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Madeira is dedicated to keeping you abreast of the latest trends and information as they relate to our organization's strategic vision and focus.
3-5-10: In Obesity Epidemic, What’s One Cookie?
The basic formula for gaining and losing weight is well known: a pound of fat equals 3,500 calories. That simple equation has fueled the widely accepted notion that weight loss does not require daunting lifestyle changes but “small changes that add up,” as the first lady, Michelle Obama, put it last month in announcing a national plan to counter childhood obesity. In this view, cutting out or burning just 100 extra calories a day — by replacing soda with water, say, or walking to school — can lead to significant weight loss over time: a pound every 35 days, or more than 10 pounds a year.
02-10-10: 3 simple behaviors help reduce childhood obesity
Children who eat dinner regularly with their family, limit TV time and get enough sleep can reduce their risk of obesity by 40% compared with their peers who don't follow these routines, researchers said. The study charted the routines of children from birth to age 4.
02-08-10: First lady leads charge against obesity
Two-thirds of U.S. adults and nearly one in three children are overweight or obese -- a condition that increases their risk for diabetes, heart disease and other chronic illnesses. U.S. health officials have leveraged the star power of first lady Michelle Obama to roll out a new campaign against obesity, a preventable condition that drains billions of dollars from the economy. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said that the Obama administration was investing $650 million in economic stimulus money in wellness and prevention programs aimed at obesity and stopping smoking.
02-05-10: Proper drug-taking would greatly cut heart risks
Encouraging more patients to continue taking their prescribed cholesterol drugs would stave off twice as many stroke and heart attack deaths as giving the drugs to a wider range of people, scientists said on Tuesday. A study by British researchers suggested that rather than widening the pool of patients, as recommended by U.S. government health advisers for some cholesterol-lowering statin drugs, more effort should made to encourage those in high risk groups to take the statins they are prescribed. Health authorities in Britain recommend that anyone with a 20 percent or greater chance of having a heart attack or stroke over the next 10 years should be prescribed a statin.
02-03-10: U.S. Child/Adult Obesity Rates Leveling Off but Not Going Down
U.S. obesity rates are leveling off for most kids and adults, new CDC figures suggest.
- 12.6% of teens ages 12-19 are obese by adult standards.
- 17% of school-age kids are obese by child standards.
The good news is that the rise in obesity seems to be leveling off for children and for women. The same thing seems to be happening in men, although the leveling off has been too recent for the CDC to call it a plateau. "The prevalence of obesity in the United States continues to be high, exceeding 30% in most sex and age groups," noted a CDC researcher.
02-01-10: Experts urge screening for obesity in kids
For children who are found to be obese based on their body mass index (BMI), a standard measure of the relationship between height and weight, the task force also calls for referrals to a comprehensive program that includes dietary advice, physical activity, and behavioral counseling to promote weight loss. The new recommendations update earlier ones from 2005. Skyrocketing rates of obesity have reached between 12 and 18 percent in 2- to 19-year-olds, increasing up to 6-fold since the 1970s, members of the United States Preventive Services Task Force report in the February issue of the journal Pediatrics. Obesity is linked to the early development of diabetes and high blood pressure.
01-29-10: Children given wrong drug doses
Hospital doctors make mistakes in more than one in 10 prescriptions they write for children, far more than was previously thought, according to an authoritative study published today. Errors were made in 13.2% of prescriptions written for children, according to the study covering five London hospitals and carried out by the School of Pharmacy, University of London. The biggest problem in prescribing is that drugs used in hospitals have never been tested on children. They are not licensed for that use and are not in doses appropriate for children. Doctors are required to make a calculation for the dose based on the weight of each child.
01-27-10: CDC: 1 in 5 teens has cholesterol problems. Now what?
One in five teens in the U.S. -- and more than 40 percent of obese teens -- have abnormal cholesterol, whether it's low HDL (good cholesterol); high LDL (bad cholesterol); or high levels of triglycerides, another type of blood fat, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The findings suggest that the American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) 2008 guidelines -- which recommend more aggressive cholesterol testing and intervention in kids, particularly the overweight and obese -- make sense, the authors conclude.
