sydney has been a haven for me and a place abuzz with energy”. “CM and I will never forget the romance of this majestic city, which is forever in our hearts. We created our first-ever Australian opera, La Bohème, at the Sydney Opera House back in 1993, so, it’s only fitting that we return to the Emerald City to share our latest work, Elvis, fulfilling the dream that we Australians can conceive of anything, bring it to life here, and deliver it to the world.

Baz Luhrmann

Baz Luhrmann is appearing as part of Vivid Idea’s Global Storytellers series, which include fearless women’s rights advocate and Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People, Gretchen Carlson, Oscar and Emmy Award-winning theatre and film director Aaron Sorkin and iconoclastic musician, fashion maverick and creative powerhouse Troye Sivan.

ELVIS is in cinemas in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Australia from 23 June. More dates here.

Event details:

  • Baz Luhrmann and Marc Fennell discussing the Business of Baz, Sunday 5 June, 3pm–4pm, State Theatre, Sydney: A household name synonymous with fantasy, romance and decadence, Baz Luhrmann is a creative visionary and has captured audiences around the world with his highly theatrical and flamboyant productions–he will chart his rise from small town NSW to the heights of Hollywood and the trials and tribulations along the way. Purchase a ticket to the Business of Baz Ideas talk now: https://www.vividsydney.com/event/ideas/the-business-of-baz.
  • Warner Bros. Pictures and Vivid Sydney present the Sydney Premiere of Elvis, Sunday 5 June, From 6pm, State Theatre, Sydney: Vivid Sydney is proud to present alongside Warner Bros. Pictures the Sydney premiere of Baz Luhrmann’s latest work, Elvis. Starring Austin Butler and Oscar winner Tom Hanks, the film explores the life and music of Elvis Presley (Butler), seen through the prism of his complicated relationship with his enigmatic manager, Colonel Tom Parker (Hanks). Australia native Olivia DeJonge also stars as Priscilla. Purchase an Elvis Premiere Package now, including a ticket to both the Business of Baz Ideas Talk and the Elvis premiere: https://www.vividsydney.com/event/ideas/the-business-of-baz

Vivid Sydney, the annual festival of creativity, innovation and technology, will transform Sydney’s CBD into a fusion of Light, Music and Ideas for 23 nights, from 27 May to 18 June 2022. Business of Baz joins more than more than 85 intriguing talks and workshops as part of the Vivid Ideas program, which explores the forces that shape not only Sydney’s unique community, but all great cities around the world.

Among some of the highlights at Vivid Sydney 2022, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and ‘Our Connected City’ will be illuminated. Photo credit: Mandy Lights/Destination NSW

To book tickets to Vivid Sydney events and performances, and for more information on the program go to www.vividsydney.com.

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AustraliaFitnessToday.com Travelling to Southeast Asia’s popular destinations? is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International license. Source: Academy-award nominated filmmaker Baz Luhrmann joins Vivid Sydney line-up at ideas talk & Sydney premiere of ELVIS – Fit for Good (australiafitnesstoday.com)

AFT Features, Our Environment, Upcoming Events, What's On ?

The Antarctic Climate Expedition (ACE) with Sylvia Earle

“February 2023 will be a moment in time of a gathering of great minds for commitments to resolve what it takes, to move from where we are now to get to a better future. This can be Your Legacy; you can help change the current course from a catastrophic outcome to a healthy, habitable planet. Please do this for the next generation, for the future of humanity.”

Dr. Sylvia Earle, oceanographer, marine biologist and explorer

Ocean Geographic, Aurora Expeditions and Mission Blue invite thought leaders in the fields of science, art, education, and economics, alongside inquisitive teenagers and corporate executives, to participate in an expedition to Antarctica with Dr Sylvia Earle. The principal expedition team for this most important climate summit will be comprised of conservationists, celebrities, and ocean luminaries.

You can be part of this pivotal Antarctic summit to save our environment for future generations. 

FIND OUT MORE

 

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AustraliaFitnessToday.com The Antarctic Climate Expedition (ACE) with Sylvia Earle is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International license. Source: https://www.australiafitnesstoday.com/2022/05/01/the-antarctic-climate-expedition-ace-with-sylvia-earle/

AFT Features, Fitness at Work

The Case for Movement Therapy

By Nikki Yeo

I’m thankful that so many of you are already exercising and improving your overall fitness, there are still so many of our friends and family that have the awareness of fitness instilled, yet not practiced.

My team and I are constantly professing the importance of ‘movement’ and exercise simply because it helps maintain a stronger more efficient heart, helps reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes, gives us stronger muscles and bones, reduces cholesterol levels and improves mental health. This is what we set out to do when I co-founded Asia Fitness Today. If we could get people to just start being aware first, then naturally they will start to move and soon enough, they will have fitness instilled in their minds.

Exercise as an impetus for weight loss

Some individuals believe that just two to three workouts a week will magically shed unwanted kilos from their bodies. Unfortunately these same individuals then become frustrated when it does not happen. Although exercise is vital to our overall quality of life, it is important to understand how exercise impacts weight loss, especially for those just starting a weight loss program.

