Convenient Obesity

In South Los Angeles, researchers have determined a culprit to childhood obesity. They believe convenience store that sell sugary snacks, chips, and sodas play a huge role. They found many of the students daily bought snacks and would easily down 356 calories. And sometimes students would even get a snack more than once.

Obesity concerns spur calls to limit new convenience stores in South L.A.
The proposed rules, an outgrowth of last year's city restrictions on new fast-food restaurants, are prompted by links found by researchers between snack foods and obesity in poor communities.
By Jerry Hirsch
October 12, 2009

Links found by researchers between snack foods and obesity in poor communities are prompting new calls for more regulation of convenience stores in South Los Angeles.

The proposed new regulations under discussion are an outgrowth and expansion of last year's city restrictions on new fast-food restaurants in a 32-square-mile area of South Los Angeles. The area is home to about 500,000 residents, including those who live in West Adams, Baldwin Hills and Leimert Park.

Motivated by new data focusing on convenience stores, civic activists and a City Council member favor limiting the development of new convenience stores.

A study by Santa Monica think tank Rand Corp. published in the research journal Health Affairs last week said calories from snacks were a likely culprit of higher obesity rates in South Los Angeles. The authors also found that South Los Angeles had a dramatically higher concentration of the type of small convenience store that sells caloric snacks than other sections of the city. More...

A Concentration of Health Expenses

August 24, 2009, 4:08 pm

By Amanda Cox

In 2006, health care expenses among half the United States population totaled less than $800 per individual, according to the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. But the expenditures were not uniformly distributed throughout the overall population. Spending was far higher among the elderly, the obese and people who identified themselves as unhealthy. Median spending in those groups totaled $2,300 per individual. Although these patients represent just one-third of the population, they accounted for almost 60 percent of health care spending.

A Spoonful of Sugar Makes the Medicine Go Down

According to Mary Poppins, sugar makes the medicine go down, right? Wrong. The sugar is taking too much of a toll on our bodies and is slowly damaging us. The average American is slowly giving himself or herself too much sugar. We are eating nearly 22 teaspoons of sugar a day and we need to cut back or we'll make ourselves more obese and have numerous health problems which'll make the medicine come up and impose a large cost on us in a bad economy.

Heart Group: Cut Back -Way Back- on Sugar
by Jamie Stengle, Associated Press Writer- Tue Aug 25 4:28 AM PDT

DALLAS - A spoonful of sugar? Americans are swallowing 22 teaspoons of sugar each day, and it's time to cut way back, the American Heart Association says. More...

Fat Tax

First, cigarettes were taxed and we saw a huge jump in the number of people who were smoking. That was the most effective way in getting people to quit or reduce the amount they smoked, and some think this idea should be applied to some of your favorite junk foods. Will the same strategy work for a different product?


Calls to tax junk food gain ground
A surcharge on cigarettes has helped curb smoking, but will the same tactic work to fight obesity?
By Karen Kaplan
August 23, 2009

"Sin taxes" on cigarettes have turned out to be the most effective weapon in the campaign to reduce smoking.

Why not try it on Flamin' Hot Cheetos, vanilla Coke and Twinkies?

With increasing vigor, public health experts and think tanks are calling for extra taxes on foods and drinks that are heavy in calories and light on nutrition. New York Gov. David Paterson proposed an 18% soda tax last year as a budget-balancing measure, only to abandon it three months later in the face of stiff public opposition. Lawmakers in at least five other states have gone on the record in support of the idea.

Junk-food taxes are often mentioned as a way to help fund a restructuring of the healthcare system, though no one in Congress has endorsed them. More...

Less Cash Links to Bigger Bellies

Stories have found those of you who are scraping your wallets in this financial time has lead to people with bigger paunches and more trips for cheap fast food. These hard financial times have also lead to more cases of depression, obesity, and drug use. Hopefully the hard times will soon be done, and people can go back to worrying about things such as their waistline.

More Debt Means More Obesity, Study Says
Being in Debt Doubles Risk of Being Overweight
By CHARLES BANKHEAD
MedPage Today Staff Writer
Aug. 9, 2009

Financial belt-tightening could result in a literal belt loosening as hard times force people to adjust their dietary habits, according to a German study of indebtedness and obesity.

The likelihood of being overweight or obese doubled with increasing indebtedness, an association that could not be explained by other socioeconomic or medical factors, according to an article published online in the journal BMC Public Health.

One plausible explanation relates to the potential impact of indebtedness on risk factors for obesity and other chronic diseases. More...

