All About Life - Lifestyle and other news you can use

[Did You Know?]

All About Life - Lifestyle and other news you can use

NOTE: ("This is not necessarily Native Peoples-specific material, however I believe you will find it to be interesting, useful information."
Tehaliwaskenhas - Bob Kennedy, Publisher, Turtle Island Native Network )


Even just the taste of beer can trigger pleasure in your brain. . .
April 2013
viewtopic.php?p=16317#p16317
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Using horses to teach medical students bedside manner
January 2013
viewtopic.php?p=15994#p15994
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Scientists say strawberries are good for heart health and fighting diabetes. . .
July 2012
viewtopic.php?p=15312#p15312
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The nasty effects of bullying in the workplace
July 2012
viewtopic.php?p=15295#p15295
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Giving makes young children happy, UBC study suggests
June 2012
http://turtleisland.org/discussion/view ... 151#p15151
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Positive changes to the brain's "white matter" - research suggests Chinese mindfulness meditation (Integrative Body-Mind Training . . .IBMT), "could provide a means for intervention to improve or prevent mental disorders". . .
June 2012
http://turtleisland.org/discussion/view ... 120#p15120

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New book says renewable energy technologies
(solar and wind power) do not offset fossil fuel use . . .
June 2012
http://turtleisland.org/discussion/view ... 082#p15082
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Fewer young people smoking, drinking, using drugs
May 2012
http://turtleisland.org/discussion/view ... 019#p15019
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Study finds sleep disruption increases diabetes risk
April 2012
http://turtleisland.org/discussion/view ... 793#p14793
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Internet addiction could signal drug use
February 2012
http://turtleisland.org/discussion/view ... 581#p14581

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Vision loss the most feared complication of diabetes
December 2011
viewtopic.php?p=14365#p14365


Renewable and Sustainable Energy
Affordable Solar is Closer Than You Think
December 2011
viewtopic.php?p=14329#p14329


Low Vitamin D Levels
May Contribute to Development of Type 2 Diabetes
December 5th, 2011
viewtopic.php?p=14286#p14286

Do video games make us eat more?
Research looks at the connection between video games and weight gain in youth
October 2011
viewtopic.php?p=14007#p14007

Associating Your Car with Your Identity Leads to Aggressive Driving
October 2011
viewtopic.php?p=13949#p13949

California doctors say it is time to legalize marijuana
and regulate it like like alcohol and tobacco . . .
October 2011
viewtopic.php?p=13934#p13934

Vitamin D crucial to fighting Tuberculosis
October 2011
viewtopic.php?p=13903#p13903

Smoking During Pregnancy Linked to Persistent Asthma in Childhood
August 2011
viewtopic.php?p=13700#p13700

Study proves the tobacco companies did extensive research
on smokers' alcohol-related behaviors . . .
August 2011
viewtopic.php?p=13678#p13678

Red meat linked to increased risk of Type 2 Diabetes
August 2011
viewtopic.php?p=13673#p13673

Checking your teeth to see if you have diabetes. . .
July 2011
http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?p=13488#p13488

Is meditation the push-up for the brain?
July 2011
http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?p=13456p13456

Scientists Reveal Ground-Breaking Berry Health Research
July 2011
http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?p=13426#p13426

Social Networking Changing The Face of Privacy
June 2011
http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?p=13395#p13395

Alcohol and Mental Illness Go Hand In Hand
June 2011
http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?p=13267#p13267

Don't ever get diabetes - eat fruit and veggies, says study
June 2011
http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?p=13253#p13253

Marijuana Hydroponics Superstore
May 2011
http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/viewtopic.phpp=13243#p13243

More violence on Kids TV Shows but not more enjoyable
May 2011
http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?p=13195#p13195

Lifestyle: Happy Guys Finish Last, says UBC Sex Research
May 2011
http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?p=13193#p13193

Hey man, coffee is good for you . . .Really!
May 2011
http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?p=13185#p13185

Health Experts Call for Ban on Menthol Cigarettes
May 2011
http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?p=13129#p13129

Even a little belly fat can be dangerous for some people
May 2011
http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?p=13056#p13056

Research suggests poor people more likely to be obese!
March2010
http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?p=11042#p11042

The health benefits of maple syrup
March 2010
http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?p=11204#p11204

Weekly internet usage overtakes television watching
March 2010
http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?p=11203#p11203

Why are some people happier than others?
Spending more time talking with others - but make sure there is less small talk.
March 2010
http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?p=11079#p11079

Happiness Under the Microscope
February 2010
http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?p=11043#p11043

Belief in God - helps with fighting depression
February 2010
http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?p=11042#p11042

Don't Worry, Be Happy . . .
It's good for your heart, says research
February 2010
http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?p=11037#p11037

The benefits of blueberries
New study confirms the goodness of the berries . . .
January 2010
http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?p=10926#p10926

Behaviors, values, opinions of young people . . .
December 2009
http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?p=10852#p10852

Thumbs down to movie popcorn . . .
November 2009
http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?p=10722#p10722

Too much tv, computer time leads to obesity?
Boys, but not necessarily girls . . .
October 8th, 2009
http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?p=10549#p10549

The company you keep influences how much you eat
August 24th, 2009
http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?p=10413#p10413

Cunning canines use trickery for treats
Research says dogs are more like humans than previously believed
August 2009
http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?p=10379#p10379

Another good reason why you need to get healthy sleep
http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?p=10369#p10369
August 2009

Rats can "play the odds" - gambling research
June 2009 . . .
http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?p=10240#p10240

Laughter as Good Medicine
April 2009 . . .
http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?p=10151#p10151

Feed Your Brain with red wine and chocolate?
April 2009
http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?p=10138#p10138

BC, first province to restrict trans fat in restaurant foods
March 8, 2009
http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?p=10071#p10071

Trans fats still far too prevalent in Canada’s Food Supply
February 12, 2009
http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?p=10029#p10029

Destroying the myth of the Lazy Indian
February 5, 2009
http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?p=10024#p10024

The use of humor for healing
12 Jan 2009
http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?p=9934#p9934

Mindless television watching produces mindless eating
July 2008
http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?p=9465#p9465

June 18, 2008
Watching tv makes you fat?
Sedentary behaviour and obesity
http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?p=9417#p9417

May 27, 2008
Physical fitness failure
Alarming amount of tv, computer and videos. . .
http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?p=9322#p9322
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February 7, 2008
What Makes Kids Happy?
http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?p=8982#p8982
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Breakthrough technology - charging batteries while you walk . . .
http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?p=8981#p8981
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Pollution is killing us
January 2008
http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?p=8950#p8950
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Laughter is the best medicine, says latest research
January 2008
http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?p=8936#p8936

Matters of the mind can affect matters of the heart.
Depression and anxiety can double chances of coronary artery disease
January 2008
viewtopic.php?p=8914#p8914
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Oatmeal's Health Claims Strongly Reaffirmed
January 2008
viewtopic.php?p=8884#p8884
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Smokers have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes
December 2007
viewtopic.php?p=8822#p8822
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The Health Benefits of Interactive Video Game Exercise
December 2007
viewtopic.php?p=8816#p8816
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Transcendental Meditation is effective for stress reduction - high blood pressure, says study
December 2007
viewtopic.php?p=8793#p8793
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Exposure to media violence - a Public Health Threat
November 2007
viewtopic.php?p=8781#p8781
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Easy Does It - Tackle One Bad Habit at a Time
November 2007
viewtopic.php?p=8766#p8766
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Fatty foods alter our body block and can cause us to binge
November 2007
viewtopic.php?p=8731#p8731
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Lack of sleep can more than double the risk of death from cardiovascular disease and . . . too much sleep can also more than double the risk of death
September 24, 2007
viewtopic.php?p=8597#p8597

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Fat is the New Normal . . .
August 7, 2007
viewtopic.php?p=8522#p8522

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Warning!
New research says soft drinks, including diet drinks are dangerous
July 23, 2007
viewtopic.php?p=8495#p8495

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Young peoples' diets and the effect on their breathing
July 9th, 2007
viewtopic.php?p=8438#p8438
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Serious psychological problems for kids whose mothers smoked during pregnancy
June 27, 2007
viewtopic.php?p=8398#p8398
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UN Health Organization calls for smoke-free indoor environments everywhere
May 29th, 2007
viewtopic.php?p=8301#p8301
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Broken Marriages and Depression
May 2007
viewtopic.php?p=8284#p8284

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Research Proves We are Being Ripped Off at the Gas Pumps http://www.gasgouge.ca
May 2007
http://policyalternatives.ca/Reports/20 ... a=BB736455
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Children who watch television ads, see mostly food ads, and many of those ads are for candies and snack foods
March 28, 2007
viewtopic.php?p=8133#p8133


Electronics that use fuel cells that run on sugar
March 2007
viewtopic.php?p=8120#p8120


Research sheds light on what causes those teen mood swings
March 2007
viewtopic.php?p=8087#p8087

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February 2007
Some of people’s biggest problems with communication come in sharing new information
viewtopic.php?p=8040#p8040


Research points to the importance of dads who stay involved in the lives of their teens. . .
viewtopic.php?p=7981#p7981

January 2007
The Psychology of exercise, health and weight loss
viewtopic.php?p=8004#p8004

Dentists and Alcoholism
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medical ... wsid=60301

Interviewing techniques significant in addressing binge drinking issues
http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/in ... inking.cfm

The younger someone starts drinking alcohol, the more likely they are to reach for a drink to relieve stress when older
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/526114/?sc=dwhn

Treating alcohol addiction with drugs
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medical ... 51&nfid=nl

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You and Your Big Bad Boss
December 2006 . . .
viewtopic.php?p=7829#p7829

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Bachelor of Arts Degree in Medical Clowning
Seriously Folks
November 2006. . .
viewtopic.php?p=7753#p7753

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Perhaps God is in Control!