In a week, we need to burn 2,000 calories through physical activity in order to lose weight! So, unless your plan involves numerous high-intensity exercise sessions each week, it is unlikely that you’ll achieve your weight loss goals through exercise alone.

Does dieting actually help us lose weight?

When we start to reduce our normal daily caloric intake by more than 30% (for example cutting back from 2,200 daily calories to less than 1,540 calories), we start to consciously feel deprived of food and choices, which frequently results in failure to stick to diet programs for sustained periods of time. Reductions of approximately <20% however can usually be implemented without such deprived feelings. That said, I understand our society today is constantly fed with amazing gastronomic photography via social media and tempted by “How-to” cooking programmes on the numerous food channels! Dieting is quite difficult to achieve without proper nutrition guidance. So getting proper advice is a good start!

Dieting is NOT a good way to lose weight

As we age, we lose muscle tissue which reduces our ability to function independently. Research has shown that a woman between the ages of 30 and 70 may lose as much as 23% of her muscle tissue whereas a man may lose up to 21 – 22% of his muscle mass during that same time period. In turn, this loss generally compromises our quality of life, progressively preventing us from doing the things we enjoy or need to do as we get older. Choosing to follow a diet without any activity, movement or exercise plan can certainly lead to initial weight loss, but for every kilogramme lost, only 69% of that kilogramme will originate from fat tissue, whereas the remaining 31% will originate from the loss of muscle tissue, something we should all try to avoid. This skinny fat approach is certainly not a healthy solution.

Tips on the best way to lose the kilos

Cardio activity complements your dietary strategies and can help you lose weight, but again for every kilogram lost, only 78% of that weight will originate from fat tissue, whereas the remaining 22% will originate from muscle tissue.

However, including some form of resistance training (weights, machines, yoga, etc.) on the other hand is the most effective weight loss method as it can preserve almost all your existing muscle as 97 % of the weight loss originates from fat tissue (5), keeping you ‘fit, healthy and functional.’ Furthermore, by preserving or even adding a few kilograms of muscle tissue, you can maintain or even elevate your metabolism which helps you burn additional calories through the day. This number could amount to 100 calories each day, the equivalent to approximately 3 kilograms over the period of one year.

What is N.E.A.T and how does it help us lose weight?

The case presented above makes a strong argument for a comprehensive approach that includes both a dietary and activity plan to achieve weight loss effectively. However, as exercise alone is generally inadequate unless one finds more time in an already busy schedule, what other options are available? Over the past few years, researchers have begun investigating the remaining 110 – 115 hours of the week that we are awake as a weight loss solution, rather than the few hours a week spent trying to exercise. The results are impressive as they provide so many opportunities to achieve effective and sustained weight loss without complicating our lives, finding more time to exercise, doing things we may despise, or even exceeding our own comfort levels or abilities.

We call these expended calories N.E.A.T (non-exercise activity thermogenesis) and it is the energy expended for everything we do that does not include sleeping, eating, or exercise; and ranges from simple things like standing and fidgeting to moving about. For example, a 68 kg. person burns approximately 102 calories an hour while performing their office job in a seated position (1.7 kcal / minute), but burns 174 calories an hour if performing those same office duties while standing. This may not seem like much, but it translates to 18,000 calories or a little over 2.2 kg. over a 50-week work year (250 work days). By comparison, that same person would need to squeeze in 60, 30-minute runs at 8 km/hour to achieve that same caloric burn.

Changing the way we think about weight loss

The goal with this article is to help you rethink the approach to where and how one can burn calories by making the entire day a weight loss “battlefield”. This is the area we can exploit to complement the exercise we want to do, and not feel like we have to do. Sitting all day only welcomes weight gain. So how do we do it then?

Create a list of your general daily activities (e.g., 6:30–7:30 am – preparing for work; 7:30–8:00 am – commuting to work; 8:00–12:30 pm – working at desk, mostly seated activities, etc.).

  • Are you aware of how many hours you spend sitting each day?
  • Compile a list, the contents may just startle you.
  1. Identify problematic areas where you notice time spent in seated positions and think creatively of ways to accomplish these same activities while standing (e.g., texting, talking on the phone).
  2. Challenge yourself to try one to three ideas just once, starting with challenges you feel confident in accomplishing.
  3. Evaluate your experiences, but don’t force things you don’t like. If you enjoyed the experience and feel confident you can do it again. Attempt that same challenge every day for the next week (finite challenge). If not, select new challenges to try.
  4. Evaluate your weekly experience. Again, if you enjoyed the experience and feel confident you can do it for a longer period, attempt that same challenge for two weeks and so on, building towards an infinite or ongoing challenge.

