Public Health
New Mississippi law another step in obesity fight
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A bill recently signed into law by Gov. Haley Barbour is another small step in Mississippi’s quest to shed its image as the unhealthiest state in the nation.
The bill provides financial incentives to schools to promote healthy environments. The monetary awards range from $2,000 to $8,000, and are given to schools that participate in the federal HealthierUS School Challenge.
Currently, five Mississippi schools are in the program that recognizes the efforts of campuses that focus on nutrition and physical activity. Schools are rated as bronze, silver or the highest level of gold.
Computer may offer better way to get informed consent
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Using an interactive computer program to get patients’ informed consent may help ensure that they actually understand the medical procedure they are agreeing to, a small study suggests.
Informed consent refers to the process by which a patient agrees to undergo a particular medical procedure, which includes discussing the procedure’s risks and benefits with the doctor. But whether those discussions, even bolstered with written information, actually give patients a full understanding of the procedure has been in doubt.
In the new study, researchers at the University of Melbourne and Austin Hospital in Australia tested a computer-based informed consent process among 40 men scheduled to undergo surgery to remove the prostate gland.
FBI arrests man for threats to Pelosi on healthcare
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A California man has been arrested for making threatening phone calls to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi over legislation overhauling the U.S. healthcare system, a federal law enforcement official and Pelosi’s office said on Wednesday.
The official declined to give further details because the case remained under seal in federal court in California, but it marked the latest arrest for threats sent to lawmakers who supported the legislation.
“There have been a number of threatening communications sent to members of Congress since the bill was passed. We take them seriously. You are going to see more people being arrested because of that,” the official said.
China says faulty vaccines not cause of children’s deaths
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China’s Health Ministry said on Tuesday faulty vaccines were not to blame for the deaths of four children in northern Shanxi province, after a domestic newspaper pointed the finger of blame at substandard vaccinations.
China has been beset by a series of product safety scandals over the past few years. At least six children died in 2008 after drinking milk contaminated by the industrial chemical melamine.
In 2003 and 2005, three Chinese children suffered severe brain damage after being vaccinated against Japanese encephalitis. Their parents blamed a substandard vaccine, something the government denied.
US health reforms to be clear, transparent: Sebelius
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U.S. health officials aim to move swiftly and clearly to implement newly enacted healthcare reforms, the nation’s health secretary said in remarks on Tuesday aimed at selling Americans on the benefits of the controversial changes.
“For years, Americans have struggled with a health insurance system that was opaque, unnecessarily confusing, and often overwhelming to navigate,” Kathleen Sebelius said in excerpts of a speech prepared for the National Press Club.
“Our goal as we implement this law is to be the opposite of that - to be as clear and transparent as possible.”
Middle-Aged Americans Report More Mobility-Related Disabilities
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The proportion of older middle-aged Americans who report disabilities related to mobility increased significantly from 1997 to 2007, in contrast to the disability decline that has been found among Americans ages 65 and over, according to a new study by the RAND Corporation and the University of Michigan.
Researchers found a rise in the proportion of Americans aged 50 to 64 who reported mobility-related difficulties or the need for help in daily personal care activities such as getting out of bed, according findings published in the April 6 edition of the journal Health Affairs.
The reason for the increase is not clear, although many of those reporting disabilities say they are due to health problems that began in their 30s and 40s.
Healthy, and Safe, School Lunches
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It is probably too much to hope that the more than 30 million school lunches served every day will taste absolutely fabulous. But Congress should at least make certain that whatever lands on those cafeteria trays is nutritious and safe to eat. Every day it delays doing so is another mealtime when millions of students are cheated of programs that could help relieve hunger and reduce obesity.
A reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act is now before the Senate. The bill’s main sponsors, Blanche Lincoln, an Arkansas Democrat, and Saxby Chambliss, a Georgia Republican, have written useful revisions and improvements. The measure deserves prompt approval. It is also time for the House to produce its own version. If Congress can act by late spring, next year’s school cafeteria crowd can be more confident that the food is healthier and safer to eat.
The Senate bill reauthorizes several antihunger programs for children, but its biggest impact would be felt in schools that offer free or cut-rate meals. The bill would give the Agriculture Department new powers to set nutritional standards for any food sold on school grounds, particularly junk foods that contribute to obesity. It would expand the use of local farm products, organic food and school gardens, and require the government to notify schools more quickly about tainted foods. It also provides the first real increase in funding in 40 years.
Obesity: Doctors slow to address the problem
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Surprising findings about doctors’ attitudes toward obesity were just released by the Strategies to Overcome and Prevent (STOP) Alliance for Obesity. A survey of primary care doctors revealed that:
* Almost 90 percent of doctors feel it’s their responsibility to help patients lose weight.
* Yet 72 percent said that no one in their practice has been trained to deal with obesity and weight-related issues.