Medical research into people "Speaking in Tongues"
October 30, 2006. . .
viewtopic.php?p=7664#p7664

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The Lifestyle of Internet Users
August 2, 2006. . .
viewtopic.php?p=7304#p7304

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Smoking during pregnancy - a link to early childhood behaviours
July 2006. . .
viewtopic.php?p=7208#p7208

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The scientific evidence indicates that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke causes premature death and disease in children and in adults who do not smoke.
June 26, 2006. . .
viewtopic.php?p=7147#p7147

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Snakes and sheep as therapists
June 2006
viewtopic.php?p=7063#p7063

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The Sleeper Effect

The dangers of just one cigarette at a young age. . .
May 2006
viewtopic.php?p=7004#p7004

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Verbally abused as a child? Prone to depression and anxiety as an adult!
May 23, 2006
viewtopic.php?p=6993#p6993

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Second-hand Tobacco smoke and babies
May 2006
viewtopic.php?p=6944#p6944

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What is Cool?
May 2006
viewtopic.php?p=6937#p6937

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Dentists Urged to Watch for Signs of Abuse
May 2006
viewtopic.php?p=6934#p6934

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Research on behaviour of children, provides insight into impact of exposure to drugs, alcohol and tobacco, while in the womb. . .
April 29, 2006
viewtopic.php?p=6891#p6891

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Chocolate a healthy heart food? Yes . . . and no!
January 2006
viewtopic.php?p=6550#p6550

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January 24, 2006
Study Finds That Peppermint and Cinnamon Lower Drivers' Frustration And Increase Alertness . . .

The scent of peppermint or cinnamon may keep you more alert and decrease your frustration when you’re behind the wheel.

That's according to the results of a recent study led by Dr. Bryan Raudenbush, Director of Undergraduate Research and associate professor of psychology at Wheeling Jesuit University in Wheeling, WV.

According to the study, both cinnamon and peppermint led to increased ratings of alertness and lower frustration. Cinnamon also decreased drivers’ fatigue ratings.

Dr. Raudenbush and WJU students Trevor Cessna, Will Esgro, and Ricky Yahn will present the results of the study, Effects Of Odor Administration On Driving Performance, Safety, Alertness, And Fatigue, during the 2006 Third Annual Undergraduate Research Day, Wednesday, February 1, in the Capitol Rotunda in Charleston, WV.

The study builds on Dr. Raudenbush's past research, which indicated the odors of peppermint and cinnamon enhance motivation, performance, and alertness, decrease fatigue, and serve as central nervous system stimulants.

"Given these results, it is reasonable to expect that the presentation of peppermint or cinnamon odor while driving may produce a more alert and conscientious driver, and minimize the fatigue associated with prolonged driving," says Dr. Raudenbush.

"In general, prolonged driving led to increased anger, fatigue, and physical demand, and decreased vigor. However, fatigue ratings were decreased in the cinnamon condition. Both cinnamon and peppermint administration led to increased ratings of alertness in comparison to the no-odor control condition over the course of the driving scenario. Periodic administration of these odors over long term driving may prove beneficial in maintaining alertness and decreasing highway accidents and fatalities," says Dr. Raudenbush.

Results Summary:

Peppermint is associated with decreased anxiety while driving.

Peppermint is associated with decreased fatigue while driving.

Peppermint and cinnamon are associated with decreased driving frustration.

Peppermint and cinnamon are associated with decreased temporal demand while driving.

Peppermint and cinnamon are associated with greater levels of driving alertness.

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November 21, 2005
Imagine eating what you want when you want!
Revolutionary new diet is a Non-diet called Intuitive Eating . . .
viewtopic.php?p=6350#p6350

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November 17, 2005
A Call for Movie Warnings
Anti-smoking public service announcements . . .
viewtopic.php?p=6336#p6336

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November 4, 2005
Research proves happy people live longer and pessimists face greater risks . . .
viewtopic.php?p=6244#p6244

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October 27, 2005
The benefits of substance abuse treatment . . .
viewtopic.php?p=6225#p6225

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October 19, 2005

Teens are healthier if they have positive ties to community and parents
viewtopic.php?p=6185#p6185

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October 14, 2005
Alcohol Research
What Influences A Young Person to Have that First Alcoholic Drink?
When you quit drinking, how do you stay sober?
viewtopic.php?p=6168#p6168

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September 28, 2005

Children whose parents smoked are twice as likely to begin smoking between ages 13 and 21 as offspring of nonsmokers . . .
viewtopic.php?p=6115#p6115

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September 26, 2005
Smoking May Increase Risk of Diabetes

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Smoking may increase the risk of developing diabetes, according to new research by investigators at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and colleagues.

The surprising finding emerged when researchers examined the relationship between smoking and diabetes among participants in a major national study, the Insulin Resistance Atherosclerosis Study (IRAS). They compared the incidence of diabetes after five years among smokers and those who had never smoked.

Twenty-five percent of the participants who smoked and did not have diabetes when the study began had developed diabetes by the five-year follow-up, compared to 14 percent of the participants who had never smoked, according to Capri G. Foy, Ph.D., and her colleagues at the national IRAS coordinating center at the School of Medicine, part of Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.

Reporting in the journal Diabetes Care, the researchers found that when the analyses were adjusted to account for other diabetes risk factors, “smokers still exhibited significantly increased incidence of diabetes compared to people who had never smoked,” Foy said. “These findings suggest another poor health outcome associated with cigarettes, supporting current surgeon general’s warnings against cigarette smoking.”

Smoking has long been associated with heart disease, as is diabetes, and Foy noted that diabetes and heart disease share many risk factors.

IRAS focused on a prediabetic condition called insulin resistance, in which increasing amounts of insulin are needed to digest the same amount of glucose, the principal product of the metabolism of carbohydrates.

Other Wake Forest IRAS investigators had reported in the American Heart Association Journal Circulation back in 1996 that insulin resistance is associated with substantially increased atherosclerosis, which involves the buildup of fatty substances, cholesterol, and other substances in the walls of the arteries. The study found that increased thickness of the walls of the carotid artery in the neck suggested that insulin resistance might be an independent risk factor for heart disease.

Since that report, IRAS investigators have been asking other research questions, based on extensive examinations at the start of the study – two four-hour visits scheduled one week apart that directly measured indicators such as glucose tolerance, body mass index (BMI), cholesterol and high blood pressure, comparing those results with a follow-up examination five years later. The initial examinations also included questions about smoking.

Foy said that another strength of IRAS was that it had roughly equal numbers of men and women and roughly equal numbers of African-Americans, Hispanics and whites recruited from Los Angeles and Oakland, Calif., San Antonio, Texas and the San Luis Valley area of Colorado.

http://www1.wfubmc.edu/

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Curb Your Appetite - Avoid Overeating . . .

September 22, 2005

You know you should cut back on the amount you eat to shed a few pounds, but sometimes, it’s just so hard.

The September issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter offers a few tips that may help you curb your appetite and avoid overeating.

Don’t skip breakfast: You’ll be less likely to overeat at lunch if you have a breakfast that includes high-fiber cereal, whole-grain bread or fresh fruit.

Eat slowly: Savor each flavor and texture and remember it takes about 20 minutes for your brain to receive the signal that you are full.

Think small: If you always eat everything on your plate, start with half the amount of food you usually eat. To make less food seem like more, have your main course on a salad plate or dessert plate.

Eat only when you’re hungry: Stop and ask yourself whether you’re hungry or just stressed or bored. Then eat -- or don’t eat -- accordingly.

Ride out the urge: Cravings generally pass within seconds or minutes. Do something unrelated to food until the desire to eat passes. Exercise is an especially good and healthy distraction.

Allow an occasional splurge: An occasional lapse won’t hurt you. In the long run, it will have little impact on your lifetime plan for controlling your appetite.

Mayo Clinic Health Letter is an eight-page monthly newsletter of reliable, accurate and practical information on today’s health and medical news.

This is a highlight from the September issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter. You may cite this publication as often as you wish. Also, you may reprint up to four articles annually without cost. More frequent reprinting is allowed for a fee. Mayo Clinic Health Letter attribution is required. Include the following subscription information as your editorial policies permit: Call toll free for subscription information, 800-333-9037 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              800-333-9037      end_of_the_skype_highlighting, extension 9PR1.

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September 21, 2005

Smoking just one to four cigarettes a day almost triples a smoker’s risk of heart disease and lung cancer, reveals a large study in Tobacco Control.

The impact is stronger for women, the study shows, and quashes the cherished notion that “light” smokers escape the serious health problems faced by heavier smokers.

The researchers tracked the health and death rates of almost 43,000 men and women from the mid 1970s up to 2002. All the participants were aged between 35 and 49 at the start of the study, when they were screened for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Although a significant proportion of the light smokers increased their daily consumption, this had not exceeded 9 cigarettes a day. And almost as many had given up as had increased their consumption.

Taking account of risk factors likely to influence the findings, the data nevertheless showed that light smoking endangered health. The steepest risk occurred between nought and four cigarettes a day.

Compared with those who had never smoked, those who smoked between 1 and 5 cigarettes a day were almost three times as likely to die of coronary artery disease.

While there was little difference in the risk of dying from any type of cancer, this was not the case for lung cancer.

Men who were light smokers were almost three times as likely to be killed by lung cancer. And women were almost five times as likely to die of the disease as their non-smoking peers.

Light smokers also had significantly higher death rates from all causes - 1.5 times - than those who had never smoked, with the death rates corresponding to the number of cigarettes smoked every day.

As the light smokers had smoked for fewer years than the heavy smokers, the researchers analysed the projected impact of smoking at this level for five years.

This indicated that the risk of death from coronary artery disease would have been 7% higher, and the risk of lung cancer would have been 47% higher in women.

To view the paper in full . . . http://press.psprings.co.uk/tc/septembe ... c11932.pdf

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September 20, 2005

What comes first in teens? Sex and drug use, or depression?
viewtopic.php?p=6065#p6065

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | August 08, 2005
Grizzlies and salmon: Too much of a good thing?

Even grizzly bears should watch what they eat. It turns out that grizzlies that gorge themselves on salmon during the summer spawning season have much higher levels of contaminants in their bodies than their cousins who rely more on berries, plants and insects, according to Peter Ross of Canada's Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

Reporting in an article to be published Sept. 15 in the American Chemical Society journal, Environmental Science & Technology, Canadian researchers say the difference in the concentration of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) is “profound” between grizzly bears who eat lots of salmon and those that don’t. The measurements were made by examining hair and fat samples from two groups of grizzly bears in the British Columbia region of Canada. One group included bears that had a steady diet of terrestrial foods, the other group included bears that shifted to marine food when the salmon returned from the Pacific Ocean to spawn.

