One-Fifth of U.S. Health Care Costs Attributed to Obesity | EHS Today

Obesity is a health risk factor for non-communicable diseases such as cancer, strokes, heart disease , diabetes and respiratory disorders.

Obesity can affect the emotional health and wellbeing of the individual.

Obesity seems to be a burden on health care systems; a new study reports that obese persons' medical costs can be $2,741 higher than if they were not obese, and a 20.6 % of the national health expenditures.

Read more on the report from EHS Today

A Weighty Expense: One-Fifth of U.S. Health Care Costs Attributed to Obesity | EHS Today

Preparing For Your Race Day

The week before your race day is one of the most important. Here are "10 tips to get you to race day rested, fuelled and mentally ready."The tips are on: Wake time -fluids, breakfast, treatment, nutrition, music, support/family, post race plans, pacing and epsom salts.

Read about each in detail to get the tips and advice. TheSpec - 10 tips to get you to race day rested, fuelled and...

Dieting -How Young Is To Young

Dieting- How Young Is Too Young

Childhood obesity is on the rise and many of the children will go on to be obese adults with early onset of non-communicable diseases.

Medical experts and pediatricians are calling on parents to seek medical intervention for children that are obese. This means early intervention.

Nutrition experts are also saying that dieting in childhood can lead to physical problems that may be difficult to reverse. Experts say the use of the word dieting for weight control in children may be not a good thing because the physical and emotional consequences are to risky.

I prefer to use the term healthy eating when talking about weight control because dieting can convey a different message to those who are overweight.

For children the word dieting may mean restricting certain foods, eating less even missing meals.

How then can childhood obesity be prevented without dieting. I prefer not to use the word dieting, replacing it with healthy eating

Children and teenagers must be encouraged to keep physically active while maintaining proper nutrition. This means,healthy eating and physical activity must be included in their daily routine.

There are four food groups for healthy eating and there are recommended daily intake for children and teenagers.

Parents can follow the nutritional guidelines and the recommendations focusing on the nutritional value rather than on a weight loss diet

In this article the author identifies the health problems that are associated with dieting in childhood.

Prostate Cancer May Be Hereditary

Experts have long been looking for a link between inherited genes and prostate cancer. Until now, they couldn't find results to confirm hereditary as a cause of the disease.

In a recent research report; however, a rare inherited gene was linked to higher risk of developing the disease.

The study involved 94 families , each had multiple cases of prostate cancer among close relatives. Researchers started with samples from the youngest patients with prostate cancer.

The same mutation in the gene which plays an important role in the development of the prostate was found in 4 different families. All 18 men with prostate cancer carried the mutation.

Read more on this study.

Postpartum Depression May Arise From Partner Abuse

If you know of someone who is family planning, is pregnant or has suffered from postpartum depression, this study may of interest you.

The report could be useful for helping these persons or for dealing with their depression.

Researchers found that intimate partner violence is common among women reporting symptoms of post natal depression.

They found that depression was associated with physical and emotional abuse in 40% of women and that emotional abuse is more common that physical abuse.

Participants for the study were 1,305 women pregnant for the first time and were between 6-24 weeks gestation. They were given questionaires on recruitment and at 3, 6 and 12 months pregnant.

After taking into account age and unemployment, the risk of depression was 3 times higher in women who had suffered emotional abuse and 4 times higher in those who suffered physical abuse.

Health professionals are advised to be aware of these findings and to regularly enquire about a women's mental health especially during the 12 months after birth.