Severe Child Obesity On the Rise

A recent study has shown there has been a massive jump in the numbers of children who are-shall we say-grown massive? The study recorded BMI of some children whom are considered severely or morbidly obese, and compared it to a study taken 25 years ago. The results? Not good.

Study: Childhood Obesity Rates Have Tripled
Devetta Blount
7/27/2009 3:25:27 PM

Winston-Salem, NC-- Rates of severe childhood obesity have tripled in the last 25 years, according to a recent study by an obesity expert at Brenner Children's Hospital.

"In addition to seeing the overall numbers of childhood obesity rise dramatically, we saw a significant jump in the number of severely obese children," said Joseph Skelton, M.D., an obesity expert at Brenner Children's Hospital and Director of the Brenner FIT (Families in Training) Program. "We saw that children who are classified as severely obese are also much sicker and are at higher risk of developing chronic illnesses, such as heart disease and diabetes. This reinforces the fact that medically-based programs to treat obesity are needed throughout the United States and insurance companies should be encouraged to cover these types of programs." More...

A Healthier China

China has been a little late jumping on the healthy food and diet bandwagon. But at least they're jumping. The Chinese are learning of the effects and causes of obesity and sales of health foods and products are rising.

Obesity worries lift health food prospects in Asia
Tue Jul 7, 2009 8:21pm EDT

By Ralph Jennings

TAIPEI (Reuters) - It's the growing number of customers such as Bill Chung, who is on a diet after packing on 30 kilograms, that food companies hope to attract as they expand health food lines in Asia.

Affluence and sedentary lifestyles have brought health problems such as obesity and diabetes to Asia, prompting locals such as Chung to fill up their shopping carts with products such as oats, yogurt and vitamins.

"I went to a bookstore and read about it," said Chung, 33, a self-employed Taipei resident who lost six kilograms (13 pounds) over the past two months. "I'm spending a little less and it's all healthy, so I'm on track." More...

Dieting on a Budget

In today's economy, everyone is trying to save money. However, people are sacrificing their diets in order to save those extra bucks. But good news! There's other ways to go on a diet without spending too much money. Check out this New York Times article.

For a Frugal Dieter, Weight Loss on a Sliding Scale

By LESLEY ALDERMAN

Published: July 3, 2009

IF you’re one of the millions of people who are dieting right this minute, or even thinking about it, here’s some good news: you don’t have to throw a lot of money at the problem to see results. In fact, you may not have to spend much at all. More...

More Than the "Freshman Fifteen"

Some people are gaining more than the typical "freshman fifteen". How do we deal with them without hurting their feelings? Is it a major concern and a necessity to tell them? Dr. Scott Jakubowski, Ph.D., LMFT, owner/operator of Horizons Therapeutic Services answers a worried parent's concerns about their daughter and obesity.

Obesity is an addiction, should be addressed
BY SCOTT JAKUBOWSKI
June 29, 2009

Question:Hello, Dr. Scott. We are really concerned about our daughter who recently came back from college up north for the summer. She has gained a lot of weight and we're not sure how to talk to her about it. She has always been a big girl.
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Before she left for college, she was about 200 pounds. She is tall, but we believe she is still overweight even for her height. She's about 5-feet-11-inches. More...

Play and Feed Hungry People

On a website called Free Rice, you can play and sharpen your vocabulary while feeding the hungry. This program is run through the UN World Food Program. For every word you get right, ten grains of rice are donated. But the more you get right, the harder it gets. Also you don't have to stick with math. There are many different subjects you can play such as art, chemistry, English, geography, language learning, and math. Last year 43,942,622,700 grains of rice were donated. So far, this year, 65,853,551,190 have already been donated.

So, help feed those in need at freerice.com

It's Not Only About Starvation and Obesity

Obviously, deaths are happening everyday around the world but you might wonder, "how often do people die?" According to poverty.com, it's only seconds before someone dies of diseases like hunger, AIDS, diarrhea, malaria, and so on.

Check out the site: http://www.poverty.com

and you can make a difference today in a solution to provide international aid for these young children.

The Price We Pay

The following article describes what conditions take place when you are consumed by the chomping jaws of obesity. It's not new news that Americans are notorious for their unhealthy habits and overeating. But nowadays it is an even harder struggle for families in this economy.

Viewpoint: The price of obesity
Mon, 06/22/2009 - 20:52

By Erica Martin

For the past few decades, a large number of Americans have been getting fatter, and all Americans are paying for it. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one-third of Americans are obese. Obesity increases the chance of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and various types of cancer. Considering the associated health problems, it is not surprising that in 1998, obesity accounted for $47.5 billion of U.S. medical costs. More...