Although the overall contaminant concentrations in the grizzlies are lower than many other species of animals that consume marine food, the researchers — from Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the University of Victoria and Raincoast Conversation Society — say the reproductive window of the bears could be vulnerable to health impacts.

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Problem Gamblers Share Personality Profiles of Substance Abusers
Individuals with problem gambling behavior have personality profiles similar to the profiles of those with alcohol, marijuana and nicotine-associated addictive disorders, according to an article. (Embargo expired on 04-Jul-2005 at 16:00 ET)
Archives of General Psychiatry, Jul-2005
—American Medical Association (AMA)
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/512843/?sc=dwhn
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Cigarette firms designed cigarettes 'to addict women,' according to new study
i-Newswire, 2005-06-01 - A new analysis of tobacco industry documents provides evidence that cigarette companies intentionally modified their products to promote female smoking by emphasizing attributes they knew would appeal to women - stylishness and taste, as well as perceived health benefits. According to the authors, the study presents particularly troubling implications for world health, as tobacco companies seek to increase smoking among women in developing countries.

The documents, made public following the 1998 Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement, are examined in a paper in the June 2005 issue of ADDICTION, an international scientific journal.
http://i-newswire.com/pr23122.html

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In the cosmology of comics, Batman represents a version of God sometimes found in the books of the Old Testament -- a God of retribution and harsh judgment, says Dr. Greg Garrett, author of the recently released book Holy Superheroes.
—Baylor University
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/512130/?sc=dwhn

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Is Gun Violence Infectious?
In a study designed to isolate the root causes of violent behavior, researchers found that young teens who witnessed gun violence were more than twice as likely as non-witnesses to commit violent crime themselves in the following years.
Science, 27-May-2005
—Harvard Medical School
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/512143/?sc=dwhn

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Giving smokers easy access to free nicotine patches could substantially increase the likelihood of them quitting, concludes a study.
28-May-2005
—Lancet
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/512137/?sc=dwhn

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A&E Doctors Call for Ban on Pointed Kitchen Knives
Long pointed kitchen knives should be banned to reduce violent crime and deaths from stabbing, say accident and emergency doctors. BMJ, 28-May-2005
—British Medical Journal
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/512121/?sc=dwhn

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More than half of people with asthma report that their symptoms are brought on by laughter, according to a study was presented at the American Thoracic Society International Conference on May 24, 2005.
http://i-newswire.com/pr22154.html

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Diabetes, the Numbers Game
Doctors want their diabetic patients to remember a lot of numbers. Simple blood glucose indicates current blood sugar level. Knowing blood pressure and cholesterol levels also is urged.
May 2005
—University of Alabama at Birmingham
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/512052/?sc=dwhn

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Women with breast cancer who engaged in an amount of physical activity equivalent to walking 1 or more hours per week had better survival compared with those who exercised less than that or not at all, according to a study.
May 25, 2005
Journal of the American Medical Association
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/511984/?sc=dwhn

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Most international children who are adopted are well-adjusted and have fewer behavioral problems than children who are adopted domestically, according to an article.
May 25, 2005
Journal of the American Medical Association
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/511986/?sc=dwhn

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Depression, stress, loneliness, a positive (or negative) outlook on life, and other psychosocial factors extend beyond affecting mood and reach into the heart.
How you think, feel, and behave can affect heart disease for better or for worse.
Harvard Heart Letter
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/512100/?sc=dwhn

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Contrary to what most people believe, the tendency to be prejudiced is a form of common sense, hard-wired into the human brain through evolution as an adaptive response to protect our prehistoric ancestors from danger.
J. of Personality and Social Psychology, May-2005
—Arizona State University
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/512115/?sc=dwhn

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"The Star Wars films, the first of which appeared 25 years ago, are steeped in the traditions bequeathed to us by the ancient Greeks and Romans," says Hamilton College Classics Professor Carl Rubino.
—Hamilton College
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/512104/?sc=dwhn

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Women have higher rates of insomnia than men, but the better educated a woman is, the more likely she is to sleep through the night, finds a large study.
J. of Epidemiology and Community Health, May-2005
—British Medical Journal
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/512018/?sc=dwhn

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A diet rich in milk does not increase the risk of heart disease and stroke, and may even be protective, concludes research.
J. of Epidemiology and Community Health, May-2005
—British Medical Journal
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/512020/?sc=dwhn

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Survey results show that eight out of 10 parents are unaware that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obesity can be consequences of neglecting common childhood sleep disorders such as snoring and pediatric obstructive sleep apnea.
—American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery (AAOHNS)
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/512054/?sc=dwhn

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Killing is fundamentally in our nature, having evolved over thousands of years from intense competition for reproductive success, according to a new theory by Dr. David Buss, an evolutionary psychologist at The University of Texas at Austin.
The Murderer Next Door: Why the Mind is Designed to Kill
—University of Texas at Austin
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/512084/?sc=dwhn

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The ability to comprehend sarcasm depends upon a carefully orchestrated sequence of complex cognitive skills based in specific parts of the brain. Yeah, right, and I’m the Tooth Fairy. But it’s true: New research details an “anatomy of sarcasm” that explains how the mind puts sharp-tongued words into context.
Neuropsychology, May-2005
—American Psychological Association (APA)
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/511943/?sc=dwhn

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[Lifestyle Information]

Good Friends, Rather than Close Family Ties, Help You Live Longer
A network of good friends, rather than close family ties, helps you live longer in older age, suggests research.
15-Jun-2005
J. of Epidemiology and Community Health
—British Medical Journal
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/512527/?sc=dwhn


Children Need 60 Minutes of Daily Physical Activity

The take-home message for parents is that it is very important to ensure that their children spend at least an hour a day in some form of appropriate physical activity.
J. of Pediatrics, June 13, 2005
—Journal of Pediatrics
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/512379/?sc=dwhn

Kids in the Crossfire
Laws mandating joint physical custody of children after divorce can be harmful for some kids, said UAB child psychologist Vivian Friedman, Ph.D.
—University of Alabama at Birmingham


Listen! Comfort a Cornerstone for Many Female Friendships
http://news.uns.purdue.edu/UNS/html4eve ... mfort.html

Most women are less forgiving of other women who lack comforting skills than of men who lack such skills, according to new research on interpersonal relationships. Researchers found just the opposite reaction for the few women who identify themselves as the most feminine.
International Communication Association
—Purdue University
June 3, 2005
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/512314/?sc=dwhn

Communicating with Your Family
Effective communication is a major characteristic of strong families. Each member of a family needs to learn how to successfully communicate in order to build healthy relationships.
—University of Delaware
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/512290/?sc=dwhn

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Dads Just Want to Have Fun
Do dads parent differently than moms? Absolutely, Rob Palkovitz, University of Delaware professor of individual and family studies, says.
—University of Delaware
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/512294/?sc=dwhn

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Even Grown-Ups Need Their Dads
Adults, as well as children, benefit from a strong and reliable bond with their fathers, according to Michael Ferrari, University of Delaware associate professor of individual and family studies.
—University of Delaware
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/512295/?sc=dwhn

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High Risk of War, Governmental Collapse in 20% of Nations
About 20 percent of all nations face a serious risk of civil war or governmental collapse, including a half dozen at high risk of future genocides, says a new report, Peace and Conflict 2005. Among the areas of greatest risk, the report highlights large portions of Sub-Saharan Africa and the Muslim world.
"Peace and Conflict 2005"
—University of Maryland, College Park
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/512221/?sc=dwhn

[Negative Impacts of TV]

Television and its influences on our children . . .

Parents Can Fight Obesity by Weaning Preschoolers from TV
University of Washington researcher Dr. Donna Johnson shows in a paper that families can reduce their television viewing time and reduce their risks of obesity with the help of television reduction messages delivered by large public health programs.
Am. J. of Health Promotion
—University of Washington Health Sciences and UW Medicine
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/512915/?sc=dwhn

TV in the Bedroom Associated with Lower Standardized Test Scores
In a study of third graders, children with a television in their bedrooms had lower scores on standardized tests while children with access to a home computer had higher scores, researchers report.
Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Jul-2005
—American Medical Association (AMA)
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/512836/?sc=dwhn

Young Children Who Watch Less TV More Likely to Finish College
Children who watch the most television during childhood and adolescence may be less likely to finish school or go on to earn a university degree, according to a study.
Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Jul-2005
—American Medical Association (AMA)
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/512838/?sc=dwhn

TV Has Negative Impact on Very Young Children’s Learning Abilities
Television viewing before the age of three may have adverse effects on subsequent cognitive development, according to a study.
Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Jul-2005
—American Medical Association (AMA)
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/512840/?sc=dwhn

[Coffee and Diabetes]

UPDATED
January 24, 2006

It’s surprising when something that was once considered questionable for your health turns out to have health benefits, usually with the proviso to use it “in moderation.” That happened with chocolate and alcohol, and now it is coffee’s turn, reports the February issue of the Harvard Health Letter. Here’s some of the mostly good news about coffee:

Blood pressure. Results from long-term studies are showing that coffee may not increase the risk for high blood pressure over time, as previously thought. Study findings for other cardiovascular effects are a mixed bag.

Cancer. Coffee might have anti-cancer properties. Last year, researchers found that coffee drinkers were 50% less likely to get liver cancer than nondrinkers. A few studies have found ties to lower rates of colon, breast, and rectal cancers.

Cholesterol. Two substances in coffee—kahweol and cafestol—raise cholesterol levels. Paper filters capture these substances, but that doesn’t help the many people who now drink non-filtered coffee drinks, such as lattes. Researchers have also found a link between cholesterol increases and decaffeinated coffee, possibly because of the type of bean used to make certain decaffeinated coffees.

Diabetes. Heavy coffee drinkers may be half as likely to get diabetes as light drinkers or nondrinkers. Coffee may contain chemicals that lower blood sugar. A coffee habit may also increase your resting metabolism rate, which could help keep diabetes at bay.

Parkinson’s disease. Coffee seems to protect men, but not women, against Parkinson’s disease. One possible explanation for the sex difference may be that estrogen and caffeine need the same enzymes to be metabolized, and estrogen captures those enzymes.

The Harvard Health Letter is available from Harvard Health Publications, the publishing division of Harvard Medical School at http://www.health.harvard.edu/health

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Research reveals benefits of drinking coffee . . .

