Dietin -How Young Is To Young

Dieting- How Young Is Too Young

Childhood obesity is on the rise and many of the children will go on to be obese adults with early onset of non-communicable diseases.

Medical experts and pediatricians are calling on parents to seek medical intervention for children that are obese. This means early intervention.

Nutrition experts are also saying that dieting in childhood can lead to physical problems that may be difficult to reverse. Experts say the use of the word dieting for weight control in children may be not a good thing because the physical and emotional consequences are to risky.

I prefer to use the term healthy eating when talking about weight control because dieting can convey a different message to those who are overweight.

For children the word dieting may mean restricting certain foods, eating less even missing meals.

How then can childhood obesity be prevented without dieting. I prefer not to use the word dieting, replacing it with healthy eating

Children and teenagers must be encouraged to keep physically active while maintaining proper nutrition. This means,healthy eating and physical activity must be included in their daily routine.

There are four food groups for healthy eating and there are recommended daily intake for children and teenagers.

Parents can follow the nutritional guidelines and the recommendations focusing on the nutritional value rather than on a weight loss diet

In this article the author identifies the health problems that are associated with dieting in childhood.

Prostate Cancer May Be Hereditary

Experts have long been looking for a link between inherited genes and prostate cancer. Until now, they couldn't find results to confirm hereditary as a cause of the disease.

In a recent research report; however, a rare inherited gene was linked to higher risk of developing the disease.

The study involved 94 families , each had multiple cases of prostate cancer among close relatives. Researchers started with samples from the youngest patients with prostate cancer.

The same mutation in the gene which plays an important role in the development of the prostate was found in 4 different families. All 18 men with prostate cancer carried the mutation.

Read more on this study.

Making New Year health Resolutions

If your health is at risk or if you are simply health conscious you may be making New Year health resolutions.

One good reason to do it is to reduce the number of deaths and illnesses due to non-communicable diseases(NCD's)

NCD's are diseases such as cancers, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD), diabetes and asthma.

Where can one start so that these resolutions can last all year round?

A good place to start is by reducing or eliminating avoidable health risk factors, risk factors that have become habits in our life causing us to develop these diseases.

Some good New Year resolutions to make are to:

1. Lose weight
2. Eat better
3. Keep physically active
4. Quit smoking
5. Reduce alcohol consumption
6. Keep up with necessary health screening

Here are the facts from the World Health Organization( WHO) on non-communicable diseases. Click Here.

This consumer health education blog has a self-directed program that teaches people how to start and become expert in developing healthier habits.

Postpartum Depression May Arise From Partner Abuse

If you know of someone who is family planning, is pregnant or has suffered from postpartum depression, this study may of interest you.

The report could be useful for helping these persons or for dealing with their depression.

Researchers found that intimate partner violence is common among women reporting symptoms of post natal depression.

They found that depression was associated with physical and emotional abuse in 40% of women and that emotional abuse is more common that physical abuse.

Participants for the study were 1,305 women pregnant for the first time and were between 6-24 weeks gestation. They were given questionaires on recruitment and at 3, 6 and 12 months pregnant.

After taking into account age and unemployment, the risk of depression was 3 times higher in women who had suffered emotional abuse and 4 times higher in those who suffered physical abuse.

Health professionals are advised to be aware of these findings and to regularly enquire about a women's mental health especially during the 12 months after birth.