Integrating N.E.A.T into our daily lives

Some simple, initial challenges you could try:

  • Stand more. Start by attempting to stand or move about for 5 to 10-minute increments while you complete various daily activities
  • Wash your car by hand
  • Pace the sidelines at your kids’ athletic games
  • Carry your groceries instead of pushing a cart
  • Walk briskly through the mall
  • Walk to work or use the LRT
  • Take the long way to the water cooler or bathroom at the office
  • Walk to a co-worker’s desk instead of emailing or calling them
  • Pace while talking on the phone

Find ways to integrate standing and moving activities – a little here and there. Remember, every little calorie counts throughout your day; every little victory moves you forward. As little as 100 calories each day translates to approximately 4.5 kgs. lost in a year; 200 calories equals the loss of 9 kgs, without even breaking a sweat. By comparison, 4.5 kgs for a 68 kg. person requires almost 120, 30-minute cardio sessions at 8 km/hour. So, add these N.E.A.T calories to an exercise plan you find manageable and enjoyable, and you’ll enjoy greater success in achieving your weight loss goals.

Article compiled by Nikki Yeo, FMS–certified practitioner and ACE-certified Fitness Trainer.

Originally published in The Case for Movement Therapy – AFT News Network (asiafitnesstoday.com).

Royalty-free image via Canva Pro.

AFT Features, AFTNews, Features Australia/NZ, PRNews, Seniors' Health

New report reveals staggering future $442 billion cost of Alzheimer’s disease

The University of Canberra’s National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling (NATSEM) has revealed the staggering future economic cost of Alzheimer’s disease, and its impact on Australia’s workforce, patients, families and communities.1

The report, The Economic and Societal Cost of Alzheimer’s Disease in Australia, 2021-2041, commissioned by Biogen Australia and New Zealand, builds on NATSEM and Dementia Australia’s Economic Cost of Dementia in Australia 2016-2056 Report released in 2017 and projects a 20-year $442 billion impact of Alzheimer’s disease to the Australian economy.1

Lead author Emeritus Professor Laurie Brown from NATSEM said the number of people aged 50 and over with diagnosed Alzheimer’s disease is expected to increase by 73% from 153,888 in 2021 to 266,114 by 2041. This increase will lead to an annual cost of $26.6 billion, including direct costs (aged care, hospital and out of hospital services) of $9.8 billion and indirect costs (informal care, lost productivity, and income support) of $16.8 billion by 2041.1

“The modelling paints a significant challenge to government, health and aged care systems into the future,” said Professor Brown. “The numbers also provide insight into the ripple effect on families and the community as they struggle to care for people living with the disease.”

Under current care, the number of people in Residential Aged Care Facilities with dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease is expected to increase by more than 72 per cent over the next 20 years, with the numbers increasing from 42,478 persons in 2021 to 73,172 in 2041.1

“This is a huge challenge for an aged care system already under pressure. It will see financial impacts of formal residential and community aged care rising by almost $3.6 billion annually and requiring a paid workforce of 18,652 in 2041 to support those living with Alzheimer’s disease in the community alone, up from 10,752 in 2021,” said Professor Brown.

Associate Professor Michael Woodward AM, geriatrician and Head of Aged Care Research, Austin Health said importantly the report also provides an opportunity to quantify the societal costs outside the health system.

“The impact I see on carers and the community each day is often the most challenging to quantify. However, with an expected additional 80,000+ people with Alzheimer’s disease in the community by 2041 compared with today we can’t afford not to consider this impact in any future approach,” Associate Professor Woodward said.

The report also investigated the potential impact of a disease modifying therapy on the numbers.1 Disease-modifying therapies target the pathogenic pathway of Alzheimer’s disease to delay the onset or progression of dementia.2 The modelling indicates there is an opportunity to reduce the burden on aged care over the 20 years by $7.9 billion, the cost of residential care by $7.0 billion and formal care in the community by $880 million. With fewer people having moderate or severe AD dementia, the cost of informal care is also reduced by $4.3 billion – giving a total savings of $12.2 billion.1

“While the modelling suggests that the introduction of a disease modifying therapy has the potential to lessen the future impact of Alzheimer’s disease, it is only part of the solution,” said Associate Professor Woodward.

“The findings in this report attest to the importance of developing and implementing a system and society-wide approach, in alignment with the anticipated national dementia strategy to ensure we can provide the best possible clinical outcomes and quality of life in the future. We do not have time to delay,” Associate Professor Woodward continued.

This data reinforces the findings from the recent White Paper on the Future of Alzheimer’s disease in Australia that revealed the need for urgent collaboration and action in the healthcare system to manage the growing impact of the disease.

Article and image provided by SenateSHJ on behalf of the University of Canberra and Biogen Australia and New Zealand.

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AustraliaFitnessToday.com provides this article licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International license. When publishing, please enable back links and quote source: https://www.australiafitnesstoday.com/2022/03/21/new-report-reveals-staggering-future-442-billion-cost-of-alzheimers-disease/

References:

1. Brown LJ., Li J. and La HA (2022). The Economic and Societal Cost of Alzheimer’s Disease in Australia, 2021-2041. NATSEM, University of Canberra, Canberra.