News and Comment
by Tehaliwaskenhas
Bob Kennedy, Oneida
Copyright
Turtle Island Native Network
http://www.turtleisland.org

July 6, 2005

Imagine when Starbucks and Tim Hortons finds out about this research - Coffee drinkers may be less likely to have Type 2 Diabetes.

In the July issue, the Journal of the American Medical Association published - Coffee Consumption and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes, A Systematic Review.

Conclusions of this review?

"This systematic review supports the hypothesis that habitual coffee consumption is associated with a substantially lower risk of type 2 diabetes. Longer-term intervention studies of coffee consumption and glucose metabolism are warranted, to examine the mechanisms underlying the relationship, between coffee consumption and type 2 diabetes.''

Webmd reports, "After analyzing data on 126,000 people for as long as 18 years, Harvard researchers calculate that compared with not partaking in America's favorite morning drink, downing one to three cups of caffeinated coffee daily can reduce diabetes risk by single digits. But having six cups or more each day slashed men's risk by 54% and women's by 30% over java avoiders".

It is not the first time research has suggested there are significant benefits to drinking coffee on a regular basis. For example, several years ago a study concluded, ''higher coffee and caffeine intake is associated with a significantly lower incidence of Parkinson Disease''.

Previous research also found that coffee consumption may have helped to prevent symptomatic gallstone disease in men.

According to the Coffee Science Information Centre, "Caffeine has long been known to help asthmatics and many have found regular consumption of coffee to assist in moderating attacks".

Like many plants, coffee contains a diverse array of compounds with antioxidant properties. "This research is in its infancy but given the increasing interest in the beneficial role of food antioxidants in health, it seems likely that their role in coffee will become of increasingly more interest."

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BACKGROUND

Reducing Disease Risk . . .
http://my.webmd.com/content/Article/80/96454.htm

Coffee and Diabetes . . .
http://www.cosic.org/coffee-and-health/diabetes

Coffee and Parkinson's Disease . . .
http://www.cosic.org/coffee-and-health/ ... ns-disease

Coffee and Gallstone Disease . . .
http://www.cosic.org/coffee-and-health/ ... ne-disease

Coffee Science Information Centre . . .
http://www.cosic.org/coffee-and-health/summary

[Did You Know This?]

How Butterflies Fly Thousands of Miles Without Getting Lost
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 232627.htm

July/August 2005

While “navigation” systems in automobiles are a fairly new (and still costly) innovation, monarch butterflies have managed for millennia to navigate their way for a distance of some 3000 miles (4800 kilometers) each fall from Canada to Mexico (and vice-versa in the spring) without losing their way.

The phenomenon of long-range bird migration is a well-known one, but not in the insect world. Also, among birds their migration route is a round-trip one, which they make more than once in their lifetimes, while for the monarch it is strictly a one-way trip for each butterfly. How do these creatures do it?

The mystery of the mechanisms involved in this remarkable phenomenon has been resolved by a team of scientists who did this by exploring the infinitesimal butterfly brain and eye tissues to uncover new insights into the biological machinery that directs this delicate creature on its lengthy flight path.

The research team, led by Prof. Steven Reppert of the University of Massachusetts Medical School, included Dr. Oren Froy, now of the Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Quality Sciences of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Others involved were from the Czech Academy of Sciences and the University of California, Irvine. Their latest findings were published in a recent issue of Neuron magazine, constituting a continuation of their earlier work, published in the journal Science.

While light in general is essential to the functioning of the “biological clock” in the butterfly brain – governing its metabolic cycles, including its “signal” to migrate -- the researchers discovered that it is specifically the ultraviolet band of light that is crucial to the creature’s orientation. The butterflies have special photoreceptors for ultraviolet (UV) light in their eyes which provide them with their sense of direction.

They proved that this ultraviolet “navigation” is crucial by placing butterflies in a “flight” simulator. When a UV light filter was used in the simulator, the butterflies lost their orientation

Further probing revealed a key wiring connection between the light-detecting navigation sensors in the butterfly’s eye and its brain clock Thus, it was shown that input from two interconnected systems – UV light detection in the eye and the biological clock in the brain -- together guide the butterflies “straight and true” to their destination at the appointed times in their two-month migration over thousands of miles/kilometers.

[Study-Pre-school children]

New study: Preschoolers empowered with responsibility

August 15, 2005

McGill and UdeM researchers team up on child-rearing study

Children whose parents listen to their perspective and encourage them to make decisions do better in school—academically and socially.

A new study published in the Journal of Personality, co-authored by researchers from McGill and l'Université de Montréal, reports that preschoolers who are offered choices and encouraged to take on responsibilities are empowered by their parents.

This pattern of parenting - called autonomy supportive - was shown to lead to high academic and social adjustment in eight-year-olds.

Teacher reports and standardized tests demonstrated that flexible and responsive parenting technique that focused on the child's perspective, explaining rationale for requests, providing choices, and not using controlling language improved children's social and academic skills.

"Autonomy support was found to increase the odds of children being both high in social and academic adjustment, as well as high in both social adjustment and in reading achievement," explain coauthors Richard Koestner, a professor of psychology at McGill University, and Mireille Joussemet is a professor of child clinical psychology at l'Université de Montréal.

Study results held true regardless of socio-economic status, gender or IQ.

The study interviewed mothers of five-year-olds to measure the level of autonomy support and other parenting dimensions. Three years later, the study looked at the children's social adjustment and achievement in reading and math in grade three. "Maternal autonomy support measured in kindergarten was positively associated with social adjustment, academic adjustment, and reading achievement in third grade," says Koestner, stressing this as their most important finding.

The Koestner-Joussemet article is published in the latest issue of the Journal of Personality. To receive a PDF of this article, please contact the Journal by email. The Journal of Personality publishes scientific investigations in the field of personality. It focuses particularly on personality and behavior dynamics, personality development, and individual differences in the cognitive, affective and interpersonal domains.

About McGill University
McGill University is Canada's leading research-intensive university and has earned an international reputation for scholarly achievement and scientific discovery. Founded in 1821, McGill has 21 faculties and professional schools which offer more than 300 programs from the undergraduate to the doctoral level. McGill attracts renowned professors and researchers from around the world and top students from more than 150 countries, creating one of the most dynamic and diverse education environments in North America. There are approximately 23,000 undergraduate students and 7,000 graduate students. It is one of two Canadian members of the American Association of Universities. McGill's two campuses are located in Montreal, Canada.

Contact:
Mireille Joussemet
Université de Montréal
514-343-5745
Richard Koestner
McGill University
514-398-6110


Source:
Rita Kotzia
Communications officer
McGill University Relations Office
514-398-6751

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Also of interest . . .

American Indian, Alaska Native Infants Possess Healthy Developmental Skills, According to Study

Report Finds Similar Learning Potential Despite Poverty, Other Barriers

FOR RELEASE:
August 11, 2005

A study released by the U.S. Department of Education today found that American Indian and Alaska Native infants do not differ significantly from their peers in early developmental skills. The report, American Indian and Alaska Native Children: Findings From the Base Year of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (ECLS-B), found that native children at 9 months of age are similar to the general population in the performance of early mental and physical skills, including exploring objects in play, eye-hand coordination, pre-walking skills and "babbling" (the first stages of talking).

The children performed as well as their peers despite increased risks of poverty and inadequate prenatal care. One-third of American Indian and Alaska Native children aged 9 months live in poverty, one-fourth live in households with no father present, and more than one in ten were born to teenaged mothers, the study found.

The groundbreaking Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (ECLS-B), is an ongoing survey following more than 10,000 children born in the United States in 2001. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), located in the U.S. Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences, is conducting the nationally representative study, which is sponsored in part by the Department's Office of Indian Education.

Among American Indian and Alaska Native children aged approximately 9 months, the study found:

87 percent were exploring objects with a purpose (compared to 88 percent in the general population);

75 percent were showing the first signs of walking (compared to 73 percent); and

46 percent were healthily "babbling" (compared to 47 percent).

"These infant children have kept up with others developmentally despite hardships," said Russ Whitehurst, director of the Institute of Education Sciences.

"The challenge for the preschools and schools that will serve these children when they are older is to maintain their level of progress. Poverty should not be an excuse for letting these children fall behind."

[Aging Workforce]

America’s Aging Workforce Posing New Opportunities, Challenges . . .
www.conference-board.org

September 23, 2005

The rapidly aging global workforce – caused mainly by the number of retirement-eligible employees continuing to work – is both a challenge and major opportunity for corporations, according to a report released today by The Conference Board.

The report is based on a “managing mature workers” working group comprising executives from a cross-section of industries, staff and line functions, and job titles. It includes such major companies as BP America, Ernst & Young LLP, Ford Motor Company, IBM, JP Morgan Chase, and Shell International. It’s one of 10 current Research Working Groups designed by The Conference Board to examine major issues facing business.

Some 64 million baby boomers (over 40 percent of the U.S. labor force) are poised to retire in large numbers by the end of this decade. In industries already facing labor and skills shortages, forward-thinking companies are recruiting, retaining, and developing flexible work-time arrangements and/or phased retirement plans for these workers (55 years of age or older), many of whom have skills that are difficult to replace. Such actions are putting these companies ahead of competitors who view the aging workforce largely as a burden putting strains on pension plans and healthcare costs.

“The maturing workforce is often seen as an issue to be dealt with instead of a great opportunity to be leveraged,” says Lorrie Foster, Director of Research Working Groups at The Conference Board and co-author of the report with management consultant Lynne Morton and noted author Jeri Sedlar, Senior Advisor to The Conference Board on mature workforce issues. “The skills and knowledge mature workers possess can be utilized to great advantage by a company that knows itself well and can identify its weak areas that can be bolstered by the right mature workers.”

Industries currently feeling the greatest pain in terms of skills shortages are oil, gas, energy, healthcare and government. Leading companies in these sectors are turning to mature workers to ensure future growth and productivity. These companies recognize that a maturing workforce can positively impact customer satisfaction and profitability, but not without effective initiatives designed to make it easier for different generations of workers to work better together.

Companies that haven’t yet faced human capital shortages are not rushing to make institutional changes to accommodate workers nearing the traditional retirement age who are still in the workforce.

“But organizations that fail to understand the complexities or recognize the opportunities associated with an aging workforce may risk their ability to stay competitive,” says Sedlar. “As more companies feel the pain of knowledge losses caused by retirements in key businesses or functions, those not planning ahead and leveraging their mature workforce will be scrambling.”

