Dark chocolate 'can ease blood pressure' - Telegraph

German scientists assessed four adults with borderline high blood pressure and then gave them either a small square of dark chocolate each day or a similar amount of white chocolate.  Those given dark chocolate reduced blood pressure without affecting body weight.  The blood pressure of those on white chocolate remained the same.  Dark chocolate contains polyphenol.
(Telegraph, p1, Roger Highfield, 5 col.")

Women are twice as likely to suffer mid-life strokes - Mail

A study from the University of California monitored 17,000 men and women over six years and found that middle-aged women are more than twice as likely as men of the same age to suffer a stroke.  Expanding waistlines and stress are said to be the main reasons behind the surge which particularly affects women aged 45 to 54.  The scientists found that high blood pressure rises dramatically in women aged 35 to 44 and in the decade after that women are 2.4 times more likely than men to have a stroke.  The study is published in the online edition of Neurology.
(Mail, p40, Peter Stebbings, 8 col.")

HRT 'could cut the risk of heart disease' - Daily Mail

Jenny Hope reports on a study by the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) published in the New England Journal of Medicine .  The study looked at 1,064 women aged between 50 and 59 taking even an oestrogen-only HRT or a placebo pill over seven years.  A year after the treatment had ended, each woman was given a CT scan to measure levels of calcium plaque in their arteries.  The HRT group was 30 to 40 per cent less likely to have coronary artery calcium than the placebo group.  Lead author Dr JoAnn Manson said: "Although our findings lend support to the theory that oestrogen may slow early stages of plaque build-up in the coronary arteries, oestrogen has a complex effect and other known risks.  It should not be used for preventing cardiovascular disease but it may be appropriate for the short-term treatment of hot flushes or night sweats among menopausal women."  It was a study from WHI in 2002 that caused a worldwide health scare by claiming those using HRT were at a higher risk of heart disease and stroke.  The conclusions of this report were overturned in April.
(Mail, p11, Jenny Hope, 1/5 page)

Seven quick fixes that could change your health forever - Sun

One of the seven changes suggested is exercise.  We are told that just one 45 to 60-minute workout can reduce levels of LDL cholesterol over the following couple of days. American cardiologists discovered LDL was cut by seven per cent after just one workout.  Dr Jason Gill from the University of Glasgow says: "Exercise stimulates production of an enzyme which transports artery-clogging triglyceride fats from your blood to your muscles, where they are burnt for fuel."  The Sun team suggest working out on a Monday to help maintain the habit for the rest of the week.  They also advise a fast burst at the end of a workout to trigger a rush of endorphins.
(Sun, p43)

Fish oils 'prevent prostrate cancer' - Independent & Sun

A team of scientists from the Wake Forest University School of Medicine in North Carolina has concluded that diets rich in fish oil fatty acids may help men survive prostate cancer.  Tests on mice show that omega-3 fatty acids can slow progress of the disease.(Independent, p10, 2 col."; Sun, p39, 2 col.")

Fit-flops - Express & Mail

FitFlops are said to be this summer's most innovative "must have" footwear, designed to help tone and trim your legs by engaging muscles for longer with each step you take.  A spokeswoman for the FitFlop company said: "The Fitflop destabilises the foot slightly, creating a more continuous tension in the supporting muscles of the foot and leg.  Every step you take improves your core muscle strength, absorbs shock on your feet, knees and back, encourages better posture and stronger muscles and burns calories.  They can help to reduce cellulite, slim and tone your thighs for leaner-looking legs."
(Express, p21, Jane Wharton, ½ page; Mail, p7; Neil Sears, 1/5 page)

How cod liver oil can beat the depths of depression - Telegraph

A study of nearly 20,000 people by Norwegian scientists has revealed that a spoonful of cod liver oil a day can reduce the risk of depression by up to 30 per cent.  The findings are published in the Journal of Affective Disorders.
(Telegraph, p2, 6 col.")

The aloe vera miracle: A natural medicine for cancer, cholesterol, diabetes, inflammation, IBS, and other health conditions by Mike Adams of Newstarget.com

I'm truly excited to be bringing you this information today about the miraculous healing abilities of aloe vera. First off, in case you don't know, let me emphasize that I don't sell aloe vera products of any kind, I haven't been paid to write this article, and I don't earn any commissions from the sale of any products mentioned here. I am, however, an enthusiastic supporter of natural medicine, and I personally grow and eat aloe vera plants in Tucson, Arizona.

