Today marks the start of international fitness week, which runs from 1^st February to 7^th February. The aim of International Fitness Week is to encourage people to change their lifestyle and improve their overall fitness.

As an incentive to get involved more than 400 gyms across 15 countries are offering free training sessions for non-members.

Over here in the U.K ex Spice Girl Mel B has become the face of fitness week; The star launched International Fitness Week on Thursday, stating ''I want to encourage everyone to find what works for them and make being active part of their lifestyle.

''It's easier than you think to get totally fit and we will show you how.''

The trimmed up star will soon be hosting US TV show Dance Your Ass Off, was launching the week at a central London Fitness First gym where they are offering free sessions to visitors with passes which are available on the International Fitness Week website.

www.internationalfitnessweek.com 

Professors in Berlin have developed the perfect handheld health accessory that gauges the effects that smoking and junk food have on your body.

The device only takes 30 seconds to analyse your body and the level of antioxidants, then provides you with a read out. It is expected to hit the high street in summer 2011 and will retail at £175.

The health accessory uses works by directing a beam of light at the body, which then collects the reflected light and analysis it for information on which wavelengths have been absorbed. This allows it to measure levels of health-boosting antioxidants in the skin.

Professor Jürgen Lademann, of the Charité medical school in Berlin, said: ‘Everybody wants beautiful skin.

‘Smoking, alcohol consumption and lack of sleep abuse the antioxidants in the skin because of free radical formation.

The scanner takes just 30 seconds to determine the level of antioxidants in your body, and then rates it between 1 and 10. It isn’t only antioxidants that are picked up, the device can also detect changes in diet and lifestyle.

The device is being tested on 50 secondary school pupils in the hope that it will encourage them to address bad habits.

It is reported that cancer specialists may find the device useful when monitoring the side effects of chemotherapy.