PURSUING PASSIONS RATHER THAN PENSIONS
More older workers want to remain in their jobs for both personal fulfillment and financial reasons. In a related forthcoming study from The Conference Board, more than half (55 percent) of older employees surveyed said they were not planning to retire because they find their jobs interesting. Significantly, 74 percent also cited not having sufficient financial resources as a reason they were continuing to work, and 60 percent cited the need for medical benefits.

Working in retirement, once considered an oxymoron, is the new reality, according to The Conference Board report. Besides wanting to continue doing what they love, reasons economic in nature are also keeping older Americans in the workforce. As a result, the increasingly multiethnic workforce will also become more multigenerational as mature workers want or need to continue to work.

Boomers also indicate that the historical linear life plan – where certain years are earmarked for education, work, and then leisure – is becoming obsolete. Boomers want to work on terms that are customized to their needs. The goal of many is to “ratchet back” and give up responsibility, yet stay involved and active in business. In addition, lifelong learning is not only desirable, but necessary to achieve their work goals.

“New work arrangements that capitalize on this desired work/project orientation have to be developed to meet the needs of the mature worker and the headcount concerns of the corporation,” says Sedlar. “The need to create a corporate culture as well as learning institutions welcoming to all generations is becoming more apparent.”

KNOWLEDGE LOSS AND OLDER WORKERS
By 2010, the number of 35-44 year olds, those normally expected to move into senior management ranks, will actually decline by 10 percent. Also by 2010, the number of U.S. workers 45-54 will grow by 21 percent, while the number of 55-64 year-olds will expand by 52 percent.

One-half of companies interviewed feel that the departure of mature workers presents potential knowledge vulnerabilities. About one-third have conducted workforce planning studies and identified potential knowledge areas where they could be vulnerable. One-half of those interviewed have some form of mentoring program in place to share and transfer knowledge.

Certain industries are more concerned with the impending “brain drain” stemming from the withdrawal of some mature workers from the workforce. The technology and pharmaceuticals industries generally express worries about the development of new products and services and anticipate a drain in experienced engineers, key account sales representatives, and senior managers.

Flexible programs are generally present in industries that consider the maturing workforce to be a very significant issue. These companies have sometimes had to struggle with legal or regulatory constraints that restrict flexible work arrangements for mature workers. The majority of survey participants perceive a Catch-22 – wanting to offer something special for mature workers but feeling unable to do so in a way that doesn’t seem discriminatory.

TACTICS FOR STRATEGIC CHANGE
The report recommends a series of strategic ideas and actions to foster effective management of any “retirement risk” to the business posed by a potential exit wave of mature workers. Among them:

• Identify potential gaps and knowledge transfer needs
• Broaden succession planning thinking
• Check communications mechanisms and messages for intergenerational approach
• Review training history
• Capitalize on affinity groups
• Become an “employer of choice” for all generations
• Encourage better financial planning among employees
• Build a retiree network
• Offer benefits of interest to mature workers such as long-term care insurance, pre-retirement planning, health and wellness programs, comprehensive medical coverage, including prescription drugs, health coverage for retirees and part-time workers, prorated benefits for employees on flexible work schedules

Source: Managing the Mature Workforce,
Report #1369-05-RR, The Conference Board

About The Conference Board
Non-partisan and not-for-profit, The Conference Board is one of the world’s leading business membership and research organizations. The Conference Board produces The Consumer Confidence Index and the Leading Economic Indicators for the U.S. and other major nations. These barometers can have a major impact on the financial markets. The Conference Board also produces a wide range of authoritative reports on corporate governance and ethics, human resources and diversity, executive compensation, outsourcing, profiting from a mature workforce, and corporate citizenship. Our conference and council programs bring together more than 10,000 senior executives each year to share insights and learn from each other. Visit The Conference Board’s award-winning website at www.conference-board.org

[Smoking Parents and Kids]

Children Whose Parents Smoke Twice as Likely to Begin Smoking . . .
http://www.uwnews.org/

September 28, 2005

Twelve-year-olds whose parents smoked were more than two times as likely to begin smoking cigarettes on a daily basis between the ages of 13 and 21 than were children whose parents didn't use tobacco, according to a new study that looked at family influences on smoking habits.

The research indicated that parental behavior about smoking, not attitudes, is the key factor in delaying the onset of daily smoking, according to Karl Hill, director of the University of Washington's Seattle Social Development Project and an associate research professor of social work.

Hill said other elements that influenced whether or not adolescents began daily smoking were consistent family monitoring and rules, family bonding or a strong emotional attachment inside the family, and parents not involving children in their own smoking behavior. The later includes such activities as asking their children to get a pack of cigarettes from the car or having them light a cigarette for the parent.

"All of these factors are important in delaying or preventing daily smoking, but parental smoking is the biggest contributor to children initiating smoking," said Hill. "It really is a matter of 'do as I do' not 'do as I say' when it comes to smoking."

The study is one of the first to look at the initiation of daily smoking rather than the experimental use of tobacco. It defined daily smoking as smoking between one and five cigarettes daily in the previous 30 days at the time of each interview.

The research is part of the ongoing Seattle Social Development Project supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse that is tracking the development of positive and antisocial behaviors among 808 individuals. They originally were recruited as fifth-grade students from elementary schools in high-crime Seattle neighborhoods.

For this study, the individuals were interviewed at ages 13, 14, 15, 16, 18 and 21. The group was nearly equally divided among males and females. Forty-six percent were white, 24 percent were black, 21 percent were Asian Americans, 6 percent were American Indians and 3 percent were from other ethnic backgrounds.

The study found differences in daily smoking rates both by gender and racial background.

Over all, 37 percent of the individuals reported daily smoking by age 21 – 42 percent of the males and 32 percent of the females.

Whites (43 percent) were more likely to have begun regular smoking by 21 than were blacks (35 percent) and Asian Americans (24 percent). However, Indians (54 percent) were the group most likely to have begun daily smoking by age 21.

Smoking rates predictably increased as the individuals got older. Just a little more than 2 percent had ever smoked daily at 13. That rate increased to 5 percent at 14, 12 percent at 15, 18 percent at 16, and 27 percent at 18.

"Parents may feel that they don't matter to their teens, but this study indicates, they really do," said Hill. "It shows that such factors as not smoking, having good family management skills in setting rules and monitoring behavior, and having a strong emotional relationship with their children matter until the end of adolescence."

Smoking prevention programs, he said, need components focused on parents, something they generally ignore, to help reduce adolescent smoking. Such programs are important since tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States, accounting for about 440,000 deaths annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"Keeping children from smoking starts with parents and their behavior. Some parents say they disapprove of teenage smoking, but continue to smoke themselves. The evidence is clear from this study that if parents don't want their children to start smoking, it is important for them to stop or reduce their own smoking," Hill said.

Co-authors of the study published in the current issue of Journal of Adolescent Health are J. David Hawkins, UW professor of social work; Richard Catalano, UW professor of social work and director of the Social Development Research Group; Robert Abbott, chairman of educational psychology at the UW; and Jie Guo, a former UW research scientist.

[Alcohol Research]

University of Iowa News

Oct. 14, 2005

UI Study Focuses On Age Of First Alcoholic Drink

Having a first alcoholic drink at the early age of 12, 13 or 14 might be influenced more by a child's tendency to do things like lie, steal or skip school than by a family history of alcohol dependency, according to findings by University of Iowa and other investigators.

The study results appear in the October issue of the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.

The investigation is the first in a series on problems in adolescence and was based on data from nine sites, including the UI, in the ongoing Collaborative Study of the Genetics of Alcoholism. The researchers compared children ages 7 to 17 from families with a high occurrence of alcohol dependence and families without such history.

To see what might predict or precede an early age of first drink, the team analyzed several behaviors and conditions in the study participants' childhoods: attention-deficit hyperactivity symptoms, conduct disorder symptoms (such as fighting, lying, stealing, skipping school), anxiety and depression, and whether each child's parents or other close family members had diagnoses of alcoholism or antisocial personality disorder (aggressive, unpleasant behavior).

"We found, somewhat surprisingly, that having a family history of alcohol dependency or anti-social personality disorder does not relate to age of first drink. However, the number of conduct disorder symptoms a child has does relate to the age of first drink," said Samuel Kuperman, M.D., corresponding author and professor of psychiatry in the UI Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine.

"For each major conduct symptom in a child's life, the age of first drink decreased by about three months," added Kuperman, who also is director of the child psychiatry division in Children's Hospital of Iowa at UI Hospitals and Clinics.

Kuperman said some previous studies reported that a family history of alcoholism or antisocial personality disorder relates to an earlier age of first drink. However, he noted, those studies did not take into account the additional negative behaviors and conditions included in the current study.

"This study helps put things in perspective. It is not just the age of first drink that relates to negative outcomes. There are often bad things happening to these children and the age of first drink represents just one of them and is not the most important one," Kuperman said.

Kuperman said the team will continue to study what factors, including age of first drink, are important in predicting negative outcomes for youth.

Other UI researchers involved in the study were Grace Chan, Ph.D., statistician in the UI College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and John Kramer, Ph.D., research associate in Kuperman's lab. Investigators also were involved from Washington University in St. Louis, University of Connecticut, Indiana University and University of California at San Diego.

The Collaborative Study of the Genetics of Alcoholism is funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, part of the National Institutes of Health.

University of Iowa Health Care describes the partnership between the UI Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine and UI Hospitals and Clinics and the patient care, medical education and research programs and services they provide. Visit UI Health Care online at www.uihealthcare.com

STORY SOURCE: University of Iowa Health Science Relations, 5137 Westlawn, Iowa City, Iowa 5224-1178

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October 13, 2005

AA Membership and Alcoholism Treatment Work Best if Started Together

By Becky Ham, Science Writer
Health Behavior News Service

People who join Alcoholics Anonymous at the same time they seek professional help for alcohol problems are more likely to be sober years later than those who initially seek only one or the other, according to a new report.

The study in the latest issue of Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research suggests that the timing of a person’s entry into AA may be more important than previously thought.

Some studies have indicated that AA participation can help alcohol abusers reduce their drinking, while noting that apparent benefits may be partly due to the fact that the group attracts people who are highly motivated to control their drinking.