01-25-10: One-fifth of U.S. teens have unhealthy cholesterol
One in five American teens has unhealthy cholesterol levels, a major risk factor for heart disease in adults, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Thursday. The study found that, based on American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines, a third of teens would be eligible for cholesterol screening based solely on being overweight or obese. The AAP recommends screening for young people who have a family history of high cholesterol or premature heart disease.
1-12-10: Size of Spoon Could Affect Dosing of Liquid Drugs
Individuals using standard spoons from their home kitchen to dispense liquid medications may be pouring too little or too much of the drugs, researchers found. Among volunteers trying to pour a teaspoonful of cold and cough medicine, using a slightly larger spoon resulted in under dosing and using a much larger spoon resulted in overdosing, according to Brian Wansink, PhD, of Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., and Koert van Ittersum, PhD, of Georgia Tech in Atlanta.
1-6-10: Obese Children Benefit from Regular Exercise
New research shows that regular exercise — at least three times per week — for obese children reduces the risks of heart disease, including improved blood pressure and early markers of arterial disease. The rate of childhood obesity is in on the rise as obese children and adolescents are at increased risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and other health issues later in life. The study found that physical exercise resulted in a significant reduction in blood pressure after three months and a decrease in arterial stiffness after six months.
The American College of Cardiology- Cardio Smart
12-21-09: Cholesterol and Atherosclerosis in Children
There is compelling evidence that the atherosclerosis (ath"er-o-skleh-RO'sis) (fatty deposits of plaque in artery walls) or its precursors begins in childhood and progresses slowly into adulthood. Then, it often leads to coronary heart disease, the single largest cause of death in the United States. Several studies also have shown that fatty buildups in arteries begin in childhood and are more likely with higher blood cholesterol levels.
The American Heart Association
12-17-2009: Patterns: Pediatricians Turning to Part-Time Work
More and more pediatricians are working part time, a new survey reports. The report was based on periodic national random surveys of about 1,600 members of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Among the medical disciplines, pediatrics has one of the highest proportions of women physicians. And while more men are also working part time, the percentage of women is much higher:
12-14-2009: SAFETY DATA FROM KID DRUG TRIALS OFTEN UNPUBLISHED
When drugs approved for adults are studied in youngsters, the research yields important safety data that could guide the use of these medications in children. In most cases, these studies never appear in peer-reviewed journals, and when they do, half of them don't focus on the important new safety data that's been generated, Dr. Daniel K. Benjamin Jr., from Duke Clinical Research Institute in Durham, North Carolina and colleagues found.
9-7-2009: Experts Say Obesity Rates Will Continue to Rise
Nationally, obesity levels have increased over the past year, and health experts say the weak economy likely will only add heft to the population. Health experts say the recession's effect on weight is multifold. People aren't just reaching for high-fat, high-carbohydrate meals to save money; they're also seeking comfort foods to soothe the stress of financial trouble.
8-24-2009: FDA OKs Sanofi Allergy Drug for Younger Children
French drug maker Sanofi-Aventis SA and Belgian biotech drug maker UCB said Monday their once-daily allergy medication Xyzal has received expanded U.S. approval for children as young as six months. The FDA has approved the drug to treat indoor allergies and hives in children six months and older. The agency also cleared the drug for outdoor allergies in children older than two.
8-12-2009: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 1 in 7 children ages 2 to 4 years is obese.
