BETTY C. JUNG'S WEB SITE - Betty's Public Health Blog for 2010 -

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Suggested Citation: Jung, B.C. (2010). Betty C. Jung's 2010 Public Health Blog.
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Most Current 2010 Entries

February 27, 2010 - Movie Ratings By Betty

In recent years I was posting movie ratings on my Oscars Page, which I have discontinued because it's easier to have the Internet Movie Database store the ratings for me. It also allows me to share my ratings, so here they are!
Right now there are over 1,300 ratings, and I will be adding more as I continue to watch movies. Just click on the graphic and enjoy! You can also find a link to these ratings on my Movies Page .
Check out my favorite movie rental service:

February 26, 2010 -
The USDA's Your Food Environmental Atlas is a great resource for Public Health Professionals looking for geographic-based data about nutrition. The data are available for the following categories:

Access and Proximity to Grocery Stores, by number of households with no car and distance, and by income;

Availability of Food Stores, by number of stores; and by type of store; and convenience; SNAP and WIC-authorized;

Availability of Restaurants, by type - fast-food, full-service;

Expenditures on Food at Restaurants, by type per-capita;

Food Assistance, SNAP stats, school lunch participation;

Foods Eaten at Home;

Food Insecurity;

Food Prices;

Food Taxes;

Health: Adult diabetes rate, adult obesity rate; Low-income preschool obesity rate;

Local Foods: Farms, farmers' markets;

Physical Activity Levels and Outlets: % Adults meeting activity guidelines*; % Highschoolers physically active*; Recreation & fitness facilities per 1000 pop;
Socioeconomic Characteristics: race, ethnicity, household income, poverty rate, poverty areas, child poverty.

Needless to say (but I'll say it anyway), this is very useful. I like how they included data about physicial activity because it's not enough just to talk about diet/nutrition without thinking about
You can find a link to this site by clicking on the graphic, and on my Evaluation Resources and Report Cards Page , under the "State Report Cards (Government)" section.
Graphic source: http://www.ers.usda.gov/

February 25, 2010 - The Economy and Health
Today's New York Times article, At Closing Plant, Ordeal Included Heart Attacks talks about the unsettling realities of how the economy affects our health. Being laid off from a job can result in the adoption of health-compromising behaviors, such as smoking and drinking, or relapse of these poor health behaviors to deal with stress (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/ articles/PMC1351253/pdf/nihms6176.pdf) and even in such negative outcomes as fatal heart attacks. Another negative change reported was the onset or relapse of depression, which has been associated with the development of heart disease. And, an unfortunate side effect of dealing with job loss was less exercise, when more exercise would probably be a healthier strategy for dealing with acute stress.
One study found "...a person who lost a job had an 83 percent greater chance of developing a stress-related health problem, like diabetes, arthritis or psychiatric issues." (http://muse.jhu.edu/login?uri=/journals/demography/v046/46.2.strully.html) and another found that layoffs affected life expectancy, as a "...worker who lost his job at age 40 had his life expectancy cut by a year to a year and half."
For more information about mental health issues, check my Public Health Sites - Mental Health Section
Citation source: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/25/us/25stress.html?emc=tnt&tntemail1=y

February 23, 2010 - 24 Ways to Lose Weight Without Dieting
This is no gimmicky weight loss program, but some really common sense approaches to diet and exercise that will help you control your weight. For example, just by walking a mile in 20 minutes can help you burn off 100 calories. Or, sleep an extra hour a night and lose 14 pounds in one year! Check out WebMD's 24 Ways to Lose Weight Without Dieting Slideshow for simple ways to fight the bulge.

February 22, 2010 - County-Health Rankings

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation recently released its County Health Rankings which provides county-by-county snapshots of health in each state. Each county is ranked within the state on how healthy people are and how long they live, and along key factors that affect health such as: smoking, obesity, binge drinking, access to primary care providers, rates of high school graduation, rates of violent crime, air pollution levels, liquor store density, unemployment rates and number of children living in poverty. What makes these rankings different from previous state rankings is the examination of multiple factors that affect health in each county in all 50 states. You can find a link to the County Health Rankings on my Evaluation Page, under "State Report Cards [Health] (Non-government)."
Here is a rendering of the statistics for USA Today.
Source: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2010-02-17-countyhealth17_ST_N.htm

February 21, 2010 - Self-Explanatory Economic Statistics

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/21/business/economy/21unemployed.html?th&emc=th

February 20, 2010 - America Saves Week

America Saves.Org wants to raise awareness about saving money. The site provides information about an activity we don't do enough. While spending is easy to do, saving requires discipline that pays off with interest. The site provides information and resources about how you can improve your financial wellness. Really helpful site (like the Emergency Savings Calculator webpage). You can also find a link to this site as well as links to other resources on my Web site's Money Matters Section of the Cool and Useful Sites page.
May you always keep your principal, as it grows with interest...

