To keep kids from getting fat, use smaller plates and portions, limit TV viewing and make sure they get 10 hours of sleep a night

Kentucky ranks high in child obesity. Parents can make sure their children maintain a healthy weight with three simple suggestions highlighted in recent studies: Serve them meals on smaller, child-size plates, pay attention to what they watch on TV, and make sure they get enough sleep.

In Kentucky, almost 18 percent of middle-school-age children and 16 percent of elementary-age kids are obese, and every third child born who was in the U.S. in 2000 will develop Type 2 diabetes if current trends continue, says a recent report from the University of Kentucky's College of Public Health.

The three suggestions are based on three new studies in the April issue of Pediatrics.

One study found first-graders served themselves larger food portions and consumed almost 50 percent of the extra calories they put on their plates when using adult-sized dinner plates instead of child-sized salad plates, reports Michelle Healy of USA Today.
A second study examined the relationship between heavy use of media  and increased body mass index,  a measure based on height and weight that can classify someone as being overweight or obese. It found that TV usage is the most problematic and leads to higher BMI scores, reports Healy. One reason for this may be that TV advertising includes commercials for unhealthy snack foods. Or, perhaps kids are missing out on exercise because they watch so much TV. 

A new sleep study adds to research saying that insufficient sleep may contribute to the rise in adolescent obesity because it changes hormone levels that could lead to overeating and weight gain, reports Healy.

These findings support existing recommendations to help children attain and keep a healthy weight according the UK report. Portion sizes should be a third of adult portions for younger children and two-thirds of adult portions for older children; children's TV screen time should be limited to two hours per day; and children should get 10 hours of sleep each night.

Kentucky ranks high in child obesity. Parents can make sure their children maintain a healthy weight with three simple suggestions highlighted in recent studies: Serve them meals on smaller, child-size plates, pay attention to what they watch on TV, and make sure they get enough sleep.

In Kentucky, almost 18 percent of middle-school-age children and 16 percent of elementary-age kids are obese, and every third child born who was in the U.S. in 2000 will develop Type 2 diabetes if current trends continue, says a recent report from the University of Kentucky's College of Public Health.

The three suggestions are based on three new studies in the April issue of Pediatrics.

One study found first-graders served themselves larger food portions and consumed almost 50 percent of the extra calories they put on their plates when using adult-sized dinner plates instead of child-sized salad plates, reports Michelle Healy of USA Today.
A second study examined the relationship between heavy use of media  and increased body mass index,  a measure based on height and weight that can classify someone as being overweight or obese. It found that TV usage is the most problematic and leads to higher BMI scores, reports Healy. One reason for this may be that TV advertising includes commercials for unhealthy snack foods. Or, perhaps kids are missing out on exercise because they watch so much TV. 

A new sleep study adds to research saying that insufficient sleep may contribute to the rise in adolescent obesity because it changes hormone levels that could lead to overeating and weight gain, reports Healy.

These findings support existing recommendations to help children attain and keep a healthy weight according the UK report. Portion sizes should be a third of adult portions for younger children and two-thirds of adult portions for older children; children's TV screen time should be limited to two hours per day; and children should get 10 hours of sleep each night.

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First major study of diet and strokes links fried, sugary Southern diet, low on fruits and vegetables, to increased risk

Genuine Kentucky fried platter:
Cornbread, fried catfish, fried green
tomatoes, fried apples and fried okra
(Photo from Ramsey's, Lexington)

By Molly Burchett
Kentucky Health News

People with a Southern diet, or one heavy on fried food and sugary drinks like sweet tea and soft drinks, are more likely to suffer a stroke, a new study finds.

It's the first big look at diet and strokes, and researchers say it might help explain people in the nation's "stroke belt" or southern states suffer more of them, reports Marilynn Marchione of The Associated Press.

These findings have important implications for Kentuckians because stroke accounts for 5.5 percent of Kentucky deaths each year and more than 81 percent of Kentucky adults eat fruit and vegetables fewer than 5 times a day, which is a indicator of risk for stroke:

Heart Disease and Stroke Risk Factors from federal Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System national survey	Ky.	U.S.
Eat fruits and vegetables less than 5 times/day	81.6	75.6
Overweight or obese	69.1	62.9
No moderate or vigorous physical activity	55.8	50.5
High total blood cholesterol	38.5	37.6
High blood pressure	30.0	27.8
Cigarette smoking	28.2	19.8
Diabetes	9.9	8.0

"We're talking about fried foods, french fries, hamburgers, processed meats, hot dogs," bacon, ham, liver, gizzards and sugary drinks, said the study's leader, Suzanne Judd of the University of Alabama in Birmingham.  For the study, a southern diet also included jerky, red meat, eggs, and whole milk.


Fried foods tend to be eaten with lots of salt, which raises blood pressure and sweet drinks increases risk for diabetes- both are known stroke risk factors, Judd said.

