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How often should you really weigh yourself?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nick-fuller-219993">Nick Fuller</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a></em></p> <p>Few topics are more debated in health than the value of the humble bathroom scale. Some experts advocate daily self-weigh-ins to promote accountability for weight management, particularly when we’re following a diet and exercise program to lose weight.</p> <p>Others suggest ditching self-weigh-ins altogether, arguing they can trigger negative <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13679-015-0142-2">psychological responses and unhealthy behaviours</a> when we don’t like, or understand, the number we see on the scale.</p> <p>Many, like me, recommend using scales to weigh yourself weekly, even when we’re not trying to lose weight. Here’s why.</p> <h2>1. Weighing weekly helps you manage your weight</h2> <p><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2588640/?tool=pmcentrez&amp;report=abstract">Research</a> confirms regular self-weighing is an effective weight loss and management strategy, primarily because it helps increase awareness of our current weight and any changes.</p> <p>A <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2588640/?tool=pmcentrez&amp;report=abstract">systematic review of 12 studies</a> found participants who weighed themselves weekly or daily over several months lost 1–3 BMI (body mass index) units more and regained less weight than participants who didn’t weight themselves frequently. The weight-loss benefit was evident with weekly weighing; there was no added benefit with daily weighing.</p> <p>Self-weigh-ins are an essential tool for weight management as we age. Adults <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23638485/">tend to gain weight</a> progressively <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8363190/">through middle age</a>. While the average weight gain is typically between <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0031938414001528">0.5–1kg per year</a>, this modest accumulation of weight can lead to obesity over time. Weekly weighing and keeping track of the results helps avoid unnecessary weight gain.</p> <p>Tracking our weight can also help identify medical issues early. Dramatic changes in weight can be an early sign of some conditions, including problems with our thyroid, digestion and diabetes.</p> <h2>2. Weekly weighing accounts for normal fluctuations</h2> <p>Our body weight can fluctuate within a single day and across the days of the week. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7192384/">Studies</a> show body weight fluctuates by 0.35% within the week and it’s typically higher after the weekend.</p> <p>Daily and day-to-day body weight fluctuations have several causes, many linked to our body’s water content. The more common causes include:</p> <p><strong>The type of food we’ve consumed</strong></p> <p>When we’ve eaten a dinner higher in carbohydrates, we’ll weigh more the next day. This change is a result of our bodies temporarily carrying more water. We <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25911631/">retain 3–4 grams of water</a> per gram of carbohydrate consumed to store the energy we take from carbs.</p> <p>Our water content also increases when we consume <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK50952/">foods higher in salt</a>. Our bodies try to maintain a balance of sodium and water. When the concentration of salt in our bloodstream increases, a mechanism is triggered to restore balance by retaining water to dilute the excess salt.</p> <p><strong>Our food intake</strong></p> <p>Whether it’s 30 grams of nuts or 65 grams of lean meat, everything we eat and drink has weight, which increases our body weight temporarily while we digest and metabolise what we’ve consumed.</p> <p>Our weight also tends to be lower first thing in the morning after our food intake has been restricted overnight and higher in the evening after our daily intake of food and drinks.</p> <p><strong>Exercise</strong></p> <p>If we weigh ourselves at the gym after a workout, there’s a good chance we’ll weigh less due to sweat-induced fluid loss. The amount of water lost varies depending on things like our workout intensity and duration, the temperature and humidity, along with our sweat rate and hydration level. On average, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4993146/">we lose 1 litre of sweat</a> during an hour of <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00421168">moderate-intensity exercise</a>.</p> <p><strong>Hormonal changes</strong></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/from-energy-levels-to-metabolism-understanding-your-menstrual-cycle-can-be-key-to-achieving-exercise-goals-131561">Fluctuations in hormones</a> within your menstrual cycle can also affect fluid balance. Women may experience <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3154522/">fluid retention</a> and temporarily gain 0.5–2kg of weight at this time. Specifically, the luteal phase, which represents the second half of a woman’s cycle, results in a shift of fluid from your blood plasma to your cells, and <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3154522/">bloating</a>.</p> <p><strong>Bowel movements</strong></p> <p>Going to the bathroom can lead to small but immediate weight loss as waste is eliminated from the body. While the amount lost will vary, we generally eliminate <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1333426/">around 100 grams of weight</a> through our daily bowel movements.</p> <p>All of these fluctuations are normal, and they’re not indicative of significant changes in our body fat or muscle mass. However, seeing these fluctuations can lead to unnecessary stress and a fixation with our weight.</p> <h2>3. Weekly weighing avoids scale obsession and weight-loss sabotage</h2> <p>Weighing too frequently can create an obsession with the number on the scales and do more harm than good.</p> <p>Often, our reaction when we see this number not moving in the direction we want or expect is to further restrict our food intake or embark on fad dieting. Along with not being enjoyable or sustainable, fad diets also ultimately increase our weight gain rather than reversing it.</p> <p>This was confirmed in a <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21829159/">long-term study</a> comparing intentional weight loss among more than 4,000 twins. The researchers found the likelihood of becoming overweight by the age of 25 was significantly greater for a twin who dieted to lose 5kg or more. This suggests frequent dieting makes us more susceptible to weight gain and prone to future weight gain.</p> <h2>So what should you do?</h2> <p>Weighing ourselves weekly gives a more accurate measure of our weight trends over time.</p> <p>Aim to weigh yourself on the same day, at the same time and in the same environment each week – for example, first thing every Friday morning when you’re getting ready to take a shower, after you’ve gone to the bathroom, but before you’ve drunk or eaten anything.</p> <p>Use the best quality scales you can afford. Change the batteries regularly and check their accuracy by using a “known” weight – for example, a 10kg weight plate. Place the “known” weight on the scale and check the measurement aligns with the “known” weight.</p> <p>Remember, the number on the scale is just one part of health and weight management. Focusing solely on it can overshadow other indicators, such as <a href="https://theconversation.com/can-you-be-overweight-and-healthy-182219">how your clothes fit</a>. It’s also essential to pay equal attention to how we’re feeling, physically and emotionally.</p> <p>Stop weighing yourself – at any time interval – if it’s triggering anxiety or stress, and get in touch with a health-care professional to discuss this.</p> <hr /> <p><em>At the Boden Group, Charles Perkins Centre, we are studying the science of obesity and running clinical trials for weight loss. You can <a href="https://redcap.sydney.edu.au/surveys/?s=RKTXPPPHKY">register here</a> to express your interest.</em><!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/223864/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nick-fuller-219993">Nick Fuller</a>, Charles Perkins Centre Research Program Leader, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-often-should-you-really-weigh-yourself-223864">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Body