2. Cummings, J & Fox, N (2017). Defining Disease Modifying Therapy For Alzheimer’s Disease. J Prev Alz Dis. 4(2):109-115.

AFT Features, Features Korea, Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs), The Kurang Manis Podcast

[Korean Version] 덜 단 The Kurang Manis (Sugar,Less) Podcast by AsiaFitnessToday.com

Hello 2022! We welcome the new year with a special Korean podcast version of highlights from Season 1 of The Kurang Manis (Sugar, Less) Podcast, voiced by four students of one of South Korea’s oldest private universities, Chosun University in Gwangju. The students were mentored by podcast co-hosts Nikki Yeo and Jasmine Low over a month, where they spent hours researching the topics, discussed as a group, translated articles from English to Korean (www.asiafitnesstoday.com/sugarless) and lent their voices to this recording. We hope this outreach will play a significant role in halving NCDs in the Asia Pacific region – as per Asia Fitness Today’s MISSION 2030.

We hope you’ve enjoyed these bite-sized pieces of information on lifestyle diseases. Learn more about The Kurang Manis (Sugar, Less) Podcast here: https://www.asiafitnesstoday.com/?p=9233

⚫️🔴⚪️

Produced by AsiaFitnessToday.com Podcasts.

Producer and Editor Jasmine Low & Nikki Yeo.

Korean Version recorded by the individual students using their mobile devices.

English Podcast recorded at Sydney Podcast Studios.

All Rights Reserved, Go International Group Dotcom Sdn. Bhd.

TC: https://bit.ly/3b9FHuM

EMAIL: info@asiafitnesstoday.com

Originally published in English between February – May 2021.

AFTNews, AFTNews, Features Phlippines

The Nobel Peace Prize 2021

AFT congratulates Philippine’s Maria Ressa of Rappler and Dmitry Muratov of Russia’s Novaja Gazeta

On Oslo, 8 October 2021, The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2021 to Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace.

Ms Ressa and Mr Muratov are receiving the Peace Prize for their courageous fight for freedom of expression in the Philippines and Russia. At the same time, they are representatives of all journalists who stand up for this ideal in a world in which democracy and freedom of the press face increasingly adverse conditions.

Maria Ressa uses freedom of expression to expose abuse of power, use of violence and growing authoritarianism in her native country, the Philippines. In 2012, she co-founded Rappler, a digital media company for investigative journalism, which she still heads. As a journalist and the Rappler’s CEO, Ressa has shown herself to be a fearless defender of freedom of expression. Rappler has focused critical attention on the Duterte regime’s controversial, murderous anti-drug campaign. The number of deaths is so high that the campaign resembles a war waged against the country’s own population. Ms Ressa and Rappler have also documented how social media is being used to spread fake news, harass opponents and manipulate public discourse.

Dmitry Andreyevich Muratov has for decades defended freedom of speech in Russia under increasingly challenging conditions. In 1993, he was one of the founders of the independent newspaper Novaja Gazeta. Since 1995 he has been the newspaper’s editor-in-chief for a total of 24 years. Novaja Gazeta is the most independent newspaper in Russia today, with a fundamentally critical attitude towards power. The newspaper’s fact-based journalism and professional integrity have made it an important source of information on censurable aspects of Russian society rarely mentioned by other media. Since its start-up in 1993, Novaja Gazeta has published critical articles on subjects ranging from corruption, police violence, unlawful arrests, electoral fraud and ”troll factories” to the use of Russian military forces both within and outside Russia.

Novaja Gazeta’s opponents have responded with harassment, threats, violence and murder. Since the newspaper’s start, six of its journalists have been killed, including Anna Politkovskaja who wrote revealing articles on the war in Chechnya. Despite the killings and threats, editor-in-chief Muratov has refused to abandon the newspaper’s independent policy. He has consistently defended the right of journalists to write anything they want about whatever they want, as long as they comply with the professional and ethical standards of journalism.

Free, independent and fact-based journalism serves to protect against abuse of power, lies and war propaganda. The Norwegian Nobel Committee is convinced that freedom of expression and freedom of information help to ensure an informed public. These rights are crucial prerequisites for democracy and protect against war and conflict. The award of the Nobel Peace Prize to Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov is intended to underscore the importance of protecting and defending these fundamental rights.

Without freedom of expression and freedom of the press, it will be difficult to successfully promote fraternity between nations, disarmament and a better world order to succeed in our time. This year’s award of the Nobel Peace Prize is therefore firmly anchored in the provisions of Alfred Nobel’s will.

Related:

  • The Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine goes to pressure and temperature sensing – read more
  • Watch A Thousand Cuts, the award-winning documentary featuring Maria Ressa, produced, directed and written by Ramona S. Diaz.

Source: MLA style: The Nobel Peace Prize 2021. NobelPrize.org. Nobel Prize Outreach AB 2021. Fri. 8 Oct 2021.

