A new study says that the percentages of overweight kids and men has increased, while the percentage of overweight women has peaked. This could suggest a turning point in the nation’s obesity trend.
Latest Additions - Health and Wellness
Fat Kids, Fat Dad? Sun Apr 9, 2006 11:43 pm
Surgery Helps With ADHD? Fri Apr 7, 2006 8:59 am
University of Michigan researchers find that tonsillectomies help some children sleep better, and that many of these same children are able to deal with hyperactivity and attention deficit disorders more effectively.
Pay Attention To Puberty's Timing Mon Feb 6, 2006 10:51 pm
A CNN article shares new findings that kids who experience puberty earlier have a greater risk of being victimized or being involved in physical fights, including being shot or stabbed. The details behind these trends might surprise you.
Have A Nervous Child Starting School? Thu Aug 25, 2005 7:08 am
Here are some tips from Medical News Today for parents with children who are anxious about starting school. Simple acts like showing the kids where their classroom is and helping them establish a routine can go a long way. Also, talking to your children and letting them know that it is ok to feel anxious may enable them to acknowledge and work through their fears and anxieties.
Teen Smoking - Getting Them Started For Life Sat Aug 20, 2005 9:53 pm
Hey everyone: smoking is still a big deal for teens. Even with all the education efforts, 23% of high school students and 10% of middle schoolers are smoking. The Mayo Clinic offers some brief but powerful insights into teen smoking, and reinforces the idea that many teen smokers continue the habit into adulthood. In fact, 90% of adult smokers started during their teenage years.
And here’s a surprise - the incidence rates for girls have been rising since the 70s, possibly because girls are trying to control their weight. Want to find out whether the patches and gums are effective for teens? Read on. This is a wonderfully informative article for parents.
Getting Ready For School - And Illness Sat Aug 13, 2005 8:13 am
If you are scrambling to get your children ready for school, don’t forget to bone up on illness prevention. All sorts of viruses are passed around the classroom, and Mayoclinic.com outlines the top four illnesses that generate absenteeism in the classroom. You can also find out what symptoms you should watch for in your children, and how long they need to be out of school if they do get sick. This piece also offers links for more information on specific illnesses.
Keeping Kids Safe In The Car Fri Aug 5, 2005 11:03 am
The experts continually tell parents how we should handle car travel with our kids, and most of us know the drill very well: always use approved car seats, no riding in the front seat, no sharing seat belts, etc. With summer travel upon us, a little reminder never hurt anyone. This article from ParentCenter is a good refresher course on why little Johnny really needs to stay in his carseat, even though he is screaming his head off to hitch a lap ride in the car. It is tough to resist when kids throw a fit and you need to transport the crew from A to B, but this is one of those times to be strong and possibly even find a good set of earplugs. 
Kiss Your Kid, Spread Cavities? Thu Aug 4, 2005 7:53 pm
We know that our children should brush their teeth regularly to develop good lifelong habits and prevent cavities. But a dentist at Temple University School of Dentistry now says that if parents have cavity-causing bacteria in their mouths, it can be spread to children by giving kisses. Seems odd, but just in case, I guess I’ll go brush my teeth now.
Exercising Safely During Hot Days Fri Jul 29, 2005 10:34 am
It seems that most of the U.S. is in a heat wave right now, yet I still see lots of kids playing soccer, football, baseball and other sports. Mayoclinic.com offers a timely article with useful information on keeping your kids hydrated and ready to play, and also a guide for determining when the weather is too hot and humid for sports activities. Did you know that if your child spends a lot of time indoors with air conditioning, it is important to acclimate him/her to the outdoors 30-45 minutes per day for 8-10 days before starting strenuous sports practices? Also, if you live in a heat and humidity prone area of the country, make sure the coach measures the wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) with a psychrometer. This article provides recommendations for appropriate WBGT issued by The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). At a certain combination of heat and humidity, outdoor activities should be cancelled for the safety of the children.
Kudos to the Mayo Clinic for publishing this info. Many parents who are newbies to Little League, AYSO and Pony League will get their children off to a good start this season.
Sesame Allergy A Growing Concern Fri Jul 29, 2005 9:57 am
Researchers at Michigan State University have cited worldwide increases in sesame allergies. This is concerning because awareness is low, and sesame is being used in more and more foods, ointments, cosmetics, and---get this, injections. Thanks to our friends at HealthDay and Yahoo! for publishing this story.
