This is the eighth in a series of blogs examining benefits of parental monitoring.

Indiana University conducted research among 116 boys and girls (average age 16.8 years) attending a Midwestern urban high school. The students were surveyed to determine the how often they gambled, and relationship between gambling and their parental and peer influences.

Almost all of the students (91%) reported gambling at least once in their lifetime, while 36.2% reported gambling once a week, 19% reported gambling on a daily basis, and 26% were classified as problem gamblers.

This is the seventh in a series of blogs examining benefits of parental supervision.

A study from Dartmouth University Medical School.has reported that media portrayals of tobacco and alcohol use are associated with adolescent smoking and drinking. They studied the role of parents in monitoring and limiting children’s movie exposure and whether or not this was associated with a lower risk of adolescent smoking and drinking.

This is the sixth in a series of blogs examining benefits of parental supervision.

Research from Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has examined the effect of parental monitoring on substance use.

This research report included responses from 6,500 students attending high school in California and Wisconsin. The researchers were looking to see if there was an association between parental monitoring and substance use.

February 4 each year is World Cancer Day. Does that mean it is a day to celebrate cancer? Absolutely not! Organized by the International Union Against Cancer, it is designed to focus attention on the small, everyday changes that can lower cancer risk. This year the American Institute for Cancer Research called attention to their Policy and Action for Cancer Prevention publication by launching Spanish and Portuguese versions. While it has a somewhat dry sounding title, it takes the wealth of scientific information and translates it into practical steps that can be taken to prevent cancer.

The Diabetes Prevention Program reported in 2002 that compared with placebo, an intensive lifestyle intervention program or oral medications in 3200 individuals with impaired glucose metabolism lowered the incidence of diabetes during the three years of the study by 58% and 31%, respectively. Most of these participants were then enrolled in seven additional years of follow-up where they received lifestyle-reinforcement sessions quarterly, and those randomized to lifestyle had eight additional lifestyle intervention sessions each year.

Ever wanted to run from old age? New research in both mice and men demonstrates literally running regularly helps prevent cells from getting older! German investigators have found that regular physical activity helps you maintain longer telomeres--DNA sequences at the end of chromosomes that typically get shorter with age. These longer telomeres prolong the life of cells in blood vessel walls and white blood cells that circulate in the blood. Both middle-age runners and younger track-and-field athletes had longer telomeres than older sedentary controls.

In a major test of the purported benefits of the herbal supplement ginkgo biloba, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have reported no benefit of taking 120 mg of G. biloba twice daily. This double-blind, randomly assigned study of more than 3000 participants over 75 years of age found no differences in outcomes between the control or experimental groups for heart attacks, strokes or angina. Although a very popular supplement, claims for Ginkgo biloba are turning out to be hollow.

As promised in the last post, I will share with you more of my impressions of the 2009 American Institute for Cancer Research's Conference on Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and Cancer in Washington, DC a couple of weeks ago:

Aging:

My head is spinning this evening! Not because I am dizzy, but because all day I have been attending the 2009 American Institute for Cancer Research's Conference on Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and Cancer in Washington, DC. It is really amazing how much is known about risk factors, genetics, treatment, and prevention of this dread disease! Here are a few "headlines" from my notes of today.

Colorectal Cancer:

FLU UPDATE: Between April and August 2009 more than one million cases of the pandemic influenza A (H1N1) flu occurred in the US, an uncharacteristically high number. Does this presage a bad winter flu season? No one really knows. Fortunately, the death rates have been lower than expected. Until an H1N1 vaccine arrives, here are the major preventive measures available:

• Vaccination against seasonal strains.
• Self-quarantine until 24 hours after fever abates.
• Following respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene.
• Use of antivirals for persons at high risk for complications.

PositiveTip: Don't underestimate the effectiveness of a healthy lifestyle (good diet, physical activity, adequate rest) in maintaining a strong immune system.