STACK #192 Oct 2020

LIFE TECH FEATURE

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According to the Department of Health, regular exercise for adults between the age of 18-64 can: Reduce the risk of, or help manage, type 2 diabetes. Reduce the risk of, or help manage, cardiovascular disease (CVD). Maintain and/or improve blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Reduce the risk of, and assist with rehabilitation from, some cancers. Prevent unhealthy weight gain and assist with weight loss.

TECH LIFE I f there’s one thing that 2020 has taught us, it’s the importance of maintaining

month This

on health stats. Close to one in five people regularly connected to the internet now use a smartwatch or an activity tracker, and these devices play an important role for many in not only logging progress, but also encouraging us to get moving. From managing stress to good dietary awareness, tech plays an important part in facilitating an overall healthy lifestyle. Today, technology designed to enhance health and wellbeing is readily available at retail, including blood pressure monitors and home massage solutions, along with headphones and earbuds to complement a workout. This month in Life Tech we explore the latest trends in wearables and take a look at some of the tech that’s helping us to achieve our goals and enjoy the downtime.

good health and wellbeing. Staying fit and mindful at home has been a preoccupation for many Australians, as anyone who’s tried to buy fitness equipment or a bike over the last six months will attest! Whether you’re training for a marathon or simply walking up and down the stairs in the house, getting – and keeping – in shape is good for the body, and the mind. Further evidence of the shift to get active is the increased use of health and fitness apps and the phenomenal uptake of wearable fitness- and health-tracking technology. Smartwatches and fitness trackers collate user data that’s then analysed through apps, allowing users to stay on top of their fitness, set personal goals, and keep an eye

Build strong muscles

and bones.

Help to prevent and manage mental health problems. Help to develop and maintain overall physical and mental wellbeing.

Four Fitness Fads That Flopped 1. The ShakeWeight A weight you hold in your hands that shakes vigorously and works muscles. No one could watch the promotional video and keep a straight face. 2. Vibration Belt The idea sounded extremely enticing – simply throw on the vibrating belt, sit on the couch watching TV, and let your waistline shrink like a t-shirt in a tumble dryer. 3. Sauna Suits An instant solution to weight loss was supposedly as simple as slipping

4. Thigh Master Ranking alongside the Ab Master as the item most unceremoniously dumped on the nature strip for hard waste collection.

on a suit-shaped plastic bag purchased from a TV infomercial and sweating it off. Lack of ventilation and potential dehydration were clearly not considerations factored into the design.

34 OCTOBER 2020

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