In fact, my yard is an aloe farm, and each day before I make my superfood breakfast smoothie, I walk out to my yard, slice off an aloe vera leaf, thank the plant for granting me its healing medicine, then I fillet the leaf and drop the aloe vera gel into my blender. A few minutes later, I'm enjoying the most impressive medicinal herb that nature has ever created.

When I say aloe vera is the most impressive medicinal herb invented by nature, I don't make that statement lightly. Of all the herbs I've ever studied -- and I've written thousands of articles on nutrition and disease prevention -- aloe vera is the most impressive herb of them all. (Garlic would be a close second.) There is nothing on this planet that offers the amazing variety of healing benefits granted by aloe vera. In a single plant, aloe vera offers potent, natural medicine that:

• Halts the growth of cancer tumors.
• Lowers high cholesterol.
• Repairs "sludge blood" and reverses "sticky blood".
• Boosts the oxygenation of your blood.
• Eases inflammation and soothes arthritis pain.
• Protects the body from oxidative stress.
• Prevents kidney stones and protects the body from oxalates in coffee and tea.
• Alkalizes the body, helping to balance overly acidic dietary habits.
• Cures ulcers, IBS, Crohn's disease and other digestive disorders.
• Reduces high blood pressure natural, by treating the cause, not just the symptoms.
• Nourishes the body with minerals, vitamins, enzymes and glyconutrients.
• Accelerates healing from physical burns and radiation burns.
• Replaces dozens of first aid products, makes bandages and antibacterial sprays obsolete.
• Halts colon cancer, heals the intestines and lubricates the digestive tract.
• Ends constipation.
• Stabilizes blood sugar and reduces triglycerides in diabetics.
• Prevents and treats candida infections.
• Protects the kidneys from disease.
• Functions as nature's own "sports drink" for electrolyte balance, making common sports drinks obsolete.
• Boosts cardiovascular performance and physical endurance.
• Speeds recovery from injury or physical exertion.
• Hydrates the skin, accelerates skin repair.

Truly, there is nothing else that compares to the medicinal potential of aloe vera. And yet most people only know about the topical applications of aloe vera gel. They think it's only good for sunburns. In reality, aloe vera is useful for both external and internal use.
Aloe vera makes most first aid kits obsolete. You can get rid of all those silly, toxic first aid sprays (antibacteria sprays, lotions, bandages, etc.) and just replace them all with aloe vera. I've been known to pack small chunks of aloe vera gel inside wounds that ultimately healed with zero scarring. As the aloe vera dries, it actually contracts, pulling the wound shut and keeping it completely free of dangerous bacteria. Plus, it provides nourishment to the wound tissue itself. It's also perfect for use on animals, because if they lick the wound, they won't be licking the toxic chemicals found in most first aid products.

Aloe is so useful, in fact, that I take a leaf with me every time I go hiking. It's my portable first aid kit, and when you have aloe, you hardly need anything else. It treats cuts, scrapes, burns, bites, stings, punctures, sprains, sunburns and even bruises. And as a bonus, if you're dying of thirst, you can eat the gel for its water content. An entire multi-billion dollar industry in chemical first aid products and synthetic skin care products is made obsolete by aloe vera.

Aloe vera as a natural food preservative

Because of this remarkable ability, aloe vera gel could revolutionize food safety around the world. Dipping fruits and vegetables in aloe vera gel would eliminate e.coli, preserve freshness, and greatly extend shelf life. So why isn't anybody doing this with aloe? Probably because, once again, aloe vera gel can't be patented. And it's easier and cheaper for food companies to simply add synthetic chemicals to foods than to switch to something safe and natural.

Aloe vera extends lifespan

A summary of results are as follows: Aloe ingestion, both crude and processed, was shown to extend (10%) average life span and slow the mortality rate doubling time. Also, several beneficial effects from aloe ingestion on age-related disease were found: Group 2 and 3 showed a lower incidence of atrial thrombosis than Group 1. Furthermore, Group 2 showed a significantly lower incidence of fatal chronic nephropathy and occurrence of multiple causes of death compared to the control group. All groups ingesting aloe showed a slightly lower incidence of fatal leukemia. Moreover, no adverse, toxic effects were found with the ingestion of aloe vera.

