When the data on the children’s BMIs were analyzed together with data on breastfeeding, the investigators reported inconsistent results. For breastfed children, there was a 37 percent reduction in being at risk of overweight, an effect that was statistically significant. (more…)
Health authorities are concerned because American children and adolescents have been getting fatter over the last few decades. Overweight and obesity in youth is thought to predict the same conditions in adulthood, and adult obesity increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and arthritis, among other conditions. (more…)
Obesity and being overweight have long been linked to a variety of diseases, but they, along with lack of exercise, have now also been connected to cancer. In fact, up to one-third of breast, colon and kidney tumors can be attributed to being overweight and a lack of sufficient physical activity, according to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Agency for Research on Cancer.
We know that high cholesterol raises your risk for coronary artery disease, but what about for stroke? Most studies that have looked for a compelling link between cholesterol and stroke haven’t found one. Strangely, however, some research has found that taking the cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins may cut the risk of stroke. A large new study in the January 19 Circulation supports these findings, suggesting that statins may help heart patients avoid stroke, even if they have average cholesterol levels. (more…)
Arnow and colleagues at Stanford University School of Medicine developed a scale to use as a tool to study emotional eating behavior and to learn from people who struggle with overeating. The scale measures the relationship between emotions and urges to eat, but not emotions and actual eating behavior. Take a moment now to complete the adapted version of this scale, called the Desire to Eat Scale, provided here.
The Desire to Eat Scale does not have a numerical score, yet it can be an effective tool for evaluating your emotional eating behavior. The first step is to complete the scale now. After you have completed the scale, try to maintain a regular pattern of eating three balanced meals and two to three snacks each day for the next week. The next step is to once again complete the Desire to Eat Scale and compare your responses. Notice whether your urges to eat have decreased in response to these emotions. The final step is to try to maintain this regular eating pattern for a month and, once again, complete the Desire to Eat Scale. Compare your responses with your earlier answers. If your urges to eat have decreased, this is evidence that reducing chronic dieting and hunger helps you to manage your emotional eating.
Fitness is something that many of us would like to achieve. This article discusses some simple steps that will help you become more fit and healthy.
Fitness is a goal that many of us seek, yet find difficult to achieve. Why?
For each of us, the answer will be different. In fact, before starting a fitness program, it is important to ask yourself: “What makes regular exercise hard for me to pursue?” Your answers could include a busy lifestyle, fear of soreness, or simply “I don’t like it” if you are honest. (more…)
The pituitary gland, a small structure which sits on the sphenoid bone at the base of the skull and weighs around 1/2 gram, has long been called the “master gland” because of its role in regulating hormones and important physiological functioning in the rest of the body. (more…)
The rapid proliferation of wellness programs and alternative medicines has led to the introduction of some very interesting products into the modern health care market. The amount of environmental toxins our bodies are exposed to today requires that we be more aware of our health, making any number of health products a hot commodity. Toxins gather in our bodies over a long period of time, and can cause a number of health problems.
Detox Patches, also know as Sap Sheets, are a unique product that can help flush toxins out of the body. Detox patches are derived from natural vinegars that come from plant material. (more…)