In the new study, Rudolf Moos and Bernice Moos, researchers with the Department of Veterans Affairs and Stanford University, found that individuals who first sought help with AA and later entered treatment were less likely to be sober years later than those who did not get professional help,

On the other hand, people who delayed joining AA after starting professional treatment “did not appear to obtain any additional benefit from AA,” said Rudolf Moos.

The findings “counter the concern that entry into treatment might reduce motivation to participate in AA,” he added. “In fact, they suggest that participation in treatment may temporarily strengthen affiliation with AA.”

The researchers surveyed 362 people one year, three years, eight years and 16 years after they first sought help for alcohol abuse with professional treatment or AA membership. The study participants were almost evenly divided between men and women, most were white and unmarried and 56 percent were unemployed at the start of the study.

Nearly half (180) of the people chose to start treatment and AA membership at the same time, while 89 people joined AA only and 93 people sought professional help only at the start of the study.

Professional help included treatment by a physician, psychologist, psychiatrist or counselor on an outpatient basis or in a hospital program.

To determine the impact of the treatment or AA membership, Moos and Moos asked individuals whether they had been abstinent or moderate drinkers and whether they had any alcohol-related problems at home or at work in the past six months. Those who had stopped or slowed their drinking with no recent alcohol-related problems were considered to be “in remission.”

The amount of participation in AA was also an important factor in remission, the researchers found. The more weeks people participated in AA during their first eight years of treatment, the more likely they were to be in remission at the one-, three- and eight-year marks.

Rudolf Moos says that more individuals might have joined AA more quickly and increased their chances at remission “if some of the barriers to participation in AA could have been overcome, such as the perception that it encourages a sick role identity and dependence on the group.”

According to alcohol abuse researcher J. Scott Tonigan of the University of New Mexico, “We still have a poor understanding of what AA-exposed individuals actually do and how AA-related practices may mobilize and sustain behavior change.”

The study was supported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Services Research and Development Service.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Health Behavior News Service: (202) 387-2829 or www.hbns.org
Interviews: Contact Rudolf Moos at (650) 614-9892 or rmoos@stanford.edu

Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research: Contact Mary Newcomb at 317-375-0819 or mnewcomb-acer@earthlink.net or visit www.alcoholism-cer.com

Moos RH, Moos BS. Paths of entry into Alcoholics Anonymous: consequences for participation and remission. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research 29(10), 2005.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Health Behavior News Service: (202) 387-2829 or www.hbns.org

[Happy and Healthy Teens?]

Canadian Youth With Positive Community and Family Ties Report Better Health

Half of Canadian teens report a high level of parental nurturing; 8 out of 10 say that they feel very connected to their peers

October 19, 2005—Youth who say that they have positive ties with family, school, peers and community tend to be in better health and have higher self-worth, according to a new report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information’s Canadian Population Health Initiative.

Improving the Health of Young Canadians, 2005 explores the association between five positive “assets”—parental nurturing, parental monitoring, school engagement, volunteerism and peer connectedness—and the health behaviours and outcomes of Canadian teens.

Youth who report four or five assets are more likely to say that they are in very good or excellent health than youth with two or three assets, who in turn are more likely to report very good or excellent health than youth with zero or one asset. Rates of very good/excellent health among youth aged 12 to 15 were 83% (four to five assets), 74% (two to three assets) and 54% (zero to one asset) respectively in 2000–2001.

In general, youth with more assets are more likely to report high self-worth and are less likely to report engaging in risky health behaviours, such as using tobacco, alcohol and marijuana.

“This research points to the fact that everyone can make a difference in healthy youth development,” says Dr. Richard Lessard, Chair of the Canadian Population Health Initiative Council and Director of Prevention and Public Health for the Agence de développement de réseaux locaux de santé et de services sociaux de Montréal (Montréal-Centre regional health and social services board).

“Parents, school, friends and community are all important in helping a young person realize his or her potential as a healthy young adult. But not all Canadian teens report having strong social ties.”

The report showed that, in 2000–2001, 51% of youth aged 12 to 15 reported having four or five assets, 40% of youth in this age range reported having two or three assets and 9% of youth in this age range reported having zero or one asset.

Weighing the risks for youth
Findings from the report show that about half (53%) of youth aged 12 to 15 reported high levels of parental nurturing and parental monitoring. Youth who feel nurtured by their parents and feel engaged in their school are less likely to say that they engage in risky behaviours such as smoking, drinking alcohol, using marijuana and associating with peers who commit crimes. Youth who report higher levels of parental monitoring are also less likely to report engaging in risky behaviours such as using tobacco, alcohol or marijuana.

“It is not smooth sailing for all Canadian teens,” says Elizabeth Gyorfi-Dyke, Director of the Canadian Population Health Initiative at CIHI. “Teens who have lower levels of parental nurturance or who do not feel engaged at school are less likely to report being healthy and are more likely to participate in behaviours that can put their health at risk.”

Of teens between the ages of 12 and 15, 7 out of 10 reported a high level of school engagement (74%); 8 in 10 Canadian youth aged 12 to 17 reported high levels of peer connectedness (80%).

While feeling connected to peers is associated with many positive health outcomes, such as very good/excellent health status, male youth with high levels of peer connectedness are more likely to report injuries.

Results for volunteerism were mixed: 7 out of 10 Canadian teens report being involved in volunteer activities (73%), and youth who volunteer tend to report better health and self-worth, and lower rates of tobacco and marijuana use, than those who do not volunteer. But youth who do not volunteer are more likely to report low anxiety levels than those who do volunteer (63% versus 56% respectively, in 2000–2001).

Improving the Health of Young Canadians, 2005 draws primarily on Statistics Canada’s National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY, Cycle 4) and the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS, Cycle 2.1, 2003).

Canadian Population Health Initiative (CPHI)
The Canadian Population Health Initiative is part of the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). CPHI supports research to advance knowledge on the determinants of health in Canada and to develop policy options to improve population health and reduce health inequalities. Improving the health of Young Canadians is the first report in the 2005–2006 Improving the Health of Canadians series. A report on healthy weights will be released in February 2006 and a report on urban health will be released in June 2006.

About CIHI
The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) collects and analyzes information on health and health care in Canada and makes it publicly available. Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial governments created CIHI as a not-for-profit, independent organization dedicated to forging a common approach to Canadian health information. CIHI’s goal: to provide timely, accurate and comparable information. CIHI’s data and reports inform health policies, support the effective delivery of health services and raise awareness among Canadians of the factors that contribute to good health.

Figures and Tables

Figure 1 Adolescents’ Health Status and Behaviours in Relation to the Number of Positive Assets (Figure 9 in the report)
http://secure.cihi.ca/cihiweb/en/media_ ... ig1_e.html

Table 2 Adolescents’ Health Status and Behaviours in Relation to the Individual Positive Assets (Table 1 in the report)
http://secure.cihi.ca/cihiweb/en/media_ ... ab1_e.html

Fact Sheet Just the Facts: A Profile of Canadian Adolescents’ Health Status (Fact Sheet in the report)
http://secure.cihi.ca/cihiweb/en/media_ ... eet_e.html


Report . . .
http://secure.cihi.ca/cihiweb/dispPage. ... cw_dform=N

Improving the Health of Young Canadians, 2005 . . .
http://secure.cihi.ca/cihiweb/dispPage. ... cw_dform=N

[The Benefits of Treatment]

Every dollar spent on substance abuse treatment generates $7 in monetary benefits for society, a new UCLA study shows.

Published Oct. 20, 2005 in the Online Early section of the peer-reviewed journal Health Services Research, the study finds that the average $1,583 cost of substance abuse treatment is offset by monetary benefits such as reduced costs of crime and increased employment earnings totaling $11,487.

The researcher team used detailed data from 2,567 clients admitted to 43 treatment providers in 13 California counties during 2000 and 2001. The information was gathered via an automated system operated by the California Treatment Outcome Project.

“Even without considering the health and quality-of-life benefits to drug treatment clients themselves, spending taxpayer dollars on substance abuse treatment appears to be a wise investment,” said Susan Ettner, lead author and professor of general internal medicine and health services research at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine and School of Public Health.

The research team estimated cost of treatment for an individual by multiplying the number of days spent in each treatment setting, such as residential or outpatient, by the average daily cost of each mode of treatment, using cost data collected from treatment providers.

Monetary benefits associated with treatment were estimated using administrative records as well as data provided by each client prior to treatment and nine months after treatment began. The study examined costs of medical care, mental health services, criminal activity, earnings and related costs of government programs such as unemployment and public aid.

Among other findings:

Treatment costs of clients who began with outpatient care totaled $838 compared to $2,791 for those who began in residential care.

Reductions were seen in hospital inpatient, emergency room and mental health services costs, but only the $223 reduction in emergency room costs was statistically significant.

Reduction in the cost of victimization and other criminal activities averaged $5,676.

No significant changes were seen related to unemployment or disability costs. However, welfare payments increased slightly, perhaps due to increased referrals to public aid programs.

The California Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, the Center for Substance Abuses Treatment, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation provided primary support for the study.

Ettner conducted the study with researchers from the UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior. Other members of the research team included David Huang, Elizabeth Evans, Danielle Rose Ash, Mary Hardy, Mickel Jourabchi and Yih-Ing Hser.

The California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs implemented the California Treatment Outcome Project in 1998 at 43 treatment provider sites in the following counties: Alameda, El Dorado, Kern, Lassen, Orange, Riverside, Sacramento, San Benito, San Diego, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo and San Mateo.

The project is intended to allow regular assessments of drug abuse treatment clients and their outcomes so counties can adjust programs to address changing needs over time. The project is the successor to CalDATA, which gathered similar but less comprehensive data more than a decade ago.

Online resources:
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA: http://dgsom.healthsciences.ucla.edu/

UCLA School of Public Health: http://www.ph.ucla.edu

UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs: http://www.uclaisap.org/

Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA: http://www.npi.ucla.edu/

[Be Happy and Live Longer]

Optimism -- whether it comes naturally or is learned -- is good for you.

November 4, 2005

Not only do happy people live longer than curmudgeons, but they also lead healthier lives. Researchers at Mayo Clinic reviewed the records of people who completed the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory in the early 1960s. Three decades later, they found that pessimists, as compared to optimists, had an increased risk of death. The more pessimistic the personality, the greater the risk. In a follow-up study, optimistic people had better health in all areas.