February 19, 2010 - Going Generic

Graphic source: http://www.marketingcharts.com/television/americans-make-small-cutbacks-11993/harris-have-done-last-6-months-generation-feb-2010jpg/
In a Harris Poll conducted online within the United States January 18 to 25, 2010 among 2,576 adults (aged 18 and over), Americans are adapting to the current economic downtown by cutting back on little luxuries.
In this particular graphic that looks across generations, the most common cost-saving method being used by most people is going generic. It is the first time I have seen the term, "Echo Boomers" used for what we used to call the "twenty-somethings." (which may be too generic for some...).
I guess young people are beginning to realize they can live without the morning lattes and manicures, and that brownbagging and refillable water bottles maybe okay after all....
Source: http://www.marketingcharts.com/television/americans-make-small-cutbacks-11993/?utm_campaign=newsletter&utm_ source=mc&utm_medium=textlink

February 18, 2010 - The Power of Positive Affect, or The Happiness and Heart Connection

Graphic source: media.cellfish.com/public/7/1/3/209713/420.jpg
Just released by the European Heart Journal,

"Individuals who find joy, excitement, and contentment in their daily lives may be protected from cardiovascular disease,.... Higher levels of positive affect, a measure of happiness, were associated with a significantly lower risk of having a cardiovascular event over a 10-year period."

"Positive affect -- defined as the experience of pleasurable emotions such as joy, happiness, excitement, enthusiasm, and contentment -- has been shown in previous studies to be associated with increased survival, improved immune function, and lower risks of diabetes and hypertension. Negative emotions, including depression, have been linked to a greater risk of heart disease.... positive affect is thought to be predictive of cardiovascular health independent of negative emotions."

Researchers also report that positive affect..."has also been associated with lower blood pressure, norepinephrine reactivity, and cortisol levels,... may also protect against heart disease by improving sleep habits and the ability to quit smoking,..."

Source: Davidson K, et al "Don't worry, be happy: positive affect and reduced 10-year incident coronary heart disease: the Canadian Nova Scotia Health Survey" Eur Heart J 2010; DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehp603. Reported in 2/17 Medpage Today

February 17, 2010 - The Importance of Recess, Healthy Schools and Fidgeting

Graphic adapted from "State of Play" cover page at http://www.rwjf.org/files/ research/stateofplayrecessreportgallup.pdf

"The State of Play" is the latest report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation that looks at the importance of recess to academic achievement. Based on a survey of 1,951 elementary school principals, RWFJ found, ...recess has a strong positive impact on academic achievement. Students listened better and were more focused after recess. And principals widely agreed that recess positively impacts social development and well-being." (Source: http://www.rwjf.org/files/research/ stateofplayrecessreportgallup.pdf)
This report contnues in the vein of January 2010's Surgeon General�s Vision for a Healthy and Fit Nation 2010 that advocates Creating Healthy Schools. Schools play a pivotal role in preventing obesity among children and teenagers. Each school day provides multiple opportunities for students to learn about health and practice healthy behaviors that affect weight, including physical activity and good nutrition. Well-designed school programs can promote physical activity and healthy eating, reduce the rate of overweight and obesity among children and teenagers, and improve academic achievement." (Source: http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/ obesityvision/obesityvision2010.pdf p. 11)
Yet, any parent of school age children will tell you that recess is hardly a priority in most schools. In the lives of young children, what is more important than play? If they don't play when they are young, will they play when they get older? A human body was not made to sit all day in the classroom and then at home in front of the TV or computer. Yet, this is the way most children spend their daily lives today. This is one of the reasons why there is an obesity epidemic.
The body was meant to . And, if kids get enough exercise they wouldn't be fidgeting all the time. In fact, fidgeting can be viewed as the body's built-in mechanism to be active. Unfortunately, not everyone is born to fidget. Some fidget more than others.
Mayo Clinic researchers have found that fidgeting is a good thing and can help with weight control. They have coined the term NEAT (non-exercise activity thermogenesis) for what we commonly call fidgeting, and found NEAT � more powerful than formal exercise � determines who is lean, and who is obese. Obese persons sit, on average, 150 minutes more each day than their naturally lean counterparts. This means obese people burn 350 fewer calories a day than do lean people.
Source: "Fidgeting: Key to Who is Lean or Obese" http://www.mayoclinic.org/feature-articles/fidget-low-metabolism.html
So, people concerned about the growing obesity epidemic should advocate for recess during the school day, and they should encourage kids to do more than just sit around house getting fat. Spend quality time that is "activity-driven" and reap the benefits of better health. For more information, check my Fitness Page. For links to the reports mentioned in this blog entry, check my Health Behavior Data Sites.

February 14, 2010 - Happy Valentine's Day & Happy Chinese New Year!

February 11, 2010 - APA Style Information
I have just updated all the links on my APA Information Page to reflect the new 6th edition of the APA writing style manual. It is not the easiest or most intuitive writing style but it is the most commonly used style for Public Health and the social sciences, which probably explains why this page is the most popular academic page on my Web site.

February 10, 2010 - Climate Change

Graphic Source: http://www.pewclimate.org/global-warming-basics/facts_and_figures/impacts/seaice.cfm

I know that 3+ feet of snow burying the mid-Atlantic states doesn't look promising for a global warming discussion, but how about climate change?
After all the flip-flopping in the scientific community about whether or not global warming is really happening, it looks like the consensus is - yes, it is happening. So, I have added a new section to my Public Health Sites pages called "Global Warming" with links to credible sites providing the most up-to-date information of what is being done about the problem. Probably the most heartbreaking image of this Public Health issue is:

Graphic source: http://communities.canada.com/vancouversun/blogs/thesearch/archive/2009/04/23/who-cares-less-about-global-warming.aspx

Check Global Warming for more information.

