Why Does Health News Sound So Unhealthy?

Posted by NoChubbyHubby on July 9, 2009

When researchers at Ohio State University calculated the body mass index of 8,550 Asian, black, Hispanic, Native American and white 4-year-olds born in 2001 and 2005, 18. 4% were obese. The difference in percentages between racial/ethnic groups ranged from 31. 2% of American Indian/Native Alaskan 4-year-olds to 12. 8% of Asian 4-year-olds. The difference in percentages was attributed to lifestyle differences both culturally and socioeconomically. Children obese at age 4 can have high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes. “The heavier you are as a child, the likelier that extra weight will follow you through life” is a quote not to be taken lightly. Also not to be taken lightly is an experimental program at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, which helps pregnant women control their weight. The program is based on new research showing excessive weight gain during pregnancy hurts both mother and fetus. It increases risk of complications during pregnancy and puts children at risk for obesity and diabetes later in life. Animal studies have shown the environment in which fetuses grow influences genes and children can be imprinted with a vulnerability to be overweight. Because nearly one-quarter of the 4 million U. S. births annually involve obese women, further research can’t “weight”. According to the Food and Drug Administration, food labels can state zero grams of trans fats if the trans fats are less than . 49 grams. To avoid even trace amounts of these harmful fats, avoid foods with partially hydrogenated oils – which are trans fats. Manufacturers use these oils to add shelf life to products. Trans fats can raise triglycerides and LDL and lower HDL, increasing risk of heart disease. LDL starts going up when 3. 8% of caloric intake is trans fats. In a 2000 calorie diet, that’s 8 grams. The process of maintaining good health is avoiding trans-fat-containing, processed foods. Helping to maintain good health, a federal study of 545,000 AARP members – which took into account other risk factors like smoking and family histories of cancer and obesity – found eating large amounts of red meat increases the likelihood of dying from heart disease and cancer. People who eat the highest amounts of red and processed meats are about 20% more likely to die of cancer. Heavy consumption of red meat also increases the risk of death due to heart disease 27% for men and 50% for women. Now the FDA is getting down to the meat of the matter.

Knight Pierce Hirst has written for television, newspapers and greeting cards. Now she writes a 400-word blog three times a week. KNIGHT WATCH, a second look at what makes life interesting, takes only seconds to read at http://knightwatch. typepad. com