Dr. Ross Arena

ENCORE: The Role Lifestyle Plays in Enhancing Resilience, Part 1
May 29, 2024
The Covid pandemic should’ve served as a wake-up call, highlighting our vulnerabilities as a nation. Ross Arena, Ph.D., professor of physical therapy at the University of Illinois Chicago, is spearheading a bold initiative called HL-PIVOT to underscore the role that healthy lifestyle plays in enhancing resilience. He is lead author of a new paper that demonstrates the roles that obesity, poor diet, smoking, and inadequate sleep play in setting the stage for poor Covid outcomes. Instead of a pandemic, he argues that we’re experiencing a “syndemic”—a perfect storm of chronic diseases that in themselves exact a terrible toll of chronic illness, but at the same time render Americans more susceptible to Covid. The surprising disparity between US regions with healthier, more active populations versus sedentary precincts within “food deserts” spotlights the important role lifestyle plays as a mediator of Covid severity. Arena argues that this has important social justice implications, with underserved populations experiencing the brunt of the syndemic. Click HERE for part 2.

ENCORE: The Role Lifestyle Plays in Enhancing Resilience, Part 2

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Ross Arena, Ph.D., professor of physical therapy at the University of Illinois Chicago. Click HERE for part 1.

ENCORE: In the Grips of “Twin Pandemics,” Part 1
April 11, 2023
Covid-19 may finally be receding, but we remain in the grips of “twin pandemics”, according to today’s guest, Dr. Ross Arena, professor of physiology and developer of the HL-PIVOT program. Far exceeding the death toll from Covid-19 are avoidable deaths from non-communicable diseases (NCDs). These are largely attributable to physical inactivity and sedentary lifestyle—now a worldwide crisis. Lack of physical fitness has been demonstrated to be a crucial determinant of the severity of Covid-19 infections—and the likelihood of dying. The current pandemic is thus a call-to-action to increase resilience through healthy lifestyle promotion—that’s HL-PIVOT’s mission. Dr. Arena discusses how health inequities have only been exacerbated by Covid-19; he emphasizes that we must go from a reactionary healthcare system to one more grounded in prevention. He says exercise doesn’t have to be heroic; dividends accrue if you just sit less and move more—any movement is beneficial. He discusses how he and his family have remained active during lockdown. Exercise also delivers benefits for enhancing mood and alleviating stress. Click HERE for part 2.

ENCORE: In the Grips of “Twin Pandemics,” Part 2

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Dr. Ross Arena, professor of physiology and developer of the HL-PIVOT program. Click HERE for part 1.