According to Noori Akhtar-Danesh and his co-authors, childhood obesity has reached epidemic levels in developed countries. The research is published in Nutrition Journal. Twenty five percent of children in the US are overweight and 11% are obese. Overweight and obesity in childhood are known to have significant impact on both physical and psychological health. The mechanism of obesity development is not fully understood and it is believed to be a disorder with multiple causes. Environmental factors, lifestyle preferences, and cultural environment play pivotal roles in the rising prevalence of obesity worldwide. In general, overweight and obesity are assumed to be the results of an increase in caloric and fat intake. On the other hand, there are supporting evidence that excessive sugar intake by soft drink, increased portion size, and steady decline in physical activity have been playing major roles in the rising rates of obesity all around the world. Consequently, both over-consumption of calories and reduced physical activity are involved in childhood obesity.

Almost all researchers agree that prevention could be the key strategy for controlling the current epidemic of obesity. Prevention may include primary prevention of overweight or obesity, secondary prevention or prevention of weight regains following weight loss, and avoidance of more weight increase in obese persons unable to lose weight. Until now, most approaches have focused on changing the behaviour of individuals in diet and exercise. It seems, however, that these strategies have had little impact on the growing increase of the obesity epidemic. While about 50% of the adults are overweight and obese in many countries, it is difficult to reduce excessive weight once it becomes established. Children should therefore be considered the priority population for intervention strategies. Prevention may be achieved through a variety of interventions targeting built environment, physical activity, and diet. Some of these potential strategies for intervention in children can be implemented by targeting preschool institutions, schools or after-school care services as natural setting for influencing the diet and physical activity. All in all, there is an urgent need to initiate prevention and treatment of obesity in children.

So when the sun is out, kick you child off the couch, and take him for a walk or bicycle ride.  Limit television and other indoor activities.  You will be giving him the greatest gift of all – a longer and healthier life.

I attended a legal talk today, and one issue of the discussion was on non-traditional couples (e.g. same sex partners) and dealing with medical decisions in the hospital.  Many times hospital staff will not let someone who doesn’t “look” like a spouse give medical authorization or even access to the hospital room.  The speaker mentioned that it is a good idea to have your Will, Power of Attorney, Health Care Directive, Living Will and the like on your key chain or in your telephone so that they can always be downloaded and printed in the hospital and placed in your chart.  No hunting around for those papers in the middle of the night. This idea, of course, is excellent and applies to everyone regardless of their marital status, etc.

And don’t stop with your health decision documents.  You should consider having these documents at the ready as well:

• Credit card numbers
• Bank account numbers
• Insurance policy numbers
• Social security cards and correspondenc
• Automobile license plate numbers and registration cards
• Drivers’ license numbers
• Automobile titles
• Birth Certificates
• Death Certificates
• Marriage Licenses
• Passports
• Copies of wills
• Home loan information
• Personal loan information
• Stock/bond certificates
• Real estate deeds and titles
• Savings Bonds
• Divorce/custody/adoption papers
• Tax returns
• Armed services papers
• Benefits information
• Medical records
• Immunization records
• Pharmaceutical prescriptions
• Eyeglass prescriptions
• Important receipts
• Business incorporation record
• Business contracts
• Computer backups
• Household inventory
• Funeral wishes
• Address book with numbers for friends, relatives,
  attorney, accountant, broker, doctors, vet, etc.
• Additional vital records as per your situation

Your phone should be be password protected, as should the thumb drive, in case it is stolen or lost.

Its that time of year (at least thats what they say – although its raining on June 1 as I look out the window).  Its time to be riding bicycles and motorcycles in Seattle!  While there are a number of bicycle and motorcycle riders who choose not to wear helmets, and in many jurisdictions they have the right to do so, one thing is certain: wearing a helmet increases riders’ chances of surviving an accident. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that wearing a helmet reduces the risk of fatality by 29 percent for motorcyclists.
As gasoline prices rise, more people may turn to more-fuel-efficient motorcycles (or fuel-free bicycles) as a way to cut costs — meaning there will be more riders on the road. The nicer weather results in more riders. Traffic jams resulting from 520 tolls or Viaduct lane reductions mean more are turning to two wheels for their transportation needs.  This is, in my opinion, wonderful.  But not having a cocoon of metal around one’s body is obviously less favorable in the event of an impact with another vehicle.

Although wearing a helmet greatly increases riders’ chances of surviving accidents, concussions can occur regardless. It is always important to seek medical care after an accident, and it is increasingly more important to do so if riders sustain a concussion or, as they say in football, “get their bells rung.”

Symptoms of Concussion

The symptoms of a concussion may vary from rider to rider. However, according to Mayo Clinic, common symptoms include:
– Headache or pressure in the head
– Confusion
– Loss of consciousness
– Dizziness/”seeing stars”
– Nausea or vomiting
– Slurred speech
– Ringing in ears
– Fatigue

A concussion may include some or all of these symptoms. Concussions usually do not show on MRI or other diagnostic tests. The diagnosis is usually made by clinical diagnosis. A concussion can result in serious alteration of one’s daily activities, an inability to perform at work or school, increased irritability, or forgetfulness.

Safe Riding Tips

Riders interested in surviving another day should consider the following:

– Always wear a helmet
– Wear eye protection
– Wear protective clothing — long pants (leather for motorcyclists), close-toed shoes, gloves, jacket.  Gloves and shoes for bicyclists
– Make sure the bike is in good working condition
– Obey all rules of the road
– Never drink alcohol and ride
– Ride defensively as if other drivers do not see you, as they may not (whether justified or not)

As summer approaches, more and more bikes will take to the roads of the Puget Sound. Remember to ride safely, and if you are involved in an accident, seek medical attention immediately, especially if you hit your head during the accident. Head injuries can be serious. Take them seriously.

According to the latest British Social Attitudes (BSA) Survey, which was conducted in 2008, almost two-thirds of Brits now see little difference between marriage and living together. Fewer than a fifth of people took issue with it.

Just under half thought cohabitation showed just as much commitment as getting married. When it comes to children, where opinion can often be a bit more traditional, only 28% said they believe married couples make better parents.

So why do it? Psychologist Donna Dawson, who specializes in sex and relationships, says it is often about making a public statement.  “Having the children take part is like a ceremonial creation of a family and a public statement that they are all in it together. It’s very much a 21st Century ritual, which more and more people will be doing.”

Read the BBC article here http://bbc.in/j7haPE

If you are one of the fortunate ones receiving a tax return from the IRS this year, think before you just put it into your bank account and go on life as usual.  The average tax refund for tax year 2010 is about $3,000 – a bit more than last year’s average.

You have probably heard this before, but it makes sense: the first thing you should consider is paying down high interest credit cards and loans.  While there is no guarantee you could earn 10% on the refund, there IS a guarantee that you can take out a 15% interest rate on a credit card by paying it off.  And this is the same thing as earning 15%, tax free and risk free.

Two other things I think you should consider.  First, invest it in yourself.  Take a course that makes you a more skilled worker or employee, whether you work for somebody else or run your own business.  If you invest it in a new piece of equipment or a class, you will be leveraging the refund and your $3,000 may turn into $9,000 in additional income over the next year (as a hypothetical example).

Second, create a memory.  Spend some of it on a mountain biking trip in another town; a rafting trip or a dog.  The refund will become a memory of the past and/or the present if you spend it wisely.

Enjoy that refund; you earned it!