Shaking off the Growing Obesity Epidemic 

As obesity rates continue to climb in the United States companies are scrambling to find a solution.  The decline of healthy eating and physical activity has led obesity rates to double in the last 30 years. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), people who are obese are at increased risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis-related disabilities, and some cancers. Just how many Americans are Obese?  In 2005–2006, more than 34% of adults over 20 years old were obese. Even more shocking is the increase in obesity among American children.  Nearly 14% of American Children ages 2-5 years old, 19% of children aged 6–11 years and 17.4% of children aged 12–19 years are obese.   One Arizona based company believes they have a product that can shake up those numbers.  

Scottsdale based Medvibe has been testing a technology called whole body vibration (WBV) for its ability to decrease body fat and increase athleticism. Whole Body Vibration technology has evolved over the last few decades to become an important training tool for athletes, physical therapists, chiropractors, upscale gyms and home users.  The technology is based around the concept that doses of high frequency vibration can stimulate muscles and blood flow better than exercise alone. An ideal workout on the platform consists of ten minutes holding simple positions such as squats, lunges, push ups, dips and bridges. Even just standing on the rapidly moving platform will get your blood flowing and your body moving.  Company spokesperson Jon Hyams stated “these products accerlerate fitness like tanning beds accelerate sunbathing, you can feel results in only 10-20 minutes. “

Medvibe recently turned to the Arizona State University Kinesiology Department to help them test the muscular effectiveness of whole body vibration. The study concluded that 5 minutes of various warm up positions standing on a whole body vibration machine was as effective as 5 minutes on a stationary bicycle at 65%-85% of max heart rate.

Since the study was released in April, Medvibe began producing affordable home models called NitroFit which are now in select home fitness stores in Arizona and Colorado.   The company is scheduling more research including an osteoporosis study that will investigate the effects of WBV on bone density.

For more information visit www.wholebodyvibration.net