AFT Interviews

AFT Interviews: View from the eye of surrealist photographer, Cristian Townsend (AU/JP)

Some photographs maybe be inappropriate for younger viewers. Discretion is advised. For viewers of age, this is art. Please do not proceed if nudity offends you.

Twice Gold Award-winner for ‘Fairy Tales’ (2017), Special Photographer of the Year and ‘The Circus of Extinction’ (2020) 1st Place / Special/Digitally Enhanced at the prestigious International Photography Awards (IPA) in New York, Cristian Townsend is a West Australian, living and working in Osaka, Japan.

Through dreamlike photomontages, he questions and push boundaries beyond cultural conventions… in order to seek truth. Inspired by Surrealism’s provocation and Buddhist philosophy, Townsend was one of 124 participants from 52 different countries who exhibited their works at the 14th edition of The International Surrealism Now Exhibition held in May 2021 at the Center of Arts and Spectacle (CAE) in the city of Figueira da Foz in Portugal, a project created by Santiago Ribeiro, Portuguese surrealist artist. The exhibition is the largest exhibition of surrealism of the 21st century in the world, consisting of works of painting, drawing, digital art, sculpture, and photography.

In an email interview, team AFT asks Townsend about his artistic direction and inspirations. His photomontages use motifs from Classical to Modernist Art, from War-time Propaganda to Modern Advertising, the Cinema, the Mass Media and Science Fiction.

AFT: Which pieces of works did exhibit at the International Surrealism NOW exhibition, and why did you choose those pieces?

Townsend: Santiago Ribeiro has been a driving force in the visionary art scene. The International Surrealism NOW exhibition is an amazing effort and I’m very happy to be included in it. I have two photos in this exhibition. Both are older works.

One is called Gondola in the Desert. It was inspired by a trip to Venice and is about the power of creativity.

The other image is called Body Politik: Monarchy. This is part of a series that expresses some political ideologies as human bodies fighting against themselves. Most political Art is propaganda and usually depicts the desired ideology as an Utopian ideal. I wanted to depict ideology as something that is in flux and that is in constant conflict. With the rise of ideology in recent times I think that is an important point.

Gondola in the Desert, one of the pieces exhibited at the International Surrealism NOW exhibition.
Model: Clement Denquin | All rights reserved – Cristian Townsend.

“Everything should be questioned and everything should be explored. Art is the exploration of what is possible.”

Cristian Townsend
Body Politik: Monarchy
Model: Lucy Chi Chi | All rights reserved – Cristian Townsend

AFT: Tell us about your environment, while growing up.

Townsend: I grew up in Perth, Western Australia. My family were English and they moved to Australia when I was two. My father worked in TV, first at the BBC, working on TV shows like Dr Who, and then at the ABC in Australia. He was also a photographer who took photos of local and international celebrities. He gave me a basic camera when I was a kid, and I used to take photos of my toys putting them in dioramas. Also, there were many art and photo books around the house, which fired my imagination. I was always interested in fantasy and Surrealism from a young age. There were photo books on Bill Brandt, Man Ray, Helmut Newton, Horst, Beaton, Uelsmann and many others. These photographers still inspire me today.

I used to draw and paint a lot as a child. Eventually I got into a Special Art program at High School. It taught me different painting and photography techniques as well as Art History. The well known children’s book artist Shaun Tan also went to the same high school.

AFT: What or who were your influences?

Townsend: My dad had a traditional darkroom and, inspired by Surrealist painters and particularly Jerry Uelsmann’s and Man Ray’s pre Photoshop photomontages, I started to experiment with my own style. First I used lith film masks to create photomontages. I had some promising early success; I got published in some local magazines and started winning some local awards. After I finished studying communications at university I started working for one of the first digital photo labs in Perth. I used to do all the retouching and photo manipulation for local photographers.

I love Surrealism, but I don’t really believe in Art categories. The artists that I have always admired are the Visionary artists like Bosch, DaVinci Goya, Dali, Magritte, Moreau, Redon and many others. The world we live in is full of cliches. The best artists in my view, open up the world of imagination and the possibilities of what can be achieved. This is even more important these days of political divisiveness and misinformation.

AFT: What is the one thing you strive to do with your art? Have you been successful?

Townsend: Art, primarily, should be about expressing truth through personal symbolism. For me, it is all about trying to understand the complexity of the world in a deeper, symbolic way, even if that may be disturbing or controversial to some.

I hope to have symbolic consistency and a unique worldview in my photographs. I think I’m getting closer to achieving that. I have also won many international awards recently. From the Px3 in France to the International Photography Awards in New York, where I won photographer of the year in my category and attended the awards ceremony at Carnegie Hall. Definitely a highlight in my career.

Artists need to be flexible. Photographers especially rely on others; models, dancers, and makeup artists for example. Although it is important to have vision, it is essential to use the creativity of others in your work. I have been lucky to know many creative people who have wanted to collaborate with me. Some have even made their own prop and costumes for the shoots!

