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THURSDAY, Oct. 10, 2019America’s child obesity epidemic shows no signs of shrinking. About 4.8 million American kids aged 10 to 17 — just over 15% — were obese in 2017-2018, according to a new report. “These new data show that this challenge touches the lives of far too many children in this country,” said Dr. Richard Besser, the president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which produced the new report. It found that the five states with the highest youth obesity rates were Mississippi (25.4%), West Virginia (20.9%), Kentucky (20.8%), Louisiana (20.8%) and Michigan (18.9%). The lowest rates were seen in Utah (8.7%), Minnesota (9.4%), Alaska (9.9%), Colorado (10.7%) and Montana (10.8%). Progress against child obesity seems to have stalled: The report’s authors said that no states had statistically significant changes in obesity rates between 2016 and 2017-2018. The report also noted large racial and ethnic disparities. Obesity rates among black and Hispanic youth (22% and 19%, respectively) were sharply higher than among whites and Asians (about 12% and 7%, respectively). “Black and Hispanic youth are still at greater risk than their white and Asian peers,” Besser said in a foundation news release. Family income also had a major impact, the findings showed. The obesity rate among youth in households with incomes below the federal poverty line was nearly 22%, compared to about… read on >

Married folks not only live longer than singles, but the longevity gap between the two groups is growing, U.S. government health statisticians report. The age-adjusted death rate for the married declined by 7% between 2010 and 2017, according to a new study from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), part of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Not only is the rate for married lower, but it’s declining more than any other group,” said lead author Sally Curtin, an NCHS statistician. Statistically, death rate is the annual number of deaths for every 100,000 people. It’s adjusted so that a 26-year-old and an 80-year-old married or widowed or divorced are on equal footing. The new study reported that the death rate for never-marrieds declined only 2%, while that for divorced people hasn’t changed at all. Worst off were the widowed, for whom the death rate rose 6%. They have the highest death rate of all the categories, researchers said. Married men in 2017 had an age-adjusted death rate of 943 per 100,000, compared to 2,239 for widowers. The death rate was 1,735 per 100,000 for lifelong bachelors and 1,773 for divorced men. Married women had a death rate of 569 per 100,000, two-and-a-half times lower than the 1,482 rate for widows. The death rate was 1,096 for divorcees and 1,166 for never-married women.… read on >

You might think of a slow cooker as your grandma’s favorite timesaver, but this countertop device has many modern benefits — from making healthier meals and cutting calories to saving you time at the stove. Because almost all you need to do is cut, measure and add ingredients, you can set a slow cooker in the morning and have a meal ready when everyone rushes in at dinnertime. That’s a nutritious and inexpensive alternative to fast food. A slow cooker draws the maximum flavor from the ingredients you put in and makes delicious dishes with little or no added fat. It’s also a great way to make less expensive cuts of meat more tender. Do rub the inside of the machine with a few drops of oil or spray it with nonstick cooking spray before using for easier cleanup — or use a special liner made for the purpose. Always carefully clean it out afterwards. Adding lots of vegetables to a one-pot meal means you don’t have to worry about cooking separate side dishes to get in vegetable servings. Just place them in first, then add your protein and liquid in that order for the most even cooking. Note: Cutting larger pieces of food into small pieces will also ensure that everything cooks evenly. Typically, you’ll fill the slow cooker between half and two-thirds full,… read on >

If you’re an adult managing sleep problems, you likely know that part of creating an environment conducive to sleep includes turning off all gadgets at least an hour before bed because of the effects of the light they emit. This same advice goes for kids, too. Using smartphones, tablets and other gadgets has become more and more linked to sleep problems in children, such as not getting enough sleep or enough quality sleep. This can set up a chain reaction that seems to increase youngsters’ obesity risk. Not getting enough sleep leads to being sleepy at school, ramping up hormones that cause cravings for sugary or starchy foods, eating to get the energy to stay awake and, in turn, gaining unwanted weight. To help restore a healthy sleep pattern, turn off gadgets an hour before bed and create a family charging station away from all bedrooms. Not having the phone handy avoids the temptation for kids (and adults) to check messages just one more time before putting their head on the pillow. Make the hour before bed a calming time with quiet activities, like reading and choosing clothes for the morning. See to it that your children get an hour of exercise every day, outdoors if possible. Add time to any school-based physical activities to reach 60 minutes. Even though adults are encouraged to get… read on >

How do you make healthy food more popular? Start by giving it a yummy-sounding name, researchers say. People are much more likely to choose good-for-you foods like broccoli or carrots if labeled with names that emphasize taste over nutritional value, according to Alia Crum, an assistant professor of psychology at Stanford University, and her colleagues. In previous research, Crum’s team found that Stanford students were far more likely to go for decadent-sounding veggies like “twisted citrus glazed carrots” over an equivalent option that might be labeled “dietetic carrots.” The key, however, is the food must actually be tasty, the new study confirms. “This is radically different from our current cultural approach to healthy eating which, by focusing on health to the neglect of taste, inadvertently instills the mindset that healthy eating is tasteless and depriving,” Crum, senior author of the new report, said in a university news release. “And yet in retrospect, it’s like, of course, why haven’t we been focusing on making healthy foods more delicious and indulgent all along?” she added. In the new study, the researchers tracked food choices made by students enrolled across a network of 57 U.S. colleges and universities. The investigators looked at 71 vegetable dishes labeled with either taste-focused, health-focused or neutral names. Students were 29% more likely to select veggies when taste was emphasized rather than health.… read on >

