New Study Paints Grim Health Picture for Obese Teens

Severely obese teens are at increased risk for a host of serious health problems as adults, including asthma, kidney disease and sleep disorders, according to a new study.

"Most people understand that the longer you carry extra weight, the higher your chances of developing heart disease or diabetes," said study author Dr. Thomas Inge, professor of surgery and pediatrics at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, in Ohio. "But now it seems that an even larger number of conditions should be added to the list of health problems that some obese teenagers will likely face down the road."

The study, published online Nov. 18 in the journal Pediatrics, included more than 1,500 severely obese American adults, aged 19 to 76. All were about to undergo weight-loss surgery. They were asked about their weight at age 18 and then assessed for medical problems related to obesity.  http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_142617.html

Weight loss may help steady irregular heartbeat

People with an irregular heart rhythm could see an improvement in symptoms if they lose weight in addition to managing their other heart risks, says a new study.

Researchers found that people who lost more than 30 pounds and kept their other health conditions in check saw greater improvements in atrial fibrillation symptoms than those who just managed their other health conditions without trying to lose weight.

"Risk factor management is a crucial component of managing atrial fibrillation," Dr. Prashanthan Sanders, the study's lead author from the Royal Adelaide Hospital in Australia, said.

"I think that's what the public needs to be aware of and it's not out there yet," he added.  http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_142646.html

Health Tip: Eat Safely During the Holidays

Before you stuff the turkey or prepare holiday treats, make sure you take precautions to prepare your food and store it safely after the feast is over.

The Foodsafety.gov website offers these holiday guidelines:

• Thoroughly wash your hands, produce and all surfaces and utensils.
• While shopping, separate raw meat and poultry from any foods that won't be cooked.
• Use a food thermometer to make sure all meat is cooked to an appropriate temperature.
• Reheat any sauces, gravies and soups to a rolling boil.
• Make sure all eggs are thoroughly cooked. Use only pasteurized egg products.
• Promptly refrigerate all leftovers at 40 degrees or below. Use leftovers within four days, or toss them out.  http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_142615.html

Older men who walk daily may lower their stroke risk

Older men who walked at least one to two hours each day compared to less than half an hour per day had a reduced risk of stroke, in a large population-based study reported in the American Heart Association journal Stroke.

In a study of 3,435 healthy men age 60 to 80, researchers asked distance walked each week and usual walking pace. They divided them into groups: those who spent zero-three hours a week; four-seven hours; eight-14 hours; 15-21 hours; and more than 22 hours walking per week. Men were followed for the next 10 years and monitored for all new cases of stroke.

Researchers found:

• Men who walked eight-14 hours per week had about one-third lower risk of stroke than men who spent zero-three hours walking each week.
• The risk was about two-thirds lower for those walking more than 22 hours a week.
• 42 percent walked for more than eight hours per week while 9 percent walked for more than 22 hours per week.
• Men who walked zero-three hours per week had 80 strokes per 10,000 person years and men who walked eight-14 hours per week had 55 strokes per 10,000 person years.  http://newsroom.heart.org/news/older-men-who-walk-daily-may-lower-their-stroke-risk

Testing for Pregnancy-Linked Diabetes Should Be Routine, Experts Say

All pregnant women should be screened for diabetes at their first prenatal check up, according to new recommendations from an international group of endocrinology experts.

The test should be done before women are 13 weeks pregnant or as soon as possible after that milestone is reached, according to new clinical practice guidelines released by the Endocrine Society to help doctors improve the level of care for pregnant women with diabetes.

Up to one in five women may develop gestational diabetes -- a form of diabetes that begins during pregnancy. Traditional testing methods, however, only detect about 25 percent of these cases. As a result, the experts caution that many pregnant women with gestational diabetes are going undiagnosed, which could increase their risk of having an overly large baby and complications during delivery.

"Many women have type 2 diabetes but may not know it," Dr. Ian Blumer, chair of the guidelines task force, said in a society news release. "Because untreated diabetes can harm both the pregnant woman and the fetus, it is important that testing for diabetes be done early on in pregnancy so that if diabetes is found appropriate steps can be immediately undertaken to keep both the woman and her fetus healthy."

The guidelines also recommend using lower blood sugar levels to diagnose gestational diabetes, which will allow doctors to detect more cases.  http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_142530.html

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Offering students healthier food choices at school helps improve their eating habits, a new study suggests.

The research included 55 middle schools in Michigan with mostly low-income students. Some of the schools made only limited changes to their nutrition policies and practices, while others introduced major changes.

Some of the new programs included raising nutrition standards for snacks and beverages, offering taste tests of healthy foods and beverages to students, marketing healthy foods in school, and removing ads for unhealthy foods.

In schools that introduced three or more new nutrition practices and policies, students ate 26 percent more fruits, 14 percent more vegetables and 30 percent more whole grains. They also increased their consumption of fiber, calcium and vitamins A and C, according to the study, which was published online Nov. 11 in the journal Childhood Obesity.  http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_142537.html

Your Fridge and Food Safety

Cleaning the refrigerator is one of those things most of us put off, but according to the U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service freshening up the fridge regularly is good for your health.

• Start with a batch of vinegar and water to wipe down the inside walls and shelves.
• If the stains are really stubborn, try scrubbing with a mixture of baking soda and water.
• You can attack nasty odors with rolled up newspapers. Stuff them in the fridge and leave for a few days to soak up any lingering smells. When you take them out, use the vinegar and water solution.
• Or you can combat odors with a cotton swab soaked in vanilla. Try putting it in the freezer for a few days and see if things improve.
• Once the scrubbing is done, prevent future odors with an open container of baking soda or coffee on a back shelf.
• Finally, if these eco-friendly solutions don't do the trick, bring in the commercial cleaner. But make sure you follow the instructions on the label.  http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/videos/news/Stinky_Refrigerator_111513-1.html