Health
Phthalates Banned From Toys
Tuesday, July 29th, 2008Good news for parents concerned about the safety of children’s products. Congress moved this week to ban certain phthalates from toys. The ban is scheduled to take effect in six months. The legislation also phases in a near-ban on lead in children’s products. Read the Washington Post story here.
Some researchers claim phthalates can cause reproductive […]
Can Cell Phones Harm Kids?
Thursday, July 24th, 2008A prominent cancer researcher says cell phones may be hazardous for kids.
Dr. Ronald B. Herberman, director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, says kids should only be allowed to use cell phones in emergencies because the radiation may pose a cancer risk.
Herberman says children are of particular concern since their brains are still developing.
In […]
Exercise Declines As Kids Grow Older
Thursday, July 17th, 2008A study published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association offers new clues as to why so many youngsters are overweight.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota found kids become more sedentary after they leave elementary school, with daily physical activity dropping between the ages of 9 and 15, from an average of […]
Are You Healthier Than a Fifth-Grader?
Monday, July 7th, 2008As alarm bells ring over high childhood obesity rates, the American Academy of Pediatrics is now recommending cholesterol medications for kids as young as 8.
At least a third of children today are said to be overweight, and 17 percent are obese. Experts say this is the first generation in modern times that is expected to […]
What Is Secondary Drowning?
Wednesday, June 4th, 2008A frightening story in today’s news draws attention to a phenomenon called secondary drowning.
Ten-year-old Johnny Jackson died Sunday several hours after inhaling water in a swimming pool at his South Carolina apartment complex. (The Associated Press story says he “swallowed” the water, but apparently it was aspirated into his lungs.)
After returning from the pool, the […]
Obesity Epidemic Doesn’t Slow Kids’ Soda Consumption
Tuesday, June 3rd, 2008In spite of dire warnings about childhood obesity in recent years, kids’ sugary soft drink consumption has been on the rise, a new study reveals.
Between 1988 and 2004, calorie intake from sugar-sweetened beverages rose 20 percent among kids 6 to 11 years of age, according to researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.
Consumption […]
Alternatives to the Spam Diet
Thursday, May 29th, 2008Sales of the canned meat product Spam are on the rise, according to an Associated Press story. The writer attributes the increased popularity of the processed pork in part to higher food costs.
“The Austin, Minn.-based company, also known for the Jennie-O Turkey Store, has embarked on its first national advertising campaign for the 71-year-old brand […]
A Taste of the Good Stuff
Wednesday, May 14th, 2008“Can I go play now?”
“Not until you eat three more bites of your carrots.”
When I was growing up, that conversation frequently played out in our family’s dining room. Now I’m the one trying to get my family to eat healthier.
I’m not alone. According to a study recently commissioned by Produce for Kids, only 18 percent […]
BPA: Are Your Kids Being Exposed to Dangerous Chemicals?
Wednesday, April 16th, 2008A preliminary government report reveals a chemical commonly found in plastic baby bottles, sports drink bottles and other products could cause serious health problems, including cancer.
Bisphenol A, also known as BPA, causes precancerous tumors, urinary tract problems and early puberty in laboratory rats, the National Toxicology Program report says.
BPA can leach into water and other […]
Food Dyes May Affect Kids
Monday, April 14th, 2008Are artificial colors making kids hyper? That’s the opinion of Britain’s Food Standards Agency, which last week called on the European Union to ban many of the same additives that are widely used in the United States.
The recommendation was based on a British study that found a link between hyperactivity in children and common food […]