"Nephropathy" simply means kidney disorders, by the way. So this is explaining that aloe vera reduces kidney disease and other causes of death. It also demonstrated a lower rate of leukemia, which is an interesting finding given that so many children today still eat hot dogs laced with cancer-causing sodium nitrite (a chemical added by junk food companies to turn the meat red), and sodium nitrite causes leukemia and brain tumors, among other cancers.

Aloe vera ends acid reflux disease

Aloe vera cures gum disease

Merely drinking the aloe also helps heal your gums: Just swish the liquid around your mouth a few times before each swallow. You'll be bathing your gums in healing aloe gel, and they'll begin to heal rapidly. Even severe cases of gum disease can be completely cured in a matter of weeks using aloe vera gel. (By the way, most people with gum disease are also chronically deficient in vitamin D, so if you boost your vitamin D intake while treating your gums with aloe vera gel, your results will be greatly accelerated!)

Reducing stroke and heart attacks

Dark-field microscopy is a technique for viewing live human blood vessels. As with any truly useful technology for preventing disease without drugs and surgery, it's been censored and oppressed by the medical establishment, but what's interesting about dark-field microscopy is that it shows the form and structure of your blood cells. You can actually see how your blood cells are shaped and whether they clump together. Most people's blood cells clump together because they live on a disease-inducing diet of fried foods, homogenized dairy fats, saturated animal fats, hydrogenated oils and other deadly foods. These massive clumps of blood cells slow bloodflow and can ultimately get lodged in the capillaries of the circulatory system, blocking off nutrients and oxygen to tissues and brain cells. Aloe vera, on the other hand, causes sticky blood to become "unsticky blood," making it flow like it should -- one blood cell at a time -- so that oxygen and nutrients can reach every last organ and cell in your body.

The fact that aloe vera can reverse "sludge blood" while allowing the blood to carry more oxygen means that it will quite obviously reduce heart attacks and strokes. In fact, it will also reduce high blood pressure because part of the reason blood pressure is so high in some people is because their blood has turned into a thick, viscious liquid that flows like molasses. Basic physics tells you that a thicker liquid will take more pressure to pump through any system. By reducing the viscosity and making the bood flow in a more frictionless manner, blood pressure is automatically lowered.

There are many other benefits that come from eating aloe vera gel, too, such as increased blood flow to the brain, which might mean a reduction in Alzheimer's progression, improved learning, enhanced memory and better cognitive function. These benefits have yet to be proven in studies, but just because the studies haven't been done doesn't mean the aloe isn't already providing these benefits to those who take it. Since there's no money to be made from studing aloe vera, the science will lag behind reality by several decades. Most of the best healing benefits of herbs remain unstudied because there's no profit motive to fund such studies. So don't expect scientists to be leaping at the opportunity to "prove" that aloe vera has all these health benefits. Just eat it yourself and observe your own health improvements. You get the benefits regardless of whether a journal has published statistics about those benefits.

What's in aloe vera gel:

Where to learn more

The International Aloe Science Council research page: http://www.iasc.org/articles.html

Wikipedia page on aloe vera: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloe_vera

Brief history of aloe vera at: http://www.qni.com/~gic/herb/aloevera.htm

Short summary from the link above:
"Aloe, native to Africa, is also known as "lily of the desert", the "plant of immortality", and the "medicine plant". The name was derived from the Arabic alloeh meaning "bitter" because of the bitter liquid found in the leaves. In 1500 B.C. Egyptians recorded use of the herbal plant in treating burns, infections and parasites.

There are over 500 species of aloe growing in climates worldwide. Ancient Greeks, Arabs and Spaniards have used the plant throughout the millennia. African hunters still rub the gel on their bodies to reduce perspiration and their scent.

Extensive research since the 1930's has shown that the clear gel has a dramatic ability to heal wounds, ulcers and burns by putting a protective coating on the affected areas and speeding up the healing rate."

