A glimmer of hope: U.S. obesity may have reached a plateau.

Centers for Disease control investigators found that during 2009-2010 the prevalance of obesity among adult women and men did not significantly change when compared to 2003-2008. On an equally hopeful note, the prevalance of obesity among children and adolescents remained about the same during 2003-2010. All is not well, though. Almost 36% of adults and 17% of children and adolescents in the U.S. are obese--not just overweight. Sadly, there is no indication that obesity is declining.

PositiveTip: Regular physical activity along with consistent healthful dietary choices empowered by God's Grace are the best weapons against this epidemic.

Synthetic marijuana use may cause heart attacks in teens.

Myocardial infaction is very rare in teens, but physicians are now reporting that K2, a designer drug made from a collection of herbs and spices treated with a sythetic cannabinoid, is causing insufficient blood supply to the heart muscle of teens with no previous health problems or family history. K2 gives a marijuana-like effect without showing up on drug screens and is surprisingly easy to obtain.

PositiveTip: Parents and physicians should discourage teens from using any real or synthetic drugs.

Childhood obesity risk can be reduce by up to 41% by eating more whole grains, vegetables and nuts.

A study of children and adolescents found a greater intake of whole grains, vegetables and nuts reduced the risk of excess weight by 41%, 40% and 33%, respectively.  Higher fat dairy products increased the risk of overweight and obesity by 36%. Nuts do have higher calories from fat but increases satiety and may decrease food intake in future meals.

PositiveTip:  Plant foods when consumed with minimal processing have higher nutrient levels and lower calorie-density thus limiting the risk of weight gain for adolescents--and probably adults, too!

Female adolescents who drank at home were more likely to drink more in college!

A study of 449 college-bound female high school seniors who were not allowed by their parents to drink alcohol at all engaged in less binge drinking while in college compared to those who were allowed to drink at home with friends. The authors suggest that parental drinking permissiviveness and later binge drinking is heavily influenced by the mother's alcohol approval. Even parent-monitored drinking does not protect adolescents from drinking heavily later. 

PositiveTip: Prohibit your adolescents from drinking alcoholic beverages at home for their later benefit.

The earlier a person starts drinking the more likely they are to become alcohol dependent.

A fascinating study has investigated the relationship of alcohol dependence to the age of first drinking among 2691 twins living in Australia. In both males and females it was found that the earlier they started drinking, the more likely they were to become dependent on alcohol (41.1% of males who started before the age of 14 vs. 14.6% in those starting later, 25.3% for females starting early vs. 7.5% starting later). 

PositiveTip: Contrary to some advice given, avoid encourging young adolescents to try alcohol even if supervised.

Kids who did not drink at home are less likely to drink as heavily outside the home.

Dutch researchers examined whether parent-monitored drinking as well as drinking with best friends slowed the usual increase in alcohol consumption and binge drinking patterns in adolescents as they grew older. The authors conclude, “Our findings suggest that parents who do not want their children to develop heavy drinking patterns later on should prohibit alcohol use of their adolescent children at home and outside the home at an early age.”

PositiveTip: Beware of the idea of parent-monitored drinking. Not allowing teens to drink is the best prevention!

Energy drinks pose potential health risks primarily because of stimulant content.

"Sports and energy drinks are being marketed to children and adolescents for a wide variety of inappropriate uses," says the American Academy of Pediatrics. This new report states that caffeine-containing "energy" drinks should never be used by children and adolescents, and the carbohydrate-rich sports drinks should be restricted or avoided completely.

PositiveTip: Plain water, not commercial drinks, is the best source of hydration.