Individual dieting methods said to be overtaking conventional diet programs.
In her "Eat, Drink, And Be Healthy" column for the Washington Post (2/4), Jennifer LaRue Huget says that recent data from research firm Marketdata Enterprises "reports that of an estimated 72 million American dieters, 70 percent are trying to lose weight on their own." She calls this a "more realistic approach than the standard diet guide," and notes that "even Weight Watchers has tuned in to this phenomenon" with their current tag line and promotional materials.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Preventing Cancer
Report indicates 40 percent of cancers may be preventable.
The AP (2/3) reported, "About 40 percent of cancers could be prevented if people stopped smoking and overeating, limited their alcohol, exercised regularly, and got vaccines targeting cancer-causing infections," according to a report by officials at the International Union Against Cancer. In the paper, "experts said about 21 percent of all cancers are due to infections like the human papillomavirus, or HPV, which causes cervical cancer, and hepatitis infections that cause stomach and liver cancer." The report also noted that "nearly 80 percent of the world's cervical cancer deaths are in poor countries."
Reuters (2/2) reported that the paper urged public health officials to stress the importance of vaccines and lifestyle changes in the fight against cancer.
The AP (2/3) reported, "About 40 percent of cancers could be prevented if people stopped smoking and overeating, limited their alcohol, exercised regularly, and got vaccines targeting cancer-causing infections," according to a report by officials at the International Union Against Cancer. In the paper, "experts said about 21 percent of all cancers are due to infections like the human papillomavirus, or HPV, which causes cervical cancer, and hepatitis infections that cause stomach and liver cancer." The report also noted that "nearly 80 percent of the world's cervical cancer deaths are in poor countries."
Reuters (2/2) reported that the paper urged public health officials to stress the importance of vaccines and lifestyle changes in the fight against cancer.
Pregnancy Texting
New initiative provides pregnancy tips to expectant mothers via text message.
The AP (2/4, Perrone) reports that the "text4baby campaign" represents "the first free, health education program in the US to harness the reach of mobile phones, according to its sponsors." The program, which provides expectant mothers with pregnancy tips, "is expected to be announced Thursday morning by officials from the White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy." The effort will be monitored by researchers at the George Washington University, who "have agreed to evaluate the effectiveness of text4baby by measuring health trends for mothers and newborns."
The AP (2/4, Perrone) reports that the "text4baby campaign" represents "the first free, health education program in the US to harness the reach of mobile phones, according to its sponsors." The program, which provides expectant mothers with pregnancy tips, "is expected to be announced Thursday morning by officials from the White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy." The effort will be monitored by researchers at the George Washington University, who "have agreed to evaluate the effectiveness of text4baby by measuring health trends for mothers and newborns."
Seroquel Update
AstraZeneca faces some 26,000 lawsuits over Seroquel.
Bloomberg News (2/4, Feeley, Fisk) reports, "AstraZeneca Plc is facing as many as 26,000 lawsuits over its antipsychotic drug Seroquel as the drugmaker prepares for its first jury trial over claims the medicine causes diabetes, according to court filings." Many of the suits also allege "AstraZeneca promoted Seroquel, approved for schizophrenic and bipolar patients, for unapproved uses." Attorneys representing the drugmaker "met with plaintiffs' lawyers in court-ordered mediation sessions last month to discuss a possible settlement of the Seroquel cases, according to court filings."
Bloomberg News (2/4, Feeley, Fisk) reports, "AstraZeneca Plc is facing as many as 26,000 lawsuits over its antipsychotic drug Seroquel as the drugmaker prepares for its first jury trial over claims the medicine causes diabetes, according to court filings." Many of the suits also allege "AstraZeneca promoted Seroquel, approved for schizophrenic and bipolar patients, for unapproved uses." Attorneys representing the drugmaker "met with plaintiffs' lawyers in court-ordered mediation sessions last month to discuss a possible settlement of the Seroquel cases, according to court filings."
New Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment
Medical community turning to new obstructive sleep apnea treatments.
The Wall Street Journal (2/2, Mahrer) reported that as manufacturers work on streamlining the often bulky and expensive breathing masks used during CPAP treatments to help patients with obstructive sleep apnea, some dentists are turning to appliances that reposition the jaw. Meanwhile, physicians are either practicing various surgical techniques or encouraging their patients to make certain lifestyle changes, such as losing weight or changing one's sleep position. As a last resort, an Australian paper appearing in the BMJ indicates that learning to play the didgeridoo may actually help too.
