Help wanted

Group leaders: The Lupus Foundation of America's Greater Cleveland Chapter needs facilitators for support groups in the Cincinnati and Dayton areas. To learn more, call the chapter at (888) 665-8787.

Calendar

Call in: The sixth annual ADHD Experts on Call, a national information forum, will take place from 8 a.m. to midnight Aug. 9. Call (888) 275-2343 with questions about attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder or visit www.adhdexpertsoncall.com for an online ADHD forum.

Tips

Walk tall: Load a backpack lightly and stand up straight to avoid straining the back, says Dr. Stephen Esses, an orthopedic surgeon at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

Tilting forward or hunching over to compensate for the weight in the pack stresses the back muscles abnormally, Esses says.

His advice:

• Don't sling the pack over one shoulder. Loop both arms through the straps.

• Make sure the pack is at or below the shoulder blades so the weight is evenly distributed.

• Tighten the straps so the backpack is directly against the body.

• Stand up straight and keep good posture.

Hot news

Survey says: A survey of adults with high cholesterol found that three-quarters of the respondents didn't know that while some cholesterol comes from food, the majority of cholesterol in the bloodstream is produced by the body itself.

The results are important because patients need to understand that following a healthy diet and exercising are only part of the solution, says Dr. David Cohen, director of hepatology at Brigham and Women's Hospitals in Boston. Many patients also require medication to bring their cholesterol levels down.

Other findings:

• 75 percent felt their cholesterol should be lower.

• 85 percent knew there are national guidelines for optimal cholesterol levels, but only 27 percent knew their LDL ("bad") cholesterol level should be under 100.

• 45 percent were more concerned about their cholesterol than other personal health issues.

The survey of more than 1,100 patients was sponsored by Merck/Schering-Plough Pharmaceuticals in cooperation with Mended Hearts, a national support group for heart disease patients.

On screen

Burn it: Cardio Pilates (Gaiam; $15) combines classic Pilates techniques with fat-burning cardio moves for a 42-minute workout. Find it on DVD or VHS at retailers nationwide or www.gaiam.com.

Shelf help

Inside info: Olympic runner Suzy Favor-Hamilton and sports nutritionist Jose Antonio offer advice for women runners in Fast Track (Rodale; $14.95). The book includes sample training programs, and tips on recognizing disordered eating, supplements, cross training and nutrition.

Contact Peggy O'Farrell by phone, 768-8510; fax, 768-8330; e-mail, pofarrell@enquirer.com.