The Downfall

Everyone has their weaknesses. I have a big weakness and it is food. I love food but I need to try to stay away from too much cake and pie! Others can relate to you, even those who work for the FDA! Check this article out...

How the Food Makers Captured Our Brains

By Tara-Parker Pope

As head of the Food and Drug Administration, Dr. David A. Kesslerserved two presidents and battled Congress and Big Tobacco. But the Harvard-educated pediatrician discovered he was helpless against the forces of a chocolate chip cookie. More...

It's Around the World

Think you're the only person who's coping with obesity? Well, everyone around the world is dealing with the same problems. Let's see what other people are experiencing and want to take inspiration trying to lose weight and teaching your kids the same thing. Check out this video by New York Times about childhood obesity.

Watch the Video

P.E. Helps. Right?

We always hear stories of how schools are keeping students from becoming overweight with their P.E. (Physical Education) program. But studies have recently shown that their 40 minutes a week does not help at all. Especially when some schools fill their halls with vending machines stocked with candy and soda. So think again, is P.E. enough for your kid?

PE requirement isn't enough to fight obesity
By NANCY ARMOUR – 17 hours ago
CHICAGO (AP) —

The gym at Eberhart Elementary School is bright and spacious — with high ceilings, several basketball hoops, even a large, colorful climbing wall.

But for much of the day, the gym doubles as a cafeteria where the school's 1,800-plus students are offered breakfast and lunch.

There's another gym on the fourth floor, but it's so old it has basketball hoops attached to ladders. Time and space limitations mean each class gets physical education just once a week for 40 minutes. More...

Are Fast Food Chains Becoming... Health Clubs?

While childhood obesity is on the rise, candy producers and fast-food restaurants have been losing their good reputation. With this hurting those companies, they've decided to take a turn and help children maintain a healthy diet while earning some more money. Now, it's a relief that you can get healthy things at places like McDonalds... and stay away from Big Macs and Chicken Nuggets. Check out this New York Times article.

Kid Goes into McDonalds... and Orders Yogurt?

By Tara-Parker Pope June 15,2009

The eating habits of American children appear to be shifting. And for a change, the news is good.

Chicken nuggets, burgers, fries and colas remain popular with the under-13 set, of course. But new market research shows that consumption of these foods at restaurants is declining, while soup, yogurt, fruit, grilled chicken and chocolate milk are on the rise. More...

Fasting for a Cause

If you feel passionate about a cause, take a stand. This is what Mia Farrow did. The Hannah and Her Sisters actress fasted for about twelve days in order to feel the pain of people across the globe in Darfur. Would you do something like that? Feel free to comment below.

Mia Farrow Risks Low Blood Sugar, Seizures; Breaks 21 Day Fast for Darfur

by Elizabeth Snead

Well, that's one way to draw attention to your favorite cause. Actress Mia Farrow did not eat for twelve days in order to express her support for people facing starvation in Darfur. The 64-year old actress dropped 13 pounds on her hunger strike. More...

Starvation in Everyone

It's obvious but there is starvation around the world affecting lives in people just like us. However, not only humans are starved, their furry companions are also starving. When people struggle to feed themselves, their poor pets are left behind in the dust. Feeling some compassion for these animals? Want to help them in an easy and free way? Visit www.free kibble.com

It has you answer trivia questions on dogs, and if you get it right, you've just donated a meal for the dogs!

www.freekibble.com

Bad Habits

Have you ever heard of the saying "try something new everyday"? According to an article in the New York Times, people new to try something and break bad habits. If you have an over tendancy to eat, try using smaller plates; try limiting yourself to two cookies a day; try anything. Here is your chance to turn around obesity numbers.

Bad Habits Asserting Themselves

By RONI CARYN RABIN

Published: June 8, 2009

Five fruits and vegetables a day. Exercise, several times a week at least. No smoking.

Anyone who hasn’t heard the healthy lifestyle message has to be living under a rock. But whether it’s the vegetable-hating inner child or the primal urge to conserve physical energy asserting itself, millions of middle-age Americans are having none of it.

More...

Taxes...

Today, it is important to keep up with the state of the economy. However, it is also important to keep up with the state of your body. Want to save money and lose weight at the same time? There's a simple solution; stop drinking soda. The government is thinking about putting a tax on these sugary drinks so would you want to pay more money and gain more weight just because of sip of coke? I think not. Check out this New York Times Article.

Sodas a Tempting Tax Target
by David Leonhartd May 19, 2009

“Sugar, rum and tobacco are commodities which are nowhere necessaries of life, which are become objects of almost universal consumption, and which are therefore extremely proper subjects of taxation.”