February 9, 2010 - Pluto & its moon Charon - celestial beauty at its best

Graphic Source: Dr. R. Albrecht, ESA/ ESO Space Telescope European Coordinating Facility; NASA;
http://content.techrepublic.com.com/ 2346-1035_11-390103-6.html?tag=content;leftCol

February 8, 2010 - Time to give up sodas (The Soda and Cancer Connection)
Just released today online... according to a report in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research:
"Consuming two or more soft drinks per week increased the risk of developing pancreatic cancer by nearly twofold compared to individuals who did not consume soft drinks."
This is just one of the growing number of studies that show soda is bad for you, and a major contributor to the obesity epidemic. For more information about the negative consequences of drinking soda, check my Nutrition Page. Nothing beats water - zero calories, yet includes everything your body needs.
Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-02/aafc-sdc020310.php

February 7, 2010 - Disability Statistics

Graphic source: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/06/your-money/life-and-disability-insurance/06money.html?emc=tnt&tntemail1=y
The February 5th New York Times article, "The Odds of a Disability Are Themselves Odd" contends that disability statistics are unreliable, as they can vary anywhere from 30% to 52%. As with any kind of statistics, it really is important to know what's in the denominator and what's in the numerator.

This graphic presents a rendition of disability for white collar workers, by gender (excluding physicians). While it may appear that women experience more disability than men in the workplace, it is only because pregnancy is considered a disability. From an employer's perspective that is how pregnancy is viewed.
It does make you wonder why reproduction, a natural process, has to be viewed in such a negative light when talking about "productivity", and what pregnancy "complications" are they talking about? Like spending time to take care of a little baby? Obviously, this does not explain why the percentages are higher for women in the 45 to 65 age groups.
A more useful analysis would be to eliminate "pregnancy" from disability statistics, which would help in identifying the health issues that are causing workplace disabilities. Based on such statistics, employers can then develop workplace wellness programs to address those lifestyle factors that are protective for and destructive to workplace productivity. I believe that once this is done, these graphics will be very different.
Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/06/your-money/life-and-disability-insurance/06money.html?emc=tnt&tntemail1=y

February 6, 2010 - The Human Genome and Aerobic Exercise
Currently, researchers believe "that one of the best predictors of health and longevity is our body's ability to take in and use oxygen during maximum exercise. The more blood our heart can pump and the more oxygen our muscles can use, the less our risk of early disease and death." This means aerobic exercise is really important because the higher our VO2 max (maximum volume of oxygen used during exercise), the more resistant we are to getting sick.
However, the Pennington Biomedical Research Center (PBRC) has found that genes may modulate the increase in VO2 max from aerobic exercise and notes that "low maximal oxygen consumption is a strong risk factor for premature illness and death." Basically, not everyone may benefit the same way from aerobic exercise. They have identified a set of about 30 genes that predicted the increase in VO2 max. And for those that do not have these genes, alternative prevention programs may be needed to reduce the risks of cardiovascular disease or diabetes. This may be the start of what researchers are calling,"personalized, genomic-based medicine."
Source:http://shexbenupdates.blogspot.com/2010/02/genes-reveal-how-much-we-will-benefit.html

February 4, 2010 - Spending our lives online

Graphic and story source: http://www.marketingcharts.com/ interactive/internet-users-now-spend-13-hoursweek-online-11471/ ?utm_campaign=newsletter&utm_source=mc&utm_medium=textlink
According to a recent Harris poll, U.S. adult Internet users spend an average of 13 hours a week online. Even when they looked at users by age groups, it's surprising to see that a fifth of those over 65 spend 8 to 15 hours online. Researchers found that the age groups spending the most time online are those ages 30-39 (18 hours) and those aged 25-29 (17 hours) and 40-49 (17 hours).
Just yesterday, Medpage Today reported findings from the first National Health Interview Survey to collect data on health information technology that was conducted by the CDC and the National Center for Health Statistics.
"The study found 51% of adults 18 to 64 used the Internet to look up health information at some point over a 12-month period. Previous research had shown that over 60% of all adults in the U.S. had, at some point, used the Internet to search for health or medical information. Not surprisingly, 18- to 49-year-olds were more likely than older adults to use health information technology."
"Women were more likely than men to use the Internet for health information in all surveyed categories, including: Chatting online about health topics (2.5% of men versus 4.1% of women); Researching health information (43.4% versus 58%); Communicating with healthcare providers (4.2% versus 5.6%), or scheduling an appointment (1.8% versus 3.5%) by e-mail Refilling prescriptions online (5.3% versus 6.6%)"
Source: http://www.medpagetoday.com/ PublicHealthPolicy/ GeneralProfessionalIssues/18281?utm_content =GroupCL&utm_medium=email& impressionId=1265264580293&utm_campaign= DailyHeadlines&utm_source= mSpoke&userid=36040#rate
Think about this. What did we do before there was the Internet?? Also, it is now more important than ever that we be discriminating about what we find online and that those who post health information should do so with the best intentions, ensuring that it be credible and cite their sources.