Little ones who are obese are more likely to develop diabetes and asthma, as well as cholesterol problems and high blood pressure when they get older. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Grummer-Strawn, says parents can reduce the risks of obesity by breastfeeding, avoiding sugary drinks and high-calorie snacks, encouraging lots of fruits and vegetables, and keeping the kids active.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
8-12-2009: A Randomized Clinical Trial of Ibuprofen Versus Acetaminophen With Codeine for Acute Pediatric Arm Fracture Pain
Children with fractures should have safe and effective outpatient analgesia initiated in the emergency department (ED). The pain experience during the first few days after an acute fracture can be substantial. A study was done to determine the efficacy of the 2 most commonly prescribed medications for the outpatient treatment of children with arm fracture for the first 72 hours after the injury. The outcome of the study supports the use of ibuprophen as the first-line therapy for children with simple arm fractures; however, a significant proportion of patients will require additional analgesia.
About half of all boys and a quarter of all girls break a bone sometime during childhood.
8-7-2009: Cholesterol Screening Shouldn’t Rely on Kids’ Weight
U.S. cholesterol testing guidelines for children may have to be revised, say researchers who found that measuring body fat isn't an effective indicator of high cholesterol in kids. In 2008, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) issued revised cholesterol screening guidelines that recommended a cholesterol check for children at increased risk of heart disease, mainly those who are overweight or obese.
8-4-2009: Cholesterol and Your Child
High levels of cholesterol are a major factor contributing to heart disease and stroke, and medical research shows that cardiovascular disease has its roots in childhood. And with the dramatic increase in childhood obesity, more and more kids are at risk. Problems associated with high cholesterol generally don't show up for years, so making the connection between kids' health and cholesterol can be difficult. But it's important to know your child's cholesterol levels, especially if there's a family history of high cholesterol or premature heart disease.
8-4-2009: New certification for doctors in obesity
About 66% of the USA is overweight or obese. The obesity group and 10 other professional societies, including the American Diabetes Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, are creating an Obesity Medicine Physician Certification for doctors who pass an examination on nutrition, exercise, psychology and medicine. Doctors will be able to earn the certificate in 2010.
7-31-2009: More Kids Becoming Severely Obese
FRIDAY, July 31 (HealthDay News) -- In the last 25 years, rates of severe childhood obesity in the United States have tripled, putting increasing numbers of children at risk for diabetes and heart disease, says a new study.
Researchers looked at National Health and Nutrition Survey data on 12,384 youths, ages 2 to 19 years, and found that the prevalence of severe obesity increased from 0.8 percent in the period from 1976 to 1980 to 3.8 percent in 1999 to 2004. Severe obesity correlates to a body mass index that's equal to or greater than the 99th percentile for age and gender.
Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, news release, July 29, 2009
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7-21-2009: Tablet Splitting: A Risky Practice
(FDA) - Some pharmacists have reported that patients have changed the way they take medications because of the downturn in the economy, according to a recent survey by the American Pharmacists Association. This includes skipping doses and splitting tablets in an effort to save money. Regarding the practice of splitting tablets, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the American Medical Association, and other medical organizations advise against it unless it's specified in the drug's labeling.
FDA Consumer Health Information / U.S. Food and Drug Administration
7-12-2009: Obesity 'Link to Same-Sex Parent'
The obesity epidemic is one of the most challenging public health issues we face, a study of 226 families by Plymouth's Peninsula Medical School found obese mothers were 10 times more likely to have obese daughters. There is a strong link in obesity between mothers and daughters and fathers and sons, but not across the gender divide, research suggests.
7-9-2009: Childhood Obesity-Related Costs Skyrocketed, Hospitalizations Nearly Doubled
Between 2001 and 2005, the hospital costs for obese children increased from $125.9 million to $237.6 million, according to a Health Affairs study that tracked trends in childhood obesity on hospital care and costs.
Endocrine Today/Health Affairs
7-7-2009: Heart Medication Errors too Frequent in Children
Infants and young children treated with heart drugs get the wrong dose or end up on the wrong end of medication errors more often than older children, according to research led by the Johns Hopkins Children's Center to be published July 6 in Pediatrics. While the researchers found the highest number of errors among infants under the age of 1, they say children of all ages are vulnerable to such mistakes because health-care providers can manually miscalculate weight-sensitive doses and can misinterpret safe age ranges of adult drugs used off-label in children.