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Er, Nintendo, Wii have a problem - times2

Peta Bee looks at health problems being attributed to the Nintendo Wii.  She says the Wii seemed like a perfect compromise, a computer game that was also perhaps a solution in part to the obesity epidemic.  Jo Tuffrey, a personal trainer, suggests that parents would be better off giving children a real tennis racket and getting them to go outside and play: "The bottom line is that this is still a computer game.  It still has a television set as a focus and, in that respect it still promotes a slothful inactive lifestyle."  A study at Liverpool John Moores University by Professor Tim Cable and colleagues, found that, in theory, regular Wii use could shift 27lb a year.  The research, which was part-funded by Nintendo's marketing company, found that such weight loss would require 12.2 hours of "gaming" a week by 13 to 15-year-olds.  The study found that the Wii burnt 40% more calories than using a traditional console but was "never going to be as effective as getting out and playing sport."  The article also looks at some of the injuries suffered by users.
(times2, pages 8-9, Peta Bee)

Third of children hit by tooth decay - Telegraph & Mirror

A study of 240,000 children aged five and six by the British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry found that more than a third of British children have suffered tooth decay, missing teeth or fillings by the age of five.  Derek Watson, chief executive of the Dental Practitioners Association said: "If we cut sugar out of our diet we would end tooth decay."
(Telegraph, p9, Adam Stones, 6 col."; Mirror, p27, 2 col.")

British 'worst in Europe of diabetes' - Telegraph

A study carried out by the International Diabetes Federation has found that British diabetics have the worst blood sugar control in Europe and fail to understand the impact it could have on their health.  The study looked at type 2 diabetics in Britain , France , Germany and Italy .  Simon O'Neill, director of Care Information and Advocacy Services at Diabetes UK said: "There is no such thing as mild diabetes.  It is a serious condition, yet this message is failing to get through."
(Telegraph, p10, Bonnie Malkin, 4 col.")

Food companies now "hide" MSG in safe-sounding ingredients like yeast extract or torula yeast? Hydrogenated oils causes heart disease , nutritional deficiencies, general deterioration of cellular health, and much more. Found in cookies, crackers, margarine and many "manufactured" foods. Used to make oils stay in the food, extending shelf life.

Why it's healthier to be gat and fit than a skinny couch potato -Daily Mail

The overweight should worry less about losing weight and focus on getting fit, say researchers

Experts say it is posible to be be fat and fit -and instead of dieting we should conentrate on doing more exercise.

Secrets of living 10 years longer - Daily Express

The secret of a long and healthy life has been discovered by scientists. They have calculated how to add at least 10 years to the average lifespan. In one of the most comprehensive studies ever carried out , they conclude that far from being down to luck, health and habits at middle age determine your chances of hitting 85. Those that keep fit, avoid smoking, drinking too much and are free from common diseases in their 50's have three times the chance of reaching their 80's in good health than those with bad habits

When fitness can be fatal . - Daily Mail

Fiona MacRae reports that former Olympic pentathlete Professor Greg Whyte, now a leading sports scientist from the English Institute of Sport, has warned too much exercise can kill. Research by the professor shows that those at risk range from couch potatoes who suddenly start exercising to top athletes who overdo training regimes. Also in danger are 'weekend warriors' - Sunday football players who are not as fit as they should be and would-be marathon runners. Professor Whyte says the problem has been worsened by the popularity of taking part in gruelling charity events such as marathons and long cycle rides. He stresses that not all exercise is bad and that the key is doing it in moderation and not pushing the body too hard. He recommends 30 minutes of exercise five times per week with activities ranging from brisk walking to dancing and sports.
(Mail, p24, Fiona MacRae, 5 col.")

British children 'among laziest'

Experts warn a lack of activity can lead to obesity.Children in Britain are among the most lazy in the world, a report claims. The survey found UK children spend an average of 9.4 hours a week playing computer games or watching TV, but less than one hour a day being active.

The report, commissioned by Tesco, surveyed 3,500 young people from 10 countries around the world, including Britain, the US, Australia and India. Ranking the 10 countries in order of their children's fitness, Britain came in as the seventh fittest nation.

Faring even worse were youngsters from Russia and India. South African children came out as the least healthy overall.

"It is important that people of all ages and abilities are aware of the huge benefits of being active"

Stephen Baddeley, Sport England

At the other end of the spectrum, Australian children proved to be the most fit. Although, according the survey, they spent an average of ten hours a week in front of a television or games console, they made up for this by playing far more sport than children from other nations.

China came second in the health rankings, and Germany third.

Sport fans

The findings from the Tesco Sport Report mean that the average British child between the age of seven and 16, will spend an average of 4,339 hours - or half a year - in front of a television screen or videogame.

But the survey also revealed that 94% of the children from the Britain said they enjoyed taking part in sport. Swimming was their favourite form of exercise, followed by football and cycling. A recent report from the Department of Health predicted more than 12 million adults and one million children will be obese by 2010 if no action is taken.

