Posts Tagged ‘children’

Research from Yale University’s Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity shows that cereals which are most aggressively marketed to children are also the least healthy, as measured by an Oxford University nutrition scoring system. The researchers also found that none of the cereals targeted to children in the US meets the nutrition standards required to advertise to children in the UK. Among other findings, cereals marketed directly to children have 85% more sugar, 65% less fiber and 60% more sodium than cereals marketed to adults. Even more shocking, (but perhaps should not be a surprise) is that all cereals marketed directly to U.S. children meet the cereal industry’s own nutrition standard for “better-for-you” foods. These include: Cocoa Puffs (44% sugar), Cap’n Crunch (44% sugar), Froot Loops (41% sugar), Lucky Charms (41% sugar) and Cinnamon Toast Crunch (32% sugar). Cereal companies spend nearly $156 million dollars annually on marketing their cereals to children on television. [via Medical News Today]

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A US-based study has found that computer-related injuries are rising rapidly among young children. These are not the typical injuries you’d expect from long term computer use like carpal tunnel, repetitive strain or back injuries. Rather, research is showing for the first time a surprising seven-fold increase over the last decade in sudden computer-related injuries such as tripping over equipment and cables, or monitors falling on people’s heads. Over the past 13 years these types of injuries have skyrocketed by 732 percent. The age group most affected are children under the age of five.

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In 2007, 1.4 million prescriptions for AndroGel—the most commonly dispensed gel form of testosterone—were dispensed by U.S. retail pharmacies. Testim is the other prescription topical testosterone gel, both of which are used in men who either produce low levels of testosterone or no longer produce testosterone. They are also prescribed for some off-label uses in women. Safety concerns have arisen over adverse affects from children who were inadvertently exposed to testosterone through contact with another person being treated with these products. Currently, the FDA has received eight reports of secondary exposure in children with more reports being reviewed. Adverse events reported in these children included inappropriate enlargement of the genitalia (penis or clitoris), premature development of pubic hair, advanced bone age, increased libido, and aggressive behavior. Labels on current testosterone gel products caution the user to thoroughly wash their hands after applying the product and to cover the treated skin area with clothing. Failure to do so could result in exposure of the testosterone to others with whom they physically contact. The FDA is responding to the situation by requiring manufacturers to include these new warnings on their product labels.

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The popular children show Sesame Street will be launching a new program in Nigeria to teach kids about HIV/AIDS. The show is called “The Adventures of Kami and Big Bird” and will feature Kami, a character from the South African version of Sesame Street. Kami is HIV-positive and an AIDS orphan. The show is expected to reach about 30,000 Nigerian children.

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As counter intuitive as it might sound,  swimming lessons have been thought to increase a child’s risk of drowning. However, in this month’s Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, a study shows that children between the ages of 1 to 4 appear to have a lower risk of drowning if they have taken formal swimming lessons. The authors state that “Previous concerns have been raised about the potential for swimming lessons to increase the risk of drowning, either through increased exposure to water or through decreased parental vigilance as parents become more confident in their child’s swimming ability.”  However, these new results show that swimming lessons can, in fact, save lives.

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A new Canadian study shows that poverty during a child’s toddler years can lead to shorter stature by the time they reach kindergarten, regardless of hereditary factors. The researchers stress that although Canada is an industrialized country with a universal healthcare system and accessible daycare, the country still has health inequalities directly related to poverty, such as poor nutrition and housing, medical problems, such as asthma, that can lead to shorter stature. One of the shortcomings of this research is that it doesn’t address whether these children will “catch up” to their peers during adolescence, or by the time they reach adulthood.

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A new estimate of young vegetarians was released by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The estimation is that approximately 1 in 200 children are vegetarians, and other surveys suggest that the number could be four to six times higher in older teenagers who have more control over their dietary choices. There are many reasons why some children may be choosing a vegetarian diet – chief among them being animal rights or compassion for animals, health reasons, and influence from parents.

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Most of us know about the dangers of second-hand smoke. But have you heard about third-hand smoke? If not, you’re not alone. A new Harvard study suggests that less than half of all US households have heard of the term, which refers to the residual toxic chemicals that can cling to people’s hair, clothing, furniture, carpeting, and other household surfaces, even after second-hand smoke has cleared the room. It’s what one smells when someone who was just smoking walks into a room, or when you enter a hotel room where people were smoking. Third-hand smoke is especially harmful to children and infants because they are more likely to inhale the chemicals when held in close proximity to a smoker, or someone who was exposed to second-hand smoke. Children are also more likely to touch and lick household surfaces, thus ingesting the toxins, which pose a cancer risk. Therefore, simply airing out a room, or even quitting smoking, may not completely protect children from the dangers of smoking. Parents should be cognizant of potential sources of third-hand smoke. A good tip is to change your clothing prior to cradling your child if you’ve been exposed to cigarette smoke.

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Boston University researchers report that children of centenarians live longer than their counterparts, and with less risk of heart attacks, strokes, and diabetes. In a study published in the November issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, researchers found that offspring of centenarians had 78% lower risk of myocardial infarction (heart attack), an 83% lower risk of stroke, and an 86% lower risk of developing diabetes.

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In a report titled “Progress for Children: A Report Card on Maternal Maternity” the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) states that the number of mothers who died during pregnancy or childbirth remain largely unchanged. Over 99% of the estmated 536,000 worldwide maternal deaths in 2005 occurred in developing countries – half of them in sub-Saharan Africa. “One of the critical bottlenecks has always been access to highly skilled health workers required to deliver emergency obstetrical care, particularly caesarian sections,” Peter Salama UNICEF’s chief of health, told a news briefing. The leading causes of maternal death include hemorrhaging, infections, blood pressure problems, complications of abortions, obstructed labor, and HIV/AIDS. Read more and share your opinion.