February 2, 2010 - Internet Immortality

Graphic source: http://chronicle.com/article/Our-Digitally-Undying-Memories/63747/?sid=cr&utm_source=cr&utm_medium=en
Siva Vaidhyanathan's "Our Digitally Undying Memories" offers a meta-review of books dealing with our presence on the Internet and a wary perspective of our cyber lives (http://chronicle.com/article/Our-Digitally-Undying-Memories/63747/?sid=cr&utm_source=cr&utm_medium=en) that is well worth reading.
My thoughts? We all can achieve immortality - on the Internet. Unfortunately, what people were probably pursuing was just their 15 minutes of fame. We have lost our sense of boundaries on many levels. Privacy has become more important because Big Brother is the people with the cameras. How many times have you been forced to listen to conversations, in a public place, that should be private and not for everyone within listening distance?
Many young people think nothing of posting their whole lives on Facebook and other social networks and then wonder how their identity got stolen. A sad example of the Net potential to ruin lives was when I came across a series of Youtube videos of college women who were fall-down drunks (I was looking for some educational videos about the hazards of alcohol abuse for my class). Obviously, these women did not post these videos, and, whoever did were no friend, nor should these be viewed as "just a joke" shenanigans. How will these women ever be able to explain themselves to some potential employer of these episodes of indiscretion? They can never be removed and will live on forever for anyone with Internet access. Is this the Immortality the Greek philosophers debated about? I think not.

January 30, 2010 - An Explanation for the Obesity Paradox

This graph shows that as weight rises, so does cardiovascular mortality (death).
In May 2009, the Journal of the American College of Cardiology reported, "Obese patients with heart disease do better and live longer than leaner patients with the same severity of disease ( http://www.livescience.com/health/ 090526-obesity-heart.html ). This became known as the "Obesity Paradox." However, this is not an excuse to put on weight just to better survive a heart attack, nor is it an excuse to smoke to control weight. Excess weight and smoking are known risk factors for heart disease.
Coming out in February 2010's Mayo Clinic Proceedings, there is a study that attempts to explain the Obesity Paradox. Their conclusion? "Fitness altered the obesity paradox. Overweight and obese men had increased longevity only if they registered high fitness." (http://mayoclinicproceedings.com/ content/85/2/115)

In the accompanying editorial, The Obesity Paradox: Perception vs Knowledge, the authors propose "...the power of cardiorespiratory fitness as a covariate of its effect on the obesity-mortality association. A compelling rationale as to the importance of fitness vis-�-vis the obesity paradox is that many individuals within a given weight strata with a below average exercise capacity can be considered �unwell� compared with individuals with a higher exercise capacity. If indeed, after adjusting the analysis for fitness (or wellness), the paradoxical association between low body weight and mortality is blunted...."
So, in plain English, what does this mean? Regardless of what weight category you are in, you should strive for maximum cardiorespiratory fitness. But, if you really work on your cardiorespiratory fitness you will lose weight. Sixty minutes of brisk walking every day will do the trick.
You've got to and
Check out my Fitness Page for exercise links.
Source for graphic and quotes: http://mayoclinicproceedings.com/content/85/2/112.full

January 27, 2010 - Global Warming Trends

With all the technology we have these days, controversy still surrounds the reality of global warming. In the January 23rd LiveScience.com report, "Past Decade the Warmest Since 1880," GISS Director James Hansen stated, "There's substantial year-to-year variability of global temperature caused by the tropical El Nino-La Nina cycle. But when we average temperature over five or ten years to minimize that variability, we find that global warming is continuing unabated."
Graphic interpretation: " Except for a leveling off between the 1940s and 1970s, Earth's surface temperatures have increased since 1880. The last decade has brought the temperatures to the highest levels ever recorded. The graph shows global annual surface temperatures relative to 1951-1980 mean temperatures. As shown by the red line, long-term trends are more apparent when temperatures are averaged over a five year period." Credit: NASA/GISS
Source: http://www.livescience.com//environment/warmest-decade-100123.html

January 26, 2010 - Ideal Heart Health
The American Heart Association (AHA) has recently released what they considered to be "ideal" heart health candidates, which include individuals without clinical cardiovascular disease who:

Never smoked or quit more than one year ago

Maintain a body mass index under 25 kg/m2

Stay physically active for at least 150 minutes at moderate intensity or 75 minutes at vigorous intensity each week

Eat a healthy diet, matching at least four to five of the key dietary components recommended by AHA guidelines, such as low sodium, low sugar-sweetened beverage, high fiber, and fruit and vegetable intake

Keep total cholesterol under 200 mg/dL

Maintain blood pressure below 120/80 mm Hg

Keep fasting blood glucose less than 100 mg/dL

According to the AHA, only about 5% of Americans currently meet these criteria. Use these as guidelines for a healthier life. Most importantly, know what your numbers are and keep them in a healthy range.
Source: http://www.medpagetoday.com/Cardiology/Prevention/18057?pfc=111&spc=269

January 23, 2010 - Get up!!!

