Jan 4, 2018
BBC – Katherine Sellgren
Kids seem to spend endless hours on smartphones, games consoles, computers and tablets these days. Playing on electronic devices certainly doesn’t help their waistlines, but do you ever wonder what regular device use is doing to their eyesight? While there isn’t much research out there yet about the impact of screens on eyesight – after all the iPhone was first unveiled by Apple in only 2007 – experts are concerned about growing levels of short-sightedness in children. And they suggest the best thing parents can do to prevent it is to encourage youngsters to spend more time outdoors in the sunlight. (more)
Jan 3, 2018
The Greensburg Daily News – Staff Writer
Adults often make New Year’s resolutions to exercise more, quit smoking, learn a new skill or manage money better. But should kids make resolutions, too? Studies show goal setting can build children’s resilience, confidence, motivation, while instilling values of self-reflection and self-improvement. Experts say these traits, known as a growth mindset, are better predictors of future success than IQ. And while goal setting is different for children, helping them learn to set appropriate goals can also set them up for long-term success. (more)
Jan 3, 2018
Medical X-Press – Staff Writer
Obesity has become a major health issue due to the current ‘obesogenic’ environment in which unhealthy food is both easy and cheap to purchase. As a result, many (government) organisations encourage healthy eating habits among the general public by providing information on healthy diets. Nevertheless, when people encounter stimuli that they have learned to associate with certain snacks, they tend to choose those products, even when they know these are unhealthy. This is the finding of research carried out by psychologists Aukje Verhoeven, Poppy Watson and Sanne de Wit from the University of Amsterdam (UvA). (more)
Jan 2, 2018
BBC – Alex Therrien
Half of the sugar young children in England consume comes from unhealthy snacks and sweet drinks, figures show. On average, primary school children have at least three sugary snacks a day, Public Health England found. This means they can easily consume three times more sugar than the recommended maximum. PHE has launched a campaign to encourage parents to look for healthier snacks of no more than 100 calories – and to limit them to two a day. (more)
Jan 2, 2018
Medical X-Press – Staff Writer
Did you resolve to eat better in 2018? Exercise more? Lose weight? If so, here’s how to turn those resolutions into successes. For starters, “make an effort to make small, manageable changes that work towards everyone being healthier,” Amy Rosenfeld, a registered dietitian with Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco, N.Y., said in a hospital news release. (more)
