24Feb 2012 by Walt Larimore

Physicians with normal BMI more likely to diagnose, discuss obesity

Children's Health, General Health, Nutritional Health, Obesity, Parenting
Color me "stunned" by this report: The Baltimore Sun "Picture of Health" blog reports a study in the journal Obesity suggesting that "physicians with a normal body mass index were more likely than overweight doctors to engage their obese patients in weight loss discussions." The Sun goes on to say, "Normal weight doctors were also more likely to diagnose a patient as obese if they perceived the patient's BMI was equal to or larger than their own." The work was funded by in part by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. The Los Angeles Times "Booster Shots" blog reports, "In one of the most stunning figures in the paper ... the probability that a normal-weight doctor actually recording an obesity diagnosis for an obese patient was 93%.” For overweight…
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20Feb 2012 by Walt Larimore

CV risk factors in midlife linked to risk of premature death from heart disease

General Health, Heart Health
The Los Angeles Times "Booster Shots" blog reports, "They're called 'risk factors' for a reason – people with high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and/or a smoking habit are much more likely to have heart attacks, strokes and other manifestations of cardiovascular disease, including death," according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. (more…)
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19Feb 2012 by Walt Larimore

Kids’ snacks CAN be healthy and inexpensive

Children's Health, Nutritional Health, Parenting
It's well-documented that healthy foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables tend to cost more than "junk" foods such as chips and cookies, a phenomenon that's often cited as a contributing factor to the U.S. obesity epidemic. But a new study conducted in YMCAs found that healthy snacks aren't always more expensive, and in some cases are even more economical. (more…)
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15Feb 2012 by Walt Larimore

Women report feeling more pain than men

General Health, Men's Health, Woman's Health
A Stanford Medical Center study found women report feeling more pain than men do on a variety of common ailments including back and neck injuries, digestive problems and sinus infections. In a Stanford news release one of the authors said part of the reason women reported much higher levels of pain could be because men simply don't want to admit how much pain they experience." (more…)
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