People who ate about six meals a week featuring these sorts of "Southern" foods had a 41 percent higher stroke risk than people who ate that way about once a month, researchers found.

In contrast, people whose diets were high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fish had a 29 percent lower stroke risk, reports Marchione.

"It's a very big difference," Judd said. "The message for people in the middle is there's a graded risk" — the likelihood of suffering a stroke rises in proportion to each Southern meal in a week. 

These findings were reported last week at the American Stroke Association conference. The study was launched in 2002 to explore regional variations in stroke risks and reasons for them.

Stroke death rates in Kentucky vary widely among counties. Here's a county map of the rates, from KentuckyHealthFacts.org, which has a county-by county list:

The map shows stroke rates in ranges per 100,000 population from 2003 through 2007. Purple counties had rates above 69; blue counties ranged from 52 to 69; turquoise were 44 to 52; light blue were 31 to 44 (the number that is about the national average), and tan were 18 to 31.

Genuine Kentucky fried platter:
Cornbread, fried catfish, fried green
tomatoes, fried apples and fried okra
(Photo from Ramsey's, Lexington)

By Molly Burchett
Kentucky Health News

People with a Southern diet, or one heavy on fried food and sugary drinks like sweet tea and soft drinks, are more likely to suffer a stroke, a new study finds.

It's the first big look at diet and strokes, and researchers say it might help explain people in the nation's "stroke belt" or southern states suffer more of them, reports Marilynn Marchione of The Associated Press.

These findings have important implications for Kentuckians because stroke accounts for 5.5 percent of Kentucky deaths each year and more than 81 percent of Kentucky adults eat fruit and vegetables fewer than 5 times a day, which is a indicator of risk for stroke:

Heart Disease and Stroke Risk Factors from federal Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System national survey	Ky.	U.S.
Eat fruits and vegetables less than 5 times/day	81.6	75.6
Overweight or obese	69.1	62.9
No moderate or vigorous physical activity	55.8	50.5
High total blood cholesterol	38.5	37.6
High blood pressure	30.0	27.8
Cigarette smoking	28.2	19.8
Diabetes	9.9	8.0

"We're talking about fried foods, french fries, hamburgers, processed meats, hot dogs," bacon, ham, liver, gizzards and sugary drinks, said the study's leader, Suzanne Judd of the University of Alabama in Birmingham.  For the study, a southern diet also included jerky, red meat, eggs, and whole milk.


Fried foods tend to be eaten with lots of salt, which raises blood pressure and sweet drinks increases risk for diabetes- both are known stroke risk factors, Judd said.

People who ate about six meals a week featuring these sorts of "Southern" foods had a 41 percent higher stroke risk than people who ate that way about once a month, researchers found.

In contrast, people whose diets were high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fish had a 29 percent lower stroke risk, reports Marchione.

"It's a very big difference," Judd said. "The message for people in the middle is there's a graded risk" — the likelihood of suffering a stroke rises in proportion to each Southern meal in a week. 

These findings were reported last week at the American Stroke Association conference. The study was launched in 2002 to explore regional variations in stroke risks and reasons for them.

Stroke death rates in Kentucky vary widely among counties. Here's a county map of the rates, from KentuckyHealthFacts.org, which has a county-by county list:

The map shows stroke rates in ranges per 100,000 population from 2003 through 2007. Purple counties had rates above 69; blue counties ranged from 52 to 69; turquoise were 44 to 52; light blue were 31 to 44 (the number that is about the national average), and tan were 18 to 31.

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Common beliefs about obesity and weight loss found to be myths

Think going to gym class drives weight loss, or that breastfeeding protects a child from obesity? Think again, because these are among seven popular myths about obesity myths, according to an international team of researchers.

The seven popular but largely inaccurate beliefs, which lead to poor policy decisions, inaccurate public-health recommendations and wasted resources, were identified by the team led by David Allison, associate dean for science in the School of Public Health at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Here are the seven myths:

• Myth 1: Small, sustained changes in how many calories we take in or burn will accumulate to produce large weight changes over the long term.
Fact: Small changes in calorie intake or expenditure do not accumulate indefinitely. Changes in body mass eventually cancel out the change in calorie intake or burning.

• Myth 2: Setting realistic goals in obesity treatment is important. Otherwise, patients become frustrated and lose less weight.
Fact: Some data suggest that people do better with more ambitious goals.

• Myth 3: Gradually losing weight is better than quickly losing pounds. Quick weight losses are more likely to be regained.
Fact: People who lose more weight rapidly are more likely to weigh less, even after several years.

• Myth 4: Patients who feel “ready” to lose weight are more likely to make the required lifestyle changes, do health-care professionals need to measure each patient’s diet readiness.
Fact: Among those who seek weight-loss treatment, evidence suggests that assessing readiness neither predicts weight loss nor helps to make it happen.

