By Cate Nelson •
August 10, 2009
Of course we know that childhood obesity is a problem. And children who are obese often have higher blood pressure.
But a new study shows a link between the amount of screen time a kid has and high blood pressure, no matter what size the child is.
We’ve known from previous studies that sedentary behaviors are linked to obesity, and that obesity is linked to high blood pressure, but this is the first time that we’ve linked those behaviors directly to elevated blood pressure.
The real worry here is that these kids only averaged 1.5 hours of TV a day, less than the two hours max that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends. It’s all the other “sitting around” behavior that can lead to high blood pressure.
By Cate Nelson •
January 13, 2009
In a study of 131 children, British researchers think they might have isolated a gene that affects obesity. Okay, so it’s not called the “cookie” gene. But the FTO gene may play a role in whether someone is satiated, or knows she is full. Lead author Jane Wardle says the results show:
Some children don’t know when to stop, which could lead to the onset of obesity and a lifetime of health problems.
By Jessica Gottlieb •
November 14, 2008
Today is “World Diabetes Day” brought to you by:
Eli Lilly
Astra Zeneca
LifeScan
Insulet
Medtronic
Pfiser
Takeda
And a handful of others. You see, diabetes is big business, insulin costs and insurance will always pay. Diabetes is one of the many preventable diseases that mothers give their children.
By Joel Bittle •
November 1, 2008
A new study in the December 2008 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine suggests that an increase of green space in a neighborhood may decrease the chance for childhood obesity among neighborhood children.
Of course we know that childhood obesity is a problem. And children who are obese often have higher blood pressure.
