HEALTH & FITNESS

The Latest News and Opinions in Medicine, Nutrition and Exercise

Francene Lewis doesn't need a new study to tell her that banning fast-food television commercials would significantly cut down on the problem of childhood obesity.

"You just take one look at those TV ads, and they make you salivate," said Lewis, a Belmont resident and mom to three sons. "It certainly wouldn't hurt."

The national study being published this month in the Journal of Law & Economics says a ban on such commercials would reduce the number of obese young children by 18 percent, and the number of obese older kids by 14 percent.

"If you consider the fact that if a child spends a considerable amount of time in front of the TV, they are going to get bombarded with food-related advertising," said Leigh Tweddle, a registered dietitian and weight management coordinator at Spectrum Health. "Everybody looks very happy and they look very fit, and they look like if they eat this food, they're going to have a good time, and that's very appealing to a child."

But Tweddle -- along with local experts and parents contacted by The Press -- is quick to say the negative effects of fast-food restaurant advertising are only a symptom of a larger problem.

Continue reading "Fast food ads on TV only part of obesity problem, experts say" »

What were you doing on November 4? Probably not smoking pot, but maybe next year you will be! I was a little surprised to see Proposal 1, legalizing the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes, pass this fall.

What does that really mean though? A college friend of mine with Crohn's disease says "it's sweet", and although he doesn't know much about proposal one, is excited to experience the benefits if he permitted.

I found a decent article that backs up to the history of proposal 1 in Michigan and a Michigan Department of Community Health question and answer article on the medical legalization.

What do you think? Is this a step to overall legalization as the About.com article states, or will medicinal marijuana offer relief for many who spend each day in pain?

Michigan citizens need affordable auto insurance that offers the needed medical coverage should they suffer a devastating injury.

Michigan's current auto no-fault coverage was introduced in 1972 and guarantees medical coverage for individuals requiring care as a result of a car accident. Now, some involved in the insurance industry want to secure limits on medical benefits by introducing medical coverage "caps," claiming they will curtail the rising insurance premiums.

Continue reading "The Other Side of Auto No-Fault" »

Following the trend of recent years, health premiums are increasing at a moderate rate for 2009 for the two health plans with the biggest market presence in West Michigan.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan reports average premium adjustments of 7 percent in West Michigan for employers that renew policies with the calendar year, said Jeff Connolly, vice president for the Blues in West Michigan.

Continue reading "2009 health premium increases follow past trends" »

FLINT, Michigan -- He's been a record setter for memorizing pi, on the "Today Show" and named in a question for the Trivia Pursuit Game.

But in the Flint area, we just know him as Riley. He's the area runner who juggles and dribbles basketballs while running -- known as "drubbling" -- and sometimes sings the national anthem at area races.

Now Riley McLincha has his own Web site, where he's looking to market his unique talents.

Called "Riley McLincha -- The Wizard of Clio," he lists his claims to fame and skills, which range from being a professional juggler and a science teacher to drubbling in the Boston Marathon and finishing all 32 Crim 10-mile races.

Continue reading "Weekly Jog: Drubbler Riley McLincha starts his own Web site; 5K in Grand Blanc on Saturday; Flint Turkey run tradition a week away; and more ..." »

GRAND RAPIDS -- The signs have been posted, a map published and a five-month campaign on the negative effects of smoking is coming to an end.

Starting today, Grand Rapids Community College becomes a smoke-free campus, with the use and sale of all tobacco products banned from college property.

The ban includes GRCC's M-TEC centers in Grand Rapids and Holland, its two Learning Corners and all parking lots and city-owned property within the downtown campus.

The ban also applies to vehicles -- private and college-owned -- parked in GRCC ramps.

Continue reading "Grand Rapids Community College goes cold turkey, bans all tobacco starting today" »

MIAMI (AP) -- D'Zhana Simmons says she felt like a "fake person" for 118 days when she had no heart beating in her chest.

"But I know that I really was here," the 14-year-old said, "and I did live without a heart."

As she was being released Wednesday from a Miami hospital, the shy teen seemed in awe of what she's endured. Since July, she's had two heart transplants and survived with artificial heart pumps -- but no heart -- for four months between the transplants.

Continue reading "Teen lives 4 months with no heart, leaves hospital" »

ATLANTA (AP) -- A little less "I'm Lovin' It" could put a significant dent in the problem of childhood obesity, suggests a new study that attempts to measure the effect of TV fast-food ads.

A ban on such commercials would reduce the number of obese young children by 18 percent, and the number of obese older kids by 14 percent, researchers found.

They also suggested that ending an advertising expense tax deduction for fast-food restaurants could mean a slight reduction in childhood obesity.

Continue reading "Study: Banning fast-food TV ads could dent obesity" »