• Myth 5: Physical-education classes, in their current form, play an important role in reducing and preventing childhood obesity.
Fact: Physical education, as typically provided, does not appear to counter obesity.

• Myth 6: Breastfeeding protects children against future obesity.
Fact: Breastfeeding has many benefits for mother and child, but the data do not show that it protects against obesity.

• Myth 7: One episode of sex can burn up to 300 Kcals per person.
Fact: It may be closer to one-twentieth of that on average, and not much more than sitting on the couch.

The research team also defined six “presumptions" that are generally held to be true even though more studies are needed before conclusions can be drawn, such as the idea that regularly eating versus skipping breakfast contributes to weight loss. Studies show it has no effect.

The same goes for the idea that eating vegetables by itself brings about weight loss, or that snacking packs on the pounds. According to Allison and colleagues, these hypotheses have not been shown to be true, and some data suggest they may be false.

The researchers also identified nine research-proven facts about weight loss. For example, weight-loss programs for overweight children that involve parents and the child’s home achieve better results than programs that take place solely in schools or other settings.

Also, many studies show that while genetic factors play a large role in obesity, “Heritability is not destiny.” Realistic changes to lifestyle and environment can, on average, bring about as much weight loss as treatment with the most effective weight-loss drugs on the market. (Read more)

Think going to gym class drives weight loss, or that breastfeeding protects a child from obesity? Think again, because these are among seven popular myths about obesity myths, according to an international team of researchers.

The seven popular but largely inaccurate beliefs, which lead to poor policy decisions, inaccurate public-health recommendations and wasted resources, were identified by the team led by David Allison, associate dean for science in the School of Public Health at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Here are the seven myths:

• Myth 1: Small, sustained changes in how many calories we take in or burn will accumulate to produce large weight changes over the long term.
Fact: Small changes in calorie intake or expenditure do not accumulate indefinitely. Changes in body mass eventually cancel out the change in calorie intake or burning.

• Myth 2: Setting realistic goals in obesity treatment is important. Otherwise, patients become frustrated and lose less weight.
Fact: Some data suggest that people do better with more ambitious goals.

• Myth 3: Gradually losing weight is better than quickly losing pounds. Quick weight losses are more likely to be regained.
Fact: People who lose more weight rapidly are more likely to weigh less, even after several years.

• Myth 4: Patients who feel “ready” to lose weight are more likely to make the required lifestyle changes, do health-care professionals need to measure each patient’s diet readiness.
Fact: Among those who seek weight-loss treatment, evidence suggests that assessing readiness neither predicts weight loss nor helps to make it happen.

• Myth 5: Physical-education classes, in their current form, play an important role in reducing and preventing childhood obesity.
Fact: Physical education, as typically provided, does not appear to counter obesity.

• Myth 6: Breastfeeding protects children against future obesity.
Fact: Breastfeeding has many benefits for mother and child, but the data do not show that it protects against obesity.

• Myth 7: One episode of sex can burn up to 300 Kcals per person.
Fact: It may be closer to one-twentieth of that on average, and not much more than sitting on the couch.

The research team also defined six “presumptions" that are generally held to be true even though more studies are needed before conclusions can be drawn, such as the idea that regularly eating versus skipping breakfast contributes to weight loss. Studies show it has no effect.

The same goes for the idea that eating vegetables by itself brings about weight loss, or that snacking packs on the pounds. According to Allison and colleagues, these hypotheses have not been shown to be true, and some data suggest they may be false.

The researchers also identified nine research-proven facts about weight loss. For example, weight-loss programs for overweight children that involve parents and the child’s home achieve better results than programs that take place solely in schools or other settings.

Also, many studies show that while genetic factors play a large role in obesity, “Heritability is not destiny.” Realistic changes to lifestyle and environment can, on average, bring about as much weight loss as treatment with the most effective weight-loss drugs on the market. (Read more)

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If you're dieting, remember that alcohol has calories too

Alcoholic beverages could throw a wrench into your 2013 diet plan.  The National Center for Health Statistics reported late last year that American adults drink in an average of 100 calories daily from beer, wine and other alcoholic beverages, and almost 20 percent of men and 6 percent of women consume more than 300 calories daily from alcohol.

Men ages 20 to 39 consume the most alcohol, taking in about 175 calories per day on average, while women in the same age group consume about 60 calories daily per person.

"It is certainly not a good health strategy to have alcohol calories constituting a significant percentage of total calorie consumption," health advisers Dian and Tom Griesel say on Newswise, a research-reporting service. "This is especially true for women and those dieting who would be better off avoiding all alcoholic beverages until their weight goals are met or at most limiting alcohol to one drink no more than two days a week."