A separate survey of patients, including many who were obese (defined as body mass index of 30 or more), found that:
Michael Jackson’s father plans suit against doctor
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A lawyer for Michael Jackson’s father said Tuesday he intends to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the late pop star’s doctor within 90 days, claiming the physician’s actions amounted to murder.
Brian Oxman, who represents Joe Jackson, said the amount of the powerful anesthetic propofol given to the “Thriller” singer by Dr Conrad Murray before Jackson’s death on June 25, 2009 “was reckless, and it amounts to second-degree murder.”
“The continuous administration of drugs over six weeks - he (Murray) gave him propofol every night - that is Russian roulette, that is loading six bullets into a gun with only six chambers,” Oxman told Reuters.
Obama signs final healthcare changes, defends law
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President Barack Obama made another push to sell his healthcare overhaul to a skeptical public on Tuesday, calling it a victory over special interests that will improve the lives of middle-class Americans and defending the “courage” of legislators who backed it.
“This day affirms our ability to overcome the challenges of our politics and meet the challenges of our time,” Obama told a college audience outside Washington, as he signed into law final changes to the sweeping plan approved by lawmakers last week, along with reforms in college student loan programs.
The signing capped a year-long struggle between Democrats and Republicans that has set the stage for a bitter campaign for control of Congress in November. Republicans have vowed to make the healthcare bill the centerpiece of the election fight as they seek to repeal it.
Poll charts U.S. concerns about healthcare costs
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Nearly two-thirds of Americans say the healthcare overhaul signed into law by President Barack Obama costs too much and expands the government’s role too far, according to a poll published on Tuesday.
The USA Today/Gallup survey of 1,033 adults, conducted between March 26 and March 28, suggests an uphill challenge for President Barack Obama and other Democrats as they try to persuade voters that the healthcare reforms are an important benefit.
The findings show that 65 percent of Americans believe the reforms cost too much, while 64 percent say they bring too much government involvement into the private healthcare industry.
Independent experts to review pandemic handling - WHO
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A group of independent experts will review how the H1N1 pandemic has been handled to ensure that the next global health emergency is dealt with better, a top World Health Organisation official said on Monday.
The H1N1 influenza outbreak, which began in April last year, was marked by controversies over whether the WHO and public health authorities had exaggerated the risks of H1N1 and created unnecessary alarm by declaring it a ‘pandemic’.
The WHO has also been criticised for its pandemic alert system that focuses on geographical spread of the outbreak rather than its severity, and on alleged conflicts of interests between health officials and experts and vaccine makers.
Food Revolution & The Obesity Crisis in America
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I feel like it’s been eons since I wrote a blog post, but last night we caught Jamie Oliver on Campbell Brown on CNN, plugging his new show, Food Revolution and I was fully inspired to write.
Though we didn’t see the actual 2-hour premier (got home too late for that) we saw the segment with the mom from W. Va. who has her fridge/freezer unloaded by Jamie.
Staring at the disgusting-looking pile of junk food and frozen pizzas and chicken nuggets and lord knows what else … he basically tells the mom (who is overweight, if not obese) that eating this way is basically killing her and her children, cutting their lives short by 14 years or so.
Healthcare reform bill tackles obesity
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While many are focused on the effect the recent healthcare bill will have on insurance and coverage, a number of other health provisions are included. Obesity prevention and treatment is among these.
Successful obesity treatment and prevention requires a multi-pronged approach. Smaller scale attempts, such as state or city taxes on unhealthy foods, may result in small changes. But this isn’t enough. Treating the level of obesity, and related diseases, currently found in the U.S. will require an organized nationwide effort.
Obesity has pervasive effects at an individual, family and community level. Individuals are at greater risk for diseases such as hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes, stroke and some cancers. Loss of health and lost work days negatively impacts families emotionally and financially. In communities where obesity rates are high, health care treatment costs are higher for employers and the community as a whole.
Too Fat For Reality: Is TV Exploiting Obesity?
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I’ve been noticing a number of weight-themed shows on television lately. While The Biggest Loser certainly isn’t new, ABC recently premiered Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution and Kirstie Alley’s new series Kirstie Alley’s Big Life also just premiered on A&E. I’m sure there are other series out there, between cable and network TV that feature some sort of diet/weight-centric theme but it’s those three in particular that got me wondering whether or not series like these are changing people’s perspective on the issue of obesity in this country.
Obesity’s been a problem in America for quite some time now, but looking beyond the health issues that arise, there’s also the issue of how obese people are treated socially. Speaking in generalities of course, there’s definitely a stigma with being overweight and it seems likely that a lot of people trying to shed a few (or more) pounds aren’t just doing it to lower their blood pressure or decrease their chances of getting diabetes. Thin’s in. That’s no secret. There’s a fair amount of judgment passed on the obese for their weight and appearance. I’m talking about anything from being called names or picked last in gym to being publicly ejected from an airplane because someone decides you’re taking up too much room. This seems to go beyond the concern for health problems. It’s more an attitude (by some) that overweight people deserve the ridicule they get.