If you’re not naturally a glass half-full person, you may be able to learn to be more optimistic -- and improve your health. The October issue of Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource offers suggestions for becoming more optimistic:

* Stop negative self talk. When you catch yourself thinking that you won’t enjoy an event or do well on a project, stop the thought. Instead, identify the positives in the situation.

* If you’re irritated with your spouse or partner, think back to those qualities that you found so attractive when you fell in love. Keep those qualities in the forefront of your mind.

* Find joy in your work. No matter what kind of job it is, find some aspect that’s personally satisfying.

* Surround yourself with positive, upbeat people.

* Deal with situations that you can control, and try to accept those you can’t.

* Put things in perspective. Life may take you on difficult paths. Try to find the adventure. A bump in the road is only temporary.

* Each day, write down three positive things that happened that day as well as speculations about why those good things happened.

Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource is published monthly to help women enjoy healthier, more productive lives. Revenue from subscriptions is used to support medical research at Mayo Clinic. To subscribe, please call 800-876-8633, extension 9PK1.

Mayo Clinic College of Medicine . . .
http://www.mayo.edu/

[A Call for Movie Warnings]

A Call for Movie Warnings . . .
"68 percent of PG-13 rated movies depicted smoking."


Attorneys General Urge Hollywood Studios to Place Anti-smoking Ads on all DVDs and Videos That Depict Smoking

Statement from Dr. Cheryl Healton, President and CEO, American Legacy Foundation®

11/17/2005

Thirty-two state attorneys general have called on major motion picture studios in Hollywood to insert anti-smoking public service announcements (PSAs) warning people of the health effects of tobacco on all DVDs, videos and other newer home viewing format movies they distribute that depict smoking.

The American Legacy Foundation® applauds the attorneys general for their effort to help counter the negative effects smoking in movies has on our nation’s children. These messages are needed to help offset the millions of dollars in marketing the tobacco industry spends every day in the United States.

We know that there is a clear link between smoking in the movies and young people starting to smoke. A national study of adolescents in the United States found that children with the highest exposure to smoking in movies are nearly three times more likely to start smoking than those with the least exposure. In fact, nationally, 38 percent of youth smoking initiation can be traced to exposure to smoking in movies. It is not difficult for youth to find smoking in the movies.

An analysis of the top 50 grossing movies between May 2003 and April 2004 found that 68 percent of PG-13 rated movies depicted smoking.

Research has shown that placing anti-smoking ads or PSAs prior to movies with smoking can be an effective way to combat the glamorization of smoking in movies by inoculating young people against positive tobacco messages. The American Legacy Foundation® has joined a host of public health and medical groups to support keeping smoking out of G, PG and PG-13 movies. This week the American Legacy Foundation® cosigned an advertisement in The New York Times alongside the National PTA, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, the American Medical Association and others. We believe that reducing youth exposure to smoking in movies and applying these messages to all movies would prevent young people from starting to smoke, and thus save many of our kids from lives of addiction and disease.

Every day, in the United States, about 3,900 youth ages 12 to 17 try a cigarette for the first time, and about 1500 will become daily smokers. Public health messages, such as those provided by the foundation’s truth® youth smoking prevention campaign, work to share information with these youth about how the tobacco industry markets its cigarettes. States work to empower youth with information about the health effects of tobacco and the tobacco industry’s marketing efforts. Despite their success, state governments have cut the funding for these programs. This is unfortunate, because we know that media campaigns like truth® and state advertising campaigns can play an important role in preventing youth from starting to smoke. Inserting anti-smoking ads before any movie depicting smoking would only strengthen these efforts.

The American Legacy Foundation® is dedicated to building a world where young people reject tobacco and anyone can quit. Located in Washington, DC, the foundation develops programs that address the health effects of tobacco use through grants, technical assistance and training, research, youth activism, strategic partnerships, counter-marketing and grass roots marketing campaigns, public relations, and outreach to populations disproportionately affected by the toll of tobacco. The foundation’s national programs include Circle of Friends®, Great Start®, a Priority Populations Initiative, Streetheory® and truth®. The American Legacy Foundation® was created as a result of the November 1998 Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) reached between attorneys general from 46 states, five US territories, and the tobacco industry. Visit www.americanlegacy.org.

Contact Information:
Julia Cartwright 202-454-5596

[Intuitive Eating/No Diets]

Eat what you want, when you want, says new study by BYU professor

Pilot study shows intuitive eaters healthier than restrictive dieters

"There's no food that is taboo."

"The reality is that our bodies crave good nutrition."

A new study by Brigham Young University professor Steven Hawks suggests that an approach toward food called “intuitive eating” produces lower cholesterol levels, body mass index scores and cardiovascular disease risk.

November 21, 2005

Counting calories isn’t the best way to lose weight, according to a new Brigham Young University study that suggests that an approach toward food called “intuitive eating” is better at producing lower cholesterol levels, body mass index scores and cardiovascular disease risk.

“The basic premise of intuitive eating is, rather than manipulate what we eat in terms of prescribed diets -- how many calories a food has, how many grams of fat, specific food combinations or anything like that -- we should take internal cues, try to recognize what our body wants and then regulate how much we eat based on hunger and satiety,” said lead researcher Steven Hawks, a BYU professor of health science, who adopted an intuitive eating lifestyle several years ago and lost 50 pounds as a result.

In a small-scale study to be published in the Nov. 18 issue of the “American Journal of Health Education,” Hawks and his team of researchers -- Hala Madanat, Jaylyn Hawks and Ashley Harris -- identified a handful of college students who are naturally intuitive eaters and compared them with other students who aren’t. Participants were then tested to determine how healthy they were.

As measured by the Intuitive Eating Scale, developed by Hawks and others to measure the degree to which a per --on is an intuitive eater, researchers found that intuitive eating was significantly correlated with lower body mass index, lower triglyceride levels, higher levels of high density lipoproteins and decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. Approximately one-third of the variance in body mass index was accounted for by intuitive eating scores, while 17 to 19 percent of the variance in blood lipid profiles and cardiovascular risk was accounted for by intuitive eating.

“The findings provide support for intuitive eating as a positive approach to healthy weight management,” said Hawks, who plans to do a large-scale study of intuitive eating across several cultures.

“In less developed countries in Asia, people are primarily intuitive eaters,” said Hawks. “They haven’t been conditioned to artificially structure their relationship with food like we have in the United States. They’ve been conditioned to believe that the purpose of food is to enjoy, to nurture. You eat when you’re hungry, you stop when you’re not hungry any more. They have a much healthier relationship with food, far fewer eating disorders, and interestingly, far less obesity.”

Hawks says that “normal” dieting in the United States doesn’t result in long-term weight loss and contributes to food anxiety and unhealthy eating practices, and can even lead to eating disorders.

“What makes intuitive eating different from a diet is that all diets work against human biology, whereas intuitive eating teaches people to work with their own biology, to work with their bodies, to understand their bodies,” said Hawks. “Rather than a prescriptive diet, it’s really about increasing awareness and understanding of your body. It’s a nurturing approach to nutrition, health and fitness as opposed to a regulated, coercive, restrictive approach. That’s why diets fail, and that’s why intuitive eating has a better chance of being successful in the long term.”

To be an intuitive eater, a person has to adopt two attitudes and two behaviors.

The first attitude is body acceptance.

“It’s an extremely difficult attitude adjustment for many people to make, but they have to come to a conscious decision that personal worth is not a function of body size,” said Hawks. “Rather than having an adversarial relationship with my body, where I have to control it, and force it to submit to my will so that I can make it thin, I’m going to value my body because it allows me to accomplish some higher good with my life.”

The second attitude, that dieting is harmful, is related to the first.

“Dieting does not lead to the results that people think it will lead to, and so I try to help people foster an anti-dieting attitude,” said Hawks. “You have to say to yourself, ‘I will not base my food intake on diet plans, food-based rules, good and bad foods, all of that kind of thing.’ For people who are deep into dietary restraint and dietary rules, again, that’s a very difficult attitude adjustment to make, to give up all those rules.”

Behaviorally, the next step is learning how to not eat for emotional, environmental or social reasons.

“Socially we eat all the time in our culture, we go out to eat ice cream if we break up with our boyfriend, we eat to celebrate, we eat when we’re lonely, we eat when we’re sad, we eat when we’re stressed out,” said Hawks. “Being able to recognize all the emotional, environmental and cultural relationships we have with food and finding better ways to manage our emotions is part of the process.”

The final step is learning how to interpret body signals, cravings and hunger, and responding in a healthy, positive, nurturing way.

Learning the body’s signals can be difficult at first, but Hawks suggests thinking about hunger and satiety on a 10-point scale, where “10” is eating until one is sick and “1” is starving. Intuitive eaters keep themselves at or around a “5.” If they feel they are getting hungry, they eat until they are back at a “5” or “6.” They stop eating when they are satisfied, even if that means leaving food on the plate.

One part of intuitive eating that may be counterintuitive to people conditioned to restrictive dieting is the concept that with intuitive eating there is a place for every food. In other words, there’s no food that’s ever taboo, there’s no food you can’t ever have.

“Part of adopting an anti-dieting attitude is the recognition that you have unconditional permission to eat any kind of food that you want,” said Hawks. “And that’s scary for people who say, ‘If I abandon my diet rules, then I’ll fill a pillowcase full of M&M’s, dive into it and never come up again. That’s what I crave, I know that’s what I crave, that’s all I will always crave.’ But that’s not the reality. The reality is that our bodies crave good nutrition.”

Dieting creates psychological and physiological urges to binge on taboo foods, and, although in the short term people may have binges when they first start eating intuitively, they eventually learn to trust themselves. One technique Hawks suggests is having an abundance of previously taboo foods on hand. Once the foods are no longer forbidden, a person quickly loses interest in them.

“If people are committed to recognizing what their bodies really want, the vast majority of people will say that they very quickly overcame cravings,” said Hawks, opening a drawer at his office desk filled with untouched junk food. “It certainly has worked for me.”

[Drugs/Alcohol in the Womb]

Scientists have more insight into how drug use by mothers can affect children later in life . . .

May 1, 2006

Toddlers exposed to cocaine before birth exhibit no more behavioral problems than other children their age, despite early predictions that "crack babies" would grow up to be delinquents, University of Florida researchers say.