The Health Survey for England also warned 19% of boys and 22% of girls aged two to 15 will be obese by this time.

Dr Ian Campbell, medical director of Weight Concern, said: "A lot of research has shown that our children are much less active than they ought to be, so I find the results of this survey disappointing rather than surprising.

"Obesity in children is a serious issue, and the inescapable fact is that it is about energy in versus energy out."

Stephen Baddeley, Sport England interim chief executive, said: "It is important that people of all ages and abilities are aware of the huge benefits of being active and the role this can play in weight management and in reducing obesity."

Tea 'healthier' drink than water - BBC

The researchers recommend people consume three to four cups a day. Drinking three or more cups of tea a day is as good for you as drinking plenty of water and may even have extra health benefits, say researchers. The work in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition dispels the common belief that tea dehydrates.

Tea not only rehydrates as well as water does, but it can also protect against heart disease and some cancers, UK nutritionists found.

Experts believe flavonoids are the key ingredient in tea that promote health.

Healthy cuppa

These polyphenol antioxidants are found in many foods and plants, including tea leaves, and have been shown to help prevent cell damage.

"Tea replaces fluids and contains antioxidants so its got two things going for it" Lead author Dr Ruxton

Public health nutritionist Dr Carrie Ruxton, and colleagues at Kings College London, looked at published studies on the health effects of tea consumption.

They found clear evidence that drinking three to four cups of tea a day can cut the chances of having a heart attack. Some studies suggested tea consumption protected against cancer, although this effect was less clear-cut. Other health benefits seen included protection against tooth plaque and potentially tooth decay, plus bone strengthening.

Dr Ruxton said: "Drinking tea is actually better for you than drinking water. Water is essentially replacing fluid. Tea replaces fluids and contains antioxidants so its got two things going for it."

Rehydrating

She said it was an urban myth that tea is dehydrating.

"Studies on caffeine have found very high doses dehydrate and everyone assumes that caffeine-containing beverages dehydrate. But even if you had a really, really strong cup of tea or coffee, which is quite hard to make, you would still have a net gain of fluid.

"Also, a cup of tea contains fluoride, which is good for the teeth," she added.

There was no evidence that tea consumption was harmful to health. However, research suggests that tea can impair the body's ability to absorb iron from food, meaning people at risk of anaemia should avoid drinking tea around mealtimes.

"Tea is not dehydrating. It's a healthy drink"

Claire Williamson of the British Nutrition Foundation

Dr Ruxton's team found average tea consumption was just under three cups per day. She said the increasing popularity of soft drinks meant many people were not drinking as much tea as before. "Tea drinking is most common in older people, the 40 plus age range. In older people, tea sometimes made up about 70% of fluid intake so it is a really important contributor," she said.

Claire Williamson of the British Nutrition Foundation said: "Studies in the laboratory have shown potential health benefits.

"The evidence in humans is not as strong and more studies need to be done. But there are definite potential health benefits from the polyphenols in terms of reducing the risk of diseases such as heart disease and cancers.

"In terms of fluid intake, we recommend 1.5-2 litres per day and that can include tea. Tea is not dehydrating. It's a healthy drink."

The Tea Council provided funding for the work. Dr Ruxton stressed that the work was independent.

Keep your bank balance healthy - Daily Express

In the franchising section, Alison Coleman reports that as health and fitness is playing an increasingly important role in people's lives there are a vast array of opportunities of work in the industry.  She suggests a health and fitness franchise can offer potential entrepreneurs the support and necessary training to get started.  She says that exhibitors from within the health and fitness sector including Contours Express, Energie Fitness, Fit Kid, Glamour Secrets, Ladies Workout Express, Mibod, Rosemary Conley Diet & Fitness Clubs and Sureslim will be at the October National Franchise Exhibition in Birmingham .  Sue Arrowsmith, who owns a Contours Express Ladies-Only Fitness Studio states that her business is in profit just six months after launching.
(Express, p47, Alison Coleman, 1/3 page)

At a gym near you: high-risk steroids - times2

Peta Bee reports that a growing number of ordinary women are taking anabolic steroids to achieve slender, toned bodies.  She says most users start with steroids in tablet form, but some progress to injectable drugs.  Bee backs up her suggestions with the July edition of the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, which reported on a survey of gyms, conducted last year by the University of Glamorgan .  The survey revealed that the abuse of "certain prescription medicines among health club attendees has dramatically increased in the UK ".  Professor Bruce Davies who conducted the study was surprised to find that around 7% of gym members questioned were women who admitted taking steroids for cosmetic purposes.  These women were apparently attending "everyday gyms, some of them in exclusive hotels, who wanted to lose body fat and tone up".  Some of the women were not even training regularly but were taking the drugs purely to lose weight and look good.