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Why Air NZ is asking passengers to hop on the scales

<p dir="ltr">Until July 2, passengers departing on international Air New Zealand flights from Auckland International Airport are being asked to step on the scales before their trip. </p> <p dir="ltr">New Zealand’s Civil Aviation Authority are making the request as part of a “weight survey” program - one required to take place every five years - and hoping to gather more information on the weight loads and distributions for aircrafts.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We weigh everything that goes on the aircraft - from the cargo to the meals onboard, to the luggage in the hold,” Air NZ’s load control improvement specialist Alastair James explained. “For customers, crew and cabin bags, we use average weights, which we get from doing this survey.”</p> <p dir="ltr">James went on to note that they are aware “stepping on the scales can be daunting”, as weight is a personal issue that many do not want to make public knowledge. And for any passengers with such concerns, the airline has promised to protect their privacy, with the data being kept anonymous. </p> <p dir="ltr">“We want to reassure our customers there is no visible display anywhere," he said. “No one can see your weight - not even us! It’s completely anonymous.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Two scales are to be set up in Auckland International Airport’s gate lounges - one that travellers will be asked to stand on, with their weight submitted for the survey, and another for their luggage in a separate weighing process. </p> <p dir="ltr">In order for the survey to be effective, 10,000 passengers must participate over the course of five weeks. </p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s simple, it’s voluntary,” James added, “and by weighing in, you’ll be helping us to fly you safely and efficiently, every time.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Air NZ’s project also means that passengers experiencing one of the world’s longest flights - the 17-hour flagship trip from Auckland to New York City’s JFK Airport - for the first time may find themselves asked to participate. </p> <p dir="ltr">It isn’t the first time the airline has requested its passengers hop on the scales before their trips either, with a similar survey taking place in 2021. And while the international research was meant to be conducted at an earlier date as well, the pandemic brought those plans to a temporary halt. </p> <p dir="ltr">And similar surveys are undertaken all across the globe, with Flight Global revealing that a survey by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency in 2022 discovered that the average weight of passengers has remained “relatively unchanged” for the past 15 years.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

International Travel

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China’s influence in Myanmar could tip the scales towards war in the South China Sea