Griesel also said that current dietary guidelines recommend to consume alcohol in moderation, which means no more than one daily drink for women and two for men.  So, as you reach for the apple instead of candy, remember that there are empty calories in your drink of choice too. (Read more)

Alcoholic beverages could throw a wrench into your 2013 diet plan.  The National Center for Health Statistics reported late last year that American adults drink in an average of 100 calories daily from beer, wine and other alcoholic beverages, and almost 20 percent of men and 6 percent of women consume more than 300 calories daily from alcohol.

Men ages 20 to 39 consume the most alcohol, taking in about 175 calories per day on average, while women in the same age group consume about 60 calories daily per person.

"It is certainly not a good health strategy to have alcohol calories constituting a significant percentage of total calorie consumption," health advisers Dian and Tom Griesel say on Newswise, a research-reporting service. "This is especially true for women and those dieting who would be better off avoiding all alcoholic beverages until their weight goals are met or at most limiting alcohol to one drink no more than two days a week."

Griesel also said that current dietary guidelines recommend to consume alcohol in moderation, which means no more than one daily drink for women and two for men.  So, as you reach for the apple instead of candy, remember that there are empty calories in your drink of choice too. (Read more)

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Colorful fruits and vegetables linked to lower breast cancer risk

Come to find out, pink isn't the most important color when it comes to breast cancer. According to researchers in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, women loading up on carotenoids, the  micro-nutrients found in red, yellow and deeply colored fruits and vegetables such as carrots, sweet potatoes spinach and kale, showed lower rates of breast cancer than those who didn’t eat as many of them.

Alexandra Sifferlin at Healthland Time magazine explains that Dr. Heather Eliassen, an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, led an analysis of data collected in various studies about the carotenoids and their effect on blood and breast cancer rates. The studies included 3,000 participants and nearly 4,000 controls. Women with carotenoid levels in the the top 20 percent of measured ranges had a 15-20 percent reduced risk of breast cancer compared to those with carotenoid levels in the lowest category. “It looks like it is a linear relationship,” says Eliassen. ”The higher you go, the [lower] your risk is."

Why carotenoids work against breast cancer isn't clear. They may metabolize into retinol, which regulates cell growth. Or they may improve cell communication and enhance immune system function. Eliassen urged caution. Other research carotenoids, in the form of beta-carotene supplements, are linked to an increased risk for lung cancer. (Read more) 

The Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Conference will be held Jan. 7-8 at the Embassy Suites in Lexington. Deadline for preregistration is Dec. 19. The block of rooms for the conference will be held until Jan. 4. Program and registration information are available here or through John Strang at (859) 257-5685 or jstrang@uky.edu, or Tim Coolong at (859) 257-3374 or timcoolong@uky.edu.

Come to find out, pink isn't the most important color when it comes to breast cancer. According to researchers in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, women loading up on carotenoids, the  micro-nutrients found in red, yellow and deeply colored fruits and vegetables such as carrots, sweet potatoes spinach and kale, showed lower rates of breast cancer than those who didn’t eat as many of them.

Alexandra Sifferlin at Healthland Time magazine explains that Dr. Heather Eliassen, an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, led an analysis of data collected in various studies about the carotenoids and their effect on blood and breast cancer rates. The studies included 3,000 participants and nearly 4,000 controls. Women with carotenoid levels in the the top 20 percent of measured ranges had a 15-20 percent reduced risk of breast cancer compared to those with carotenoid levels in the lowest category. “It looks like it is a linear relationship,” says Eliassen. ”The higher you go, the [lower] your risk is."

Why carotenoids work against breast cancer isn't clear. They may metabolize into retinol, which regulates cell growth. Or they may improve cell communication and enhance immune system function. Eliassen urged caution. Other research carotenoids, in the form of beta-carotene supplements, are linked to an increased risk for lung cancer. (Read more) 

The Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Conference will be held Jan. 7-8 at the Embassy Suites in Lexington. Deadline for preregistration is Dec. 19. The block of rooms for the conference will be held until Jan. 4. Program and registration information are available here or through John Strang at (859) 257-5685 or jstrang@uky.edu, or Tim Coolong at (859) 257-3374 or timcoolong@uky.edu.

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Rural Obesity Prevention Tool Kit created to tackle epidemic: 40 percent of rural adults in U.S. are obese

When the Journal of Rural Health recently reported that 40 percent of adults living in rural areas are obese, compared with 33 percent of adults living in urban areas, the size of the disparity was larger than expected and previously estimated. In response to the severity and urgency of the obesity epidemic, the Rural Assistance Center of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has created a Rural Obesity Prevention tool kit which contains resources to help communities develop obesity prevention programs. (Read more)

When the Journal of Rural Health recently reported that 40 percent of adults living in rural areas are obese, compared with 33 percent of adults living in urban areas, the size of the disparity was larger than expected and previously estimated. In response to the severity and urgency of the obesity epidemic, the Rural Assistance Center of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has created a Rural Obesity Prevention tool kit which contains resources to help communities develop obesity prevention programs. (Read more)

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British researchers say a simple calculation can predict likelihood of a baby's chance of becoming obese during childhood

If only we knew from the start which babies were predisposed to becoming diabetic and hypertensive and overweight . . . News out this week suggests we can. NBC News reports that British researchers have published findings in the journal PLOS ONE saying that a simple assessment can predict at birth a baby's likelihood of becoming obese during childhood. The formula, available as an online calculator here, estimates the child's obesity risk based on its birth weight, the body mass index of the parents, the number of people in the household, the mother's professional status and whether she smoked during pregnancy.

