Archive for the ‘teenagers & children’ Category

Obese Kids More Likely to Suffer Leg Injuries

Thursday, March 4th, 2010

XRCarrying around a lot of extra weight has to be murder on your legs. It must wreak havoc on your knees, ankles, and joints.

Turns out it does, especially in kids. Overweight or obese children are twice as likely to sprain something as normal weight kids.

Writing in the journal Pediatrics, researchers found obese children tended to suffer more lower body injuries, while thinner – more active – kids endured more sporting injuries, like lacerations and bumps on the head.

Data on 23,000 children, ages 3 to 14, revealed the obese children – one in six of the kids studied – had more lower extremity injuries with a 30% risk, compared to an 18% risk for normal weight children.

And obese kids had a 10% risk to suffer head or face injuries, while thinner children only had a 18% chance.

Researchers point out that both obese children and adults take longer to recover from physical injuries.

Via Reuters.

Image credit: ColorXrays.com

Posted in Fitness, Nutrition & Health, obesity, teenagers & children | No Comments »

Snacking Could Lead to “Constant Eating” in Kids

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

SNKSSnacks and junk food are everywhere, even hardware stores and pet shops have candy and salty snacks up by the cash registers.

So now experts think all this easy access to food and snacking could spur “constant eating” in young children.

Writing in the journal Health Affairs, researchers claim 27% of calories that American kids eat come from snacks; mostly salty foods, candy, desserts, and sweetened beverages.

The scientists say children’s caloric intake has increased by 113 calories per day from 1977 and 2006 – basically a can of soda.

All this snacking may lead to constant eating, which refers to the “physiological basis” for eating is becoming upset and kids confusing when to and when not to eat.

This compulsion, coupled with inactivity, will continue to fuel rising obesity rates. So U.S. health officials have urged food producers to improve the nutritional quality of their products.

And parents to become better educated about nutrition and to encourage their kids to exercise more.

Via Reuters.

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

Posted in Nutrition & Health, junk food, salt & sodium, sugar, teenagers & children | No Comments »

Children in Minority Groups Have Higher Risk of Obesity

Monday, March 1st, 2010

BGRacial minority groups – such as blacks and Hispanics – are higher in almost every risk factor for childhood obesity.

Major predictors of childhood obesity include having an obese mother, eating solid foods before four months of age, stopping breast-feeding too soon, and over consumption of fast food.

Writing in the journal Pediatrics, researchers found minority children were more inclined to have these risks factors than their white counterparts.

But the scientists report that these issues can be resolved early on by changing behaviors; a biggie being counseling women to breast feed longer.

Minority groups in the United States are typically pegged with higher rates of obesity; previous  studies claim Mexican Americans have a 38% obesity, blacks 34.9%, and whites 30.7%.

As a layman, I contend distribution of wealth and socio-economic status contribute to all this – sad to say.

Via HealthDay News.

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Posted in Nutrition & Health, breast-feeding, fast food, teenagers & children | No Comments »

Even Six Year Olds Can Show Signs of Heart Disease

Monday, March 1st, 2010

FKHeart disease doesn’t just happen. Diet, exercise habits, and genetics all contribute to risk. So does obesity.

And not just overweight or obese adults, even young children – like six year olds – can begin to show signs of cardiovascular disease.

Published in the journal Pediatrics, researchers found higher levels of C-reactive protein – a marker for artery inflammation and heart disease – among obese children.

High C-reactive protein levels were evident in overweight children ages 6 and 9.

Here’s the problem. Adults know – because they are bombarded with messages – that being overweight, not exercising enough, and eating poorly aren’t healthy, but young children are more oblivious.

So the researchers say obtaining C-reactive protein levels in obese children could help motivate parents and doctors to intervene.

Via HealthDay News.

Image credit: Daily Fork

Posted in Fitness, Nutrition & Health, heart disease, teenagers & children | No Comments »

Even Six Year Olds Can Show Signs of Heart Disease

Monday, March 1st, 2010

FKHeart disease doesn’t just happen. Diet, exercise habits, and genetics all contribute to risk. So does obesity.

And not just overweight or obese adults, even young children – like six year olds – can begin to show signs of cardiovascular disease.

Published in the journal Pediatrics, researchers found higher levels of C-reactive protein – a marker for artery inflammation and heart disease – among obese children.

High C-reactive protein levels were evident in overweight children ages 6 and 9.

Here’s the problem. Adults know – because they are bombarded with messages – that being overweight, not exercising enough, and eating poorly aren’t healthy, but young children are more oblivious.

So the researchers say obtaining C-reactive protein levels in obese children could help motivate parents and doctors to intervene.

Via HealthDay News.

Image credit: Daily Fork

Posted in Fitness, Nutrition & Health, heart disease, teenagers & children | No Comments »

One-Fifth of American Teens Have Unhealthy Cholesterol

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

TEENNot exactly a good start for the future of a country.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports one in five American teenagers have high cholesterol levels.

High cholesterol is a known risk factor for heart disease.

Studying data from a national health survey, the CDC found 20.3% of young people, ages 12 to 19, had unhealthy cholesterol levels.

Heavier teens were more likely to have high cholesterol and boys were found to be at higher risk than girls.

Researchers say unhealthy cholesterol often begins in childhood and adolescence, so it’s important that doctors identify it early and recommend lifestyle interventions.

Via Reuters.

Image credit: The Marketess

Posted in Nutrition & Health, heart disease, high cholesterol, teenagers & children | No Comments »