<p>The fate of Myanmar has major implications for a free and open Indo-Pacific.</p> <p>An undemocratic Myanmar serves no one’s interests except China, which is consolidating its economic and strategic influence in its smaller neighbour in pursuit of its <a href="https://cimsec.org/chinese-maritime-strategy-indian-ocean/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">two-ocean strategy</a>.</p> <p>Since the coup China has been – by far – the main source of <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/myanmar-economy-idUSL4N2U721T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">foreign investment</a> in Myanmar.</p> <p>This includes <a href="https://www.myanmar-now.org/en/news/junta-approves-25bn-power-plant-project-backed-by-chinese-companies" target="_blank" rel="noopener">US$2.5 billion</a> in a gas-fired power plant to be built west of Myanmar’s capital, Yangon, that will be 81% owned and operated by Chinese companies.</p> <p>Among the dozens of infrastructure projects China is funding are high-speed rail links and dams. But its most strategically important investment is the <a href="https://www.wilsoncenter.org/blog-post/china-myanmar-economic-corridor-and-chinas-determination-see-it-through" target="_blank" rel="noopener">China-Myanmar Economic Corridor</a>, encompassing oil and gas pipelines, roads and rail links costing many tens of billions of dollars.</p> <p>The corridor’s “jewel in the crown” is a deep-sea port to be built at Kyaukphyu, on Myanmar’s west coast, at an estimated <a href="https://www.bnionline.net/en/news/kyaukphyu-deep-sea-port-poses-challenges-maday-islanders-and-local-fisheries" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cost of US$7 billion</a>.</p> <p>This will finally give China its long-desired “back door” to the Indian Ocean.</p> <p>Natural gas from Myanmar can help China reduce its dependence on imports from suppliers such as Australia. Access <a href="https://www.diis.dk/en/research/myanmar-chinas-west-coast-dream" target="_blank" rel="noopener">to the Indian Ocean</a> will enable China to import gas and oil from the Middle East, Africa and Venezuela without ships having to pass through the contested waters of the South China Sea to Chinese ports.</p> <p>About <a href="https://chinapower.csis.org/much-trade-transits-south-china-sea/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">80% of China’s oil imports</a> now move through the South China Sea via the Malacca Strait, which is just 65 kilometres wide at its narrowest point between the Malay Peninsula and Indonesia’s Sumatra.</p> <p>Overcoming this strategic vulnerability arguably makes the Kyaukphyu port and pipelines the most important element of China’s <a href="https://theconversation.com/china-is-financing-infrastructure-projects-around-the-world-many-could-harm-nature-and-indigenous-communities-168060" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Belt and Road initiative</a> to reshape global trade routes and assert its influence over other nations.</p> <h2>Deepening relationship</h2> <p>Most of China’s infrastructure investment was planned before Myanmar’s coup. But whereas other governments and foreign investors have sought to distance themselves from the junta since it overthrew Myanmar’s elected government in February 2021, China has deepened its relationship.</p> <p>China is the Myanmar regime’s most important international supporter. In April Foreign Minister Wang Yi said <a href="https://apnews.com/article/wang-yi-aung-san-suu-kyi-china-myanmar-diplomacy-d68de69436c1462f647f6475b6315c92" target="_blank" rel="noopener">China would support Myanmar</a> “no matter how the situation changes”. In May it used its veto power on the United Nations Security Council to thwart <a href="https://news.yahoo.com/russia-china-block-un-statement-034542265.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a statement expressing concern</a> about violence and the growing humanitarian crisis in Myanmar.</p> <p>Work continues on projects associated with the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor. New ventures (such as the aforementioned power station) have been approved. More projects are on the cards. In June, for example, China’s embassy in Myanmar announced the completion of <a href="https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2022/06/08/feasibility-study-completed-for-myanmar039s-wan-pong-port-improvement-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a feasibility study</a> to upgrade the Wan Pong port on the Lancang-Mekong River in Myanmar’s east.</p> <h2>Debt trap warnings</h2> <p>In 2020, before the coup, Myanmar’s auditor general Maw Than <a href="https://www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/costly-borrowing-06102020151951.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">warned of growing indebtedness</a> to China, with Chinese lenders charging higher interest payments than those from the International Monetary Fund or World Bank.</p> <p>At that time <a href="https://www.asianews.it/news-en/Forty-per-cent-of-Myanmar%E2%80%99s-government-debt-held-by-China-46071.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">about 40%</a> of Myanmar’s foreign debt of US$10 billion was owed to China. It is likely to be greater now. It will only increase the longer a military dictatorship, with few other supporters or sources of foreign money, remains in power, <a href="https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2021/06/23/how-the-coup-is-destroying-myanmars-economy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dragging down Myanmar’s economy</a>.</p> <p>Efforts to restore democracy in Myanmar should therefore be seen as crucial to the long-term strategic interests of the region’s democracies, and to global peace and prosperity, given the increasing belligerence of China under Xi Jinping.</p> <p>Xi, now president for life, this month told the People’s Liberation Army to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/09/xi-jinping-tells-chinas-army-to-focus-on-preparation-for-war" target="_blank" rel="noopener">prepare for war</a>. A compliant and indebted Myanmar with a deep-sea port controlled by Chinese interests tips the scales towards that happening.</p> <p>A democratic and independent Myanmar is a counter-strategy to this potential.</p> <h2>Calls for sanctions</h2> <p>Myanmar’s democracy movement wants the international community to impose <a href="https://specialadvisorycouncil.org/cut-the-cash/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tough sanctions</a> on the junta. But few have responded.</p> <p>The United States and United Kingdom have gone furthest, banning business dealings with Myanmar military officials and state-owned or private companies controlled by the military.</p> <p>The European Union and Canada have imposed sanctions against a more limited range of individuals and economic entities.</p> <p>South Korea has suspended financing new infrastructure projects. Japan has suspended aid and postponed the launch of Myanmar’s first satellite. New Zealand has suspended political and military contact.</p> <p>Australia has suspended military cooperation (with some <a href="https://www.dfat.gov.au/international-relations/security/sanctions/sanctions-regimes/myanmar-sanctions-regime" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pre-existing restrictions</a> on dealing with military leaders imposed following the human rights atrocities committed against the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-41566561" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rohingya</a> in 2017.</p> <p>But that’s about it.</p> <p>Myanmar’s closest neighbours in the ten-member Association of South-East Asian Nations are still committed to a policy of dialogue and “<a href="https://thediplomat.com/2022/11/will-asean-finally-change-its-approach-toward-myanmar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">non-interference</a>” – though <a href="https://thediplomat.com/2022/05/malaysian-fm-says-asean-envoy-welcomes-idea-of-engaging-myanmars-nug/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Malaysia</a> and <a href="https://thediplomat.com/2022/11/indonesian-fm-says-myanmar-military-to-blame-for-countrys-crisis/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indonesia</a> are increasingly arguing for a tougher approach as the atrocities mount.</p> <p>The <a href="https://myanmar.iiss.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project</a> says the only country now more violent than Myanmar is Ukraine.</p> <p>Given its unique geo-strategic position, self-interest alone should be enough for the international community to take greater action.</p> <p><strong>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/chinas-influence-in-myanmar-could-tip-the-scales-towards-war-in-the-south-china-sea-189780" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.</strong></p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