The health risks that spring from poor posture while using mobile devices don’t concern many Americans, a new survey finds. But maybe it should. Poor posture can lead to health issues such as chronic pain in the back, neck and knees, circulation problems, heartburn and digestive problems, according to researchers from the Orlando Health system in Florida. American adults spend an average more than 3.5 hours on their smartphones every day, meaning they may be looking down or slouching for long periods of time, they noted. Their national survey, published Oct. 9, asked respondents their level of concern about eye strain, carpal tunnel and other potential health consequences of mobile device use. Only 47% said they were concerned about poor posture and how it affected their health. “It’s not just when you’re scrolling on your phone, but any time you put your body in a less-than-optimal position, whether that’s reading a book, working at a desk or lounging on the couch,” said Nathaniel Melendez, an exercise physiologist at Orlando Health’s National Training Center in Clermont, Fla. “People don’t realize the strain they’re putting on their body when it is not aligned correctly, or just how far corrective exercises and daily adjustments can go toward improving pain and postural issues,” he added in a health system news release. “I see a lot of people compensating for… read on >

The health of people with type 2 diabetes often improves dramatically with a 5% to 10% weight loss — but to sustain the benefits, you need to keep the weight off, new research claims. After losing weight with a yearlong intervention, blood sugar and blood pressure levels go down and cholesterol results improve. People who kept at least 75% of that weight off for another three years retained or had even greater health benefits, the study reported. “A lot of times, the emphasis is put on weight-loss programs, but it’s just as critical to help people maintain their weight loss,” said study senior author Alice Lichtenstein. She’s director of the Cardiovascular Nutrition Laboratory at Tufts University’s Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging in Boston. “People tend to think of diets as short-term, but it’s really something that has to be lifelong. If you’ve found a successful way to lose weight, don’t revert to old habits. Figure out how to incorporate the changes you made to lose weight,” Lichtenstein suggested. Excess weight is a major risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes. Studies have shown that losing weight can improve the symptoms of type 2 diabetes. And shedding around 10% of your body weight may even put the disease into remission, a recent study from Diabetic Medicine found. The current study — published… read on >

(HealthDay News) — For many people, moderate-intensity exercise throughout the week is recommended, says MedlinePlus. At the same time, neglecting rest can backfire. MedlinePlus mentions possible symptoms of too much exercise: Being unable to perform at the same level. Needing longer periods of rest. Feeling tired, depressed, anxious or irritable. Having difficulty sleeping. Having sore muscles. Getting overuse injuries. Getting more colds than usual.

(HealthDay News) — Disagreements with a friend or partner are normal, says the National Voice of Domestic Violence. But when a relationship is not built on respect and equal partnership, an unhealthy relationship may develop. The organization mentions these characteristics of a healthy argument: A disagreement about chores, spending habits, raising children or difficult family or friends. Insensitive and hurtful comments are said occasionally, not consistently. Partners can admit when they are wrong, take responsibility and compromise. Tension is usually short-lived. Goals and decisions can be questioned, but general support isn’t withheld. Final decisions on big life changes are reached by mutual compromise.

You say that you can’t get to the gym or afford to hire your own personal trainer, but you want a routine made just for you. It might not be mission impossible after all. Why not consider online fitness training with your computer, smartphone or tablet, and a workout pro on the other end? There are almost as many of these offerings as there are exercises themselves. Some websites offer live action, two-way trainer-led workouts with the instructor watching you and able to give corrections. Others offer customized routines that you follow from a video library or with an app. Many will track your progress and update your routine as needed. Some provide monthly consultation phone calls or video chats or feedback when you send in a videotaped workout, and answer your questions via text. As you investigate the choices, check that the trainer is certified by an established fitness organization. Leading Certifying Fitness Organizations American Council on Exercise National Strength and Conditioning Association American College of Sports Medicine Ask for references and read comments on social media, not just testimonials posted on the website. Beware of unrealistic promises. Compare the costs from different companies so that you know what you’re getting for your money. Online training isn’t right for everyone, especially if you’re out of shape or have medical issues. But even then, it… read on >

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All Sauce from Weekly Gravy:

Nearly 5 Million American Kids Are Obese, New Study Finds

Tying the Knot Is Tied to Longer Life Span, New Data Shows

The Slow Cooker Makes a Comeback

Kids + Gadgets = Less Sleep and More Risk for Unwanted Weight

Veggies’ Popularity Is All in the Name

‘Smartphone Slouching’ More Serious Than It Sounds

You’ve Lost the Weight — Now Keep It Off to Keep Diabetes at Bay

Health Tip: Getting Too Much Exercise

Health Tip: Having Healthy Arguments

Is Online Fitness Training Right for You?