A Good Measure of Obesity
What’s in a body? If you’re a typical American, too much fat.
In the 1980s, fitness fanatics wanted to talk about the dangers of high cholesterol.
Now in the ‘90s they want to know what your body fat content is, saying that body fat measurement is a truer test of obesity than weight.
While some health professionals agree, tests to measure body fat are often costly and complex.
Welcome John Lollar, a former All American decathlete at Adams State College in Alamosa, Colo. He invented Accu-Measure, a simple body-fat testing device that you can use at home.
Lollar spent four years collaborating with doctors and health researchers in developing it.
To use Accu-Measure, simply pinch the fold of fat just above the hipbone. Then place the jaws of the sturdy plastic caliper over the fold and press with your thumb until you hear a click.
That clicking sound, says Lollar, assures that you are accurately measuring the skinfold.
The calipers measure in inches and millimeters. Do the test three times and use the average of the three readings as your measurement, says Lollar.
Check your rating against the Body Fat Interpretation Chart that comes with the Accu-Measure kit.
The chart will show both males and females whether they are “lean,” “ideal,” “average” or “overfat” according to age.
Accu-Measure ($19.95 plus $3 shipping and handling) can be purchased by calling Accu-Measure Inc. at (800) 866-2727.
A Sunscreen That Protects for 8 Hours
If you’re trying to be sun-smart and protect your skin from harmful ultraviolet rays, you may want to try DuraScreen, a new sunscreen lotion you use only once a day.
California-based Penederm Inc. representatives say their lotion, with SPF 15 protection, has been found through dermatology studies to give eight hours of protection with only one application, in or out of the water.
Fifty patients of six dermatologists participated in a clinical study of DuraScreen during a three-week trial. Eighty-six percent of the patients and 92% of the physicians rated it to be “highly effective” all day sunscreen.
Paba-free DuraScreen ($6-$8 for a 3.5-ounce bottle) is available in drugstores throughout California.
Locally, you can find it at Medicine Shop on Palms Boulevard in West Los Angeles, Horton & Converse stores on Hollywood, Larchmont, Sunset and Santa Monica boulevards, Fedco on South La Cienega Boulevard in Los Angeles and South Street in Cerritos and Drug Emporium in Fountain Valley.
Penederm Inc. in Foster City, Calif., will send you a free trial-size .3 ounce sample if you call (800) 395-DERM.
Now Trees Can Get Their BarkGard Up
BarkGard by Easy Gardener Inc. of Waco, Tex., is a treated plastic that wraps around the trunks of young trees to protect them from damage inadvertently caused by trimmers and lawn mowers. The guards expand as the tree grows. Each BarkGard comes in a brown color that blends with tree bark and reflects heat away from the trunk.
The 7 3/4-inch high guards have holes in them to allow the tree to “breathe” and will fit a tree trunk up to four inches in diameter. They also can be saved for reuse, once the tree has matured.
The guards are easy to install: Just uncoil and wrap around the base of the trunk. You also can stack one on top of the other.
BarkGards ($5.99 for a package of two) are available nationwide at garden supply centers, hardware stores and home improvement centers.