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Vaginal birth after caesarean increases the risk of serious perineal tear by 20%, our large-scale review shows

<p>Pregnant women who previously birthed by caesarean section are presented with a choice: whether to try for a vaginal birth, or book in for a repeat caesar.</p> <p>Those mulling over a vaginal birth are counselled at length about the risk of a rare but nasty outcome – the uterus rupturing while labour is in full flight.</p> <p>But new research looking at 130,000 births over five years has uncovered an increased risk of another outcome women deserve information about: extensive tearing around the vaginal region during birth.</p> <p>Our new study, <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34913246/">published</a> in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, hones in on the risk of vaginal trauma for those who birth vaginally after a prior caesarean. This kind of birth trauma relates to significant injury to a woman’s perineum, the important region between the vagina and anus. The perineum anchors many pelvic floor muscles that help control the bladder and bowels.</p> <p>We defined serious birth injury as a tear in the perineum that <a href="https://www.thewomens.org.au/images/uploads/fact-sheets/Perineal-tears-third-and-fourth-degree.pdf">extends</a> into the anal sphincter – the delicate ring of muscle that helps us control our bowels. Damage to this muscle is called a third-degree perineal tear.</p> <h2>What we studied</h2> <p>The study looked at 130,000 births in Victoria and compared the risk of a third-degree perinatal tear among first-time mums with those who birth vaginally after a prior caesarean (sometimes referred to as a <a href="https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/vaginal-birth-after-cesarean-delivery">VBAC</a>). In our study, vaginal birth included women birthed without any medical assistance, and births by forceps or the ventouse (vacuum birth). Anything but birth by caesarean.</p> <p>The results were clear: a vaginal birth after a previous caesarean increases the chance of significant vaginal trauma (third-degree tear) by 21% (albeit from a low baseline rate).</p> <p>A potential reason for this increased risk might include a mismatch between a uterus that has birthed before and a perineum that has not. If this is the case, the labour progresses quickly, which does not allow enough time for the perineum to stretch naturally. However, the real reason for this risk is unknown and further research is needed.</p> <h2>Lifelong impacts</h2> <p>Once a vaginal birth injury occurs, the tears are immediately repaired by obstetricians. Many women heal fully – but some who sustain a third-degree tear during birth develop distressing issues that never disappear, despite expert care, including from specialist physiotherapists.</p> <p>Symptoms can include an ongoing dragging sensation in the pelvic floor, or true prolapse of the vaginal walls. Sometimes, coughing or sneezing can cause urine leakage. And for some, jogging becomes too hard due to leaking of urine and pelvic discomfort. Others might suffer from reduced faecal control and even the odd episode of faecal soiling. Sex can be painful.</p> <p><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/442177/original/file-20220124-13-zzb927.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/442177/original/file-20220124-13-zzb927.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="woman with caesar scar holds baby" /></a> <span class="caption">Women who had a caesarean birth the first time around are at greater risk of serious birth injury from a subsequent vaginal birth.</span> <span class="attribution"><a href="https://image.shutterstock.com/image-photo/closeup-woman-belly-scar-cesarean-600w-1883782888.jpg" class="source">Shutterstock</a></span></p> <h2>This doesn’t mean women shouldn’t consider VBAC</h2> <p>This increased risk of injury does not make it unsafe for women who have had a caesarean before to try for a vaginal birth. But our results should be incorporated into counselling of these women about their choices.</p> <p>Since the risk of vaginal birth injury including the anal sphincter sits at <a href="https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-04/perineal_tears_ccs_v3.pdf">around 5-7%</a> in Victoria for first-time mothers, the increase of 21% raises the overall likelihood to around 6–8.5%. It’s a modest rise that will bother some, but not others.</p> <p>Still, women deserve to be given this information so they can judge for themselves whether it worries them enough to ask for a repeat caesarean, or try for a vaginal birth.</p> <p><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/442432/original/file-20220125-23-f3cuam.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/442432/original/file-20220125-23-f3cuam.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="pregnant woman in waiting room" /></a> <span class="caption">Birth counselling should fully explain the risks.</span> <span class="attribution"><a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/pregnant-woman-courses-expectant-mothers-1185645562" class="source">Shutterstock</a></span></p> <p>Counselling is not just about cautioning women of the risks. As midwives and obstetricians, we talk with these women about what will happen when they go into labour, when to come into hospital, and what their chance (and definition) of “successful” vaginal birth might be.</p> <p>We also mention the most enticing advantage for those whose destiny is an uncomplicated vaginal birth – they sidestep another caesar. Often, this means a <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17181678/">shorter recovery time</a> and <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23186385/">improved likelihood of breastfeeding</a>.</p> <p>After these discussions, some women will feel the very small risk of serious vaginal trauma (or <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1001184">uterine rupture</a>) is one well worth taking and opt to try for a vaginal birth. Others will opt for the certainty of a repeat caesarean.</p> <p>Women deserve full support in their birth choices. And they deserve to be fully informed about possible risks. It’s time we broaden our discussions with women planning a vaginal birth after caesarean section to include the increased risk of vaginal birth trauma.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/173249/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><span><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/anthea-lindquist-1296574">Anthea Lindquist</a>, Obstetrician and Perinatal Epidemiologist, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a></em> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/stephen-tong-1310350">Stephen Tong</a>, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a></em></span></p> <p>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/vaginal-birth-after-caesarean-increases-the-risk-of-serious-perineal-tear-by-20-our-large-scale-review-shows-173249">original article</a>.</p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