‘The Circus of Extinction’ series, which won a Gold Award at the IPA New York (2020)
view all
‘Fairy Tales’ series picked up the Gold Prize ((2017) at the IPA Awards in New York and Silver at the TIFA, Tokyo International Foto Awards
The Book of Life, a part of the ‘Fairy Tales’ series – view all

AFT: Did you produce any work during Covid-19?

When COVID 19 became an international incident I was working on my latest series ‘The Circus of Extinction’. This series is about the ‘Circus’ of life and how our darker impulses are leading us to disaster. I was lucky that the series was mostly complete. I had one more photo to finish, which involved ‘a Tattooed Lady’. I had many of the elements photographed already, but I started to have many scheduling problems. However, I managed to finish the image before Osaka went into shut down.

AFT: Is there any work that you have not finished or can’t complete?

With photography many things can go wrong: Talent gets sick, bad weather, you name it and it can go wrong. I usually have contingency plans. Of course some things come together easily, and others are a real struggle. Sometimes the struggle can make the work stronger. It’s like bad weather. Sometimes you get storm clouds or rain, but the unexpected weather can sometimes produce better results. More beautiful clouds or dramatic lighting. Etcetera. Sometimes you have to abandon plans for different reasons. I did attempt to do a series based on Tarot imagery, but that was not completed. I think I was not ready at the time for such an undertaking. I often return to images and ideas. Artists are obsessive people. So I might end up finishing it someday. Who knows. My main goal is to remain open to new possibilities and not become obsessed with unfinished projects.

AFT: Is health and fitness important to you? Do share some of your daily routines.

As far as my health is concerned, I do try and eat healthy food. Particularly green vegetables and whole grain or rye bread. I also try to restrict carbs in my diet. My wife sometimes bakes bread though. Fresh rye bread is my favourite. We live in Japan, so fish is an important part of my diet. I love Salmon and often cook baked Salmon and fresh herbs. We have a small herb garden. We often use dill, basil and coriander in our cooking. There is a gym near our house. I used to exercise regularly, but after the gyms have shut, I often take my 3 kids out walking at a big park near our house. Spending time with my kids and exercising is a great way to keep mentally and physically healthy and grounded.

AFT: What is your ultimate favourite thing to do?

Life can be tough, but being open to it’s beauty and rich complexity is essential. It is my ultimate goal to create work that reflects the lightness and darkness of the world, and for that work to reach people in a deep way, beyond financial gain. I also want to lead a full life, and travel to many wonderful places with my family and show them the incredible diversity of life and world cultures.

Team AFT would like to thank Santiago Ribeiro and Cristian Townsend for making this interview possible. Follow Cristian Townsend via Instagram @oswaldfitchjapan or visit his website: https://cristian-townsend.squarespace.com.

What is Surrealism?

Surrealism was an artistic, intellectual, and literary movement led by poet André Breton from 1924 through World War II. The Surrealists sought to overthrow the oppressive rules of modern society by demolishing its backbone of rational thought. To do so, they attempted to tap into the “superior reality” of the subconscious mind. “Completely against the tide,” said Breton, “in a violent reaction against the impoverishment and sterility of thought processes that resulted from centuries of rationalism, we turned toward the marvelous and advocated it unconditionally.”

Source: MoMA Learning

Other references:

Cite this article:

Published by Australia Fitness Today, “AFT Interviews: View from the eye of surrealist photographer, Christian Townsend (AU/JP)”, Authored by: Jasmine Low, URL: https://www.australiafitnesstoday.com/2021/09/06/aft-cristian-townsend, first published on 6 September 2021 in Asia Fitness Today.

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AFT Features, AFTNews, AFTNews, Diet & Nutrition, Diet & Nutrition, Diet & Nutrition, Features Japan, Research

Study finds eating protein during breakfast is best for muscle growth

Researchers find the best time to consume proteins for building and strengthening muscles is during breakfast.

Proteins are essential for body growth and muscle building. However, protein metabolism varies depending on the body’s internal biological clock. Therefore, it is important to know how distribution of protein intake over the day affects muscles. Researchers from Japan have now found that consumption of proteins at breakfast increases muscle size and function in mice and humans, shedding light on the concept of ‘Chrononutrition’ that deals with the timing of diets to ensure organ health.

Image courtesy Waseda University

Proteins constitute an essential dietary component that help in the growth and repair of the body. Composed of long chains of amino acids, proteins promote the growth of skeletal muscles, the group of muscles that help us move. Humans have been aware of the benefits of proteins for long. However, recent studies have shown that having the right amount of protein at the right time of the day is essential for proper growth. This is called ‘Chrononutrition,’ in which when you eat is as important as what and how you eat.

The reason behind this is the body’s internal biological clock, called the ‘circadian rhythm.’ This rhythm is followed by all cells and controls life functions like metabolism and growth. Interestingly, protein digestion and absorption have been found to fluctuate across day and night according to this clock. Moreover, earlier studies have reported that intake of protein at breakfast and lunch promotes skeletal muscle growth in adults. However, details on the effect of the time of protein intake on muscle growth and function have remained elusive.

