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December 2, 2008 9:11:43 AM CST


childhood obesity

childhood obesity news stories

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Britain to Fight Fat in 'Fit Towns'

Government would broaden eco-friendly schemes to address health concerns

(Newser) - In light of dire predictions about the cost of the obesity crisis, England wants 10 previously planned eco-friendly towns to also combat obesity by promoting healthy lifestyles, the Guardian reported today. Among the proposals: more bike lanes; safe walking routes to school and the downtown area; larger and more modern parks, playgrounds and leisure centers. More »

More about:  France United Kingdom obesity England exercise childhood obesity obesity epidemic fitness healthy eating bikes

Anti-Obesity Ad Tap-Taps Craig's Bathroom Tryst

Anti-obesity campaign says Senators are on the 'gravy train'

(Newser) - “It’s their dirty little secret,” the commercial's voiceover says, as a well-dressed man taps his foot in a bathroom stall. And though Larry Craig’s name is never uttered, his airport indiscretion is obviously the latest target of an unlikely source—childhood obesity advocates knocking congressmen who pump fatty foods into school lunches for campaign contributions. More »

More about:  obesity political advertising campaign contributions childhood obesity Larry Craig

Nickelodeon Unplugs
the Tube

Urges kids to get out and play during 3-hour shutdown tomorrow

(Newser) - For years, parents have been telling kids to turn off the TV, go outside and play. Now, Nickelodeon is turning the tube off for them, broadcasting three hours of dead air starting at noon tomorrow, during which they hope kids will go outside and get some exercise. It’s part of the network’s fourth annual worldwide day of play, the AP reports. More »

More about:  television exercise childhood obesity Nickelodeon

American Kids' Blood Pressure Creeps Up

Obesity epidemic fallout foreshadows serious health troubles

(Newser) - The ranks of US children with dangerously high blood pressure and hypertension have been growing for 20 years, reversing a decades-long trend, says a new study that tracks the effects of youth obesity. Hypertension, which usually doesn't develop until patients are in their 30s or 40s, is a leading cause of heart attack and stroke, the Washington Post reports. More »

More about:  children obesity heart disease diabetes heart attack blood pressure childhood obesity stroke fat cholesterol Americans weight hypertension

Obese Toddlers: Too Many Calories, Too Little Iron

Parents should wean children, feed them meat, eggs, study says

(Newser) - Overweight toddlers are more than twice as likely to have iron deficiencies as their skinnier counterparts, with Hispanics facing the highest risk, concludes a study in September’s Pediatrics , the first to link obesity with low iron levels. Researchers stressed the importance of weaning kids 1 to 3 years old off bottles of milk and juice, introducing meats, eggs, and other iron-rich foods. More »

More about:  children obesity childhood obesity obesity epidemic pediatrics child development Anemia

(Newser) - The Trust for America's Health has come out with its fourth annual report on obesity.  And the losers are: Mississippi West Virginia Alabama More »

More about:  health obesity Michigan Louisiana South Carolina Indiana America Mississippi childhood obesity Tennessee Arkansas Kentucky Alabama fat weight West Virginia Oklahoma

We're Still Getting Fatter

Obesity epidemic continues to spread

(Newser) - Americans just keep getting fatter. Obesity rates were up in 31 states this year and declined in none, a new study by a health advocacy group finds. That brings the percentage of American adults who are either obese or overweight to 60%, Reuters reports, and the usual suspects are to blame: poor nutrition and physical inactivity. More »

More about:  obesity heart disease diabetes America Mississippi childhood obesity stroke health study obesity epidemic Americans epidemic nutrition

FTC Subpoenas Food Giants
on Marketing
to Kids

Congress wants data
on childhood obesity

(Newser) - The FTC dealt out 44 subpoenas yesterday to food companies, including McDonald's, Coca-Cola, and Kraft, seeking information on how much they spent on advertising to kids. The businesses have until November 1 to comply for a report the FTC is preparing for Congress on marketing practices and child obesity. More »

More about:  Congress health children advertising obesity marketing diet McDonald's childhood obesity advertisements weight nutrition Coca Cola FTC General Mills

Diet Foods
May Help
Make Kids Fat

Low-calorie imitations confuse system,
cause overeating

(Newser) - Feeding children diet food may actually help make them fat, the BBC reports. Young rats who had been given low-calorie versions of ordinarily high-calorie food begin to gain weight when they were switched to regular fare, a new study found. Rather than stop eating when they reached a certain calorie level, they continued to consume at the same level they had on the low-cal version. More »

More about:  children food obesity diet childhood obesity calories

Babies Off Breast Milk
Too Soon

Three-quarters of new moms breast feed, but only 11% long enough

(Newser) - Almost three quarters of new mothers in the US breast feed their babies, but they are switching to formula too soon, say federal health officials. Only 30% are sticking to breast milk alone at three months, and only 11% at six months, a new survey shows. Breast milk protects infants against diseases, eczema, and childhood obesity. More »

More about:  health children obesity baby parents childhood obesity infant breast feeding breast milk

China Worries About Obesity (and Young Love)

Officials announce new rules for school dance classes

(Newser) - When dance classes are introduced in China's primary and middle schools this fall, the children will be dancing by themselves or in groups, the BBC reports. The new edict addresses concerns from parents who fear that couples dancing could lead to puppy love... or worse. The dance classes were announced last month by the Ministry of Education in an effort to combat childhood obesity. More »

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Kellogg Will Ease Off Ads Aimed at Kids

Cereal giant plans voluntary nutrition, marketing changes

(Newser) - Averting a threatened lawsuit, Kellogg will reformulate its cereals and snack foods to make them more nutritious—or keep them as is and stop targeting advertising at children under 12. The plan affects about half of the company's offerings, meaning that fans of Pop-Tarts and Rice Krispies may be getting a little healthier whether they want to or not. More »

More about:  children food advertising obesity marketing childhood obesity obesity epidemic nutrition cereal

China to Mandate Booty-Shaking

Daily dancing requirement targets childhood obesity

(Newser) - The childhood obesity epidemic has found its way to China—and will stop there, if the government's new dance requirement has the desired effect. Starting in September, mandatory classes will get millions of schoolchildren off their butts and onto the dance floor. Experts are developing routines for the curriculum, which will gain new moves every two years. More »

More about:  China health children obesity childhood obesity dance

Preschool Kids Get Socked
In the Mouth

Cavities are on the
rise for the first time
in 40 years

(Newser) - Young children are developing more cavities in their baby teeth than kids were a decade ago, the CDC reported yesterday, a worrisome development that reverses a 40-year trend. Preschool children—"thousands and thousands of kids," in the words of one researcher—were the only age group in which the incidence of tooth decay increased. More »

More about:  health children obesity childhood obesity preschool teeth