Family & Pets

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We are professional fire watchers, and we’re astounded by the scale of fires in remote Australia right now

<p>While southern Australia experienced a wet winter and a soggy spring, northern Australia has seen the opposite. Extreme fire weather in October and November led to bushfires across <a href="https://firenorth.org.au/">120,000 square kilometres</a> of southern savanna regions.</p> <p>Significant fires continue to burn in the Kimberley, the Top End, Cape York and the northern deserts. And while recent rain across the central deserts has reduced the current fire risk, it will significantly increase fuel loads which creates the potential for large wildfires in summer.</p> <p>We are professional fire watchers. The lead author of this article, Rohan Fisher, <a href="https://firenorth.org.au/">maps and monitors</a> fires across the tropical savannas and rangelands that comprise 70% of the Australian continent. The scale of burning we’re now seeing astounds us – almost as much as the lack of interest they generate.</p> <p>This continent’s fire ecology is poorly understood by most Australians, despite recent significant bushfire events close to big cities. But as we enter the Pyrocene age under worsening climate change, good fire knowledge is vitally important.</p> <p><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/435758/original/file-20211206-15-1szo1gh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="Indigenous man and child walk on burnt landscape" /> <span class="caption">On the Mitchell Plateau in Western Australia, a Kandiwal man and his child walk through country burnt by traditional fires. Such ancient methods must be expanded to help Australia survive the Pyrocene.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Philip Schubert/Shutterstock</span></span></p> <h2>In the desert, fire and water are linked</h2> <p>Fires in arid Australia are extensive, largely unmanaged, often destructive and significantly under-reported. Improving their management involvement is crucial to both Traditional Owners and the ecological health of our continent.</p> <p>To improve pyro-literacy, we developed a <a href="https://savannafiremapping.com/nafi-mobile-app/">mobile app</a> to map fires across most of Australia in real-time.</p> <p>This year, <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-30/extreme-heatwave-to-hit-kimberley-and-the-pilbara/100658568">Western Australia</a> and the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-19/nt-heatwave-conditions-peak-record-temperatures-bom/100549312">Northern Territory</a> experienced serious heatwaves late in the year and a late start to the wet season. This provided the perfect bushfire conditions.</p> <p>In contrast, central Australia has experienced rare flooding rains, including at Alice Springs which recorded the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-13/alice-springs-wettest-november-on-record/100616212">wettest November</a> on record. This creates dangerous fuel loads heading into summer.</p> <p>In the desert, water and fire is coupled in both space and time. Fire burns where water flows, because that’s where fuel – in the form of vegetation – is heaviest.</p> <p>The below satellite image from the Pilbara illustrates this point. It shows the path of an arid-zone fire flowing like water along dry creeks and drainage lines.</p> <p><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/434382/original/file-20211129-15-q3vm4s.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="" /> <span class="caption">Arid-zone fire travelling along dry creeks and drainage lines.</span></p> <p>Where country is not managed for fire, it can lead to catastrophic outcomes.</p> <p>The incidence of previous fire also influences fire spread. Without the regular application of fire, large tracts of desert can accumulate heavy fuel loads, primed for ignition.</p> <p>Over a few months in 2011, our data show more than 400,000 square kilometres in central Australia burned – almost twice the size of Victoria. It was one of the <a href="https://austrangesoc.com.au/range-management-newsletter-12-2/#article_166">largest</a> single fire events in recent Australian history and coincided with the wet La Nina period in 2010-12.</p> <p>Watching from satellites in space, we mapped the spread of the fires in near-real time, as this video shows:</p> <p><iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yJJPm0cUTJ4?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> <span class="caption">A hot spot animation of the 2011 fire season in central Australia.</span></p> <h2>Fire management through time</h2> <p>For many thousands of years, Australia’s Indigenous people have skilfully burned landscapes to manage country. <a href="https://www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/management/fire/fire-and-the-environment/41-traditional-aboriginal-burning">Most fires</a> are relatively low-intensity or “cool” and do not burn large areas. This results in a <a href="https://theconversation.com/australia-you-have-unfinished-business-its-time-to-let-our-fire-people-care-for-this-land-135196">fine-scale mosaic</a> of different vegetation types and fuel ages, reducing the chance of large fires.</p> <p>Researchers have <a href="https://www.cabdirect.org/cabdirect/abstract/20063159465">looked back in time</a> to provide insight into fire management as it once was. This was done using aerial photography taken in the 1940s and 1950s in preparation for missile testing at Woomera in South Australia.</p> <p>The below aerial photo from 1953 reveals a complex mosaic of burn patterns and burn ages – a result of fine-scale land management by Traditional Owners.</p> <p><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/434607/original/file-20211130-18-1x8y4pf.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="" /> <span class="caption">A 1953 aerial photo of the Western Desert showing a complex fine scale fire mosaic resulting from Indigenous burning​.</span></p> <p>But following the displacement of Indigenous people and the decline of traditional burning practices, fire regimes changed dramatically. The average fire size today is many orders of magnitude <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Andrew-Burbidge/publication/284776990_Evidence_of_altered_fire_regimes_in_the_Western_Desert_regime_of_Australia/links/565bca3508aeafc2aac62299/Evidence-of-altered-fire-regimes-in-the-Western-Desert-regime-of-Australia.pdf">greater</a> than those set under Aboriginal management.</p> <p>The change has been <a href="https://www.publish.csiro.au/wr/wr05032">implicated</a> in the decline and extinction of some mammals and plant species. One massive and fast-moving October fire in the Tanami desert – home to endangered bilbies – burned nearly 7,000 square kilometres over a few days, our data show.</p> <p><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/434379/original/file-20211129-25-ilvsxy.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="" /> <span class="caption">The massive and fast-moving Tanami desert fire burnt nearly 7,000 km2 over a few days.</span></p> <h2>Back to desert burning</h2> <p>Like everywhere on this continent, fire in our vast deserts must be well-managed. Getting people back on desert country to reintroduce complex fire mosaics is difficult work but will have <a href="https://www.publish.csiro.au/wf/wf20057">significant</a> benefits for both nature and Indigenous people.</p> <p>Challenges include building capacity amongst ranger groups and communities, overcoming legal and insurance hurdles and employing novel techniques to apply “cool” fires at a near-continental scale.</p> <p>The role of Indigenous ranger groups is critical here. Organisations such as <a href="https://10deserts.org/">10 Deserts</a> – a partnership between Indigenous and conservation organisations – are supporting desert fire work.</p> <p><a href="https://10deserts.org/committee/peter_murray/">Peter Murray</a> is chair of the 10 Deserts project and a Ngurrara Traditional Owner from the Great Sandy Desert. On the importance of this work, he says:</p> <blockquote> <p>Right now, we’re working on Indigenous “right way” cultural burning as a means of preventing wildfires. We’re developing dedicated male and female ranger teams to look after the land and develop tourism. And we’re encouraging traditional owners to return to the desert to share and exchange knowledge as well as collecting and storing that knowledge to pass onto younger generations.</p> </blockquote> <p><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/434611/original/file-20211130-27-1i2yotw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="Indigenous man burning country" /> <span class="caption">Indigenous rangers are crucial when caring for fire-prone landscapes.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa/Gareth Catt</span></span></p> <h2>Living in the Pyrocene</h2> <p>As climate change worsens, we’re now living in a global fire age dubbed <a href="https://www.stephenpyne.com/disc.htm">the Pyrocene</a>. This will bring challenges across the Australian continent.</p> <p>Throughout remote Australia, increasing extreme fire weather will see more severe bushfires. Good fire management in these landscapes is urgently needed. In the northern tropical savannas, Indigenous-led fire management at the landscape scale is already <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-worlds-best-fire-management-system-is-in-northern-australia-and-its-led-by-indigenous-land-managers-133071">producing</a> some of the worlds best fire management outcomes.</p> <p>The challenge is to introduce similar scales of fire management across our vast deserts. These regions are rich with nature and culture, and they deserve far more attention than they’ve received to date. <!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/172773/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><span><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rohan-fisher-976329">Rohan Fisher</a>, Information Technology for Development Researcher, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/charles-darwin-university-1066">Charles Darwin University</a></em> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/neil-burrows-1295249">Neil Burrows</a>, Adjunct professor, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-western-australia-1067">The University of Western Australia</a></em></span></p> <p>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/we-are-professional-fire-watchers-and-were-astounded-by-the-scale-of-fires-in-remote-australia-right-now-172773">original article</a>.</p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