— Adam Smith,

“The Wealth of Nations,” 1776

That quotation, from the great philosopher of capitalism, appeared at the start of an article that ran a few weeks ago in The New England Journal of Medicine. The article argued for taxing Coke, Pepsi, Gatorade, Red Bull and any other sugar-sweetened beverage, largely to combat obesity.

More...

Obesity Linked to Sleeping Disorder

Obesity is being linked to sleeping disorders in children. This is another dangerous consequence from eating one too many times at McDonalds. Beware of this new symptom from the cause of obesity.

VITAL SIGNS
Childhood: Obesity Linked to Sleep Disorder

By NICHOLAS BAKALAR
Published: June 8, 2009

Childhood obesity may have yet another dangerous consequence: disordered breathing during sleep.

Researchers had 700 children spend a night in a sleep lab where they were evaluated using a polysomnograph, an instrument that measures sleep quality and breathing function. They also underwent a physical examination by an ear, nose and throat specialist. The children were randomly selected from the community, and none were being treated for sleep problems. More...

Obesity Linked to Gum Disease

Studies have shown that those who are obese are more likely to be diagnosed with gum disease.  Gum disease is when the gum forms a mild case of gingivitus and the gum bleads easily.  Some also say that preventing gum disease is a good enough reason to start a healthier diet and at the same time you can save your gums.

Obesity Boosts Gum Disease Risk

SATURDAY, April 4; 8:00 PM EDT

Experts say common denominator may be inflammation, suggest heart-healthy diet

(HealthDay News) -- Obese adults are at higher risk of gum disease than are normal-weight people, a new study finds.

For many years, researchers have been trying to determine the link between gum disease and cardiovascular risk, said study author Monik Jimenez, a doctoral candidate at the Harvard School of Public Health.

To explore the possible connection between excess weight and periodontal problems, Jimenez and her colleagues analyzed data from nearly 37,000 men who participated in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. They were free of periodontal disease at the beginning of the study and were followed for up to 16 years, from 1986 to 2002. More...

Infant Obesity

Did you know that we can already tell if a newborn will be obese? Studies show that babies who gain weight quickly during the first six moths of their life will be most likely to become obese.  Who knew obesity could start from the minute a baby is born?

Baby's Weight Gain Tied to Later Obesity

Study Shows Rapid Increase in Weight in Infancy Raises Risk of Childhood Obesity

By Jennifer Warner
WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

March 30, 2009 -- Babies who gain weight quickly in the first six months of life may be more likely to be obese by age 3, according to a new study.

"There is increasing evidence that rapid changes in weight during infancy increase children's risk of later obesity," says researcher Elsie Taveras, MD, PhD, of Harvard Medical School, in a news release. "The mounting evidence suggests that infancy may be a critical period during which to prevent childhood obesity and its related consequences."More...

Fat Tax

How would you like it if you went to a store and saw taxes on the all-time American classic hamburgers, pizzas, and your weekly bag of potato chips? France is doing just that. They are taxing more on fattening foods and trying to make their common people flock to healthier foods instead of the ones that are increasing the size of their stomachs. Also, in this economy, some of the common people can't pay for their children's sweets. This way, they are creating a healthier lifestyle for them and setting a good example which will help in the long run.

France to put 'fat tax' on pizzas, crisps and hamburgers
By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 2:53 PM on 06th August 2008

France is considering plans to impose a "fat tax" by more than trebling the VAT on junk food to tackle soaring obesity levels.

Ministers are being urged by health experts to raise VAT from 5.5 to 19.6 per cent on all foods considered to be "too rich, too sweet, too salty and which are not strictly necessary".

The cost of pizzas, hamburgers, sandwiches, crisps, children's sweets and creamy coffees could soar as a result. More...

For Some, Weight Gain Caused By a Virus?

For some people, can weight gain have been caused by a virus? Studies have shown that this is possible and this virus called AD-36 may just look like a common cold but really is a virus that creates more fat cells.

Some Obesity Cases May Be Due to Virus
By: Madeline Ellis
Published: Thursday, 29 January 2009

If you’ve put on some extra weight lately for no apparent reason you may be able to attribute the gain to a highly infectious virus known as AD-36. With symptoms similar to the common cold—runny nose, sore throat, swollen glands—the virus is passed from person-to-person through coughs, sneezes, and dirty hands. First infecting the lungs, it then whisks around to other parts of the body entering fat cells. “When this virus goes to fat tissue it replicates, making more copies of itself and in the process increases the number of new fat cells, which may explain why the fat tissue expands and why people get fat when they are infected with this virus,” explains Professor Nikhil Dhurandhar of Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Louisiana, who has researched this theory for more than a decade. More...