We are much too sedentary. If we're not sitting at work, we are sitting around somewhere. According to the 1/19 Medscape's Prolonged Sitting Boosts Bad Health," "sitting in front of the TV for hours on end can raise your risk of early death from heart disease. A woman's risk of metabolic syndrome, a precursor to diabetes and heart disease, jumps 26% for every extra hour she sits in front of the TV."
You've got to . Here's one simple way I found to increase my daily steps, I never take a phone call sitting down. While I am on the phone, I am walking around. You'll be amazed at how many steps you can take while talking on the phone. By the way, pedometers are very useful motivators. If you are sedentary, you will get in only about 400-500 steps a day. You should aim for 10,000. If this sounds formidable, then start from a baseline and make an effort, on a daily basis, to add a few more steps. If you do this consistently, you will be able to rack up thousands of steps in no time! As they say in Quality Improvement, you don't know how you are doing unless you keep track of what you are doing.
Source: http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/news/20100119/prolonged-sitting-boosts-bad-health

January 22, 2010 - Start Fifth Grade with a Normal BMI

I decided to re-post this graphic from my September 27, 2009 blog entry to show that research has shown that a student's physical fitness has an impact on academic performance. It would seem to me that the current obesity epidemic affecting youths today is going to impact their ability to function well in the workplace. Since the impact can be measured in middle school students, then we should intervene sooner, like in elementary school.
Think about this. How hard would be to make it a school health goal that no child should finish fourth grade without a normal BMI? Or, all children should start fifth grade with a normal BMI. Good health habits should be nurtured early on to make the most of these formative years. Finally, I simply cannot bear the thought of having children on statins when adults suffer from side effects when using this class of drugs.

January 21, 2010 - Lipid Levels of U.S. Youths (1999-2006)
In the just released 1/22/2010 MMWR Report, Prevalence of Abnormal Lipid Levels Among Youths --- United States, 1999--2006 , the CDC reports that "...32% of all youths were in a population recommended for lipid screening based solely on their weight status. The results also indicate that, during 1999--2006, an estimated one fifth of all youths had at least one lipid abnormality, and among obese youths, the prevalence was 43%."
Other findings include: "Among all youths, 20.3% had at least one abnormal lipid level based on cutoff points for high LDL-C (≥130 mg/dL), low HDL-C (≤35 mg/dL), and high triglyceride levels (≥150 mg/dL) Compared with youths who were normal weight, overweight and obese youths were significantly more likely to have at least one abnormal lipid level (PR = 1.6 and PR = 3.0, respectively). A greater proportion of boys had low HDL-C compared with girls (11.0% versus 4.0%), and youths aged 18--19 years were more likely to have low HDL-C (10.4%) or high triglycerides (16.4%) compared with youths aged 12--13 years (4.7% and 9.5%, respectively). Youths aged 14--15 years also were more likely to have low HDL-C (8.7%) compared with youths aged 12--13 years (4.7%). High LDL-C levels differed little across age groups among the youths. The percentage of non-Hispanic white youths with low HDL-C (8.5%) or high triglycerides (12.1%) was higher compared with levels for non-Hispanic black youths (4.7% and 3.7%, respectively)."
The report further states, "Although therapeutic lifestyle counseling is the first course of action in reducing abnormal lipid levels among youths, AAP recommends considering pharmacologic interventions to treat children whose LDL remains persistently high even after therapeutic lifestyle counseling."
This is a pretty sad health picture of American youths today. I really don't like the idea of putting young kids on drugs to address a health issue that can be taken care of with better diet and more exercise. What are we teaching kids when we ask them to pop pills?? What does that say about how we, as a society, view the value of Health? Something is very wrong with this picture.
You can find a link to this report and other health behavior statistics on my Health Behavior Data Page
Source: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5902a1.htm?s_cid=mm5902a1_e#tab1

January 19, 2010 - Presenting Data

Graphic Source: http://www.idealware.org/visualization/index.php
Because information has become a marketable commodity, data have become very important. But when it comes to sharing the data, presentation counts. An important skill for public health professionals is making the most of data, from assessing needs to evaluating program interventions.
Reporting on these activities always includes presenting the data that were used for program development and evaluation. And, that is nothing more effective than visualizing the data with easy-to-understand graphs, charts and even maps. If given the choice, what would you rather look at, a table of numbers or a chart?
Idealware's "A Consumers Guide to Low-Cost Data Visualization Tools" is an excellent resource about presenting data and the software you can use to do it in style. You can find a link to this useful guide on my Charting & Graphing Data; Data Presentation Page

January 15, 2010 - Are You Pouring on the Pounds?

Is this visually stunning enough to get the point across that sodas are bad for you?
Read or download New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's Health Bulletin: Are You Pouring on the Pounds?