Domestic Travel

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Foreign spying in Australia reaches “unprecedented scale”

<p>Australia is facing an “unprecedented” wave of foreign espionage, the nation’s domestic intelligence agency has warned.</p> <p>According to the<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-26/intelligence-agencies-warn-about-unprecedented-levels-of-spying/11441876?pfmredir=sm" target="_blank"><em>ABC</em></a>, senior intelligence figures said countries such as China, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Syria, North Korea and Malaysia were known to monitor their nationals living in Australia while also seeking to silence those speaking out against their former governments.</p> <p>Intelligence experts said most people do not have a full understanding of the extent of the threat, including how easily migrants and refugees can be recruited as spies, often against their will.</p> <p>An Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) spokesperson said foreign espionage was occurring at an “unprecedented scale”.</p> <p>“The security threat comes from the actions and intent of the small number of individuals who seek to do Australia harm,” the spokesperson told the<span> </span><em>ABC</em>.</p> <p>However, the spokesperson said the “actions of few” should not be taken as representative of the whole refugee community.</p> <p>“It is critical that we avoid commentary that will instil fear and taint communities which make such a positive contribution to Australian life, economy and culture,” the spokesperson said.</p> <p>Another intelligence expert said there are hundreds of spy recruits or agents operating in Australia today, with many of them having been blackmailed, threatened or coerced into gaining political information, recruiting other informants and conducting other illegal acts.</p> <p>John Blaxland, professor in International Security and Intelligence Studies at the Australian National University said numerous countries have tried to use their diaspora living in Australia to influence decisions made by government bodies, corporations and education institutions in their favour. He said threats are often made against the expats’ jobs and family members.</p> <p>The<span> </span><em>ABC</em><span> </span>report came after ASIO’s director general Duncan Lewis said the level of foreign interference and espionage is “higher than it has ever been”.</p> <p>“It is an unprecedented level of activity … it’s not visible to most people,” Lewis told<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/defence/espionage-threats-unprecedented-says-spy-boss-duncan-lewis/news-story/e90c51bb103ffd1d536ae7b691671891" target="_blank"><em>The Weekend Australian</em></a>.</p> <p>“It’s constant. Every day there is a discovery. Some of them are more alarming than others.”</p> <p>Lewis said Australia’s case is not unique, as technological developments and “mass movement of people, goods and ideas” have intensified security challenges.</p> <p>Lewis warned that the espionage threat shows no sign of slowing down, with widespread cyber-attacks and traditional spy craft as well as growing interference within Australia’s political system.</p> <p>“The oversight mechanisms we have are substantial, [but] I think they need to be constantly under review,” he said. “They are not something you can set and forget.”</p>

