Social inequalities in body weight and physical activity: exploring the role of fitness centers

Fitness centers are a viable option for physical activity, particularly in climates with significant weather variation. Due to variation in economic and social expressions ofexclusivity, fitness centers may have some relation to social inequalities in physical inactivity and related health outcomes; thus, our objective was to explore this relation. Using publicly available data and guided by Bourdieu's theory of habitus, we classified fitness centers in Calgary, Canada, on three dimensions of exclusivity (economic, social, and appearance). We found that, although some highly exclusive centers exist, most demonstrated low exclusivity based on our dimensions. An overall contribution of centers to inequalities appears to be limited; however, caution is warranted in light of cutbacks to municipal budgets that can have an impact on publicly funded facilities.     

The Developing Brain: A largely overlooked health endpoint in risk assessments for synthetic chemical substances

A large body of experimental animal research on the neurotoxic effects of certain environmental chemicals provides evidence of a cascade of neurobehavioural effects including learning deficits, hyperactivity, anxiety, depression, lack of motivation, increased aggressiveness, altered maternal care and bonding, and an over‐reaction to small stressors. For a number of years, scientific meetings and reports have recommended that assessing risk in chemical safety evaluations should include tests for developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) to uncover the potential of chemical substances to affect the developing brain. However, DNT testing has been required only in rare circumstances, and for some classes of neurotoxic pesticides. The role of developmental neurotoxicants as causative or contributory factors in children’s learning and behavioural disorders warrants more attention in both research and policy.