6-5-2009: Antipsychotic Drugs Appear to Work in Kids: FDA Staff
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Three antipsychotic drugs appear to work in children and teens but their risks must be weighed as the makers seek to promote them for younger patients, the head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's psychiatric division said in a memo released on Friday. The safety of the drugs in children appeared "to be qualitatively similar to those observed with these drugs in adult patients."
6-3-2009: US Kids At Risk of ‘Recession Obesity’
WASHINGTON (AFP) – Children in the United States are at risk of "recession obesity" as parents substitute cheap, fast food for healthy meals to try to weather the economic slump, a report published Wednesday showed. A study published one year ago in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), found that nearly 32 percent of US children were overweight and 16 percent were obese.
4-27-2009: Children on AD/HD Medications May Score Higher on Academic Tests Than Their Unmedicated Peers
(AP) Children on medicine for attention deficit disorder scored higher on academic tests than their unmedicated peers in the first large, long-term study suggesting this kind of benefit from the widely used drugs.
Associated Press/CBS News
4-27-2009: Doctors Warn About Camphor Poisoining in Children
According to the alert published in Pediatrics, in January 2008, three toddlers "had either eaten camphor products, inhaled camphor, or had it rubbed on them as a cold remedy," and then "suffered seizures." The products implicated in the poisonings were imported white cubes or tablets and contained doses higher than US regulations allow.
Associated Press/Physorg
4-6-2009: USPSTF Recommends Screening Teens for Major Depressive Disorder
According to a recent article in Medscape CME and a recommendation statement from the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), adolescents (12-18 years of age) should be screened for major depressive disorder (MDD) when systems are in place to ensure accurate diagnosis, psychotherapy (cognitive-behavioral or interpersonal), and follow-up.
Medscape CME
4-6-2009: New Study Finds Obesity Affecting Younger Children
A striking new study says almost 1 in 5 American 4-year-olds are obese, and the rate is alarmingly higher among American Indian children, with nearly a third of them obese. Researchers were surprised to see differences by race at so early an age.
Chicago/ Huffington
2-1-2009: The Initiatives and Outcomes for Cardiovascular Risks that Can Be Achieved Through Pediatric Counseling.
The posted abstract is from a recent article which touches on the many factors involving childhood obesity.
The conclusion states that early commencement of statin therapy in children and adolescents suffering from familial hypercholesterolemia is beneficial in prevention of vascular atherosclerosis.
Current Opinion in Lipidology (February, 2009)
12-18-2008: Studies Continue to Highlight the Significant Impact of Childhood Obesity
Study: Childhood obesity might damage thyroid
Obesity in childhood can alter the structure and function of the thyroid gland, which is critical in controlling metabolism, a study found. Previous studies found that thyroid disorders can lead to obesity, but a new Italian study suggests that in some instances, obesity might cause dysfunction of the thyroid.
HealthDay News (12/18/2008)
11-18-2008: ADULT PRESCRIPTIONS CONTINUE TO IMPACT CHILDREN
Madeira is dedicated to keeping you abreast of the latest trends and information as they relate to our organization's strategic vision and focus.
Use of Antipsychotics In Children Is Criticized
The New York Times
Published: November 18, 2008
9-25-2008: Guidelines Issued for Management of Pediatric Obesity
On September 25, 2008, the Endocrine Society issued practice guidelines for the prevention and treatment of pediatric obesity and has published them in the September 9 Online First issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
The guidelines were co-sponsored by the Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/581056
9-1-2008: September is National Cholestrol Month
Take a moment to check your cholesterol-and that of your child's-visit the following web site for more information: http://hp2010.nhlbihin.net/cholmonth/
7-7-2008: American Academy of Pediatrics Update Guideline
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released new guidelines on July 7, 2008, recommending that some children as young as 8 years old be given cholesterol-fighting drugs to ward off future heart problems.
Associated Press/ABC News
