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Surprising factors that may keep you thinHAVE you ever wondered why some people seem to stay trim effortlessly, while others struggle with their weight? Sure, genetics and a healthy lifestyle play a large role, but there are other, more sur-prising correlations that may be helping them stay slim.

1. They live near a gym.A recent study in the journal Lancet

Public Health found that people living within a kilometer of physical activity facilities — including gyms, swimming pools and playing fi elds — weighed less and had smaller waists than those who didn’t. The difference was greater in women and those with higher incomes.

The study was observational, so it does not prove cause and effect, but it does reinforce the impact of the built envi-ronment, including city design, on body weight. Other research has found that more walkable neighborhoods are also associated with lower weight.

The Lancet study also found an effect,

albeit weaker, on proximity to fast food restaurants: Study subjects who lived 2 kilometers or farther from a fast food outlet versus within half a kilometer were slimmer, especially women.

2. They fi dget a lot.A review article nearly a decade ago

found that people with the highest levels of spontaneous physical activity, including fi dgeting, tend to weigh less.

Although fi dgeting has a strong genetic and biological component, increasing non-exercise-related physical activity — including walking, standing, cooking and even gardening — can also play a signifi cant role in keeping people trim.

This type of non-exercise activity makes up a signifi cant and modifi able portion of your total daily calorie burning, and it can play an important role in helping you stay lean. It is even more important in our modern environment, fi lled with labor-saving devices, televisions and technology.

A 2003 study found that the impact of mechanization and labor-saving devices, including dishwashers, washing machines, escalators and cars utilized in driving to work, led to a 111-calorie reduc-tion in daily energy expenditure. Unless this reduction is offset by increased activ-ity, it could lead to signifi cant weight gain over time.

3. They eat spicy food.If you pay closer attention, you may

notice that your naturally slim friends are the ones dousing their meals with extra-spicy hot sauce or eating hot chili peppers regularly. This may not be a coincidence. Observational data show that eating spicier foods is associated with less obesity.

A recent review article summarizes the growing body of research showing that capsaicin, a major bioactive compound present in chili peppers, may play a role in weight control in several ways, includ-ing reducing appetite, activating heat-

generating and calorie-burning brown fat, increasing the use of fat as fuel and modestly increasing metabolism.

In addition, spicy food seems to keep people healthier. A very large Chinese study found that those who ate spicy food six to seven times per week versus once or less per week were 14 percent less likely to die from any cause. Numerous other spices including cumin, ginger, rosemary, oregano, cinnamon and turmeric may also play a role in helping you stay slim by reducing infl ammation, improving your body’s response to insulin and improving the composition of bacteria in your gut.

If you don’t live near an exercise facility or a big fan of spicy food, a healthy lifestyle — including daily exercise, less sedentary behavior, better sleep and a healthful diet — will help keep you lean, regardless of your environment. (SD-Agencies)

THERE’S a new role model encour-aging girls to reach for the stars.

Luciana Vega is an 11-year-old Chilean-American girl who dreams of being the fi rst person to walk on Mars. And she’s American Girl’s 2018 Girl of the Year.

Though American Girl is known for its original line of historical dolls, books and accessories, Luciana isn’t a histori-cal fi gure. Her story was created with modern girls between ages 6 and 12 in mind — or, as NASA likes to call them, the “Mars Generation.” Luciana is the fi rst American Girl character created to encourage an interest for science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM.

The doll and the fi rst two books in her series debuted on New Year’s Day. A third book will follow this year. Her doll can be accessorized with fl ight and space suits, as well as a Mars habitat and maker station. A purple streak in her hair hints at her colorful creative side.

In the fi rst book, Luciana goes to Space Camp, where she works on a robotics project and learns how to pilot a spacecraft and conduct experiments on the International Space Station in a simulated environment.

American Girl worked with an advi-sory board that included astronaut Megan McArthur Behnken, former NASA chief scientist Ellen Stofan, U.S. Space and Rocket Center CEO and Executive Director Deborah Barnhart and NASA’s manager of strategic alli-ances, Maureen O’Brien.

New doll for mars generation“We wanted to make sure we were

getting it right, but we also wanted to bring attention to the fact that there are some really amazing women in this fi eld,” said Julie Parks, director of public relations at American Girl. “This is something that could happen for you. It’s no secret that females are under-represented in this area. We need strong

innovators and a wide range of thinkers.”The women reviewed Luciana’s stories

for accuracy and authenticity, and weighed in with their own personal experiences in fi eld.

Though the stories show that Luciana can succeed when she perseveres, they also show the reality of failure.

“We have an award at NASA called Fail Smart,” Stofan said. “If you do everything so carefully that you never fail, you never achieve great things. If you look at the history of NASA, every time we made a mistake, we haven’t given up.

“I think a lot of girls are sometimes intimidated by STEM careers because they think they have to be perfect in math or the top of their class. But what you really need to have is determination, the spirit to pick yourself up when you make a mistake and keep going. I really think it’s that determination, that will, the ability to come back from failure, that are the most important characteristics. I hope that girls who read these books are inspired by these tales of failure and persistence.”

The author and advisory board also thought it was important for Luciana to have a supportive family. Stofan’s own experience with that encouraged her career in planetary geology.

“For families reading these books out loud to their daughters, I hope they see that too,” Stofan said. “Girls need to be encouraged and told, ‘you can achieve these things.’”

Luciana goes after her goals. She wants to be a good role model and big sister for the baby her parents are adopting from Chile. She strives to be a good friend and leader. And she tries to learn from her mistakes and move on.

“We can show girls that creative think-ing, collaboration, teamwork and being a decent friend and a kind person, these are things that are more important in their world than ever as we are more divided,” Parks said. “Luciana can bring visibility and valuable lessons to girls at a time in their lives when they are learning about their infi nite potential and their opportuni-ties to change the world.” (SD-Agencies)