Researchers from Waseda University, led by Professor Shigenobu Shibata, recently endeavoured to understand the effect of the distribution of protein intake through the day on muscles. They fed laboratory mice two meals per day containing either high (11.5% by proportion) or low (8.5% by proportion) protein concentrations. The researchers noted that protein intake at breakfast induced an increase in muscle growth, determined by assessing induced hypertrophy of the plantaris muscle in the leg, when compared with the effects of protein intake at dinner. Specifically, the ratio of muscle hypertrophy determined against the growth of the control muscle was 17% higher in mice fed 8.5% protein at breakfast, than that in mice fed 11.5% protein at dinner, despite the former group consuming a low proportion of protein overall. They also found that intake of a type of protein called the BCCA, short for branched-chain amino acids, early in the day increased the size of skeletal muscles specifically.

Infographic provided by Waseda University

To confirm the association of these effects with the workings of the circadian rhythm, the researchers next engineered whole-body mutant ClockΔ19 or muscle-specific Bmal1 knockout mice lacking the genes that control the biological clock. They repeated diet distribution experiments on these mice but did not observe similar muscle change, which confirmed the involvement of the circadian rhythm in muscle growth in the context of protein intake.

Excited about the findings of their study published in a recent issue of the Cell Reports, Prof. Shibata emphasizes, “Protein-rich diet at an early phase of the daily active period, that is at breakfast, is important to maintain skeletal muscle health and enhance muscle volume and grip strength.”

To check if their findings were applicable to humans, the team recruited women in their study and tested if their muscle function, determined by measuring skeletal muscle index (SMI) and grip strength, varied with the timing of the protein-rich diet consumed. Sixty women aged 65 years and above who took protein at breakfast rather than at dinner showed better muscle functions, suggesting the possibility of the findings to be true across species.  Additionally, the researchers also found a strong association between SMI and the proportion of protein intake at breakfast relative to total protein intake through the day.

Prof. Shibata is hopeful that the findings of their study will lead to a widespread modification in the current diet regime of most people across the Western and Asian countries, who traditionally consume low amounts of protein at breakfast.

“For humans, in general, the protein intake at breakfast averages about 15 grams, which is less than what we consume at dinner, which is roughly 28 grams. Our findings strongly support changing this norm and consuming more protein at breakfast or morning snacking time.”

– Professor Shigenobu Shibata

It seems, a simple change in our dietary regime can be our key to ensuring healthy muscles!

References:

Authors: Shinya Aoyama (1,2,5), Hyeon-Ki Kim (1,2), Rina Hirooka (1), Mizuho Tanaka (1), Takeru Shimoda (1), Hanako Chijiki (1), Shuichi Kojima (1), Keisuke Sasaki (1), Kengo Takahashi (1), Saneyuki Makino (1), Miku Takizawa (1), Masaki Takahashi (1), Yu Tahara (1), Shigeki Shimiba (4), Kazuyuki Shinohara (5), Shigenobu Shibata, Ph.D. (1)

Title of original paper: Distribution of dietary protein intake in daily meals influences skeletal muscle hypertrophy via the muscle clock

Journal: Cell Reports

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109336

Affiliations:        

(1) Laboratory of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Waseda University

(2) Organization for University Research Initiatives, Waseda University

(3) Institute for Liberal Arts, Tokyo Institute of Technology

(4) Department of Health Science, School of Pharmacy, Nihon University

(5) Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University

About Waseda University 

Located in the heart of Tokyo, Waseda University is a leading private research university that has long been dedicated to academic excellence, innovative research, and civic engagement at both the local and global levels since 1882. The University ranks number one in Japan in international activities, including the number of international students, with the broadest range of degree programs fully taught in English. To learn more about Waseda University, visit https://www.waseda.jp/top/en  

This article was written by Waseda University and verified by AFT’s editorial team. Prof. Shibata heads the Department of Electrical Engineering and Bioscience, Faculty of Science and Engineering at Tokyo’s prestigious Waseda University (pictured above). His research focuses on basic and applied studies of biological rhythms for health science and industry. The human biological clock monitors the chronological timing of our body. Disruptive body clock systems have been known to cause various mental diseases such as developmental problems, insomnia, depression and also metabolic diseases such as obesity, hypercholesteremia and alcoholism, and cancer disease. In order to promote good health, Prof. Shibata’s team studies basic and applied sciences of biological clock systems based on chronobiology, chrono-pharmacology, chrono-nutrition and chrono-exercise using animals and humans. They focus on interventions such as functional foods and nutrients, exercises like running and swimming for maintaining healthy circadian rhythm. It is their desire to propose healthy advice for chrono-nutrition and chrono-exercise to enable good health and for industrial products. Learn more: http://www.chrono-nutrition.jp/

AFTNews, AFTNews, Features Malaysia, Features Malaysia, Kid's Health

Kempen ‘Chosen’ memperkasakan kanak-kanak dengan peluang untuk mengubah hidup mereka dari kemiskinan

Kempen Chosen dari World Vision Malaysia memberi peluang kepada kanak-kanak untuk mengambil langkah pertama dalam mengubah masa depan mereka. Buat pertama kalinya, kanak-kanak berpeluang memilih penaja mereka.