The Wall Street Journal (2/2, Mahrer) reported that as manufacturers work on streamlining the often bulky and expensive breathing masks used during CPAP treatments to help patients with obstructive sleep apnea, some dentists are turning to appliances that reposition the jaw. Meanwhile, physicians are either practicing various surgical techniques or encouraging their patients to make certain lifestyle changes, such as losing weight or changing one's sleep position. As a last resort, an Australian paper appearing in the BMJ indicates that learning to play the didgeridoo may actually help too.
Vitamin D Research
Researchers to study effects of high doses of vitamin D.
The New York Times (2/1, Parker-Pope) "Wellness" blog reported that relatively "little is known about what the ideal level of vitamin D really is, whether raising it can improve health, and what potential side effects are caused by high doses." To that end, a "nationwide clinical trial is recruiting 20,000 older adults, including men 60 and older and women 65 and older, to study whether high doses of vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids from fish-oil supplements will lower risk for heart disease and cancer." Researchers plan to use "one-gram supplements of omega-3 fish oil, about five to 10 times the average daily intake."
The New York Times (2/1, Parker-Pope) "Wellness" blog reported that relatively "little is known about what the ideal level of vitamin D really is, whether raising it can improve health, and what potential side effects are caused by high doses." To that end, a "nationwide clinical trial is recruiting 20,000 older adults, including men 60 and older and women 65 and older, to study whether high doses of vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids from fish-oil supplements will lower risk for heart disease and cancer." Researchers plan to use "one-gram supplements of omega-3 fish oil, about five to 10 times the average daily intake."
Obesity and Puberty in Boys
Obesity may delay onset of puberty in boys.
The Los Angeles Times (2/1, Healy) "Booster Shots" blog reported, "While obesity has been shown to bring on puberty earlier in girls," a paper appearing in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine reveals something quite different: "Male children whose body-mass index (BMI) is consistently highest through early and mid-childhood are significantly more likely than thinner boys to have delayed puberty."
In fact, after "analyzing the records of 401 boys from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds in ten regions of the US," University of Michigan researchers discovered that "at 11.5 years, boys with the highest body mass index (mean BMI z score=1.84) were 165% more likely to be prepubertal than the thinnest boys," MedPage Today (2/1, Emery) reported. Notably, "rates of obesity among American girls and boys have nearly tripled since the 1960s."
Surgeon General's obesity plan said to be "sensible." In "The Checkup" blog of the Washington Post (2/1), Jennifer LaRue Huget writes that the Surgeon General's plan to combat obesity "got surprisingly little press coverage." Huget attributes this to it being a "sensible, seemingly heart-felt document" that doesn't call for governmental intervention. "Instead, it talks about personal responsibility, about communities working together, about grassroots efforts," and "places the onus for weight loss squarely on the shoulders of individuals." Huget asserts that "is not what many people want to hear -- or expect to hear in these paternalistic days."
The Los Angeles Times (2/1, Healy) "Booster Shots" blog reported, "While obesity has been shown to bring on puberty earlier in girls," a paper appearing in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine reveals something quite different: "Male children whose body-mass index (BMI) is consistently highest through early and mid-childhood are significantly more likely than thinner boys to have delayed puberty."
In fact, after "analyzing the records of 401 boys from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds in ten regions of the US," University of Michigan researchers discovered that "at 11.5 years, boys with the highest body mass index (mean BMI z score=1.84) were 165% more likely to be prepubertal than the thinnest boys," MedPage Today (2/1, Emery) reported. Notably, "rates of obesity among American girls and boys have nearly tripled since the 1960s."
Surgeon General's obesity plan said to be "sensible." In "The Checkup" blog of the Washington Post (2/1), Jennifer LaRue Huget writes that the Surgeon General's plan to combat obesity "got surprisingly little press coverage." Huget attributes this to it being a "sensible, seemingly heart-felt document" that doesn't call for governmental intervention. "Instead, it talks about personal responsibility, about communities working together, about grassroots efforts," and "places the onus for weight loss squarely on the shoulders of individuals." Huget asserts that "is not what many people want to hear -- or expect to hear in these paternalistic days."
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