The hope is to help families will take steps to control the weight of babies and small children before medical problems arise. Philippe Froguel of Imperial College London, who led the study, explained that teaching parents about the dangers of over-feeding and bad nutritional habits at a young age is much more effective than having to teach children how to lose weight. Froguel's team developed their formula following 4,000 Finnish children since 1986. Childhood obesity is a leading cause of early type 2 diabetes, as well as various types of cardiovascular disease. (Read more)

If only we knew from the start which babies were predisposed to becoming diabetic and hypertensive and overweight . . . News out this week suggests we can. NBC News reports that British researchers have published findings in the journal PLOS ONE saying that a simple assessment can predict at birth a baby's likelihood of becoming obese during childhood. The formula, available as an online calculator here, estimates the child's obesity risk based on its birth weight, the body mass index of the parents, the number of people in the household, the mother's professional status and whether she smoked during pregnancy.

The hope is to help families will take steps to control the weight of babies and small children before medical problems arise. Philippe Froguel of Imperial College London, who led the study, explained that teaching parents about the dangers of over-feeding and bad nutritional habits at a young age is much more effective than having to teach children how to lose weight. Froguel's team developed their formula following 4,000 Finnish children since 1986. Childhood obesity is a leading cause of early type 2 diabetes, as well as various types of cardiovascular disease. (Read more)

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Health coalition asks Nickelodeon to stop marketing sugary and fatty snacks to children

A coalition of health groups thinks maybe it's time to enlist SpongeBob in the childhood obesity fight. Earlier this week, the groups asked the Nickelodeon Channel to stop airing commercials that promote unhealthy foods with the help of the doofy adorable sponge, among other lovable characters the children's channel employs. The letter the groups signed asked that Nickelodeon's parent company, Viacom, put in place strong nutrition standards for the foods marketed by it and by its characters. Their sentiment was strongly backed by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Elise Viebeck of The Hill's Healthwatch blog quotes the letter: "Research shows that food marketing is an important factor contributing to children's poor diets and obesity. The majority of foods marketed to children remain of poor nutritional quality. The [federal Institute of Medicine] concluded that marketing puts children's health at risk." The letter went on to shake its finger at Nickelodeon for being behind Disney and other prominent child marketers on this front. (Read more)

This comes on the same day that the University of Missouri-Kansas City and the University of Kansas Medical Center release study results that found obese children may be more susceptible to food advertising than healthy-weight children, suggesting at least one reason the nation's childhood obesity rate could continue to climb as feared. (Read more)

A coalition of health groups thinks maybe it's time to enlist SpongeBob in the childhood obesity fight. Earlier this week, the groups asked the Nickelodeon Channel to stop airing commercials that promote unhealthy foods with the help of the doofy adorable sponge, among other lovable characters the children's channel employs. The letter the groups signed asked that Nickelodeon's parent company, Viacom, put in place strong nutrition standards for the foods marketed by it and by its characters. Their sentiment was strongly backed by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Elise Viebeck of The Hill's Healthwatch blog quotes the letter: "Research shows that food marketing is an important factor contributing to children's poor diets and obesity. The majority of foods marketed to children remain of poor nutritional quality. The [federal Institute of Medicine] concluded that marketing puts children's health at risk." The letter went on to shake its finger at Nickelodeon for being behind Disney and other prominent child marketers on this front. (Read more)

This comes on the same day that the University of Missouri-Kansas City and the University of Kansas Medical Center release study results that found obese children may be more susceptible to food advertising than healthy-weight children, suggesting at least one reason the nation's childhood obesity rate could continue to climb as feared. (Read more)

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Do Kentucky families care about obesity? Louisville newspaper blog says yes; now comes the hard part

In The Prime, The Courier-Journal's collection of news, features, videos and blogs "that help you thrive as you age" has taken on a new crusade: obesity. It's a brave initiative in the blog's ongoing effort to get families on board with better health, better eating and longer lives. The blog started with a simple question: Do Kentucky families care about this issue? The answer is a resounding yes. Sharon Cecil, writing for the nutritional, medical, spiritual and fitness advisers on the blog board, explains that the group has done a year's worth of work and has now scheduled focus groups for more specifics. Stay tuned here.

