July 27, 2004 [Volume 5, Issue 16]
To Your Health is brought to you by:
The Skinny on Obesity
"A worrisome epidemic" is how the authors of a recent study describe obesity trends in the United States. The study, "Obesity in the United States," notes that between 1960 and 1980, rates of obesity were stable; however, from 1960 through 2000, obesity accelerated at an alarming rate. The primary causes? Lack of exercise and overeating.
What
is particularly disturbing are the findings that show obesity in children
is on the rise. The study attributes childhood obesity - at least in part
- to the amount of television children watch daily. Children who watch
fewer than two hours a day of television are less likely to be obese than
children who watch TV more frequently.
The study also found that 15 percent to 20 percent of young adults between the ages of 17 and 20 would be ineligible to join the military because of excess body weight, and that three in 10 adults are obese. Some factors associated with adult obesity, the study notes, are levels of education and income; however, a lack of physical activity and excess calorie consumption were identified as two primary reasons that obesity has increased over the past 20 years.
If you are obese, overweight, or just have a few extra pounds to lose, your doctor of chiropractic can help you design a healthy eating and fitness plan. For more information on general health and wellness, visit www.chiroweb.com/find/archives/general.
Reference: Crespo CJ, Arbesman J. Obesity in the United States. The Physician and Sportsmedicine 2003;(31)11.
Wrestling Your Way to Wellness
Need another way to keep your kids healthy? Encourage athletic participation! Exercise has long been associated with stimulating natural immune cells in adults, but what about its affects on the immune systems of adolescents? Researchers from the University of California, Irvine, and UC San Diego conducted a study to determine if immune function is enhanced in adolescent boys by intense exercise.
The study examined 11 healthy boys, 14-18.5 years old, who were evaluated before and after they engaged in an hour-long wrestling practice session. Following exercise, blood samples of the participants showed an increase in natural killer cells, T helper cells, and granulocytes, monocytes, and lymphocyte subpopulations - all important components for healthy immune function.
Researchers concluded that although the wrestling session stimulated immune function, the role of these changes on the overall status of the immune system could not be definitively determined. One thing, however, is certain: Exercise benefits people of all ages - mentally and physically. Encourage your children to participate in an athletic activity, or better yet, why not get out there and play with them? Engaging in athletic activities can be a great way for your family to spend time together while doing something good for your health.
For more information on pediatric health, visit www.chiroweb.com/find/archives/pediatrics.
Reference: Nemet D, Mills PJ, Cooper DM. Effect of intense wrestling exercise on leucocytes and adhesion molecules in adolescent boys. British Journal of Sports Medicine 2004;38(2):154-158.
Breastfeeding Is Good for the Baby
Many
studies have shown the multiple benefits of breastfeeding, but a new study
in the May issue of Pediatrics reveals that breastfeeding is also linked
to decreased infant mortality. Researchers studied the health records
of U.S. infants, including 1,204 infants who died between 28 days and
1 year of age whose causes of death were not linked to congenital anomalies
or cancer, and 7,740 children who were alive at the age of 1.
Results: Breastfed infants were 20 percent less likely to die within their first year than those not breastfed; researchers also noted that the risk of death continued to decrease the longer the infants were breastfed, and that "promoting breastfeeding has the potential to save or delay 720 postneonatal deaths in the United States each year."
Of course, this is just one benefit of breastfeeding your baby. Studies have shown that breastfeeding enhances the immune system and aids in protecting baby from infection, allergies and developmental problems. Additionally, breastfeeding has been linked to a decrease of breast cancer in women.
For more information on women's health, visit www.chiroweb.com/find/archives/women.
Reference: Chen A, Rogan W. Breastfeeding and the risk of postneonatal death in the United States. Pediatrics 2004;113(5):e435-e439.
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