News

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Longstanding Seven Sunrise host scales back role due to “gruelling schedule”

<p>Fans were shocked as a major departure was announced from Seven’s hit breakfast show<span> </span>Sunrise.</p> <p>Basil Zempilas has been with the network since 1994 but is set to “scale back” his current duties as the host of Weekend Sunrise.</p> <p>According to<span> </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-7368223/Major-departure-Sevens-Sunrise-longstanding-host-scales-duties.html" target="_blank">TV Tonight</a></em>,<span> </span>the Perth-based broadcaster will remain “part of the Sunrise inner circle” but is focusing more on his family due to the “gruelling schedule” which seems him travelling between Sydney and Perth every weekend.</p> <p>Zempilas has a tough schedule at the moment, as he is flying to Sydney each weekend for<span> </span>Weekend Sunrise<span> </span>while presenting weeknight sports reports for Seven News in Perth.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Byv2cAWjlGs/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Byv2cAWjlGs/" target="_blank">TO OUR TWO JAMES... We salute you 👨🏼‍✈️👮‍♂️ @sunriseon7 @channel7</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by @<a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/basil_zempilas/" target="_blank"> basil_zempilas</a> on Jun 15, 2019 at 3:45pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>He also has a top-rated breakfast radio show with Steve Mills on<span> </span>6PReach weekday morning in Western Australia.</p> <p>TV Tonight claimed that his “gruelling schedule” is most likely the reason for his revised workload for Seven.</p> <p>The father of three has been co-hosting<span> </span>Weekend Sunrise<span> </span>since March 2018 but acknowledges that he would not have been able to host the show without the sacrifices made by his family.</p> <p>“There's no doubt that [my wife] Amy and my family, the three kids have sacrificed a lot for my career, all of it I suppose,” he told<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://thewest.com.au/entertainment/tv/basil-zempilas-racks-up-25-years-with-seven-ng-b881113249z" target="_blank"><em>The West Australian</em></a>. </p> <p>“All of my children have been born in the time that I have been travelling away interstate. I'm very aware had it not been for their support and flexibility I wouldn't be able to do the things that I'm doing.”</p> <p><a rel="noopener" href="https://tvblackbox.com.au/page/2019/8/17/sunrise-on-the-hunt-for-new-host-as-basil-zempilas-steps-aside" target="_blank"><em>TV BlackBox</em></a><span> </span>reported that Sunrise is “on the hunt for a new host” as negotiations between Zempilas are continuing and the expectations are that he will still appear on the show, just as a more flexible guest presenter role instead of the co-host role he has now.</p> <p>Zempilas will continue to play a key role in Seven’s coverage of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.</p> <p>Commitments are set to be scaled back before the end of 2019, but a replacement host for<span> </span>Weekend Sunrise<span> </span>is yet to be confirmed.</p>

TV

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Warning after $15 Kmart product explodes

<p>A woman has taken to social media to warn others not to purchase scales from Kmart as her product exploded before her, sending pieces of glass flying across her bathroom.</p> <p>Louise from Western Australia, who did not wish to be identified, posted on the Kmart Mums Australia Facebook page, detailing how she “lightly nudged” the $15 product before it exploded in to pieces.</p> <p>“Glass went everywhere,” she wrote alongside the image of the shattered scales.</p> <p><img width="420" height="647" src="https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/bcbbe04b38bd32c8710b75319625607d" alt="A Facebook user posted an image of her shattered scales to a Kmart Facebook group." style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>“As I was cleaning up, the shards shattered into smaller and smaller pieces. Kmart has been notified.”</p> <p>She added: “It [glass] went pretty far and was definitely sharp. Thankfully my son wasn’t too close. I understand that tempered glass is temperature sensitive (they told me this on the phone) if it’s that sensitive, it should be recalled. Bathrooms are subject to a lot of temperature fluctuation so it was surprising.”</p> <p><img width="416" height="312" src="https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/de1ccb35a5f09e7a592557c47fd17189" alt="Another woman posted an image of her shattered scales." style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>Her post quickly racked up comments of other users sharing their similar experience with the product.</p> <p>“Same thing happen to me and you could still here (sic) them [glass pieces] crackling after,” one user posted.</p> <p>“I’ve seen so many posts about these scales exploding,” another user said. “Surprised Kmart still hasn’t done anything about them.”</p> <p><img width="385" height="592" src="https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/581b1cef2a019234a965cc5b3ff03153" alt="Sydney man Jean Franco Vilaro said his $15 Kmart scales exploded in 2017." style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>In a statement to <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/home/interiors/kmart-users-claim-15-scales-explode-after-single-nudge/news-story/80d834a016855ccb99ef1e441dcc073b">news.com.au</a></span></strong>, a spokesperson apologised for Louise’s experience.</p> <p>“Kmart Australia is committed to the quality and safety of all our products for our customers and the community,” the statement read.</p> <p>“We are sorry to hear of this experience and have spoken directly to the customer. Our quality team are reviewing the product as a priority and we encourage any customers to <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.kmart.com.au/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ContentDisplay?pageDisplay=Contact+Us&amp;c=ContactUsPageCenter_Content&amp;t=footerContent&amp;catalogId=10102&amp;linkURL=contactUs&amp;urlLangId=-1&amp;langId=-1&amp;pageName=staticPages&amp;storeId=10701">contact our customer service team</a></strong></span> if they have any questions around our products.”</p>