Louisville cardiologist John Mandrola, meanwhile, takes on sugary drinks in the Sept. 22 blog installment of In the Prime. He astonishes with the simple fact that the average male teen drinks 357 calories daily from sugar-sweetened beverages. Not a useful nutrient in sight. And, he adds, if that male is pre-determined genetically to be obese, a Harvard study just found that could be even more susceptible to the harmful effects of sugar-sweetened beverages. The bad news only gets worse. (Associated Press photo)

Lastly, Cecil, a nurse, has high marks for the HBO series, "The Weight of the Nation: Confronting America's Obesity Epidemic." Go here to see all parts of that series.

In The Prime, The Courier-Journal's collection of news, features, videos and blogs "that help you thrive as you age" has taken on a new crusade: obesity. It's a brave initiative in the blog's ongoing effort to get families on board with better health, better eating and longer lives. The blog started with a simple question: Do Kentucky families care about this issue? The answer is a resounding yes. Sharon Cecil, writing for the nutritional, medical, spiritual and fitness advisers on the blog board, explains that the group has done a year's worth of work and has now scheduled focus groups for more specifics. Stay tuned here.

Louisville cardiologist John Mandrola, meanwhile, takes on sugary drinks in the Sept. 22 blog installment of In the Prime. He astonishes with the simple fact that the average male teen drinks 357 calories daily from sugar-sweetened beverages. Not a useful nutrient in sight. And, he adds, if that male is pre-determined genetically to be obese, a Harvard study just found that could be even more susceptible to the harmful effects of sugar-sweetened beverages. The bad news only gets worse. (Associated Press photo)

Lastly, Cecil, a nurse, has high marks for the HBO series, "The Weight of the Nation: Confronting America's Obesity Epidemic." Go here to see all parts of that series.

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Obesity alert study: Portion size labels can be deliberately confusing and consumers are easily, even willingly, fooled

Yikes! According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the "large" soda you order today is about six times as large as the one you ordered 60 years ago. "Food sizes have become larger over time," says Aradhna Krishna, a University of Michigan marketing professor who has been looking into portion size and perception. "So, that same hamburger has become bigger, the french fries have become bigger, and again this is leading to obesity."

Thinking a lot about this, Krishna tried an experiment. She gave people cookies that were labeled either medium or large, and then measured how much they ate. "The catch? The cookies were identical in size, What happened? You guessed it," reports NPR's Helen Thompson and Shanikar Vedantam. "People ate more cookies when they were labeled 'medium.' Rather than trust what their stomachs were telling them, in other words, people went by the label." It gets worse: "(They) think they've not eaten as much," says Krishna.

The researcher said women have known all about this principle for awhile, because it's what's been happening with sizes of clothing. It's something called "vanity sizing."  "What used to be a size 8 in the 1950s has become a size 4 in the 1970s and a zero in 2006," Krishna said. It makes you feel better about yourself and your body image. The real question, she asks, is how much do we want to be lied to or, indeed, how much do we lie to ourselves? (Read more)

Yikes! According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the "large" soda you order today is about six times as large as the one you ordered 60 years ago. "Food sizes have become larger over time," says Aradhna Krishna, a University of Michigan marketing professor who has been looking into portion size and perception. "So, that same hamburger has become bigger, the french fries have become bigger, and again this is leading to obesity."

Thinking a lot about this, Krishna tried an experiment. She gave people cookies that were labeled either medium or large, and then measured how much they ate. "The catch? The cookies were identical in size, What happened? You guessed it," reports NPR's Helen Thompson and Shanikar Vedantam. "People ate more cookies when they were labeled 'medium.' Rather than trust what their stomachs were telling them, in other words, people went by the label." It gets worse: "(They) think they've not eaten as much," says Krishna.

The researcher said women have known all about this principle for awhile, because it's what's been happening with sizes of clothing. It's something called "vanity sizing."  "What used to be a size 8 in the 1950s has become a size 4 in the 1970s and a zero in 2006," Krishna said. It makes you feel better about yourself and your body image. The real question, she asks, is how much do we want to be lied to or, indeed, how much do we lie to ourselves? (Read more)

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You can do this, too: Lexington church's fresh food program reaches out to lower income neighbors with deep discount

Rick Courtney loads tomatoes into a crate bound
for Fresh Stop (Herald-Leader photo by Charles Bertram)

Fresh produce comes to the church-goers of Fresh Presbyterian Church of Lexington every Sunday through Fresh Stop, a community-supported agriculture program. But it's not your typical CSA program; this one comes with a charitable twist. Sure, members sign up to receive fresh produce weekly during the summer growing season but, writes Mary Meehan of the Lexington Herald-Leader, here 25 percent of the members pay a nominal amount because they live in a "food desert," where fresh food is hard to come by, and have lower incomes. To cover the difference, explains Meehan, the other 75 percent of members pay slightly more than a CSA normally would cost. "That's the key," said Libby Iverson, a church member and Fresh Stop member. "We need to share. That's very important."