January 14, 2010 - 2009 Web site Stats, for the curious

January 13, 2010 - Bisphenol A (BPA) & Cardiovascular Disease

Graphic Source: http://www.ewg.org/reports/bisphenola
In 2007, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that BPA is at unsafe levels in one of every 10 servings of canned foods (11%) and one of every 3 cans of infant formula (33%). (Source: http://www.ewg.org/reports/bisphenola )
Today, Medpage Today reports that researchers analyzing NHANES data have confirmed that BPA, an endocrine disruptor, increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.
BPA is found in numerous household products -- from drink containers and food packaging to the lining of canned goods. It is estimated that over 90% of the U.S. population is exposed to BPA, which is now considered the 4th toxic chemical risk factor for cardioavascular disease along with fine particulate air pollution, dioxins, and PCBs. The metabolism of BPA may induce oxidative stress and endothelial cell damage. (Source: Melzer D, et al "Association of urinary bisphenol A concentration with heart disease: Evidence from NHANES 2003/2006" PLoS ONE 2010. )

January 13, 2010 - New ADA recommendations regarding gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) Recently released ADA recommendations pertaining to gestational diabetes mellitus include: "All pregnant women, except those at low risk for gestational diabetes, should be screened with an oral glucose tolerance test at 24 to 28 weeks of gestation. Low-risk status is defined by age younger than 25 years, normal prepregnancy weight, ethnicity in a group with a low overall prevalence of diabetes, and no family or personal risk factors for diabetes. Women with gestational diabetes should be screened for type 2 diabetes at the postpartum visit 6 to 12 weeks after delivery and then intermittently from that visit forward." (Source:http://cme.medscape.com/viewarticle/714487?src=cmemp&uac=81167HX)
This is really great since it is unfortunate that the US Preventive Task Force has not been able to recommend universal screening for GDM in recent years. From a Public Health perspective, I have always considered women who have gestational diabetes to be the ideal priority population for the prevention of type 2 diabetes. Research has consistently shown that these women are at a higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes than those who never had GDM while pregnant. Perhaps, the most startling statistic I came across was that women who have had 3 pregnancies with GDM are at a 100% risk for developing type 2 diabetes! ( Source: Postpartum Follow-up Crucial in Women With Gestational Diabetes http://docnews.diabetesjournals.org/ content/3/5/8.full) The best news is that type 2 diabetes in these women is preventable through lifestyle modification. In a way these women are fortunate that they are being warned of the possibility of developing type 2 diabetes and hopefully will be motivated to do something about it.
If you would like to read the issue brief I developed about GDM when I worked as the cardiovascular and diabetes epidemiologist for the State of Connecticut, check out Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Surveillance in Connecticut Issue Brief . You can also find more information about GDM and diabetes in general on my Diabetes Resources Page.

January 12, 2010 - Hemoglobin A1C to diagnose type 2 diabetes
The American Diabetes Association published new recommendations on December 29 in the January supplement of Diabetes Care, one of which is "promoting hemoglobin A1c (A1c) as a faster, easier diagnostic test that could help reduce the number of undiagnosed patients and better identify patients with prediabetes."
"The A1c test, which measures average blood glucose levels for a period of up to 3 months, was previously used only to evaluate diabetic control with time. An A1c level of approximately 5% indicates the absence of diabetes, and according to the revised evidence-based guidelines, an A1c score of 5.7% to 6.4% indicates prediabetes, and an A1c level of 6.5% or higher indicates the presence of diabetes. For optimal diabetic control, the recommended ADA target for most people with diabetes is an A1c level no greater than 7%." (Source:http://cme.medscape.com/viewarticle/714487?src=cmemp&uac=81167HX )
The sooner people who have problems managing glucose metabolism, the earlier people can do something about it. If you have a family history of type 2 diabetes, carry extra weight, especially around the abdomen, have high blood pressure and/or high cholesterol, you should probably see your doctor and get an A1C done. Of course, if you don't know your numbers at all (blood pressure, cholesterol level) you should find out and see if you need treatment. Untreated high blood pressure can result in strokes and excessively high levels of bad cholesterol can put at risk for heart disease. For more information about diabetes, check my Diabetes Resources Page.

January 11, 2010 - An Hour a Day of Play Keeps the Fat Away

Now you can go and play with your kids every day and not feel guilty about it. New physical activity guidelines for children and adolescents say they should have an hour or more physical activity daily. An hour a day running around with the kids will also help you to lose weight as well, so it's a win-win situation all around. Be a role model, go out and pound the pavement with them!!!

Youth Physical Activity Guidelines

Children and adolescents should have 60 minutes (1 hour) or more of physical activity daily.

Aerobic: Most of the 60 or more minutes a day should be either moderate- or vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity and should include vigorous-intensity physical activity at least 3 days a week.

Muscle-strengthening: As part of their 60 or more minutes of daily physical activity, children and adolescents should include muscle-strengthening physical activity on at least 3 days of the week.

Bone-strengthening: As part of their 60 or more minutes of daily physical activity, children and adolescents should include bone-strengthening physical activity on at least 3 days of the week.

It is important to encourage young people to participate in physical activities that are appropriate for their age, that are enjoyable, and that offer variety.