Organisasi kemanusiaan antarabangsa, World Vision Malaysia melancarkan kempen Chosen untuk membasmi kemiskinan dari komuniti B40 yang terjejas pada 8 Julai 2021 ini.

Gambar di atas, kanak-kanak menunjukkan gambar penaja yang mereka pilih sendiri. (sumber: World Vision Malaysia)

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif World Vision Malaysia Encik Daniel Boey berkata, “Chosen adalah anjuran terbaharu World Vision yang ingin memberi kanak-kanak peluang memilih penaja mereka sendiri – buat pertama kalinya dalam sejarah 70 tahun World Vision!

Kempen ini akan bermula dengan komuniti di Kemboja di mana sejak kes pertama COVID-19 dikenal pasti, kanak-kanak telah kehilangan masa kecil mereka dan hidup dalam ketakutan untuk kesejahteraan mereka.

Tajaan bulanan sebanyak RM65 akan membawa air bersih, pemakanan, pendidikan, penjagaan kesihatan asas, perlindungan dan harapan kepada kanak-kanak dan komuniti mereka. Penaja dapat menjalinkan hubungan dengan anak angkat mereka dengan menulis surat dan menghantar gambar.

Seorang bapa kepada dua anak, Encik Boey menambah: “Ramai kanak-kanak menunggu bertahun-tahun untuk dipilih oleh penaja. Sebagai seorang ayah, saya tidak dapat membayangkan bagaimana perasaan anak itu. Apabila kita memberi kanak-kanak peluang untuk memilih penaja mereka, kita juga memberi mereka harapan untuk menamatkan kemiskinan. Lebih daripada itu, kami memberi kuasa kepada mereka untuk mengambil bahagian dalam keputusan yang akan mempengaruhi kehidupan mereka, dengan menghantar mesej bahawa kami mengambil berat tentang apa yang mereka fikirkan. Kami berharap ini akan mendorong kekuatan untuk memilih masa depan mereka.”

Dia mengatakan bahawa rakan kerjanya di World Vision Malaysia telah memantau dan menyesuaikan program untuk bertindak balas terhadap situasi COVID-19 global. “Kanak-kanak akan memilih penaja mereka di acara pilihan (dengan semua amalan keselamatan COVID-19) pada 5 dan 6 Ogos, dan kami akan memberitahu penaja mengenai anak angkat mereka. Terima kasih kepada semua rakyat Malaysia kerana turut serta melindungi dan memperkasakan anak-anak dan komuniti mereka yang terjejas di dunia.

Pengasasnya Bob Pierce menubuhkan World Vision pada tahun 1950 dan Program Penajaan Kanak-Kanaknya memberi tumpuan kepada peningkatan kesejahteraan fizikal, emosi, rohani, dan sosial anak-anak yang paling terjejas. Di Kemboja, World Vision telah melaksanakan program bantuan dan pembangunan untuk memberi manfaat kepada anak-anak yang rentan sejak awal tahun 1970-an.

Di seluruh dunia, program ini membawa banyak kegembiraan dan harapan kepada keluarga. Kelmer yang berusia enam tahun dari Guatemala, memilih keluarga Justin Hollander untuk menjadi penaja.

Kelmer dari Guatemala, Amerika Selatan (sumber: World Vision Malaysia)

Kelmer yang berusia enam tahun memilih keluarga Justin Hollander sebagai penajanya.

“Anak perempuan mereka sangat cantik. Saya rasa bahawa dia suka berbual dan suka bermain,” katanya.

“Ibu bapa sangat cantik juga. Mereka kelihatan seperti suka memberi pelukan! Dan mereka suka bermain. “

Terdapat lima orang dalam keluarga Kelmer. Ibu, ayah, anak-anak berusia 9 tahun, 6 tahun dan 8 bulan. Kelmer berada di prasekolah. Dia suka belajar. Apabila dia dewasa, dia mahu menjadi guru. Ibunya, Yesica, mengatakan bahawa kadang-kadang anaknya jatuh sakit tetapi dia tidak mampu membawa mereka ke klinik berdekatan. Yesica mengatakan apabila Kelmer memilih penajanya, dia turut mengambil kesempatan untuk membuat pilihan sekeluarga. Dia teruja dan merasa terharu.” Dia memberitahunya bahawa ketika dia melihat semua gambar, “Saya hanya ingin memilih Justin Hollandar.”

Kelmer suka bermain bola sepak dan guli-guli. Dia berkata, “Sekiranya mereka (penaja) datang ke sini, saya ingin bermain bola sepak dengan mereka. Saya ingin menghantar kata-kata cantik. Saya gembira atas lawatan anda. Te quiero.“

Video ini menunjukkan masa kanak-kanak membuat pilihan mereka.

Lawati laman web: https://bit.ly/WorldVision-Chosen.