TV in Teens' Bedrooms Promotes Poor Diet and Exercise Routines
University of Minnesota School of Public Health researchers have found that a television in the bedroom promotes poor dietary, study and exercise habits among teenagers. 62% of a sample of 781 teenagers aged 15 to 18 in the Minneapolis area had a television in their bedroom, and spent 4 to 5 hours per week watching television. Bedroom TV owners ranked as heavy watchers, at least 5 hours a day—twice the amount of teenagers without one. More »
Teen Pregnancy May Be Reduced by Sex Education in Schools, Says Study
Sex education may reduce teen pregnancy without increasing the amount of sexual intercourse among teens, or the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases among them, according to new research.
"It is not harmful to teach teens about birth control in addition to abstinence," said study lead author Pamela Kohler, a program manager at the University of Washington in Seattle. More »
What Can Birds Teach Us About Raising Our Own Young?
Are younger siblings at a competetive disadvantage to their older brothers or sisters? What wisdom can a bird study provide to us about human sibling relationships? More »
Not Enough Doctors to Treat Increasing Number of Obese and Diabetic Children
The number of diabetic and obese children is growing so rapidly that there aren't enough doctors to treat the kids. According to a recent study by University of Michigan's C.S. Mott Hospital, there is only one board-certified pediatric endocrinologist per 290 children with diabetes. The ratio of obese children to board-certified endocrinologists is 17,000 to 1. The rate if childhood obesity in the United States meanwhile has more than doubled in the past 20 years, with a corresponding increase in the number of children at risk for type 1and type 2 diabetes. More »
Adult Illness and Death Risk Increased by Respiratory Disease During Childhood
Respiratory disease in childhood increases the risk of illness and premature death in adulthood, according to a study published in the journal, Thorax.
Between 1948 and 1968 10,000 male graduates of Glasgow University supplied researchers with details of childhood illnesses, including bronchitis, asthma and pneumonia, plus their weight, height and blood pressure. More »
Spanish-Language TV Commercials Contributing to Latino Youth Obesity, Says Study
The rising obesity epidemic among Latino youth may be traceable to the sheer volume of Spanish-language fast-food television commercials, according to a study in the Journal of Pediatrics. The research was conducted by pediatricians from the Johns Hopkins Children's Center. More »
Industry Standards Needed for Children's Flu Vaccine, Says Report
Evaluating and establishing industry standards for flu vaccines for hospitalized children could help prevent additional hospitalizations and complications from influenza, according to a study published in a recent issue of Pediatrics. More »
Childrens' Brain Development Not Affected By Amalgam Fillings
Dental amalgam fillings do not adversely affect brain development in children, or their neurological status, according to a recent report published in the Journal of the American Dental Association. Dental amalgam contains elemental mercury, plus silver, copper, tin, and zinc to form a stable alloy, and has long been used to save dacaying teeth. More »
Heart Disease Appears Early in Obese Children
A new study published in the Winter 2007 issue of the Journal of Cardiometabolic Syndrome finds that early signs of heart disease appear in obese children or in children at risk for obesity.
"Based on this study, these subtle markers can help us predict who could be at risk for heart disease and heart attacks," said Angela Sharkey, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics at Washington University School of Medicine and a pediatric cardiologist at St. Louis Children's Hospital. More »
Many Doctors Inadequately Trained for Prescribing Medicine to Children
Research published in Archives of Disease in Childhood suggests that inadequate training among healthcare professionals increases the risk of prescribing errors for childrens' medicines. Children are especially vulnerable to mistaken prescribing because formulations are not designed specifically for them, and doses have to be individually figured. More »