Graphic and Guidelines source: http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/physicalactivity/guidelines.htm#1?s_cid=ncbddd_govd_037

January 9, 2010 - How to Sleep

Graphic source: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/ public/sleep/healthy_sleep.pdf
Though this activity is supposed to take up one third of our lives, it is one thing we don't do enough, and that's getting adequate sleep. In fact, lack of sleep is being blamed for the growing obesity epidemic from disrupting hormones in our body.
"When you don't get enough sleep, it drives leptin levels down, which means you don't feel as satisfied after you eat. Lack of sleep also causes ghrelin levels to rise, which means your appetite is stimulated, so you want more food.... "Those who slept less than eight hours a night not only had lower levels of leptin and higher levels of ghrelin, but they also had a higher level of body fat. What's more, that level of body fat seemed to correlate with their sleep patterns. Specifically, those who slept the fewest hours per night weighed the most.
(Source: The Dream Diet: Losing Weight While You Sleep http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/lose-weight-while-sleeping )
The NIH recently released Your Guide to Healthy Sleep which covers everything you ever want to know about sleep. You can find a link at Sleep Resources along with links to more information about sleep.
Sweet dreams, my friend, and may you lose weight overnight and remember:

January 8, 2010 - Herbals Are Not Good for Pregnant Women

Graphic source: http://cmbi.bjmu.edu.cn/news/0406/68.htm
Can you believe that 10.9% of U.S. mothers reported use of an herbal product 3 months before or during pregnancy? This is what researchers found. They also reported, "During pregnancy, the overall prevalence was 9.4% and was highest during the first trimester (6.9%). A substantial proportion of women took herbal products during the second (5.1%) and third (5.2%) trimesters."
Because so little is known about the effects these products may have on the fetus, researchers are urging women not to use these products to avoid potential harm to fetal organ development, which occurs early on during pregnancy. They also caution, "it is difficult to ascertain the ingredients in herbal products with any degree of reliability because of the nature of the herbal product industry, which may label ingredients inaccurately or change the blend of their ingredients. Finally, despite their widespread use, many pregnant women who use herbals do not tell their physicians... (and) the fact that a substance is natural does not necessarily mean that it is safe for the fetus."
For more information about nutraceuticals, see my Nutrition Page.
Source: Herbal Product Use Common in Pregnancy, May Pose Risks to Fetus. From Am J Obstet Gynecol. Published online December 28, 2009.(http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/ 714461?src=mp&spon=16&uac=81167HX)

January 7, 2010 - EPA's Strict New Health Standards for Smog

Today the EPA proposed stricter health standards for smog. We can all breathe better now.
According to the EPA,

"The tighter standards will cost tens of billions of dollars to implement, but will ultimately save billions in avoided emergency room visits, premature deaths, and missed work and school days."
"Smog is a respiratory irritant that has been linked to asthma attacks and other respiratory illnesses. It is formed when emissions from burning gasoline, power and chemical plants, refineries and other factories mix in sunlight."

(Source: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/01/07/us/AP-US-EPA-Smog.html?emc=na )

When I was in 11th grade (and this was decades ago), I wrote my first practice term paper (in preparation for college) on the subject of air pollution. So I guess I was into Public Health even then. The issue, however, remains pertinent as more research is beginning to show the health effects of environmental exposure to second-hand smoke and toxic chemicals, as what happened post-9/11.
If you are wondering how your environment is treating you, check out the information for geography of choice with these two widgets from the EPA. You can also find these two widgets, along with 8 others and links to other environmental health resources on my Environmental Health Page.

January 6, 2010 - Obesity's Impact on Morbidity
According to today's "Obesity Disease Burden Similar to Smoking" Medpage Today article, obesity is now surpassing tobacco's impact on our quality of life. Analyzing 1993 to 2008 BRFSS quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) data, researchers conclude that:

"...as a result of the increasing prevalence of obesity, the contribution of obesity-related QALYs lost had increased by 127% in 2008. At that time, obesity resulted in 0.0464 QALYs lost, slightly surpassing smoking."

"While smoking has bigger impact on mortality, smokers die at a much younger age,"..."For an obese person, although they [are at an increased risk to] die, they die at an older age," often with high medical bills for chronic medications and expensive treatments.

We need to take better care of ourselves. Plus, do you really want to spend all your money on medical bills and medications to get through the day? Quit smoking, and lose the weight. Just 60 minutes a day of brisk walking will do the trick for most people, along with better eating habits. Check out my Fitness and Nutrition Pages for helpful links.
Source: Jia H, Lubetkin EI "Trends in quality-adjusted life-years lost contributed by smoking and obesity" Am J Prev Med 2010; DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2009.09.043, as reported at: http://www.medpagetoday.com/ PrimaryCare/Obesity/17810?pfc=111&spc=269

January 6, 2010 - Belly Fat & Women

Graphic source: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/medical/IM03913
According to Mayo Clinic's "Belly fat in women: How to keep it off",

"... many women notice an increase in belly fat as they grow older � and especially after menopause. Gaining fat in your abdomen is particularly unhealthy when compared with other locations in your body. Excess belly fat increases your risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and certain types of cancers."
"As you age and your metabolism slows down, the amount of fat in your body slowly increases. Women experience an even greater fat percentage increase than men do. Then after menopause, your body fat distribution tends to shift � less in your arms, legs and hips, and more in your abdomen."
"Too much belly fat increases your risk of:

Heart disease

Breast cancer

Diabetes

Metabolic syndrome

Gallbladder problems
High blood pressure

Colorectal cancer"

"Researchers also have found that abdominal fat cells aren't just dormant energy waiting to be burned up. The cells are active, producing hormones and other substances that can affect your health. For example, some fat-cell-produced hormones can promote insulin resistance, a precursor to type 2 diabetes; others can produce estrogen after menopause, which may increase your breast cancer risk. Researchers are still sorting out how the excess hormones affect overall health, but they do know that too much visceral fat can disrupt the body's normal hormonal balance."