Money & Banking

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Step off the scales! 5 signs your diet IS working

<p>Scales. It’s hard to believe such a basic little measurement tool could cause so much strife. When it comes to battling the bulge, many people find it helpful to have a numeric way to track their progress, but unfortunately, the scales aren’t the most accurate way to do it.</p> <p>So, if you’ve been sticking to a healthy diet and are exercising regularly but can’t see your weight dropping, it’s time to ditch the scales. There are better, more motivating ways to see how your new lifestyle changes are impacting you.</p> <p><strong>1. Check your clothes</strong></p> <p>When you adopt a healthier diet and exercise more often than you used to, chances are you’ll notice changes in your body’s shape before you notice any weight loss. The more toned you become, the more the fit of your clothes will change.</p> <p><strong>2. Take photos</strong></p> <p>Take a look at this progress shot from Instagram user <a href="https://www.instagram.com/adrienneosuna/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">@adrienneosuna</span></strong></a>.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="500" height="503" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/39287/signs-diet-is-working-in-text-image_500x503.jpg" alt="Signs Diet Is Working In -text Image"/></p> <p>She only lost one kilo, but look at the difference. It just goes to show, the scales may show little progress, but your body speaks for itself.</p> <p><strong>3. Assess your energy and stamina</strong></p> <p>Your weight may be the same after a couple of weeks of jogging or weightlifting, but that shouldn’t be the ultimate goal. You’ll notice you’re more energetic, can run longer, lift heavier and are getting fitter. This is what it’s all about.</p> <p><strong>4. Check your appetite</strong></p> <p>If you’ve been cutting down on your portion sizes for a few weeks, you might have realised you can get by on a lot less food these days. Losing weight is all about calories-in-versus-calories-out, so if you’re eating less and exercising more, the weight loss will come – just give it time.</p> <p><strong>5. Consider your mood</strong></p> <p>Eating healthy, nutrient-rich foods over those containing refined sugars will even out your mood and get rid of the dreaded “brain fog”. As if that isn’t great enough, the endorphins you get from regular exercise are natural anti-depressants.</p> <p>How did you lose weight and keep it off? Share your advice with the Over60 community in the comments below.</p>

Body

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Ethereal photos capture the massive scale of the Gobi Desert

<p>Spanning half a million square miles across China and Mongolia, the Gobi is the largest desert in Asia. When Hungarian fine art and commercial photographer Bence Bakonyi visited Dunhuang to capture the ancient ruins, he was struck by the sheer immensity of the desert, particularly the sand dunes that towered over the many tourists that come to hike them.</p> <p>His photos were called in his book, <em>Cognition.</em> In an artist statement he says, “the protagonists of the photographs taken in Dunhuang are tourists, the landscape was just as alien and fascinating for them as it was for me when I documented it.”</p> <p><img width="589" height="471" src="http://rack.2.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDE1LzA2LzE5LzI0L2JlbmNlYmFrb255LjdhZjRkLmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTE0NDB4MTAwMD4KZQlqcGc/709256d0/64a/bencebakonyi_cognition_no_07.jpg" alt="Bencebakonyi_cognition_no_07"/></p> <p><img width="588" height="470" src="http://rack.3.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDE1LzA2LzE5LzI0L2JlbmNlYmFrb255LjM1ZjExLmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTE0NDB4MTAwMD4KZQlqcGc/fff2338f/f69/bencebakonyi_cognition_no_02.jpg" alt="Bencebakonyi_cognition_no_02"/></p> <p><img width="587" height="470" src="http://rack.2.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDE1LzA2LzE5LzI0L2JlbmNlYmFrb255LjNhYWFlLmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTE0NDB4MTAwMD4KZQlqcGc/5f09265e/fb5/bencebakonyi_cognition_no_04.jpg" alt="Bencebakonyi_cognition_no_04"/></p> <p><img width="590" height="472" src="http://rack.3.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDE1LzA2LzE5LzI0L2JlbmNlYmFrb255LmJlZDBjLmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTE0NDB4MTAwMD4KZQlqcGc/496cca59/50a/bencebakonyi_cognition_no_06.jpg" alt="Bencebakonyi_cognition_no_06"/></p> <p><img width="596" height="477" src="http://rack.3.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDE1LzA2LzE5LzI0L2JlbmNlYmFrb255LmNlMTg0LmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTE0NDB4MTAwMD4KZQlqcGc/fd72b8f0/806/bencebakonyi_cognition_no_10.jpg" alt="Bencebakonyi_cognition_no_10"/></p> <p><strong>Related links: </strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/news/news/2015/06/blind-jack-russel-and-best-friend/">Meet the blind Jack Russel and his best friend who acts as his eyes</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/news/news/2015/06/most-popular-aussie-supermarkets/">Aussie shoppers are ditching Coles and Woolworths in favour of Aldi</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/news/news/2015/06/grandfather-drug-trafficker/">How did this Gold Coast pensioner become a drug trafficker?</a></em></strong></span></p>

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