The farm-to-table non-profit supplies tomatoes and cabbage, sweet peppers and onions that fill a table last Sunday were literally gleaming with freshness. All were picked from farmer Rick Courtney's Harrison County field just the day before, Meehan notes. It was all the brainchild of student Julia Hofmeister, who, armed with a major in sustainable agriculture at the University of Kentucky and having been part of the local Community Farm Alliance, set out in 2009 to find a farmer. Courtney was a tobacco farmer in Cynthiana, now a section of his farm on the South Fork of the Licking River is filled with vegetables.

Many of the low-income families served by the program are referred by Habitat for Humanity and Kentucky Refugee Ministries. Wheeler said one of the biggest concerns in expanding the program is that families often don't know what to do with all the produce they receive. Hofmeister thinks the program can be made to work elsewhere. "It is so transferrable," she said. (Read more)

Rick Courtney loads tomatoes into a crate bound
for Fresh Stop (Herald-Leader photo by Charles Bertram)

Fresh produce comes to the church-goers of Fresh Presbyterian Church of Lexington every Sunday through Fresh Stop, a community-supported agriculture program. But it's not your typical CSA program; this one comes with a charitable twist. Sure, members sign up to receive fresh produce weekly during the summer growing season but, writes Mary Meehan of the Lexington Herald-Leader, here 25 percent of the members pay a nominal amount because they live in a "food desert," where fresh food is hard to come by, and have lower incomes. To cover the difference, explains Meehan, the other 75 percent of members pay slightly more than a CSA normally would cost. "That's the key," said Libby Iverson, a church member and Fresh Stop member. "We need to share. That's very important."

The farm-to-table non-profit supplies tomatoes and cabbage, sweet peppers and onions that fill a table last Sunday were literally gleaming with freshness. All were picked from farmer Rick Courtney's Harrison County field just the day before, Meehan notes. It was all the brainchild of student Julia Hofmeister, who, armed with a major in sustainable agriculture at the University of Kentucky and having been part of the local Community Farm Alliance, set out in 2009 to find a farmer. Courtney was a tobacco farmer in Cynthiana, now a section of his farm on the South Fork of the Licking River is filled with vegetables.

Many of the low-income families served by the program are referred by Habitat for Humanity and Kentucky Refugee Ministries. Wheeler said one of the biggest concerns in expanding the program is that families often don't know what to do with all the produce they receive. Hofmeister thinks the program can be made to work elsewhere. "It is so transferrable," she said. (Read more)

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After losing weight, get the same number of calories from fat and carbs to maintain weight loss, study suggests

Subjects on a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet did not do
as well when it came to keeping weight off, a study
has found. (Photo by Tetra Images)

All calories may not be equal when it comes to weight loss, the results of a small study show. It found that people who ate a diet of an even amount of carbohydrates and fat were the winners when it came to shedding pounds.

The study, which was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, involved 21 overweight men and women. After following a 12-week weight-loss regimen in which they lost 10 to 15 percent of their body weight, the subjects were divided into three groups and fed a different kind of diet. One diet was low-fat (60 percent carbohydrates, 20 percent fat and 20 percent protein). A second was low in carbohydrates: 10 percent carbs, 60 percent fat and 30 percent protein. The third was called a "low glycemic index diet," with 40 percent carbs, 40 percent fat and 20 percent protein.

In all three diets, while the subjects were at rest, they burned fewer calories than before they lost weight. "But over the course of the day, the subjects burned more than 300 additional calories on average when on the very low-carbohydrate diet compared with the low-fat diet," reports Eryn Brown for the Los Angeles Times. However, "blood samples drawn from the participants in the low-carb diet phase contained elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol as well as C-reactive protein, which signals chronic inflammation in the body and has been linked to cardiovascular disease."

Subjects on the low glycemic diet burned 200 more calories than those on the low-fat diet and did not have the problems associated with the high-carb diet, prompting the study's senior author, Dr. David Ludwig, to recommend it as the best course of action. (Read more)

Subjects on a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet did not do
as well when it came to keeping weight off, a study
has found. (Photo by Tetra Images)

All calories may not be equal when it comes to weight loss, the results of a small study show. It found that people who ate a diet of an even amount of carbohydrates and fat were the winners when it came to shedding pounds.

The study, which was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, involved 21 overweight men and women. After following a 12-week weight-loss regimen in which they lost 10 to 15 percent of their body weight, the subjects were divided into three groups and fed a different kind of diet. One diet was low-fat (60 percent carbohydrates, 20 percent fat and 20 percent protein). A second was low in carbohydrates: 10 percent carbs, 60 percent fat and 30 percent protein. The third was called a "low glycemic index diet," with 40 percent carbs, 40 percent fat and 20 percent protein.