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/belly-fat/WO00128

January 5, 2010 - Fat Studies
According to The Chronicle Review's "No Fear of Fat" a new interdisciplinary field of scholarship is being developed around the study of fat. It seeks to explore the perceptions of fat, critiquing the negative assumptions, stereotypes, and stigmas placed on fat and the fat body.
Advocates for fat studies define such research by what it is not:

"if you believe that fat people could (and should) lose weight, then you are not doing fat studies�you are part of the $58.6-billion per year weight-loss industry or its vast customer base. If you believe that being fat is a disease and that fat people cannot possibly enjoy good health or long life, then you are not doing fat studies. Instead, your approach is aligned with 'obesity' researchers, bariatric surgeons, public-health officials who declare 'war on obesity,' and the medico-pharmaceutical-industrial complex that profits from dangerous attempts to 'cure' people of bodily difference."
"If you believe that thin is inherently beautiful and fat is obviously ugly, then you are not doing fat-studies work either. You are instead in the realm of advertising, popular media, or the more derivative types of visual art�in other words, propaganda."

Source: http://chronicle.com/article/No-Fear-of-Fat/49041/?sid=cr&utm_source=cr&utm_medium=en

If these studies are meant to help people who carry extra weight to feel better about themselves, then what health benefit is there to that? Currently, two thirds of Americans are either overweight or obese, which means population-based studies are probably more useful for defining the issues regarding "fat" than fat studies. Of course, economic-based studies may end up defining the burden of fat, whether we like it or not.
Thus, the struggle to lose weight is a common struggle, but a worthwhile endeavor, for the sake of good health and improving quality of life. Here are two studies for your consideration:

"Weight loss induced by increased daily physical activity without caloric restriction substantially reduces obesity (particularly abdominal obesity) and insulin resistance in men. Exercise without weight loss reduces abdominal fat and prevents further weight gain."
Source: Reduction in obesity and related comorbid conditions after diet-induced weight loss or exercise-induced weight loss in men. A randomized, controlled trial. (Ann Intern Med. 2000 Jul 18;133(2):92-103). http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10896648

"Achieving high levels of physical activity, normal weight, and never smoking, are effective ways to prevent cardiovascular disease and to extend total life expectancy and the number of years lived free of CVD. Increasing the prevalence of normal weight could further reduce the time spent with CVD in the population."
Source: Living healthier for longer: Comparative effects of three heart-healthy behaviors on life expectancy with and without cardiovascular disease. (BMC Public Health. 2009 Dec 24;9(1):487). http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20034381?itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum&ordinalpos=4

Check out the Quality of Life Quotes for more research findings.

January 4, 2010 - My Food Pedia - Quick Calories Look Up

Counting calories is a useful strategy for controlling your weight. Up to now there was really no easy way to get the calorie count for something you were eating right now. Well, now you can. The USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion has developed an online calorie search engine with which you just type in what you're eating, choose the portion size and you get the number calories you're consuming along with some nutrient information as well.
Just click on the graphic and try it out. You can also find a link to this on my Nutrition Page . Happy counting.

January 3, 2010 - The Oxycontin Express

Drug abuse now includes the misuse of prescription drugs, which can be found readily available in many home medicine cabinets. The practice of "pharming" among teens (bringing unknown prescription drugs to parties, mixing them in a big bowl and then grabbing a handful to take) is scary. (Source: http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=1726349&page=1 ). Educating senior citizens to lock up their medicines when grandchildren come to visit (Source: http://www.southshoresenior.com/story_1.htm ) is indeed a sad commentary of modern society in which drugs are the quick fixes for managing stress and daily problems.
Here is a well-done documentary about oxycontin abuse in Florida (47 minutes), the most common drug of prescription drug abuse. Many thanks to Mary Marcuccio (Parents 4 a Change) for sending me the link. For more resources on substance abuse, check Drug Abuse and Use and Abuse of Psychoactive Drugs.

January 2, 2010 - Losing Weight & Eating Better

Graphic source: http://www.marketingcharts.com/ topics/behavioral-marketing/ top-new-years-resolutions- put-fiscal- above-physical-fitness-11522/ franklin-covey-top-10-new- years-resolutions-2009jpg/
According to a new survey conducted by FranklinCovey Products, researchers found that the top three 2010 New Year resolutions to be similar to the top 3 for 2009. However, I thought it was great to see that losing weight stayed at second place, eating better at third place and that breaking a bad habit rose from 9th to 6th place. Maybe the health promotion messages are making a dent!

While financial management is taking precedence, an Allianz Life Insurance Company survey found, "...when asked what resolution for 2010 they are most likely to keep, more people (40.2%) say diet and exercise, vs. managing their money better (38.7%)."
(Source: http://www.marketingcharts.com/ topics/behavioral-marketing/ top-new-years-resolutions- put-fiscal-above-physical-fitness-11522/ ?utm_campaign=newsletter &utm_source=mc&utm_medium=textlink)
Of course, 40% is better than nothing, but making any change does require some planning and committment to succeed. Resolving to not drag around extra weight on a daily basis is always a good thing.

January 1, 2010 - Happy 2010!!!

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Published on the Web: December 21, 2009 R57

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