Dr Michael Graham, another member of the Glamorgan team, says that while steroids are banned for use in sport buying, taking or possessing steroids is not illegal in the UK .  Ralph Heron, the clinical co-ordinator of the Drugs in Sport Clinic and Users Support says steroids are widely available on the internet and "you could easily buy them at regular gyms", often from trainers or fellow members.  Professor Charles Yesalis, head of exercise & sport science at Pennsylvania State University , who has studied steroid use in the US found that the number of American teenage girls on steroids has doubled in the past decade to almost 200,000.  Bee lists some of the drugs being abused along with the side effects.
(times2, pages 8-9, Peta Bee)

Air-conditioning makes you fat - Guardian G2

A study published in the US International Journal of Obesity has found that air conditioning results in us wanting to eat despite baking temperatures.  David Allison, professor of biostatistics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, who led the study team, points out that over the past 25 years, since air-conditioning in the home has become more common in the US, rates of obesity have steadily risen.  Other factors said to make you fat include lack of sleep, the age of your mother at your birth, your birth weight, having a fat partner, some chemicals in pesticides and plastics, the contraceptive pill, giving up smoking, and being stressed.
(G2, p3, Julie Bindel, ¼ page)

Spray-on-tan

Doctors at Bart's Hospital and Queen Mary's University of London have developed a spray on sun tan which protects the skin against the sun's ray's. It contains a drug that triggers production of melanin. Clinical trials are due to be completed and the product could be in the shops within 2 years.

GPs step up obesity fight - Express

Victoria Fletcher reports that ministers yesterday unveiled a £600,000 scheme to provide pedometers to GPs to pass on to around 100,000 of Britain 's most obese and inactive people.  Public health minister Caroline Flint said: "We want to encourage people to walk their way to health through the National Step-o-meter Programme.  GPs and nurses will be trained to advise people on how to get the most out of their pedometer by setting goals on the road to becoming active."  Fletcher reports that rates of exercise have been rising as basic health messages get through.  She states that between 1997-2004 the proportion of men exercising at the recommended level (30 minutes of moderate exercise at least 5 days a week) has increased from 32% to 35%.  In women the rate has risen from 21% to 24%.
(Express, p34, Victoria Fletcher, 8 col.") 28th July 2006

Sun Fit Squad

The Fit Squad recommends rounders, which they claim is as good as a gym workout. They also suggest readers take part in the Tree-Athlon, a 5km run and the planting of a sapling.  Louise Redknapp says that she avoids the gym but has recently obtained a Vibrogym which means she does not have to workout for 90 minutes four times per week.
(Sun, pages 56-57) 28th July 2006

Tanning

A report from the World Health Organisation has revealed that skin cancer caused by sun exposure is killing 60,000 people a year worldwide. The WHO is warning people to use at least SPF 15 when in the sun and not to sunbathe for long periods. It also advises against using tanning salons.
(Sun, p41, 3 col.")

Gym'll fix it for love - Sun & Mirror

A survey by Saga and David Lloyd Leisure has found that around 75,000 Britons aged over 50 have found love in their local gym.  93% of over-50s stated, however, that their main reason for attending a gym was to keep fit.  One in five over 50's regularly visits a health club or gym with just over 32% exercising for more than 4 hours a week.  Just 12% of under 50's exercise for this amount of time.  44% of over-50s said they found gyms too expensive.
(Sun, p35, 2 col."; Mirror, p31, 2 col.")

Blair ready to use law for healthier population -Telegraph

During a lecture on public health in Nottingham yesterday, Tony Blair said he was willing to use the law to encourage people to adopt a healthier lifestyle by curbing junk food advertising and requiring supermarkets to improve labelling.  He claimed successful anti-smoking campaigns and the drive to make school meals healthier had changed his mind on the role of the state.  Mr Blair said "We are working on a code with the food industry.  But if by 2007 the voluntary code hasn't worked, we will make it mandatory."  Mr Blair also talked about the crippling costs faced by the NHS unless people took more responsibility for their health.
(Telegraph, p9, George Jones, 1/4 page; Sun, p8, nib)