In all three diets, while the subjects were at rest, they burned fewer calories than before they lost weight. "But over the course of the day, the subjects burned more than 300 additional calories on average when on the very low-carbohydrate diet compared with the low-fat diet," reports Eryn Brown for the Los Angeles Times. However, "blood samples drawn from the participants in the low-carb diet phase contained elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol as well as C-reactive protein, which signals chronic inflammation in the body and has been linked to cardiovascular disease."

Subjects on the low glycemic diet burned 200 more calories than those on the low-fat diet and did not have the problems associated with the high-carb diet, prompting the study's senior author, Dr. David Ludwig, to recommend it as the best course of action. (Read more)

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Schools have big role to play in battling childhood obesity

Schools can make a powerful impact on battling the childhood obesity epidemic, but only when health and nutrition are seen as a way to improve student learning rather than take away from it.

But there can be push-back in making this transition, said John Skretta, a health advocate and superintendent of Norris School District in Firth, Ky. At the Coordinated School Health Symposium in Lexington Monday, he talked about his efforts to introduce tuna salad in the school lunch menu, with food service directors saying students wouldn't eat it. Finally, the district's head of nutrition made some herself using low-fat mayonnaise and pickles and it was a hit with kids.

To get kids more physically active, Skretta said kids in his elementary schools now take two 10-minute walks a day, which have improved test scores and gets children closer to the goal of making long-lasting choices about their health.

To help with the process, school staff are encouraged to model healthy behavior and avoid eating or drinking items that have low nutritional standards in front of students.

"If schools don't take the lead on this, who will?" Skretta asked. (Read more)

Schools can make a powerful impact on battling the childhood obesity epidemic, but only when health and nutrition are seen as a way to improve student learning rather than take away from it.

But there can be push-back in making this transition, said John Skretta, a health advocate and superintendent of Norris School District in Firth, Ky. At the Coordinated School Health Symposium in Lexington Monday, he talked about his efforts to introduce tuna salad in the school lunch menu, with food service directors saying students wouldn't eat it. Finally, the district's head of nutrition made some herself using low-fat mayonnaise and pickles and it was a hit with kids.

To get kids more physically active, Skretta said kids in his elementary schools now take two 10-minute walks a day, which have improved test scores and gets children closer to the goal of making long-lasting choices about their health.

To help with the process, school staff are encouraged to model healthy behavior and avoid eating or drinking items that have low nutritional standards in front of students.

"If schools don't take the lead on this, who will?" Skretta asked. (Read more)

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Feeding Practices of Cat Owners

Laflamme, D. P., S. K. Abood, et al. (2008). "Pet feeding practices of dog and cat owners in the United States and Australia." J Am Vet Med Assoc 232(5): 687-94.

The objective of this large telephone survey was to determine what and how dog and cat owners feed their pets. A random selection of pet owners were surveyed in multiple U.S. locations and 1 location in Australia. Over 1100 respondents provided data on feeding practices for 635 dogs and 469 cats. Over 98% of cat owners fed commercial food for at least one-half of the nutritional intake. In addition, 29% of cats received at least one-half of their diet from commercial canned foods, and 13% of cats were fed non-commercial foods as part of their main diet. Veterinarians were cited as the most common source of information on pet care and nutrition, but 16% of cat owners cited the internet and other media sources as their primary source of information.
>> PubMed abstract

Related articles:
Michel, K. E. (2006). "Unconventional diets for dogs and cats." Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 36(6): 1269-81, vi-vii.
>> PubMed abstract

Wakefield, L., F. Shofer, et al. (2006). "Evaluation of cats fed vegetarian diets and attitudes of their caregivers." J Amer Vet Med Assoc 229(1): 70-73.
>> PubMed abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

Laflamme, D. P., S. K. Abood, et al. (2008). "Pet feeding practices of dog and cat owners in the United States and Australia." J Am Vet Med Assoc 232(5): 687-94.

The objective of this large telephone survey was to determine what and how dog and cat owners feed their pets. A random selection of pet owners were surveyed in multiple U.S. locations and 1 location in Australia. Over 1100 respondents provided data on feeding practices for 635 dogs and 469 cats. Over 98% of cat owners fed commercial food for at least one-half of the nutritional intake. In addition, 29% of cats received at least one-half of their diet from commercial canned foods, and 13% of cats were fed non-commercial foods as part of their main diet. Veterinarians were cited as the most common source of information on pet care and nutrition, but 16% of cat owners cited the internet and other media sources as their primary source of information.
>> PubMed abstract

Related articles:
Michel, K. E. (2006). "Unconventional diets for dogs and cats." Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 36(6): 1269-81, vi-vii.
>> PubMed abstract

Wakefield, L., F. Shofer, et al. (2006). "Evaluation of cats fed vegetarian diets and attitudes of their caregivers." J Amer Vet Med Assoc 229(1): 70-73.
>> PubMed abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

Read More