Studying 3-year-olds exposed to crack and powder cocaine in the womb and a similar group of children who were not, UF researchers found that disruptive behaviors in children actually seem to be linked more closely to maternal depression than prenatal cocaine exposure.

"In all of the various outcomes we have looked at, people have expected very bad things," said Tamara D. Warner, Ph.D., a postdoctoral associate in the UF College of Medicine and lead author of the study. "These dire predictions were made about this group of kids. This study shows there really aren't the huge problems that we might expect."

The researchers found that mothers, on average, reported a high number of symptoms of depression, regardless of whether they used cocaine during pregnancy, according to findings published this month in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. Biological mothers also tended to report more behavioral problems than nonmaternal caregivers and foster parents, who were caring for about half the cocaine-exposed children by the time they reached 3.

"One might have expected that caregivers who took on children with prenatal cocaine exposure would've expected (more problems) and reported a higher number of problems," Warner said. "But that wasn't the case."

The researchers studied 256 children, about half of whom were exposed to cocaine before birth. Most of their mothers were poor and black and lived in rural North Central Florida.

Poverty could explain why many of these mothers showed signs of depression, and in turn, depression could explain why mothers of cocaine-exposed and non-exposed children tended to report more behavioral problems, such as hyperactivity and impulsive behaviors, Warner said.

About 5 percent to 10 percent of children exhibit disruptive behavioral problems. But the mothers UF researchers studied reported that as many as 46 percent of their children demonstrated certain disruptive problems, Warner said.

Mothers could be showing signs of depression because of their children's misbehaving ways, but researchers can't pinpoint whether maternal depression causes misbehavior or if disruptive behavior leads to depression.

"If you're poor and you need mental health services, you're in bad shape," Warner said. "Both sets of moms were reporting a large number of depressive symptoms and have been from the beginning. And that is probably more likely to result in emotional behavior problems for the children than prenatal cocaine exposure."

Deborah Frank, Ph.D., a professor of pediatrics at Boston University's Boston Medical Center, also noted that UF is the only institution studying rural mothers, important because urban mothers face different obstacles, such as violence, which could potentially affect childhood behavior and rates of maternal depression.

"The very high rates of clinically important depression in all the (maternal) caregivers are striking," said Frank, who also studies prenatal cocaine exposure. "We're finding that the most devastating effects are from the postnatal environment, not the prenatal environment.

"None of this research should be taken as, 'It's OK to use crack when you're pregnant," Frank added. "It's not something women do for fun. It's something women do out of despair."

Tackling that despair is still a problem that needs to improve, said Marylou Behnke, M.D., a UF neonatology professor and co-author of the study. Access to treatment programs and mental health services is still poor for mothers, she said.

Behnke and Fonda Davis Eyler, Ph.D., began studying children exposed to cocaine prenatally in 1991. Their research, funded by the National Institutes of Health's National Institute on Drug Abuse, has debunked beliefs that cocaine-exposed children would be malformed and not have the same cognitive abilities as other children. Last year the researchers reported that cocaine-exposed children exhibit only subtle problem-solving differences in school. The children they studied, including the 3-year-olds in the current study, are in their early teens now.

"There were really dire things that are being predicted," Behnke said. "It's encouraging that we're not seeing those kind of behavioral problems."

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2006 Pediatric Health News Releases

May 1, 2006 - Study Links ADHD Cognitive and Behavioral Problems To Genetic and Environmental Interactions

CINCINNATI ─ A new study indicates that cognitive and behavioral problems that underlie attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, are due to a complex interplay of genes and the environment. The Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center study is the first to examine how genes, toxins and gender interact to shape ADHD.
http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/heal ... e/adhd.htm

"This study shows that certain groups of children have an increased sensitivity to environmental exposures," says Tanya Froehlich, MD, a physician at Cincinnati Children's and the study's lead author. "More studies like this one are needed to help set exposure standards that adequately protect the most susceptible members of society."

The study will be presented at 10:15 am Pacific time Monday, May 1, at the annual Pediatric Academic Societies Annual Meeting in San Francisco.
http://www.pas-meeting.org/

The Cincinnati Children's researchers examined the impact of lead exposure on executive function -- the ability to plan and organize activities and behaviors. Executive function is impaired in individuals with ADHD. They particularly wanted to determine whether lead's effects are influenced by an individual's underlying genetic and biological make-up, including the impact of gender and variations in the DRD4 dopamine receptor gene. The DRD4 receptor helps regulate brain levels of dopamine, a chemical in the brain that is essential for attention and cognition, and variations in DRD4's composition have been linked to ADHD.

The study findings indicate that increasing lead exposure is linked to impairment on a number of executive functions, including planning, memory span and attentional flexibility (the ability to revise one's plan or strategy in the face of obstacles or new information). However, certain genetic and biological factors seemed to predispose an individual to the negative effects of lead exposure. For instance, only children with certain variations of the DRD4 gene seemed vulnerable to lead's adverse effects on attentional flexibility.

"In addition, increasing lead exposure impaired performance in both planning and attentional flexibility in boys more than in girls. This suggests that, for these executive functions, boys are more vulnerable to the adverse affects of lead exposure," says Dr. Froehlich. "This is also consistent with the established fact that boys have higher rates of ADHD than girls."

The researchers studied 172 children who were enrolled in a community-based study of low levels of lead exposure. Blood lead levels were assessed during infancy and early childhood. At age 5, children took standardized, ADHD-related executive function tests.

"This study offers a model for examining how genes and environmental toxins interact to shape ADHD, and demonstrates that important effects may be obscured or over-generalized if the joint contributions of these factors are not considered," says Dr. Froehlich. "Such studies can help us understand the underlying causes of neuropsychological disorders, and why certain groups may be more prone to ADHD than others."

Cincinnati Children's is a 475-bed institution devoted to bringing the world the joy of healthier kids. Cincinnati Children's is dedicated to transforming the way health care is delivered by providing care that is timely, efficient, effective, family-centered, equitable and safe. It ranks third nationally among all pediatric centers in research grants from the National Institutes of Health.
http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/about/fcc/

The Cincinnati Children's vision is to be the leader in improving child health.
Contact Information
Jim Feuer, 513-636-4656, jim.feuer@cchmc.org

- - - - - - -

April 28, 2006

Children exposed to cocaine in the womb are more likely to grow up with behavior problems – but so are those with prenatal exposure to legal substances such as alcohol and tobacco.

These are the findings of a research paper by Dr. Henrietta S. Bada, chief, Division of Neonatology, professor of pediatrics, UK College of Medicine, and professor, UK School of Public Health, presented at the 2006 Annual Meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies in San Francisco today.

When Bada and co-investigators from Brown University, University of Miami, University of Tennessee, Wayne State University, and Research Triangle Institute began their research, the effect of prenatal cocaine exposure on the behavior of children was unclear. With the presentation of Bada’s paper, “Prenatal Cocaine Exposure and Trajectories of Childhood Behavior Problems Through Age Nine Years,” scientists have more insight into how drug use by mothers can affect children later in life.

The nine-year study found that even adjusting for factors such as socioeconomic status, home environment, caretaker depression and other prenatal drug exposures, the trajectory of behavior outcomes for children exposed to cocaine during fetal development differed significantly across three categories -- external, internal and total behavior problems -- from those for children not exposed.

Children exposed to prenatal tobacco use suffered similar problems across all three categories. Prenatal alcohol exposure was found to impact external and total behavior problems. Additional behavioral effects, which became more evident with time, were noted from the caretaker’s continuing use of tobacco and alcohol after birth.

The study was funded by the NICHD Neonatal Research Network and National Institute on Drug Abuse, the National Institutes of Health.

For more information on Bada’s work, visit. . .
http://www.ukhealthcare.uky.edu/kch/physicians/bada.htm

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April 27, 2006

Children whose mothers report difficulties with mental health, substance use and domestic violence one year after delivery appear more likely to have behavior problems at age 3 years, according to an article in the May issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

A mother’s mood and anxiety disorders, smoking, problem drinking, drug use and exposure to domestic violence may contribute to her children’s behavior problems, according to background information in the article. Although more than one of these conditions often occur in the same woman, their combined effects on children have not been previously studied. Understanding how these problems in mothers affect children could help prevent behavior problems, the authors write.

Robert C. Whitaker, M.D., M.P.H., Mathematica Policy Research Inc., Princeton, New Jersey, and colleagues followed for three years 2,756 children born between 1998 and 2000 in 18 large U.S. cities. Mothers and fathers each answered survey questions shortly after their child was born and also completed a follow-up survey about their well-being one year later. Mothers’ health conditions were split into three categories: mental health, substance abuse and domestic violence. Three years later, researchers surveyed the mothers about their children’s behavior, asking about instances of aggressive, anxious/depressed or inattention/hyperactive conduct.

After one year, half of the mothers had a condition in at least one of the three categories and 22 percent of children had at least one type of behavior problem. The more areas in which a mother reported difficulties, the more likely her child was to develop behavior problems by age 3 years. When mothers reported difficulties in zero, one, two or three areas, reports of aggression among their children at age 3 years increased from 7 percent to 12 percent to 17 percent to 19 percent, respectively; anxiety and depression increased from 9 percent to 14 percent to 16 percent to 27 percent; and inattention and hyperactivity increased from 7 percent to 12 percent to 15 percent to 19 percent. The increased risk remained significant even after the researchers considered other factors, including sociodemographic characteristics of the family, prenatal habits of the mother and whether the father had mental health or substance abuse problems.

Because mental health problems, substance abuse and domestic violence tend to accompany each other and have cumulative negative effects on children, physicians should provide family-oriented care, the authors write. “Those providing health care to children face many barriers in identifying and responding to these conditions, but there is evidence that mothers appear open to empathic inquiries about how they are doing and that mothers also understand that their own well-being is related to that of their children,” they write.

“Our study suggests that, by 3 years of age, there is already evidence of the effect of adverse childhood experiences, occurring in this study in the form of parental mental health problems, substance use and domestic violence,” they conclude. “Whether a clinician is focused primarily on the care of children, adults or pregnant women, there is the potential to help disrupt this intergenerational transmission of poor health.”
(Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2006; 63: 551-560. http://www.jamamedia.org )

Editor’s Note: These data analyses were supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health. Data collection for the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health and a consortium of private foundations.