Cleveland Clinic – Staff Writer
Sweet treats. It’s tempting for parents to reward good behavior with them. And for grandparents to use sweets to see little faces light up. Is sugar really that bad for your kids? What’s wrong with using M&Ms for potty training — or keeping kids occupied with treats while you grocery-shop? We asked pediatricians Edward Gaydos, DO, and Svetlana Pomeranets, MD, to explain sugar’s role in a child’s diet. (more)
Web MD – Julie Davis
A lack of exercise puts kids at risk for very adult problems, like obesity and diabetes. Now there’s also research that links exercise to their cognitive development and achievement in school. Turns out that physical activity gives the young brain needed boosts, according to a study published in Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development. (more)
Independent – Chrissie Russell
This was the first year that my son truly grasped the meaning of Christmas… by which I mean the consumer-driven mantra that this is the time of year for sugary, chocolatey, gooey over-indulgence. From baking (and devouring) home-made fudge and Christmas shortbread to snacking on cheese boards, crisps and dips, tins of chocolates and endless puddings, our three-year-old has fully embraced the season of festive excess. (more)
Medical X-Press – Steinar Brandslet
Estimating your own body size and weight can be difficult. It turns out that this is true not only for adults, but also for children. It is well known that severely underweight individuals – such as those with anorexia – have a tendency to overestimate their own size and think they are fat even if they aren’t. (more)
Health Club Management – Deven Pamben
Researchers at the University of Granada (UGR) in Spain found exercise boosted grey matter in regions of the brain that are important for functioning as well as for learning, motor and visual processes. The study, published in Neuroimage, is part of the ActiveBrains project, which is a randomised clinical trial involving overweight or obese children, led by Francisco Ortega. (more)